- Thunder Bay Digest
- Posts
- GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 10-3-25
GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 10-3-25
Estimated read time: 11 minutes
Thunder Bay Digest
March 10, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
ISSUE #59
Good morning,
Welcome to another week! One that appears to have more spring-like weather!
A note about Saturday’s recap newsletter: the real estate listings had a data error. They pulled the right addresses, but somehow the MLS #s got mixed up and they linked to random places around Canada.
Many of you wrote to point that out - thank you - and I will address it moving forward.
And as always, thank you for reading, and if you love it, share it with a friend and encourage them to sign up 😘
In today’s issue, we cover:
- Marcus Luft
News
More Safety Features Coming to City Buses
The City of Thunder Bay will be investing in additional safety measures for its city bus drivers.
The city anticipates installing new safety shields for drivers by the end of 2025. These will replace the current shields, installed during the pandemic.
The new shields are permanent, engineered safety security barriers, to provide protection and coverage around the operator’s compartment.
As also previously reported, city buses will also be moving to a new fare box management system, which should reduce fare evasion and operator/passenger interaction.
In 2024 bus operators reported:
44 verbal interactions
38 acts of aggression
18 incidents of intoxication
16 assaults
10 fare disputes
In 2024 operators received de-escalation training, which is attributed with a drop in overall incidents compared to earlier years.
Source: Billy Madison
Daily Poll
Today’s question is:
Do you feel safe on city buses? |
Public Health
Safe Sobering Beds Open
St. Joseph’s Care Group’s new safe sobering beds are set to open today.
The seven beds are a voluntary service that provides a safe place for individuals under the influence of substances for up to 24 hours.
The beds are meant for residents aged 16 or over, who do not require the level of care provided in the Emergency Department or Withdrawal Management.
The beds are located at 500 Oliver Road, and will eventually feature 15 available spots, once the last eight come online in the spring.
The beds have been made possible through a $2.9 million investment by the province.
Retail
Toys R Us Closing
The iconic toy retailer will allegedly be closing its doors in two months or less.
Toys R Us first opened in its current location in the Thunder Centre on May 19, 2013.
Currently all items are marked at 10% off (so if you want to stock up for birthdays, and dare I say it so early, Christmas, now might be the time!)
In 2017, the American parent company of Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and closed all American locations in June 2018.
In 2018, the Canadian arm of Toys R Us had to file for protection from its creditors due to the default of its US-based businesses.
In April 2018, the Canadian Toys R Us was acquired by Fairfax Financial. However, in 2021 it was sold to Putman Investments.
Earlier this year, Toys R Us announced they would be closing five stores in Canada, but Thunder Bay was not on the list.
We’ll have to see how this unfolds.
Crime
Home Takeover Arrest
Late last week, Thunder Bay Police responded to a report of a home takeover at a North James Street home.
Upon arriving, police found two men trying to hide in the home.
Both men were taken into custody.
Found in the home was paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking, along with more than $10,000 in cash.
A 22-year-old male from East York, Ontario, and a 19-year-old male from Scarborough, Ontario, were both charged with being unlawfully in a dwelling and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Education
Girls Get Hands-On With Trades
At the end of last week, The Lakehead Public School Board took 30 female students to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 402.
The students spent time with mentors from the union, all of whom were female and working in the field.
The excursion was part of the celebrations of International Women’s Day, with the goal of getting more girls to be interested in the trades, and showcasing how it’s not just a domain for boys.
In the afternoon, the girls headed over to Confederation College’s Aviation Centre, which last week celebrated women in aviation.
If you have a trade, you can basically have a job for life - this is a great thing to encourage!
Indigenous News
Anti-Human Trafficking Presentation
The Nokiiwin Tribal Council will be hosting an anti-human trafficking presentation on March 21 at Fort William First Nation.
It’s a much-needed discussion, as Thunder Bay has some of the highest rates of human trafficking in Ontario (and sadly, Canada).
Between 2012 and 2022 Thunder Bay Police reported 6 human trafficking incidents per 100,000 people.
Over the same period, Ottawa and Windsor reported 3.2 and 2.6 respectively.
In 2022 the national average was 1.4.
Human trafficking thrives in silence and ignorance. So the planned presentation is part of a strategy to bring more awareness on what trafficking is and looks like, and what people can do to help.
The event will take place on March 21 from 1:30pm-3pm.
March Break Things To Do
Helping You Find Outlets for Your Kids
March Break Skate
Family skating event (ages 5-12 + parents)
Fort William Gardens - 901 Miles St E
March 11 @ 1:30pm-3:30pm
Email [email protected] to register
Science North
Science fun at the farmer’s market
Thunder Bay Country Market - 425 Northern Ave (CLE Dove Building)
March 12 @ 3:30pm-6:30pm
$ FREE
Science North
Two family-based science programs
Oliver Paipoonge Public Library - 4569 Oliver Rd (Murillo)
March 13 @ 1pm-3pm
$ FREE
You can also check out the Thunder Bay Library’s selection of things to do every day this week here.
Things to do This Week
Events In and Around the City
Name That Tune - 70s Night!
Musical trivia & beer!
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. - 712 Macdonell St
March 12 @ 7pm-9pm
Home, I’m Darling
Theatre
Cambrian Players - 818 Spring St.
March 12-15 @ 7:30pm-9:30pm
$25-$30
BUY TICKETS HERE
Mitch tones & Tasman Jane
Live music
Woodside Bar - 251 Red River Rd.
March 13 @ 7pm-9pm
$20
BUY TICKETS HERE
Open Mic Comedy
Amateur live comedy
Wayland Bar & Grill - 1019 Gore St W
March 13 @ 8:30pm
$ FREE
Karaoke
Live music
March 13
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
Howl at the Moon (Sober Karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St. S
Norteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
Polish Combatants’ Association - Branch 1 - 209 Cumberland St N
The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
The Alley - 236 Cumming St
Live@Loch featuring Richard Veurink
Live music and skiing
Loch Lomond Ski Area - 1800 Loch Lomond Rd
March 14 @ 4pm-6pm
$ FREE
Story Time with the Thunder Bay Drag Queens & Kings + Crafting with Queens
Family friendly live reading & crafting
Waverley Public Library - 285 Red River Rd
March 8 @ 2:30pm-4pm
$ FREE
Building with Beads - Mardi Gras Gala
Charity fundraising dinner event for Habitat for Humanity
Valhalla Hotel - 1 Valhalla Inn Rd
March 8 @ 5:30pm
$130
Karaoke
Live music
March 8
Westfort Prosvita - 721 Gore St W
Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St S
The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
Norteños Taqueria - 698 Arther St W
The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
Jazz and Old Fashioned Fridays ft. Mood Indigo
Jazz music night
Anchor & Ore - 2240 Sleeping Giant Pkwy
March 14 @ 6pm-9pm
$ FREE
Shamrock Pub Night featuring Tbay Trad Celtic Circle
Live music, vibes and pints (and green beers & shamrock treats)
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. - 712 Macdonell St
March 14 @ 5pm - 10pm
$ FREE
St. Patrick’s Day Comedy Show ft Mark Menei
Live comedy (mature content warning)
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
March 14 @ 7:30pm-9pm
$25-$30
BUY TICKETS HERE
Lucky Friday Pre-Paddy’s Bash
Live music (mature content)
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
March 14 @ 9pm
$10
St Patty’s Day ft. The Bay Street Bastards
Live music (mature content)
The Outpost - 955 Olive Rd
March 14 @ 9pm
$10
Saint Patrick’s Party ft Venom
Live music (mature content)
Norteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
March 14 @ 9:30pm
$5-$10
Karaoke
Live music
March 14
The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
Consortium Aurora Borealis presents Italian Baroque Arias
Live operatic performance
St. Paul’s United Church - 349 Waverley Street
March 15 @ 7:30pm
$25 ($15 students; 11 and under free)
BUY TICKETS HERE
The 12th Annual Pint Smasher
Live music and pints! (mature content)
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
March 15 @ 9pm
$5
Kiss the Blarney Stone: St Paddy’s Day Party
Live DJ, green beers (19+)
Pocketchange - 234 Red River Road
March 15 @ 11pm
$ FREE
Karaoke
Live music
March 15
Westfort Prosvita - 721 Gore St W
Howl at the Moon (sober Karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St S
The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
Norteños Taqueria - 698 Arthur St W
The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
St Patrick’s Day BBQ with Children and Youth Programs
Family event with BBQ favourites - wear your green!
Minnesota Park (Widnall Pool) - 820 Minnesota St
March 16 @ 2pm-4pm
$ FREE
Craft Grab Bag - Crafts with CAHEP
Family event - guided by artists, create anything in a free-form crafting session
Baggage Building Arts Centre - 2200 Sleeping Giant Pkwy
March 16 @ 2pm-4pm
$ FREE
Home of the Day
648 Riverview Dr.
(Realtors if you want your home featured - send us an email: [email protected])
1+3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
929 sqft
$429,900
Bi-level home with detached garage, deck, central air and more.
Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed it, pass it along 🙂
If you’re new here and want to subscribe, click below.
What did you think of this issue..? |
Reply