Andrew Flynn is Editor‑in‑Chief and General Manager of the Fort Frances Times. He has spent more than 30 years in Canadian and international media, holding senior editorial roles at the National Post, The Canadian Press, and Business News Network, and later leading coverage across global communications and enterprise technology publications. He has also taught communications at Humber College. His work is grounded in a commitment to strong, community‑focused journalism in the Rainy River District.
By Carrie IvardiLocal Journalism InitiativeReporterNWOnewswatch.comTHUNDER BAY — The search is intensifying for two friends who met up on the south-side of the city two weeks ago and have not been seen since.“The situation is very concerning at this point,” said Jeff Saunders, missing person coordinator for the Thunder Bay Police… Read more: Searchers ‘desperate’ to find pair who disappeared two weeks ago
By Maya EkmanLocal Journalism InitiativeReporterNWOnewswatch.com MELGUND — “Its nice to be recognized finally, because we haven’t been up until now.”Pat Daignault is chair of the Melgund Local Services Board, the highest elected official for the unorganized community just 12 kilometres from the proposed location of a deep-geological repository for high-level nuclear waste.The… Read more: ‘It’s not a done deal’: Community nearest nuclear waste site to hire lawyer
Ontario Provincial Police are renewing a call for information related to the disappearance of 35-year-old Melanie Lapish, who was last seen two years ago in the McDonald’s parking lot in Fort Frances. Lapish has been missing since February 26, 2024, when she was last seen being dropped off at the… Read more: Two years later, search continues for missing woman Melanie Lapish
By Allan Bradbury Staff Writer abradbury@fortfrances.com Ice For Kids Arena was abuzz with the sound of 800 hockey fans as the Fort Frances Lakers opened up the SIJHL semi-finals with an overtime win on Good Friday in Fort Frances. The game was a back-and-forth affair as the Lakers and the… Read more: Lakers take game one of Salonen Cup semifinals
A coroner’s inquest will be held into the death of 18-year-old Justin Fiddler, who died in hospital in Thunder Bay in 2019 after sustaining injuries at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre in Fort Frances. The inquest will investigate the circumstances of Fiddler’s death while in custody at Ge-Da-Gi-Binez, which opened in… Read more: Coroner’s inquest to be held into 2019 death of Justin Fiddler at Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre
Starting with today’s issue, The Times will be including for the first time in its history a land acknowledgement that recognizes the real history of this region, including the long presence of the Anishinaabe people and the treaty relationship that still shapes our local life. You will find it in… Read more: Why The Times is adding a land acknowledgment to its masthead
This is a municipal election year in Ontario. That means many of us will soon be partaking in the time-honoured Canadian tradition of complaining about local politics while outright snorting at the suggestion that we might ourselves think about running for office. On the surface, it might seem like a… Read more: It’s an election year: Don’t laugh, but you might make a good local politician. No, really
I’ve only been at the helm of the Times for six months, living in town for just half that long, but I can tell you without reservation that the Fort is one heck of a special place. Lest you think I’m simply paying lip service to my new home, rest… Read more: The Times is ready to level up local news. Join us
The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) has approved a $38.6-million budget for 2026 that maintains spending in key areas but acknowledges “financial pressures” being felt by municipalities and service system managers across rural and Northern Ontario. The budget, which increased the municipal levy by 4.63 per cent, did… Read more: Rainy River Services Board approves $38.6-million budget amid rising cost pressures
In an editorial yesterday, I indicated that after weeks of trying, we had failed to get any response from Canadian Tire about what’s going on with the Fort Frances store that was closed due to a fire on Dec. 18, 2025. As fate would have it, the Times received a… Read more: Canadian Tire fire editorial, meet Murphy’s Law
It’s been nearly a month since the Canadian Tire store was temporarily put out of action by a devastating fire and it’s still a pretty big topic of conversation between Fort Franciscans. What we really want to know is, when’s it going to reopen? It’s our job at the Times… Read more: We tried to find out – and failed
Having joined the staff of the Times in late August and moved with my family to Fort Frances at the end of October, it’s high time I introduced myself to you, our readers, as the paper’s new general manager. Stepping into the role of GM and editor-in-chief has been both… Read more: A small part in a long legacy of outstanding local journalism
The Ontario government is looking at how students are assessed after standardized test results showed some grades are making “insufficient progress” and are lagging behind in reading, writing and, especially, math. The government blamed the problems on “dysfunctional trustee performance” that is failing to support student achievement, noting that Education… Read more: Province to review student assessment after alarming test results, blames ‘dysfunctional’ trustees
The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) has released a new five-year, five-point plan to enhance and improve childcare and early years services even as it faces continuing challenges affecting the province and some specific to the region. “Children’s Services in the Rainy River District is supported by dedicated… Read more: Comprehensive five-point plan promises improvements to regional childcare despite challenges
Town Council is considering the adoption of a new formal Public Art Policy that would help it choose, buy, install and maintain public works of art that would enhance the town’s beauty, providing opportunities for local artists to create meaningful and diverse artwork for the community. “Public art has been… Read more: Council sketches out plan for Public Art Policy
By Carrie IvardiLocal Journalism InitiativeReporterNWOnewswatch.comTHUNDER BAY — The search is intensifying for two friends who met up on the south-side of the city two weeks ago and have not been seen since.“The situation is very concerning at this point,” said Jeff Saunders, missing person coordinator for the Thunder Bay Police… Read more: Searchers ‘desperate’ to find pair who disappeared two weeks ago
By Maya EkmanLocal Journalism InitiativeReporterNWOnewswatch.com MELGUND — “Its nice to be recognized finally, because we haven’t been up until now.”Pat Daignault is chair of the Melgund Local Services Board, the highest elected official for the unorganized community just 12 kilometres from the proposed location of a deep-geological repository for high-level nuclear waste.The… Read more: ‘It’s not a done deal’: Community nearest nuclear waste site to hire lawyer
Ontario Provincial Police are renewing a call for information related to the disappearance of 35-year-old Melanie Lapish, who was last seen two years ago in the McDonald’s parking lot in Fort Frances. Lapish has been missing since February 26, 2024, when she was last seen being dropped off at the… Read more: Two years later, search continues for missing woman Melanie Lapish
By Allan Bradbury Staff Writer abradbury@fortfrances.com Ice For Kids Arena was abuzz with the sound of 800 hockey fans as the Fort Frances Lakers opened up the SIJHL semi-finals with an overtime win on Good Friday in Fort Frances. The game was a back-and-forth affair as the Lakers and the… Read more: Lakers take game one of Salonen Cup semifinals
A coroner’s inquest will be held into the death of 18-year-old Justin Fiddler, who died in hospital in Thunder Bay in 2019 after sustaining injuries at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre in Fort Frances. The inquest will investigate the circumstances of Fiddler’s death while in custody at Ge-Da-Gi-Binez, which opened in… Read more: Coroner’s inquest to be held into 2019 death of Justin Fiddler at Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre
Starting with today’s issue, The Times will be including for the first time in its history a land acknowledgement that recognizes the real history of this region, including the long presence of the Anishinaabe people and the treaty relationship that still shapes our local life. You will find it in… Read more: Why The Times is adding a land acknowledgment to its masthead
This is a municipal election year in Ontario. That means many of us will soon be partaking in the time-honoured Canadian tradition of complaining about local politics while outright snorting at the suggestion that we might ourselves think about running for office. On the surface, it might seem like a… Read more: It’s an election year: Don’t laugh, but you might make a good local politician. No, really
The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) has approved a $38.6-million budget for 2026 that maintains spending in key areas but acknowledges “financial pressures” being felt by municipalities and service system managers across rural and Northern Ontario. The budget, which increased the municipal levy by 4.63 per cent, did… Read more: Rainy River Services Board approves $38.6-million budget amid rising cost pressures
In an editorial yesterday, I indicated that after weeks of trying, we had failed to get any response from Canadian Tire about what’s going on with the Fort Frances store that was closed due to a fire on Dec. 18, 2025. As fate would have it, the Times received a… Read more: Canadian Tire fire editorial, meet Murphy’s Law
For a town still feeling the loss of its paper mill more than a decade ago, the promise of new industry is tantalizing; 50 or more new jobs, a much-needed boost to the local economy, perhaps a stepping stone to attract new business or help those already here expand. According… Read more: Biofuel plant could bring the old mill site back to life, create jobs and boost the local economy
Having joined the staff of the Times in late August and moved with my family to Fort Frances at the end of October, it’s high time I introduced myself to you, our readers, as the paper’s new general manager. Stepping into the role of GM and editor-in-chief has been both… Read more: A small part in a long legacy of outstanding local journalism
The Ontario government is looking at how students are assessed after standardized test results showed some grades are making “insufficient progress” and are lagging behind in reading, writing and, especially, math. The government blamed the problems on “dysfunctional trustee performance” that is failing to support student achievement, noting that Education… Read more: Province to review student assessment after alarming test results, blames ‘dysfunctional’ trustees
The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) has released a new five-year, five-point plan to enhance and improve childcare and early years services even as it faces continuing challenges affecting the province and some specific to the region. “Children’s Services in the Rainy River District is supported by dedicated… Read more: Comprehensive five-point plan promises improvements to regional childcare despite challenges
Town Council is considering the adoption of a new formal Public Art Policy that would help it choose, buy, install and maintain public works of art that would enhance the town’s beauty, providing opportunities for local artists to create meaningful and diverse artwork for the community. “Public art has been… Read more: Council sketches out plan for Public Art Policy
