Local News from Across the Rainy River District
TIMMINS – Ontario’s 2026 budget misses the mark for Northern Ontario, says Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof. Vanthof is disappointed the budget failed to acknowledge growing concerns from northern communities, including road safety and municipal infrastructure. “I would say, from a northern perspective, more of the same and missing the moment,” […]
ATIKOKAN — A former elementary school property in Atikokan is up for sale. The Rainy River District School Board is looking to sell off two surplus pieces of land it owns in the town, with one of them being the former North Star Community School property on Hawthorne Road. The […]
KENORA — Archie McKay has been sentenced to imprisonment for life. The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug man was convicted last May on five counts of second-degree murder for setting the fire that killed his partner, Geraldine Chapman, their daughter, Shyra Chapman, and three children in Geraldine’s care, Angel McKay, Karl Cutfeet and […]
THUNDER BAY – The 2026 shipping season is officially underway at the Port of Thunder Bay as the MV Kathy McKeil passed the breakwall at 3:23 p.m. on March 26. On Friday morning, Capt. Adam Barnes and chief engineer Matthew Rankine were named as Top Hat Award winners, continuing a […]
A northern Ontario MPP submitted a formal complaint to Queen’s Park’s house speaker on Thursday after security wouldn’t allow observers into the gallery wearing an “Every Child Matters” t-shirt, and in another case, a sewn patch of the Transgender pride flag. Thunder Bay-Superior North NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois sent speaker […]
A lack of good water infrastructure persists as a health and welfare threat for Indigenous communities across Canada, as two days underscoring the issue surfaced last week in the Alberta legislature. National Indigenous Water Operator Day was March 21 in Canada, followed by World Water Day on March 22. Both […]
Manitoba’s Finance Minister, Adrien Sala, introduced the upcoming year’s budget on March 24. The financial plan is said to focus on creating good jobs, lowering the cost of living, and finding new ways to improve the healthcare system. One key strategy, with the potential to affect every Manitoban, is a […]
THUNDER BAY — The city is seeing increasing levels of poverty due to a lack of affordable and supportive housing, barriers to employment for marginalized populations and growing reliance on emergency shelters and community services, according to a new report. The Lakehead Social Planning Council provided the city’s quality of life standing […]
ATIKOKAN — An Atikokan councillor wanted to “start the conversation” to reexamine what time zone the town is in. That discussion has now ended — at least in council chambers. At its March 23 committee of the whole meeting, council agreed with a recommendation by administration to halt further exploration […]
A proposal by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to bury millions of spent and radioactive fuel rods from the country’s nuclear reactors in a specialized underground facility near Ignace is going to be subject to a federal independent review panel process. The decision by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada […]
THUNDER BAY — At an information session on Wednesday local staff learned about the government’s plan for both the Thunder Bay jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to remain operational once a new complex is complete. Members of the provincial leadership, including Kevin Sawicki, executive director of corrections and […]
TEMISKAMING SHORES – Increased enforcement, more transport rest areas and additional signage are among a list of government initiatives planned to increase safety on Highways 11 and 17. Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof, a long-time advocate for Northern highway safety, said the government plan falls far short of what is needed. […]
