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

Since 2020, financial literacy has been part of the math curriculum taught to all Rainy River District School Board students. Moreover, according to Tanya Kroocmo, Elementary STEM Coordinator for the Rainy River District School Board, students are taught about budgeting, comparison shopping, taxes, currencies, and more with textbooks and online […]

By Philip Oddi
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Vankleek Hill Review

Prices will again rise this year as Canadians continue to struggle with significant cost increases for common goods and services. Eastern Ontario and Southwestern Québec residents can expect to shell out between $5,000 and $15,000 more than in 2024. Numerous factors continue to play a significant role in the affordability […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

THUNDER BAY – Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said Friday she’s confident the federal government and two Ontario First Nations organizations can reach an agreement on child welfare reform quickly. Nishinawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) are in talks with the feds for an Ontario-only agreement […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — The next time city residents elect a new council, they could be voting for not one but two councillors to represent them in each of four new wards that stretch the entire width of the city. After a 14-month process, the council composition review committee decided on […]

By Connor McDowell
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brandon Sun

A barley variety that scientists bred in Brandon has been licensed by a food supplier and is set to arrive on restaurant plates and retail stores in the coming years. AAC Magenta — a purple-coloured barley — developed at a research centre in Brandon, has been licensed by Progressive Foods, […]

By Megan Hederson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
muskokaregion.com

Explore Huntsville is putting more resources into expanding visits to the town outside of the typical busy seasons. “Summer and fall are busy. We don’t market summer anymore. Our focus is on late fall, early winter, into winter, and then spring,” said Kelly Haywood, executive director of Explore Huntsville. By focusing […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The committee overseeing the Sleeping Giant Loppet is to meet on Sunday to “discuss options” as the prospect of a second consecutive winter with little snow on the ground looms. The popular cross-country skiing event that normally occurs a few weeks before spring is held at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park […]

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

As part of the 2024 budget, the Ontario government has released funds to hundreds of municipal fire departments across the province, according to a news release. Said funds are for cancer prevention initiatives for firefighters. Some municipalities in and around the Rainy River District receiving this funding include Fort Frances, […]

(KENORA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to inform the public about ongoing efforts to locate Kendall, a 63-year-old male who has been missing since October 13, 2024. Kendall is described as 5’5″, 160 pounds, with short grey hair and a Mohawk tattoo on his right arm. On […]

From the OPP
Press release

(ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wrapped up a robust Festive RIDE campaign this week, charging 743 drivers with impaired driving between November 21, 2024 and January 1, 2025. These drivers rang in the new year with the threat of losing their driver’s licence for a full year, […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

GRASSY NARROWS — A community checkpoint has been set up at the Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narows) First Nation reserve due to concerns about human trafficking. The Treaty 3 community’s emergency response coordinator said in a notice posted last week on social media that there have been “recent incidents involving attempted abductions […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA – Better pay would go a long way to solving the region’s shortage of paramedics, says the president of CUPE Local 5911. “What we’re finding is the main problem … is just that the paramedics are falling behind other classes of emergency services in regards to compensation and pay,” […]