Local News from Across the Rainy River District
Water is the lifeblood of agriculture, but climate change and shifting weather patterns are straining access. Longer droughts, heavier downpours, and greater competition for resources are forcing producers to rethink irrigation, crop choices, and land management. Farmers Maggie Winchester and Mattson Griffiths of Parachute Farm in Vankleek Hill are working […]
Head coach Terry Ogden accepts a Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of his team. The OFSAA winning 1989 team was inducted along with one other team, three other athletes and a builder. For more on the induction ceremony, see tomorrow’s Fort Frances Times
Wilfrid Laurier University and Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) have a long history of collaboration. Although the two schools have worked closely together for around 30 years, they recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to “strengthen academic ties to better serve Indigenous peoples in Ontario,” according to a news release. It’s one of […]
During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, James Frank Palmater faced relentless, crushing pain. A massive heart attack had reduced his heart function to only 15 per cent. The isolation of social distancing in his palliative care ward deepened his suffering. Two and a half weeks after the infarction, […]
WEBEQUIE — A northern Ontario First Nation’s chief says more housing and the infrastructure to support it are crucial as his community’s population continues to grow. Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse told Newswatch, ideally, they’d be able to build 30 new homes this year, but realistically, that number will be closer […]
The first thing you should know about Ang Braun is that she does not like being told “no.” This is not a mild, shrug-and-walk-away kind of dislike. This is a kind of “oh-yeah-watch-me” defiance, tempered by prairie politeness but sharpened by 20 years of listening to women tell her what […]
The Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame 5th induction ceremonies are being held this Saturday evening at La Place Rendez-vous. The event starts at 5 p.m. with a Social Hour, dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the induction ceremonies. The Hall of Fame is grateful to Cassandra Armstrong for agreeing […]
(THUNDER BAY, ON) – The North West Region of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) completed the Civic Holiday long weekend traffic campaign from Friday, August 1 to Monday, August 4, 2025. Focusing on the “Big Four” – impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving (including speeding), and seatbelt compliance, the OPP […]
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO — Regional representatives from all levels of government are applauding a recently-announced federal stimulus package for the softwood lumber industry and agree that collaboration is key to the sector’s survival and growth. Ottawa announced on Tuesday a series of measures potentially totalling about $1.2 billion as part of […]
SIOUX LOOKOUT — Officials with the Meno Ya Win Health Centre say they intend to submit preliminary design documents for a new long-term care facility to the province on or before September 1. The hospital in Sioux Lookout received a $2.5 million planning grant from the province in late 2024; […]
Heading into August, beekeepers across Ontario and Canada learned they’d receive a boost to improve their honey bee colonies and competitiveness in the face of U.S. tariffs. The provincial and federal governments announced August 1 funding of $1.7 million to help the Ontario beekeepers “grow and protect their honey bee […]
The Ford government is facing backlash from advocates and water experts over proposed changes to Ontario’s Water Resources Act that would remove key oversight and public input from the province’s water-taking permit system. The changes would amend long-standing rules by allowing the transfer of these permits between companies if the new operator draws water […]
