News

Lithium Refinery Eyed for Thunder Bay

Green Technology Metals, an Australian lithium producer, is looking at a spot on the city’s waterfront to host a lithium chemical conversion plant.

The Perth-headquartered company was originally looking at the Cascades Paper Plant property but has now moved its focus to the Midcontinent Terminal property on Maureen Street.

Green Technology currently holds two advanced-stage lithium deposits in northwestern Ontario.

Their Seymour Project is near Armstrong at the top end of Lake Nipigon and the Root Project is northeast of Sioux Lookout.

Green Tech has partnered with EcoPro Innovation, a South Korean-based battery company, to help with the development.

A one-tonne bulk sample from the Seymour Project has been sent to EcoPro’s Pohand facility in South Korea for testing.

If everything plays out positively, a decision on whether to proceed should occur by 2026, with construction starting by late 2028 or early 2029.

Daily Poll

Support the creation of a refinery?

Fridya’s poll was another near-unanimous decision! 98% of you said you planned to vote in the provincial election. And the general consensus from the comments was, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain!

Today’s question:

Community

African Festival Coming to Tbay

Planning is underway for a new festival in Thunder Bay that celebrates African culture.

The Afro Vibe Festival will take place July 12 and 13.

It will see a parade starting at Waverley Park and heading down to the marina, led by horses clothed in traditional African regalia, majorettes (pom pom girls), and people wearing palm tree fibres.

Once at the waterfront, people can enjoy activities for children and adults, with over 200 vendors planned, along with live musical performances.

The festival is the brainchild of Liliane Breiland, who is originally from Cameroon.

I love how diverse Thunder Bay is becoming!

Police

Scammers Targetting Grandparents

Thunder Bay Police have issued a notice after they received a report that a fraudster attempted to convince a senior citizen that a member of their family had been in an accident.

Thankfully the resident didn’t fall for it, and cancelled their credit cards and alerted their bank before any money was taken.

While mostly targetting older residents, the approach can be tried on anyone and police are warning people to be aware of:

• people claiming to be law enforcement officials

• using threats to convince people to take out money

• claiming there is a gag order preventing anyone from speaking about it

• arranging for the funds to be picked up in person

• claiming the money is required immediately

Transportation

Parking Being Reviewed, Again

Democracy in action can be seen in the latest parking drama!

Residents presented a 240-signature petition to Red River Councillor Michael Zussino asking for the city to look at parking on Sunrise Boulevard.

The area of concern is on the south side of the street when you immediately turn off Golf Links.

There are eight parking spots there which residents claim are causing a bottleneck and making it difficult for residents to get in and out of the River Terrace subdivision.

It’s a well-known secret that people park there because of its proximity to the hospital, allowing them to avoid the monthly parking fees charged to park on the premises.

Zussino is going to attempt to get the city council to look at it.

Politics

Liberal Leader Promises More Family Docs

The Ontario Liberal party leader, Bonnie Crombie, kicked off her campaign in Thunder Bay this past week and made a bold promise.

She wants to see everyone in the province have a family doctor within four years.

According to Crombie, 28,000 people in the Thunder Bay area do not have access to a family doctor.

To help encourage growth in family medicine in the north, Crombie is also promising free medical school for students who commit to working in the north.

It takes six years from the start of med school to the completion of residency to become a family doctor. So further explanation on how a significant increase of family doctors is going to occur is needed.

But despite these being lofty promises, I doubt you’ll find anyone arguing about the need.

Indigenous News

Focus on Fire Safety

Fire safety remains a significant concern in most northwestern Ontario First Nations communities.

As part of the First Nations Housing Conference on Tuesday, the president of the Staying Alive Fire Safety Program, Shane Ferguson, spoke of the challenges.

According to Ferguson, upwards of 90% of the communities he has visited don’t have a fire department and the same percentage of homes don’t have a working smoke detector.

Communities without a fire department are mostly fly-in and/or ice-road access only. And while some do have a fire truck, they don’t have a fire station to store the truck and lack funding for ongoing training.

While the challenges are significant, education is a good starting point.

To that end, Ferguson is working with the Assembly of First Nations to make an Indigenous fire safety app that will go to all 634 communities across Canada.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Paint Party Fundraiser
Painting fundraiser for Mario’s Bowl Masters & Youth Bowling Leagues
Moose Hall
Feb 10 @ 6pm-9pm
$40 (register here)

Thunder Bay Swing Dancing Society
Free swing dancing lessons
CD Howe Public School
Feb 10 @ 7pm
$ FREE

Steven Lee Olsen - Country Night in Canada Tour
Live musical performance
NV Music Hall
Feb 11 @7pm
$30

Name That Tune
Live musical trivia, beer & cocktails
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Feb 12 @7pm
$ FREE

Young Frankenstein
Live theatre
Paramount Theatre
Feb 12-15 @ 7:30pm
$28

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar
Live music
Shooter’s Tavern
Feb 12 @ 8pm
$ FREE

‘Sincerely, Me’ Cabaret with Cambrian Players
Live music, comedy
The Foundry
Feb 12 @ 7:30pm
$15

Fiona O’Brien Comedy Tour
Live comedy
The Foundry
Feb 13 @ 8pm
$25-$30

Brayden King with Throwback
Live musical performance
The Outpost
Feb 13 @ 9pm-11pm
$25

Karaoke
Live music
Feb 13

• Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5

• Howl at the Moon (Sober Karaoke)

• Norteños Cantina

• Polis Combatant’s Association - Branch 1

• The Waterhouse

• The Alley

4Play
Valentine’s date night
The Barrel House
Feb 14 @ 6pm-8pm
$49 (for 2 people)

TBSO Candlelight - Will You Be My Valentine?
Live musical performance
Urban Abbey
Feb 14 @ 7:30pm
$75

Misfits Matchmaking: Valentine’s Single Social
Singles come to mingle for Valentine’s
Goods & Co.
Feb 14 @ 7:30pm-10pm
$10

Disco of Love Retro Valentine’s Party
Live music and dancing (disco, funk, 80s)
The Foundry
Feb 14 @10pm
$5

NV Valentine’s Party
Live music and dancing
NV Music Hall
Feb 14 @ 10pm
$5-$10

The JB Band
Live music
Fort William Curling Club
Feb 14 @ 10pm
$ FREE

Karaoke
Live music
Feb 14

• The Hodder

• The Social

• The Bar

• The Waterhouse

Family Day Weekend Dance (All Ages)
Live music and dancing
South Gillies Community Centre
Feb 15 @ 6pm-9pm
$5-$10

Snowed In Comedy Tour 2025
Live comedy show
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Feb 15 @ 7:30pm
$50

Consortium Aurora Borealis - Hungarian Strings
Live musical performance (stringed instruments)
St. Paul’s United Church
Feb 15 @ 7:30pm
$15-$25

Karaoke
Live music
Feb 8

• Westfort Prosvita

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• The Hodder

• Norteños Taqueria

• The Social

• The Bar

Musical Open House
Free musical performance for the community
Unitarian Place
Feb 16 @ 4pm-6pm
$ FREE

Home of the Day

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4 bedroom
1 bathroom
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