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

Emo residents will see municipal taxes rise by 1.5 per cent to prevent the general budget from falling short in 2026. The town’s council voted at its Monday meeting to implement the increase as the lowest of three options that would keep the budget out of the red. “With a […]

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

Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) Rainy Lake Campus hosted the annual Gagwe or “Quest for Knowledge,” on April 23, continuing a decades-old tradition that encourages students to learn and celebrate the Anishinaabemowin language. The annual event, which takes its title from Gagwe-gikendamaawiziwin— “to seek knowledge”—has been a long-standing annual gathering […]

By Robin McCormick
West End Correspondent

Two students of Borderland Judo have just received their Ontario Regional referring certification from Judo Ontario. Rosina Woodgate and Sawyer Lance, at just age 11 years of age, are the youngest in the province to have achieved this qualification. They, along with several others from the region, attended the Referee […]

Metro

Mid-winter marks a time to start gathering information related to personal income taxes. As deadlines draw closer, Canadian taxpayers can keep these key dates and information in mind, courtesy of the Government of Canada. Essential dates How to file your tax return The Government of Canada notes that taxpayers can […]

By Ken Kellar
kkellar@fortfrances.com

If you haven’t noticed the vibrant artwork that’s been popping up all over downtown Fort Frances lately, there’s a perfect opportunity to drink it all in this Friday. The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Fort Frances BIA are in the middle of their Windows Alive art project, […]

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

Fort Frances Town Council has approved the Fort Frances Lakers Junior A hockey team and the Border Skating Club to move forward with a “straight swap” of dressing rooms, bringing a resolution to concerns that have been ongoing for more than a year. The Lakers currently have a dressing room […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

More than 350 municipal leaders, administrators, government representatives and business partners are heading home with renewed energy and focus on municipal resilience as the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) conference and annual general meeting concluded Friday. The three-day conference, which took place in Thunder Bay this week, was centred on […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – The province’s plan to consolidate 36 conservation authorities into nine has received royal assent. “The bill that included the amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act passed third reading yesterday and has been given royal assent this morning, so it is now official,” Todd McCarthy, minister of the […]

By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Ridgetown Independent News

The Ontario government is easing alcohol regulations in provincial parks, just in time for the opening of the 2026 camping season. Alcohol is no longer restricted to individual campsites, as adults are now allowed to responsibly consume their favourite beverages in most staffed provincial park areas, including picnic areas, beaches, […]

By Maya Ekman
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — The Ford government says it plans to fast-track construction of a new transmission line between Dryden and Red Lake. The project is a “key-priority” as the Red Lake district is anticipating a 525 per cent increase in demand for energy, said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Tbaytel released its 2025 Report to the Community, with its theme, Investing in the Everyday. The report highlights Tbaytel’s 2025 achievements and financial performance, which returned $23.1 million in dividends to the City of Thunder Bay. These funds help reduce local property tax bills by approximately 8.1 per cent. Also, […]