Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Kenora Redneck Festival on hold

Plans to hold a Redneck Festival in the City of Kenora this October have been put on hold by city council.

Councillor Rory McMillan says he has concerns about the actual name of the event, while Chris Van Wallenghem doesn't like the fact the citycould be on the hook for the 20 thousand dollar start up fee.

City staff have been working on the Redneck Festival and planned to hold it the first weekend of October.

Council says it wants more information before proceeding with plans for the new event.

Hampton on Abitibi

Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says everyone in northwestern Ontario should be concerned with the closing of Abitibi-Bowater's two paper machines at its Thunder Bay mill.

Last week's announcement put more than 325 people out of work.

Hampton says a lack of a provincial strategy for the forest industry will only lead to further closurers in the future.

Hampton says unless the situation changes, Ontario could be left with only one or two mills.

Summer School for Teachers

Elementary School teachers from across Northwestern Ontario are attending summer school this week in Kenora.

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board teachers will be upgrading their professional skills, with a focus on teaching math.

Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Spokesperson Anne Saltel says across the Province over 2 thousand teachers are taking part in the summer academy.

A Kenora Elementary School Teacher is travelling to Southern Ontario to teach their educators about Northwestern Ontario's literacy techniques.

Anthony Rota visits Kenora

The National Caucus Chair for the Liberal Party paid a visit to Kenora yesterday.

Anthony Rota is touring the Kenora Riding with federal liberal candidate Roger Valley, and
Winnipeg area MP Anita Neville.

Rota wants FEDNOR to become an independent stand alone agency.

Rota feels the current Conservative Government is treating Northwestern Ontario residents as second class citizens.

Town Island Exchange

The City of Kenora is trying to work out a property swap with theMinistry of Natural Resources for Town Island on Lake of the Woods.

The municipality has owned the island since 1895, and did a study of the property last year to decide what to do with it.

Councillor Dave McCann says one of the benefits of the agreement is that Town Island would not be developed any further.

McCann says the city is going to get an appraisal done on the island and will be looking to swap with the MNR property of a similar value in the City of Kenora.

He suggests it could take several months to work out the details of the property swap.