Shy-Anne coming home with six awards from the 7th annual Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards

Shy-Anne Hovorka – Photo by Crystal SYNC Productions

WINNIPEG – It was an amazing night of music at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards hosted in Winnipeg last night. Northwestern Ontario’s Shy-Anne Hovorka was the winner of six awards including Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year. Shy-Anne was nominated for six awards, and won all six. Three of the awards that Shy-Anne won were on Thursday night and three on Friday night.

Northern Ontario’s Shy-Anne has been an solid voice for positive vibes with her music, demonstrating how with determination and focus all obstacles can be overcome.

As well after 19 nominations in seven years, Don Amero finally takes home an award. He’ll walk away with Male Entertainer of the Year.

“It feels great to finally get one, I’ve had a spot waiting for it on my shelf for a long time now,” jokes Amero, who received three nominations this year. “The APCMAs do a lot to promote Aboriginal music and it’s nice to come together for this celebration. We owe a lot to all the organizers, and everyone who supports the music scene.”

You can call Winnipeg’s Don Amero one of the hardest working independent musicians in showbiz today. Since leaving his job as a hardwood flooring installer five years ago to pursue music fulltime, the singer/songwriter has toured coast-to-coast, headlined concerts, presented at festivals, performed with the symphony, and played national television.

Don’s musical style has been likened to John-Mayer-meets-Keith-Urban. In addition to just winning Male Entertainer of the Year at the 2012 APCMAs, his three albums (Change Your Life, Deepening, The Long Way Home) have generated five national and international awards – Best Country Song (2012 Indian Summer Music Awards), Aboriginal Recording of the Year (2011 Western Canadian Music Awards), Best Folk Recording (2011 Native American Music Awards), Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year (2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards), Male Artist of the Year (2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards) – and 20 more nominations.

Don’s just released his fourth album, a self-produced labour of love, and his most personal album to date. If you listen from beginning to end, Heart On My Sleeve tells a story. The album was released in October at an “intimate and international” house concert streamed live on APTN.ca.

On the radio front, Don has seen four songs climb to #1 on the National Aboriginal Countdown. On commercial radio, two tracks – Turn These Grey Skies Blue and original holiday song All I Need This Christmas – earned notable “most active download” designations on DMDS.com, and were spun on stations across Canada.

Don Amero has a way of captivating audiences of all ages with his powerful vocals, percussion-style guitar play, and engaging storytelling. He is often called upon as a keynote speaker, and to deliver workshops for youth. His story inspires, and his message is one of encouragement, positivity and beauty. He continues to impress wherever he goes.

Greg Rickford MP – Long-gun registry records have been destroyed…

Greg Rickford MP Kenora

KENORA – Greg Rickford announced that as of October 31, 2012, the long-gun registry records, with the exception of registry information related to Quebec, have been destroyed. “In addition to the lC, it can now be confirmed there are no records of the long-gun registry for anyone who lives outside the province of Quebec,” shared Rickford.

“The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is pleased that the government has followed through on its commitment to the outdoor community across Canada, and completed the destruction of the records associated with non-restricted long guns,” said Greg Farrant, Manager of Government Affairs and Policy. “We strongly supported Bill C-19, and the inclusion in that legislation of a mechanism that would allow for the destruction of the records associated with the registry. We are delighted that the Harper government has followed through on its promise in such a timely fashion”.

“This is a great news story for Northwestern Ontario, in fact for all Northern Ontarians, who made it loud and clear that they wanted this registry not only dismantled but to be ensured that the records would be destroyed,” states Rickford.

“The deletion of the long-gun registry records marks a significant milestone in this Government’s commitment to eliminating the wasteful and ineffective $2 billion long-gun registry,” stated Rickford. “This was one of our first priorities when we won our majority Government last year. Promise made, promise kept”.

“It was immediately evident when Bill C-68 was passed by the Liberal government in the late 1990’s that the system was unworkable, would be ruinously expensive and would never result in the promise of saving of lives and enhancing public safety. This was re-confirmed by the Auditor General of Canada who made it clear the government of the day was unable to demonstrate how either of those goals had been achieved, despite wasting over a billion dollars of taxpayers money. The Prime Minister, Minister Toews, Parliamentary Secretary Candice Bergen and dozens of MP’s have been steadfast in their commitment to rid us of this albatross. By focusing on crime prevention and other means to address gun violence on our streets, they are targeting the real causes of crime which is in no way related to the proper use of firearms by trained, legal and law abiding hunters and recreational sport shooters. They should be commended for their diligence in this matter,” said Farrant.

Rickfords stated, “The long-gun registry was a major failure, targeting law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport-shooters for using the tools they require to support their daily work – work that keeps our economy strong, stable and prosperous”.

“Our Government is making our streets and communities safer by targeting criminals who use firearms, not law-abiding Canadians. Make no mistake about it, the leader of the NDP has gone on record as saying if they form government, they will re-institute the long-gun registry. This is not consistent with the expressed views and values of an overwhelming majority of constituents across Northern Ontario, including First Nations,” stated Rickford.

The deletion of data in the registry related to long-guns follows the Royal Assent of Bill C-19, the Ending of the Long-Gun Registry Act, on April 5, 2012. On October 9, 2012, the Government of Canada launched its appeal of the Quebec Superior Court ruling in the matter of Attorney General for Quebec v. Attorney General for Canada et al to work towards eliminating the long-gun registry records in Quebec.

Greenstone Wilderness Trails has opened up the lower Kapikotongwa River

Some rapids on the lower Kap can be shot.

GREENSTONE – Greenstone Wilderness Trails has opened up the lower Kapikotongwa River for recreational canoe travel. This local non-profit corporation recently hired a consultant and his team to clear and document portages from the bridge on the Ogoki Road to Terrier Lake.

This project was undertaken with the support of an LIC grant from Greenstone Economic Development Corporation/FedNor Canada and funding from Geraldton Community Forest Inc.

The lower Kapikotongwa, east of Stewart Lake, had not been canoed for at least a decade. Blowdown and forest fire burns had pretty well eliminated the trails around rapids. Just before Tennant Lake, a series of rapids contributes to thrilling whitewater experiences as well as terrific fishing.

WD Alcorn mounts a sign on a major portage

Greenstone Wilderness Trails also commissioned a canoe route description, a circle route embracing Marshall Lake, Kapitikotongwa River, Terrier Lake, and Meta Lake. Canoeists may start and end expeditions from the same point on the Ogoki Road.

The canoe route guide will be readily available online after GWT launches its new website. Meanwhile, hard copies are available through GWT.

Boulder gardens flourish on the Kapikotongwa.

Thunder Bay Generating Station Conversion from coal halted

[L-R] Chris Fralick, Plant Manager, Northwest Thermal (OPG); Tom Mitchell, President and CEO (OPG); Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan; Dennis Brown, Mayor Atikokan; Brent Boyko, Station Manager, Atikokan Generating Station (OPG).

THUNDER BAY – Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is suspending further work on the Thunder Bay Generating Station gas conversion pending a review by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) of electricity needs in Northwestern Ontario. The OPA, the province’s supply planning arm, has informed OPG it needs time to explore other options for electricity supply in the northwest part of the province. When the OPA is ready to proceed, OPG will provide its best option for consideration at that time.

Word is continuing at Atikokan where the facility is being converted to bio-mass.

In a media release, the OPG state, “We want to thank all those who worked on the detailed planning, and community members who provided support and encouragement for the project. Our work to date reflected direction of the Long-term Energy Plan and the government directive to the OPA.

“OPG continues to explore repowering options at its Thunder Bay Generating Station and at its other coal-fired plants. The suspension of this project will not impact current operations”.

Lakehead University continues to shine

THUNDER BAY – It is solid good news for Lakehead University. Lakehead University continues to shine among Ontario universities in its category. According to Maclean’s University Rankings, Lakehead is ranked near the top in several important categories and second overall when compared to its peer universities in the province.

Nationally, the Thunder Bay and Orillia based facility placed in the top five in several of the report’s key points in its category of universities, including Total Research Dollars, and Student and Faculty Awards. This year’s Maclean’s University Rankings examined various key points from 19 universities across Canada.

“Along with other national rankings, we are very proud of how they reaffirm the quality of education that we provide,” says Dr. Rod Hanley, Lakehead’s Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “As a comprehensive university, it’s gratifying to learn that the key areas assessed in these rankings demonstrate, once again, that Lakehead is an institution where learning and teaching reward both student and professor on many levels.”

Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, says these results echo the value-added nature of Lakehead University. “When it comes to the learner-centred approach, especially the personal attention that our faculty provides our students, Lakehead continues to offer the highest quality of education,” Dr. Stevenson says.

Lakehead University Rankings (Quick Facts)

Among the five Ontario universities in its category:

Lakehead is 2nd, Overall Lakehead is 1st in Library Holdings Per Student

Lakehead is 2nd in Student/Faculty Ratio

Lakehead is 2nd in Student Awards

Lakehead is 2nd in Faculty Awards

Lakehead is 2nd in Social Sciences & Humanities Grants

Lakehead is 2nd in Total Research Dollars

Lakehead is 2nd in Library Expenses

Lakehead is 2nd in Library Acquisitions

Lakehead is 2nd in Operating Budget

For more information on Lakehead University visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Dryden Ice Dogs will raise awareness and help support the Soldier-On Fund

DRYDEN – In honour of Remembrance Day, the Superior International Junior Hockey League Dryden Ice Dogs will raise awareness and help support the Soldier-On Fund.This is a program that rehabilitates injured soldiers through sports. On Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7PM the Dryden Ice Dogs will be hosting their very first “Military” game against the Fort Frances Lakers at the Dryden Memorial Arena.

Soldier-On is widely recognized for improving the quality of life of ill and injured Canadian Forces military personnel and their families; inspiring them to actively participate in physical, recreational or sporting activities.

Opening ceremonies will feature an Honour Guard to include the Dryden Legion and Oxdrift Legion, Dryden Cadets selling poppies, and a demonstration of a static display by the Thunder Bay and Kenora Militia in the arena parking lot.

A representative group of the 116 Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, Kenora Army Reserve will be in attendance and have information available to share with the public.

Since this is a special event to help support our military, Canadian Tire has sponsored this special onetime only game day by providing camouflage jerseys.

These game worn jerseys will be available for pre-purchase on the military game day Nov. 3.

Proceeds from this sale will go directly to the Soldier-On Fund and there will be a donation jar set-up for those that want to contribute additional support to this important cause.