Sign In Register TORONTO — The wall of honour at the Ontario Police Memorial outside Queen's Park now contains the names of two officers from Northwestern Ontario critically injured on the job over 80 years apart The late Thunder Bay Police Constable Craig Town, and Rainy River Police Constable Wilford Fairles – who died well over a century ago – were added to the memorial in a ceremony on Sunday attended by officers from across Canada and beyond Fairles was working as a Special Constable during a forest fire emergency in the Rainy River area when he was attacked by unknown assailants who shot and severely beat him before leaving him in a ditch.  Town sustained life-altering injuries from a gunshot wound that left him a quadriplegic after a prisoner grabbed his gun and shot him at Thunder Bay Police headquarters He overcame long odds and lived until 2023 "It was a miracle that he ever survived," his widow, Jillian Town, said in an interview posted online by the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation She recalled that when her husband started his policing career and that in his eyes "he'd really fulfilled his destiny."  that career ended in an instant, but his fellow officers and the people of Thunder Bay came together to support him and his family "They built us a wheelchair-friendly house with lots of volunteer hours and just so much support from the community and Craig was able to come home" from the hospital, Jillian Town said.  In an interview with Newswatch in 2013 Town said he felt no ill will toward the man responsible for his becoming a quadriplegic but after talking to my wife and discussing the whole situation. I realized hating him wasn't hurting anybody but me .. I sincerely hope he gets his life straightened out." His wife recalled that "He became an even better person .. He changed that dedication he had to working on being strong and jogging to work every day and applied it to building his soul and his spirit He even prayed for the man that shot him." Thunder Bay Police Service officer Colin Woods is chair of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation. "Every single name on that wall is important," he said have put the uniform on to serve the public and they've given that ultimate sacrifice We're honouring the families behind those people too." Premier Doug Ford was among the dignitaries who attended Sunday's memorial service It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem Northern OntarioNewsDriver charged after tractor-trailer hits Thunder Bay overpassBy Dan BertrandPublished: May 04, 2025 at 3:17PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved The Thunder Bay Border Cats are gearing up for the 2025 Northwoods League campaign and the claws are out as the club officially reveals its first wave of player signings ahead of Opening Day a strong mix of returnees and fresh talent makes this a roster to watch Ty Hamilton – A familiar name with a familiar swing the 6’3” lefty outfielder from Ottawa is back after a solid 2024 season that saw him swipe 14 bases and notch a .429 on-base percentage Son of Canadian Junior National Team coach Greg Hamilton and plate discipline to the top of the order Parker Burgess – The towering 6’4” right-hander from Douro-Dummer After a limited but electric 2024 stint (14 strikeouts in just 7 innings) Burgess is expected to bring heat out of the pen or the rotation Griffin Catto – A borderline Border Cat legend With a 5-2 career record and 30 Ks in 41.1 innings the veteran from Southern Illinois University brings leadership and late-inning reliability Greg LaChance – The slick-fielding infielder from Whitby is back in the middle of the diamond LaChance swiped 17 bags and is known for his hustle and glove and he’s got NHL ties—his brother-in-law is none other than Mitch Marner of the Maple Leafs Trey Fikes – One of the top defensive backstops in the league The Missouri native hit .295 and was a steady hand calling games for the Cats’ pitching staff in 2024 The Cats return to Port Arthur Stadium on Wednesday when they welcome the Rochester Honkers for the 2025 home opener and the Cats are calling on all of Thunder Bay to pack the park 🎟 Tickets go on sale May 5 at the stadium box office (Weekdays Want a front-row seat to the summer’s action Become a Border Cats host family and support these future pros 📞 Call (807) 766-CATS📧 Email: bordercatshostfamily@gmail.com and the Border Cats are locked in for a huge 2025 Don’t miss a pitch this summer on NetNewsLedger Sports THUNDER BAY — Natalie Paavola is collaborating with T-Compound owner Ben Thompson to hold the Battle of the Nations Strong Event on National Indigenous Peoples Day at Marina Park in Thunder Bay on June 21 “I wanted to provide an event for Indigenous athletes from all levels of beginners to experienced to have a chance to check out a strong event or a powerlifting event that is created for them so they felt welcomed and safe,” says Paavola “I chose the day of National Indigenous Peoples Day to help celebrate ourselves celebrate Indigenous athletes and also to promote this sport.” Paavola says the event has four categories The registration fees are $50 each for bench press and trap bar deadlift or $80 for both “It’s a sport that anyone can do and it’s open to all levels and all ages and it’s not a sport that requires a lot of equipment or it doesn’t require for the most part a facility,” Paavola says “You can start training for this type of sport in your home A lot of First Nations don’t have a lot of facilities and this is something that you can do with the land Paavola says she was introduced to the sport a couple of years ago when two strong athletes “I was introduced to the strongman sport there and then you meet different athletes within the community,” Paavola says so I met him through the strong community and have actually trained with him a little bit.” Paavola says Thompson holds about two powerlifting events a year in Thunder Bay that are open to everyone we wanted to try something very specific for the Indigenous community,” Paavola says I hope it builds their confidence to go out to try other events within the community and outside the community because these events are held across Canada and even into the States I hope we inspire people to pursue this sport.” Paavola says there has been a lot of interest in the event with about 12 or 13 registered participants so far but they haven’t actually registered,” Paavola says “So we need to get the word out where people are registering.” Paavola says anyone who is interested in participating in the event should be training for it and know how to do a trap bar deadlift and how to do bench pressing “We wouldn’t want someone just to come in that day and try it because they might hurt themselves,” Paavola says Paavola says interested people could reach out to her or Thompson to direct them for training There’s different techniques and different strategies that you pick up and learn along the way Paavola says she started lifting heavier weights when she was attending Belliveau and Boudreault’s gym I’m not lifting as heavy as I used to but I have dabbled in it,” Paavola says you feel really good when you get a personal best Sign in Join now, it's FREE! After working in the service department at Balmoral Park Acura in Thunder Bay Crystal Campbell-Frost already feels like it could be her forever home “I’m trying to find that place where I can stay 20 I’m hoping this is it,” Campbell-Frost said “They’re going above and beyond to make me feel comfortable here I can’t say enough good things about them.” Campbell-Frost has worked in the industry for about 12 years taking on various positions in Thunder Bay She likes the emphasis Acura puts on training for its automotive technicians — something she values highly herself “With the changes in the industry right now it’s easy to fall behind,” she said and especially so now with the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) Arriving at Acura wasn’t the easiest of roads Campbell-Frost said she felt behind from the start “A lot of people who go into the trade usually grow up with it,” Campbell-Frost said “They had a dad who brought them into the garage at a young age so I was catching up and learning new content.” Being a woman in a traditionally male field didn’t make the road any easier Although she personally worked with some great people Campbell-Frost said that she has heard of some places that didn’t quite know how to adapt to a woman in the service centre “I think things have been changing since I’ve been in the trade,” Campbell-Frost said “Some shops are excited for me when I walk in.” she’s come across some uncomfortable situations and some old-school thinking Campbell-Frost said that was true of customers telling the service manager that they didn’t want a woman working on their cars would she still choose a career in automotive “It gets a lot easier once you have your ticket (Red Seal certification) “It’s a hard field to get into regardless if you’re a woman.” Campbell-Frost encourages other women to consider a career in automotive “We need more women in the trade,” she said Having a woman who has a different perspective Campbell-Frost’s love of cars grew from a different part of the automotive industry: car shows “I had been going to car shows from as early as I can remember begging my parents to take me to see those cool automotive never occurred to her as a career because all she saw were “big there was an expectation for her to go into science at university My dad’s wife — the kindest lady in the world — suggested I take automotive.” Campbell-Frost enrolled in Confederation College’s one-year Motive Power Techniques – Automotive program and many shops didn’t offer the experience Campbell-Frost was looking for Seniority within each workplace also dictates when you can start apprenticing She worked for one of her profs for a year while waiting for an apprenticeship opportunity Even when you get into your first year of apprenticeship you still need to apply for each of the other two years so it’s important to get (your application) in as quickly as possible each year.” Magazines and organizations have given Campbell-Frost recognition for her achievements in automotive “I’ve had people say that their granddaughter wants to go into it ‘Oh cool — she’s licensed.’ “I wish I would have seen at least one (woman) I never saw a single female when I was going into the field Now that Campbell-Frost has become the role model she never had Thunder Bay – NEWS – This weekend Thunder Bay proudly hosted the 2025 Toastmasters District 106 Annual Conference at the Delta Hotels by Marriott marking a significant milestone as the city welcomed this prestigious event for the first time Toastmasters from across Northwestern Ontario and Wisconsin convened to engage in a dynamic blend of education The conference’s highlight was the keynote address by Lance Miller the 2005 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking Miller captivated attendees with tales of his adventurous life from climbing 14,000-foot peaks to sailing across the Atlantic weaving these experiences into lessons on leadership and effective communication emphasizing the power of storytelling in connecting with audiences including the Tall Tales Contest and the International Speech Contest Participants delivered imaginative and impactful speeches demonstrating the skills honed through Toastmasters’ programs These contests not only entertained but also highlighted the organization’s commitment to fostering public speaking excellence attendees participated in interactive workshops covering topics like effective communication strategies These sessions provided valuable insights and practical tools for both personal and professional advancement Networking events allowed members to connect and build lasting relationships within the Toastmasters community A significant moment of the conference was the presentation of the District Communication and Leadership Award to a distinguished local leader recognizing their outstanding contributions to the community and exemplary communication skills This honor underscored the impact of effective leadership in driving positive change attendees departed with renewed enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge to apply in their respective clubs and communities The success of the event in Thunder Bay not only showcased the city’s hospitality but also reinforced Toastmasters’ mission to empower individuals through communication and leadership development For more information on upcoming Toastmasters events and how to get involved, visit Toastmasters District 106 THUNDER BAY — The Spring 2025 Craft Revival returned at 19 venues in downtown Thunder Bay on Sunday The event brought together the community to participate in pop-up markets throughout the Waterfront District involving live painting Jaclynn Benvenuto was one of many vendors in the Mariner’s Hall and ran a stall for North and Little Lovables She said her goal is to make fun and functional accessories for everybody “What I have set up today is mostly key wristlets I use food-grade silicone beads and wooden beads I'd say the best seller by far is the key wristlets so kind of organize your keys in style,” said Benvenuto Benvenuto has been running a stall for her business for about four to five years “I think I've done four Craft Revivals I think today… it'll be a good day,” said Benvenuto Benvenuto said she has already had several early shoppers message about her location to come and buy products because they know they “got to get there to get the best selection.” She said she always looks forward to the exposure meeting new people and customers and talking to the people of Thunder Bay “Everybody in Thunder Bay loves supporting local There are so many new faces that come out,” said Benvenuto "I like seeing all my past customers that come specifically to buy the new products that I've just released it's always fun seeing new (and) past customers." Benvenuto said she loves doing craft markets I'm actually one of the organizers of Sip n' Shop the big markets are always fun to do and I'm always looking at expanding into stores "I'm in a lot of stores out west… like in the Okanagan area Nancy Coulter also ran a stall for the first time in the building, showcasing products she produces under the business name McKenzie Art so I'm getting more followers there and I sell in a couple of stores but I just thought Craft Revival would be just a fun thing to kind of get involved with,” said Coulter “I think it's a great community event and I think supporting local artisans is a good thing.” which she said inspired her through the water and nature “The work that I do is acrylic pouring and I call it functional art so I like my pieces… (so) you'll be able to use them I sell them as coasters and for plates for the glass candle holders,” said Coulter “The technique in this medium that I work with is really interesting and on my Instagram page I actually post lots of process videos for people to see how the process works,” said Coulter Coulter sells through Station Market and Fireweed Crafts so if people don't find anything today she added that they can always go to one of those two locations and hopefully find something there A drug trafficking investigation has resulted in the arrest of two people along with the seizure of a loaded handgun and quantities of suspected illicit substances Thunder Bay Police Service Intelligence Unit and Emergency Task Unit officers executed a search warrant at a Cumberland Street North address on the afternoon of Thursday The warrant was obtained as a result of an Intelligence Unit investigation into suspected drug trafficking activity Officers located one male suspect and one female suspect Police seized quantities of suspected cocaine and fentanyl is charged with:• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose• Unauthorized Possession of Firearm• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm• Careless Storage of Firearm• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Fentanyl)• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000 ARCHIBALD was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for charges of Assault is charged with the following:• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Fentanyl)• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000 The accused individuals appeared in court on Friday and have been remanded into custody with future appearance dates © 2025 Thunder Bay Police Service   Tel: 807-684-1200 Today's image is from Pauline Hainey Got a Story idea? Send it here Thunder Bay marks the start of the week with events that bring together both awareness and artistry The day begins with the Red Dress Run at Boulevard Lake at 10:00 a.m This poignant event honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women the spotlight turns to the stage at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium where the Ignite Dance Recital will take place at 7:00 p.m This vibrant showcase celebrates the talent and dedication of local dancers providing a high-energy performance that’s sure to inspire Whether you're walking for a cause or watching a stage come to life Thunder Bay has meaningful moments to offer today FULL EVENTS INFORMATION Here's a look at the current local weather and gas prices.  THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay’s naval reserve division held the annual ceremony for the Battle of the Atlantic at the Anchorage in Marina Park on Sunday The national service commemorates one of World War II’s longest which resulted in the loss of many Canadian ships and sailors so every major city across Canada will be holding a Battle of Atlantic parade for every naval base or naval reserve division like ours,” said Shane Ikert a petty officer second class and the OPI for this year’s ceremony Ikert explained that the ceremony is very important in remembering the sailors from Thunder Bay who lost their lives and were part of World War II the merchant fleet and the Royal Canadian Navy “Mainly it’s important to remember the Battle of Atlantic and all the contribution(s) that Thunder Bay did put forth during World War II with the ships and the sailors and the shipbuilding... Thunder Bay is a big it’s important to remember all the local sailors that took part,” said Ikert some veterans were invited to participate “I know a lot of veterans… it’s hard for them to get out nowadays The short ceremony concluded with the marching of the guard and the sea cadet band “We’ll halt in front of the pew over there and we’re going to have a quick remembrance of all the ships that were sunk during World War II will be giving a quick address,” said Ikert Today's image is from Dave Coy Got a Story idea? Send it here Thunder Bay has a little something for everyone this Sunday The day begins with a splash at the Canada Games Complex where the adventurous can Try Diving for Free starting at 11:00 a.m It's a great opportunity for those curious about the sport to test the waters in a fun and supportive environment the District 106 Spring Conference 2025 continues at Delta Hotels Thunder Bay welcoming attendees back for another evening of connection and inspiration the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium will come alive with Spirit of Dance – Unity a performance that promises to showcase powerful movement and local talent Whether you're diving into something new or soaking up the arts there's no shortage of ways to spend your Sunday Northern OntarioNewsThunder Bay police officer charged following collision last yearBy Dan BertrandPublished: May 03, 2025 at 3:19PM EDT THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay police have arrested and laid a slew of charges against a 25-year-old man after an investigation into a reported armed vehicle robbery in February In a media release issued on Friday, police said they’ve laid a total of 16 separate charges against the accused after a February incident on Memorial Avenue where occupants of a vehicle reported they had it stolen by a person brandishing what appeared to be a firearm Police said they saw the vehicle at the time but it took off at high speed and officers didn’t pursue the 25-year-old was charged with two counts of pointing a firearm and one count each of robbery with a firearm wearing a disguise with intent to commit a crime He also faces a number of other firearm-related offences motor vehicle operation-related offences and a charge of failing to comply with a probation order Police said he has also been charged with breaking and entering as well as mischief and theft under $5,000 for a separate incident that allegedly took place shortly before the reported vehicle theft The accused appeared in court Friday and remains in custody with a future court date Today's image is from Will Be Got a Story idea? Send it here Confederation College hosts the premiere of In Search of Happiness: Hiking Bhutan's Snowman Trek at 5:00 p.m.—a must-see for documentary lovers and adventure seekers alike bringing together professionals for another engaging evening of networking and learning the action intensifies with Battle in Valhalla at the Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre at 6:30 p.m. promising an energetic showdown for local fans the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium welcomes the Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group offering a spectacular display of traditional dance and vibrant culture cap off the night with some spice and rhythm at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta hosted by Norteños Taqueria Thunder Bay has your Saturday plans covered age 73 years passed away peacefully on April 30 2025 at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Nancy was the loving mother and best friend to her son Cliff She was a cherished sister to Carol ( Harv deceased) and was a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews She was predeceased by her husband Bruce Cunningham She loved every form of nature and fishing Cremation has taken place as per Nancy's wishes there will be no service THUNDER BAY — Two Thunder Bay Police Service officers found guilty of assault causing bodily harm in separate incidents are planning to appeal their convictions Const. Ryan Dougherty received a suspended sentence of one year of probation on March 10 in relation to an incident with a 60-year-old male on Oliver Road near the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre on Nov During the trial the court heard the victim was apprehended in November 2022 under the Mental Health Act and taken to the hospital He left the hospital before being discharged and Dougherty Dougherty found the victim on Oliver Road walking home and tried to apprehend him the man was on the ground with Dougherty on top of him and the officer punched the man in the head four times Dougherty states the ground for an appeal are that the “trial judge did not consider all of the evidence as it pertained to the ultimate issue of guilt or innocence thereby committing an error of law” and that “the trial judge erred in principle when he did not grant the appellant a conditional discharge.” The defence had asked for a conditional discharge with two years of probation during a sentencing hearing last fall A discharge would mean Dougherty would be found guilty but a conviction would not be registered Justice Paul O’Marra said it was the number of strikes to the victim’s head which took the sentence out of the conditional discharge realm The judge also expressed concerns a discharge was in the public’s interest and questioned if it would affect the community’s faith in the Thunder Bay Police Service – something O’Marra acknowledged was already fractured The notice of appeal states Dougherty is seeking to have his conviction set aside and granted a new trial or setting aside his conviction and sentencing him anew Andrew Frankow also intends to appeal his case as he’s filed an application for an extension to file a notice of appeal That extension was granted and he has 30 days from May 1 to file a notice of appeal In September 2023, Frankow was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm for punching a 33-year-old man in the face in April 2022 in a bus shelter outside of city hall while responding to a call for service A sentencing hearing was held in February of 2024 and Frankow received a suspended sentence of two years of probation and 150 hours of community service Justice David Gibson said during the sentencing hearing he was impressed with the sophistication of character references Frankow submitted in his defence and that Frankow was a good person The judge said he also wanted to ensure there was accountability for what happened because it was a serious situation where a person was hurt and that many people in the community were aware of the case THUNDER BAY — One week after a deadly attack at a Filipino Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver the Filipino community in Thunder Bay welcomed city residents to a celebration of food and culture The Filipino-Canadian Association of Thunder Bay hosted its first ever Filipino Food Festival on Saturday at the Oliver Road Community Centre The community centre was crowded all day as people lined up to try Filipino barbecue pork street foods like kwek kwek (deep fried quail eggs) and desserts like halo halo (shaved ice served with a wide variety of sweet treats) but they're so diverse with food,” said Reuben Villagracia president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Thunder Bay “Canada has become so diverse in the last couple of years The Filipino community has been booming here in Thunder Bay “It's really just grown so it's a chance obviously we'll have our own Filipinos come here and shop and help us out Maybe this is the start of something,” he said The loss of life in Vancouver was noted with a prayer before the first cultural demonstration of the event “It was very sad," said Villagracia of the vehicle-ramming that left 11 people dead and dozens injured. "We heard it and just our hearts and prayers go out to them." The association previously had a booth at Thunder Bay’s Folklore Festival, but with the event cancelled for this year members of the association still wanted to represent the Philippines and they're selling different foods from the areas of the Philippines,” said Villagracia let's do something a little different and let's expand our menu.” The Filipino-Canadian Association of Thunder Bay has been around since 1982 Villagracia hopes for the return of the Folklore Festival in 2026 He added that it was an important fundraiser for the group THUNDER BAY — "This is quite an honour," said Bruce Pynn one of three University of Toronto graduates to receive Alumni of Influence awards this year U of T's faculty of dentistry describes the recipients as having sky-high goals being technically precise and impressively innovative and demonstrating a deep level of care for their patients.  Pynn is chief of dentistry/oral and maxillofacial surgery at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre while also running a private practice and teaching at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.  An online article posted by the U of T outlines a host of accomplishments and contributions and credits him with building "a meaningful career in a community where the needs are palpable," but adds that he remains modest about his work "I came to Thunder Bay from Toronto 30 years ago I'm super glad that I stayed," he says Pynn said he was a little older as a graduate from the U of T because he focused on research in a plastic surgery lab for years before going into dentistry "I came to Thunder Bay for a year to just make some money the oral surgeon.  We were kindred spirits He said the most rewarding aspect of his job is "fixing up" trauma patients "There's up to 10 fractured jaws per week so it's among the busiest services in the province for the fewest number of oral surgeons.  There are 200-plus in the province and only three up here looking after an area the size of France." Pynn said he's received requests to care for patients from as far away as Timmins He called the award "very special" because he puts a lot of effort into treating his patients and sometimes even goes to their homes to do a consultation or post-operative check "That's following in the footsteps of Dr because the next place for big oral surgery in Ontario is Toronto so I take the effort to see people and spend time with people." Pynn also supervises dental students at Confederation College and travels to Toronto monthly to oversee U of T oral surgery students he will take a long flight overseas to deliver a talk about his professional experiences in Thunder Bay at a meeting of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in Singapore This story was made possible by our Community Leaders Program partner Thank you to Waste Connections of Canada for helping to expand local news coverage in Thunder Bay. Learn more It is with deep sorrow that the family of Rudolph “Rudy” Pizio 2025 at the age 94 at Southbridge Pinewood 1930 in Sioux Lookout to Michael and Serafima Pizio Serafima was diagnosed with tuberculosis and she Rudy and his sisters were sent to The Thunder Bay Sanatorium for treatment His mother required treatment for several years and Rudy and his sisters spent time at St Rudy was a very hard worker even at a very young age He tells stories of how he and his friends would go door to door selling Christmas Trees for fifty cents bush worker and also at the creosote plant in Sioux Lookout In 1949 he met Shirley and asked her to go for a ride on his Indian motorcycle Michael was born in 1951 with Carol Ann and David following in 1953 and 1954 Dad joined the army in 1954 working in the medical corp and the Pizio’s became a military family moving throughout Canada and for a brief time overseas Even while serving in the military he would work a second job working at local hospitals while stationed in Halifax and Oromocto Rudy retired from the military in 1979 and returned to Northwestern Ontario where he built the house on Victor Street He then secured employment with McKellar General Hospital as a cast technician a job he continued with until his retirement in 1995 Even into his 80’s he did his daily pull ups and worked out with weights Dad was diagnosed with Glaucoma and this was a very difficult adjustment for him and even though he was “legally blind” he could still spot a speck of dust on your pant leg or find something on the floor He continued his daily walks until he fell last year and broke his hip he was just not able to get back on his feet and his health deteriorated quickly and the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia began his biggest concern was to make sure that everyone in the family was ok and they did not need anything He never wanted anything for himself and always put everyone else first nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews David Janhunen and the entire Blue Heron staff at Southbridge Pinewood your care and compassion has been outstanding It was comforting to know that when we couldn’t be there Yours is not an easy job and we appreciate everything that you do Our father spoke so very highly of you and always said you were kind and thoughtful and took very good care of him a private family interment will take place in Mountainview Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his beloved Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel donations made in memory of Rudy can be made to a charity of your choice and would be greatly appreciated Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com Northern OntarioNewsNorthern Ont. police seize loaded gun, suspected drugsBy Dan BertrandPublished: May 04, 2025 at 12:34PM EDT THUNDER BAY — A local charity is looking to raise $30,000 to help hundreds of local families in financial need in 2025 This goal is part of the launch of PRO Kids’ fourth annual Power to Play campaign on Wednesday The charity works to support children and youth in Thunder Bay by offering them the chance to participate in sports “We encourage everyone to give the gift of play to children in our community,” said Amanda Prien transportation and equipment costs continue to be leading barriers to participation we can remove these barriers and help kids belong PRO Kids has aided more than 28,000 children and youth in recreational programs outside their financial reach the campaign has already received a $5,000 donation from White Pine Electric “Giving back to the community has always been important to us,” said Jordan Ball the project manager at White Pine Electric “This is our fourth year supporting Power to Play because every kid should have the opportunity to learn to swim The fundraising campaign will continue until May 16 Residents looking to donate and help a child play can visit PRO Kids’ website or call (807) 625-3836 Today's image is from Tracy Ortgiese Got a Story idea? Send it here Thunder Bay heads into the weekend with a lively and diverse lineup of events to enjoy The District 106 Spring Conference 2025 kicks off at 5:00 p.m offering an exciting opportunity for connection and professional development Anchor & Ore hosts a smooth and soulful Jazz Night with Mood Indigo starting at 6:00 p.m The evening heats up even more as Steel Panther and Buckcherry take the stage at NV Music Hall at 7:00 p.m the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium offers a powerful experience with the Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks #4 performance With several mentions for this grand event it’s clear the Auditorium is the place to be head to Black Pirates Pub for a live show from Autopilot to cap off your Friday night KENORA — Ontario Provincial Police have charged a 42 year-old Kenora man after he allegedly struck several vehicles early Wednesday morning police said they were called about a man “causing a disturbance,” at around 12:30 a.m He was reportedly yelling and hitting a number of vehicles in the area of Seventh Avenue South they found the man and he resisted instructions from officers as he was being placed under arrest The man was charged with causing a disturbance and resisting a peace officer THUNDER BAY — The conservation group behind efforts to improve rainbow trout and other fish populations in and around Thunder Bay says work is scheduled for this summer to better the fish ladder just below the Boulevard Lake dam The structure was constructed in the early 1990s, said Frank Edgson, the treasurer of the North Shore Steelhead Association and project manager for the Current River Improvement Project, adding that the scheduled work is intended to make the existing structure more efficient “We don't think that the fishway is functioning as well as it could we hired consultants to evaluate the existing fishway in terms of modern day fishways,” he said “And they found some inconsistencies and made some recommendations that we thought we could endeavour to change or fix.” Those changes to the existing concrete structure will include redirecting water as it comes out of part of the Current River dam to create a more concentrated flow down the fish ladder creating openings in the ladder walls to allow for a less tiring migration corridor for the fish and — in order to improve data collection and monitoring — the installation of fish counters and other monitoring devices are structures that allow river-migrating fish to travel upstream past a barrier “There was no fish counting and there was no efforts to identify how many fish and under what flow conditions were ideal for the fish to use the system,” Edgson said of the lack of data available from when the ladder was first built it's always been a bit of a question mark as to whether or not fish actually use the ladder and how many fish use the ladder and under what conditions do they migrate.” The organization says there is no recognizable run of rainbow trout (also called steelheads) in the Current River The project has received funding through a variety of sources including Environment and Climate Change Canada is to see whether fish make it all the way up enter Boulevard Lake and migrate further upstream the steelhead association wants to create an urban fishery for rainbow trout on the Current River although Edgson said they also want to know more about “We hope to learn a little bit more about the rainbow trout population and under what the flow rates are best suited for migration,” he said “The city has the ability to raise or lower the electronic gate that control (water) flows into the fishway.” to understand more about what it takes to make that fishway work properly.” is slated to be done between July and August THUNDER BAY — New areas of the city could be added to a list of places targeted for increasing urban density The lands in question include a large swath to the east of the Cumberland Street-Hodder Avenue corridor as well two as smaller areas — one east of Syndicate Avenue near Walsh Street and another just south of Gore Street in Westfort Residential development projects in those areas could become eligible under a pair of funding streams developers and homeowners can apply to for the purpose of building more homes The mayor’s taskforce on building more homes will consider the recommendation to expand lands eligible for funding under two grants aimed at multi-unit residential builds and at creating additional dwellings on properties with existing residential or mixed-use buildings Should the committee officially adopt the recommendation the city’s housing accelerator project manager and have access to municipal services,” Stevenson said no additional infrastructure is required to support more housing units on the public side Speaking to the lands’ suitability for development or further intensification Stevenson said the lands help “with gentle density and (help) bring more housing options into existing neighbourhoods while not changing the look and feel of those neighbourhoods.” “It also helps support our infrastructure deficit by allowing more homes to use existing services.” The recommended extension of the eligibility boundaries was done through routine monitoring of how the program was working found when the boundaries for eligibility were initially drawn using city roads as borders parts of neighbourhoods fell just outside of them even though the lands met the main criteria of being fully serviced “This update will allow (developers and homeowners) to apply online without having to contact us and ask for an exception,” she said Stevenson said that expanding the boundaries is “a preemptive change” for an expected third application window — subject to the city receiving its scheduled next accelerator funding payment from Ottawa in 2026 The second application window closed on April 17 KENORA — Despite their loss in the riding Kenora-Kiiwetinoong candidates from the Liberal and New Democratic parties hope that their message is clear to the vast Indigenous population across the riding: that their voices matter candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada who won nearly 35 per cent of votes in the riding He hopes his relatively short campaign helped inspire Indigenous youth to take part in elections and to let their voices be heard.  I want to get them involved as much as possible in provincial and federal elections because we haven’t participated as much as we should Only about 30 to 35 per cent vote and if we can double that that would be awesome,” said Fox.  He said it was challenging running a campaign in so little time but he wants to impart a legacy of doing better for Indigenous people He feels there is a lot of potential for strong partnerships across all industries in the region and the barriers that exist in terms of cooperative arrangements and ventures are there,” he said “If we could provide a way of bridging those then this riding I think can do a lot of potentially major projects with real positive outcomes.” He said youth and Indigenous people can lead by example and create something that will not only impact the area’s economy Cameron travelled across the riding trying to send a message that Indigenous people can indeed Rock the Vote She garnered just under 14 per cent of the riding’s vote during last night’s election Cameron said she has kept solid data on First Nation community voting since 2008 and has seen an increase of voting over this time “I get the chiefs asking me about numbers about what the vote looks like,” she said “I have it all ready on a spreadsheet and can say ‘this is how your community votes these are the numbers.’ I love it and the chiefs rely on me to provide that information.”  Although it was a juggling act to run and keep up her Rock the Vote messaging I really like engaging with the voter and even just having those conversations of why people should vote the power that they have in their vote.”  Both candidates thanked their teams and voters for supporting them through the running process Three First Nations candidates ran for the Kenora-Kiiwetinoong seat Fox, Cameron and independent candidate Kevin Boucher-Chicago The riding covers a vast area stretching north to Hudson Bay and includes the cities of Kenora and Dryden seven other municipalities and dozens of First Nations THUNDER BAY— Superior Shores Gaming Association has raised more than $10 million for local charities over the last decade “The funds raised by the volunteers at SSGA make a huge impact in our community and without them a lot of programs and services would not be available," said board president Superior Shores is the only non-profit The organization announced Wednesday that they had crossed the $10-million fundraising threshold With 100 per cent of funds raised staying in Thunder Bay the impact reaches across six areas: arts & culture according to a media release Wednesday “The funds are going to over 82 local charities in Thunder Bay, they’re helping from animal shelter services to emergency services,” said Ashlyn Ransome The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is one of those recipients.  “Superior Shore’s support means that we can grow that programming and provide really robust offerings for the community and spark interest,” said executive director Matthew Hills “The majority of our gaming funds are raised through bingo here in our gaming centre and in the back we have what we call a cabinet games room where you can find slot style cabinet game machines,” said Ransome it's the volunteers that are here that cover shifts and it's the bingo coordinators that help the organizations,” she added “I see a lot of players that come here to socialize It gets them out of their houses and into the community,” said Ransome “The game of bingo is a game that's fun to play but it's also fun to connect with your neighbours,” she added Superior Shores Gaming Association requires that all volunteer must be 18 years of age or older to volunteer THUNDER BAY — The Take it in Strides glow run saw about 80 people show support for mental health and suicide prevention.  organized by Confederation College students “I'm running because I think raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention is really important Exercise is super important with mental health as well and I love running for my mental health so I think it's really important that people are getting out and active,” said Olivia Dupuis “This is a great way to bring people out and get them active and also raise awareness for suicide prevention.” Dupuis raised $550 for the glow run on Friday “It's really nice to know that people were willing to donate as much as they did to such a good cause and that I was able to let them know about it too they probably would have never thought to donate “I feel like it's just not a really big talked about thing so this way as much money as we can put towards it we can spread more awareness and get more resources,” she said co-founder of the Take It in Strides run in Thunder Bay said the response has been fantastic from the community “We're expected to have almost 80 people come out and do this glow run this event has been put on by Confederation College and the marketing students They approached me as an initiative to help support the run that happens in September and this is what they came up with,” he said “You’re out here just to support a great cause and just talk about mental health and suicide prevention and then just be here and have a good time.” Remus said with the community’s response along with online registration he’s aiming high for this year’s run in September “With the expectation of what we had the first year including online registration - I'm expecting 500." Remus added that runners in the region can join in remotely as well Registration is open for the Take it in strides run on Sept. 7. And there is an early bird code that is available on the website THUNDER BAY — The Lakehead Stamp Club had its 73rd annual exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on Saturday The club was established in 1947 by a group of approximately 12 stamp collectors with generally about 25 to 30 members at meetings The club has been having its annual exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery for about 30 years “Class one is 1850 to about 1900 Canada,” said Martin Fuhr Class three is Great Britain or commonwealth countries we have a big collection up there in Finland and there's Germany Class five is what we call our thematic collection that's where you collect stamps (of personal interest) and present them.” Fuhr said all go up for competition with first There are also door prizes at the stamp show The exhibition continues on Sunday from 12 p.m Fuhr said the Lakehead Stamp Club is a very social club that has been around for a long time “Anybody is welcome to come to our meetings I'm pretty sure there's a bunch of stamp collectors out there that haven't come to our club “We'd love them to come out and see what it's all about We haven't got any junior members.” Anybody under 16 years old must have an adult chaperone The club meets at Hammerskjold High School on the second Wednesday and last Friday of the month starting at 7 p.m from the beginning of September to the middle of June For more information visit the club’s website worth a total $139,265, and an additional $15,000 in volunteer donations were approved for patient care upgrades at the hospital for 2024-2025 Front line staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre apply for the grants to buy some of the "little things" that aren't aren't funded through normal channels It's the 16th year the hospital has used the Family CARE (Care Advancement Recommended by Employees) grant to empower its staff to improve and enhance patient care and their work environment but it helps them provide quality patient care on a regular basis and that's what it's all about here,” said Barry Strieb The 74 grants range from $4,835 dollars for infant intubation training equipment to $303 for a hearing-assistance device in the cancer centre said patients who struggle with being hard of hearing deserve to feel included “We want to include them as much as we can in their care needs in the hospital and we want to make sure they can hear exactly what is going on," she said "And we want to give them that opportunity to answer the questions themselves rather than having family (answer),” she added “A lot of times they were just kind of looking around looking lost trying to almost read lips and finding it very difficult to participate in their own care when they can't hear what's going on,” said Shawn Agostino patient flow coordinator in the renal department the hospital now has several new needle relief devices “When we do IV procedures or any blood work procedures it will help distract the patients and the children and make them feel more comfortable when they're receiving these procedures,” said Nicole Zuefle a registered nurse at Thunder Bay Regional in Pediatric out patients “I think this would be beneficial not only for pediatric patients but also for anyone receiving any needle pokes or procedures,” added Bryn Roberts a child-life specialist at Thunder Bay Regional in pediatrics we really wouldn't have been able to purchase these devices so it's made a really big impact,” she added “It's about the patients at the end of the day and what the staff need to make sure that that happens for them,” Strieb said 2025 – It’s a chilly start in Thunder Bay today with clear skies and a temperature of -1.8°C as of 6:00 AM EDT and the barometric pressure is a solid 102.1 kPa and rising—great news for stability and sunshine Winds are light from the southwest at just 3 km/h offering little relief from that brisk morning air The wind chill makes it feel more like -3°C gloves and a warm coat are still your best friends perfect for scenic views of Lake Superior or that early jog—if you’re brave enough to face the crisp air today’s forecast calls for a sunny sky with temperatures rebounding significantly so don’t let the cool start fool you—sunscreen is still a wise choice the skies remain clear and the temperature stays above freezing settling at a low of +2°C—perfect for a peaceful evening under the stars without the risk of frost nipping at your nose (finally!) kicks off with more sunshine in the morning and early afternoon clouds will mix in and there’s a 30% chance of showers giving a proper taste of early summer to come picking up to 20 km/h later in the morning Tuesday night brings mostly cloudy skies and a mild low of +4°C although it’ll be cooler with a daytime high of just 11°C Expect a return to colder nights too—Wednesday’s overnight low is forecast to drop to -2°C May 5 in Thunder Bay has offered up some dramatic weather The warmest recorded high for this date is 26.8°C in 2000 while the record low was a frosty -6.7°C in 1967 Today’s low of -1.8°C puts us on the chillier side of the spectrum but that high of 16°C is pulling us into more seasonable territory Wardrobe Wisdom: Start with winter gear and transition to spring attire by noon And keep the coat handy for Wednesday’s cold snap—you’ll be trading sandals for socks once again Thunder Bay Weather Trivia: Did you know Thunder Bay holds the Canadian record for the largest single-day temperature swing in May A 27°C jump from dawn to afternoon once shocked locals in 1991 Canada marked the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic — the longest and one of the most decisive campaigns of the Second World War While ceremonies were held in major naval cities across the country the communities of Port Arthur and Fort William (now Thunder Bay) took time to remember a lesser-known but critically important legacy: their industrial and logistical contributions to the Allied war effort It was 80 years ago in 1945 that Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to allied forces in Europe marking VE Day The Battle of the Atlantic was a key victory in World War 2 – as it kept Great Britain in the fight and allowed the massing of the personnel and supplies for D-Day and the advance into Hitler’s Fortress Europa Northwestern Ontario played a pivotal role in keeping Allied supply lines moving across the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945) was more than just a fight at sea — it was a sustained and deadly struggle to safeguard the lifeline between North America and Europe and 900 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel lost their lives was torpedoed just three weeks before V-E Day with 44 lives lost within sight of Halifax While the explosions and convoy battles raged far away in the North Atlantic Canada’s inland cities were quietly fuelling the war effort — and none more so than the twin communities of Port Arthur and Fort William At the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company Ltd wartime demand triggered a surge in production: The region helped build Park-class and Fort-class freighters essential to replacing vessels lost to German U-boats including women stepping into industrial roles for the first time and readied ships for the perilous journey through the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway to join the Atlantic convoys These ships would later be protected by Flower-class corvettes — more than 120 of which were built across Canada including in Ontario — designed specifically for anti-submarine escort missions Thunder Bay was — and remains — a key grain port Grain elevators in Port Arthur and Fort William stored Prairie wheat and oats bound for Britain to feed soldiers and civilians The area was known as Canada’s Grain Gateway with rail lines moving tonnes of food and war materials east for Atlantic shipping linking Western Canada to ports in Quebec and the Maritimes Wartime manufacturing in the area included: Material for munitions and aircraft production Thunder Bay’s logistical positioning and workforce made it a critical supply and transport link in the Allied war chain Canada’s navy was small — just six destroyers and 3,500 personnel the Royal Canadian Navy had become the third-largest Allied navy A reputation as a world leader in anti-submarine warfare Of the 25,000 Canadians who served at sea in the Battle of the Atlantic most were reservists or part-time sailors — ordinary Canadians who signed up for the duration of the war Their sacrifices helped secure an Allied victory and reshaped Canada’s place on the global stage This year’s 80th anniversary comes at a time when global instability is rising once more including renewed military conflicts in Europe Canada’s armed forces and maritime community continue to honour the lessons and sacrifices of the past ceremonies and public exhibits highlight the role of the Lakehead region and school programs ensure new generations understand how their inland city was connected to the vast ocean war Thunder Bay may lie far from the Atlantic coast but in the shipyards and elevators of Port Arthur and Fort William the city helped secure freedom across an ocean Thunder Bay is waking up with a sharp bite in the air this Sunday with the temperature sitting at -1.3°C as of 7:00 AM at the Thunder Bay Airport we’ve got 100% humidity — so if you feel like you’re walking through a fridge A barely-there north wind at 2 km/h gives us a modest wind chill of -2°C The barometric pressure is at a healthy 101.9 kPa and rising suggesting stable and improving weather throughout the day While fog patches will dissipate through the morning Winds will swing to the east and increase to 20 km/h late this morning meaning it’s a strong sun day — you’ll want sunscreen even if it feels like late winter first thing and temperatures will bottom out around zero It’s the kind of spring night where your furnace and your patio lights might both see some action with sunny skies and a high of 15°C — a welcome shift into more comfortable territory make sure your sun protection habits are in mid-season form The evening will stay clear with a low of +4°C ideal for a walk or simply opening the windows for some cool Tuesday brings a mix of sun and cloud along with a 30 percent chance of showers but also the warmest day in the outlook with a high of 19°C and Wednesday brings a more subdued high of 11°C under partly sunny skies Wednesday night dips sharply again to -3°C — just in case you were thinking about putting those frost covers away Start your Sunday bundled in a warm coat and gloves but bring layers — by midday the sunshine will warrant something lighter Monday and Tuesday are great for spring jackets Wednesday night’s frost will have the final say Thunder Bay has experienced a range of weather extremes The record high was a balmy 27.6°C back in 2001 while the record low — a chilling -7.8°C — was recorded in 1974 Today’s start at -1.3°C with a high of 11°C fits perfectly within the city’s proud tradition of seasonal indecisiveness EAGLE LAKE FIRST NATION – A significant drug trafficking investigation led by the Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) has resulted in the seizure of over $30,000 worth of suspected cocaine and the arrest of a 41-year-old woman following a search warrant executed on May 2 Police executed the warrant at a residence in Eagle Lake First Nation The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into illegal drug activity within the community officers seized 156 grams of suspected cocaine and further evidence believed to be associated with the trafficking of controlled substances whose identity has not been publicly released at this time has been charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Criminal Code of Canada these charges carry significant legal consequences: Penalty: Indictable offence punishable by up to life imprisonment Cocaine is classified as a Schedule I substance and trafficking offences are treated with the utmost severity under Canadian law Penalty: Maximum of 10 years imprisonment if prosecuted by indictment especially serious when it involves a residential dwelling Penalty: Up to 2 years imprisonment on summary conviction or up to 10 years if prosecuted by indictment The accused was released from custody with conditions and is scheduled to appear in Dryden Court at a later date The seizure of a significant quantity of suspected cocaine underscores the ongoing threat of drug trafficking in rural and First Nations communities across Northwestern Ontario Illicit drugs like cocaine and fentanyl are directly linked to rising overdose rates which operates under the First Nations Policing Program emphasizes its dedication to community safety and urges residents to remain vigilant If you suspect drug trafficking in your neighbourhood: Submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) Reporting drug dealers can save lives and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities from the harms of addiction and exploitation THUNDER BAY — A targeted investigation by the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Intelligence and Emergency Task Units culminated in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of a loaded handgun Officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Cumberland Street North acting on intelligence related to suspected drug trafficking activities police located and arrested Nicholas Louis Archibald Both suspects face multiple charges under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA): Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose (Criminal Code s.88): Up to 10 years imprisonment Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (s.91): Up to 5 years imprisonment Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (s.92): Up to 10 years imprisonment Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm (s.95): Up to 10 years imprisonment Careless Storage of Firearm (s.86): Up to 2 years imprisonment Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine and Fentanyl) (CDSA s.5(2)): Up to life imprisonment Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000 (s.354): Up to 2 years imprisonment Archibald was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for charges including assault Both individuals appeared in court on Friday and have been remanded into custody pending future court dates This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by Thunder Bay Police to combat drug trafficking and related firearm offences in the community a potent opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths highlights the critical nature of such enforcement actions THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – If you’re stepping out this morning and wondering why it feels like winter’s ghost is still lurking—don’t worry with a dew point of 1.2°C and a humidity of 92% making the air feel a bit heavier than it looks there’s still a lingering wind chill of -6°C just to keep you humble Barometric pressure is at 101.7 kPa and falling Visibility is crystal clear at 32 km—so you’ll definitely see the sunshine when it shows up Cautionary NOTE: Trail Closure Notice – McVicar Creek Area Today’s skies will begin mostly sunny but cloud cover will increase through the morning Don’t panic though—it’s not the gloomy reaching 20 km/h and gusting to 40 by late morning This will help bump the mercury up to a solid high of 16°C by afternoon you’ll want to throw on a bit of sunscreen if you’re out soaking up the rays expect skies to clear near midnight after a partly cloudy evening Temperatures will drop to a cool low of +1°C so a jacket by the campfire is still a must although a bit cooler than today with a high of 11°C Sunday night clears out with a low of -1°C—yes Monday continues the sunny streak with a slightly warmer high of 14°C with a low of +2°C and no precipitation in sight Tuesday cranks things up a notch with a mix of sun and cloud and a surprisingly warm high of 21°C it stays cloudy with a low of 2°C—a great sign that spring has officially unpacked its bags you’ll be safe in a light jacket or even a hoodie Sunday’s chillier vibe will keep long sleeves in play Break out the t-shirts and plan that lunch break walk Fun fact: Thunder Bay’s warmest May 3rd on record hit 26.7°C in 1998 while the coldest was a frosty -5.6°C in 1974 but it certainly breaks the streak of soggy spring weather we’ve been trudging through 2025 – Officers from the Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to 299 calls for service between Monday with the majority of incidents linked to traffic enforcement and public safety concerns The most common call types this week involved highway traffic enforcement and vehicle-related issues: 🚗 eTickets Issued for Vehicle Violations – 131 📑 Traffic Enforcement – Highway Traffic Act – 5 This high number of traffic stops highlights the OPP’s ongoing commitment to road safety in the region 🚨 OMAP (Offender Management and Apprehension Program) – 8 The OPP continues to remind residents that minor non-urgent incidents can be reported quickly and efficiently through the OPP’s Citizen Self Reporting (CSR) system This system is designed for situations with no suspect You can file a report anytime from your computer or mobile device at www.opp.ca contact the Thunder Bay OPP at 1-888-310-1122 THUNDER BAY — A lengthy section of a popular recreation trail in the city remains closed in the wake of a rainstorm last week The storm caused some erosion on the multi-use trail along McVicar Creek the City of Thunder Bay is asking the public to refrain from using that section "A small section of the trail has been undermined," said Werner Schwar supervisor of parks and open space planning for the city there's a section where the trail is close to the wall along the river Because of the high water or overland flow a chunk of that stone wall got washed away." Schwar said the water also undermined some of the asphalt on the path we're trying to keep people off that trail." The city hopes to get a contractor to the site Wednesday to do repairs THUNDER BAY — The city is hosting a casual event where residents can get to know staff and even share a hot dog with them and a chance to win a door prize — is a chance for residents "to speak with city staff in a relaxing way Olsen said the event is “about breaking down some of the barriers about being accessible and being present in the community.” Thunder Bay Talk will not be like a typical town hall Olsen said there will not be formal speeches or presentations The public will be able to roam freely from booth to booth “It's not about one topic and we're just really inviting the community to come and get to know city staff talk about the services and supports that are important to you and share your ideas with us,” said Olsen She said representatives from all departments and divisions will attend the event “We're really hoping that this is a different way for us to be out in the community and meet people where they're at,” said Olsen The city plans to do these informal events a couple of times a year Another Thunder Bay Talk is being planned for in the fall THUNDER BAY — Police have seized various drugs with a street value of over $100,000 and arrested four people after searching a north-side residence Tuesday Members of the TBPS intelligence unit executed a warrant in the 400 block of Cumberland Street North shortly after 3:30 pm They found quantities of suspected cocaine and more than $15,000 in cash on the premises The accused include two women and one man from Thunder Bay All are charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime The Hamilton resident is also charged with disobeying a court order None of the charges have been tested in court The four individuals appeared in court Wednesday morning and were remanded into custody with future appearance dates Police said their investigation remains active It is Newswatch policy not to name people facing criminal accusations when we are unlikely to follow the case to its conclusion in the courts