ISSUE #113

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a great long weekend! Sorry about the events section - got home late last night and haven’t had a chance (they take a long time to put together).

In today’s issue, we cover:

• Lithium feasibility study kicks off

• Daily Poll - Getting excited?

• Recycling capacity expands  

• Harbour is upping fees

• Alarming spike in stunt driving

• Tbay’er wins Ottawa Ironman

• Softwood lumber support package

• Things to do this week 🗓️

• House of the day - Kakabeka with huge detached garage! 🏡

- Marcus Luft

News

Frontier Lithium Kicks Off 18-Month Feasibility Study for Mission Island Refinery

Frontier Lithium has hired engineering giant Fluor Canada to deliver a definitive feasibility study on building a battery-grade lithium refinery on Mission Island—the former OPG generating-station site leveled in 2021.

The 18-month review will nail down plant design, costs, environmental work, and economic modelling. CEO Trevor Walker says the complex could support lithium for up to 500,000 EV batteries a year, create 450 construction jobs and 150 permanent positions, and process ore from Frontier’s Pak Lake deposit north of Red Lake (plus third-party feed).

Conditional federal–provincial funding offers were announced earlier in 2025; Walker hopes to finalize agreements by early 2026, with construction unlikely before 2028.

Frontier has already sunk $100 million into the project, calling it “a strategic enabler for Canada’s clean-energy future.”

Daily Poll

Today’s question is:

Wednesday’s Results:

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

Business

Recycle West Adds 7,600-sq-ft Facility After $540 K NOHFC Grant

Oliver Paipoonge–based Recycle West just opened a new truck shop and warehouse that frees up space in its Twin City Crossroads plant for more hazardous- and industrial-waste processing.

The expansion—costing $1.4 million, with $540,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund—will let the firm hire additional staff and speed up sorting oils, fuels, antifreeze, plastics, and mining by-products collected across Northwestern Ontario (and as far as Sudbury).

Regional manager Jason Cook says the bigger footprint means “faster, more efficient, better” service, while MPP Kevin Holland calls the project a win for keeping industrial waste out of landfills and boosting northern jobs.

Transport

Harbour Dues to More Than Double by 2027 at Port of Thunder Bay

For the first time since 1989, the Thunder Bay Port Authority is hiking harbour fees—and the jump is steep.

Dues will climb 35–50 ¢ per tonne in February 2026 and again in February 2027, taking total charges to over twice today’s rate.

CEO Chris Heikkinen says the port must be self-sufficient: extra revenue—about $2 million–$2.5 million annually—will help maintain the 10-km breakwall and other aging infrastructure.

Even after the hikes, Thunder Bay will still post Canada’s lowest harbour rates, so Heikkinen doesn’t expect cargo volumes to slide. Starting in 2028, tariffs will be reviewed yearly to keep pace with market conditions and capital needs.

Police

‘Alarming’ Spike: 131 Impaired Drivers, 33 Stunt Charges Already in 2025

Thunder Bay Police traffic unit says impaired and stunt driving are rising faster than officers can tally.

As of early August, they’ve charged 131 impaired drivers—closing in on last year’s total of under 200—and logged 33 stunt-driving offences, already above the city’s typical annual count of 26.

Acting Sgt. Sal Carchidi cited a holiday weekend where a repeat offender crashed while “racing a train,” and another driver hit a tree then fled on foot. Officers have clocked speeds as high as 121 km/h in 50 zones.

Carchidi warns the community that every impaired or extreme-speed incident multiplies risk for pedestrians and other motorists, and urges residents to call 911 if they spot dangerous behaviour.

Sports

Thunder Bay’s Aliisa Heiskanen Wins Her First Full-Distance Ironman

Former Lakehead basketball player Aliisa Heiskanen conquered Ironman Ottawa, grabbing the women’s 25–29 crown and her first overall Ironman victory in only her second full race.

The 3.8-km swim served as a “warm-up,” but she seized the lead on a windy bike leg and never looked back—despite nursing a knee injury from training. The win punches Heiskanen’s ticket to the 2025 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain, where she seeks redemption after a crash last year.

Not bad for someone who told friends after Mont-Tremblant 2022 that she’d “never do another” full Ironman.

Trade

Ottawa Unveils $1.2 B Softwood-Lumber Support Package

Facing higher U.S. anti-dumping duties (now up to 20.56 %), the federal government rolled out a $1.2-billion plan: $700 million in loan guarantees, $500 million for competitiveness and domestic processing, and $50 million for worker training and income supports.

Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, Ontario associate forestry minister Kevin Holland, and NOMA president Rick Dumas all applauded the move, saying it gives mills breathing room while they pivot to Canadian markets and value-added products.

Holland’s team is parsing details to ensure Ontario firms benefit, and regional officials stress continued provincial/federal coordination as tariff battles drag on.

Home of the Day

206 Parker Rd

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

3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,550 sqft

$699,900

Kakabeka home with large detached garage.