ISSUE #61

Good morning,

Editorial note:

I cracked some jokes about the turf facility grant coming from a municipal fund, which I erroneously stated was funded by taxpayer dollars.

It is, in fact, paid through accommodation taxes at hotels, not directly from the hard-working citizens of Thunder Bay.

Thanks to all the eagle eyed readers who let me know, and my apologies for the mistake!

In today’s issue, we cover:

• UNIFOR says forestry will survive a trade war 🌲

• Daily Poll - Into skating?

• Thunder Bay recognized for trees 🌳

• $1.1 billion mine closer to opening ⛏️

• Kenora B&E👮

• Building lots of houses 🏠

• New nuclear waste Indigenous VP

• March Break events this week

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Centrally located home 🏡

- Marcus Luft

News

Unifor Says Forestry Can Survive Economic War

The forestry sector in NWO has faced its share of hardships and struggles.

But now it finds itself in the middle of an economic war, with less than subtle messaging that this is an attempt to annex Canada.

But the Northern Area Director of Unifor says the sector shouldn’t be worried.

Stephen Boon says sawmills and forestry sector plants that already have diversified operations will most likely survive any sort of trade war.

Boon says the mills in NWO are already doing a good job of sending product to Canadian customers.

He says options and opportunities exist to sell product to other markets outside of the USA, such as Japan and Europe.

Some of the products produced here are specialty products, hard to find elsewhere, that even if tariffs are placed on them, the end customer in America will be willing to pay the tariff.

Given that the sector employs many hundreds of workers in the north, I hope his assessment is accurate!

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Municipal

Thunder Bay Recognized for Trees

So I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised by this next story. To be very honest, I feel like Thunder Bay proper does not have a lot of trees within its urban core

With that being said….

Thunder Bay was recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2024 Tree City of the World.

This international designation honours cities that excel in urban tree care and planning.

Thunder Bay received this recognition by meeting five key standards:

1. Establishing responsibility

2. Setting rules

3. Assessing resources

4. Allocating funds

5. Celebrating achievements

We can now connect internationally with other winning cities to share best practices in urban forestry.

Mining

$1.16 Billion Mine Closer to Opening

Generation Mining is one permit from the province away from being able to start on its copper-palladium mine project.

The mine, which will be located near Marathon on the north shore of Lake Superior, will be an open pit with an estimated life span of 13 years.

The last hurdle for the mine to clear is approval by the provincial environment ministry regarding the discharge of water from the site.

That is expected to arrive in a couple of months.

This process has been going on for almost 20 years, and the mine has already changed hands in the meantime.

The mine is expected to produce:

• 2.1 million ounces of palladium

• 517 million pounds of copper

• 485,000 ounces of platinum

• 158 ounces of gold

• 3.1 million ounces of silver

If it gets the go-ahead, the construction is expected to create 1,200 jobs for the 18-24 month period, and the mine will create 400 full-time jobs.

Crime

Kenora B&E

The Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora are looking for help in solving a break and enter that occurred on March 4.

The incident occurred just after 3:30am at a business on Highway 17 in Keewatin.

The suspect was gone before police arrived.

The thief gained entry through a smashed window, and money was taken from the till.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Local

Surpassing House Building Goal

The city is well on its way to reaching its new home construction goals.

And there are real rewards attached to it if we do.

The city has been allocated $20.7 million in funds to help spur additional housing development.

The city has a goal of constructing 1,691 new permitted homes by February of 2027.

For the last program year, which ran March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025, we came in at 102% of the target.

Currently we are one of the better performing cities in the project, and if we maintain the current build rate, will have no issues surpassing the 2027 deadline goal.

Indigenous News

Nuclear Waste New Indigenous Rep

A new Vice-President of Indigenous and Municipal Relations and Transportation for the nuclear waste project exists.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has appointed Joe Heil to the role.

He will be responsible for liaising between the public and the NWMO on issues such as reconciliation and the transportation of used nuclear fuel.

To remind everyone, the decision was made last fall to place the deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel bundles near the communities of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace.

Heil is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and has more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry.

Congratulations on your appointment, Joe, but I feel like you might have your work cut out for you!

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

Home, I’m Darling
Theatre
Cambrian Players - 818 Spring St.
March 12-15 @ 7:30pm-9:30pm
$25-$30
BUY TICKETS HERE

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

Vendor Fest Market
15 local vendors, artists, crafts, jewellery, sewing, baking, fundraising
Westfort UNIFOR Hall - 112 Gore St
March 15 @ 10am-3pm
$ 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

2101 - 2260 Sleeping Giant Pkwy.

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

2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,467 sqft

$849,100

Waterfront living with all the fixin's!