Kenora

The City of Kenora’s last municipal budget was approved on Tuesday (May 18, 2022), by city councillors.

Kenora’s 2022 operating budget was highlighted by a 2.17 per cent increase in residential property taxes for this year.

On July 1, 2022, the price of bag tags and tipping fees at the Waste Transfer Station are set to increase, as announced at a City Council meeting on Tuesday (May 17, 2022).

The price of bag tags will jump up by $0.50 to $2.50 for both Kenora residents and non-residents. The minimum tipping charge will also rise by $5 up to $20.

Lake of the Woods is expected to reach the 2014 peak early this week, according to the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB).

Inflow into Lake of the Woods is nearly double the maximum outflow that is being released through the fully opened dams in Kenora, as lakes upstream are at or higher than their 2014 peak.

The LWCB estimates that inflow into Lake of the Woods is over 2400 m³/s, while outflow from the fully opened dams in Kenora is estimated at 1292 m³/s.

Record levels of rain and snow in 2022 have led to flooding all across northwestern Ontario. These before and after photos and videos show the flooding along Eagle Lake in Vermilion Bay.

The video below showcases a deck under inches of water in May of 2022.

The video below was taken in 2021.

A number of residents north of the Kenora by-pass have been affected by the increasing water levels, forcing some to evacuate and others to stay home to protect their property.

Essex Road resident Lyle Sutherland and his family did what they could to protect their rental home, but eventually lost the battle on May 10, 2022, as their home was flooded and became unliveable.

As of 8:40 am Sunday, May 22:

Flooding on HWY 71 Northbound at Mayburn Road has closed one lane. Traffic control is in place.

Quibell Road is closed, between Hwy 647 and Hwy 609. No transports are allowed, Passenger vehicles only. Signage in place. Use extreme caution.

Blue Lake Loop Road to Quibell Road is restricted to local traffic due to flooding.

Highway 105, from Highway 17 to Highway 609, is fully closed due to water over the road.

Kenora's Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson finished in 24th place at the 2022 Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork in Texas.

Gussy caught 15 fish over three days for a total weight of 63 lbs 3 ozs, including an eight-pound bass on Day Three which won him "Big Bass of the Day."

Gustafson is now off to the 2022 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake in Tennessee which begins on June 2.

As many as five people are dead and tens of thousands remain without power following a fierce storm that swept across Ontario and Quebec.

Gatineau police said a 51-year-old woman died when the boat she was in capsized in the Ottawa River near Masson-Angers, Que. during Saturday's storm.

Ontario Provincial Police said a 44-year-old man was killed in Greater Madawaska, west of Ottawa, after reportedly being struck by a falling tree, while police in Ottawa said one person died in the city's west end, but didn't release any further details.

Rising river and lake levels have prompted the province to declare a state of local emergency for Whiteshell Provincial Park.

It was also announced yesterday that the Betula Lake area will be closed.

Manitoba Parks has ordered the evacuation of Whiteshell Provincial Park’s Betula Lake area, including all cottage subdivisions, commercial area, group use, day use, recreational and picnic areas, playgrounds, trails and beaches.

A storm system Thursday through Friday dropped more rain across the waterlogged region.

Environment Canada says at the Kenora Airport, 22.5 mm of rain fell during the rainfall warning Thursday and Friday.

This brings the total rainfall in Kenora for May to 130.1 mm, well above the average monthly rainfall of 80.8 mm.

The rainfall record for May was set in 2007 when 215 mm of rain fell.

With 11 days left in the month, many are worried that the Kenora area will set back-to-back records for the wettest month of record.