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 […]
Andrew Flynn
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 Carl ClutcheyLocal Journalism InitiativeReporterThe Chronicle-JournalSome rural Thunder Bay municipalities contemplated bans on outdoor burning on Friday, as ground conditions continued to dry out and local fire departments remained strapped for volunteers.“There’s still a bit of moisture in the bush, but it’s drying up,” said Conmee fire Chief Robb Day.“There’s […]
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor-in-chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor-in-chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-chief
Editor-in-chief
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor-in-Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor-in-Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
By Andrew Flynn
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
Editor in Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com
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 […]
