By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

While it has a year of significant achievement under its belt, the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board (RRDSSAB) warns that there are still rising pressures around housing in the district. As part of the presentations made to the assembled delegates of the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) […]

Staff

Yesterday, the Kaatagoging Survivor’s group of the St. Mary’s Indian Residential School announced its preliminary findings of 171 anomalies suggesting potential graves sites at the school site. The announcement has sent ripples through the entire Treaty #3 region. “I am absolutely heartbroken at the announcement of 171 potential grave sites […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

On January 11 at the township of Emo council meeting, a representative from S. Burnett & Associates Limited (SBA), who is responsible for completing funding applications on behalf of the township, provided updates on various projects happening in town. First brought to council’s attention were updates on the reconstruction of […]

Press release

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is celebrating 75 years of local public health. The anniversary is being honoured throughout 2023 with events and contests and a local public health matters campaign. Over the past 75 years, the health unit has grown from six staff in 1948 to 160 staff in 2022. […]

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

A new slate of members and returning officials attended the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) in Chapple last Saturday, which saw multiple members elected to new positions and a handful of topics both presented and discussed for future consideration. The meeting of the […]

By Eric Shih
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA — The local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association is looking for the province to increase funding to help the mental health and addictions sector. Sara Dias, the executive director of the CHMA Kenora branch, gave a presentation virtually at the provincial pre-budget consultation hearing held in Kenora […]

By Eric Shih
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

Alan Poelman has been selected as Canadian Geographic magazine’s photographer of the year for 2022. The Atikokan photographer said he found out he won the award on Thursday morning, “I was pretty shocked. It was the first photo contest I’ve ever entered,” he said. “It was a huge honour to […]

By Eric Shih
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

The time window for essential winter roads to stay open for First Nations in the Northwest is getting shorter. The higher than normal winter temperatures in the region are creating challenges in building winter ice roads, said Roy Fiddler, the project manager in charge of building winter roads for Muskrat […]

Press release

(RAINY RIVER, ON) – Members of the Rainy River District of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to 164 occurrences between Monday January 9, 2023, and Sunday, January 15, 2023, including: OPP laid 12 charges under the Criminal Code and 24 under the Highway Traffic Act.

By Dave Baxter
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun

A national First Nations organization has released what they are calling a “framework” to advance Indigenous economic reconciliation across the country, and to empower First Nations communities to reach greater financial prosperity and independence. On Monday, the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB), an organization that works to support First […]

By Lori Thompson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Manitoulin Expositer

Between December 7 and December 19, leaders from 195 countries came together at COP15 in Montreal, Quebec to negotiate an agreement for the future protection and conservation of the world’s biodiversity. Manitoulin Island resident Kim Neale was there as a panelist and observer, and shared her experience with The Expositor. […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

Around midday on January 4, 2023, at the Fort Frances city hall, representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society and council members raised a dark blue “Forget Me Not” flag in the cold January air, proclaiming January as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and kickstarting a series of fundraising and advocacy events striving […]