By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — A recent $100,000 donation will help create Indigenous-led spaces and programming at Lakehead University. The funding from insurance and financial services company Canada Life is for the school’s Gichi Kendaasiwin initiative, and was announced at Lakehead on Sept 29. “Right now, (with) this project we’re looking at […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – Lise Parent wants the city to allow ball pythons to be kept as pets. “Ball pythons are among the most widely kept reptiles in Canada and globally. They are non-venomous, docile, and small – typically 0.9 to 1.5 metres in length, and weighing less than the average […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ontario have an opportunity through the Northern Technology Accelerator Program to reach new markets, improve efficiency and increase sales by implementing innovative technology. A partnership between the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre and Blue Sky Net has made the grant available for small businesses. Funded […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBNewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – City council unanimously approves federally funded encampment response vehicle to be in the capital budget. Because a fleet vehicle is considered a tangible capital asset, a new purchase must be included in the city’s capital budget. Council gave its formal approval on Tuesday to buy the vehicle in accordance with budget […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – Ontario Liberal Party critic for labour and education, MPP John Fraser, says the party needs to have a large presence in Northwestern Ontario. “I think it’s incumbent on all of us who are members, and not just members in the legislature, but members because we’ve got to get into […]

By Gene Pereira
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Markham Review

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti is calling on the Province of Ontario to reimburse municipalities for investments they made in the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Program. York Region is seeking full reimbursement from the province for the costs of its speed camera program after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced his plan […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

When disaster strikes — be it a house fire, or a car crash — children who are at a scene in which tragedy unfolds before their eyes may get temporarily ignored. They might be witnessing their family home go up in flames while their parents frantically pace around the yard, […]

By Sue Nielsen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Temiskaming Speaker

TEMISKAMING SHORES — Numbers don’t mean a whole lot when a mother has been missing her child for almost three decades, but September 29 marks the 29th year Melanie Ethier has been missing. In a sit-down interview with Melanie’s mother Celine Ethier, she mentions how the heartache never goes away, […]

By Maggie Macintosh
Local Journalism Initiative
Reporter
Winnipeg Free Press

Southdale hockey fans have won the chance to cheer and play for “Broncos 2.0,” the revival of a high school team that was disbanded last year due to coaching challenges and players’ aggressive outbursts. Grade 11 student Colton Clelland-Hall and his teammates at J.H. Bruns Collegiate will lace up their […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

Amidst challenges for the local beef industry, the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir (RRDRA) is back to hold its second fundraiser dinner to help it continue to offer services to local meat producers. The RRDRA will be holding their “Diamonds and Denim” fundraiser dinner this year on Saturday, November 1, […]

By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

A special fundraiser dinner will take place later this month to help support a local hairdresser living with a life-altering illness. Friends of Megan Finlayson will be hosting a special fundraiser dinner at the Sunset Country Metis Community Centre on Saturday, October 18, 2025, beginning at 5 p.m. Finlayson, a […]

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

Since the water main breaks that caused the Scott Street Flood on September 23, and another on September 27, local businesses, like the Salvation Army and Inkspotz Apparel, have been evaluating the damage. Inkspotz Apparel owner Scott Krienke also voiced some of his concerns dealing with the Town of Fort […]