Northern Ontario

Joint Statement on Mercury Contamination for peoples of Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Independent Nations

On Friday, Premier Kathleen Wynne, along with Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray, met with Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister and David Suzuki. Minister Zimmer and Minister Murray have released the following joint statement: “Mercury contamination has had a profound impact on the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Independent Nations, and has to ...

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Minnesota Family Wins 2-Year Battle To Save Ontario Disability Camp

A husband and wife, and the disabled Navy veteran they care for, saw their fight to save Wilderness Discovery Resort For The Disabled in Shebandowan, Ontario, come to an end on Friday when the Ministry Of Infrastructure reached an agreement with four Thunder Bay civic organizations to renovate and operate the facility for at least the next 20 years. Kevin and Lorie ...

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Thunder Bay OPP Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Collision

On Friday, February 10, 2017 at approximately 6:34 pm, officers from the Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), as well as Thunder Bay Police Service, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue and Superior North Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responded to a report of a vehicle / pedestrian collision at the intersection of Highway 11/17 and Red River Road. A ...

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The Nipigon River Bridge failure… Who accepts responsibility for poor design, installation & who pays?

Oct 24, 2016 @ 08:49   The Nipigon River Bridge failed dramatically – the western side rose 60 centimeters midafternoon on January 10, 2016, and was closed immediately by Nipigon Ontario Provincial Police.  An estimated 200 metric tons (200 long tons; 220 short tons) of concrete jersey barriers were placed on the deck to hold it down, and the bridge reopened to one-lane, ...

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Nipigon River Bridge Timeline (September 22, 16:10 p.m.) – Weight Restrictions Lifted

Wawa-news will continue to update this article as information becomes available… Sep 22, 2016 @ 16:10 On September 22, 2016, the Ministry of Transportation provided an update on the investigation into the Nipigon River Bridge after it was unexpectedly closed earlier this year. The Minister of Transportation provided a Joint Statement on Nipigon River Bridge. More information and links to ...

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Update on the Nipigon River Bridge – Engineering Issues cause failure

Sep 22, 2016 @ 09:59   Today, Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, and Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North issued the following statement: “Earlier today, we visited the Nipigon River Bridge to provide an update on the investigation into what happened earlier this year and see first-hand how work is progressing. ...

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Body Discovered in Kenora – Identified as Delaine Copenace

Mar 22, 2016 @ 12:23 On Tuesday March 22, 2016, shortly after ‎8:00 a.m., officers from the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of suspected human remains being located at the end of Water Street in Lake of the Woods in the City of Kenora.  The remains were discovered by city employees. The investigation ...

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Nipigon River Bridge – Temporary Repairs Installed, But Why Did Bridge Fail?

Early Saturday morning the work was completed. The primary temporary repairs have been installed and tested. The MTO anticipates that additional short-term closures of 15 minutes or less may still occur throughout the weekend while necessary bridge repairs are undertaken in order to open the bridge to two lanes of traffic by the end of the month. It has taken ...

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The Nipigon River Bridge ‘an architectural masterpiece & engineering nightmare’

Was the building of the Nipigon River Bridge a waste of taxpayer monies in creating a “jewel of the north’. More show than form? Wawa-news has received information from a Professional Engineer who is very familiar with this type of structure, and in fact was the Structural Designer of world’s first Cable Stayed Post-Tensioned Steel Structure – Baxter Labs headquarters in ...

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Kenora OPP – Human Remains Identified as Delaine Copenace

Feb 1, 2018 @ 20:05 On Tuesday March 22, 2016, shortly after ‎8:00 a.m., officers from the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of suspected human remains being located at the end of Water Street in Lake of the Woods in the City of Kenora.  The remains were discovered by city employees. The investigation ...

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Gates – Northerners deserve weekly progress reports on Nipigon bridge repairs

Wayne Gates, Ontario NDP Transportation Critic, sent the following open letter to the Minister of Transportation regarding the status of the Nipigon bridge repairs. January 29th, 2016 Honourable Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca Ministry of Transportation 77 Wellesley Street West Ferguson Block, 3rd Floor Toronto, ON M7A 1Z8 RE: Minister Del Duca, I am writing this letter in the ...

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Hughes – Failing infrastructure severs vital transportation link

By now we have grown accustomed to the compelling arguments in favour of re-investing in Canada’s crumbling infrastructure, but what are we to make of the damage to the bridge over the Nipigon River which is new and not even fully constructed? In case you missed the story, the bridge failed recently when bolts holding the structure to the western ...

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MTO – Highway 11/17 at Nipigon River Bridge UPDATE

Jan 11, 2016 @ 09:41 – The Ministry of Transportation advises the motoring public that Highway 11/17, at the Nipigon River Bridge is open to single lane traffic.   Safety is our top priority.  Motorists are reminded to obey and follow all traffic signage and flag persons for the safety of both workers and drivers. Please reduce your speed when approaching the bridge ...

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Nipigon OPP – Nipigon River Bridge CLOSED

On January 10, 2016 at approximately 3:15 PM police received a report that the Nipigon River Bridge on Highway 11-17 had lifted, blocking traffic. Police arrived on scene and noted the west side of the bridge had lifted approximately 60 centimetres.  No injuries or vehicle damage occurred as a result of this incident. The bridge is currently closed to vehicle ...

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