Library

Library 50/50 Winner Announced

The inaugural Thunder Bay library 50/50 draw pulled it’s winner.

Paige Martin won over $41,000 in the draw, which was awarded this week.

The lottery itself sold over 288,000 tickets in the month of December. Due to the success, the library has announced that this will be an ongoing monthly draw.

The draw was run by the volunteer-run Friends of the Library organization. The group has been helping the library for more than 35 years and has helped to raise over $1 million during that time.

I’ve said it before: libraries are an incredibly important social-educational component of any city. So supporting them is always something you can feel good about.

Plus a sweet pay-out doesn’t hurt either!

Click below to purchase tickets for the next draw.

Daily Poll

NYE - What type of food?

Home made feast was the winner of Wednesday’s poll with almost 40% of the vote, followed by nothing fancy, normal dinner in second at almost 30% of the vote and then Chinese food (what we had) coming in a distant third at 15%.

Did you make it to midnight on NYE?

News

New Year’s Day Levee

Have you ever heard of the New Year’s Day Levee? No? Me neither…

But, it’s a tradition that’s been around since the 1600’s!

The Levee is a chance for government and military leaders to gather and give a state of the community address.

And here in Thunder Bay it took place on Jan. 1 at the HMCS Griffon headquarters on Algoma St, hosted by Lt.-Cmdr. Farley Farn.

The ceremony included a toast to the King and well wishes for everyone in attendance and for the community at large in 2025.

In attendance from the government were Liberal MP Marcus Powloski and NDP MPP Lisa Vaugeois.

Health

Masking Requirements

I’m sure this will still get a visceral reaction from some as the memories of 2020 linger far too clearly.

But…

Masking requirements are back at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Masking is now required by:

• All staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and essential care partners and care partners when entering a patient room in all inpatient clinical units and in the emergency department

• Essential care partners and care partners in 1A inpatient units at all times

• When entering a patient room and within the 1A medicine and acute oncology units

• All other inpatient units when visiting an inpatient’s room and unable to maintain six feet of physical distance within the unit

• At all times in the ER, including the waiting areas

Basically masks for everyone!

The reason:

An increase in respiratory illnesses.

The hospital has masks available at entrances at the hand sanitizer stations.

The link below takes you to the hospitals masking update page for up-to-date information on this requirement.

Port

Busiest Year in Decades

Our port has recorded its busiest year since the 1990s.

For 2024 the Thunder Bay port handled over 10 million tonnes of cargo.

Key highlights of this year include:

• 10% increase over the 5-year average

• Grain shipments exceeded the 5-year average

• Potash shipments are 4-5X higher than 5 years ago

• 2024 was the best year in 40 years for potash shipments

• 5th year now of fertilizer shipments & it was the biggest year yet

For 2025 the port will be looking to increase its cargo business and increasing its laydown areas for larger shipments.

Politics

MP Powloski Comments on Trudeau

Liberal MP, Marcus Powlowski, plans on running again in 2025, but has admitted that if Trudeau stays on, it is going to be a challenge to get re-elected.

(And the sun rises in the east and the Pope is Catholic…)

Parliament is currently on its winter break, but it’s being said that Liberal Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is considering proroguing parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote, which he is largely expected to lose.

Powlowski has said he’s on board with proroguing, saying the time could be used to reset the Liberal party and potentially pick a new leader.

Currently the Liberals support sits at only 16% according to an Angus Reid poll released on New Year’s Eve. The Conservatives sit at 45% and the NDP at 21%.

2025 is going to be an interesting year in Canada.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Open Mic Night
Live music
Lakehead Beer Co.
Jan 2 @7pm-10pm
$ FREE

Karaoke (at various locations)
Live sing-along music
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5, Howl at the Moon, Norteños Cantina, Polish Combatants’ Association - Branch 1, The Waterhouse, The Alley
Jan. 2 (contact locations for times)
$ FREE

Karaoke (at various locations)
Live sing-along music
The Social, The Bar, The Waterhouse
Jan. 3 (contact locations for times)
$ FREE

Karaoke (at various locations)
Live sing-along music
Howl at the Moon, The Hodder, Norteños Taqueria, The Social, The Bar
Jan. 4 (contact locations for times)
$ FREE

Home of the Day

625 Dog Lake Rd.

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

5 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
3,300 sq ft

$929,000

3 acres, McIntyre River in the backyard; fully redone - gorgeous!