ISSUE #126

Good morning,

I took a bit of an unannounced break. Things got busy and this took a bit of a backseat. But thank you to everyone who wrote inquiring; there’s definitely a bunch of you who love this newsletter and I appreciate all of you!

We’re back at it!

In today’s issue, we cover:

• City asking for input on streamlining

• Daily Poll - Can they do it? 

• Schools shut down for a day  

• Police seize a mountain of drugs

• Bears are everywhere these days

• Dawson Rd murder

• Rockin’ Recover returns

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Kakabeka home on 155 acres! 🏡

- Marcus Luft

City Hall

City Seeks Public's Help to Untangle Bureaucratic Mess

The City of Thunder Bay is embarking on a noble quest to make interacting with municipal services less like navigating a labyrinth and more like a friendly chat with a helpful neighbour.

They're looking to create a "one-stop shop" for all your civic needs, from paying your water bill to reporting that pesky pothole that's been rattling your fillings for weeks. The goal is to have a single point of contact, whether it be a phone number, email, or a real-life human, to handle all your inquiries.

No more being bounced around from department to department like a bureaucratic pinball. To achieve this lofty goal, the city is turning to the people it serves – the residents of Thunder Bay. They've launched a public survey and are organizing focus groups to get a better sense of how people currently interact with the city, what their frustrations are, and what their ideal customer service experience would look like.

It's your chance to be heard, to help shape the future of municipal services, and to finally have a say in how your city communicates with you. So, if you've ever found yourself lost in the automated phone menu of a city department, now is your time to shine.

The new and improved customer service division is expected to launch in late 2026, so get your suggestions in now before they're set in stone.

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).

If you wanted to support Thunder Bay Digest to help keep it going, or, you’re interested in finding out what it takes to get an event talked about, your product/service advertised, or your house listed, click below:

Education

A Foul Odor and a Furry Intruder Cause a Stir at Local Schools

It was a day of unexpected excitement for students and staff at a couple of Thunder Bay schools.

At St. Vincent School and the Catholic school board office, a mysterious and unpleasant smell led to a shelter-in-place order. The culprit, it turns out, was not a forgotten lunch in a locker, but rather a pressure release from a nearby Enbridge gas station.

While the odour was alarming, it was ultimately deemed harmless and dissipated in due course.

Meanwhile, at St. Francis School, a different kind of intruder was causing a stir. A bear was spotted on school grounds, prompting another shelter-in-place order. While the bear was likely more interested in the contents of the school's dumpsters than in any of the students, it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to wildlife encounters.

The school took the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its students and staff until the furry visitor decided to move on. It's not every day that students get to experience a gas leak and a bear sighting in the same day, but it certainly makes for a more interesting story to tell at the dinner table.

One can only imagine the creative writing assignments that will come out of this eventful day.

Crime

Police Seized a Lot of Drugs

The Ontario Provincial Police and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service recently teamed up to deliver a major blow to the local drug trade.

In a pair of raids in Thunder Bay, they seized a veritable mountain of illegal substances, including 10 kilograms of cocaine, 900 oxycodone tablets, and a smattering of other party favours.

The estimated street value of the drugs is a cool $1.1 million. In addition to the drugs, police also found a handgun, loaded magazines, and over $33,000 in cash.

Two individuals, a 35-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, were arrested and are now facing a laundry list of charges that would make a seasoned criminal blush.

The charges include everything from unauthorized possession of a firearm to possession for the purpose of trafficking. The pair are currently in custody and are scheduled to appear in court.

The seizure is a significant victory for law enforcement and a major setback for the local drug trade.

Nature

The Bear Necessities: A Tale of Apples, Garbage, and Hungry Bears

The bears of Thunder Bay are having a bit of a rough go of it this year. A poor berry crop has left them with rumbling tummies and a hankering for something sweet.

As a result, they've been venturing into residential areas in search of a meal, and they've found a new favourite treat: apples.

Homeowners with apple trees have been getting some surprise visitors in their yards, as bears have been spotted casually munching on the fallen fruit. One resident even found a bear lounging under his neighbour's apple tree, looking for all the world like a furry, four-legged connoisseur of fine fruit.

While the sight of a bear in your yard can be alarming, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says that it's a normal occurrence when natural food sources are scarce. They're advising residents to be "bear wise" and to take steps to reduce attractants, such as picking ripe fruit, storing garbage in secure containers, and taking down bird feeders.

The city is also doing its part by offering two fall collection periods for apples and other yard waste. So, if you see a bear in your neighbourhood, don't panic. It's probably just looking for a snack.

And who can blame them? A good apple is hard to resist.

Police

A Tragic End to an Evening in County Fair

A Tuesday evening in the County Fair area took a tragic turn when a man was found with serious injuries in the parking lot of a hotel on Dawson Road.

He was rushed to the hospital, but sadly, he succumbed to his injuries. The Thunder Bay Police have since confirmed that they are investigating the incident as a homicide.

The major crimes unit and the forensic identification unit are both involved in the investigation, and a large section of the parking lot and a nearby pathway were taped off as they collected evidence.

A police presence remains in the area, and the public is being asked to avoid the scene. At this time, police have not released any information about the nature of the victim's injuries or whether any arrests have been made.

They are asking anyone with information to come forward and contact them or Crime Stoppers.

Indigenous

A Sea of Orange Honours the Past and Looks to the Future

Hundreds of people gathered at Boulevard Lake on Tuesday morning to take part in the fourth annual Honouring Our Children Run.

The event, which was organized by Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, is a way for the community to come together to support truth and reconciliation. Participants, many of whom were wearing orange shirts, ran or walked a 5k or 10k route around the lake.

The atmosphere was one of reflection, remembrance, and hope. The run is more than just a race; it's a journey back to cultural and spiritual practices that were once banned. It's a day to celebrate who you are and to honour the children who never made it home from residential schools.

The event has grown in popularity over the years, and this year's run saw an estimated 800 to 1,000 people in attendance.

The proceeds from the run will go to the Mazinaajim Children's Foundation, an Anishinabek-led charity that supports Indigenous children and youth. It's a reminder that every child matters, and that the journey of reconciliation is one that we must all walk together.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

October 3

Ikons Of Rock A live musical performance. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, 1 Paul Shaffer Dr, Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead Thunderwolves VS Guelph Gryphons The home opener for the Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Fort William Gardens, 901 Miles St E, Thunder Bay, ON

Bigfoot by Ephraim Ellis A theatrical production presented by Magnus Theatre. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Magnus Theatre, 10 Algoma St S, Thunder Bay, ON

Jazz and Old Fashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo An evening of live jazz music. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: 2240 Sleeping Giant Pkwy, Thunder Bay, ON

CWE Live in Thunder Bay Professional wrestling event featuring former WWE star Davey Boy Smith Jr. and from New Japan Pro Wrestling, Chase Owens. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Moose Hall Thunder Bay, 434 Fort William Road, Thunder Bay, ON

PUP w/ Snotty Nose Rez Kids A live concert featuring the bands PUP and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM Location: 1 Paul Shaffer Dr, Thunder Bay, ON

Bar Polonia - Fridays Live Music Enjoy live musical performances. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Location: Bar Polonia, 209 Cumberland Street North, Thunder Bay, ON

October 4

Spook Tacular Vendor Market 
A market featuring local vendors with a spooky theme. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: CLE Heritage Building, 425 Northern Ave, Thunder Bay, ON

Honor the Elders Art Show 
An art exhibition celebrating the wisdom and stories of elders. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: 1261 Jasper Dr, Thunder Bay, ON

Holistic Wellness Workshop 
A full-day workshop with speakers on holistic wellness. Lunch and refreshments are included. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Location: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 207 Brodie Street South, Thunder Bay, ON

Creekside and Trevisanutto's Fall Market 
A seasonal market hosted by Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre, 683 Woodcrest Rd, Thunder Bay, ON

Market At The Moose 
A market with 60 different crafters, perfect for finding fall, Thanksgiving, and Halloween items. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: 434 Fort William Road, Thunder Bay, ON

Bigfoot by Ephraim Ellis 
A theatrical production presented by Magnus Theatre.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Magnus Theatre, 10 Algoma St S, Thunder Bay, ON

Rainbow Revival 
An event celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community. 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Further details to be announced.

October 5

Spook Tacular Vendor Market 
A market featuring local vendors with a spooky theme. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: CLE Heritage Building, 425 Northern Ave, Thunder Bay, ON

Creekside and Trevisanutto's Fall Market 
A seasonal market hosted by Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre, 683 Woodcrest Rd, Thunder Bay, ON

Bigfoot by Ephraim Ellis 
A theatrical production presented by Magnus Theatre. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Magnus Theatre, 10 Algoma St S, Thunder Bay, ON

Old Fort William Fall Feast 
Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings in the setting of the historic Great Hall. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: Seatings at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM
Location: Fort William Historical Park, 1350 King Rd, Thunder Bay, ON

Sunday Afternoon Group Run 
A weekly group run to accommodate those who cannot make the Thursday evening run. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Meet inside the store at Lyon Boulevard W, Thunder Bay, ON

Music in the Mall ft The Gin Tonics 
Enjoy live music while you shop or relax at the mall. 
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Intercity Shopping Centre, 1000 Fort William Rd, Thunder Bay, ON

Home of the Day

331 Smith Rd

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

3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
2,196 sqft

$1,199,800

155 acres with a river running through the property.