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- GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 24-10-25
GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 24-10-25
Estimated read time: 12 minutes
Thunder Bay Digest
October 24, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
In partnership with
ISSUE #135
Good morning,
Welcome to the weekend everyone! I hope it’s a good one. Stay safe!
In today’s issue we cover:
- Marcus Luft
City Hall
Thunder Bay Declares War on Potholes with AI
The city's long, manual, and soul-crushing battle against potholes is getting a 21st-century upgrade.
Instead of relying on handwritten logbooks and the sheer willpower of city staff to patrol the streets, Thunder Bay is bringing in artificial intelligence. The plan involves mounting smart cameras onto two dedicated road patrol vehicles, turning them into high-tech pothole-hunting machines.
As these vehicles drive, the AI-powered system will automatically scan the road surface, identify deficiencies like cracks and craters, snap a photo, and log the precise location. This data will allow staff to create work orders and, crucially, prioritize the most menacing potholes before they can claim another victim's alignment.
In 2024 alone, the city used a staggering 2,300 tonnes of asphalt for repairs, which is enough to fill over 4,000 average-sized potholes, proving the scale of the challenge.
This new automated system isn't just about efficiency; it's about shifting from a reactive "whack-a-mole" strategy to a proactive one. The city is keen to get the system running soon to test it through all four of Northwestern Ontario's glorious and road-destroying seasons, ensuring the robots can handle the freeze-thaw cycle just as well as the humans they're assisting.
Daily Poll
Today’s question is:
Will AI help solve the pothole situation? |
Wednesday’s Results:
You can download the full results (including comments) here in an Excel file (email addresses have been removed for anonymity).
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Transportation
Airport Check-In Counters to Stop Playing Favourites
The Thunder Bay International Airport is investing half a million dollars to fix the organized chaos of its check-in area.
The current, decades-old counters are being ripped out and replaced with a modern, sleek system that introduces a concept called "common-use." This means that instead of having dedicated, branded counters for each airline, any of the mainline carriers—Air Canada, Flair, WestJet, and Porter—can use any available desk or kiosk.
The goal is to eliminate the familiar airport scene where one airline's counter is completely deserted while another's line snakes back to the entrance. This flexibility should dramatically speed up the check-in process, especially during those frantic peak travel times.
The new counters will also get an aesthetic boost, featuring Indigenous-inspired artwork to provide a warmer welcome. While the physical counters are being installed soon (during off-peak hours to minimize disruption), the actual common-use technology that makes it all work is scheduled to go live in early 2026.
This upgrade, supported by a $100,000 contribution from the Community Economic Development Commission, is the first step in a larger plan to modernize the terminal.
Business
Local Businesses Cautiously Not Panicking
In what might be the most "Thunder Bay" economic news possible, the local business community is feeling a sense of "cautious optimism."
A recent survey of 116 businesses, commissioned by Thunder Bay Ventures, found that confidence has remained surprisingly steady and has even bounced back significantly since the pandemic. Despite the relentless drumbeat of economic gloom, nearly nine out of ten business owners feel the city's economy is stable or growing, and they expect their own revenues to either hold steady or increase in the next year.
However, this optimism is heavily seasoned with realism. The primary complaint from virtually everyone is the crushing cost of just existing as a business. Owners are feeling "squeezed" between soaring operational costs—everything from wages and products to insurance and utilities—and their customers, who have less disposable income to spend.
The eternal struggle to attract and retain a skilled workforce also remains a top-tier challenge. Interestingly, the report noted a shift in thinking from "shop local" to the more collaborative "support local," as owners look to create networks to weather the storm together.
Road Work
Simpson Street Paving Project in a Race Against Winter
The revitalization of Simpson Street has turned into a high-stakes battle against the Canadian thermometer.
The city's engineering team is rushing to get as much of the major roadwork project completed as possible before the weather turns too cold for paving. The ambitious project isn't just a simple repave; it's a full-scale overhaul that includes new underground infrastructure, curbs, gutters, and street lighting all the way from Victoria Avenue to Dease Street, plus work on several intersecting side streets.
As of late October, contractors were busy laying down the first "base lift" of asphalt. The good news for south-core commuters is that the street is expected to reopen to traffic for the winter once this initial layer is down. However, the final, smooth "top lift" of asphalt is the tricky part. It requires ideal weather conditions—specifically, temperatures of at least five to seven degrees and rising—to be applied correctly.
If the cold weather wins, that final layer will have to wait until spring, meaning residents will get to "enjoy" the base-lift surface all winter.
Transportation
National Trucking Group Says Northern Highways Are a National Problem
The campaign to get Northern Ontario's highways fixed just got a big, heavy new ally.
The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) has thrown its considerable weight behind local municipal groups, demanding serious and immediate upgrades to Highways 11 and 17. In a letter sent directly to the Prime Minister and Ontario's Premier, the council laid out a simple argument: these roads are not quaint northern routes; they are the "lifelines" of the Canadian economy.
As the only continuous east-west land route in the country, these highways are critical for moving food, fuel, and supplies. The PMTC argues that the current, largely single-lane stretches are a constant source of danger and delay, and when they close (which they frequently do), the entire national supply chain grinds to a halt.
The council is pushing for a mix of solutions, including twinning sections, strategic four-laning, and implementing the 2+1 highway model. This 2+1 system, which uses a central passing lane that alternates directions, is already being planned for a pilot project on Highway 11, with work estimated to start in 2026.
Indigenous
ONWA Launches New Initiative for Inuit Women in Ontario
The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is taking significant steps to ensure Inuit women, youth, and families living in Ontario are no longer "falling through the cracks."
As the Inuit population in the province grows—jumping nearly 12 percent between 2016 and 2021—ONWA is expanding its services to be more inclusive. The organization recently launched its first-ever Inuit Women's Council and appointed its first Inuk board member.
This move addresses a long-standing issue where Inuit individuals who move to southern urban centres, like Ottawa or Thunder Bay, often feel isolated and disconnected. They are far from their homelands in Inuit Nunangat and often find themselves in a jurisdictional grey area, unable to access culturally specific support.
The new council aims to fix this by creating a space where Inuit women have real decision-making power, moving beyond "token representation." The goal is to shape programs that directly address their unique challenges and distinct histories, ensuring they have a supportive community and that their voices are central to the work being done in their name.
Things to do This Week
Events In and Around the City
October 24
Lakehead Thunderwolves vs. Waterloo Warriors Men's Hockey
The second game of a weekend series against their OUA rivals.
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Fort William Gardens, 901 Miles Street E
Urban Infill Art Exhibition Opening Reception
The official opening reception for Definitely Superior Art Gallery's 37th annual juried art exhibition.
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Avenue
Friday Night Live at The Foundry
A showcase of live music featuring local and touring bands.
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: The Foundry, 242 Red River Road
October 25
Thunder Bay Country Market
A weekly market featuring dozens of local farmers, producers, artisans, and food vendors.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: CLE Grounds, Dove Building, 425 Northern Avenue
Urban Infill Art Exhibition
View the work of dozens of regional artists at Definitely Superior Art Gallery's 37th annual juried exhibition.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Avenue
Kam River Fighting Walleye vs. Wisconsin Lumberjacks
An SIJHL regular season home game for the Walleye.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM Location: NorWest Arena, 550 B Lillie Street N
Saturday Night Live at The Foundry
A showcase of live music featuring local and touring bands.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: The Foundry, 242 Red River Road
October 26
Urban Infill Art Exhibition
View the work of dozens of regional artists at Definitely Superior Art Gallery's 37th annual juried exhibition.
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Avenue
Exhibition Viewing: The Northern Landscape
Spend an afternoon viewing the gallery's latest exhibition featuring landscapes from Northern Ontario artists.
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, 1080 Keewatin Street
Sunday Songwriter Series
An intimate evening featuring performances from local and touring singer-songwriters.
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Foundry, 242 Red River Road
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