News

Indoor Turf Facility Shortlisted

The city has short-listed to three the potential builders for the new indoor turf facility.

(And by short-listed, the city means only three applied.)

The three companies responded last year to the city’s invitation for pre-qualification consideration. And after that consideration, all three have been advanced.

The project is worth $42 million.

Two of the qualifiers are Thunder Bay companies: Tom Jones Corp and FinnWay General Contractor.

The third company is McDonald Brothers Construction Inc., and they are headquartered out of Ottawa.

The three contractors are now required to submit their designs and costs by the end of February for the city to review.

Awarding of the contract is expected sometime in the spring, with construction starting in the summer and overall completion by the fall of 2026.

Daily Poll

Climate change

Climate change poll was interesting! Results from you loyal readers are:

• 73% said YES you’re worried

• 24% said NO you’re not worried

• 3% of you said climate change is a HOAX

Today’s question is:

Sponsor

Do You Want to Start Running?

Do you want to start running? Or are you already running and you want to get faster and burn your shoes off?

The Lake Superior Runners is a new running club organized and taught by Dan Tipple (left) and Claudio Pietrobelli (right).

LSR hosts weekly training sessions focusing on proper warm-ups, speed work, endurance and cool-downs.

Sessions run every Sunday from 4pm-5pm and go from January 5th until April 27th at the Lakehead University Hangar.

This isn’t just for pros or established runners. The LSR focus on inclusivity and want to spread the love of running (I know, it hurts at first, but the runners high is a real thing!).

All levels are welcome. Their motto is that no one runs alone!

And Claudio and Dan are no push-overs when it comes to running!

Claudio has completed 6 marathons (including Boston 2010); runs a sub 5-minute mile and has completed a personal best marathon time of 3 hours 19 minutes.

Dan has completed 14 marathons (including Boston twice) and has run a personal best time of 3 hours 14 minutes.

Signup for the entire four month program is $50 + access to the Hangar.

For more information, email them at [email protected] or click the button below to be taken to their Facebook Group.

Charity

RFDA Expands

The Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) headquarters in Thunder Bay is about to undergo a major expansion.

Late last week the RFDA announced they will be adding an additional 5,200 square feet to their headquarters on Syndicate Avenue.

The additional space will include a hamper preparation room, a vegetable processing room, wild game kitchen, outdoor patio and sacred fire, and a community teaching kitchen/program space.

The expansion planning began three years ago and is estimated to cost $6.9 million.

After large donations from the City of Thunder Bay, Paterson Foundation, Newmont, and TbayTel, the project only needs to raise an additional $1.5 million.

Construction is estimated to be completed by the end of August, with a grand opening potentially in October.

If you remember in earlier issues, we discussed how food requirements are at an all-time high, so additional processing and program capacity should be celebrated by the community.

Police

Arson Charges Laid

A Thunder Bay woman has been charged with arson following an investigation into an apartment building fire in Dryden.

Fire crews responded to a fire at a Duke Street apartment building last week and found a small fire inside a residence.

It was determined the fire had been intentionally set.

Following a quick investigation by the OPP a 33-year-old Thunder Bay woman was arrested and charged.

News

Hybrid Car Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop - Burning

If you ever question the sheer volume of energy stored in any sort of hybrid/EV battery system, I encourage you to speak with any firefighter that has had to respond to call where one has been set ablaze.

They burn forever.

Last week Thunder Bay Fire Rescue responded to a blaze on Normandy Court off of 20th Side Road.

A detached garage was fully engulfed in flames (all occupants of the nearby residence had exited and were safe).

The structure’s blaze was quickly brought under control, but the hybrid vehicle located inside, with the little EV battery, refused to go quietly into the good night.

It took 1.5 hours of continuous water application by TBFR to bright it under control and eventually be put out.

And this is why you never pack any lithium-ion battery-powered devices in your checked luggage while flying.

Municipal

EMS Feedback

It’s everyone’s favourite time: feedback time!

The city is asking for feedback on Superior North EMS’ assets and services (they don’t have enough, as anyone calling 911 can probably attest to, but don’t let me sway your input).

The goal here is for the city to make informed decisions about infrastructure and service deliverability via a series of short surveys to gather input.

The information will help identify areas for improvement, establish investment priorities, and to ensure the EMS is meeting the needs of the community.

If you spend any time reading comments on Facebook, this next part won’t matter much to most, but the city is saying the survey is anonymous and will only take 5-10 minutes to complete.

You can do your civic duty by clicking the button below. 

Indigenous News

PCMNO Upcoming Meeting

All Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizens are welcome to observe the next business meeting of the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO).

The meeting will be held on January 17, from 9am - 3pm EST.

A draft agenda of the meeting will be available on the MNO’s website before the start of the meeting.

If you would like to observe via Zoom, all MNO citizens must register in advance. The registration deadline is January 16, at 12pm EST.

Late registration cannot be accommodated.

If you’d like to register, you can do so by clicking the button below.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Gerdan Christmas Show
Ukrainian Christmas experience
Norteños Cantina
Jan 14 @ 7pm
$40

Beetle Juice Jr.
Theatre
Paramount Theatre
Jan 14 - 18
$20

Name That Tune
Trivia
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Jan 15 @7pm - 9pm
$ Free

Live Music from the Faculty of Music
Live musical performance
The Outpost
Jan 15 @ 8:30pm
$ Free

Kickin’ It Country with Lady T
Learn to dance
The Outpost
Jan 16 @ 6pm
$5

Daniel Tirado Comedy Tour (2 Nights)
Live comedy
The Foundry
Jan 16, 18 @ 8pm
$25 - $30

Introduction to Homeopathy
Information session
Waverley Resource Library
Jan 16 @ 6:30pm
$ Free

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 16

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• Norteños Cantina

• Polish Combatants’ Association - Branch 1

• The Waterhouse

• The Alley

30+ Friday Nights
Dance club
Armani’s Night Club
Jan 17 @ 9pm
$ TBA

Country Night ft Throwback!
Dance club & live music
The Outpost
Jan 17 @ 9pm
$5

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 17

• The Social

• The Bar

• The Waterhouse

Story Time with Tbay Drag Queens + Crafting with Queens
Live event
Mary J.L. Black Community Hub
Jan 18 @ 2:30pm - 4pm
$ Free

TBSO Specials - Live Concert Recording
Live musical performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Jan 18 @ 7:30pm
$25 - $50

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 18

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• The Hodder

• Norteños Taqueria

• The Social

• The Bar

Home of the Day

203 - 1230 Dawson Rd.

(Realtors if you want your home featured - send us an email: [email protected])

2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,200 sq ft

$399,500

Our first-ever condo listed - Fountain Hills - 2 bedroom unit. Great fixtures and view!