By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Unusually warm weather and plentiful tree berries appears to have caused black bears to be tardy when it comes to retiring to their dens for the winter. Some municipalities in Northwestern Ontario have been seeing many bruins, although there doesn’t appear to have been close encounters with people. “They’ve been […]

By Dave Baxter
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun

Manitoba Hydro is reporting net losses of more than $150 million from their last fiscal year, blaming much of it on drought and low water levels experienced on Lake Winnipeg last year. Hydro released its 2023-24 annual report on Tuesday, which shows a consolidated net loss of $157 million for […]

By Mike Stimpson,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

THUNDER BAY – Eric Gray remembers feeling uncertain about police when he arrived in the city from Sandy Lake First Nation to attend Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School. “Coming into Thunder Bay, I was nervous about the police because I have heard all these stories about what they’ve done to First Nations people,” he […]

By Philip Oddi
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Vankleek Hill Review

The internationally recognized cyber security campaign once again takes place this October. As it becomes more common for individuals to face cyber security threats due to peoples’ growing access to Internet services, ensuring one’s online security and holding some key knowledge on what to do in case of threats has […]

By Odette Auger
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com

The gifts of Richard Wagamese continue to be shared. That’s because a story from the late Indigenous author, titled The Animal People Choose a Leader, will be released on Oct. 12. Douglas & McIntyre is publishing the book. The story is excerpted from Wagamese’s One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for […]

By Hugh Kruzel,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Sudbury Star

The Ontario Federation of Labour brought its The Ontario We Need tour to Sudbury, but it’s not just labour issues on the minds of those who gathered in Copper Cliff last week. “This is a big road trip,” said Jessica Montgomery, president of the Sudbury and District Labour Council, referring […]

By Philip Oddi
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Vankleek Hill Review

Feed Ontario, a food bank network, recently released troubling numbers on food bank use in the province. Regional food banks are faring no better. In the report, Feed Ontario explains that food banks in the province have seen their use increase 25 per cent from April 2023 to March 2024, […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

DRYDEN – Some have called for the Dryden Fibre Canada mill to be shut down, but the city’s mayor says that would have severe economic repercussions for the local and regional economy. “If it was closed down now, that would be a significant blow to our community,” Mayor Jack Harrison […]

By Carl Clutchey,
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Wildfires continue to pop up near Thunder Bay amid a dry forecast and what’s expected to be a record low in the city for the September amount of rainfall. Environment Canada said on Monday that only about 6.5 millimetres of rain had fallen at Thunder Bay’s airport last month. The previous record was set in […]

By Margaret Kirk,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sault Star

On the cover of her poetry book, Sharon (Dolly) Syrette’s hand gently clasps a feather, a symbol of honour in Ojibwe culture, gifted to her by an elder upon completion of her poetry book. Her granddaughter’s hand rests atop hers, as the pair guide the feather into words across the page. Over top, a rainbow arches […]

By Connor McDowell,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brandon Sun

A vegetable with wheels sticking out, speed increasing and money on the line — it’s a zucchini race, and it’s coming to Souris this month. Scarecrow Days chair Loretta Turner has worked to introduce an event called the “Zucchini 500” to Souris’ annual fall event this weekend. It’ll be the first-ever zucchini race at Scarecrow Days, and she tells the […]

By Mike Stimpson,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

THUNDER BAY – The federal government needs to invest in Indigenous-led “nature-based solutions” to address climate change, says Jason Rasevych. Rasevych is president of the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA), a non-profit organization serving the First Nations business community within Treaty 3, Treaty 5, Treaty 9 and the Robinson Superior and Robison […]