Local News from Across the Rainy River District
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 […]
When the SIJHL’s top players take to the ice Feb. 6-7 in Dryden, Fort Frances Lakers will be well represented, with seven players across the two teams and an assistant coach behind the bench as well. Five members of the Lakers, goaltender Brady Cates, defenseman Zak Green, and forwards Pierce […]
Thunder Bay Ironworks #759 Trade School was built two years ago, a building for iron worker apprentices. It was an immediate decision from not only president B.J. Sault, business manager Adam MacGillivary, and the many ironworkers who knew him, that the trade school should be in memory of Russ MacDonald, […]
An increase in the number of grants available, more stringent requirements and the complexity of applications for both federal and provincial grants has prompted the town to consider searching for a full-time grant writer explicitly for that purpose. “Currently, grant applications, reporting, and financial tracking are distributed across staff who […]
The Ontario government has declared the Greenstone Transmission Line project as a priority, accelerating construction of a 230-kilometre power line that will run from Nipigon Bay to near Aroland First Nation. In a shot at the recently imposed U.S. tariff regime, the province says the project will create more than […]
Betty’s and The Pink Parasol Tea Room held its first ever “Winter Kingdom of Frost and Flame” renaissance faire on Saturday afternoon. Guests were offered opportunities to play Magic The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, trivia and arm wrestling competitions, all while looking the part in medieval themed costumes.
The McIrvine outdoor ice rink will be covered with a roof later this year at a cost of $994,000 that will help reduce snow removal costs and increase its availability to skaters and other users. However, the rink in the east end of town won’t be receiving the same treatment […]
