By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Neebing, Ont. — Mild temperatures and low snowfall amounts so far this winter is bad news for sledders and skiers, but small municipalities may receive a break on the amounts they have to put out for plowing and sanding local roads. In Neebing Township, just southwest of Thunder Bay, the […]

By Dave Baxter
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun

First Nations leaders say hunters, fishers and trappers in Manitoba continue to be unfairly targeted and disciplined by conservation officers for exercising their Treaty rights. At the First Nation Hunters and Commercial Fisherman Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Meeting in Winnipeg on Thursday, they asked the province’s new NDP government to […]

By Michelle Gamage
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Tyee

It took only one puff of drugs cut with xylazine to knock the tall, solidly built William Bernier out for an hour. Bernier, who didn’t know he was taking xylazine, was alarmed by the sudden powerful rush despite having more than a decade’s worth of experience using drugs. First, he […]

From the OPP
Press release

(KENORA, ON) – The Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is seeking the public’s assistance in investigating a mischief. On December 30, 2023, shortly after 11:00 p.m., the Kenora OPP Detachment received information about a mischief incident at the intersection of Main Street South and Second Street South […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

Observed today for the second time, National Ribbon Skirt Day originated in 2020 when 10-year-old Isabella Kulak wore a ribbon skirt on her school’s “formal wear day” and was shamed by a staff member. According to the ribbonskirtproject.ca ribbon skirts are an ancient tradition among the different Indigenous groups across […]

From the IAFF
Press release

OTTAWA – The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is marking January as the inaugural Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month in Canada.  Nearly all professional Canadian fire fighters have felt the pain of losing colleagues in the line of duty from occupational cancers. In the five-year period 2018-2022, an average of […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Growth in the Thunder Bay region’s new-business startups and expansions has intensified the search for funding sources. The Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre hosted a Meet the Funders event and added three more funding sources to their previous dozen. Funders have been vital to the survival of the region’s businesses, both […]

By Wayne Doyle
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
BarrieToday.com

Shortly after cannabis was legalized in Canada 2018, retail cannabis stores started popping up like weeds. At the time, it seemed like a new pot shop was opening on every corner. Many of them are gone today, victims of an overzealous retail market that couldn’t support the many small ‘mom […]

By Kris Dube
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Niagara-on-the-Lake Local

Niagara’s grape and wine industry is raising a glass in a toast to the provincial government for its recent announcement about the elimination of a 6.1 per cent tax on products sold at winery retail stores. This comes as part of a larger agreement that consumers will be able to […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

The motto of the SAR-1 program is “so that others may live.” True to their mission, the program recently provided intensive training to a group of future team leaders in the Rainy River District, developing expertise and a search and rescue team for the Treaty 3 territory and neighbouring communities […]

District of Rainy River Services Board
Press release

The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) unanimously approved the 2024 Annual Budget of ~32.4 million at the regular board meeting held Thursday, December 14, 2023. The overall budget reflects an increase of $1.28 M or 4.13% which is funded primarily by the Province through the four major programs, […]