Kenora

Officers with the Kenora OPP are investigating the circumstances surrounding a sudden death in downtown Kenora.

Community Service Officer Jason Canfield explains police were alerted to a potential body in the Harbourfront’s south parking lot early this morning, behind a ticket booth for MS Kenora.

“We got called to an unresponsive male,” he says. “We attended, and right now, it’s a sudden death. At this point, it’s non-suspicious. We’ll be here investigating.”  

Leadership with the City of Kenora say they’ll be lobbying provincial and federal ministers for additional mental health supports, dedicated infrastructure funding and a reduction in policing costs next week.

The City of Kenora says Mayor Andrew Poirier will join Councillors Kelsie Van Belleghem, Bob Bernie and Barbara Manson as the city’s delegation to the 2023 Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto as they meet with provincial and federal ministers on several major items for the community.

If you are a residential school survivor, you can contact the 24-hour National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 for support. Indigenous people can also access the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca.


Leaders from across northwestern Ontario are coming together to offer their support to community members of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, after the discovery of 171 potential graves on the former St. Mary’s Indian Residential School site.

Grant Sutherland
November 6, 1944 – January 14, 2023

Hearts are heavy to announce the passing of Grant Sutherland, who passed peacefully with family by his side. Grant was a compassionate, spontaneous and loyal soul who could warm your heart with his smile and generous nature. Grant lived in the silver linings of dementia, not allowing the disease to hold him back from his best life. He let nothing slow him down and continued to love having adventures. 

There are a pair of games tonight in the SIJHL, including a battle between the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and the Sioux Lookout Bombers in Sioux Lookout.

The Dogs are two points up on the Bombers in the tight race for the second, third and fourth spots in the standings.

The Bombers are 4-0-1-0 in their last five games.

The two teams have split six previous games this season. The last was on December 17, a 2-1 overtime win for the Bombers in Sioux Lookout.

Kenora city council is looking to begin the planning process for the municipal budget.

Tonight, at the open meeting of council, organizations that receive money from the city are being asked to make their annual pitch.

That includes the Library, the Muse, Triple Play and Handi-Transit.

Tonight’s meeting is scheduled for 5:00 in council chambers.

In the past, the open meeting was held once a month at noon.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is trying to find solutions to the safety situation in downtown Kenora.

Andy Scribilo says they met with mayor Andrew Poirier last week to discuss the situation.

“There is no one solution right now that is going to fix the problem, but we have to start somewhere,” says Scribilo.

“With the policing, that is one big part of the solution….is the police presence downtown. In fact, in the whole community, I see they are starting up Neighborhood Watches.”

Scribilo adds they can’t change the situation by themselves.

Councillors in Dryden are hoping to keep their costs under control in the coming years as they face an upcoming property tax levy increase.

Mayor Jack Harrison and fellow Council members met at City Hall earlier this month to look over the city’s proposed 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets.

Canada’s inflation rate slowed in December to its lowest rate in almost a year, according to Statistics Canada.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 6.3 per cent last month, down from 6.8 per cent in November.

“The headline CPI grew at a slower pace largely due to slower growth in prices for gasoline,” StatCan said in its report.