By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

It takes a lot of courage and tenacity to strike out onto the big stage, but for Rustin Chartier, his trip to Manitoba late last year has taught him plenty of valuable lessons. Chartier was in the prairie province across late October and early November 2025 to bring his Charolais […]

By Liz Adam
Life Coach’s Corner

The best way to predict the future is to create it. Peter Drucker Now that the holidays are behind us we may find ourselves interested in doing something new to go with the beginning of a new year. But what? It’s a great time to reach out to make a […]

By Robin McCormick
West End Correspondent

Borderland Judo held its first Annual “Borderland Judo Winter Classic” tournament on Saturday, January 17, and it was a great success. It started off with a referees clinic Friday night and then the competition took place on Saturday. Judo clubs attending were from Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, and Fort Frances. […]

By Liam Oliver Neilson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com

Knox United Church prepares to continue its relatively new tradition of “Soup for the Soul” with a freezer full of various soups ready to be sold this Saturday. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at Knox United in Fort Frances quickly became aware that the regular plan for […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

The Fort Frances High School Muskies boys and girls teams will combine to take on first responders from the region tomorrow night on the Ice For Kids rink. The event is organized by OPP Cst. Kristina Bombay who is also a Mobile Crisis officer in the region. “Last year we […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch,com

THUNDER BAY – The municipality, businesses, and organizations in the city are now eligible to apply for provincial funding under a program designed to help boost rural economies. Local officials have been successful in lobbying for Thunder Bay to be a part of the Rural Ontario Development Program, according to […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

NAKINA — There is a single student at École secondaire catholique des Satellites in Nakina, for now. The distance learning French high school is working on growing as it continues to promote itself throughout the region. The school offers classes in French to high school-aged students in communities outside Thunder […]

By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham Voice

Every woman faces it, but most feel alone in their menopause journey. Author Michaela Cummings is hoping to change that. The Chatham-based writer, who has penned a book called “The Meno Change Diary,” is looking to bring a message of fact-based hope to women dealing with the challenges menopause can […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

EAGLE LAKE — A First Nation challenging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization in court says the ongoing assessment of a proposed nuclear waste site should be suspended. Eagle Lake First Nation filed an application for judicial review of the nuclear industry-funded not-for-profit’s site selection for the deep geological repository in […]

By Steven Sukkau
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun

A national taxpayers’ advocacy group is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to eliminate what it calls a “hidden carbon tax” embedded in federal fuel regulations. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) warns the policy could significantly increase gasoline and diesel costs for rural Canadians, including farmers and residents of small Manitoba […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Indigenous artists and crafters across the Thunder Bay district are being offered a chance to showcase and market their work to “thousands” of tourists this summer at one of the region’s main tourist attractions. Pukaskwa National Park says it’s looking for “authentic Indigenous-made products” for its seasonal store at Hattie […]