Jacob Henriksen-Willis is a Thunder Bay-based multimedia journalist with a passion for storytelling. He is a graduate of Loyalist College's Journalism program. You can contact him at Henriksen-WillisJ@radioabl.ca.
The Nipigon OPP is asking anyone who witnessed the fatal snowmobile collision on Highway 11/17 to come forward with information to assist the ongoing investigation.
If you were travelling along Highway 11/17 near the Brennan Ford Dealership in Nipigon Tuesday morning and you have dashcam footage available or any additional information to share, please contact the Nipigon OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or submit anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
Police have also confirmed the youth deceased in the crash was driving the snowmobile.
The next generation of firefighters starts now—female and non-binary youth aged 15-18 are invited to a free, four-day summer firefighting camp in Thunder Bay this summer.
The camp showcases firefighting as a rewarding career by providing training in fire suppression, auto extrication and firefighter survival.
“We are thrilled to return to Thunder Bay,” said Paula Andreychuk, Camp Molly Treasurer and Thunder Bay Lead. “We’re looking forward to an incredible camp experience that will empower and challenge campers while helping them see themselves in a new and positive light.”
Camp Molly is named after Molly Williams, the first known female firefighter and first known Black firefighter in the United States.
According to the NY Daily news, when an influenza outbreak ravaged the men of a Lower Manhattan fire crew over 200 years ago, Molly Williams answered the call of duty. In the NYC Blizzard of 1818, Williams, a former slave, went out in a calico dress and checkered apron and took her place with the men on the front lines of a fire. She helped pull a pumper to the fire through the deep snow and tackle the blaze. Williams’ story is immortalized in Dianne Ochiltree’s children’s book “Molly, By Golly!“
Camp Molly aims to carry on her legacy by inspiring other firewomen.
“Hosting Camp Molly for the second time is an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience, build teamwork, and develop practical skills, while being exposed to a career in the fire service and other emergency services,” said Dave Tarini, Acting Fire Chief. “Events like this do not happen without collaboration, and I want to recognize the many personnel from several divisions across the City of Thunder Bay, whose hard work and planning make this experience possible for the next generation.”
One person has been killed in an incident that forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway near Nipigon on Tuesday.
Provincial Police says it happened near Settler’s Road.
A person, who was driving a snowmobile, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The individual has been identified as a youth from the Lake Helen First Nation.
Their name has not been released.
The crash happened around 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. The incident is under investigation by Nipigon OPP, the Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Team and the coroner.
The incident forced the closure of the highway for several hours on Tuesday.
If you have any information that can help in the search for 62-year old Daniella Nekuliak, please contact police immediately.
The mother of three was last seen on surveillance camera Thursday morning around 9:30. She was heading north towards Boulevard Lake at the corner of Algoma Street and Gibson Street near St. Ignatius High School.
TBPS Missing Persons Coordinator Jeff Saunders stands at Algoma and Gibson, the last place Nekuliak was seen, with the latest photo of her from surveillance footage (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/March 17 2026)
Nekuliak is 5’4 with a medium build, grey hair, brown eyes and speaks in a gruff voice. She was wearing a black puffy coat, black pants, grey toque, gloves, and grey Sorel boots with white outsoles.
Surveillance footage of Daniella Nekuliak before her disappearance Thursday morning (via Thunder Bay Police Service)
“If anybody saw anything on Thursday, somebody walking who might have seemed out of character for that particular area and at that particular time, and they have any information, we would greatly appreciate it,” said Thunder Bay Police Service Missing Persons Coordinator Jeff Saunders. “Right now we’re just at a point in the investigation where we’re going through tons of hours of video trying to get a next starting point of where we’re going to search.”
Surveillance video of Daniella Nekuliak walking down Algoma Street North near St. Ignatius High School on Thursday morning before her disappearance (via Thunder Bay Police Service)
Saunders says police currently has no leads as to where Nekuliak was going or what direction she was heading past Algoma and Gibson.
The OPP Emergency Response Team, emergency tactical unit, helicopter, drones, snow machines and police dogs have all been involved in the search for Nekuliak.
The Thunder Bay Police Service is asking for residents to check their yards, sheds, and vehicles for anyone matching her description. It also requests that all nearby residents check their camera or dashcam footage, and look for any discarded items along the nearby trails.
Voice of Daniella’s daughter Erika Nekuliak(March 17 2026)
“She is a kind and thoughtful person who loves spending time with her grandchildren,” said Daniella’s daughter Erika Nekuliak. “She is deeply loved and missed, and we are extremely worried about her safety. It’s been very cold. We have not seen her since last Thursday and she needs medication that she does not have with her.”
“If you have seen her, spoken to her, or think you have any information, please come forward. Our family is heartbroken and we just want her home safe.”
The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association is teaming up with the Chamber of Commerce to revitalize the downtown core.
Local artists have been commissioned to paint murals on shop windows down Scott Street as part of the Windows Alive project.
Windows Alive is the “brainchild” of Fort Frances event and marketing manager Rhonda Howells, said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Johnson.
“As in many small towns, when you go downtown now there are so many empty storefronts. We’re missing our retail space,” Johnson said. “We thought well, you know what, we’ll go down and figure out who owns the empty buildings and we’ll talk to them and try to get some paint on the windows to liven up the downtown area.”
While the initial idea was to paint over the windows of closed shops, Windows Alive garnered attention from active business owners as well.
“We thought we’d expand it to the active business owners too and they were more than welcoming,” Johnson said. “It’s really good that basically the whole downtown area has signed up for the project.”
The owners of the buildings can choose between three main subjects for their window murals: local animals, local landmarks or local Indigenous art.
Most of the murals are still in the design stage, but Johnson was able to share a couple of the works coming to Fort Frances.
“Causeway Insurance is going to have the Causeway drawn on one of their windows, and Turtle Island Cafe and Barber Shop is going to have a turtle,” she said.
All artists commissioned are local. At least five of them will be Fort Frances High School art students.
“It’s going to be great to go down and watch them actually paint these pictures on the windows and be part of the whole process,” Johnson said.
The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of April.
A 45-year old man from Thunder Bay is facing drunk driving charges after failing a breathalyzer test with a child in his vehicle.
The man was pulled over during a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) stop at the intersection of Mount Baldy Road & Highway 527, within the Municipality of Shuniah.
He is charged with the following:
Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus);
Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs;
Fail to Provide Necessaries of Life – Child or Spouse;
The accused has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear before court in late April.
The OPP’s RIDE program is an anti-impaired driving blitz, featuring around-the-clock spot checks and granting officers the authority to demand roadside breath samples without reasonable suspicion.
Two Thunder Bay locals are charged with drug trafficking after a two-month investigation.
On Thursday, members of the Thunder Bay Police searched a home on Algoma Street North and seized suspected fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cash, a stun gun, and items associated with drug trafficking.
The investigation began on January 12, 2026, in response to reports of suspected drug trafficking.
A 48-year old man and a 40-year old woman are being charged with the following:
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000 • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid • Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine • Unauthorized possession of a weapon
Both of the accused were remanded into custody after their first court appearance.
The public is invited to attend a drop‑in session to share their feedback and learn more about six potential designated encampment sites.
Three of the six proposed encampment sites will be selected and formalized. The proposed sites would operate as managed outdoor spaces with basic services and coordinated outreach for people in need.
The session is scheduled for Wednesday from 5-7 pm at the Intercity Shopping Centre. It will feature visual displays explaining key components of the project, with staff present to answer questions.
Each proposed site will be presented with a site image along with the city’s internal analysis, consistent with the information provided in the public survey. The six proposed encampment sites are as follows:
Current River Park on Cumberland Street North
Freedom Park at Prince Arthur’s Landing
Island Park Drive
Kam River Heritage Park
Between McKellar St. N. and Vickers St. North, north of Northern Ave.
Simpson Street
Community members will be invited to participate in activities designed to capture their perspectives through a series of interactive feedback stations, including:
Agreement Exercise –Participants indicate their level of agreement with each of the potential designated encampment sites.
Site Ranking – Participants rank the six proposed sites from 1 (most preferred) to 6 (least preferred).
Comment Cards – Participants can provide written feedback, concerns, or suggestions to help inform Council’s decision-making.
“Community input is important,” said Rilee Willianen, Supervisor of Encampment Response for Thunder Bay. “This drop‑in gives residents an opportunity to connect directly with staff and share their perspectives as the City continues to implement the 10-Part Enhanced Encampment Response Action Plan.”
The Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay is set to host six days of elite curling competition in December.
16 men’s and 16 women’s teams from around the world will gather in northwestern Ontario for the Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) Open. Thunder Bay last hosted in 2018 at the Tournament Centre.
“For us at the Grand Slam of Curling, returning to Thunder Bay was an easy decision. This is a community that truly understands and embraces elite sporting events,” said Nic Sulsky, CEO of The Curling Group. “The knowledge, the energy, and the appreciation for high-performance curling in this community make Thunder Bay a special stop for our athletes.”
The GSOC Open is the fourth stop on a five-event Canadian tour. It is scheduled for December 1-6, 2026. Curlers will arrive from the GSOC National in Sydney, Nova Scotia and depart to the GSOC Players’ Cup in Kingston, Ontario for the final event. More details regarding participating teams and full event schedules will be announced in the coming months.
“Sport tourism is a major economic and social contributor to Thunder Bay, and attracting more events to the city, particularly in the winter months, aligns with the new CEDC Strategic plan to grow Thunder Bay into a true year-round visitor destination,” said Paul Pepe, Thunder Bay’s Manager of Tourism. “The Grand Slam of Curling brings athletes from around to Thunder Bay and has a significant media element, generating global awareness of our community to other sport and leisure enthusiasts.”
Early-bird full-event and weekend passes for the GSOC Open are on sale today at purchase.thunderbay.ca.
The Fort William Gardens is set to host six days of elite curling competition in December.
16 men’s and 16 women’s teams from around the world will gather in Thunder Bay for the Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) Open. Thunder Bay last hosted in 2018 at the Tournament Centre.
“For us at the Grand Slam of Curling, returning to Thunder Bay was an easy decision. This is a community that truly understands and embraces elite sporting events,” said Nic Sulsky, CEO of The Curling Group. “The knowledge, the energy, and the appreciation for high-performance curling in this community make Thunder Bay a special stop for our athletes.”
The GSOC Open is the fourth stop on a five-event Canadian tour. It is scheduled for December 1-6, 2026. Curlers will arrive from the GSOC National in Sydney, Nova Scotia and depart to the GSOC Players’ Cup in Kingston, Ontario for the final event. More details regarding participating teams and full event schedules will be announced in the coming months.
“Sport tourism is a major economic and social contributor to Thunder Bay, and attracting more events to the city, particularly in the winter months, aligns with the new CEDC Strategic plan to grow Thunder Bay into a true year-round visitor destination,” said Paul Pepe, Thunder Bay’s Manager of Tourism. “The Grand Slam of Curling brings athletes from around the world to Thunder Bay and has a significant media element, generating global awareness of our community to other sport and leisure enthusiasts.”
Early-bird full-event and weekend passes for the GSOC Open are on sale today at purchase.thunderbay.ca.
