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- GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 5-5-25
GOOD MORNING - Thunder Bay Digest: 5-5-25
Estimated read time: 10 minutes
Thunder Bay Digest
May 05, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
ISSUE #82
Good morning,
Welcome to another week. I hope you had a great weekend, and got to go outside and enjoy some of the sunshine! It was pretty marvellous. Hopefully it’s what’s to stay!
In today’s issue, we cover:
- Marcus Luft
Municipal
City Looking to Build More Homes
The City of Thunder Bay wants to increase its urban density and build more homes.
The areas specifically being targeted include a large chunk of land east of the Cumberland Street-Hodder Avenue corridor, along with two additional smaller areas east of Syndicate Avenue near Walsh Street and one just south of Gore Street in Westfort.
The goal is to have these areas be eligible for funding provided to developers and homeowners so that more homes can be built.
The mayor’s task force on building more homes committee is considering the expansion of eligible lands. If the committee adopts the recommendation, it would go for approval to the city council in the summer.
This is all part of the federal housing accelerator money, which will provide Thunder Bay with up to $22 million to help encourage local housing development.
Daily Poll
Today’s question is:
What type of homes should Thunder Bay build more of? |
Friday’s Results:
You can download the full results (including comments) here in an Excel file (email addresses have been removed for anonymity).
Outdoors
Current River Fish Ladder Work to Start Soon
Rainbow trout are about to get an enhanced ladder to assist with spawning.
The ladder located at the Boulevard Lake dam is set for improvement work this summer.
The structure was originally built in the early 1990s, and is the brainchild of the North Shore Steelhead Association.
The ladder isn’t working as efficiently as it could, so improvements this summer will include redirecting water as it comes out of part of the Current River dam to create a more concentrated flow down the ladder; creating openings in the ladder to allow for a less tiring migration corridor for the fish; and the installation of fish counters and other monitoring devices.
The project has received funding through Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the MNR and local stakeholders.
Work is scheduled to take place between July and August.
Employment
Alstom Plant Hit With Layoffs
The local union representing the workers at the Alstom plant have confirmed that about 200 people will be laid off in the coming months.
The move isn’t a surprise as the work on the TTC streetcar contract was coming to a close.
The plant currently employs roughly 500 workers.
Everyone involved is hopeful that the plant will win the $2 billion contract to construct 55 new subway cars for Toronto’s Line 2.
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, wrote a letter to the mayor of Toronto requesting that the contract be awarded to Alstom as a sole-source procurement.
The line itself, which is a $9 billion contract, is being manufactured in the United States. So the push, especially in the current political climate, is to keep money in Ontario for the car construction.
Fingers crossed.
Local
Marathon of Hope to be Completed
Helene Neville intends to complete the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope.
Neville, who is from Philadelphia, started her journey from the Terry Fox Lookout this Thursday and plans on completing the journey in 109 days.
That will coindicde with her turning 65.
Neville, who survived stage four cancer that had mestastasized to the liver and numerous other places in her body, also requiring three brain surgeries, always kept it as a dream to to finish the run once she was well.
She isn’t new to the long distance game. In Novmber she ran across Puerto Rico and feels very confident she’ll finish what Terry Fox started.
Crime
Armed Vehicle Theft Charges Laid
In February, there was a suspected armed vehicle theft that occurred on Memorial Ave.
Thunder Bay Police have announced that they’ve arrested and charged a 25-year-old with 16 separate charges.
The male faces a slew of firearm-related offences, more vehicle operation-related offences and a charge for failing to comply with a probation order.
Indigenous News
Election Creates Hope
Even though they lost their ridings, the Liberal and NDP candidates from Kenora-Kiiwetinoong are hopeful for the future and have a clear message for the Indigenous population:
Your voice and vote, matter.
The message, they hope, will resonate especially strongly with the Indigenous youth around not only their riding, but the country.
Right now, the approximate number of Indigenous youth who vote in any given election is between 30 and 35%.
Charles Fox, who ran for the Liberal Party, says he hopes his campaign helped inspire Indigenous youth to take part in the election and that in the future, the percentage participating can be doubled.
Things to do This Week
Events In and Around the City
May 5
Thunder Bay Swing Dancing Society
Free swing dancing lessons!
CD Howe Public School - 30 Wishart Crescent
7pm
$ FREE
Sea Shanty Night
Enjoying east coast music
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
8:30pm
$ FREE
May 6
Jazzy Tuesdays with Mood Indigo
Jazzy Tuesdays are back - live jazz music
Anchor & Ore - 2240 Sleeping Giant Pkwy
6pm-9pm
$ FREE
Karaoke
Sing-along party!
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
8:30pm
$ FREE
May 7
Name That Tune - 90s Night
Live musical trivia featuring music of the 90s
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co - 712 Macdonell St
7pm-9pm
$ FREE
Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar
Live music - requests welcome!
Shooter’s Tavern - 377 Memorial Ave
8pm
$ FREE
Dayglo Abortions w/ Dirtnap + The Devil’s Punchbowl + Killer
Canadian punk legends performing live - all ages event
Black Pirates Pub - 215 Red River Rd Suite 101
8pm - 11:30pm
$20
May 8
Fay Gleeson Dance Centre - Three Cheers for 67 Years
Annual dance recital live performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - 1 Paul Shaffer Dr
7pm
$22-$32
Celtic Night
Celtic jam session featuring Tbay Trad
Red Lion Smokehouse - 16 Cumberland St S
7:30pm-9:30pm
$ FREE
Open Mic Comedy
Live comedy performance
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
8pm-11pm
$ FREE
Karaoke:
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5 - 229 Van Norman St
7pm-10pmHowl at the Moon - Sober Karaoke - 8 Cumberland St S
9pmNorteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
9pmPolish Combatants’ Association - Branch 1 - 209 Cumberland St N
9pmThe Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
10pmThe Alley - 236 Cumming St
10pmThe Dragon’s Den - 1010 Dawson Rd
10pm-2am
May 9
Young Elvis
Live Elvis cover band
Norteños Cantina - 235 Red River Rd
7:30pm-10pm
$5
Queen - It’s a Kinda Magic
Live Queen cover band - direct from Australia
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - 1 Paul Shaffer Dr
8pm
$65
Neema Naz: My Estupid Life Comedy Tour
Live comedy show by Canadian-Iranian comedian Neema Naz
Magnus Theatre - 10 Algoma St S
8pm
$30
Fundraiser in Support of Keira Rooney
Live music, prizes, 50/50
eVents - 201 South Syndicate Ave
8pm
$10-$15
Blood Red Moon
Live rock cover band
Wayland Bar & Grill - 1019 Gore St W
10pm
$5
Country Night ft Pintail
Live country music
The Foundry - 242 Red River Rd
10pm
$5
Karaoke:
The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
9pmThe Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
9:30pmThe Bar - 863 Red River Rd
10pmThe Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S
10pmThe Dragon’s Den - 1010 Dawson Rd
10pm-2am
May 10
Zorya Ukrainian Dancer
Live dance performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
7pm
$30
Pat Burtscher Comedy Tour
Live comedy show
The Foundry - 24 Red River Rd
7pm
Viola Quintets: Mozart and Beethoven
Live stringed instrument performance
St. Paul’s United Church - 349 Waverley St
7:30pm
$15-$25
Rock Benefit to Help Bring Chris Home
Live rock cover bands to help raise funds to help bring Chris home from a Cambodian prison
New Newfie’s Pub - 126 Simpson St
8pm
$5 advance / $10 at the door
Karaoke:
Howl at the Moon - Sober Karaoke - 8 Cumberland St S
The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave
9pmThe Social - 1047 Dawson Rd
9pmThe Bar - 863 Red River Rd
10pmThe Dragon’s Den - 1010 Dawson Rd
10pm-2amWestfort Prosvita - 721 Gore St W
8pm-12am
May 10
Dragons and Mythical Beasts - Ages 3+ (great for kids)
Spectacular full-sized puppet show, direct from London’s West End
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - 1 Paul Shaffer Dr
2pm
$36-$59
Home of the Day
1914 Oliver Rd.
(Realtors if you want your home featured - send us an email: [email protected])
3+2 bedrooms
4 bathroom
3,594 sqft
$1,395,000
4 acres of property, attached garage with hoist and a ton more
Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed it, pass it along 🙂
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