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Pickle Lake

Pickle Lake nears goal for new water tower

The Township of Pickle Lake has secured $5.9 million in funds from the province for a new water tower.

Mayor James Dalzell announced the funding on Thursday. The grant comes from Ontario’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, specifically the Health and Safety Water Stream.

Pickle Lake is now two thirds of the way towards their funding goal of $8.2 million.

“The urgency on this is the water tower is currently 50 years old. It was built in 1976,” said Town Manager Lynda Colby. “Kudos to previous council and administration, they had done everything they could with respect to asset rehabilitation. But now, unfortunately, there’s nothing else to do other than a completely new build. It’s at the end of its life.”

Back in the ’70s, this tower could hold around 250,000 gallons of water. It’s holding about 100,000 gallons now.

The limited capacity is a major barrier to Pickle Lake’s growth.

“We could have the opportunity of adding approximately 40 additional lots in the trailer loops, but until we get our water situation straightened out, we’re limited to expanding that way,” Colby said. “We’d like to do infrastructure expansion as well. We have surplus properties that are not service lots, and we’d like to service those.”

Colby said city staff will be lobbying government hard for the final $2.3 million, but there are some things the city can start to do now with these funds.

“We’ll start the process of land amalgamation near the existing water tower,” she said. “We have adjacent land that abuts to where the water tower currently sits, and we have a bunch of clearing to do.”

The $5.9 million also allows for a Transfer Payment Agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure, allowing critical pre-construction and design work to proceed.

“This funding is a major step forward for Pickle Lake,” said Mayor Dalzell. “An investment of nearly $6 million from the province recognizes both the urgency of our infrastructure needs and the importance of Pickle Lake as a northern service hub. This project is about protecting public health today while positioning our community for housing growth, workforce attraction, and long term economic development.”

Mayor Dalzell has been in conversation with Kenora MP Eric Melillo about securing the additional funding.

“Township staff are currently completing the required Initial Project Report and compliance attestations as part of the Ministry’s process to finalize the agreement. Once executed, the project will proceed to the design and engineering phase in accordance with provincial timelines, regulatory requirements, and Indigenous Duty to Consult obligations,” the Township of Pickle Lake said in a press release.

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Mayors Address High Policing Costs At ROMA

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Nothing in writing, but the mayors of Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Pickle Lake feel they are getting closer to a deal on policing with the
province.

The three municipalities formed a coalition of police cost last April.

Mayor Andrew Poirier says they had productive meetings with the Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, on Monday.

“Following that meeting, which was a good dialogue, we asked for some additional time, if possible, so we had a follow up meeting with the minister and a couple of his advisors,” said Poirier in attendance at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto.

“From that meeting, we agreed to continue our dialogue.”

Poirier is hopeful there might be a solution to the high policing costs.

“We agreed to continue our dialogue over the next three weeks, and we’re going to possibly have discussions during that time, hopefully to find a temporary solution to our exorbitant policing costs.”

He says these three communities have the highest cost for policing per capita in the province.

Poirier is hopeful the province will offer a solution this year, even before it starts a review the overall municipal policing cost formula.

 

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Policing Coalition Hopes For Solution From Province

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Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Pickle Lake are hoping the province has a solution to their high policing costs.

The mayors of three communities have a meeting set up with the new Solicitor General next week at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference.

The average cost of policing in these three municipalities is three times that of other communities in Ontario.

The coalition was formed ten months ago and since then they have met with officials from the OPP, ministry staff and the minister on the years long crisis.

They have developed options and discussed possible solution to bring policing costs in-line with the rest of Ontario, but the province has not proposed any firm resolution to their demands.

“We are cautiously optimistic that Minister Kerzner will be coming to the table with a solution”, said Sioux Lookout Doug Lawrance.

“This issue is not about the quality of OPP service, which has been excellent. This is about the financial burden on our local taxpayers which is unsustainable and has been so for many years. Our communities are relatively small, but our police costs are extraordinarily high.”

“Reducing the cost of policing so that we are in-line with other Ontario municipalities is a top priority for Kenora Council,” said Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirier.

“The current cost formula unfairly penalizes taxpayers for expenses that are out of our control.”

Pickle Lake Mayor James Dalzell said, “We need a long-term solution from the provincial government. This is what I am expecting from our meeting with the Solicitor General.”

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OPP In Pickle Lake Investigating Arson Cases

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A fire and an attempted fire has sparked a police investigation in Pickle Lake.

Provincial Police were called to a fire on Lakeview Crescent on Sunday around 2:30 in the morning.

Officers say the blaze is suspicious.

Police also responded to a second attempted arson on the same street after someone tried to light a vehicle on fire.

OPP say it’s not yet clear if the two incidents are related.

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Dog Dies In Hit And Run

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Public assistance is needed to find the driver of a hit and run incident in the Pickle Lake area.

Provincial Police were dispatched to a traffic complaint on July 19 on Highway 599 between Ace Lake and 10 Houses.

Police say southbound black pick-up truck swerved to hit a dog and almost struck three people walking on the highway.

As a result of the driver’s actions, the animal died.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Government Investing In Red Lake And Pickle Lake Roads

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The Town of Pickle Lake is benefiting from government funding.

The community is receiving funds for its road reconstruction project.

A major road will be reconstructed, regraded, widened and expanded to connect it to Highway 599.

Other work includes ditching and drainage improvements with the installation of seven culverts.

The feds are spending $1,878,750, while the province is investing $1,043,646.

The Municipality of Red Lake is also seeing some government funding.

The community is receiving funds to rehabilitate priority roads.

Existing roads and sidewalks will be upgraded and new sidewalks will be installed.

The feds are spending $2,932,166, while the province is investing $1,628,818.

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Pickle Lake Beach Closed For Algae Testing

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The Northwestern Health Unit has received reports of an algae bloom at Pickle Lake’s beach.

With that, the beach has been closed as the Ministry of Environment will be conducting tests.

The results are not yet known and the health unit urges residents to be cautious and treat it as if it is blue-green algae.

The health unit says some blue-green algae produce toxins and can pose a health risk to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large amounts.

With the water in the region warming there is an increased risk of blue green algae blooms.

Media Release – Blue Green … by Rayson Martyn on Scribd

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High Gold Prices Good For The Region

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With gold hitting near record prices a regional mining analyst suggests it can only be good for northwestern Ontario.

Currently gold is selling in the range of $1,800 an ounce.

John Mason indicates during a recession gold does well, and there is a lot of potential for the mineral in the northwest leaving junior mining companies the ability to raise money for exploration.

“We’re blessed with gold as a strong theme going forward in the northwest for the next few years that’s really going to help our employment and supply and service businesses,” says Mason.

However, Mason believes it will still take several years for some projects to become actual mines like the recently purchased Pickle Lake property by the Australian firm Auteco Minerals.

Mason point out, “Right now it’s an advanced exploration project so they’re several years away from a production decision at this particular point.”

He does think it makes sense for First Mining Gold of Vancouver to have sold the Pickle Crow Gold Project to Auteco.

Mason explains even though the area shows lots of promise the junior exploration company is busy enough with its flagship project northeast of Red Lake called Springpole Lake.

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Auteco Minerals Expanding Operations Near Pickle Lake

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Some potentially big news for Auteco Minerals and the mining industry in northwestern Ontario.

The Australian based company is ramping up exploration at its property east of Pickle Lake.

A maiden drilling program was launched last month at Pickle Crow and since then nine holes have been drilled.

Executive Chair Ray Shorrocks says they are adding a second rig to the property in July and expanding their drill program from 5,000 metres to 10,000.

A 24-man, all-season camp will be delivered to the area next week to support exploration activities.

Shorrocks stresses their findings indicate a significant, high-grade deposit with immense growth potential.

A company released says “Given the depth, width and grade of the deposit Auteco considers that the mineralization has a reasonable prospect of eventually being mined.”

Between 1935 and 1966, the Pickle Crow Mine produced 1.5 million ounces of gold at 16 grams per tonne.

The mine closed when the price of gold bottomed out at $35 US an ounce.

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OPP Welcome 5 New Constables

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The Provincial Police are welcoming five new officers to northwestern Ontario.
The Sioux Lookout OPP are proudly joined by Constable Steven DeLorenzi and Constable Seung Geon Yoo.
The OPP say Constable Haley Collinson, Constable Morganne Cornell and Constable Stephen Kirkpatrick are now working out of the Pickle Lake detachment.
The officers come from municipalities in southern Ontario, Thunder Bay and even South Korea.
All five say they look forward to meeting and becoming a part of the community.
Here is a bio of the five new members:
Provincial Constable Steven DeLorenzi is originally from Northwestern Ontario, born and raised in Thunder Bay. Previous to being hired with the OPP, he studied Political Science and Psychology at Lakehead University. He also worked for the City of Thunder Bay Parks Department, and for various youth programs in the city. In his spare time, PC DeLorenzi enjoys being active, playing sports and being outdoors. About his placement in Sioux Lookout, PC DeLorenzi advised “being born and raised in Thunder Bay, I don’t think there is a better place to start my career than in Northwestern Ontario. I’m proud to say that I’m coming to Sioux Lookout and look forward to meeting and becoming a part of the community”.
Provincial Constable Seung Geon Yoo is originally from South Korea, and moved to Canada approximately seven years ago. PC Yoo studied Psychology at a university in Korea and served in the Korean Military for two years. Since arriving in Canada, PC Yoo has worked as a Security Officer in Winnipeg, and earned a certificate from the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology and an honours diploma from Northwest Law Enforcement Academy. He spends his free time playing guitar and taking part in outdoor activities such as fishing, skiing, golfing, and camping. PC Yoo is looking forward to working in Sioux Lookout, so that he can play a role in making the community better by helping people.
Provincial Constable Haley Collinson is from a small town in Southern Ontario. She recently graduated from Trent University with a master’s degree in Forensic Science and completed a placement with Toronto Police Service in their Forensic Identification Lab. Throughout high school and university she worked part-time on a duck farm. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active through mountain biking and running. Constable Collinson is looking forward to starting her policing career in Pickle Lake and to being a part of the community she will be policing.
Provincial Constable Morganne Cornell is originally from Sheffield, Ontario, where she lived on a hobby farm. She attended Conestoga College and received a diploma from the Community and Justice Services program. She also worked as Security Supervisor at the Brantford Casino prior to being hired by the OPP. PC Cornell enjoys spending her free time in the outdoors, hiking, biking, swimming and enjoying everything Mother Nature has to offer. She looks forward to serving the community of Pickle Lake as she moves forward into her new career.
Provincial Constable Stephen Kirkpatrick is also from Southern Ontario. Constable Kirkpatrick completed an honours degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminology. Prior to being hired by the OPP, he worked as a Senior Arena Maintenance Worker with the City of Kawartha Lakes. In his spare time he likes to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Constable Kirkpatrick is excited to start his policing career in Pickle Lake, and looks forward to becoming a member of the community.

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