By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A wildfire burning about 50 kilometres north of Thunder Bay got a bit smaller in size on Monday, but still remained classified as not under control, provincial officials said. The Smiley Lake blaze is located about 4.5 kilometres west of Highway 527, burning on the southeast side of the lake, […]

By Maya Ekman
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

KENORA – Eight new Water Operators are ready to begin providing safe drinking water to their communities as Class 1 Water Operators, after graduating from the Drinking Water Internship Program on May 21. “Safe water should be a given anywhere. Having qualified operators are basically the last line of defence […]

By Jon Thompson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ricochet

Indigenous searchers are calling for the creation of a permanent search and rescue team in Thunder Bay, where the bodies of four missing persons have been found over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay’s police chief and the region’s First Nations leaders traded barbs on social media, amid criticism […]

By Grace Petsnick

Seventy years after its publication, Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 can still be found holding on with white knuckles to the required reading list of some grade 10, mid-level English classes. The copies that are handed out would fail to spark a flame of interest under students, even if […]

By Liam Oliver Neilson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com

Shelly Nastor has made a point of spreading awareness and fundraising for Crohn’s and Colitis causes since her daughter was diagnosed with colitis at the age of 12. This Sunday, she’s organizing a “Gutsy Walk” with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to do just that in town. Gutsy Walks are Canada-wide […]

By Times Staff

As the campaign to bring advanced diagnostic imaging equipment to the district nears the finish line, local restaurants are stepping up to help it get there. The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is announcing The Great Burger Giveback fundraiser, an initiative bringing together several Fort Frances and Rainy River District […]

By Carrie Ivardi
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

Content warning: This article addresses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or in need of urgent support, call 911. The CMHA also provides crisis response services across the region, including a 24/7 helpline at 807-346-8282 or toll free at 1-866-888-8988. THUNDER BAY […]

By Maya Ekman
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

KENORA – Following the resignation of Denise Baxter in late March, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) has appointed former Chief of Mishkeegogamang First Nation Connie Gray-McKay as the new Indigenous trustee. The school board announced the resignations of two trustees in a release on Friday, with the second being […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SNnewswatch.com

OTTAWA — Big changes are ahead in child and family services on First Nation land, Bobby Narcisse said Friday after the implementation ceremony for the Ontario Final Agreement. “There are going to be significant changes, and we’re working with many of our communities,” the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand […]

By Pam Fedack
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Kenora Miner & News

When Sophie English stepped onto the pool deck in Winnipeg earlier this year, she already knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish. For months, the 15-year-old Kenora para swimmer had been training with one race in mind: the 800-metre freestyle. By the end of the meet, she had become one […]

By Shilpashree Jagannathan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
New Canadian Media

Women in immigrant families could be among those more affected by a new federal time limit on settlement services, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) own gender-based analysis. IRCC told New Canadian Media that its Gender-based Analysis Plus assessment found introducing a length of eligibility for economic-class permanent […]

By Ken Kellar
kkellar@fortfrances.com

As Fort Frances and the rest of the Rainy River District creep ever closer to summer, it’s time once again to crown a new Mini King and Queen. Registration has already opened for the annual event that sees two youth from across the district crowned the Mini King and Queen, […]