Local News from Across the Rainy River District
THUNDER BAY — The province needs to invest in rural road safety, says the mayor of Hornepayne. “In 2021, roughly 60 per cent of municipal road fatalities occurred on rural roads, even though only 17 per cent of Ontarians live in rural areas,” Mayor Cheryl Fort told MPPs during a pre-budget consultation session at […]
THUNDER BAY — There were no substantive changes to the city’s 2026 operating budget, but plenty of conversation on funding safety and security programs, in the first of two budget review meetings Monday. A majority of city departments presented their budgets and took questions from council, but the debate focused on a […]
Canadian rock band Big Sugar brought their high energy, high octane show to the Townshend Theate last night as part of Tour De Fort’s sold out passport season. The Canadian music icons performed the entirety of their 1996 record Hemi-Vision before launching into a set of more of their classic […]
At a time when the federal government is encouraging Canadian financial institutions to invest in nation-building projects, the country’s biggest pension fund keeps investing in fossil fuels and backing away from climate commitments. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) invested at least $7.1 billion in new fossil fuel and pipeline assets between October 2024 and […]
There’s mounting opposition to the federal government’s firearm buy-back program. The program opened Jan 19, despite widespread opposition and refusal of some provinces to participate. The federal government unveiled the next steps in its national gun buyback program and Canadians will have about two months to declare their interest in […]
A police officer and a military member who were involved in the rescue of three stranded fishers on Lake Manitoba earlier this month detailed the night as a collaboration that involved some help from the missing fishers. RCAF member Capt. Zach Hotte was on the rescue plane, a CC-130H Hercules, […]
The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is turning to unique community events like “cat yoga” and targeted foster programs to meet the growing needs of its local rescue operations. Chrissy Nesbitt, fundraising coordinator for PAWS, says the organization is looking for creative ways to engage the public while supporting the […]
SIOUX LOOKOUT — Several years’ worth of work is scheduled to start this spring on Sioux Lookout’s wastewater system. That’s according to Mayor Doug Lawrance, who told Newswatch increasing the capacity of the existing water treatment plant is needed to accommodate the municipality’s growth. “Our population has just grown steadily […]
Property taxes in Fort Frances will be going up a hefty 3.7 per cent this year as costs for services the town is legally mandated to provide have shot up 7.9 per cent compared to 2025. The operating budget, approved at Monday’s Town Council meeting, rose to $25.3 million from […]
Emo will be getting more than $1.4 million from the province to upgrade its wastewater treatment equipment, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford announced on Jan. 22. The investment is part of $700 million in provincial funding announced last week to assist 127 municipalities and First Nations communities in upgrading and […]
Last week the Ministry of the Attorney General announced that four new judges have been appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice to serve across Ontario, including one in Ontario’s northwest. Justice Archana Arun Medhkar comes to Northern Ontario from India by way of a long career in Toronto, according […]
Mitaanjigamiing First Nation will be getting $4.2 million in funding towards critical water infrastructure upgrades for its water treatment plant. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford made the announcement on Jan. 22, 2026. According to the province, the investment comes from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s (MHIP) Health and Safety Water […]
