By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SNnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY —Lakehead University’s School of Nursing will create five new primary care nurse practitioner education spots this year thanks to funding announced by the province. The province announced this week it is investing $30 million to expand the primary care workforce across Ontario, including a $1.3-million infusion in Thunder […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SNnewswatch.com

NESKANTAGA — The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has decided not to conduct an assessment of the Eagle’s Nest mine project in the Ring of Fire, and at least one First Nation chief in the region is unhappy with the decision. A thorough impact assessment must be done because […]

By Jacqueline M. St. Pierre
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Manitoulin Expositor

NORTHERN ONTARIO — Bill 72, Ontario’s Buy Ontario Act arrives wrapped in the warm language of resilience, its promise simple and seductive: keep supply chains close, keep dollars at home, keep Ontario strong. But in the North, where distance is a fact of life and economies grow along different fault […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Potential impacts on ground-water, tourism, mental health, as well as the prospect of truck crashes involving radioactive materials, are among a myriad of concerns being formally raised in response to a proposed underground nuclear waste storage site near Ignace. The concerns are included in the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s […]

By Andrew Fung
FSRA’s Executive Vice-President, Pensions
From the Ontario Community Newspaper Association

For young families and those just starting out in their careers, the thought of retirement might be the furthest thing from their minds. The hustle and bustle of daily life is the priority – preparing dinner, getting the kids to activities like hockey, gymnastics, dance, or taking the dog for […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWOnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY — Ontario First Nations leaders continue to push for resources to improve housing. That’s according to Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, who helped open the 23rd edition of the First Nations Housing Conference on Tuesday. “Before the tariff war that has impacted … the economy in different ways, […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A three-stage development plan for the Northern Road Link project is entering its final stage with its fifth series of open houses underway. Qasim Saddique, project co-lead representing Marten Falls First Nation, was on hand for the first of the open house sessions at the Italian Cultural Centre on Tuesday […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Shuniah property owners will see their local taxes rise on average by 3.5 per cent in 2026, despite there being no single, large-scale capital project on deck this year. But the municipality still plans to replace a snow plow and resurface Copenhagen Road, while absorbing inflationary pressures. Council approved a […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Occasional school closures in remote areas may be the bane of a working parent’s existence, but they come with the rural lifestyle, country-living boosters say. “It can make it difficult, but Mother Nature doesn’t care, so we need to have a plan in place for these things,” Conmee Mayor Sheila […]

By Clint Fleury
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – The Smart Growth Action Plan is already showing results. In a presentation to the growth committee on Tuesday, Matthew Pearson, senior advisor for growth, highlighted several action items that are progressing as planned. “Thunder Bay hasn’t experienced a lot of (growth) over the last 10 years, and […]