News

Winter Parking Starts

Well, we had a bit of a break, but winter parking is now here for the season!

Starting today at 9am, calendar parking and priority route restrictions will be in effect.

For those who are new here, or for those who chose to black out all memories of winter, calendar parking restricts parking to one side of the street during the hours of 9am and 5pm.

If you happen to live on a priority route, you can’t park on the street between the hours of 2am and 7am.

The goal here is to ensure streets can be fully plowed, so we aren’t play a Thunder Bay version of Mario Kart trying to avoid the frozen blocks of snow left behind because a vehicle was in the way.

North Bright

Get Your Ducts Cleaned!

We all know to change our furnace filters at least twice a year (we do all know that.. right…?)

But what we probably don’t ever think to do is have our ducts cleaned! Over time, stuff, quite often gross stuff, collects in our heating/cooling ducts.

If you have kids, or pets, you can imagine what might fall into the vents that blow air into your home. Air that’s passing over gross moulded old food, or pet dander and fur etc.

You get the point. And it’s gross.

Northbright’s team of licensed cleaners can get all that nasty stuff out of your ductwork that’s contributing to bad air quality, sneezing, running noses, and allergies.

And they leave your house smelling so damn good afterwards.

Click below to look at pricing and book your appointment today!

Daily Poll

White, brown or green Christmas?

The results of Friday’s poll show a strong desire to make Thunder Bay look merry and bright. 68% of you say you decorate the outside of your home. Thanks for spreading the Christmas cheer!

As you are reading this there should already be a good dumping of snow on the ground. So that made me wonder about…

Charity

Christmas Tree Auction

We’ve got a new charity auction in town!

Reid’s Furniture is hosting its first (hopefully annual?) Christmas Tree Auction.

Eight charities have decorated trees:

• The Arthritis Society

• Chartwell

• DEK Addiction Recovery Foundation

• Dilico Christmas Wish

• PRO Kids

• Shelter House

• Tem Werks Co-Op

• Thunder Bay & District Human Society

Bids are done online, however, Reid’s encourages everyone to stop by the store and bring in some non-perishable food items to place under their favourite tree.

Anyone who makes a donation is also eligible to win some furniture!

If you haven’t put up a tree yet, best be checking this out first!

Bidding closes December 15.

Education

LU AI Leader

Lakehead University has ranked 1st for its artificial intelligence (AI) publications in undergraduate universities.

LU has been focusing intensely on being a leader in AI and the efforts are working with the university now a sought after institution for undergraduate students wanting access to leading education on the topic.

According to LU, students graduating often receive job offers immediately.

The ranking was done by consulting firm Research Infosource, a division of The Impact Group. LU also ranked first in:

• Not-for-profit research income (2023)

• International Government Research Income Growth (470% growth from 2022 to 2023)

• AI publications (2018 to 2022)

• AI publications as a percentage of total university publication (9% of LU’s total research publications)

• AI publications growth (182% increase from 2018 to 2022)

Congrats to everyone at LU!

Now if Sarah Connor enrols you’ll find me in my bunker…

Health

Travel Grant Upgrades

Rural patients needing to travel to Thunder Bay and other cities for medical care can now get more of their costs covered.

Starting on December 1, people who submitted an application no longer had to apply the 100km deductible.

The deductible was removed to help offset the cost of higher gas prices (I know this is provincial, but I can think of a different way to reduce the price of fuel…).

Northerners can receive coverage under the grant program at 41 cents per km so long as the care they need isn’t within 100km of their residence.

One other change is caregivers can have some of their accommodation costs covered if they travel 100km to an appointment. Previously you had to travel 200km to qualify.

Community

Parade of Lights Another Hit

The 25th edition of the Parade of Lights took place on Saturday night and it was another bright success! (so lame, sorry lol)

This year the event had more than 150 entries! (if you sell car batteries you should really consider sponsoring this thing!).

People were already lining up to get a good view 90 minutes before the parade started at 7pm.

The parade is a fundraising event as well, raising money for the Therapeutic Riding Association, Special Olympics, the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation and Autism Ontario Thunder Bay.

While the totals aren’t available yet, last year’s rendition made more than $44,000.

First Nations News

First Nations Police Chiefs Call Out Trudeau

The Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario are calling on Canada to stop delay tactics in a human rights case over First Nations community policing.

First Nations leaders say that Canada continues to fail to come to the table for negotiations on equitable funding for First Nations police services.

In March of 2023 the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal against the federal government saying that chronic underfunding due to racial discrimination is putting the safety of First Nation communities at risk.

The Prime Minister is being called out for failing to uphold repeated promises made to First Nations communities.

Get Your Christmas On 🎄

Get Ready for the Fatman Coming Down the Chimney!

30+ Pop-Up Vendors - Goods & Co. - Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22

Santa Visiting & Photos - Vanderweese - Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22

Pet Pics With Santa - Intercity Shopping Centre - Dec. 7, 14; 4pm-6pm
* proceeds to local rescues

Santa Photos - Intercity Shopping Centre - Nov 16-Dec 24
Monday - Friday in November 3pm-7pm
Monday - Friday in December 11am - 7pm
Saturday - 10am - 6pm
Sunday - 11am - 5pm
Dec. 23 - 10am - 8pm
Dec. 24 - 10am - 2pm (he’s gotta get back to the North Pole!)

Breakfast With Santa - Thunder Bay Country Market - Dec. 14; 8am - 10am

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Elf: The Musical
Musical stage production
Magnus Theatre
December 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (show times at 2pm & 7pm - check with Magnus for your preferred date)
$25-$55

Lakehead Choral Group Christmas Concert 2024 ‘Comfort & Joy;
Musical performance
St. Agnes Church
December 11 @7pm-9pm
$10 - $20

Hot and Dirty Bingo: Christmas Edition
Bingo - not for the prudish
Pocketchange
December 11 @ 8pm

Thunder Bay’s Community Nutcracker
Musical theatrical production
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
December 13, 14 @ 6pm (13th); 1pm & 6pm (14th)
$35

Christmas Dinner & Dance
Group & Small Business Dinner & Dance networking event
Slovak Legion
December 13, 14 @ 6pm
$55

TBSO Candlelight - Christmas at the Fort
Live musical event
Fort William Historical Park
December 13 @ 7:30pm
$75

Fort William Male Choir: Prelude to Christmas
Live musical event
Hilldale Lutheran Church
December 13, 14 @ 7:30pm (13th); 1:30pm (14th)
$15 - $30

Holiday Concert with Rodney Brown
Live musical event
Waverley Public Library
December 14 @ 2:30pm-3:30pm
$ FREE

Ukrainian Celtic Christmas!
Ukrainian Christmas concert
Urban Abbey
December 14 @ 7pm - 9:30pm
$20

Christmas with The Selfies
Live musical performance
Norteños Cantina
December 14 @ 10pm
$5

Christmas With Johnny Reid
Live musical performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
December 15 @ 7:30pm
$72

In the Christmas Mood - Roy Coran Big Band
Live musical performance
Italian Cultural Centre
December 15 @ 2pm
$35

Home of the Day

639 Red River Rd.

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

4 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,425 sq ft

$349,900

Nicely updated, cute 1.5 story home with a sauna, shed and backlane access.