News

Cardiovascular Surgery Coming to Tbay

The province announced this week $93 million in funding for a new cardiovascular surgery program at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The funding will provide for:

• expanded ambulatory care and pre-admission clinic

• 14 cardiovascular surgery inpatient beds

• 6 coronary unit beds

• a surgical suite

• a vascular lab

The new unit, expected to start construction in March, will be 76,000 square feet. Some of the space will use existing hospital space, but a new addition will also be built to accommodate the project.

Completion is expected in late 2027.

Great news, but you should still take a daily walk and eat your veggies!

Daily Poll

Fan of heart surgery?

As expected, the Monday poll got heated! Politics always brings out the emotions and opinions. I love it gang, keep sharing!!

The results are:

• 37% of you will vote for Doug Ford

• 26% are voting Liberal

• 26% are voting NDP

• 4% are voting Green

• 7% are going to live in a cabin in the woods 🤣 (my wife included)

Today’s question:

Municipal

Demolition to Start This Spring

The project to make Victoriaville Mall a fading memory is advancing, with the mall's demolition slated to start this spring.

Phase 2 of the project, which is called the Reimagine Victoriaville project, and will cost $17.5 million, had tenders open this Saturday.

The next phase, which includes the aforementioned demolition, and renovations to the Victoriaville Civic Centre, Court Services and private buildings, will see the construction start in April and last through to October 2026.

The plan will also include a pair of new public plazas along with upgrades to water mains and storm sewer systems.

Police

More Drunk Driving

Sorry, I don’t care if people are mad at the following line, but firmly in the dumbass category, a Thunder Bay man faces multiple charges after being pulled over earlier this week.

Thunder Bay police observed a vehicle doing 70km/h in a 40km/h zone. They then tracked the driver doing 90km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Upon pulling over the vehicle, the driver was found to be impaired, provided a false identity, was wanted on a warrant and had six different driving prohibitions.

The 30-year-old was arrested and taken into custody.

Oh, and his vehicle was impounded for 45 days.

Sigh.

Healthcare

St. Joe’s Getting Financial Love

The province was feeling generous this past week (almost like some big announcement or ask of the populace might be coming up…).

The province is going to splash down $17 million to upgrade the air handling system at St. Joe’s Hospital.

The funding will see 4,000 square feet be renovated along with replacing four air handling units.

Final details are being sorted out, after which the project will go out for tender.

Construction is estimated to take about 12-18 months.

Culture

Motorcycle Museum to Open

Thunder Bay is going to have a new motorcycle museum open this summer.

The museum, founded by David Kisselgoff, and called, well, the Kisselgoff Motorcycle Museum, will display a collection of more than 40 vintage and modern classic motorcycles.

Kisselgoff, a radiologist by trade, isn’t doing this to make money. In fact, he acknowledges it might be a money drain, but this is his passion and he’s happy to give back to the community.

The museum will be in the old movie theatre at 310 E. Victoria Ave.

He’s hoping to be able to start showing the inside of the museum by April of this year.

Indigenous News

Chiefs Slam Crown Negotiators

The Chief of Michipicoten First Nation said that the Robinson Superior Treaty annuity talks failed because Ottawa and the Ontario government wouldn’t make a fair and reasonable offer.

The government’s negotiators put forward $3.6 billion, which the 12 First Nations represented felt was not fair compensation.

The negotiations were aiming to compensate for underpayments dating back to 1874.

Under the 1850 treaty, annuities paid to every member of the First Nations were supposed to increase as economic activity grew.

Instead, they’ve been frozen at $4 since 1874.

In July the Supreme Court of Canada directed Ontario and the federal government to negotiate compensation by January 26.

Now that the deadline has passed, the First Nations will turn to the courts for a settlement.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Trivia Night
Live trivia
Norteños Cantina
Jan 28 @ 7:30pm
$ FREE

Name That Tune
Live musical trivia
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Jan 29 @ 7pm-9pm

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 30

• Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5

• Howl at the Moon (Sober Karaoke)

• Norteños Cantina

• Polish Combatants’ Association

• The Waterhouse

• The Alley

TBSO Masterworks - Big Tunes
Live musical performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Jan 31 @ 7:30pm
$25 - $50

Between The Lines
Live theatre
Magnus Theatre
Jan 31 - Feb 1 @ 7:30pm & 3pm (check with theatre)
$23

Live@Loch featuring Sara Kae
Live musical performance
Loch Lomond Ski Area
Jan 31 @ 8pm-10pm
$FREE

50s & 60s Night Sock Hop with Pat Silvaggio
Dancing
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5
Jan 31 @ 8pm-11pm
$10

Forever Dead!
Punk rock live performance
Norteños Cantina
Jan 31 @ 10pm

$5-$10

Karaoke
Live music
Feb 1

• The Westfort Prosvita

• The Hodder

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• Norteños Taqueria

• The Social

• The Bar

Hinder
Live musical performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Feb 2 @ 8pm
$49

Home of the Day

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5+1 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
3,600 sq ft

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2 wood-burning fireplaces in a home along the Neebing River.