Dryden

It’s been 46 days since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine forcing over four million residents to flee their homes to neighbouring countries.

The tabled 2022 federal budget presented last week had earmarked around $1 billion from Ottawa that will go towards new resources needed by Ukraine.

Kenora MP, Eric Melillo is doing what he can to help support the current situation in Ukraine by presenting a petition to the House of Commons to help stop this invasion.

The Lake of The Woods District Hospital is in a state of worry as they are currently in what they’re calling the period of “COVID-19 unknown”.

This is due to the fact they don’t know what state they will be in, in terms of safety following April 27, 2022, when remaining COVID-19 directives including masks will be lifted in health care settings.

LWDH CEO, Ray Racette says that two years ago the hospital had clear direction from the province, which provided a position of safety for the hospital, but now the future is unknown on what safety will look like.

This upcoming weekend many people will gather with friends and family, hunt for chocolate bunnies, eat lots of food and enjoy the Easter long weekend.

While people are enjoying a much-needed long weekend Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit offered some COVID safety advice for Easter.

“When developing plans for the Easter long weekend, you may want to continue using some of the public health prevention measures such as masking, and physical distancing when you gather with others,” Young Hoon said.

Provincial leadership says they’re not concerned with a recent rise of COVID-19 cases, found in both adults and children, across the province.

During a virtual announcement on April 6 in Etobicoke, Ontario’s Health Minister and Deputy Premier, Christine Elliott, says the uptick in cases was expected by Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, which has since been dissolved, after the removal of mask mandates.

Canada is targeting Russia's defence industry with its latest round of sanctions over Moscow's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says the new measures impose restrictions on 33 entities in the Russian defence sector.

She says the organizations have provided support to the Russian military — directly or indirectly — and are therefore complicit in the pain and suffering stemming from Vladimir Putin's unjustifiable war in Ukraine.

The city of Dryden has implemented reduced load restrictions throughout the City of Dryden that takes effect April 11, 2022, at 12:00 a.m.

Dryden has outlined the following streets that are exceptions to the reduced road restrictions:

• Highway 17

• Highway 594/Duke St

• Hearst Ave

• Gordon Rd

• Marguerite St

• Earl Ave – Queen St to Duke St

Staff with the City of Dryden have chosen six community programs to apply for up to $100,000 in funding.

It’s that time of the year for members of the City of Dryden to apply for the annual Moffat Family Fund foundation based out of Winnipeg, which aims to ‘support and advance the social, physical and intellectual well-being of children and families.’

Dr. Kit Young Hoon Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit is excited and is encouraging residents in the region to get out and enjoy what could be the first COVID-free summer in over two years.

On March 21, 2022, the mask mandate was removed in most indoor public settings, and recent COVID-19 data is showing a decrease in the virus in the region ahead of summer.

The Kenora District Services Board is looking to donate $130,000 back to the region.

The KDSB says they're now seeking proposals for its Child Poverty Reduction Reinvestment Funding, which aims to prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty across northwestern Ontario.

“The Board feels the Child Poverty Reduction Reinvestment Fund is a vital investment that will help remove barriers for youth participating in their communities,” says Board Chair, Barry Baltessen.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police say they’re concerned with a rise in sexual assault investigations in northwestern Ontario.

The OPP report that 2021 was the highest year on record for sexual assaults, with 429 incidents reported – representing a 31 per cent year-over-year increase for the region compared to 2020, which had 327 investigations.