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Kenora police alert public after bogus bill surfaces

Kenora police alert public after bogus bill surfaces

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Provincial police in Kenora are warning the public after a counterfeit Canadian banknote was discovered in circulation.

The Ontario Provincial Police say officers were notified on February 6 after a fake $20 bill was used to pay for a taxi ride earlier in the week.

Investigators determined the passenger had passed what appeared to be “prop” money during a fare on February 2.

The taxi driver became suspicious at the time of the transaction and later brought the bill to the Kenora OPP detachment, where it was turned over for further examination.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

The Bank of Canada offers online information on how to identify counterfeit currency and encourages people to routinely check the security features on banknotes to help prevent fake money from circulating.

Kenora Drug Seizure JAN 24

Kenora woman facing drug trafficking charges

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A traffic stop by the Kenora detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on Saturday has resulted in a 32-year-old Kenora woman being charged with possessing a number of substances for the purpose of trafficking.

OPP officers arrested the woman for failing to adhere to release conditions, and in the process discovered a significant haul of illegal drugs, valued at over $47,500.

Police seized suspected psilocybin, methamphetamines, oxycodone, and fentanyl, as well as knives, cell phones, and cash.

The suspect is facing possession charges with the purpose of trafficking for psilocybin, methamphetamines, oxycodone, and fentanyl, as well as three charges of failing to comply with release orders.

Cold

Update: Environment Canada issues cold warnings across the northwest

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Residents of northwestern Ontario are in for an exceptionally cold few days as a pocket of Arctic air has blown into the region.

Environment Canada has issued high-level alerts warning locals of windchill temperatures as low as minus 40 or even minus 45 degrees Celsius.

The Arctic airmass is expected to persist through the weekend.

Those in affected locations should cover up all exposed skin, as frostbite can take hold in a matter of minutes.

Drivers should keep emergency supplies such as blankets and jumper cables.

Anyone experiencing colour changes in their extremities, pain, numbness, tingling, or swelling should head inside and warm up immediately.

Workers who must be outside should make a conscious effort to go inside for regular warming breaks.

Other cold-related symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness are also good indicators of a need to stay inside and keep warm.

Environment Canada’s multi-day orange-level cold warning is in place for the following locations:

  • Red Lake – Ear Falls
  • Sioux Lookout – Savant Lake
  • Kenora – Nestor Falls
  • Dryden – Ignace
  • Fort Frances – Rainy Lake
  • Armstrong – Auden – Wabakimi Park
  • Gull Bay – Black Sturgeon Lake
  • Atikokan – Upsala – Quetico

The agency has now also issued a yellow-level warning, with slightly less severity, to locations east of the orange warning:

  • The City of Thunder Bay
  • Beardmore – Jellicoe – Macdiarmid
  • Superior West
  • Nipigon – Rossport

Locations under the yellow-level warning may experience windchill lows of minus 40 degrees Celsius.

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Kenora Catholic School Board wins award for mental health innovation

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The Kenora Catholic District School Board has received the 2025 MBC Impact Award for Most Innovative Measurement-Based Care Implementation, presented by Greenspace Health.

The award recognizes KCDSB’s system-wide approach to strengthening student mental health supports through measurement-based care, in alignment with Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 169 – Student Mental Health.

The recognition highlights the work of KCDSB’s Mental Health team in using data, professional judgment, and student voice to guide care, support early intervention, and improve outcomes for students and families.

Measurement-based care helps demonstrate the effectiveness of services and informs decisions about additional interventions and supports.

The full list of 2025 MBC Impact Award recipients is available through Greenspace Health at Greenspace – The 2025 MBC Impact Awards.

measles2

Measles case in Kenora

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A case of measles has been reported in the Kenora area.

According to a statement from Northwestern Health (NWHU), the individual is following appropriate public health measures.

NWHU said possible exposure could have occurred at the following locations and times:

  • Lake of the Woods District Hospital emergency department, 21 Sylvan St., Kenora, Dec. 22 between 6 and 10 p.m., Dec. 26 between 3 and 11:59 p.m., Dec. 27 between 12 and 1:30 a.m.
  • Kenora Library, 24 Main St., Dec. 23 between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

If you were present at those locations, are not immune (have not had two doses of the measles vaccine or lab confirmation of immunity), and you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1970, you are asked to call your local NWHU office.

NWHU recommends watching for symptoms for 21 days after exposure.

Common symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough
  • Red, watery eyes
  • Small white spots inside the mouth
  • Rash starting on the face and spreading downward

If you were exposed and are not protected, NWHU recommends the following:

  • School/childcare/health-care students and workers: Stay home and contact your local public health unit or workplace occupational health.
  • No MMR doses: Stay home and call NWHU for direction.
  • One MMR dose: Contact your health-care provider or public health to receive a second dose. Notify them before arriving so precautions can be taken. (If you don’t work in healthcare, you may return to regular activities after receiving the second dose.)
  • High‑risk individuals (or those caring for them): Contact your healthcare provider or NWHU promptly to discuss vaccination or immunoglobulin. This includes:
    • Babies under one
    • People with severely weakened immune systems
    • Pregnant individuals who are not immune
macro photography of school bus

Bus cancellations for December 19, 2025

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Bus cancellations to report on Friday morning from the Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium.

All buses in Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Vermillion Bay, Dryden, Ear Falls, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout are cancelled, due to weather and road conditions.

Buses in Ignace, Upsala and Pickle Lake are running.

kenora opp sign

Kenora man charged after disposing of guns in recycling bin

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Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora have laid a charge after firearms were found discarded in a public-access recycling bin.

Police say they were alerted on November 22 after receiving information about items resembling firearms being dropped off at a recycling bin accessible to the public. An investigation later confirmed that several BB guns, along with a firearm, had been disposed of at the location.

As a result, a 60-year-old Kenora man has been charged with careless handling of a firearm under the Criminal Code.

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Kenora at a later date.

OPP say improper disposal of firearms poses a serious risk to public safety and are reminding residents that firearms must be handled and disposed of according to the law.

Anyone who finds a firearm is urged not to touch it and to contact police. OPP also note that members of the public can reach out to police for assistance with the proper and safe disposal of firearms.

Update: Redditt Road open after fatal crash

Update: Redditt Road open after fatal crash

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One person is dead after a crash in Kenora overnight.

OPP say one vehicle collided on Redditt Road at around 11 p.m. Thursday. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

There’s no word yet on what caused the collision.

Kenora OPP Detachment, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene.

Reddit Road between Highway 17a and James Road was closed overnight while police investigated.

Tbaytel 12 days of Xmas

Tbaytel launches 12 Days of Christmas campaign

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Tbaytel’s annual campaign for 12 days of holiday cheer has launched.

For ten years, the campaign has surprised community members with gifts, meals, free gas, donations, and activities.

The 12 Days of Christmas campaign launched on December 1.

Each day will bring new surprise events and programming.

In Thunder Bay, the Tbaytel team joined the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) to present a $3,500 donation to the organization, and to bake approximately 9000 cookies for the RFDA’s hamper boxes.

Tbaytel’s Public Relations Communication Coordinator, Kaitlin Gaspar, says the city-owned company has been a supporter of the RFDA for a long time.

“Food insecurity is huge in the community right now, so what better way to fill up our community stomachs this holiday?” Gaspar asks.

Gaspar says this year, Tbaytel will have a social media component to the campaign, with a giveaway contest for gift cards to Thunder Bay’s Intercity Shopping Centre.

“Every year we try to do something different,” Gaspar remarks. “It’s really amazing to see the joy that we can give back over the holiday season to our community members.”

The12 Days campaign will be taking place across Tbaytel’s network of authorized dealers. On Monday, the company offered free gas in Marathon.

Cp holiday train poster

CPKC Christmas Holiday Train comes to northwestern Ontario this week

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s cross-country Christmas holiday train is returning to the north for its annual trip across the country.

At each stop along the way, the train puts on a small concert to raise money and donate to local food banks.

This year, northwestern Ontario’s train concerts will host Jade Eagleson and Teigen Gayse.

Here is the train’s schedule for the region:

  • Nipigon on December 2 from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. at 60 Front Street.
  • Thunder Bay on December 2 from 8:45 to 9:15 p.m. at 440 Syndicate Avenue.
  • Ignace on December 3 from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. at the CPKC Train Station.
  • Dryden on December 3 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Queen Street and Earl Avenue.
  • Vermillion Bay on December 3 from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. at the Bay Street Railway Crossing.
  • Kenora on December 3 from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. at the Wholesale Store on 8th Avenue South.
  • Ingolf on December 3 from 5:05 to 5:35 p.m. at Mile 31.3.

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