By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

IGNACE — The phone call came as a surprise to Ignace Mayor Kim Baigrie. On the other end of the line, she said, was an official from Domtar telling her the news that the company’s sawmill in Ignace will be shutting down indefinitely. “I was shocked, I was upset,” she […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

NAKINA — There is a single student at École secondaire catholique des Satellites in Nakina, for now. The distance learning French high school is working on growing as it continues to promote itself throughout the region. The school offers classes in French to high school-aged students in communities outside Thunder […]

By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham Voice

Every woman faces it, but most feel alone in their menopause journey. Author Michaela Cummings is hoping to change that. The Chatham-based writer, who has penned a book called “The Meno Change Diary,” is looking to bring a message of fact-based hope to women dealing with the challenges menopause can […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

EAGLE LAKE — A First Nation challenging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization in court says the ongoing assessment of a proposed nuclear waste site should be suspended. Eagle Lake First Nation filed an application for judicial review of the nuclear industry-funded not-for-profit’s site selection for the deep geological repository in […]

By Andrew Flynn
Editor-in-Chief
aflynn@fortfrances.com

In an editorial yesterday, I indicated that after weeks of trying, we had failed to get any response from Canadian Tire about what’s going on with the Fort Frances store that was closed due to a fire on Dec. 18, 2025. As fate would have it, the Times received a […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Last September, HGTV announced it was looking for extraordinary Canadian small towns to showcase their hometown pride and star in a new series called Home Town Takeover Canada, inspired by the popular U.S. show Home Town Takeover produced by RTR Media. Although the town has yet to be selected, production […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Since the beginning of the year, Fort Frances and all other recycle programs in the province completed the transition from municipal programs to corporate collection of materials, and that could mean a big change for locals who drop their recycling off at the depot. In a report to council, Town […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

BINGWI NEYAASHI — The chief of a First Nation on Lake Nipigon says he wants to see telecommunications upgrades done alongside a proposed power line. Bingwi Neyaashi Chief Paul Gladu raised the issue at a Jan. 14 press conference in Thunder Bay where Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu was announcing over $850,000 for 14 […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — The chief of Bingwi Neyaashi says an upgraded power transmission line can’t come soon enough. Paul Gladu’s community, also known as Sand Point First Nation, was one of seven First Nations in Northwestern Ontario to receive a total of $350,000 from the federal critical minerals infrastructure fund. […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

DRYDEN — Dryden’s mayor says the city’s 2026 financial roadmap is a “fairly ambitious budget.” City council approved the municipal budget at its meeting on Monday. It will see a 2.82 per cent property tax levy increase over 2025 — that effectively means the municipality will to collect roughly $538,000 […]

By Thomas Kent
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Woolwich Observer

Canadian families are expected to spend up to $994 more on food in 2026, according to Dr. Sadaf Mollaei, an assistant professor at the School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism Management at the University of Guelph. Mollaei worked as one of the advisors for this year’s Canada Food Price Report. […]

By Times Staff

In a press release issued Thursday, Jan. 8 the Town of Fort Frances clarified the ongoing issues with the lifts at the Memorial Sports Centre (MSC). Per the release, the elevator on the 52 Canadians side has broken down primarily due to age and replacement parts are no longer available. […]