By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The committee overseeing the Sleeping Giant Loppet is to meet on Sunday to “discuss options” as the prospect of a second consecutive winter with little snow on the ground looms. The popular cross-country skiing event that normally occurs a few weeks before spring is held at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park […]

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

According to a statement from the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service, a Christmas tree drop-off has been organized for Saturday, January 11th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. “There will be no tree pickup by firefighters this year,” reads the release from Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service officials. […]

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

As part of the 2024 budget, the Ontario government has released funds to hundreds of municipal fire departments across the province, according to a news release. Said funds are for cancer prevention initiatives for firefighters. Some municipalities in and around the Rainy River District receiving this funding include Fort Frances, […]

(KENORA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to inform the public about ongoing efforts to locate Kendall, a 63-year-old male who has been missing since October 13, 2024. Kendall is described as 5’5″, 160 pounds, with short grey hair and a Mohawk tattoo on his right arm. On […]

From the OPP
Press release

(ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wrapped up a robust Festive RIDE campaign this week, charging 743 drivers with impaired driving between November 21, 2024 and January 1, 2025. These drivers rang in the new year with the threat of losing their driver’s licence for a full year, […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

GRASSY NARROWS — A community checkpoint has been set up at the Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narows) First Nation reserve due to concerns about human trafficking. The Treaty 3 community’s emergency response coordinator said in a notice posted last week on social media that there have been “recent incidents involving attempted abductions […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA – Better pay would go a long way to solving the region’s shortage of paramedics, says the president of CUPE Local 5911. “What we’re finding is the main problem … is just that the paramedics are falling behind other classes of emergency services in regards to compensation and pay,” […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

As temperatures dip down closer to what’s normal for winter, Neebing’s emergency services department is advising motorists to ensure block heaters installed in cars and pickup trucks are up to snuff. “While generally safe, block heaters can be a source of fire ignition,” the department warned this week in a […]

By Ken Kellar
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
kkellar@fortfrances.com

Funding will support Front-End Engineering Design work The federal government is investing more than $2 million in a project that could see a revolutionary new industry take root in Fort Frances. In a media event held yesterday, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Seven Generations Education Institute’s Rainy Lake campus, Thunder […]

By Ken Kellar
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
kkellar@fortfrances.com

The Liberal Party of Canada has lost its leader, but one MP thinks the party could be all the stronger for it. Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski spoke to the Times this week about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s surprise announcement to step down as Liberal party leader on Monday, […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

In December Tour De Fort announced that Alternative Folk Rockers Shred Kelly would be coming to the Townshend Theatre. The show, which is ticketed separate from the annual passport series, is on Jan. 24. Shred Kelly is based out of British Columbia but vocalist and keyboard player Sage McBride has […]

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

The Ontario government published a media release stating it is investing millions of dollars to expand the air ambulance fleet and services with two more high-speed fixed-wing jet-powered air ambulances and a new hangar in Simcoe County. Moreover, the release states this will “better connect people in Northern and rural […]