ISSUE #64

Good morning,

We made it to Friday! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Carney to call an election this weekend 🗳️

• Daily Poll -Will Carney do a good job?

• $1 million for homelessness 💵

• New Science North Centre 🔬

• Police drone training👮

• Police Services Board hiring 

• Local book award winner 📕

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - River Terrace side-split🏡

- Marcus Luft

Politics

Carney to Call Election

While not strictly local news and not yet confirmed, it is still very relevant and important:

It looks like we’re going back to the polls for another election.

This time for the Federal Government.

Inside sources are saying that Mark Carney (pictured) is going to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election on Sunday.

An election campaign is expected to last between 36 and 50 days.

The actual day of the election is of course not yet confirmed, but, sources say it will be either April 28 or May 5.

And in what is actually mind-blowing to me, polls show that if a vote were to take place now, the Liberals could secure 176 seats to the Conservatives 133.

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Local

$1 Million for Homelessness

The Lakehead Social Planning Council is receiving $1 million to help support the unhoused in Thunder Bay.

The funds are part of Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

The funding stream will run until 2027-2028 and brings the city’s total allotted amount to $11.6 million.

The LSPC will use the funds to help those in need find suitable housing and to address systemic challenges that contribute to chronic homelessness.

Science

Science Edges Closer to New Centre

With a new federal investment of $20 million from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, Science North is one step closer to a new facility in Thunder Bay.

The building, which aims to be built at the waterfront was not a given for the community.

Science North did a lot of research and engagement with communities, kids, and families to determine if there was a need.

More than 30,000 people, including knowledge keepers, Indigenous rights holders, educators, and families helped shape the vision.

The new facility is designed to the Canadian Green Building Council’s zero carbon building standard.

The goal is to break ground in the spring of 2027.

Crime

Police Receive Drone Training

Eight Thunder Bay Police officers received training on drone usage this week.

Six of the officers were from the primary response, and the other two were from the traffic unit.

The two drones the officers received training on are used mainly for missing persons and subjects, creating reconstructions of collisions and getting aerial footage of a scene.

The four-day training session taught the officers flying techniques, how to identify and follow safety precautions, and to practice different types of scenarios during daylight hours and after dar,.

Policing

Police Services Board Hiring

The Thunder Bay Police Service Board is hiring a full-time executive director.

Although the board passed a motion last spring recommending it hire a board administrator, that was upgraded this week to an executive director, making it a full-time position.

The aim is to allow the board to focus more on governance and decision-making

The original recommendation came out in 2017, but it took time for all the pieces to fall in place.

Indigenous News

2025 Canada Reads Winner

Ma-Nee Chacaby is a 2025 Canada Reads winner.

Her memoir, A Two-Spirit Journey, sees Chacaby telling her story of overcoming experiences with abuse and alcohol addiction, to becoming a counsellor and leading Thunder Bay’s first gay pride parade.

Chacaby grew up in the Obambkika area, on Lake Nipigon, and was raised by her grandmother.

Chacaby wrote the book to not only share her story but also to inspire others to share theirs.

Her book was defended by Shayla Stonechild during the public broadcaster’s book debate.

Stonechild is a Red River Métis and Nehiyaw iskwew from Muscowpetung First Nation.

Congratulations to Ma-Nee!

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

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

145 Fairbank Cres

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

3+1 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,145 sqft

$549,900

River Terrace home with detached garage, and newly done kitchen.