From the Northern Policy Institute
Press release

Northern Policy Institute, in partnership with organizations across Northern Ontario, is launching its third annual Measurement Month. Measurement Month is an effort to collect consistent, comparable data to inform decision-making at the local, regional, provincial, and national level for Northern Ontario, by collecting data through online surveys. Four surveys will […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

The Ontario Government is taking more steps in protecting youth in Northwestern Ontario from human trafficking. In an announcement made yesterday, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Michael Para, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, along with Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford, announced that the […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

ATIKOKAN – The 195-kilometre drive to Thunder Bay can be awfully risky, Atikokan Mayor Rob Ferguson says. “This year we’ve been lucky with the amount of snow, but it seems like every day I see on the news an accident on the highway,” he told NWO Newswatch. “I know a […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

IGNACE – The Willingness Engagement Team is in town, and they’re looking for a little conversation. Six team members from consulting firm With Chéla Inc. are in Ignace to talk with residents about the deep geological repository (DGR) that might eventually be built nearby. With Chéla owner Chéla Breckon said […]

By Shari Narine
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com

Culture is at the core of everything Kelsey Borgford creates. Her newest work, a children’s book called What’s in a Bead?, is set to be released by Second Story Press March 12. It is heavily influenced by watching and learning traditional Indigenous art forms, the author said. “Without that influence, […]

From Scouts Canada
Press release

Feeling the bleak mid-winter bummers? Scouts Canada (the country’s leading co-ed youth organization) is here to help kids kick their post-holiday ‘blah’ syndrome. Now that the festivities of the season are over and kids are back at school in their ho-hum routines, Scouts Canada has created the ‘Kidtastic’ Activity Generator as […]

By Michelle Gamage
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Tyee

After 13 years in the role, B.C.’s Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe is retiring. Her final day in office is Feb. 18, marking 30 years in public service. A lot has happened over the course of Lapointe’s tenure. Fentanyl arrived in 2012. The unregulated toxic drug supply became the leading cause […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

Her paintings often appear more real than the real thing. As a self-taught hyperrealism artist, Cher Pruys paints from her intuition with extreme precision and detail. Her work has not gone unnoticed. She has received 712 awards as of this January, seen her work juried into 461 international exhibits, and […]

Staff

The closure of New Gold is expected in 2031, but work is already underway to build a positive and lasting legacy in the district, to live on after the mine is gone. Gord Simms, General Manager of New Gold’s Rainy River site, was on hand at the Rainy River District […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

Funding will support Northwestern Ontario with almost $2-million to Thunder Bay child and youth service providers Northwestern Ontario will see nearly $2-million in funding from the provincial government to increase access to pediatric care services in the region. In a press release dated January 25, 2024, Ontario’s Minister of Health […]

From the Voyageurs National Park
Press release

There have been positive improvements to the Park’s winter trails this week.  The green trail is now entirely open from Franks Bay to Crane Lake.  The gold portage is still rough, and stakes have been placed to mark trail edges and drops.  Stay between the stakes to avoid those hazards. […]

By Austin Campbell
Local Journalism Initiative
SN Newswatch

Matawa First Nations Management (MFNM) has partnered with the charity Achieving the Dream Through Education to open an emergency response fund to support Eabametoong First Nation following the loss of their community school in a fire on Jan. 25. Nishnawbe Aski Police Service announced four young people have been arrested […]