Kenora

Northwestern Ontario residents are reminded that now is the time of the year that additional black bear sightings will be reported, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is offering a number of tips to keep you and your properties safe.

A black bear was pictured wandering around the Minto area of Kenora on September 8.

The MNRF says to help avoid bear encounters in your neighbourhood, follow these Bear Wise tips:

Police in northwestern Ontario are looking into the suspicious death of a Whitefish Bay First Nation member after the discovery of their remains in a separate community.

The North West Region OPP and Treaty Three Police say 45-year-old Buifford Cowley was reported missing from Whitefish Bay on September 4.

The 1st Annual Ladies' Open 18-hole Golf Tournament in support of cancer awareness is coming up. 

This tournament is a first of its kind, which was influenced by a local family. 

"Sadly the McDonald family lost their wife and mother Anchilla to cancer this year. Her daughter Aimee and I have been talking about running a tournament in memory of her and all of those who lost loved ones to this terrible disease," says organizer Megan Derouard. 

This Sunday marks the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and the Lake of the Woods Speedway will be honouring Emergency Responders on the day.

Barry Bennett is the track’s Pit Marshall.

Kenora’s Pinecrest remains under COVID-19 outbreak measures, but staff say the situation is improving.

Leadership with Grand Council Treaty #3 is asking Canadians across the country to keep the 28 victims of this weekend's attacks in James Smith Cree Nation in their prayers, after the capture and death of 32-year-old suspect Myles Sanderson on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says after a slow summer season, northwestern Ontario’s forest fire risk is rising.

There were hugs, tears and calls for change Thursday as Indigenous leaders gathered on the James Smith Cree Nation — a Saskatchewan community struck by a deadly mass stabbing.

Darryl Burns, whose sister was killed in the attacks Sunday, hugged Skye Sanderson, the wife of Damien Sanderson, a suspect found dead the day after the killings.

"Our family is here to forgive," Burns said. 

Forgiveness has been important to Indigenous people long before colonization, Burns added.

As momentous as the death of Queen Elizabeth II may be after her 70 years on the throne, it's pretty much business as usual in terms of Canada's governance.

The monarch remains the constitutional head of state in this country, no matter who is filling the role at any given time, says Philippe Lagassé, an associate professor of international affairs at Carleton University and an expert on the role of the Crown in the Westminster system of government.

Canadians are used to seeing Queen Elizabeth II on our money.

But this could change following the death of the longest-serving British monarch and Canadian head of state.

However, the Bank of Canada, which produces Canada's paper bills, says changes likely won't be seen immediately. 

It says the current $20 bank note, which features the Queen, is intended to circulate for years to come.

The central bank says there is no legislative requirement to change the design within a prescribed period when the monarch changes.