With it being the 11th day of the second month of the year, the organization is celebrating what it’s declaring 211 day.
Dialing 211 is a way for residents to gain access to provincially funded services.
The free number has information on government, health, community and social services. This is a non-emergency line only.
211 can be accessed by phone, chat, text or email in more than 150 languages.
The main objective for the free service is for people who are experiencing hardship, are feeling concerned about a family member or friend, to call 211 and can easily gain access to more information about resources in their area.
Expect a dip in how much you pay when you fill up your vehicle.
With fall set to start Wednesday, September 22, the winter blend of gasoline will flow as the Canada market mimics what the United States does with oil.
The Head of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan tells Acadia News that between June 1st and September 15th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates gasoline to ease emissions in the warmer months.
“It may bring a relief by the end of the month between three to five cents a litre,” says De Haan. “The relief may take a while to realize because of the hurricanes that have impacted several key refining hubs in the United States and oil production.”
De Haan admits this summer was abnormal as compared to 2020.
“Because of what COVID-19 brought last summer, Canadians stayed far closer to home, which reduced demand and as result oil companies lowered production. This summer, on an account potentially of the vaccine boosting consumer confidence and bringing down cases at least early on, Canadians got out in very significant numbers, as a result of oil companies that had just trimmed production last year, we saw a very remarkable jump in demand which was not accompanied by an increase in supply.”
According to GasBuddy the price in Thunder Bay at most stations Wednesday is close to 147 a litre although there are a few that sell it for as low as 121.6.
Stations in Kenora and Dryden sell fuel for 141.9 while the Fort Frances price remains at 147 a litre.
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of the Lac Seul First Nation, determining $30 million is not enough to account for the loss of their reserve land without considerations being given to the land’s value to the hydroelectricity project.
In 2017, Lac Seul originally sought over $500-million in compensation and damages.
The case sparked from part of the Lac Seul First Nation reserve land being flooded for a hydroelectricity project that began in the late 1920s. The project involved the governments of Manitoba, Ontario, and Canada.
Justice Andromache Karakstanis ordered the case to return to the Federal Court where the compensation will be reassessed. Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Abella, Moldaver, Brown, Rowe, Martin, and Kasirer all agreed.
Justice Suzanne Côté disagreed, believing the trial judge made no mistake when determining the $30 million compensation.
The majority of the judges stated:
“17% of the LSFN Reserve — 11,304 acres or approximately 4,575 hectares — is now permanently flooded. Homes were destroyed, as were wild rice fields, gardens, haylands, and gravesites. Fishing, hunting, and trapping were all impacted. The community was separated because one part of the reserve became an island. And, despite the sacrifices suffered by the community to make the hydroelectricity project possible, the reserve was not provided with electricity until the 1980s.”
Those that agreed there needed to be a greater compensation cited Canada’s “fiduciary duty” towards Indigenous people. This means the nation needs to act with in the best interest of Indigenous Peoples, especially if it concerns reserve land.
The 2021/2022 hockey season is just around the corner.
Barring any potential COVID-19 restrictions, the U18 ‘AAA’ Kenora Thistles have set the dates for both their ID camp and their main selection camp.
Scott Parsons is headed into his second season as the head coach of the team and says the ID camp is a great chance to make an impression on the coaching staff.
“Last year we didn’t get to travel around and take a look at some of the players that are moving up from the U15 level,” says Parsons, “So it’s really good for players to come out, shake some rust off and get noticed. There’s not much in terms of expectations (at ID camp).”
He tells us the main selection camp for the club will come two weeks later.
“The majority of our team will be picked that weekend. That weekend we’re going to be getting down to the real nitty-gritty when we have to make our selections for the 20 spots that are available.”
The ID camp, which costs $50, will take place from July 31st to August 1st.
The main camp runs from August 13th through to August 15th and will cost $100 per player.
Both the ID camp and the main camp will take place at the Keewatin Memorial Arena, and are for players born in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting one new confirmed case of COVID-19 Monday morning within their catchment area.
The new positive test result, which is from the Kenora region, comes after a weekend that saw 20 new cases within the health unit’s catchment area.
Even though the number of confirmed cases for the NWHU did go up and now sits at 579 there is some good news as the total number of active cases is down to 75 (it was as high as 88 over the weekend).
The number of recovered cases within the Northwestern Health Unit now sits at 504.
Meanwhile another person has died from the coronavirus in the Thunder Bay District.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reports 51 new COVID-19 cases today bringing the active case count to 446.
Thirty-eight people have now died from the virus in the district since the pandemic began one year ago.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is reporting 44 patients have been admitted who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Five are from the Kenora region, while there is one each from the Sioux Lookout and Dryden/Red Lake regions.
The NWHU says that follow-up with close contacts is now underway and that if you are a close contact they will contact you directly.
Despite the new cases, the Health Unit says that as of Wednesday morning there are 39 active cases in their catchment area. That number is down from the 41 reported on Tuesday.
Of those cases, 23 are in the Kenora area, 15 in the Sioux Lookout region and one in Dryden/Red Lake.
Since the start of the pandemic there have been 71,708 tests conducted for the NWHU, with 71,221 (99.32 per-cent) coming back as negative.
From the 487 confirmed cases, 448 are considered resolved.
The Rotary Club of Dryden is looking at launching ‘The Free Reading Program’ for students on their website.
Literacy Chair with the Rotary Club Lucille Ayers gave a presentation about the online program at the club’s virtual meeting on Wednesday.
‘Our executive has expressed interest in signing up as a host. ‘The Free Reading Program’ is a registered non profit organization that began 4 years ago as a pilot project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough.
The Rotary Club of Scarborough and ‘The Free Reading Program’ has helped upwards of 72 thousand of young readers since.
The program contains thousands of activities and Ayers explains the goal of the program.
“The program is free for students in reading levels K-6. It’s designed to supplement and reinforce fundamental reading skills. Students can gain access to it through a host rotary website.”
Ayers says a big advantage of the program is it’s free for rotary clubs to become a host of the program.
“All they require is the club’s logo. The club will receive branded portal access to the program with personalized pages and a link to the programs website, that can be posted on the club’s website.”
Ayers notes it can also be used by parents or those involved in literacy.
Several rotary members agreed the timing would be perfect, as many students are learning virtual this year due to COVID-19.
Next steps for the rotary club include promotion and gauging if there’s interest in the community to have this tool available on their website.
Ayers joined the Rotary club in December and has brought her passion for teaching and literacy, as she continues to volunteer at the Dryden Public Library.
The Free Reading Program was made to help address the immense need to impact literacy rates around the world and in communities.
To learn more about the Free Reading Program, watch the video below.
The Dryden Police Service is requesting assistance from the public regarding a break and enter.
On Tuesday, October 6 around 4:16 a.m. a break in was reported at a business located in the 100 block of Whyte Avenue.
Police say suspects got away with valuable clothing items.
Anyone who may have seen individuals on Whyte Avenue between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6 is asked to contact the Dryden Police Service at 807-223-3281 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
The first ever Dryden Fall Fest is just one weekend away and volunteers are working hard assure the community Dryden’s first Fall Fest will be safe to attend.
Organizer, Laina Smith was a guest on the CKDR morning show today and she says they’ve been working closely with the Northwestern Health Unit on health and safety guidelines.
“Some of our safety precautions that we are taking are that volunteers and vendors will be trained on public health protocols and wearing masks. Sanitizing stations will be throughout every event, every event is one way traffic, there will be occupancy control in place. Vendors and trunks for all events will be provided a vest practices COVID work sheet to ensure everyone knows how to keep the fun but also keep the distance and sanitization protocols.”
Some events, including the Treats and Trees Walk on the first day of events Saturday October 17, will also have timed entry to ensure there’s physical distancing between groups.
Dryden Fall Fest Facebook Page
Smith warns that one of their most anticipated events, the Laura Howe Haunt will be scary.
“This is not a kid friendly event, we are suggesting n age limit of 13 or above. It’s a timed walk through the marsh that starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.”
Smith suggests to come right away or early to secure your spot in the event Saturday October 24.
Another event that’s highly anticipated on Halloween night is Trunk or Treat.
Smith explains how the event on October 31 will work.
“This is going to be a secured event, only one hundred people in at a time. It’s going to be a lot of fun and great for younger crowds because it starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.”
Smith adds there’s only a few spots left for trunks and to sign up you can email laurahowehaunt@gmail.com.
The Fall Fest has a passionate group of volunteers, Smith stresses, that can’t wait for the community to enjoy all their hard work.
“We are working diligently and are having communication with all our volunteers to make sure they understand all our protocols. I want to just assure the public that our team is working really hard to prepare and safely welcome everyone to Dryden’s first Fall Fest.”
The first event is Harvest Hay Day which takes place on Saturday October 17, full of vendors, contests and treats.
To read more about Dryden Fall Fest health and safety precautions in light of COVID-19, click here.
To hear the full interview with Laina Smith click the audio below:
Terry Fox Week activities are underway at local schools and Open Roads in Dryden has found a way to honour the legacy of Canadian Terry Fox, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff and students have raised over 5 hundred dollars this year for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Terry Fox Committee member at Open Roads, Heather Friesen was a guest on the CKDR morning show.
Since the school surpassed their goal, Friesen explains what Principal Tanis Mitani Oberg and Vice Principal Terri Jackson have agreed to do Tuesday night.
“We made a deal with our principals, they will be tenting out on the front lawn so we called it ‘Tenting For Terry’. They are about to spend a chill evening in their two tents, all in the name of cancer research.”
Open Roads will also complete the annual walk on Friday for it’s 40th anniversary.
Friesen explains how the walk will look different this year, to keep students and staff safe.
“Classes will be going out individually at individual times. We don’t’ get to come together in the same capacity that we have in the past or do a whole school walk. But classes will still be going around the community, getting their exercise and keeping Terry’s dream alive.”
Friesen adds even though they have to keep their distance, the goal remains the same.
“We encourage everyone to share the link with their family and friends (to donate). We’re still hoping to raise a lot more, because the more money we raise the more people we can help.”
Other activities at Open Roads this week will include a pyjama day and red shirt day.
If you would like to donate to Open Road’s fundraiser, you can click the link here.
Terry Fox Week is October 5-9 when schools reflect on Terry’s Marathon of Hope, take part in the annual Terry Fox walk and participate in other activities to raise money for cancer research.
Over 24-thousand dollars has been raised by Open Roads School since the inception of the Terry Fox Run (2011) and other fundraising school activities.
To hear more from Heather Friesen click the audio below.
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