By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff Writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

The Rainy River District School Board (RRDB) is maintaining a similar ethos for its approach to mental health as in previous years, according to the board’s mental health leader. Tracey Idle, the Mental Health Lead for the RRDSB, discussed the board’s mental health strategy as it prepared to enter the […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Even though she once dreamed of being a nurse, a decision to combine two other passions made for a unique career path that has been anything but ordinary. Kathleen Lawrence, co-owner of Vintage Junky, once had dreams of being a nurse, but ultimately pivoted to hairdressing and selling vintage goods. […]

Dear Editor: As Fort Frances enters a municipal election year, the conclusion of the Point Park litigation should prompt serious reflection about the suitability for re-election of the multi-term councillors who presided over this seismic waste of taxpayer money. After nearly 30 years of litigation and close to $5.5 million […]

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low of -4 C (25 F). Tomorrow will be mainly cloudy during the day with cloudy periods overnight and a high of 0 (32) with a low of -10 (14). Friday will bring a mix of sun and cloud during the day before […]

– Ken Kellar photo

Jim Hudson of Lowerys Fort Frances pulled the winning ticket for the first of the Kiwanis Club of Fort Frances’ 2026 Trip of the Month draws on the morning of Friday, January 2, 2026. Shirley Larson was the winner of a Wonders of Turkey trip, valued at $4,400. Next month’s […]

By Times Staff

On Dec. 18, 2025, the The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) announced that it has been reaccredited under the Ontario Public Library Guidelines, reaffirming the Library’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible and up-to-date services to the community. According to a statement from FFPLTC CEO Nadine Cousineau, accreditation means […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — The New Democrat MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North will have a full plate of issues she says she wants to press in 2026. Northern highway safety, the planned merger of many of the province’s conservation authorities (including the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority), the still-idled Terrace Bay mill […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO — The upcoming end to Canada’s remote area border crossing permit won’t affect a separate slate of rules for water crossings into Canada, border officials say. Earlier in December, the Canadian Border Services Agency (or CBSA) announced it will be shuttering a program that issued permits which allowed […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

IGNACE — The years-long process for regulators to decide whether a proposed nuclear waste storage site gets the green light has begun. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada has posted the initial project description for the deep geological repository being proposed in the Ignace area by the Nuclear Waste Management […]