ISSUE #62

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I’ve changed the format of the events slightly to organize them by day. That was a suggestion by a reader. Let me know what you guys think by hitting reply to this email.

(Also, any reader events to be posted, let me know!)

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Minister Hajdu holds on to Cabinet position

• Daily Poll -Minister did a good job?

• Food supplies critical 🥙

• Ski hills staying open ⛷️

• Drugs & guns👮

• School board cancels expansion 🎓

• Indigenous art exhibit in Red Lake

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - 3 acres, 9 years new 🏡

- Marcus Luft

Politics

Hajdu Holds Onto Cabinet Position

Mark Carney was sworn in as Prime Minister last week and wasted no time reshaping his government.

One of the bigger immediate changes was the reduction of his cabinet from 37 Ministers in the Trudeau era, to 24.

Of those who kept a post, was local MP Patty Hajdu.

Hajdu was Minister of Indigenous Services and the minister responsible for FedNor.

However, in her new role she will focus on only her Indigenous Services role.

Despite hanging on to her role, it is expected that Hajdu, and the rest of the Ministers, will see a short-lived tenure.

Carney is expected to be calling an election soon.

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Charity

Food Supplies Critical

The RFDA is sounding the alarm on what potential tariffs could do for food banks’ food supply.

Currently the RFDA provides food to nearly 50 different municipalities and food banks alongside First Nations, all the way from the Manitoba border, north to Fort Severn, Hudson Bay and James Bay.

The RFDA is already struggling to meet the demand, so the concern of tariffs leading to higher prices, higher unemployment, and greater demand, means the already thinly stretched resources could snap.

Sadly it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The RFDA has already noticed local donations drying up the moment tariffs became a top news item.

If you can spare some non-perishables, think about donating.

Outdoor Rec

Ski Hills Milking the Cold for All It’s Worth!

After what has been a terrible couple of seasons for the downhill ski community, this year is proving to be a great turn around.

And if the weather cooperates, both Mount Baldy and Loch Lomond are hoping to hold on until mid-April before shutting down for the season.

The saving grace for this year, and what was sorely lacking in the previous ones, were a couple of good dumps of snow.

While the hills can make their snow, nothing can replace the quality, scale, and cheapness of Mother Nature doing her thing.

March Break also provided a much-needed infusion of activity and participation, helping to lead to strong years for both hills.

Thunder Bay is a winter community, so it’s wonderful to see our outdoor centres having a great rebound year.

Crime

Dual Searches Net Drugs and Guns

Thunder Bay Police conducted searches on homes on opposite ends of the city last week, which resulted in significant seizures.

Thunder Bay Police Service started an investigation towards the end of 2024 that led to the multiple raids.

One house was located on Cameron Street and the other on Rona Street.

Seized was more than $225,000 in illicit drugs (cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine), paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking, and an unloaded shotgun.

Police arrested five people (3 from Thunder Bay, and 2 from North York) and charged them with various drug and weapons offences.

Education

School Board Cancels Expansion

École secondaire catholique de la Vérendrye, located on High St, has cancelled an expansion project due to construction costs.

The school was set to add a new gymnasium and other renovations.

The expansion was originally approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education in October of last year. The project had $5.3 million in funding from the local school board and the ministry through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program for Official Languages.

Unfortunately, once the project was put out to tender, the lowest bid received came back at 105% of the budget, at $10 million.

With more funding not available at this time, the board elected to scrap the project as it could not make up the difference.

Indigenous News

New Indigenous Heritage Exhibit

What was once only viewed as a disaster site, has been turned into an artist’s canvas.

Five years ago a windstorm ripped the roof off the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre, which was then followed by six weeks of rain, destroying the facility.

The space has a new lease on life after reopening in July 2023.

Now a new project sees five Indigenous artists creating murals on four large canvases that will be displayed at the new facility.

This exhibit will be different because it is not just an exhibit about Indigenous people and culture, but rather, an Indigenous exhibit for Indigenous people.

The hope is that by the end of the month, the art will be added to the exhibit space.

If you’re ever in Red Lake, stop by and take a look!

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Bash
In-house Irish music, green beer, Irish stew
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
1pm-7pm
$ FREE

Thunder Bay Swing Dancing Society
Free swing dancing lessons
CD Howe Public School - 30 Wishart Crescent
7pm
$ FREE

St. Patrick’s Day Dance Party
Music, prizes, line dancing, green beer & more
Elks Lodge 82 - 201 Syndicate Ave N
7pm
$10 (at the door)

Irish Echos
Live music and dancing
Royal Candian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
7pm-10pm
$5

St. Patrick’s Day with TBay Trad
Live traditional Celtic music
Red Lion Smokehouse - 16 Cumberland St S
7:30pm-9:30pm
$ FREE

Open Mic
Live amateur performances
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
7:30pm
$ FREE

March 19

Name That Tune - Punk Rock Night
Live music trivia
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. - 712 Macdonell St
7pm-9pm
$ FREE

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar
Live music
Shooter’s Tavern - 377 Memorial Ave
8pm
$ FREE

March 20

The McMillan’s Camp Boys On Tour
Live country/bluegrass music
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
7pm
$10 (at the door)

TBSO Jazz Night
Live jazz music
Woodside Bar - 251 Red River Rd
7:30pm-9:30pm
$ By Donation

Karaoke:

• Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
  7pm-11pm

• Howl at the Moon (Sober Karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St S
  9pm

• Nortenos Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
  9pm

• Polis Combatants’ Association - Branch 1 - 209 Cumberland St N
  9pm

• The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
  10pm

• The Alley - 236 Cumming St
  10pm

March 21

Wicked: An Interactive Sing-Along Experience
Live theatre/music
Paramount Theatre - 24 Court St S
6pm
$25

Acoustic Night
Live music
Nortenos Taqueria - 698 Arthur St W
7pm-10pm
$ FREE

Jesse Singh - First Day of Spring Comedy Show
Live comedy
Nortenos Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
7:30pm
$25-$30

Young Elvis
Live music
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
8pm-11pm
$10 (at the door)

Spring Breakdown: Alt-Indie Pop Party
Live music, 19+
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
9pm
$10 (at the door)

Headrush
Live music
Wayland Bar & Grill - 1019 Gore St W
10pm
$5 (at the door)

4Pillar DJs
Live music
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
10pm
$5 (at the door)

Karaoke:

• The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
  9pm

• The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
  9:30pm

• The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
  10pm

• The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
  10pm

March 22

Ukrainian Coffee House!
Folk ensemble; youth performers, interactive fun - all ages
Urban Abbey - 308 Red River Rd
2pm-4pm
$ By Donation

Vinyl Saturdays
Live music
Red Lion Smokehouse - 16 Cumberland St S
3pm-9pm
$ FREE

Dirty Catfish Brass Band
Live music
Italian Cultural Centre - 132 Algoma St S
7pm-10pm
$40

Acoustic Night
Live music
Norteos Taqueria - 698 Arthur St W
7pm-9pm
$ FREE

Mackinley’s Delusions
Magic and mentalism show
Goods & Co. - 251 Red River Rd
7:30pm-9pm
$30

Cambrian Players Improv Show
Live improv performance
Cambrian Players - 818 Spring St
7:30pm-9:30pm
$10

Derelicte 15: A Fashion Odyssey
Live fashion show
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
8pm
$20 (at the door)

Karaoke:

• Westfor Prosvita - 721 Gore St W
  7pm-10pm

• Howl at the Moon (Sober Karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St S
  9pm

• The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
  9pm

• Nortenos Taqueria - 698 Arthur St W
  9pm

• The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
  9pm

• Red Lion Smokehouse (Live Band Karaoke) - 16 Cumberland St S
  9:30pm-11:30pm

• The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
  10pm

Home of the Day

3101 Arthur St W

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

3+2 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
1,456 sqft

$749,000

3 acres minutes from town, with a 1-bedroom apartment in the basement.