By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The province can’t sit on its hands while at least five rural fire departments near Thunder Bay face the prospect of shutting down due to a volunteer shortage and the difficulty of meeting training requirements, NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois says. “What can be done to make (firefighter) training more accessible, […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – Three weeks into a strike, talks between Workplace Safety and Insurance Board employees and the provincial agency have broken down. The WSIB has rejected the union’s most recent collective agreement proposal, according to a media release issued Monday by CUPE local 1750, the Ontario Compensation Employees Union, […]

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

According to the release from the Ontario government, the new budget passed in May 2025 will “protect Ontario workers, businesses and jobs,” and foster a self-reliant, resilient economy. But not everyone believes they will see the benefits. Investing in critical minerals, machinery and equipment, Indigenous equity partnerships, and a fuel […]

By Shari Narine
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com

It’s a “special honour,” says award-winning journalist and author Tanya Talaga. Her newest non-fiction book The Knowing is being taught in Grade 11 at the Toronto District School Board, one of the largest school districts in Canada. “Considering (Toronto) is Annie’s final resting place. She started off at Fort Albany almost 3,000 […]

By Clint Fleury,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tbnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — The city will celebrate its 10th Mining Day will celebrate this Saturday as well as the 50th anniversary of naming amethyst as its mineral emblem. Organizers of the event held a flag-raising ceremony at city hall on Tuesday to commemorate the event. In his preamble before proclaiming […]

By Megan Hederson,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
muskokaregion.com

Are Muskoka’s bear-proof garbage bins doomed to stay rusty, green, and overlooked at the ends of driveways? Not if artist Kimberly Rideout has anything to say about it. She’s transforming these everyday “eyesores” into creative works of art — and using her talent to support a cause close to her […]

By Connor McDowell,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Brandon Sun

Hugh Fraser leans over, tears some grass off the ground and throws it to the air. He grips a remote controller while he watches the grass drift past him to the east. “Straight down the runway,” he says. The engine of a gas-powered model airplane, the “Norseman,” revs to full […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has set itself up as a transportation hub for evacuees affected by forest fires. Across Northwestern Ontario, particularly north of Red Lake and north of the Sioux Lookout area, are “still experiencing quite a bit of control problems with some of the […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A 58-year-old Thunder Bay woman was charged with stunt driving near the city late Tuesday morning after a passenger vehicle was clocked at nearly double the speed limit on Highway 527. Provincial police said the vehicle was picked up on radar at 155 km/h around 11:50 a.m. The posted speed […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

AROLAND – Aroland First Nation’s chief would like to make it clear that he and his council do not support Bill 5 – and that they’re not in league with Premier Doug Ford’s government on Ring of Fire mining, either. A news release issued Monday says the First Nation north […]

By Natasha Bulowski
Local Journalism Intiative Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

The federal government’s new bill to fast-track projects “in the national interest” sparked immediate concerns from the Assembly of First Nations and Canada’s largest network of labour unions, climate, environmental and faith groups and Indigenous organizations. If it becomes law, the federal government will essentially be able to approve certain […]