Tim Davidson

The Bearskin Lake First Nation is the latest community to add an Emergency First Response Team.

Working with Ornge Air Ambulance, local responders are trained in advanced first aid and CPR.

They are also able to provide patient transfer from the individual’s home or community health clinic to the airport.

“This program gives us the tools, training, and confidence to respond when urgent situations arise,” said Chief Leon Marshall Beardy.

“It’s about protecting our families and making sure emergency care is available when every minute counts.”

In addition to training, Ornge provides medical equipment including Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), stretchers, and other essential supplies.

The Dryden Native Friendship Center is breathing a sigh of relief.

The federal government has come up with $168 million over five years for native friendship centers across Canada.

Karen Smith is the executive director of the Dryden center and says the funding is more than welcome.

“It covers everything from our hydro, to building maintenance to our receptionist,” explains Smith.

“So, if we didn’t receive this funding, we were expecting pretty significant cuts, which would dip into our program costs. This just keeps everything running smoothly for us.”

Smith adds that it’s important that this is a multi-year funding announcement.

“It’s a big thing. It hard going year to year. As an executive director, worrying about where we have to cut. We were looking at the potential of having to let go at least one staff…now we don’t have to worry about that, for at least five years…hopefully.

Smith says the funding was announced on Friday, but they still don’t know how much money they will be getting.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is giving a big thumbs up to the provincial budget.

The budget was released last Thursday.

The Chamber says the fiscal document contains a number of items that will benefit small business and local residents.

That includes a drop of one percent in the Corporate Tax Rate for small business and the elimination of the HST on new homes.

The budget also includes $9.4 million over three years to renew a program for entrepreneurship grants like the Summer Company and Starter Company Plus programs.

The Chamber also applauds the $4 billion dollar Protect Ontario Account Fund which is dedicated to supporting new industries by crowding in private and pension capital.

Chamber president Tim Gosnell says “the budget is a meaningful step toward strengthening the foundation for small business growth across Northwestern Ontario.”

He adds that “while challenges remain, this budget demonstrates a clear commitment to supporting economic stability and long-term growth in communities like ours.”

The Grassy Narrow and Wabaseemoong First Nations held a rally in Toronto this morning.

They were demanding the provincial government compensate the communities for decades of mercury poisoning.

The First Nations say mercury poisoning has had a devastating impact on their health, economy and their culture.

The Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong First Nations brought their chiefs, councillors, elders, youth and other supporters to the rally.

In addition to compensation, they want the Dryden Pulp Mill, responsible for the mercury contamination, to be shut down.

The rally took place in front of the Royal York Hotel where prime minister Mark Carney and premier Doug Ford were meeting.

(Photo from Free Grassy’s Facebook page)

Play-off matchups for the semi-finals in the Superior International Junior Hockey League are all set.

The Dryden GM Ice Dogs will host the Thunder Bay North Stars in a best-of-seven series starting on Friday.

Dryden will be the home team for the first two games of the series, before it shifts to Thunder Bay.

The other series will feature the Fort Frances Lakers, who had a first round bye, taking on the Kam River Fighting Walleye.

Kam River finished off the series with the Sioux Lookout Bombers on Friday with a 6-2 victory.

The Fighting Walleye won the series 4-1.

Games one and two will be in Fort Frances at the Ice for Kids Arena this Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Last Chance Tournament wrapped up in Dryden over the weekend.

The Kenora Voodoo took top honours in the 45+ age division beating the Kenora NHL’ers 6-4 in the final.

The Dragoons won the 35+ age group, edging Atikokan 3-2 in a shootout in the championship game.

The Dryden Inferno were the ladies’ champs shutting out the Shoal Lake Flyers 2-0 in the final.

There are more than 400,000 people this year included on the Sunshine List.

That’s a register of people making more than $100,000 a year.

That’s a seven percent jump from 2024.

One of the top wage earners in the region was Dr. Kit Young Hoon, the Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit at $349,000.

President and CEO of the Dryden Regional Health Center, Doreen Armstrong-Ross earned $231,000 in 2025.

The CAO of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, Brian McKinnon made $223,000 while Roger Nesbitt, the CAO of the City of Dryden was at $216,000.

The Directors of Education of the local school Boards, Jackie Robinson was at almost $198,000 at the Northwest Catholic Board and Christy Radbourne at the Keewatin-Patricia Board, earned $203,000 last year.

There are more than 400,000 people this year included on the Sunshine List.

That’s a register of people making more than $100,000 a year.

That’s a seven percent jump from 2024.

Doctors were at the top of the list with Jillie Retson, Medical Director at the Kenora Chiefs Advisory at $408,000.

Dr. Kit Young Hoon, the Medical Officer of Health for the region, comes in at $349,000.

The co-CAO’s of the city of Kenora in 2025, Heather Pihulak and Stace Gander made $192,000.

Cheryl O’Flaherty, the President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital earned $254,000.

The Directors of Education of the local school Boards, Jamey Robertson was at $180,000 at the Kenora Catholic Board and Christy Radbourne at the Keewatin-Patricia Board, earned $203,000 last year.

The Government of Canada has appointed a number of new judges, including in Kenora.

Cheryl Siran has been selected to take over as Judge in the Superior Court of Justice.

She replaces justice John Fregeau, who continues to work half time as a supernumerary judge.

Siran is currently a partner at Hook, Seller and Lundin in Kenora.

Fregeau has been a supernumerary judge since October of 2025.

Two first round series in the Superior International Junior Hockey League have wrapped up.

The Dryden GM Ice Dogs took down the Red Lake Miners in four straight games.

The Ice Dogs capped the series 5-0 Thursday night.

The Thunder Bay North Stars also swept their first-round playoff series with the Ironwood Lumberjacks.

The North Stars blanked the Lumberjacks Thursday night 8-0 to win that series four games to none.

The only other series features the Kam River Fighting Walleye, who are up three games to one on the Sioux Lookout Bombers.

Game five is tonight at the home of Kam River.

The OPP have laid charges as a result a two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 between Ignace and Shabaqua Corners.

The Trans-Canada Highway was closed for almost 12 hours on Wednesday because of the crash.

Police say a 33-year-old man from Winnipeg has been charged with careless driving.

One person had to be transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with pertinent information is encouraged to contact the Ignace OPP at 1-888-310-1122.