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 […]

Allan Bradbury photos

From Jan. 2-5 the Curl Fort Frances Community Centre hosted the Northern Ontario under 20 Provincial Curling Championship. The teams participating came from across the region to participate coming from as far away as Sudbury, Timmins, and North Bay to compete as well as some from closer like Thunder Bay […]

On January 3, Riverside Health Care, in conjunction with the Northwestern Public Health Unit, has declared an Influenza A Outbreak at La Verendrye General Hospital (LVGH). The outbreak is currently on both the first and second floor in-patient units. Visitation remains limited to two (2) individuals at a time per […]

By Robin McCormick
West End Correspondent

The Dance Hall Fundraiser Draw was held Saturday, January 4. The three lucky winners were Kim Jo Bliss winning a three-day Fly In Fishing Trip with partial expenses being donated by Northwest Flying; Pam Munn is the lucky winner to enjoy a week at Birch Point Camp. Dale LaBelle generously […]