ISSUE #138

Good morning,

There were some opinions expressed in Wednesday’s poll - worth checking out the download link to see what was said.

Also next week might be tough to get the regular issues out - travelling. So if you don’t see me in your inbox, that’s why (but I will do my best!).

In today’s issue we cover:

• Ontario wants to hit the gas on development

• Daily Poll - Should they move faster?

• GTA man in drug bust 

• Ontario looking to build new pipeline

• New path coming to Oliver Rd 

• 2025 fire seas was lit

• Pikangikum gets digital health records

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Custom built on Skyline Ave! 🏡

- Marcus Luft

Province

Ontario Hits the Gas on New Lithium Mine, But Local First Nations Ask to See the Brakes

The Ontario government is all-in on lithium, announcing that the Frontier Lithium PAK Project in the province's northwest is getting the express-lane treatment. \

This operation, set to be a full-service mine, mill, and conversion facility, is the first to use the shiny new 'One Project, One Process' framework. The goal, according to the province, is to slash bureaucratic delays and beef up Ontario's role in the global battery-making game, moving away from reliance on international giants.

The project, located 175 kilometers north of Red Lake, is also conveniently near a proposed refinery in Thunder Bay and is part of a grander vision for a self-reliant Ontario. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is on board, cheering the move as a major milestone for jobs and economic growth in the north, with estimates floating around 1,000 long-term positions and billions in revenue.

However, not everyone is ready to pop the champagne. Leaders from several First Nations, including North Spirit Lake and Deer Lake, have raised serious concerns. They describe the 1P1P process as a runaway train, stating they are being overloaded with information and pushed through a system without time for meaningful engagement or respect for their right to consent.

While the province assures that its duty to consult remains "fully upheld," local Indigenous leaders are making it clear that they must be full partners in any decisions made about their lands, not just passengers.

The province is also looking at new transmission lines to power it all.

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Monday’s Results:

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

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Crime

Unsuccessful Field Trip for GTA Teen

An 18-year-old from the Pickering area has learned the hard way that Thunder Bay's social housing complexes are not open-door tourist destinations.

His northern excursion came to an abrupt end this week when he was arrested for drug trafficking. The young man was apprehended at Spence Court on Amelia Street during a dedicated patrol by the Thunder Bay Police Service.

Officers from the community outreach and engagement unit, working alongside the newly minted housing safety unit, were making their rounds on Tuesday when they encountered the individual. A quick check revealed he was not a resident of the building, and his presence was deemed highly suspicious, prompting a closer look.

This suspicion was apparently well-founded. Upon further investigation, officers discovered quantities of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, as well as a sum of cash that suggested a business operation rather than a simple visit. The 18-year-old was subsequently charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking for both substances, and an additional charge of possession of property obtained by crime.

His unauthorized visit to the northern city was cut short when he was remanded into custody following a court appearance on Wednesday, pending a future date with the justice system.

The police units involved are part of a specific effort to monitor and ensure safety within these community housing areas, and in this case, their patrol proved particularly eventful, stopping an alleged out-of-town operation.

Infrastructure

Ontario Dusts Off the 'Nation-Building' Blueprints for a New Pipeline

The provincial government is officially looking into a massive new "energy corridor" project set to run right through Northwestern Ontario, with the goal of connecting western oil and gas with eastern refineries.

The Ford government announced it has commissioned a feasibility study to explore the nuts and bolts of the plan. This isn't just a simple pipeline; the vision includes transporting fuels from Alberta and Saskatchewan to southern Ontario and potentially to new ports on James Bay, Hudson Bay, and even the Great Lakes.

As a bonus, the corridor might also feature all-season roads, which could finally provide a new path into the much-discussed Ring of Fire mineral zone. A contract for the feasibility study, due next year, has been awarded to a team of advisory firms who will crunch the numbers on corridor options and costs.

This grand plan stems from a memorandum of understanding signed in July by the premiers of Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. The stated goal is to create new markets for Canadian resources, reduce reliance on the United States, and stand firm against ongoing trade disputes.

The province has also made assurances that it will uphold its duty to consult with Indigenous communities as this potentially landscape-altering project moves from idea to paper.

Recreation

Thunder Bay Gets (Another) New Path, Cyclists Dare to Dream of Memorial Ave

Thunder Bay's active transportation network is getting another feather in its cap, much to the delight of local cyclists.

Construction is now underway on a brand-new multi-use trail along Oliver Road. This latest link will connect the bustling Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre entrance directly to the Oliver and Balmoral Street intersection, providing a new, safer route for pedestrians and bikers.

This project follows closely on the heels of another new trail on Central Avenue, which is already nearing completion. The city's recent efforts have not gone unnoticed. An organizer from the cycling advocacy group Just Bike Thunder Bay was reportedly thrilled with the city's work, particularly impressed with how they managed to fit a trail along the tight corridor on Central Avenue.

That successful project has local advocates feeling optimistic, even daring to dream that the "big prize"—a recreational trail along Memorial Avenue—might one day become a reality. For now, the focus is on Oliver Road. The $400,000 project will see its gravel base installed before the snow flies this winter. Commuters will have to wait a bit for a smooth ride, however, as the final paving is scheduled for the spring of 2026.

This trail is one piece of a larger $2.4 million contract aimed at improving active transportation across the city with new sidewalks and trails.

Nature

Northwest Ontario's 2025 Fire Season Was an Extreme Overachiever

To call the 2025 wildland fire season in Northwestern Ontario "very busy" is a significant understatement.

The region saw a staggering 560,234.9 hectares go up in flames, a figure that makes the previous year's 70,000 hectares look like a small bonfire. In fact, the total area burned in the Northwest alone was more than double the entire province's 10-year rolling average.

Fire officials pointed to a volatile spring, where a few weeks of dry weather, low humidity, and high winds in May set the stage for an explosive season. One fire, in particular, was in a league of its own. Red Lake 12, which started in late May and was only declared 'out' in mid-October, torched nearly 197,000 hectares all by itself.

This single blaze accounted for about 35 percent of the season's total destruction, forced the evacuations of Sandy Lake and Deer Lake First Nations, and earned the unwelcome title of the largest wildland fire in Ontario's history.

Other notable fires like Kenora 20 and Nipigon 5 also kept crews scrambling, especially during wind events that saw gusts of 50 to 80 kilometers per hour. The situation required bringing in help from British Columbia, Wisconsin, and other provinces. Once things finally calmed down in Ontario, crews were dispatched to return the favor, assisting in other provinces and across the border in Minnesota.

Indigenous

Pikangikum Health Records to Finally Enter the 21st Century

The single nursing station in Pikangikum First Nation is getting a "sorely needed" digital upgrade, moving away from a record-keeping system that involved "piles and piles" of paper charts.

The CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Doris Grinspun, described the situation as troubling after a visit to the remote community in 2023. She recalled seeing a tiny room stacked with charts, and another hallway containing thousands more, a process she found archaic in the modern age of informatics.

Disheartened by the conditions, she immediately contacted Premier Doug Ford to push for improvements. That push has apparently paid off. Grinspun is now excitedly planning a return visit around March to celebrate the implementation of a new electronic health records system.

She expressed that the community, which has difficult conditions including human resource shortages, desperately needed this change. With the digitization problem being solved, the RNAO head is now setting her sights on the next challenge: creating career pathways for healthcare workers within the First Nation.

She is advocating for nursing programs to be brought directly to remote communities, allowing residents to train as PSWs, RPNs, and RNs without having to leave their homes.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

October 31

Discovery Club A drop-in, self-guided family exploration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) concepts. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: All day Location: Mary J.L. Black Library

Family Storytime A drop-in program for children and caregivers featuring stories, songs, and rhymes. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Location: Waverley Library - Auditorium

Game On! with the interactive projector A drop-in time to play physically engaging games on the interactive projector.Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Location: Mary J.L. Black Library - Commons

Play Day A drop-in time for independent, self-guided free play with toys and activities. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Waverley Library - Auditorium

PUP - Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Loge Seats On-sale) This is not an event, but the on-sale time for loge seats for a future concert. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM Location: Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (Box Office/Online)

Dagwood's Slightly Batty Halloween A Halloween-themed event at the bakery. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Dagwoods Bakery

Jazz and Old Fashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo A recurring live jazz music event. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Anchor & Ore

Magic The Gathering: Commander A scheduled event for the "Commander" format of the Magic: The Gathering card game. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Magic The Gathering: Standard A scheduled event for the "Standard" format of the Magic: The Gathering card game.Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Slate River Slaughter A spooky walk-through Halloween display. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Location: Slate River

Chase the Ace By Mark Crawford A live theatre performance of the comedy "Chase the Ace." Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM Location: 10 Algoma St. S. (Magnus Theatre)

BAR POLONIA - FRIDAYS LIVE MUSIC A recurring weekly live music event. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 8:00 PM Location: 209 Cumberland Street North (Polish Combatants Association)

The Hunger 18th Edition A massive annual downtown-wide Halloween festival featuring 56 acts across 8 venues. Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Location: 8 venues in the downtown north core (e.g., Black Pirates Pub, The Foundry, Red Lion Smokehouse, etc.)

November 1

Country Christmas Craft Fair 2025 The 30th annual craft fair featuring over 75 local vendors. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Vanderwees Garden Gallery

Craft Sale A craft sale to support the replacement of the church roof. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Trinity Lutheran Church, 564 North May Street

Discovery Club A drop-in, self-guided family exploration of STEAM concepts. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: All day Location: Mary J.L. Black Library

Game On! with the interactive projector A drop-in time to play physically engaging games on the interactive projector.Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Mary J.L. Black Library - Commons

Magic The Gathering: Draft A scheduled event for drafting the latest Magic: The Gathering sets. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Heroclix A scheduled event for the Heroclix miniatures game. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Chase the Ace By Mark Crawford A matinee performance of the comedy "Chase the Ace." Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM (Doors at 1:00 PM) Location: 10 Algoma St. S. (Magnus Theatre)

Halloween Spooktacular A fun-filled family concert featuring the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Location: Avila Centre (Lakehead University)

Pokemon A scheduled event for the Pokemon trading card game. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Lakehead Thunderwolves VS Western Mustangs Lakehead University men's hockey game. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Fort William Gardens

Chase the Ace By Mark Crawford An evening performance of the comedy "Chase the Ace." Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM (Doors at 6:30 PM) Location: 10 Algoma St. S. (Magnus Theatre)

Baile de los Muertos A Day of the Dead dance event. Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 Time: 10:00 PM Location: Atmos

November 2

Country Christmas Craft Fair 2025 The 30th annual craft fair featuring over 75 local vendors (Day 2). Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Vanderwees Garden Gallery

Lorcana A scheduled event for the Lorcana trading card game. Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Yu-Gi-Oh A scheduled event for the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game. Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Carlito's Board Game Cafe

Stepping Out for Foot Health A free seminar on foot health presented by the Thunder Bay CARP Chapter. Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre, 700 River St.

Foreigner - The Juke Box Hero Tour - A Special Canadian Event A concert by the rock band Foreigner. Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Home of the Day

23 Gronroos Rd

$599,900
5 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
4,500 sq/ft

Custom built home with tons of features.