Below is a collection of some of the most clicked-on stories on KenoraOnline and DrydenNow in the month of October 2022.

Largest housing build in 30 years announced in Kenora

Community leaders, Council members and provincial Ministers came together in Lakeside yesterday to announce Kenora’s largest seniors housing build in over 30 years.

The Ontario government, City of Kenora, All Nations Health Partners and the Kenora District Services Board announced that the former Howard property at 8th Avenue South and 8th Street South will be transformed into a $27 million, 56-unit seniors housing facility.

The KDSB says the mixed-market facility will include 56 independent units for residents of all income levels, as well as dedicated health spaces to provide a range of specialized services and supports on-site. Shovels are expected to be in the ground by next month.

Read more here.

Investigations underway after ‘needless’ death in Onigaming

The federal government and the Kenora District Services Board say investigations are underway after two local paramedics allegedly refused to save a young man’s life in Onigaming First Nation in September.

Chief Jeff Copenace alleges that when a young First Nations man went into medical distress and emergency responders were called around 10:30 a.m. of September 15, an ambulance with two Northwest EMS paramedics parked at the edge of the community and refused to help with the situation.

Investigations into the incident are continuing. Read more here.

Poirier named as Kenora’s 9th Mayor

Ahead of being sworn into his new position as the ninth Mayor of Kenora – Andrew Poirier says he’s taking a look at Kenora Council’s priorities for the next four years.

The former Manager of Operational Services for the Kenora Catholic District School Board, who has served three terms as a City Councillor in Kenora and won October 24’s election with 64 per cent of the community’s votes, says Council’s direction will include input from every member at the table.

“I had my own set of priorities I ran on in the campaign, but we’ve started to meet as a new Council and we are going to, over the next couple of weeks, look at all of what our priorities are and place them in a sequence of what we want to accomplish,” said Poirier, in an interview.

Read more here.

CAO authorizes $750,000 to rebuild Pinecone Drive

The City of Kenora has plans to spend $750,000 to repair Pinecone Drive after the road crumbled away in May, with work expected to wrap up by the end of October.

After this spring’s high water levels and severe flooding, the left lane of Pinecone Drive washed out and fell apart – creating a dangerous single lane roadway for the remainder of the summer season for the 4 homes and families that live past the area.

In a Special Council Meeting on September 8, Kenora’s Chief Administrative Officer, Kyle Attanasio, confirmed that Kenora will be spending $750,000 with Winnipeg’s Stantec general engineering firm to conduct the repairs ahead of the winter season.

Construction wrapped up in early October. Read more here.

Scott Smith out as Hockey Canada’s president and CEO; board of directors resigns

Scott Smith spent nearly three decades climbing the ladder at Hockey Canada.

He lasted just over three months at the top following a series of scandals that have rocked the sport’s national organization to its core.

Smith is out as Hockey Canada’s president and CEO, the embattled federation announced Tuesday. 

The board of directors has also resigned.

Smith was unable to survive the fallout related to Hockey Canada’s mishandling of sexual assault allegations and how settlements were paid out — revelations that both enraged the country and opened yet another conversation about the sport’s toxic culture.

Read more here.