Business

Accounting Firms, Assemble!

Some exciting bean-counter news!

MNP (a national accounting, tax, and business consulting firm), is taking over some of BDO Canada’s offices (also big accounting, tax, and business consulting firm).

All told MNP will be taking over 21 BDO offices located in Ontario, BC, Alberta and PEI.

Here in our neck of the woods, the acquisition will include the offices in Thunder Bay, Dryden, Fort Frances and Kenora.

MNP is a Canadian company that was started in 1958.

The deal takes effect Dec. 31.

Daily Poll

Working or Lucky…?

You guys are turkey crazy! 79% of you said the bird was on the menu for Christmas Day! (but ham was popular in the comments as well)

Today’s question: are you lucky enough to have today off, or did you have to go in to work?

Charity

Record Year for Toys for Tots

This year’s Toys for Tots campaigned raised a record-setting $180,419.

The Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association handed over the cheque, which was $4,000 more than last year, to the Christmas Cheer Fund on Monday.

There were some incredible single donor amounts:

• $48,000 donated by Tim Hortons

• $7,500 from St. Patrick’s High School’s Grade 12 drama students who donated tickets sales from their production of Rudolph

• $9,200 from the Firefighter Serving Day at Boston Pizza

The money raised this year will go towards supporting next year’s Christmas Cheer Fund and the purchase of toys which will be included in its holiday hampers program.

The generosity shown by Thunder Bay, especially during these expensive days, is amazing.

And congrats to the firefighters for continuing to win the emergency services PR battle!

City News

Waiting on Whalen Tug Estimates

The city has posted a request for bids from marine salvage and recycling firms to figure out what the heck to do with the poor Whalen Tug boat.

The boat, which is 119 years old, sank in the Kam River in 2022. It was lifted and stored on the banks near where it sank, and has been sitting there ever since.

Saving the tug from its watery grave cost the city $800,000 and it could cost up to $400,000 more to dismantle the tug.

Due to its age and history, there are a number of components of the boat that are iconic and would be displayed for historical significance.

The bidding process closes next month and the dismantling and removal of the tug is expected to be completed by the end of May 2025

Community

The Library Changes Its Programming

The Thunder Bay Public Library has announced changes to its winter programming and hours.

The TBPL will extend its hours and introduce new Sunday events.

The aim is to make it more convenient for residents to take advance of its free programming and resources (legit the library doesn’t get enough credit for the free things it provides to the community!)

New and updated events and activities include:

• Children’s story time and play days

• Crafting and creative programs

• Teen programs

• Adult programs

Click the button below for far more detail on all the events and programming the library has on offer this winter season.

More Charity

Salvation Army Beats Its Target

Man, Thunder Bay was feeling generous this holiday season!

the Salvation Army announced the results of it’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, and they beat their target of $300,000.

As of Christmas Even, the program has collected $327,615.

Money raised goes towards:

• Mobile meal program which feeds between 50-240 people a night

• Salvation Army’s food hamper program which provides nearly 400 hampers a month

• School nutrition program that feeds about 135 students a day

• And many more…

If you still want to make a donation, you can click the button below (and if you do it before Dec. 31 you’ll get a tax receipt).

Thunder Bay, no jokes here, this is just wonderful news. Thank you for your generosity!

First Nations News

Court Challenge to Nuclear Waste Site

Eagle Lake First Nation has filed an application in Federal Court seeing a judicial review of the Nuclear Waste Management Organizations decision to put nuclear waster in the Township of Ignace.

The location is also part of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway National area.

But the issue isn’t that the waste is going to be put there, it’s that it isn’t going to be put in Eagle Lake First Nation.

They are arguing they were unjustifiably rejected as a host community and were denied their own right to consent to the project, claiming that occurred because members of the First Nation had raised concerns about the nuclear waste.

Click below for more details.

Things to do This Week

Events In and Around the City

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays
Live music
Delta Hotels
December 27 @ 6pm
$ FREE

Frankie T Band
Live music
Polish Combatants Association - Branch 1
December 27 @ 8pm
$10

The Derivatives
Live music
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5
December 27 @ 8pm
$10

TA Presents A Festivus Miracle
Live music
Norteños Cantina
December 27 @ 9pm
$15

Ho Ho Holiday Hootenanny fr The Rodney Brown Band
Live music
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 5
December 28 @ pm
$20-$25

24th Annual Wax’s + Mixtape
Live music
The Foundry
December 28 @ 10pm
$5

Home of the Day

65 Strathcona Ave.

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

2+2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1,220 sq ft

$399,000

Current River bungalow, finished basement, concrete driveway, garage, backs onto forest.