News

The Loppet is Hopeful

Sunday’s snowfall gave a much needed shot in the arm for this years rendition of the Sleeping Giant Loppet.

With the event having been cancelled last year due to no snow, organizers were getting ready to potentially make another painful decision this year.

The event (which is, for those who may not be familiar, a cross-country ski race - also Loppet isn’t a word you hear often…) takes place out on the Sleeping Giant.

The trails are fantastic skiing, however, because they aren’t groomed and cared for in the offseason such as Kamview or Lappe, they require more snow to offset the natural growth and terrain.

To the tune of 30cm minimum. Which is what they had in December, before the rain.

With Mother Nature’s latest gift this weekend, it looks like the Loppet won’t have to cancel for the third time in its history (the other was 2021 when the pandemic gave the middle finger to everything).

Looks like we can be cautiously optimistic that digging out our cowbells to cheer everyone on isn’t a waste of time this year!

Daily Poll

Boulevard Plants

The indoor turf facility poll got some very heated answers! Turns out 61% are NOT in favour of it being built, and you were not shy in letting me know exactly how you felt! 🤣

Today’s question, which features in a story further down this email so keep scrolling and reading (!!), is:

Business

Government Supports PARO

The province of Ontario is going to invest $1.24 million over three years to help support the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprises PAROBiz Program.

That’s a mouthful, let me explain.

PARO is Latin for “I am ready”.

The PARO Centre, a non-profit organization, was formed 30 years ago in Thunder Bay with the goal of supporting women across the province in all stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

The PAROBiz Program was started four years ago and is designed to support low-income women in starting and growing their businesses.

Specifically it is part of the government’s goal of helping increase economic opportunities for women, and offers training in skilled trades, entrepreneurship, IT, and general employment readiness.

Police

Bar Closed? No Worries For This Person

Norteńos Taqueria had an unwelcome visitor on the weekend.

At 7am, the restaurant was broken into via a window being smashed.

The goal of the would-be thief?

Pour himself a drink.

Security camera footage found that other than breaking a window, the only other thing the individual did was have a drink at the bar.

All kidding aside it did lead to damages and a short period of being closed for Norteńos to get the window fixed and back up and running.

The suspect is still at large.

News

Ice Racing 2025 Kicks Off

If freezing your face off watching small cars race around a track on frozen Lake Superior is your jam, do I have good news for you!

The 2025 Ice Racing season kicked off this past weekend.

The racing took place at Mission Bay and featured six races.

The races are split between studded tires and rubber-to-ice clad vehicles.

The series is run by the Thunder Bay Auto Sports Club, which has been around for 50 years.

Like many winter-based things last year, the ice racing season didn’t materialize in 2024. The ice never got thick enough.

So head down and take a look before the fickle weather kicks in again.

Municipal

Boulevard Gardens

Get your gloves and trowels out, the city is going to let you garden on your boulevard!

On Monday council agreed to send a boulevard garden and maintenance by-law to themselves for ratification.

The new rules include:

• Planting of shrubs up to 1 meter are allowed

• No thorns or other nasties that could hurt passerby’s

• Shrubs can not be grown within 1.6M of another shrub, set-back areas, or in garden boxes

• Herbaceous plants have a height limit of 1.6 meters

• Plant supports within garden boxes are allowed, same with tomato cages

• Supports can not be in set-back areas and must be removed for winter

• Synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides and fertilizers are banned

Council plans on ratifying by the end of February, which should give you oh, about four months to think through how you want to junglefy your boulevard!

Indigenous News

Gaganoonidiwag Exhibits Makes Stop

The Gaganoonidiwag: They Talk to Each Other exhibition stopped in Thunder Bay this past weekend.

The exhibition merges historical facts with narratives and follows the story of Toronto-based artists’, Joel Richardson and Kyle Miigizi, time-travelling alter egos.

The exhibit shows what it is like for the artists to grapple with what it means to reconcile.

The exhibit includes videos, animation, wheat paste murals on the walls and collaborative two-dimensional art pieces.

Johnston is traditionally from the Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation. Richardson grew up on Johnston’s family’s traditional lands, but he is a descendant of United Empire Loyalists.

The exhibit will be in town until the middle of April.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Beetle Juice Jr.
Theatre
Paramount Theatre
Jan 14 - 18
$20

Name That Tune
Trivia
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Jan 15 @7pm - 9pm
$ Free

Live Music from the Faculty of Music
Live musical performance
The Outpost
Jan 15 @ 8:30pm
$ Free

Kickin’ It Country with Lady T
Learn to dance
The Outpost
Jan 16 @ 6pm
$5

Daniel Tirado Comedy Tour (2 Nights)
Live comedy
The Foundry
Jan 16, 18 @ 8pm
$25 - $30

Introduction to Homeopathy
Information session
Waverley Resource Library
Jan 16 @ 6:30pm
$ Free

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 16

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• Norteños Cantina

• Polish Combatants’ Association - Branch 1

• The Waterhouse

• The Alley

30+ Friday Nights
Dance club
Armani’s Night Club
Jan 17 @ 9pm
$ TBA

Country Night ft Throwback!
Dance club & live music
The Outpost
Jan 17 @ 9pm
$5

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 17

• The Social

• The Bar

• The Waterhouse

Story Time with Tbay Drag Queens + Crafting with Queens
Live event
Mary J.L. Black Community Hub
Jan 18 @ 2:30pm - 4pm
$ Free

TBSO Specials - Live Concert Recording
Live musical performance
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Jan 18 @ 7:30pm
$25 - $50

Karaoke
Live music
Jan 18

• Howl at the Moon (sober karaoke)

• The Hodder

• Norteños Taqueria

• The Social

• The Bar

• The Westfort Prosvita

Home of the Day

450 Vickers St N.

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

4+1 bedrooms
3+1 bathrooms
1,667sq ft

$375,000

Nicely done investment property. Currently rented generating income!