Day: July 25, 2026

Thunder Bay, ON — NEWS – July 21, 2026– Air quality conditions in Thunder Bay have improved significantly, allowing Municipality services and outdoor activities to continue operating normally while the Municipality maintains its support for the ongoing regional wildfire response. The Air Quality Health Index is currently atLow-Riskconditions throughout the day, increasing to Moderate Risk tonight and into tomorrow. With…

Thunder Bay, ON — A new program hopes to help northwestern Ontario's agri-food entrepreneurs grow their businesses. The Food Enterprises Advancement and SME Transformation, or FEAST, program will offer advice, access to equipment, educational opportunities, and financial assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector, such as home-based baking operations or makers of other food products. On Wednesday, FedNor…

A developing story from Thunder Bay: Yolanda Sakanee says she wants to go home, but there's too much uncertainty in her First Nation, which declared a state of critical incident last week due to northwestern Ontario’s wildfires. Sakanee is one of more than 130 evacuees from Neskantaga First Nation, a remote Ojibway local residents about 440 kilometres northeast of the…

News from Thunder Bay: 133 active wildfires are burning in northwestern Ontario, with 30 listed as not under control, according to the latest update from Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Urgent situation Services. The largest wildfire in the region, known as Thunder Bay 36, also remains out of control and spans more than 315,000 hectares. The Ministry of Natural Resources…

Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that There are 139 active wildfires burning in northwestern Ontario, with 30 listed as not under control, according to the latest update from theMinistry of Natural Resources. The ministry alsoreported on Thursdaythat pressure has seemed to have eased a bit, noting how "minimal fire behaviour has been observed in recent days." A newevacuation alertwas…

THUNDER BAY — Support continues to pour in for wildfire evacuees in the Lakehead region, with one organization saying it's received thousands of donations in support of people displaced by the fires burning across northwestern Ontario. Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services (KKETS) has transformed its warehouse on Beaverhall Place in the urban centre into a donation hub, and has…

THUNDER BAY — With weather conditions improving and fire behaviour slowing, residents of Upsala are returning home following a voluntary evacuation last week. "The weather has cooled. the humidity is up," remarked Upsala fire chief Doug Kiezebrink. "Winds are maybe still a bit of a problem." Kiezebrink called the fire — Fort Frances 14, which at one point was burning…

Thunder Bay, ON — Thunder Bay, Ont., has recently completed the installation ofEsox (Ginoozheg)by Halifax-based artist Simon Lacey in the Mall Street Plaza as part of theNorth Core Streetscape Campaign. The public artwork, which translates to 'pike' (esox in Latin and ginoozheg in Ojibway), is located between Red River Road and Park Street. “It was a big initiative in the…

The northwestern Ontario community is abuzz with news that First Nation chiefs from northwestern Ontario are calling for a public inquiry into the provincial government’s response to the region's wildfires, which have resulted in more than a dozen evacuations. At a media conference hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) at the Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay…

Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that moved sharply against the national trend in 2025, recording an 18 per cent boost in its police-reported crime rate while Canada’s overall rate declined. For many in the Lakehead that does not come as a surprise. Crime is on the upswing, and often to many people the Thunder Bay Authorities are overwhelmed at…