Day: July 27, 2026

Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that Neskantaga First Nation’s chief and council are calling for better communications from the Provincial Urgent response Operations Centre (PEOC) amid itsongoing state of urgent response over the region’s wildfires. The remote Ojibway local residents, located about 440 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, declared a state of crisis on July 16. The First Nation’s…

Thunder Bay, Ontario — Dilico Anishinabek Family Care held its eighth annual powwow on Thursday in Fort William First Nation, which neighbours Thunder Bay. The event helped bring people together as hundreds are displaced during Ontario's wildfire season. Zander Lapensee says powwows have changed his life — and amid a difficult wildfire season in northwestern Ontario, he hopes his dancing…

Thunder Bay, Ontario — 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 locatedbetween Red River Road and Park Avenue. “It was a big undertaking in the end.…

The northwestern Ontario community is abuzz with news that Roughly 20 residents of Neebing, Ont., met with Neebing Critical incident Services (NES) on Saturday for a public information meeting to discuss worries on wildfire safety and property protection at Blake Local residents Hall. “If you have farm animals, what do you do with them?” shared Anita Mirabelli, who attended the…

Local authorities in Thunder Bay report that 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.…

Thunder Bay, Ontario — moved sharply against the national trend in 2025, recording an 18 per cent uptick 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 Lakehead Officers are overwhelmed at times leading to longer…

Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that There are 117 active wildfires across northwestern Ontario, according to the latest update from Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Crisis Services (AFFES) issued Sunday evening. Of these, 23 are not under control, three are being held, eight are under control, and the rest are being observed. The largest wildfire in the region, known…

THUNDER BAY — Northwestern Ontario’s wildfire urgent response remains the leading regional story Thursday as thousands of evacuees remain away from home and governments prepare for continued fire activity. Internationally, attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea are pushing crude prices toward US$100 a barrel. Nationally, Canada faces prolonged uncertainty over continental trade, while new crime data and an…

THUNDER BAY — Neskantaga First Nation’s chief and council are calling for better communications from the Provincial Urgent response Operations Centre (PEOC) amid itsongoing state of critical incident over the region’s wildfires. The remote Ojibway citizens, located about 440 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, declared a state of crisis on July 16. The First Nation’s alarm were two-fold: wildfire smoke…

A developing story from Thunder Bay: With many wildfire evacuees currently living in hotels in large cities with limited resources for prolonged periods, regional health service providers are advocating for greater support for the health of those who have been displaced from their homes. Janet Gordon is the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority’s vice president of citizens health. She…