As Christmas draws ever so near, more and more Thunder Bay families have listed themselves among the many who want to get a hold of the Christmas Cheer hamper baskets with clothes, toys, and food. This year, Linda Gambee, the Christmas Cheer fund’s chairwoman, got a little bit surprised when calls for interest in the program started pouring in as early as August – months ahead of the norms basing from the previous years. For this reason, the target funding in is naturally being raised from last year’s $100,000 to $130,000.

Facts be told, this is an expected trend especially with the Regional Food Distribution Association’s report that the food bank’s usage for this year has increased by a steep 46% and even the Salvation Army themselves is anticipating a jaw-dropping 750% increase in meal requests. With these in mind, Gambee already had an idea of what to expect although what is happening is a little too much.

Thankfully, donations are looking as active as the need for them has been starting with $1,800 from The Rotary Christmas Carol and $2,250 from the Pinewood Ford. For those who want to join in, cash donations can be deposited in any Bank of Nova Scotia branch in Thunder Bay, or at the Centennial Square’s Quality Market and the Country Fair Plaza.

Let us all congratulate our very own Constable Lance Barenz of Thunder Bay Police for being among the few police officers and fire fighters who were awarded the province’s highest honour for displaying unquestionable bravery and courage in the line of duty today at the Queens Park. The award was given by none other than Lieutenant Governor David Olney himself during the annual award giving celebration.

How did our officer get such a prestigious award? Well, just to remind everyone, Const. Barenz successfully and bravely diffused a hostage situation involving a young man armed with a knife with a woman for a victim on the 9^th of July, 2008. Of course he had help from other officers who were quicker to get to the scene however, it was his quick decision making and not to mention amazing timing in tackling the suspect away from the victim that ultimately led to the flawless arrest of the young criminal. And that fellow locals of Thunder Bay, is more than enough demonstration of bravery and wit in the line of duty.

So, the next time you see our modern day hero on patrol in Thunder Bay, a smile would be a good way to congratulate him for his deserving medal.

As if the Thunder Bay Police’s forensic facilities were not enough to assist our brave men in uniform in their investigations, the department together with the OPP unit once again joined hands in celebrating the opening of the new Thunder Bay Forensic Identification Unit today.

The new forensic laboratory is housed in a 13,500 square foot building just next to where the Northwest OPP’s headquarters is physically located on James Street. Inside the massive facility is nothing but the latest equipments and technologies in crime fighting and investigation – just the kind of thing we normally see on the movies. This includes laboratories for chemicals and biohazard substances, a blood splatter facility, an advance fingerprinting unit, even heating and air-conditioning on the entire estate goes beyond the normal to protect the most important resource, the brave souls themselves that run the place.

The head of our Community Safety and Correctional Services graced the opening of such a landmark in our criminal investigation unit and he wisely noted that the newly opened facility has been built not for the crimes of today, but for the crimes of tomorrow if they become even more sophisticated. How’s that for being a step ahead Thunder Bay?

Local Thunder Bay businesses are now starting to take a stand for themselves against the dreaded Black Friday sale a day after the United State’s Thanksgiving celebration by holding their own Black Friday sale aimed to keep shoppers from crossing the border to look for unbeatable deals.

One of these businesses is our Power Centre, the electronics goods retailer which started adapting the practice a year ago. According to the retailer’s manager, their experience last is was quite overwhelming with all the people lining up to get 40, 50, and even 60% deals on the latest electronic merchandise they can get a hold of from the event. They were able to sell a lot of unopened plasma TVs, camcorders, blu ray players, and whatnot. With such an experience, they would be crazy not to be at the forefront of the same event this year.

This year, more businesses have jumped in on the fight including the Intercity Shopping Centre and the Ski Haus.

So, if you’re planning to make the cross border trip coming Black Friday just to shop in the US, you might as well support the local community and grab a great deal while at it by checking out the Black Friday sale on the businesses of Thunder Bay.