ISSUE #63

Good morning,

Welcome to mid-week. I hope you’re all having a good one.

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Pool 6 could generate millions 🏭

• Daily Poll -Should it be developed?

• Hudson’s Bay hurting local company 😖

• Tbay local wins $100K 💰

• Stunt driving charge👮

• Library preps massive overhaul 📚

• Nominations open for leadership award

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Whitewater home 🏡

- Marcus Luft

Economics

Pool 6 Could Generate Millions in Tax Income

The Thunder Bay Economic Development Commission (CEDC,) and Bain Smith Consulting, have completed a survey about the financial impact of developing the Pool 6 land (shown above).

The results should help move the discussion forward.

The report says that if the city took the right approach, with a mixed-use focus, the parcel of land could generate $15.4 million annually in taxes.

The study recommends options such as two to five apartment condominium buildings, one or two hotels, a conference centre, a Nordic spa and commercial space.

The study proposed allotting 37% of the available space for development, 18% for infrastructure, 1-5% for the cruise ship service area and 40% for a public space.

Pool 6 is the last parcel of waterfront land the city has available that hasn’t been developed yet.

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Business

Local Business Suffers from Hudson’s Bay Filing

The Hudson’s Bay Company entered creditor protection last week, and a local business is being left out in the cold because of it.

Superior Strategies Inc., says it is owed more than $80,000 by Hudson’s Bay, after supplying the company with thermal printer roles.

Superior Strategies struck a deal with the beleaguered retailer on September 30, 2023.

A 90-day payment term was negotiated but when payments failed to materialize at the end of January 2024, Superior Strategies knew something was up.

Despite assurances the money was on its way, communication eventually stopped.

Now that Hudsons’s Bay has filed for creditor protection, the odds of Superior Strategies seeing their money are not good. Small businesses see less than 20 cents on the dollar of insolvencies if they see anything at all.

Hudsons’s Bay is 400 years old but is currently nearly $1 billion in debt and may close up to half of its 80 stores as it restructures.

Lottery

Local Man Wins $100,000

Here’s a quick bit of good news, for one lucky person anyhow.

Gary McDougall (pictured above), won $100,00 the other day playing Encore on a Lotto 6/49 draw.

McDougall decided to spend the extra dollar to play.

I’m sure he’s quite glad he did!

He matched six of the seven Encore numbers for the February 1 draw.

If you are superstitious about buying from a previously winning number-generating location, he purchased his ticket at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Arthur Street West.

Congrats Gary, don’t spend it all in one place! (Or do, you do you!)

Crime

Stunt Driving Charge

Thunder Bay Police yanked a vehicle off of Dawson Road the other day for stunt driving.

Anyone who has spent any time driving Dawson Road over the past two years knows the police love to sit there and catch people who don’t pay attention to the speed drop to 50km/h.

The driver was charged with speeding and stunt driving and lost the use of their truck for 14 days, and their driving privileges for 30 days.

Stunt driving is normally 50km/h or more over the speed limit, however, where the posted limit is less than 80km/h, speeding at 40km/h or more over the limit is considered stunt driving.

Lots of kids off those side streets, slow down people!

Education

Library Preps for Massive Renovation

The Waverley branch of the Thunder Bay Public Library is preparing for a massive renovation to its children’s space.

It comes amid unprecedented demand for children’s programming and space.

Last year more than 10,000 children took place in programming at the Red River location compared to 2023.

In turn, the library announced this week a massive overhaul to create a 12,000 sqft Children’s Library on the lower level.

Libraries are such important community pillars, it’s amazing to see them not only being used but upgraded to better facilitate that use.

Indigenous News

Leadership Award Nominations Open

Nominations for the National First Nations Water Leadership Award are being accepted until May 31.

The award, created in 2018, recognizes Indigenous individuals, communities, or organizations that demonstrate leadership and outstanding dedication to the advancement of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities.

And it couldn’t be a more pertinent issue.

According to Indigenous Services Canada, at the end of February, 32 First Nations were under long-term drinking water advisories.

Nominations can be forwarded to Indigenous Services Canada.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

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
  8pm-12am

• 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

467 Whitewater Place

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

3+3 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
2,442 sqft

$849,800

Whitewater home, wood fireplace, finished basement.