By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

Shane Beckett, 53, a prominent local citizen and elementary school principal, was arrested on Tuesday and charged Wednesday with two counts of child luring. In information provided to The Times by the court, the allegations are that Beckett “between the 9th day of February in the year 2026 and the […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Town of Fort Frances published a letter that indicated the town’s taxpayers would not foot the bill for the Town’s drawn out legal dispute over the east end area known as Point Park. While MPP Greg Rickford and MP Marcus Powlowski were able to lobby […]

By Times Staff

The Ignace Water Pollution Control Plant will be receiving up to $4,827,125 in provincial funding to update, repair and stabilize the facility going forward, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford announced yesterday. The funds from the province’s investment come from the Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS), which has a total […]

By Phillip Blancher
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Morrisburg Leader

CORNWALL – The provincial minister overseeing Ontario’s colleges and universities defended cuts to the student grant portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Nolan Quinn — responding to questions during a press conference at the Cornwall Community Hospital February 19 — said […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The City of Thunder Bay is seeking input as it considers next steps in waterfront development. The former site of the Saskatchewan Pool Six grain elevator is the focus of development that was identified as a priority in the City of Thunder Bay’s new Smart Growth Action Plan. Joel DePeuter, the […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

ATIKOKAN — A local councillor says it’s time for Atikokan to switch time zones year-round. Gordon Martin raised the issue at a Feb. 9 committee of the whole meeting, arguing that the town should be permanently in Eastern Time, along with Thunder Bay and points east. “I feel like times […]

By Liam Oliver Neilson
Staff writer
lneilson@fortfrances.com

The water treatment plant in Rainy River, Ont. will soon have upgrades put into place after a provincial investment of $2,074,000. The provincial funding will allow the town to replace outdated system hardware without placing heavy debt on the town, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said while visiting the facility […]

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

After a successful initial run, Grand Council Treaty #3’s “Here’s a Thought” virtual speaker series will continue throughout 2026 with no planned end date with experts speaking twice a month on a diverse range of topics viewed through an Indigenous lens. The series was launched in December by the Gikinoo’amaadiwin […]

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

Crossroads Public School in Devlin has introduced their fifth student candidate for the Principal for a Block program, which allows students the chance to test drive being a principal and feel what it’s like to sit in the big chair. “I think it’s a good experience, because you’re allowing younger […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

A piece of local history has been returned to town after spending many years thousands of kilometres away. A painting of the region’s famed logging boat, the Hallet, created by prominent local artist Peter Spuzak in 1983, has been donated to the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre after having […]

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

The explosion of artificial intelligence in recent years has sparked a range of public reaction from horror to confusion to optimism, and the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) is tackling the issue head on by providing students and staff with guidance around smart and safe use of the technology. […]