By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SNnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — Finding a medical officer of health and CEO for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) was a challenging task, TBDHU board of health chair Jamie McPherson said Wednesday. But McPherson, who is also mayor of Greenstone, said he and the board found “an excellent choice.” In […]

By Allan Bradbury
abradbury@fortfrances.com

On Friday, May 8, Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health will take place in Fort Frances. The Walk aims to raise funds and awareness for maternal mental health in the Fort Frances area. Kaylee Heyens-McMahon is a local therapist and co-owner of Northwestern Ontario Counselling & Consulting. She said perinatal […]

By Mike McKinnon
Courtesy of The Atikokan Progress

The Voyageur Wolf Project has captured the first visual evidence of a cougar with kittens in Minnesota in modern history. Run by the University of Minnesota, the project has been studying 15 wolf packs in and around Voyageurs National Park for more than a decade. As part of its research […]

By Allan Bradbury
abradbury@fortfrances.com

It’s only been a week since the Fort Frances Lakers lost in Game 7 of the SIJHL Bill Salonen Cup finals, but the team is ready to get going again. On Tuesday, the team announced that forward Gunnar Simon has been named the team’s captain for the 2026-27 season. Lakers […]

By Maya Ekman,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

EMO — When Coeur Mining took over the New Gold Mine in Rainy River, it was left with thousands of coveralls bearing the old logo — and the Emo Seniors’ Centre stepped up to the task of rebranding. The mine reached out seeking an efficient way to rebrand the clothing, […]

By Times Staff

NESTOR FALLS — The Moose n’ Fiddle Music Festival will return to Caliper Lake Provincial Park in Nestor Falls for two days this August, featuring a musical lineup from across Canada. Known affectionately as “the cool little festival at the lake,” Moose n’ Fiddle has earned a loyal following on […]

By Liam Oliver Neilson
lneilson@fortfrances.com

The Emo Speedway has postponed its season opener by a week due to recent poor weather conditions that have prevented track preparations in time for this weekend. The season opener, which was initially planned for May 9, has been moved to May 15, with gates open at 6 p.m. According […]

By Sandi Krasowski,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The federal government has accelerated the transition of up to 33,000 workers in Canada to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. The initiative announced Monday by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab aims to focus immigration on the areas of greatest impact, including rural and remote communities facing labour shortages in […]

NWOnewswatch.com
By Carrie Ivardi,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

RAINY RIVER — Constable Kristina Bombay said she was completely surprised to learn that she had won the IODE Community Policing Award for 2026. The Rainy River OPP officer had been nominated for the award by Staff Sgt. Dereck McLean and said she was caught off guard by the nomination. […]

By Carrie Ivardi,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

RAINY RIVER — Efforts to make satellite courts in the Ontario Court of Justice system more accessible in the Northwest region are advancing, according to Rainy River lawyer Jeffrey Marchuk. Marchuk said that this greater accessibility through both virtual and in-person court is happening through renovations to the Legion in […]

The Chronicle-Journal
By: Carl Clutchey,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Despite a cooler-than-normal spring last month, wildfires burned over nearly 40 hectares of land across the province, with most of the damage occurring in Northwestern Ontario. The figures, compiled by the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) agency, show the amount is greater than what was burnt in […]