By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

Fort Frances native Don Lovisa retired at the beginning of March after over 15 years as head of Durham College the college honoured the outgoing president by naming a building after him. Lovisa started working in the collegiate sector with Confederation College’s Fort Frances Campus which was located in the […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

The Rainy River District is in the grips of an opioid crisis, according to front-line workers who see the devastating impacts first hand. In a press release from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) issued for Bell Let’s Talk day in January 2024, CMHA Fort Frances branch CEO Charlene Strain […]

Staff

The third round of NWO PitchIt is open for nominations. The online program, similar in style to Dragon’s Den or Shark Tank, gives a stage for entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, for the chance to win cash. The contest is open to anyone with […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

The Government of Ontario is taking steps towards making the highways of the northwest safer for drivers. In a press release issued on March 15, 2024, the Ontario government marked the opening of a new commercial vehicle inspection station on Highway 11/17. Located in Shuniah, a municipality located along the […]

Staff

Indigenous storytelling can be preserved for future generations, thanks to newly announced permanent funding for the Indigenous Screen Office. The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced permanent funding to support Indigenous-led storytelling through the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO). This includes $65 million over five years starting in 2024–25 […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA – The Ontario government has signalled via social media that it will fund construction of a new hospital to replace Lake of the Woods District Hospital. “Ontario is building a new hospital in Kenora,” a sponsored post on Instagram declares, adding that the move is “part of our $48 […]

By Ryan Kiedrowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The World-Spectator

While a promise to distribute a percentage of carbon tax revenue back to small businesses, farmers and Indigenous people was made nearly a year ago, the money has not been distributed.That’s what the Canadian Federation of Independent Business told the World-Spectator, and said they are wondering exactly when the feds […]

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

The federal government is searching for a dozen young people to sit on the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council for the next two years. The council has a broad mandate, from participating in international summits to consulting with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on policy, educational campaigns and […]

By Miranda Leybourne
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brandon Sun

Students in driving schools across Manitoba and the country now have access to materials that will educate them about the realities of human and sex trafficking, thanks to a new initiative from the Joy Smith Foundation. The foundation, according to its website, is Canada’s leading authority on human trafficking prevention, […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A connection between a warming planet and the early arrival of migratory birds to nesting grounds in and around Thunder Bay is no longer deniable, says one expert. In fact, he says, it’s playing out before our eyes. “It’s definitely because of climate change,” Matt Fuirst, a wildlife researcher who […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

IGNACE – Ignace’s mayor and the rest of the township’s delegation have returned from their tour of a uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan. As a community on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s shortlist for hosting a proposed deep geological repository for nuclear waste, Ignace sent the delegation to learn more […]

By Dave Baxter
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun

RCMP are investigating a report of a hazing incident involving a southern Manitoba high school hockey team from last month. “We received a report of a hazing incident on February 20, 2024,” a RCMP spokesperson said in an email. “The incident was reported to have occurred in Winnipeg. “We are […]