ISSUE #79

Good morning,

Election day!

No matter who you vote for, whether we agree or disagree with each other, please just go out there and vote.

It’s going to be interesting to see what we wake up to tomorrow!

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Candidates talk about the housing issue 🇨🇦

• Daily Poll -#1 concern?

• Polar plunge raises a lot of money 🥶

• Local festivals get funding 🎸

• Police cleared in shooting👮

• A new, old, site selected 🏕️

• Chief demands actions, not words 

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Nicely redone home in Shuniah area 🏡

- Marcus Luft

Election

Local Candidates Tackle Housing

All three major party candidates in Thunder Bay-Superior North agree that housing affordability is a challenge.

But not surprisingly, they don’t agree on what to do about it.

It’s a hot-button issue. Statistics Canada reports that nearly half of all Canadians are very concerned about housing affordability.

For their part, Bob Herman of the PCs said their plan is simple: remove the GST, which is 5% on all new homes up to $1.3 million and provide incentives to municipal governments to make the process of building new homes smoother with reduced fees.

Patty Hajdu, representing the Liberals, touted her party’s commitment to working with municipalities in tackling the homelessness crises.

She highlighted how Thunder Bay and surrounding communities have been beneficiaries of the Housing Accelerator Fund and that the Liberals will continue to support that initiative to continue to grow their partnerships at the local level.

Joy Wakefield, of the NDP, said the federal government hasn’t been involved in much house building over the last few decades, but that the NDP has a plan to build close to 1 million new units

Let us know what you think is the most pressing election issue below!

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Friday’s Results:

You can download the full results (including comments) here in an Excel file (email addresses have been removed for anonymity).

Charity

Polar Plunge Raises Over $168,000

The PDR Polar Plunge was a massive success this year, raising $168,500.

To put it in perspective, their goal was $75,000.

Since the creation of the event, it has raised over $1 million for local charities.

This year saw 215 plungers take the cold dunk into a hole in the ice in the harbour for the first time.

In total there was a record 432 plungers who braved the cold to help raise money for the Thunder Bay branch of Special Olympics Ontario, CNIB, Roots Community Food Centre, and PRO Kids.

Planning is already underway for next years event, scheduled to take place on March 29, 2026.

Municipal

Local Festivals Get Funding

Bay Fest and Wake the Giant are getting a boost in the form of provincial funding.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming was at Fort William Historical Park this past week to announce that $20 million in grants will be available to fund more than 350 events province-wide.

BayFest, formerly Country Fest, will be receiving $125,000. It is planned to run July 18-20 at FWHP.

Wake the Giant, taking place Sept.6 at Marina Park, will receive $55,000 in grant money.

Crime

Officer Cleared of Wrongdoing in Shooting

The Thunder Bay Police officer who shot a man on the side of Highway 11/17 in Kakabeka Falls has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Police were called to the area after receiving 911 calls about a man walking alongside the highway with a gun, back in December of last year.

The 58-year-old man swore at the first officer who approached him and then pointed his shotgun. The officer drove away.

After closing the highway, another officer approached the man in his cruiser, repeatedly telling the man to drop his weapon. The man shot at the cruiser, hitting the door.

Another officer then fired his sidearm, striking the man in the chest.

Police handcuffed the individual and proceeded to provide first aid while waiting for the ambulance.

The SIU, which investigates police when they are involved in a death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person, found the officer committed no criminal offence.

Homelessness

New Site Selected for Shelter Village

The merry-go-round that is proving hard to get off has done another rotation, and we have yet again a new recommended spot for the encampment shelter.

Reversing two previous recommendations, city staff will now recommend the Kam River Heritage Park as the site for the city’s shelter village in tonight’s committee of the whole meeting.

Originally, this location was poo-pooed by city officials as being too costly a location. However, after the LRCA site, located next to the Thunder Centre, was deemed to be not ideal, we’ve come full circle back to the original spot.

It’s down to the wire now. If the council doesn’t decide by the first week of May, they will risk losing the $2.8 million in external funding that has been pledged for this project.

Also, an additional requirement for funding is that construction must begin in July and be completed by December.

It’s go time!

Indigenous News

Neskantaga First Nation Demands Action

Neskantaga First Nation Chief, Gary Guisses, says the time for talk is over.

Quisses is calling for immediate action to be taken, not just promises, but boots on the ground, to help solve the systemic issues the community is facing.

Neskantaga had to evacuate more than 100 community members after the community’s only health care facility, a nursing station, had to close.

The community has been forced to survive for decades without clean water, reliable access to health care, and safe infrastructure, according to Quisses.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

April 28

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

Open Mic
Amateur live performances
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
7:30pm
$ Free

April 30

Name That Tune - Halfway to Halloween
Musical trivia - murder ballads, true crime, all things macabre themed!
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co - 712 Macdonell St
7pm-9pm
$ Free

Be the Change Fundraiser
Lakehead Choral Group Spring Concert
St. Agnes Church - 1019 Brown St
7pm-9pm
$10-$20

Pub Trivia at Red Lion
Live trivia night
Red Lion Smokehouse - 16 Cumberland St S
7:30pm
$2

May 1

Black Pirates Pub 17 Year Anniversary Bash Night 1 (All Ages)
15 bands over 3 nights!
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
7:30pm
$10 at the door

Karaoke:

• Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
  7pm-10pm

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

• Norteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
  9pm

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

• The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
  10pm

• The Alley - 236 Cumming St
  10pm

May 2

Tech Kids PD Day Camp
An interactive half-day camp that teaches kids how to program robots!
Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre - 2400 Nipigon Rd
9am-12pm
$28.25

Teenage Mechanisms Book Launch and Exhibition Opening
Photograph exhibit on youth mental health in Thunder Bay
Goods & Co - 251 Red River Rd
6pm-10pm
$ Free

Steel Panther & Buckcherry - The Northern Exposure Tour
Live musical performance (19+)
NV Music Hall - 228 Red River Rd
6:30pm
$70-$260

TBSO masterworks - Resurrection
Live performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - 1 Paul Shaffer Dr
7:30pm
$25-$50

Black Pirates Pub 17 Year Anniversary Bash Night 2
15 bands over 3 nights!
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
7:30pm
$10 at the door

Cinco De May Pary ft DJ Pura
Cinco party with dance music!
Norteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
10pm
$5-$10

Freeground Live at The Foundry
Live reggae & rock performance
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
10pm
$5

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

May 3

Cinco De Mayo at the Brewery
Traditional Cinco music, margarita on tap, Limberjack Beer Launch!
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co - 712 Macdonell St
6pm-10:30pm
$12

Storytime with Mz Milly and Friendz
Crafting and stories for the kids!
Mary J.L. Black Community Hub - 901 Edward St S
2:30pm-4pm
$ Free

Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group
45th Anniversary show, “Dancing Back to the Future!”
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
7pm
$34

RCBB presents Boogie - Music of the 70s
Roy Coran Big Band bring to life the sound and vibe of the big hair era.
The Superior Inn - 555 West Arthur Street
7:30pm
$20-$35

Black Pirates Pub 17 Year Anniversary Bash Night 3
15 bands over 3 nights!
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
7:30pm
$10 at the door

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Cinco party!
Norteños Taqueria - 698 Arthur St W
10pm
$10-$15

Karaoke:

• Howl at the Moon - 8 Cumberland St S
  9pm

• The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
  9pm

• The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
  9pm

• The Bar - 863 Red River Rd
  10pm

May 4

Mother’s Day Tea
Enjoy Mother’s Day with your mum over a cup of tea!
North McIntyre Rec Centre - 2051 Government Rd
1pm-3pm
$7

Spring 2025 Craft Revival
Craft & boutique vendors
Downtown Waterfront District
10am-4pm
$ Free

Home of the Day

320 Wolseley St.

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

4 bedrooms
2 bathroom
1,200 sqft

$479,900

Nicely redone home in the Shuniah area.