Local News from Across the Rainy River District
KENORA – Living in a fire-prone community can be emotionally difficult, Wabaseemoong Chief Waylon Scott said Sunday as nearly all of his community stayed in hotels hundreds of kilometres away. Wabaseemong Independent Nations, approximately 120 kilometres northwest of Kenora and 13 kilometres east of Manitoba, was evacuated last week as […]
Even as cooler temperatures arrive in the northwest, much of the region is still under high to extreme wildfire conditions, with five new fires reported yesterday, bringing the total number of active wildfires in the region to 14, according to the Ontario government’s Forest Fire Info Map. Currently of note […]
The end of a lease agreement has created tension in the relationship between Thunder Bay Public Library and Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS). In March, the Thunder Bay Public Library announced the expansion of its children’s area as part of a restructuring of the Waverley and Brodie Street facilities. […]
Several rural fire departments just outside Thunder Bay are “stretched thin” in terms of available firefighters and equipment, just as “dangerously dry” ground conditions set the stage for more wildfires. The departments, which rely on volunteers, warn that firefighter burnout has become a serious concern since fire season heated up […]
Fifty-six paddlers were among the 131 people who lost their lives in boating incidents on Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-patrolled waterways in the last five years. Between 2020-2024, 34 of those who died in marine incidents were canoeists, 17 were kayakers and five were using stand-up paddleboards. Whether you and […]
In the midst of recent extreme temperatures and high winds, out of control wildfires are now moving through some parts of eastern Manitoba where cottages and campgrounds abound. A wildfire update was delivered this morning by the assistant Kristin Hayward, deputy minister of Manitoba Wildfire Services. According to Hayward, a […]
Spring means that local food is coming online across Ontario at farmers’ markets and roadside stalls, making it an important time to buy local, says the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. With the fresh season upon us, the OFA and its Home Grown project are promoting the more than 200 different […]
Fort William Historical Park is calling for vendors, dancers and information booths as they gear up for the 43rd annual Anishinaabe Keeshigun Powwow. Known formerly as Ojibwa Keeshigun, the event has featured dancing and drumming, hands-on activities and demonstrations that highlight Anishinaabe culture, traditions, language and technology. Patrick Morash, the […]
Canada’s new federal cabinet under Prime Minister Mark Carney is making history with the appointment of three Indigenous ministers, and taking a big step forward for reconciliation and Indigenous governance. Carney’s cabinet includes Rebecca Chartrand, who is new to federal politics as minister of northern and Arctic affairs. Mandy Gull-Masty, […]
The 2025 Ontario Prospectors and Explorers Symposium took place in Thunder Bay in mid-April, where at the Valhalla Inn the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association recognized individuals and companies for their mining and exploring achievements. Since 2001, the association has presented awards recognizing mineral discoveries, mine developments and lifetime achievements. This […]
A University of Winnipeg employee has filed a whistleblower report that calls for a probe into overall operations at the post-secondary institution amid mounting concerns about its leadership. The Free Press obtained a six-page submission to the Manitoba ombudsman about the publicly funded institution under president Todd Mondor. It echoes concerns on […]
The more school students miss, the worse off their overall outcome in life could be. Post-pandemic data from the Rainy River District School Board shows a rise in chronic absenteeism among students in the region. Beth Fairfield, Superintendent of Education for RRDSB, said this is especially true for First Nations […]
