Kenora

The current batch of Kenora city councillors are hoping to get the ball rolling to eventually replace and install a new playground at the Coney Island beach.

In a Special Meeting of Council on October 25, Director of Community Services, Stace Gander, was seeking council’s approval to send in an application to the Enabling Accessibility Fund for up to $149,999 to support the development of a new accessible playground on Coney Island.

The Kenora Under 18 AAA Thistles will be on the road today. They're off to Beausejour to take on the Eastman Selects at Sun Go Centre. Kenora is coming off a 4-1 win against Beausejour last week. The Thistles sit at 2 and 7 for the season.

The Sioux Lookout Bombers are looking for their third straight win tonight as they host the Red Lake Miners in SIJHL action. Bombers sit 4th in the League at 5 and 3, while Red Lake is in 5th with 4-5-and-1.

It was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of voter turnout in the 2022 Municipal Election in northwestern Ontario.

On average, communities typically report around a 50 per cent voter turnout in most municipal elections. In the region, about half of our communities were able to hit the halfway mark.

In Kenora, the city reports that 5,962 residents voted for a 53.5 per cent turnout. Mayor Andrew Poirier received 64 per cent of the votes for his seat, while Barb Manson received the most votes for the Councillor position with 11.8 per cent.

Statistics Canada says 34.6 per cent of people in this country have no religious affiliation — more than ever before.

The last time Canadians were surveyed on religion, in 2011, 23.9 per cent selected "no religion."

The latest tranche of data from the 2021 Census also shows the highest proportion of the population — 53.3 per cent — identifies as Christian, but that is down from 67.3 per cent in 2011.

StatCan says last year's survey presents the most comprehensive portrait of Canadians' religious affiliations to date.

The latest release of 2021 census data shows immigrants make up nearly a quarter of all people in Canada, and are projected to represent a third of people in the country by 2041.

Immigration now makes up the largest portion of the population since Confederation, with more than 8.3 million people in the country who were, or had ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident.

Statistics Canada says immigration is the main driver of population growth, in part because of the aging population and low fertility rates in the country. 

The Northwestern Health Unit is encouraging residents to get their flu shot after confirmed cases have been found in the region. 

Influenza has been confirmed in the Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, and Kenora areas. It is certain that others in the region have also been infected and that influenza is now a risk in all communities in northwestern Ontario.

150 sawmill workers in Ear Falls have a new tentative contract to sign.

Unifor Local 324 and Interfor say they’ve reached a new agreement for over 150 maintenance, production and woodyard employees at the Ear Falls Sawmill.

However, no details on the new deal are being released until membership meetings take place on November 6 in Dryden and November 7 in Ear Falls.

Drivers in Kenora are warned of two road closures in the Ninth Street North area causing delays today and tomorrow.

Another night of Special Olympics Bowling has wrapped up in Kenora.

Kevin Fournier led the men with 171. Behind him was Andrew Gordon with 160, Allen Adams with 159 and MVP of the night Drake Loon with 93.

For the women, Tara Creason had the top score with 167. She was followed by Alisabeth Pattison with 146, Mary Sandy with 144 and MVP Ava Keewatin with 130.

The Jets came through for their sick head coach.

Defenceman Josh Morrisey set up two goals as Winnipeg defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-0 at Canada Life Centre with head coach Rick Bowness nursing an illness at home on Monday.

Morrissey assisted on goals by forwards Sam Gagner and Mark Scheifele. Forwards Morgan Barron and Cole Perfetti, into an empty net, also scored.

Blues netminder Thomas Greiss stopped 41 of 44 shots.

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for his first shutout of the NHL season.