News

Good Year For House Building

If building houses is your jam, then this was a good year for you.

We’ve still got a month to go and Thunder Bay has already surpassed it’s housing starts target for 2024.

In fact, we actually blew past the target by the end of October. As of October 31, Thunder Bay had 241 shovel-ready (whatever that means…) housing starts. That’s 132% of the target for 2024.

That’s important for a number of reasons (hard to grow if you can’t put people anywhere), but the city is especially giddy because it now ensures they qualify for the Building Faster Fund grant money.

For Thunder Bay that means approximately $1 million in 2025 courtesy the Ford government.

All these homes going up must explain why we can’t seem to get a concrete guy to come to our house 😜

Daily Poll

Die Hard

You guys seem to be an opinionated bunch (I love it), and I got good engagement from the nuclear fuel poll, so I thought, why not make a regular poll section?

Just questions I’m curious about what Thunder Bay’ers think. Some serious (like this one), and some just for fun!

So without further adieu….

Christmas

The Holiday Train Is Coming

I suspect few would refer to trains as ‘pretty’, except for this one time of the year!

The annual Holiday Train is going to be powering it’s way through Thunder Bay again this holiday season.

The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train (man that’s a mouthful after that merger…) has a scheduled Thunder Bay stop on December 2.

If multi-coloured lit trains are your thing, you can head to the CPKC train depot at 440 Syndicate Ave for 8:45pm on the 2nd.

The event is free, although it is HIGHLY recommend (by me, I highly recommend it) that you bring a non-perishable food item (or 5) to donate (cash donations are also accepted).

And lastly, there will be a 30 minute live music performance.

Crime

OPP Busting Up Drug Networks

Last week the OPP executed a warrant that led to the arrest of two people and seizure of $1 million worth of drugs.

All this excitement took place in Kenora.

Police seized fentanyl, crystal meth, cocaine, crack cocaine, and one rifle.

Two suspects, both from out of province, were arrested and charged with seven offenses and remanded into custody until their court date in Kenora.

Excellent work. Keep it up.

Healthcare

Minimum Staffing Drill a Success

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre successfully completed another annual minimum staffing drill.

The drill was conducted in conjunction with the Thunder Bay Fire Service, and is a mandated annual exercise.

Although it’s a hospital-wide drill, there is usually a department of focus. This year the lucky winners of the stress test was Pediatrics.

And remember, the goal here is to do it with a minimum number of employees.

A fire alarm was set-off (predetermined) in a patient room and fake smoke was pumped in for realism, which prompted a hospital-wide Code Red (fire, obviously), response.

The drill scenario escalated to a Code Green (get the hell out). Designated responders from the hospital arrived to respond to the Code, all while the TBFS monitored and graded.

The hospital was deemed successful in responding. This is the 10th year in a row they’ve received a passing grade.

(No babies were harmed in the making of this drill - in fact, they used little dolls only).

Homeless

Temporary Shelter Location Grinds to a Halt

Quick update on this issue:

City Council voted the other night not to approve the Miles St location for the temporary homeless shelter location.

Councillors were concerned about costs, the ability to handle the volume, impact to businesses in the area, impact to property values in the area, and the fact that the recommendation came off a relatively low number of respondents to a survey, with the majority voting YES for that location, living nowhere near it.

The issue has been sent back to Administration to come up with another solution.

First Nations News

Waasigan Transmission Line Starts

The $1.2 billion hydro electric transmission project officially broke ground the other day in Shuniah.

Waasigan is going to be built in two phases and provide 350 megawatts of electricity to areas west of Thunder Bay.

The first phase will be a double circuit, 230-kilovolt line, between Shuniah and Atikokan. It should be in service by the end of 2025.

The second phase, which should be completed two years later, is a single circuit, 230-kilovolt line, between Atikokan and Dryden.

Under the arrangement, First Nations, including Fort William First Nations, have an agreement in place to invest a 50% equity stake in the transmission line component of the project.

Even though ground is being broken, and construction starting, there are a number of land/home owners that are being impacted by this project, that have not yet reached an agreement with Hydro One.

Hydro One doesn’t seem fazed by that. 🫤

Get Your Christmas On 🎄

Get Ready for the Fatman Coming Down the Chimney!

Willow Springs Holiday Market - Nov. 29, 29, 30

Elf the Musical Begins - Magnus Theatre - Nov. 28

Christmas Bazaar - I.R. Churchill - Nov. 28

Wrap-Up Holiday Market - CLE Coliseum - Nov. 30

Vanderwees Salute to Christmas Craft Fair - Nov. 30, Dec. 1

Indigenous Artist Market - Goods & Co. - Nov. 30

30+ Pop-Up Vendors - Goods & Co. - Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22

Santa Visiting & Photos - Vanderweese - Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22

Pet Pics With Santa - Intercity Shopping Centre - Dec. 7, 14; 4pm-6pm
* proceeds to local rescues

Santa Photos - Intercity Shopping Centre - Nov 16-Dec 24
Monday - Friday in November 3pm-7pm
Monday - Friday in December 11am - 7pm
Saturday - 10am - 6pm
Sunday - 11am - 5pm
Dec. 23 - 10am - 8pm
Dec. 24 - 10am - 2pm (he’s gotta get back to the North Pole!)

Breakfast With Santa - Thunder Bay Country Market - Dec. 14; 8am - 10am

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Of Marriage Minded Misses
Cambrian Players
November 27-30 - 7:30pm
$25-$30

Something Rotten Jr
Paramount Theatre
November 28-30 - 7pm
$15

From the Steppes of Ukraine to the Emerald Isle
Urban Abbey
November 29 - 7pm
$ By Donation - Fundraiser for Ukraine

TBSO Masterworks - Symphonic Spotlight
Community Auditorium
November 29 - 7:30pm
$25-$50

Crossroads Music Battle of the Bands
Nortenos Cantina
November 29-30 - 10pm
$ Free

Thunder Bay Historical Film Festival
Community Auditorium
December 1 - 7pm
$ Free

LAKEHEAD ATHLETICS:

Women’s Basketball vs Wilfrid Laurier - Nov. 29 - 6pm
Women’s Basketball vs Carlton - Nov. 30 - 6pm

Men’s Basketball vs Wilfrid Laurier - Nov. 29 - 8pm
Men’s Basketball vs Carleton - Nov. 30 - 8pm
Tickets

Home of the Day

282 Mount Baldy Rd.

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

3 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
2,197 sq ft

$719,900

Bungalow, nicely redone, sauna, close to skiing, great country looking home!