Expect delays near the intersection of Highway 101 and 655.  An eastbound lane will be closed for a few days for construction.

Construction is slated from Sunday Sept 16, until Friday Sept 21.

The lane closure will is for Goldcorp to finish roadway re-construction on their property and improve the entrances to all neighboring businesses.

The Northeastern Catholic District School Board announced this week that their kids are getting smarter!

Results of the annual Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) provincial assessments in Reading, Writing and Mathematics show improved grades and even some of the highest scores ever by kids in the Northeast.

Though provincial results remain slightly above the achievement reached by our Grade 3 and 6 students, the NCDSB continues in its pursuit of excellence to achieve the
provincial targets.
Tricia Weltz, Superintendent of Education, commented “We are very proud of the achievements made by our grade 3 and 6 students. We believe that our gains in provincial assessments have been achieved through ongoing professional collaboration, the dedication of our teaching and support staff, and strategic system priorities that respond to the needs of our learners. As we celebrate our success, we remain ever mindful of our ongoing responsibilities to provide Catholic education to all of our learners in a safe, nurturing, equitable and inclusive environment that prepares them for life.”

Grade 3
Reading – decrease of 5% (49 to 44)
Writing – increase 11% (52 to 63)
Mathematics – Consistent (52 to 51)

Weltz says she isn’t sure why reading rates would have decreased while writing skills improved, but she says all of the results are taken into account, studied and will be used to make students and teachers better.

Grade 6
Reading – increase 9% (61 to 70) highest score ever
Writing – increase 9% (55 to 64) highest score ever
Mathematics – increase 8% (39 to 47)

“Its about creating and maintaining a sustainable Canada and holding the governments accountable for their spending of tax payers dollars.”

Timmins – James Bay MP Charlie Angus outlined the NDPs new federal agenda ahead of parliament resuming on Monday.

He says the NDP have been working hard to maintain the ground work that Jack Layton laid. He adds that now under the leadership of Tom Mulcair, they are ready to stand up and be the strong, united, and official opposition the Canadian people elected.

From Canadian pensions to improve healthcare, the NDP want to re-incorporate government at the federal level to improve the way provinces spend tax dollars.

Angus says right now, the fact that most Northern communities still don’t have proper access to doctors and basic healthcare needs to be redressed at the federal level because the provinces aren’t doing their jobs properly.

Above all, Angus says the NDP are about positive forward movement with all aspects and parties in government. They will not be afraid to agree with aspects of other political parties agendas, but also want to ensure they are tough on the issues of accountability and sustainability.

In addition, Angus discussed the proposed redrawing of political riding boundaries for Northern communities.

Elections Canada are looking to create 30 new seats in the province– 15 of which are in Southern Ontario.

He says changes are slated for the areas of North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury that would make these cities smaller, therefore adding more area to cover in Timmins/James Bay and Nickle Belt.

The problem likes in budgets and service cuts. Angus while we gain more area, our budgets don’t change.

With the proposed boundary redraw, local politicians will have to find ways to make their budgets spread even thinner and wider than ever before.

Not to mention the fact that recently, government service offices have been pulling out of the north and forcing residents south to Toronto for services like passports and immigration.

Angus says adds that Elections Canada need to hear from the people that this isn’t okay and is urging the public to attend the sole Northern Ontario meeting in New Liskeard scheduled on October 16th and we have until October 1^st to have our say.

With just about a week left in Summer and a new school year underway the OPP want to remind drivers of the rules of sharing the road safely with school buses and the more than 800,000 Ontario school kids who will be crossing roads, getting on and off school buses / walking and biking to and from school.

All too often, drivers let their guard down in school zones during the summer months. But with kids heading back to school it is important that drivers remember to expect the unexpected when driving near schools and in neighbourhoods where school buses and school kids are present.

Motorists also need to be mindful that more and more youths are texting and talking on cell phones as they travel to and from school.

This means they are more likely to be distracted and unaware of their surroundings.

Don’t forget that you using your cell phone while driving is also against the law and particularly dangerous in and around school zones.

The following are a few key safety tips to get drivers and school kids off to a safe start as the school year begins:

• Always stop and never pass a school bus when its upper alternating red lights are flashing, regardless of whether you are behind the bus or approaching it from the front

• Reduce your speed and always keep a safe distance behind school buses as they make frequent stops.

• Always stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and school crossings and obey crossing guards at all times.
• Traffic safety is a shared responsibility and the OPP is reminding parents that they can help keep their children safe by teaching them the rules about traffic safety.

Be aware that construction will be happening in and around the park and playground area.

The Playground will reopen after work has been completed.

As the city comes up with a way to re-brand what it means to Live in Timmins,  the folks in charge of the Timmins 20/20 Strategic Plan want to know how you tell your friends and family about where you live.

The public is invited to Timmins Museum Tonight (Sept 11, 2012) to share their thoughts on what makes Timmins special and unique from the rest of Northern Ontario. Doors open at 6:30pm and run until 9:00pm .

Tomorrow night, Wednesday September 12, the MacIntyre Curling Club will be wall to wall with many of the amenities and services that are available in the city.

Its an oppertunitty for new and old residents to meet, greet, and network within the community.

“Over 100 organizations have confirmed their participation for this year’s event and each is eager to exhibit products and services that are of interest to the residents of Timmins. Exhibits will feature service clubs, health and fitness, sports organizations tourism and culture, financial and educational institutions” says Mayor Laughren.

Event Chair, Dave Melenchuck says the “Welcome to Timmins Night gives new and long-standing residents of Timmins chance to see the various social, cultural and service organizations that are located within the community while granting those organizations the opportunity to showcase their goods and services.”

“Exhibitors will be distributing information, and in some cases, accepting applications for membership in their respective organizations. Many draws are also held throughout the fun filled evening” he added.

Last year’s event attracted over 500 participants. This year admission will be a non perishable food item in support of the City’s FoodBank.

Students are reminded that many of  our local organizations are in need of volunteers. “With the mandatory “community volunteer hours” that most students must complete in order to graduate, the Welcome to Timmins courtyard of community organizations could prove to be the ideal one stop shop for students in search of an organization of interest to them. This would obviously be a win-win for the organizations, the educational institutions and the city’s student population” concluded Mayor Laughren.

Doors open at  6:30pm and will run until 9:00 p.m. at the McIntyre Curling Club.

Liberal MPP Rick Bartiloucci says they commissioned an independent study a year ago that showed over fourteen-hundred northerners supported and demanded the creation of the Northern Policy Institute.

Meanwhile, NDP MPP Gilles Bisson says that Northerners are tired of their government spending money on studies and want to see action.

Bisson says Liberals are ignoring the needs of Northern Communities and points out that five-million dollars would have gone a long way to securing the future of Northern companies like the ONTC.

Regardless, the Province has already pledged five-million over 5 years to fund the Policy Institute located in Thunder Bay.

They say it will be run independently of the political parties and will truly track the needs of northerners specifically.

They are calling it a “Pan Northern” facility (which means it will study all aspects of northern Ontario — not just east or west) and will be headed up by President of Dr. Brian Stevenson, president of Lakehead University, and Dominic Giroux, President of Laurentian University.

Bartoulicci says “the over-reaching goal of the institute will be to conduct independent forward looking research on business, social and economic issues, and create policy advice that will improve Northern Ontario quality of living through sound economic and social policies. “

Messines will have limited access until Thursday, September 13th due to storm sewer upgrades.

Access to area businesses will be available via Waterloo or Mountjoy entrances.

Alternate routes to consider are Borden, Laurier or Algonquin.

Don’t forget that Borden and Laurier are one-way streets.

Normal access should be available this weekend.

Storm sewer upgrades are being completed in order to accommodate the new Holiday Inn Express development.