Local News from Across the Rainy River District
As wildfires continue to burn across Manitoba, First Nations leaders say their communities remain “defenceless” due to a lack of proper firefighting equipment and resources. The province is experiencing one of its most severe wildfire seasons in decades, with 25 active fires. There have been a total of 106 already […]
This story was originally published on Monday, June 2, 2025. About 70 people gathered before MPP Vic Fedeli’s office on North Bay’s Main Street today to protest the province’s proposed Bill 5. Nipissing First Nation (NFN) organized the event. Bill 5, the Unleashing Our Economy Act, is designed to fast-track […]
Wildfires raging across western Canada have contributed to smoky days with no end in sight in the Rainy River District. Residents have dealt with smoky, hazy days for most of a week as the fallout from significant wildfires in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta is felt in the district. According to […]
Due to active forest fires, communities in northwestern Ontario may experience smoke in the air and poor air quality. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Forest fire smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particles that can be harmful to your health. You may experience […]
SIOUX LOOKOUT – A recent pay raise for members of Provincial Parliament was unexpected, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said Friday. “That was a surprise, for sure,” Mamakwa told Newswatch. “I thought they would never do it. “Compensation for MPPs in Ontario has been frozen since 2009. MPP salaries have been […]
The Home Depot in Thunder Bay has partnered with Shelter House to raise funds in support of at-risk and homeless youths and has started its annual Orange Door Campaign. From now until June 22, Home Depot customers can donate at the store’s checkout or online at OrangeDoorProject.ca in support of […]
From Temiskaming Shores to Hearst, real estate along Northern Ontario’s Highway 11 corridor is anything but ordinary. A quick glance at current listings reveals everything from colourful homes and lakeside businesses, to a vacant lot where the only trace of the former house is its standing chimney. In Fauquier-Strickland, a […]
TORONTO – Meaningless and unserious are words Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa uses to describe amendments the Ontario government proposes for its own Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. The controversial bill, which would allow the province to designate “special economic zones” where provincial and municipal laws […]
The Ford government is rushing to pass legislation that would strip cities of one of their most effective tools to confront climate threats: green building standards. Experts say these standards, developed over years by municipalities, are designed to ensure new buildings are safer, cleaner, more resilient and more affordable to […]
THUNDER BAY – After 23 years as the first superior court justice in Northwestern Ontario, Justice Helen Pierce set down her gavel for the last time. By the end of the day, she will be hanging up her robes, returning home to her husband, and settling into a quiet retirement. […]
Wildfire evacuees have landed in Brandon and checked into local hotels as they flee their homes in Manitoba’s north. Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said on Friday afternoon he had not received any further updates since the previous day’s estimates of about 300 evacuees in the city. The Clarion Inn and […]
The City of Portage la Prairie and the Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation have received a national award recognizing their partnership and efforts toward reconciliation. The two communities were presented with the 2025 Collaboration Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) during the association’s national conference in Mont […]
