Look back: Jan. 2010

 1. Friend or foe?
Information provided to media led to allegations that two major opponents of Horizon Wind Inc.’s Big Thunder Wind Park were once supporters.

Ward Bond, owner of Loch Lomond Ski Resort, had asked if the company would be interested in placing a turbine on his company’s property and John Beals, owner of the Neebing Roadhouse, took wind farm project developer Nhung Ngyuen on an ATV tour of the project study area and offered to provide her with maps of the area.

A year later both became members of the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee, a group against Horizon’s project.

Bond said his support came before he learned of the consequences of wind-energy production and Beals said his offer to help a company official didn’t mean it was a vote of support.
 
2. Waterfront critic banned
Outspoken waterfront development critic John Hutt was indefinitely banned from Marina Park.

He believed his vocal opposition to the project is what led to the ban. However, city officials said Hutt was served with the notice for his own protection and that due to liability and safety issues in a construction zone, the public is not allowed onsite.

Community services general manager Greg Alexander said a ban like the one imposed on Hutt only happens after repeat offences.
 
3. Club 555 burns down
 The vacant building on Simpson and Miles Streets that was formerly Club 555 burned to the ground early in the morning Jan. 28.

The cause remains unknown and the building collapsed, leaving the lot presently empty. Because of the frigid temperatures at the time of the fire, portions of Simpson Street were closed for a few days during clean-up because of the icy conditions on the road.

No one was injured in the blaze.
 
4. Ring of Fire blockade
A group of Matawa First Nations started a blockade at the site of booming mineral exploration area the Ring of Fire. Marten Falls Chief Elijah Moonias said he was frustrated some companies working at the deposit are ignoring his community’s needs to benefit from the development.

Moonias and other First Nations members prevented planes from landing near Marten Falls. The blockade lasted for two months.
 
5. North-side kidnapping
Thunder Bay Police had one man in custody and issued a Canada-wide warrant for a second suspect after an alleged assault and kidnapping incident the morning of Jan. 20 at a north-side hotel.

The 45-year-old victim, who police said knew his alleged attackers, was taken to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with non-life-threatening injuries. Police arrested 25-year-old Steven Nelson Leeson two days later and charged him with kidnapping and assault causing bodily harm. Thirty-six-year-old Emillio John Bisignano was arrested a couple of weeks later.
 
6. Scollie critical of police chief
Former at-large councillor and entrepreneur Bill Scollie called for the resignation of Police Chief Bob Herman and a non-confidence vote on the police services board.

Scollie appeared before council as a private citizen Jan. 18 to address the city’s crime rate, which he said was out of control; he said the answer was not more police but restructuring the force, starting at the top with Herman.
 
7. Call centre leaves
StarTek announces closure of their Thunder Bay call centre at the expense of 192 jobs.

It sparked rumours that the District Social Services Administration Board would move into the vacant space in Victoriaville Mall, which DSSAB quickly squashed. StarTek officially closed its doors in March. StarTek director Susan Padley said the reason for the closure is a lack of clients at the contact centre.
 
8. Increased Dividend
The City of Thunder Bay made the call to increase its share of TBayTel’s income. Since 2004, whenever TBayTel generated more income than their board projected, the city took 10 per cent of the additional money made.

With policies such as Renew Thunder Bay being implemented to increase local infrastructure, the number has now been increased to 25 per cent. Because the percentage is based on performance, it would be unclear how much the city could make in a given year. Since 2005, the performance dividend has netted the city $4.3 million.
 
9. Olympic flame
The Olympic Torch made a stop in Thunder Bay at the Terry Fox Monument Jan. 3 as it travelled across the country to Vancouver for the Winter Games.

Olympic women’s ice hockey gold medalist Katie Weatherston lit the cauldron on stage in a crowded Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. 
 
10. Dougall honoured
Fraser Dougall received the Order of Ontario at a Queen’s Park ceremony Jan. 28.

The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest honour, with appointees chosen for their contributions to the arts, science, medicine, education, politics, philanthropy, law and media.

Started in 1986 by then Lt.-Gov. Lincoln Alexander, it has been awarded every year since 1987.

Dougall is the eighth person from Thunder Bay to receive this honour.