By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Mayor Andrew Hallikas was busy from dawn till dusk at the AMO conference. Below, Hallikas described to the Fort Frances Times how two allegations went over with the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Gaming, as well as the Solicitor General. From library funding, to policing, fire departments and monitoring of […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

‘We try to do a little better each year’ Lampi Happy to do her part in helping kids and young families in need, Kathy Lampi and her team try to offset the high costs associated with the back-to-school season through Backpacks for Kids. Now headquartered in the Fort Frances Family […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Represented by Fort Frances lawyers Doug Judson and Peter Howie, a group of eight plaintiffs from the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange were awarded $1.75 million in damages by the Ontario Superior court of Justice after being targeted by an anti-LGBTQ Libel campaign on social media and a privately run […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and Confederation College are announcing their joint attendance at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) annual conference to promote a “united regional approach to advocacy and sustainable public post-secondary funding.” The College and Municipal Association made the announcement late last week ahead of […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

As part of the Ontario Government’s Winter Roads Program and its Connecting the North draft transportation plan from 2020, it has earmarked $13 million in funding to build and maintain winter roads in Northern Ontario. While this was criticized by the Ontario NDP, the Ford government has yet to respond […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Borderland Pride is expected to gain supporting arguments from Fierté Canada Pride and Justice for Children and Youth as intervenors in a request for a judicial review of a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) decision from November 2024. The judicial review application was submitted by the Corporation of the […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

While the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will have some minor changes compared to previous years, much of it will remain the same. This year, a teen concert will replace the teen dance, and the tournament will host two other concerts. But one of the biggest changes for the tournament […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

The region is continuing to struggle with high levels of alcohol use and its impacts, according to the local health unit. Every year, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), which encompasses the Rainy River District and part of the Kenora District, covering approximately one-fifth of Ontario’s land, releases its annual report […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria that can cause Pneumonia and other illnesses, seems to be on the rise in Northwestern Ontario, according to a release from the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU). According to a release from the NWHU, cases of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease are three times higher in the district when […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

A multimillion-dollar investment aimed at helping junior mining companies bring Ontario’s critical minerals to market was announced by the Ontario government on July 3, 2025. The Ford government’s announcement focuses on early exploration and development costs for license prospectors, hopefully boosting Ontario’s economy and building supply chains around new mining […]