Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Rainy Lake Square, the Fort Frances Museum and the former Sunny Cove Camp were on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the Fort Frances Town Council. Rainy Lake Square saw a decline in use by about 29 per cent in 2025 over the prior year, according to a report by […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A partnership between LiUNA (Labourers’ International Union of North America) Local 607 Training Centre, Lakehead District School Board, Superior-Greenstone District School Board and Matawa First Nations is delivering industry-recognized safety training, hands-on skilled trades experience and certification for Indigenous youths across Northwestern Ontario through its Indigenous Skilled Trades Training (ISTT) […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

As snowmobilers embrace what’s shaping up to be a stellar sledding season two years in a row, provincial police are reminding riders of the sport’s deadly downside. “Tragically, seven people have died in snowmobile incidents in OPP jurisdictions since the beginning of the 2025-26 riding season,” an OPP news release […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

ANIMAKEE WA ZHING — To visit friends and relatives in Minnesota, members of one First Nation must cross the Canada-U.S. border three times. Chief Linda McVicar says her members haven’t had any trouble making the trip — so far. The Animakee Wa Zhing 37 chief told Newswatch the triple border […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A vehicle procession in honour of a young Kakabeka Falls woman who died last week in a highway crash near the village is set to start on Saturday morning. The procession for 28-year-old Cheyenne Mae Vaillant is to leave the Thunder Bay Speedway and travel to the Kakabeka Falls Legion. […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

THUNDER BAY — The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association’s president has been appointed to the board of directors of the international Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). The appointment of Jason Rasevych, a Ginoogaming First Nation member, “signals a major step forward in connecting Canadian Indigenous innovation with global conservation finance,” according […]

By Maisha Hasan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Burlington Local-News.ca

Microsoft plans to invest $7.5 billion in Canada’s AI infrastructure over the next two years, a move announced in late 2025 that the company says will strengthen Canada’s digital sovereignty. Brock University data governance expert Blayne Haggart disagrees. Haggart says the idea that Canada would be in charge of its […]

By Times Staff

The first winner of the Riverside 50/50 Draw for 2026 has been drawn. Carolee Strachan has become the year’s first winner of the ongoing fundraiser 50/50 draws put on by Riverside Health Care to support its Lights, Camera, DIAGNOSIS! Campaign. According to a press release from Riverside, Strachan took home […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

The opening ceremonies are imminent, competition has already begun, and thus the 2026 Olympics are underway. Canada’s drive to own the Olympic podium began yesterday with the first games of mixed doubles curling. Canada emerged victorious over Czechia 10-5, adding a second win over Norway this morning 6-3 and will […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — There are over 40 “major exploration projects” listed on a mining map updated yearly by local economic development officials. And one in particular, over 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, is capturing people’s attention, said Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission CEO Jamie Taylor. “We’re really tracking Kinross, the Great Bear (gold) project, just […]

By Thomas Kent
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Woolwich Observer

A new University of Waterloo-led research initiative is taking aim at one of the region’s most pressing challenges: the growing gap between incomes and the cost of homeownership. The Future Cities Institute (FCI) has launched a living lab in partnership with BUILD NOW, an affordable housing initiative led by Habitat […]