ISSUE #57

Good morning,

The people have spoken and I have listened. You guys love the Digest, but times are a bit too tough right now to subscribe.

I feel like we are building something great here, and the last thing I want to do is get in my own way, so! We’re going to keep it free and work on creating the best damn daily-ish news source in Tbay!

To that end, you’ll notice some changes already. Here’s what coming down the pipe to add, what I hope, is more value to you, the reader:

• Revamped header logo - a bit fresher and more crisp/modern

• Boxes around each story to make them easier to read (reader suggestion, thank you for that!)

• I’ve anchor linked the table of contents right below this so you can easily skip back and forth to your desired article/section (but this feature only works in some email clients, but in all web browsers)

• Weekly bullet recap on weekends (to catch up on anything you missed)

• Longer form content: interesting local tidbits, economic analysis, Best Of’s, etc, which will come as either special editions, or in the weekend recap

• To-Do section will be redone to make it easier for you to access the information you need to attend/participate (links to websites, purchase buttons etc.)

These will start to roll out in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. As always, feedback is welcome. Plenty of little tweaks have come from your suggestions, so hit Reply to this email and let me know what you think.

And as always, thank you for reading, and if you love it, share it with a friend and encourage them to sign up 😘

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Frontier Lithium optimistic 🔋

• Daily Poll - Do you think it will happen?

• Costco speculation heats up 🛒

• Trade in those Roll Up the Rims ☕️

• Hockey fraud uncovered 🥅

• Natural gas bills going up 🧾

• Bearskin Lake First Nation drug bust 💊

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Rosslyn area fully redone home 🏡

- Marcus Luft

News

Frontier Lithium Is Optimistic

The CEO of Frontier Lithium, Trevor Walker, is very bullish on the future of lithium conversion in Thunder Bay.

Frontier has already invested over $100 million toward the development of lithium deposits at its PAK project, which sits about 175km north of Red Lake (bring your reindeers).

The cost of creating the processing facility, which is earmarked for Mission Island, could run upwards of $700 million.

Both the federal and provincial governments have said they may each contribute up to $120 million if Frontier Lithium can prove the project is viable.

If successful, the processing plant would employ about 200 people.

According to the company, these deposits are some of the highest grade lithium in North America.

If all goes according to plan, with a final decision to be done no later than 18 months from now, Frontier Lithium plans to start production of lithium salts for batteries by 2030.

Daily Poll

Can they pull it off?

Today’s question is:

A MESSAGE FROM:

SLEEPING GIANT BREWING CO.

Saturday is International Women’s Day.

To celebrate we did something special.

Our brewery has a bunch of bad-ass women working in it.

But we aren’t the only ones: Dawson Trail and Lakehead Beer Co., also have bad-ass women in their organizations.

So we got together, along with the women from our partners at Canada Malt (Canadian malt, for Canadians, by Canadians!) and have brewed a very special beer in honour of International Women’s Day.

Introducing: Better Together - an IWBD Collaboration!

It’s a bright and refreshing Session New England IPA, bursting with fruity flavours that is easy to enjoy!

And we’d like to invite you to come celebrate with us, today, at our launch!

Friday March 7th, 2025
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
712 Macdonell St.
6pm-9pm

P.S. Looking to advertise in the Thunder Bay Digest? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]!

Retail

Costco Speculation Ramps Up

Eagle eyed City Hall watchers have noticed the city posted a notice of application for a zoning bylaw amendment.

The location and type of amendment is fuelling speculation again that Costco might be coming to Thunder Bay.

The zoning change requests would allow for a large retail warehouse (215,000 sq/ft) along with a gas bar to be constructed.

The proposed site is 1091 Central Avenue.

Additional requests in the application include the permitting of motor vehicle service use, while reducing the landscaping requirement from 20% to 15%, and increasing the driveway width from 9 meters to 9.5 meters.

The city isn’t saying a word, and Costco does not comment on future locations until they are within 3 months of opening.

Comments are being collected by the city until March 20th.

Until then the Costco lovers can continue to hope and dream…

Charity

Trade-In Your Roll-Up-The-Rim Cup

I know that whenever I won Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim, it was usually a donut or something that I’m not a fan of.

If you find that to also be the case with yourself you can now trade those in for a free coffee or tea and not lament your winnings any longer!

Bay Village Coffee is putting a call out to all Roll Up The Rim winners, asking them to bring in the tab with the winnings to exchange it for a coffee or tea.

The winning tabs will then be donated by Bay Village Coffee to the Shelter House.

While not the healthiest of food options, the Shelter House is thrilled because it isn’t often its users get a ‘treat’ from a donation.

Waste that free donut no more!

Crime

Hockey Fraud Uncovered

Last year the Neebing Minor Hockey Association admitted they were victims of a potential fraud.

Back in 2023 leaders of the hockey organization realized that some money was missing.

It was discovered that funds were removed from the organization’s account via multiple transactions.

There has now been an arrest.

At the end of February a 69-year-old was informed of a pending charge of fraud over $5,000 and served with a court appearance.

Energy

Natural Gas Bills Going Up

It looks like our natural gas bills are going to be going up.

It’s a bit of a double-whammy hitting the market which is causing the jump.

First up there is an apparent decline in the natural gas inventory across North America (sounds alarming but is apparently normal?).

Secondly, the federal carbon charge is set to go up on April 1st 🙄.

Enbridge Gas is applying to the Ontario Energy Board for an increase in the gas commodity charge to reflect the changes in market prices, which will also be effective April 1st.

The forecasted hit to us is about $136 to our annual bills.

Indigenous News

Bearskin Lake First Nation Drug Bust

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, along with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Lac Seul Police Service’s canine unit, executed two search warrants at Bearskin Lake First Nation.

The remote community, located over 600km northwest of Thunder Bay, saw four individuals charged in the raids.

Officer seized eight firearms, brass knuckles, suspected cocaine, nearly $10,000 in cash, and other items associated with drug trafficking.

Arrested included a 32-year-old woman, a 54-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, and a 40-year-old woman.

All four were released from custody with conditions and future court appearance dates.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

International Tapestry Women’s Network
International Women’s Day Pre-Registration Event
Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Pre-register by Feb 28
[email protected]
$ FREE

The Great Canadian Roadtrip 2.0
Live country music
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - 1 Paul Shaffer Dr
March 3 @ 7:30pm
$42-$49

Home, I’m Darling
Theatre
Cambrian Players - 818 Spring St.
March 6-9 @ 7:30pm-9:30pm
$25-$30

TBSO Pops - A Night at the Movies
Live orchestral music
Italian Cultural Centre - 132 Algoma St. S.
March 7-8 @ 7:30pm
$25-$50

Country Night featuring Back Forty
Country music
The Outpost - 955 Oliver Rd.
March 7 @ 9pm
$15

Karaoke
Live music
March 7

• The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave

• The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd

• The Bar - 863 Red River Rd

• The Waterhouse - 9 Cumberland St S

Story Time with the Thunder Bay Drag Queens & Kings + Crafting with Queens
Family friendly live reading & crafting
Waverley Public Library - 285 Red River Rd
March 8 @ 2:30pm-4pm
$ FREE

Building with Beads - Mardi Gras Gala
Charity fundraising dinner event for Habitat for Humanity
Valhalla Hotel - 1 Valhalla Inn Rd
March 8 @ 5:30pm
$130

Karaoke
Live music
March 8

• Westfort Prosvita - 721 Gore St W

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke) - 8 Cumberland St S

• The Hodder - 481 Hodder Ave

• Norteños Taqueria - 698 Arther St W

• The Social - 1047 Dawson Rd

• The Bar - 863 Red River Rd

Home of the Day

2104 Freeman Dr.

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

4 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
2,110 sqft

$829,900

Rosslyn Sub District home with a ton of upgraded finishes & features