Dryden

Due to the extreme winter storm warning, the Northwestern Student Services Consortium has decided to cancel all buses this morning. The Bimose Kiizhik school bus is also cancelled today.

At this time there are no reports of any school closures. 

It’s no secret that the Kenora region, along with most of Canada, is experiencing a major staffing crisis within the health care sector. After two years of a global pandemic, burnout, exhaustion and disengagement, the hospitals and health care settings are facing historic vacancy rates.  

Recently, Lake of the Woods District Hospital CEO, Ray Racette, shared alarming statistics about the staffing crisis at Lake of the Woods District Hospital. 

Grocery stores all over Kenora were packed with shoppers on Tuesday (April 12, 2022), in preparation for the 30-50 cm of snow Environment Canada is predicting.

The storm is scheduled to begin rolling through Northwestern Ontario on Wednesday (April 13, 2022) with 10-15 cm of snow. It will continue on Thursday (April 14, 2022) with an additional 15 cm expected before tapering off on Friday (April 15, 2022).

If you are a residential school survivor, you are able to contact the 24-hour National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 for support. Indigenous people can also access the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca.

**Updated at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 13th**

The Manitoba RCMP continually assessed highway conditions overnight and continues to monitor the situation morning. As it turns out, anticipated widespread highway closures across southern Manitoba were not required. At this time, Highway 75 from Morris to the Canada/U.S. border, and Highway 1 from Elie to Austin are officially closed.

RCMP say Highway conditions continue to deteriorate with more official closures possible throughout the day.

A huge community donation will lead to the development of a new Splash Park in Dryden this summer.

Northwestern Ontario’s Beyak Automotive Group has donated $230,000 to develop a 2,800 square-foot Splash Park at the Rotary Park Complex on Wice Road, near New Prospect School. The City of Dryden is planning to contribute about $17,000 to cover the remaining costs.

The region is expected to see between 30 to 50 cm of snow this week as a historic winter storm pushes its way through Canada. With the arrival of the storm system, driving conditions will become less than ideal. 

Maria Bagdonas is with Young Drivers of Canada; she shared some driving tips to make sure you remain safe while on the road in this weather.  

Chief Lorraine Cobiness has been re-elected to serve Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, commonly known as the Dalles.

Cobiness has served her community for over 15 years now. She’ll now serve in her seventh straight term as Chief, and has previously served one term as a band councillor.

She says her priorities include improving health and social programming for youth and elders, increasing housing stock, protecting Treaty rights, investing in community infrastructure, and continuing to foster partnerships with other communities in the Treaty #3 territory.

As a Colorado Low that is expected to dump between 30 to 50 cm of snow nears the region, a winter storm warning has been issued.

A strong low-pressure system is expected to track over northwestern Ontario bringing a couple of days of heavy snow and blowing snow. Snow is expected to begin Wednesday morning and continue through Thursday into Friday morning.

There is the potential that heavy snow and blowing snow could continue into Friday afternoon. The heaviest snow is expected to fall Wednesday night and Thursday.

Kenora's brother/sister swimming duo Émilia and Gabe Mastromatteo took part in the Swimming Canada Bell Trials in Victoria, BC last week. It was a week filled with success and challenges for both athletes.

In her first competition in three years Émilia competed in 50,100, and 200m Breaststroke, along with the 50,100,200m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

Coach Janet Hyslop says she will now refocus on her training to be ready for Nationals in the summer with a few racing opportunities in between.