Kenora

The driver of a tractor-trailer unit has been charged with careless driving following a weekend rollover of a cattle truck, on Highway 17.

The incident occurred near Raven Lake Road, shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday, when the eastbound tractor-trailer unit left the roadway and entered the ditch rolling over.

The driver was assessed by paramedics but was not injured in the rollover, however, several animals on board were killed and others were later transferred to other trucks.

Despite the charge, an OPP spokesperson says the collision remains under investigation.

Gloria Johnson (Saunders) born February 25th, 1953 in Winnipeg, Manitoba passed away peacefully on January 16th, 2023 surrounded by family and friends in Kenora, Ontario. 

She was a loving mother and wife as well as a pillar of support to her community and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Gloria lived an adventurous life and was an avid traveller who made many homes throughout her life including Winnipeg, Toronto, Mississauga, Powassan, Cape Breton Island, and finally settling in Kenora. 

Four members of city council are in Toronto for the next couple of days taking in the first big municipal conference of the year.

Mayor Andrew Poirier says they have a couple of meetings set up today and tomorrow with provincial cabinet ministers at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto.

He says one of their big focuses at ROMA is infrastructure funding.

“We’re going to keep pursuing that avenue…they are going to keep hearing from us time and time again,” says Poirier.

Dryden residents are receiving notice of a by-election to elect a trustee to the Keewatin-Patrica District School Board.

The election replaces last October’s vote which was stopped because of voting irregularities.

Some voters received credentials from both the City of Dryden and the Keewatin Patricia District School Board, allowing them to cast multiple votes.

Voting in the new election will begin on January 30th online, ending on February 6th.

Barbara Gauthier and Judi Green remain on the ballot as candidates.

There will be a new face leading Lakehead University, Dr. Gillian Siddall has been tapped to become the 9th President and Vice – Chancellor starting July 1st.

Siddall first joined Lakehead University 17 years ago in its Department of English, before going on to become the founding director of the University’s Teaching and Learning Centre and later served as Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities for six years.

Since 2018 she has served as the President of Emily Car University of Art + Design in Vancouver.

A tough weekend for the Kenora U18 AAA Thistles.

Yesterday they were dropped 6-4 by the Southwest Cougars.

Emerson Evans had a pair of goals in that game, had another one Saturday night in another 6-4 loss to the Cougars.

Nick Fagnilli had a pair of games in Saturday’s game.

The Kenora Sharks Swim Club were in Selkirk over the weekend for the Dolphin Freeze Invitational.

The Sharks took 17 swimmers to the meet and came away with a number of medals.

The City of Kenora is being asked to cough up a little more for health care recruitment.

The city is currently one of six partners in the Kenora Area Physician Recruitment Committee.

Ray Racette is president and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital and a member of the committee, and he says they need the extra money to be able to compete with other jurisdictions.

“Our spending within professional recruitment is about $150,000 a year,” Racette told city council during his budget presentation for the Kenora Area Physician Recruitment Committee.

The MPP for Kiiwetinoong sees the discovery of potential burial sites at a former residential site near Kenora as just the beginning.

A total of 171 potential sites were discovered during testing at Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation since last May.

Sol Mamakwa says the discovery is further proof that the governments must continue working with First Nations to find all children who attend residential schools.

The Ford Government continues to work on ways to fix Ontario's healthcare system, specifically within recruiting and retaining health professionals.

Today the province has announced it will be expanding its Learn and Stay Grant which will launch again this spring for the 2023 school year and is committing $61 million over the next three years.

The funding will target 2500 post-secondary students who enroll in specific programs in the following regions:

Almost a clean sweep for Beaver Brae court sports teams on Pep Rally day.

The Broncos took three of four games against the Muskies at home yesterday.

The Beaver Brae Broncos boys' basketball teams won both their games yesterday against the Fort Frances Muskies.

The Bronco junior boys nipped the Muskies 50-48.

Another close score in the senior game as Beaver Brae got by Fort 44-36.