By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA – News that the Ontario government is extending funding that helps rural and northern hospitals avoid temporary ER closures is music to Ray Racette’s ears. “We were certainly hoping for it, and we certainly were very pleased when we learned that it was indeed being extended,” the Lake of […]

Press release

Northwestern Health Unit is reminding everyone to stay safe this respiratory illness season and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital by preventing the spread of infections. The following measures can help to keep you and others healthy: All eligible people are encouraged to get their influenza and COVID-19 vaccines as […]

By Shari Narine
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com

It took referencing a dozen different sources to identify children who died at St. Boniface Industrial School, Janet La France told the Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples Sept. 20. La France is the executive director with Société historique de Saint-Boniface in Manitoba. She compiled a list of 300 First Nations […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

The Western Hockey League announced yesterday that International Falls native and former NHL coach Kevin Constantine was suspended Sunday after a complaint of alleged violations of the league’s policies. According to a release from the Major Junior league issued Monday evening, “Constantine was suspended on Sunday after the WHL’s independent […]

Press release

TORONTO – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $1 million over two years through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support productivity and growth in the province’s maple syrup sector. The Maple Production Improvement Initiative will provide eligible maple syrup producers access to cost-shared […]

By Amanda Rabski-McColl
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TimminsToday.com

The second largest carbon sink on earth is everyone’s responsibility. That message was delivered at the Breathing Lands Omushkego Aski Can Save Us presentation at the Timmins Museum: NEC on Sunday afternoon as residents learned more about the peatlands in Northern Ontario. “We knew that we had to get the […]

By Kevin Jeffrey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A pair of local hockey officials are making it easier for new referees to get on the ice. Colin Dzijacky and Patrick Galloway have come together to start Earn Your Stripes, which started off as a project that Dzijacky did as part of his schooling through Laurentian University but now […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

More than 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their home in between the age 4 and 16, their lives altered forever. Over 4000 children didn’t return to their communities. Next week, for National Week of Truth and Reconciliation, agencies across the district will host teachings and activities from September 25 […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

The Fort Frances Muskies football team will celebrate 75 years next Thursday at the team’s annual homecoming game and they’re calling on all Muskie alumni to come out and be recognized. The game between the Muskies and St. John’s High School Tigers out of Winnipeg will be played next Thursday […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

The Supervised Access Program has been expanding throughout the years, offering safe, supervised visits and exchanges for families facing difficult periods following a separation or divorce. Supervised visits and exchanges are designed to ensure that children can have safe, conflict-free access to parents or relatives during a time of conflict […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

In the wake of several lengthy planned power outages that have affected most of the Rainy River District in one way or another, the provincial government has provided funding that will help to ensure critical health infrastructure at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances can continue running even during […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) is holding two competitions in an effort to bring more patrons into the library and get more books off the shelves and into people’s hands. Nadine Cousineau is the Adult Services Coordinator at the FFPLTC and she says reading challenges have worked […]