ISSUE #60

Good morning,

Midweek already! Warmer weather coming, so hopefully Spring truly is just around the corner.

In today’s issue, we cover:

• City rinks closing ⛸️

• Daily Poll - Into skating?

• Burgers for charity 🍔

• Turf facility secures grant ⚽️

• More weapons👮

• Local cafe closing ☕️

• Settlement over land claim reached

• March Break events this week

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Centrally located home 🏡

- Marcus Luft

News

City Rinks Closing

If you want to try and get one last skate in on the city’s outdoor rinks, you better move fast.

The city aims to close most of the outdoor skating rinks by the end of the week (tomorrow or Friday).

The original plan was to keep the rinks open throughout March Break, but Mother Nature had other plans!

The city says that closures will depend on the condition of the ice. Some ice surfaces, such as Dease Street and North Neebing, which sit on concrete pads, are holding up better.

The one rink you can count on, is the Prince Arthur’s Landing Ice Rink. That spot has a refrigerated ice system, and it is anticipated it will last until the end of the month.

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Charity

Burgers for Charity

We are a burger loving bunch here in Thunder Bay!

First we have the smash success Novemburger, and now we can also celebrate a rousing second year of success for The Social Restaurants and its Burger Extravaganza Fundraiser.

The fundraiser, which benefits the Dew Drop Inn, took place during February.

For every burger The Social sold, $4 was donated to aid in the Everyone Deserved a Good Meal Campaign.

The Social more than doubled its burger sales over 2024, from 292 burgers up to 620.

All told, the donation was $9,000 for the Dew Drop Inn.

The Social is already planning big things for 2026 with a hint being dropped of another burger being added to the lineup to get over the $10,000 mark.

We’ve certainly shown the lasting power of the burger as a fundraising tool, so I have no doubt they can reach their stretch target.

Recreation

Turf Facility Secures Grants

(preps the comment section)

A group of local sports organizations has announced that they have received a $500,000 grant towards the construction of the indoor turf facility.

The money was approved by Thunder Bay’s Community Economic Development Commission and comes from its Tourism Development Fund.

That fund receives its money from the City of Thunder Bay’s municipal accommodation tax.

Meaning, you all paid towards that.

(munching popcorn waiting to see the reaction)

The announcement actually came earlier than the organizing group was expecting. They had planned on holding off on that tidbit until they kicked off (see what I did there) their official fundraising campaign shortly.

This funding brings them halfway to their $1 million goal.

For the record, the facility hasn’t been approved yet.

Crime

More Firearm Offences

Thunder Bay Police have charged a 22-year-old man with numerous firearm and drug offences.

Police responded to reports of an individual with a weapon Friday morning in the 200 block of Amelia Street.

Upon arrival, the suspect attempted to flee, but was apprehended shortly thereafter.

The suspect was found to have fentanyl and crack cocaine along with his weapon.

He was charged with 10 offences.

Local Business

Bean Fiend Closing

After nearly 14 years of operation on Algoma St., the Bean Fiend Cafe is preparing to shut down on March 24.

Owner Brian Hamilton has been in that spot since it was a shop called Red Earth Imports.

Hamilton says the primary reason is his job as city councillor for McKellar Ward is taking up most of his time. (Hamilton did also just run for MPP for the Liberal Party but was unsuccessful).

He hopes whoever leases the space next continues to evolve the Bay and Algoma scene.

Indigenous News

First Nation Settlement

Members of Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek have agreed to terms with the federal government over the first phase of the First Nation’s longstanding land claim.

Although the financial details are not being disclosed by either party, KZA Chief Wilfred King said it is a substantial amount of money.

The agreement also recognizes that KZA is a party to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850.

The settlement stems from the claim that the reserve should be ten times its current size of four square miles. Phase two of the negotiations will be to select land to add to the reserve.

This isn’t the first settlement KZA has received.

In 2016, the community received $8 million from the federal government to resolve a claim for royalties for timber and other resources taken from the land it should have received under the Robinson Treaty.

In 2014 KZA received $12 million from OPG as compensation for flooding caused by hydro projects 80 years earlier.

March Break Things To Do

Helping You Find Outlets for Your Kids

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

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

418 Markland St.

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

3+1 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,100 sqft

$359,900

Nicely redone home, centrally located.