Kenora

An author from the UK is shining a light on the poisoning of Grassy Narrows First Nation members over the last fifty years, with a new novel aimed to bring the story to youth.

Author Jane Thomas explains she first learned about the history of Grassy Narrows First Nation through Rochelle Lamm, who she had met while working in the Caribbean. Rochelle had asked Thomas to help create a children’s book as part of the community’s ongoing Mercury Tragedy Project.

Warning: This article discusses sexual violence and suicide and may be upsetting for some readers. The Kenora Sexual Assault Centre’s Crisis Line can be reached at 807-468-7233 (safe) or at 1-800-565-6161.
 

A 28-year-old Dryden woman has launched a Class Action Lawsuit against Cadets Canada and the Attorney General of Canada.

Hilary Lockhart says she was a victim of sexual abuse when she was a member of the Cadets at the age of 14. She had joined the cadets in 2008, one year before the abuse and grooming began.

A sixth person has announced they are running for Kenora City Council this fall. 

Chris Poate has officially submitted his documents to be in the next municipal election. Poate is now the sixth candidate running for one of the six seats on Council.  

Another Sioux Lookout Youth is being recognized for his work by the OPP.  

Ty Kejick is another recipient of the OPP Youth Foundation Bursary.  

Kejick recently graduated from high school and has further aspirations to continue his education in college this fall.  

Kejick hopes to pursue a career that will allow him to help his community.  

Although there was a complete change in scenery this year, the "Maybe" Annual Coney Island Music Festival proved successful. 

Due to the high water and safety concerns, organizers made the call to change the 14th annual festival venue from Coney Island to the Whitecap Pavilion on Kenora's Winkler Harbourfront. This switch-up didn't disappoint. 

George Arcand Jr. says it was a humbling experience to welcome Pope Francis to Canada as the Treaty 6 Grand Chief encouraged the leader of the Roman Catholic Church to join a path of healing by speaking with survivors of residential schools.

“I asked the Pope to walk with us in this new journey," Arcand Jr. said.

Francis arrived Sunday to an honour drum song ahead of a brief welcome ceremony in an airport hangar in Edmonton.

Residential school survivor Rod Alexis remembers his late father telling him: "Son, I don't know how to be a parent."

"I lost the gift that was given to us by the Creator because I was all alone in the residential school," the member of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation recalls his father, also a residential school survivor, saying. "Many times I wanted to say 'I love you,' wanted to give you a hug, but I didn't know how."

Rogers Communications Inc. says in a submission to the federal telecom regulator that it could not have restored emergency services any faster during a widespread service outage earlier this month that crippled the company's networks and affected millions of customers across Canada.

New details about the extent of the disruption were also included in the filing and range from media outlets unable to produce news broadcasts to outages for all customers in critical infrastructure such as hospitals and energy providers.

Charges have been upgraded following an investigation into a suspicious death in Deer Lake First Nation. 

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) officers responded to a report of a person in medical distress on July 16, at a residence on Nursing Station Road in Deer Lake First Nation.  

Arriving on scene, police located Lee Conroy KAKEKAGUMICK, age 37 of Deer Lake First Nation, deceased inside the home.  

Hockey Canada says members of its 2003 men's world junior hockey championship team are being investigated for a group sexual assault.

The national sports organization says it learned of the alleged incident on Thursday evening after being contacted by a reporter seeking comment on the alleged assault.

Hockey Canada says it has immediately contacted Halifax Regional Police about the allegations because Halifax was the co-host city of the 2003 world junior hockey championship.