By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

One year after her disappearance, the Government of Ontario is offering a $50,000 reward for information regarding the whereabouts of Melanie Lapish. Lapish was last seen in Fort Frances at approximately 9:00 p.m. on February 26, 2024. Rainy River District OPP said that Lapish was supposed to meet an individual […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

April will mark one year with the Fort Frances Fire Rescue Service for interim Fire Chief Dave Robertson. Robertson says that so much has happened in his time in the role, it feels like more than a year, but in a good way. “We’re a little shy of a year […]

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

Egale Canada released a statement on February 26, 2025, calling a recent Ontario court ruling a “legal advocacy win.” The Ontario Superior Court of Justice determined “hate speech” statements were made online by Brian Webster, a Calgary Construction worker who published statements calling drag queens “groomers.” While Bennett Jensen, Director […]

By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

Two French Immersion students at St. Mary School are preparing to take an exam that will test their language skills and provide them official certification of their bilingual status. Jackson Bourgeois and Bilal Toure are both Grade 8 students in the school’s French Immersion program who will be taking the […]

When I finished university at the end of 2004, I wasn’t totally sure what I was going to do with my life, as far as an occupation at least. I used to tell people I went to school on the “keep Mom happy program,” which was partially true. I spent […]

From the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre
Press release

The public is invited to an Art-As-Therapy Open Art Studio hosted by the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) in partnership with Dust Off The Soul Art Therapy on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Art-As-Therapy Open Studio provides a supportive, judgment-free environment where […]

Staff

If you’re looking for some curling action this weekend, there’s still time to register to take part in Grand Council Treaty #3’s third annual Treaty#3 Curling Bonspiel. The games are set to take place this weekend, Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Kenora Curling Club. According […]

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

When Justin Trudeau won his Liberal party leadership bid in 2013, he had a clear, decisive victory of about 80 per cent of the votes. Of course, Trudeau’s support has dwindled over his tenure in office, leading to his resignation on January 6th. Since Trudeau’s resignation, Mark Carney has emerged […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The Domtar saw mill, formerly Resolute saw mill, in Thunder Bay exports almost 90 per cent of its produced softwood lumber to the U.S., and like the many other Northwestern Ontario mills in the forestry sector, will likely not feel serious impacts from the U.S. government’s imposed 25 per cent tariffs, a local […]

By Sonal Gupta
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

The Ontario government killed its $100-million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink, leaving rural and remote communities in northern Ontario in the dark about their future internet access.  The decision, part of a broader political strategy by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in response to American tariffs, alarms those who rely on […]