News

Thunder Bay Chill is Taking a Year Off

The Thunder Bay Chill, our major soccer team, is taking the year off from from the 2025 season in the US League Two.

The decision was not made lightly, but in the interest of long-term viability, it was determined to be the right choice.

The Chill were the last Canadian team to play in that particular US-based division. The primary reason cited for the decision are the operating costs (food, transportation, and accommodation) paid for with a weaker Canadian dollar.

The Chill still aim to participate in certain Cup competitions this summer, to keep the players active and engaged.

And in the mean time, the Deep North Division, which the Chill has won the last two seasons, is being revamped with the goal of starting up anew in 2026.

I’ve actually never seen a game live before - I guess I’m not starting this year either!

Daily Poll

Trudeau is Going!

Resolutions for NYE are not a thing with Thunder Bay Digest readers: 50% of you said you are disciplined enough without resolutions; 29% of you said resolutions are stupid; and only 21% of you said you made them this year.

Today’s question is:

News

Ice Breaker to Save the Day

Can’t stop, won’t stop seems to the motto of the Thunder Bay Port this year!

The Soo locks, located in Sault Ste. Marie (duh), will shut down for the season on January 15.

Until that time, the Thunder Bay Port is going to keep cranking.

However, Mother Nature isn’t playing super nice these days.

Originally it was thought operations could continue normally but we’ve had this cold snap the last week or so that has turned the harbour into a skating rink.

Enter the icebreaker Samuel Risley!

The Destroyer of Ice showed up on January 1st, and will be sticking around until the end of the season.

It’s pretty cool watching and listening to ice being broken. Try heading down to the waterfront if you can.

In the mean time, keep milking the shipping lanes for all they are worth, Port Authority!

Police

Obstruction Case

The case surrounding obstruction and breach of trust against the former chief and in-house lawyer of the Thunder Bay Police Service continues to make its way through the courts.

To remind everyone: Sylvie Hauth and Holly Walbourne were charged in April of last year at the conclusion of an investigation that started in 2021 by the OPP.

Hauth was charged with one count of obstructing a public or peace officer, one count of breach of trust, and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Walbourne was charged with obstructing a public or peace officer, breach of trust, and three counts of obstruction of justice.

The charges stem from allegations that the duo made false or misleading statements to a variety of police-related services and organizations.

Not a great look for a former police chief, admittedly…

The judicial pretrial is set for January 31 and is set to return to court on February 3.

This is one of two situations in court regarding a former police chief.

Also not a great look for our city unfortunately.

Forestry

Carbon Removal Project in NWO

American company, Wagner Forest Management, owns approximately 480,000 acres of forest between the Dog Lake, Graham and Siox Lookout areas and are looking to sell that off to be used for a carbon offset initiative.

Wagner bought the blocks of forest from Abitibi in a bidding process back in 2005.

The areas are being sold as an investment in the Voluntary Carbon Market, which give companies carbon removal credits.

The tracts of land in question could generate millions of credits.

But hold the phone. This isn’t just a set-it-and-forget-it situation.

Just owning the land doesn’t qualify you for carbon credits.

The purchasing company actually has to further invest in the property. They have to undertake actions that will lead to a rate of carbon sequestering that would be higher than what would happen under normal conditions.

Healthier forests are good for everyone! Let’s see what happens here.

Public Safety

2024 Holiday Season RIDE Program Done

Thunder Bay Police have wrapped up the 2024 holiday season RIDE program and released the stats.

Insert head shake.

We need to do better Thunder Bay.

27 people in total were arrested during the campaign which ran from November 30 until New Year’s Eve.

16 were for drunk driving; 8 were for impaired by drugs; 3 were for refusing to do a breathalyzer.

Also alarming were the number of younger drivers arrested.

On New Year’s Eve two of those arrested were young G2 licensed drivers.

Do better.

Indigenous News

A Year Later and Still No Answers

Jenna Ostberg, of Bearskin Lake First Nation, but who was in Thunder Bay, died on December 30, 2023, after three calls to 911.

The SIU has been investigating since that time but has still not released the results of their findings.

The SIU is an independent government organization that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

The SIU aims to complete its investigations in 120 days and hits this mark about 89% of the time.

I’d say they’re well wide of that here.

Unfortunately, the Thunder Bay police are unable to comment or provide any information themselves until the SIU completes it’s investigation.

The family has lodged a complaint and will be getting a visit from the inspector general of policing later this month.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Name That Tune
Live trivia
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Jan 8 @ 7pm-9pm
$ Free

Weekly Trivia
Live trivia
The Foundry
Jan 8 @ 7:30pm
$ FREE

Applauze Productions Presents: Annie Jr.
Musical
Trinity Hall Theatre
Jan 9-12 @ 7pm
$15-$20

Open Mic / Karaoke Night
Live music
Jan. 9

• Lakehead Beer Co.

• Royal Canadian Legion

• Howl at the Moon

• Norteños Cantina

• Polis Combatants’ Association Brance 1

• The Waterhouse

• The Alley

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays ft. Mood Indigo
Live music
Anchor & Ore (Delta)
Jan 10 @ 6pm
$ Free

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 10

• The Social

• The Bar

• The Waterhouse

Malanka 2025
Ukrainian New Year’s Eve
Royal Canadian Slovak Legion
Jan. 11 @ 6pm
$85

CWE Live: Rage in the Cage Tour
Live wrestling
Moose Hall
Jan 11 @ 6pm
$25-$30

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 11

• Westfort Prosvita

• Howl at the Moon

• The Hodder

• Norteños Taqueria

• The Social

• The Bar

Home of the Day

339 Ruby Cres.

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

3+1 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
1,419 sq ft

$709,000

4 bedroom bi-level with 2 car heated garage!