Kenora

Officers with the Sioux Lookout OPP have taken two individuals into custody after two life-threatening assaults in the Queen Street area over the weekend.

The Sioux Lookout OPP says on Sunday at 7 p.m., officers responded to an assault with a weapon in the area of Queen Street and Fifth Avenue North.

Officers found one individual in medical distress at this location, and a second individual was found with life-threatening injuries was located nearby.

Ontario’s workers will continue to have access to three paid sick days through the provincial government into early 2023.

The Ontario government introduced legislation to give employees up to three paid sick days per year in 2021 with a $200 reimbursement per day, if those workers didn’t already receive paid sick days through their employer and are missing work due to reasons related to COVID-19.

Ontario’s Worker Income Protection Benefit was set to end by July 31, but the program has now been extended to March 31, 2023.

By Brittany Hobson and Bob Weber in Lac Ste. Anne

Pope Francis spoke in three First Nations languages at a sacred pilgrimage site hours after his public mass in Edmonton was called a missed opportunity for not including Indigenous culture or traditions. 

On Tuesday, Francis joined hundreds of people at Lac Ste. Anne, northwest of Edmonton, and during a church service, wearing a red Metis sash around his neck, said hello in Nakota, Cree and Blackfoot.

"Aba-wash-did! Tansi! Oki!"

Many cheered.

Volunteers with the Minaki Volunteer Fire Service are reminding the public to always practice fire safety this summer season.

But they say with the extreme flooding the region has seen this spring and summer, residents need to take extra precautions to protect their homes and cottages.

“We’ve had a lot of incidents of pooling water or standing water because of the high water levels,” explains Minaki Fire Chief Robert Creedon.

Raymond Francis Skillen
“Skilly”
October 20, 1943 - March 26, 2022

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Raymond Francis Skillen, 78, affectionately known as “Skilly” on March 26, 2022 at Lake of the Woods District Hospital with his devoted wife Sharon, and family by his side. 

The Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are extending their thanks to three local businesses.  

Kenora OPP Bike Patrol is now a possibility thanks to Dingwall Ford, The Standard Insurance Brokers and with help from the Hardwear Company, who purchased two new bikes that will be used for frontline patrols in downtown Kenora.  

The Kenora Rowing Club’s Abby Dent and Leah Miller are at the U19 and the U23 World Championships in Italy, representing northwestern Ontario and Manitoba. 

Dent sat in the 7 seat on the women’s 8+ squad as she raced early this morning. Unfortunately for Dent and her team, the defending champion USA team dominated their way to victory today, but more races are on the way. 

Miller’s first race is set for July 28. She sits in the 4 seat in the quad race. 

The LWDH Diagnostic Imaging Department is even closer to getting a new Digital Mobile X-ray Machine following a very successful golf tournament last weekend.  

The 2nd Annual Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation Par 3 Charity Challenge was a huge hit! 152 golfers took to the green at the Kenora Golf and Country Club on July 21, raising over $162,000 in support of new equipment for the Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH).  

This week's REMR Roofing Person of the Week is Lindsay Frenette!

Lindsay was nominated by Carla Cranston, who wrote in part:

Pope Francis delivered on Monday an apology for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools, saying many Christians supported the colonization of Indigenous people. He made the remarks at the former site of the Ermineskin Indian Residential School in community of Maskwacis, south of Edmonton.

Here is some of the reaction to the historic apology: