Local News from Across the Rainy River District
MANITOULIN—Water has always carried the illusion of permanence. It returns as rain. It gathers in lakes. It moves, it cycles, it seems to forgive. But according to a new United Nations–backed scientific report, that illusion is breaking. Researchers say the world has entered an era of global ‘water bankruptcy’—a point […]
People who have worked with Wayne Smith throughout his three-decade career all agree on the same thing about him — his ability to lead and teach. The former chief was reminded by friends and colleagues about the significance this impact made during his retirement party last week, held at the […]
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has issued a warning about the risks of measles exposure after Manitoba Public Health reported Manitoba Ag Days last month as a likely transmission event for the contagious virus. The event, Canada’s largest indoor farm show, held between Jan. 20 and 22, 2026, at the […]
A partnership between LiUNA (Labourers’ International Union of North America) Local 607 Training Centre, Lakehead District School Board, Superior-Greenstone District School Board and Matawa First Nations is delivering industry-recognized safety training, hands-on skilled trades experience and certification for Indigenous youths across Northwestern Ontario through its Indigenous Skilled Trades Training (ISTT) […]
As snowmobilers embrace what’s shaping up to be a stellar sledding season two years in a row, provincial police are reminding riders of the sport’s deadly downside. “Tragically, seven people have died in snowmobile incidents in OPP jurisdictions since the beginning of the 2025-26 riding season,” an OPP news release […]
ANIMAKEE WA ZHING — To visit friends and relatives in Minnesota, members of one First Nation must cross the Canada-U.S. border three times. Chief Linda McVicar says her members haven’t had any trouble making the trip — so far. The Animakee Wa Zhing 37 chief told Newswatch the triple border […]
A vehicle procession in honour of a young Kakabeka Falls woman who died last week in a highway crash near the village is set to start on Saturday morning. The procession for 28-year-old Cheyenne Mae Vaillant is to leave the Thunder Bay Speedway and travel to the Kakabeka Falls Legion. […]
THUNDER BAY — The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association’s president has been appointed to the board of directors of the international Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). The appointment of Jason Rasevych, a Ginoogaming First Nation member, “signals a major step forward in connecting Canadian Indigenous innovation with global conservation finance,” according […]
Microsoft plans to invest $7.5 billion in Canada’s AI infrastructure over the next two years, a move announced in late 2025 that the company says will strengthen Canada’s digital sovereignty. Brock University data governance expert Blayne Haggart disagrees. Haggart says the idea that Canada would be in charge of its […]
Canada’s healthy oceans are worth billions more than what can simply be extracted from them. Oceans and coastal ecosystems generated at minimum $7.1 billion in benefits in 2023, new figures from Statistics Canada suggest. The study is part of the federal government’s efforts to value more of the advantages nature […]
Inner-city students and their families are getting more options and flexibility to study Indigenous languages. The Winnipeg School Division is testing out a new model to reach more residents with its free evening classes this winter. “After COVID, we said, ‘If teaching online worked, why not try this?’” said Rob […]
THUNDER BAY — There are over 40 “major exploration projects” listed on a mining map updated yearly by local economic development officials. And one in particular, over 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, is capturing people’s attention, said Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission CEO Jamie Taylor. “We’re really tracking Kinross, the Great Bear (gold) project, just […]
