Local News from Across the Rainy River District
THUNDER BAY —The annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) conference is “very important for the region,” NOMA president Rick Dumas says. “Obviously, NOMA’s been doing this for many, many years — or decades, for that matter,” Dumas, who is also mayor of Marathon, said on the first day of the […]
THUNDER BAY — The provincial government is “taking action now” for safer highways in the north, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Wednesday at the 2026 Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) conference. “Highway safety is a top priority for this government,” Sarkaria said. Highways 11 and 17, which together are Ontario’s […]
With the chosen deep geological repository site for Canada’s used nuclear fuel in Northwestern Ontario undergoing a multi-year regulatory decision-making process, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has begun to search for a second such site. The NWMO released a discussion document last June on its proposed approach for siting […]
The Ford government’s Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, has been a source of controversy since its introduction last June. Rolled out amid economic uncertainty, partially due to U.S. tariffs, the bill aims to accelerate development and major infrastructure projects, such as mining and electric vehicle […]
Canada is taking steps to protect soil health with the government’s announcement of plans to develop a national soil health strategy starting this spring. The plan was proposed last year by Sen. Robert Black, though action on soil health is something he’s advocated for since his appointment to the Senate […]
Wellesley will soon be greener as the township looks to expand its tree canopy through a planting initiative in a partnership between the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and Reep Green Solutions. The goal is to plant 5,000 trees by 2027 along roadsides throughout Wellesley, aiming to cultivate more vibrant green […]
POLONIA – A farmer took charge of an open house in Polonia last week by initiating a group question period on stage about the ‘Fleury Winds’ project that is proposed to install dozens of wind turbines in the farming community. Matthew Atkinson, a Neepawa-area farmer, walked on stage during the […]
A trio of international partners have once more signed a declaration aimed at preserving the beauty of the night sky. Fort Frances mayor Andrew Hallikas journeyed to Minnesota’s Voyageur National Park on April 15, to sign a now-annual joint proclamation alongside International Falls mayor Drake Dill and Ranier mayor Dennis […]
Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (LLGAMH) team based out of Brockville is reporting a sharp rise in young men seeking support for gambling-related problems, reflecting an Ontario-wide trend highlighted in a recent study, which showed an alarming 300% increase in calls to the province’s mental health helpline. […]
THUNDER BAY – Parents and children move into the new programming space at the County Park Library to enjoy their first Baby and Me Storytime. “We’ve had the space under development for months now, and we’re finally able to welcome people in. It’s bringing the life in, right? And I’m […]
Rural residents living in areas just outside Thunder Bay braced for the prospect of flooded roads late Friday, as warming temperatures and a rainy forecast elevated the risk for ice jams, rising rivers and accelerated melting of an unusually deep snow-pack. “We have been on flood watch all day (Friday), […]
KENORA — Nearly 150 employees at the Weyerhaeuser TimberStrand Plant in Kenora have voted to join the United Steelworkers union. In a media release issued Friday, the union said it has added 147 workers, who voted 97 per cent in favour of joining the Steelworkers. Prior to the vote, those […]
