Local News from Across the Rainy River District
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 […]
After a hard-fought victory at home, the Fort Frances Lakers will head to Oliver Paipoonge Sunday, looking to cap off their series against the Kam River Walleye with one last win. Teagan Wrolstad had a goal and an assist Friday night, and goaltender Brady Cates stopped 32 of 33 shots […]
By Allan Bradbury Staff Writer abradbury@fortfrances.com It was nearly a repeat of game one as the Kam River Fighting Walleye tied the game with less than 90 seconds on the clock, but Fort Frances Lakers Captain Pierce Gouin kept the game out of overtime as the clock wound down. Unlike […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
