Local Pellet plant seen as boon By CARL CLUTCHEY Tuesday, March 3, 2009 A proposed pellet-fired electricity plant could create about 60 full-time jobs at Whitesand First Nation and also serve as a model for how other Northwestern Ontario communities might roll with the knock-out punch delivered by the regions ailing forestry sector. This initiative will provide a future for our residents for generations to come, Whitesand Chief Allan Gustafson declared Monday in a news release. But Gustafson said the timing of the project will depend heavily on whether the community can plug into the provincial hydro grid  an option it currently doesn’t have. The operation proposes to manufacture 88,000 wood pellets and burn them in a four- megawatt co-gen plant. The co-gen would provide heat and electricity to Whitesand as well as to the nearby villages of Armstrong and Collins, eliminating the need for diesel-power generators which currently provide about one megawatt of power. About 1,000 people live at the three communities combined. Though no firm costs have been established, Gustafson said the co-gen˜s price tag will likely come in around $5 million. Pellets made at the plant could also be sold to the residential wood stove market. As well, the project is to include a small sawmill to manufacture value-added products for local markets, the release added. This project will serve as a model to other Northern communities wishing to develop long-term employment opportunities and energy sustainability, said Brian Kurikka, manager of Confederation Colleges Thunder Bay-based forestry centre. Copyright © Friday, March 6, 2009 All material contained herein is copyrighted byThe Chronicle Journal, a division of Continental Newspapers Canada Ltd.All Rights Reserved.   From www.chroniclejournal.com Local Mills wait on wood plan By CARL CLUTCHEY Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Some Northwestern Ontario communities champing at the bit for Ontario‘s new wood-tenure plan hope the exercise isn‘t a case of hurry up and wait. An informal group of researchers as well as aboriginal, municipal and business leaders is calling on the province to immediately “implement five to 10 large-scale, locally controlled independent pilot forest enterprises” on existing Crown forests, the group said Monday in a news release. Before the collapse of Northwestern Ontario‘s forest industry called into question how Crown forests are harvested, public trees were traditionally licensed solely to big corporations, which logged them and processed them in big pulp and lumber mills. In the process, the companies profited and tens of thousands of woodlands and mill workers were paid high wages. A new wood-supply management system is expected to cater to smaller-scale projects like a proposal at Whitesand First Nation just outside Armstrong. The Whitesand proposal could create about 120 permanent and seasonal jobs through an integrated cogen, pellet-plant and sawmilling operation. Project officer Clifford Tibishkogijig said the $19-million plan depends on the reserve getting access to so-called “under-utilized” Northern hardwood species, like birch and poplar. Ultimately, said Tibishkogijig, the business would annually ship about 67 tonnes of environmentally-friendly wood pellets to be burned in converted Ontario Power Generation coal-burning plants in Atikokan, Thunder Bay and southern Ontario. “Because we‘re on the (CN) railway, we‘re in a good location to be able to supply those plants,” said Tibishkogijig. The forestry group, which includes Lakehead University professor Peggy Smith and Northwestern Ontario industry veteran Mike Shusterman, said tenure reform “is the key to long-term stability in the North.” Copyright © Tuesday, April 20, 2010  All material contained herein is copyrighted by The Chronicle Journal, a division of Continental Newspapers Canada Ltd. All Rights Reserved. From www.chroniclejournal.com Local Sports McCarville crew wins native mixed event at the FWCC By John Cameron Wednesday, April 21, 2010 The winning names are familiar as the Northern Ontario Native Mixed Bonspiel attracted 29 teams from across the region with rinks traveling from Kenora, Fort Frances, Quebec (Louttit), Nipigon, Beardmore, Longlac and Armstrong to compete. Mike McCarville and Krista McCarville formed a formidable backend combo teaming with Shaun Bishop and Meghan McCarville to capture the A-event title in the three-day event held at the Fort William Curling Club. The McCarville rink defeated the Craig Toset rink of Dee Toset, Kyle Toset and Kathleen Baillie, who put in a strong performance of their own to reach the title game. The rink of Eric Kwisses, Rose Hudson, Jim Hudson and Denise Bottle took the B-event title, knocking off Rob Shubat and his rink of Denise Hardy, Morgan Shubat and Dairyan Hardy from Rocky Bay First Nation. The C-event title went to Al Hackner and his foursome of Lil Hackner, Graham Hackner and Jeanne Adams as they beat the rink of Don Bro, Esther Johnson, Leo Bannon and Dolly Bannon from Fort William First Nation. Mike Assad skipped the Moose Factory rink of Marianne Poulin, Nelson Pelletier and Lorrie Deschamps to victory in the D event, as they downed Josh Shapwaykeesic, Mandy Doblej, John Howson and Yvonne Howson from Whitesand First Nation. Last Chance mixed: The success of a bonspiel can be measured by the number of teams entered or the money raised in the case of a charity bonspiel. The Last Chance Mixed Bonspiel held this past weekend ended up with only 18 teams and raised $800 for Underground Gym. However, the enthusiasm shown by the curlers taking part will go a long way to further promote the work of a little know not-for-profit organization, the Underground Gym located on Simpson Street that offers recreational opportunities for low income and under privileged kids in the city. Local sponsors like Bay Meats, Ling Lee‘s, Pizza Hut, Golf Thunder Bay, Pro Connection, Axel‘s Plumbing, Harper House and the Secret Garden helped raise funds to provide much needed support for this local organization that works with limited resources. The Trevor Bonot rink of Sarah Lang, Jordan Potts and Alissa Begin won the A-event title in the two-day event that ran Friday and Saturday at the Port Arthur Curling Club. Bonot defeated the Len Hunt rink of Anne Jewett, Tim Jewett and Janice Hunt in the championship final. The Gerry Bryan rink of Sharon Gibbon, Brian Larson and Brenda Earnshaw put in a strong performance to take the B event. The Bryan crew knocked off Dylan Johnston and his rink of Andrea Hantjis, Brennan Wark, Chelsea Cameron-Fikis and Zack Wartentin in the event final. The C event went to the Meagan Westlund rink of Nicol Westlund, Kim Westlund and Kady Stachiw as they defeated the Phil Harris rink of Sheila Harper, Elaine Barton and Peter Panetta (from the Underground Gym) in the final. Junior team rumours: Cody Johnston, Mike Badiuk and Mike Makela will be back for another shot at the Northern Ontario junior men‘s curling title. The trio who played with Cody‘s brother Dylan the past few years reached the Canadian final two years while falling in the Northern Ontario final to Christian Tolusso last year. Mark Adams, who played second for Tolusso, will join forces with his former rivals, with all four players hoping they can use their experience of having played at nationals for a shot at the Canadian title. Meanwhile, the Brennen Wark rink of Andrew Lamers, Kyle Toset and Joel Adams are expected to return for their third season together to give the Johnston rink a run for the Northern Ontario title. Women‘s moves: Angela Lee will play third for Rhonda Skillen next year, with Tiffany Stubbings and Michelle Boland on the front end. The move by Lee has Ashley Kallos hooking up with Christine Eby and Alissa Begin with Jackie McCormack (Bonot) from Fort Frances rounding out the lineup. NOCA notes: Kris Woznesensky is the new director for Region 2 on the Northern Ontario Curling Association board. Woznesensky, who is a past president of the Fort William Curling Club and an active supporter of competitive curling for many years, replaces Paul Burke. Burke completes a three-year term where he administered the development of the NOCA website and communications for the association. Around the clubs: Local curling clubs are hoping to capture the hype created by the 2010 Olympics. The Canadian Curling Association is looking to help local clubs increase membership through a new website – www.startcurling.ca. The ice is out at the Fort William Curling Club. However, members are reminded of the annual meeting for the FWCC scheduled for Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Port Arthur Curling Club will have ice for two more weeks until the first of May as the club wraps up squad championships and hosts a number of corporate fun ‘spiels.   John Cameron‘s curling column appears Wednesdays. If you have news on upcoming ’spiels or bonspiel results in Northwestern Ontario, contact John at jocamero@shaw.ca or call 623-3135. Copyright © Wed, April 21, 2010  All material contained herein is copyrighted by The Chronicle Journal, a division of Continental Newspapers Canada Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Whitesand First Nation In The News © The Whitesand First Nation 2012