Thunder Bay’s outdoor ice skating rinks are temporarily closed due to warmer temperatures over the weekend.
Residents can find updated information on the status of their local rink by checking the Outdoor Rinks Map.
Temperatures are expected to cool down in the coming week. The city’s Parks & Open Spaces Division will work to reopen skating rinks throughout the week as conditions allow.
It took Lakehead Thunderwolves forward and Thunder Bay native Nick De Grazia five minutes to make hockey history.
Down 5-1 and killing a five minute major penalty, Lakehead needed a hero late in Game 1 of their playoff clash against Brock University last month.
De Grazia answered the call — and then some. He netted three straight to drag the Thunderwolves back into the game, but Brock kept firing and ended up winning the game 8-5. Brock would go on to win the series 2 games to 1.
Despite the loss, De Grazia’s heroics have earned him a place in hockey’s most hallowed halls. The Hockey Hall of Fame is currently in contact with Lakehead University about acquiring De Grazia’s stick, jersey and/or a puck from the game to put on display.
He may not have known it at the time, but De Grazia scored the sport’s first-ever natural shorthanded hat-trick at any level university or above. That means none of Gretzky, Crosby, Poulin or Wickenheiser (or anyone else for that matter) have ever scored three straight goals on the penalty kill. Thunder Bay’s Nick De Grazia did.
“I was just looking for offense at that point,” De Grazia said. “We’re down 5-1, so I’m not really worried about them getting any goals. So I’m just looking for chances I can get going the other way.”
“It was just kind of crazy. It happened so quick.”
De Grazia says he “didn’t have a clue” at the time that his feat was so rare, and it was a happy surprise to hear it caught the attention of the Hall of Fame.
“It’s a huge honour,” De Grazia said. “If (my gear) gets to the Hall of Fame, I’ll definitely visit. It’ll be cool to take the kids there one day when I’m older and go check it out.”
De Grazia is in his junior year of a General Arts degree at Lakehead.
A Kapuskasing resident is dead following a collision on Highway 11 near Smooth Rock Falls on Saturday.
This is the tenth highway death of 2026 in northern Ontario.
The collision involved four tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle. A section of the Trans-Canada Highway was closed for nearly 18 hours as a result.
Last week, representatives from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association advocated for the modernization of Highway 11/17 at an economic conference in Toronto.
“These tragedies are becoming far too common on northern Ontario highways,” said NOMA President Rick Dumas. “For northern communities, these roads are lifelines. When a major collision closes the highway for hours, sometimes nearly an entire day, communities can become isolated and the movement of people, emergency services and essential goods is disrupted.”
NOMA says municipal leaders across the Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts continue to advance highway safety as a regional priority through the Kenora District Municipal Association, Rainy River District Municipal League and Thunder Bay District Municipal League.
“These issues have been raised consistently by northern municipalities,” said Fred Mota, Mayor of Red Lake and NOMA Executive Vice President. “Communities across northwestern Ontario are working together to push for practical improvements that make these highways safer for everyone who relies on them.”
“Northern Ontarians should not face a higher level of risk simply because of where we live. Our communities deserve safe, reliable highways and a clear commitment to improving them.”
In collaboration with the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), NOMA released a Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force report in 2023 outlining recommendations for improved safety and efficiency along Highways 11/17.
Expanded passing opportunities, strategic four-laning, improved road design and the use of the 2+1 highway model were among the primary recommendations. A 2+1 highway is a three-lane highway with a centre passing lane that changes direction approximately every two to five kilometres.
Ontario is moving forward with plans to implement the 2+1 highway model along a section of Highway 11 near North Bay (the first of its kind in North America), but otherwise NOMA says many of their ideas have been tabled.
“Northern leaders have already done the work,” Dumas said. “We encourage the Province to reopen the NOMA and FONOM Transportation Task Force report so progress on Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Highway 11/17 corridor can move forward.”
Special Olympics officials are praising Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute for their Unity Cup, a month-long basketball tournament of teams mixed with special needs and mainstream high school students.
Students packed the stands for the gold medal game Thursday afternoon.
“The Unity Cup is about bridging the gap between mainstream students and special needs students,” said Westgate special needs classroom teacher David Workman. “The idea is that unified partners can play as hard as they want against each other, but also facilitate gameplay with the Special Olympics athletes.”
The final game was a buy‑in event for Westgate students, featuring a $5 entry fee, with all proceeds donated to the Special Olympics.
“The growth we’ve seen in the students in just four weeks has been phenomenal,” Workman said. “(The athletes went) from not knowing how to clear or check the ball to now you saw people guarding each other in a way we didn’t even see last week.”
“We’ve got mainstream students and special athletes working together, building friendships, building social connections, being accepted as part of the school.”
The game doubled as a banner ceremony for the school’s 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championship in basketball.
“Special Olympics has been a part of Westgate’s curriculum for as long as I can remember, 20-plus years,” Workman said. “It matches really well with the goals of the students, things we’re working on.”
Senior student and Special Olympics volunteer Nathan Vibert was a major organizer, referee and coach for the tournament.
“It was perfect,” Vibert said. “I’ve heard nothing but positive things from the athletes and the students that helped volunteer.”
Vibert has been a Special Olympics volunteer his entire high school tenure. He says the idea for an integrated sports tournament came from him and Workman.
“Everyone had such a fun time, and hopefully we can get more kids to do it next year,” Vibert said. “Maybe we grow the teams, or maybe other schools will catch on and we can start a league between schools.”
He will travel with Westgate’s special needs basketball team to London, Ontario in May as they defend their provincial title at the 2026 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships.
Westgate also hosts integrated Unity Cup tournaments in soccer, floor hockey and track and field.
The City of Thunder Bay is announcing they have passed a water quality test with flying colors.
Our drinking water system received an inspection rating of 100% from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
Taste and odour tests were reported as inoffensive, and there was no trace of E. Coli or Coliform in any samples tested.
The full report can be found here. It also provides an overview of how the city treats and delivers safe drinking water, as well as tips on how residents can help protect water quality at home.
“Our water is monitored around the clock to ensure it meets strict safety standards. This report confirms the city of Thunder Bay continues to provide high-quality, safe drinking water,” said Michelle Warywoda, Director of the Environment Division for the city. “We encourage residents to read the report to learn more about where their water comes from and how it can be protected, and about the operator certification process for the city’s water operators who work with the drinking water system.”
As part of the city’s Lead Action Plan approved in 2014, Thunder Bay has provided a water purification system and lead testing services free of charge to residents and businesses with known or suspected lead services. In 2025, 525 lead water samples were tested and approximately 107 publicly owned lead services were replaced.
The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) is back from Toronto after a week of economic advocacy.
Over the last week, NOMA board members met with major mining companies, government officials and industry leaders at Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, the world’s premiere mining convention.
The modernization of Highways 11 and 17 was one of the primary topics of discussion. The issue was explored in a joint meeting between NOMA, the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and the Globe and Mail Editorial Board.
“Highways 11 and 17 are more than transportation routes, they are lifelines for our communities and critical to Canada’s economy,” said Rick Dumas, President of NOMA and Mayor of Marathon. “We need a coordinated, long-term commitment from all orders of government to ensure these corridors are safe, reliable, and built to support the future of Northern Ontario.”
Upgrading northern highways came up in a conversation between NOMA President Rick Dumas and Federal Minister of Transportation Steven MacKinnon as well.
NOMA says they explored the potential for a dual use designation for the highways, recognizing their essential role in supporting both regional connectivity and national economic and supply chain priorities.
“PDAC provided an important platform to connect Northern priorities with national conversations,” said Wendy Landry, Mayor of Shuniah, and former President of NOMA. “Investment in Highways 11 and 17 is essential to unlocking economic development, supporting resource projects, and ensuring the safety of residents and travelers across the north.”
NOMA says they plan to build on this momentum through advocacy with all orders of government to ensure Northwestern Ontario’s priorities remain front and centre.
The following story contains sensitive subject matter that may be upsetting to readers.
The preliminary court hearing for the murder of 42-year old Deborah Anishinabie is underway.
25-year old Levi Lawson was charged with indignity to a human body in December 2024 and second-degree murder in January 2025 in relation to her death.
“Today we remember Deborah as the loving friend, sister and mother that she was: full of strength and kindness, and deeply connected to her family and community,” the Anishinabie family said in a statement before Wednesday’s hearing. “She could light up any room, and we always welcomed her contagious laugh. She had a wonderful way of making people feel that they were seen, heard, and loved. She was devoted to her family, as we were to her. She will forever be in our hearts.”
Anishinabie’s body was found in Thunder Bay in the vicinity of the 800 block of Finlayson Street and the 400 block of McKellar Street North in December 2024.
In September, provincial police, the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS), and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service conducted a search for further evidence at the Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility.
The search concluded in November. TBPS released a statement a month later saying no new evidence was discovered.
“Providing closure for the family has been our priority,” said TBPS chief Darcy Fleury in a news release at the time. “Conducting this search was both necessary and appropriate, regardless of the outcome.”
Anishinabie was from Sandy Lake First Nation. According to the federal government, Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women in Canada as of June 2024.
Anishinabie was a graduate of the Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute, where she completed the Personal Support Worker program.
“She had much love to give, and she poured every ounce of her compassion into her work and the people she cared for,” her family said. “We appreciate everyone who have joined with us in ceremony and supported us throughout this difficult process. May the Creator give us all the strength to get through the difficult days ahead.”
City police have provided the following resources for those impacted by the investigation:
A Thunder Bay tech company is showing off its cutting edge mining technology to potential clients from around the world this week.
Teleco was invited to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s International Convention in Toronto. The week-long convention is the world’s premier gathering for the mining industry, projected to attract over 27,000 attendees from 125 countries.
Known for cybersecurity and IT services, Teleco says its surveillance cameras can break new ground in mining.
Representatives from Teleco are showcasing live, hands-on demonstrations of AI-powered PPE detection, thermal imaging, and portable camera systems that can improve safety and efficiency in mineral extraction. Visitors are able to experience real-time safety alerts, see thermal imaging in action, and explore how modern camera technology can support smarter mining operations.
The presentations are held at the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (NOMS) pavilion, funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor). It’s the largest pavilion at the conference — Teleco is one of 112 businesses and organizations representing the region.
“NOMS highlights the wealth of products, services and investment opportunities the region has to offer,” FedNor said in a press release. “Designed to showcase northern Ontario, a recognized region of mining excellence, NOMS helps businesses in their efforts to scale up, increase sales and exports, and create high-quality jobs.”
Two of Lakehead University’s brightest student athletes are being recognized with RBC Athlete of the Month honours.
Second‑year Nature-Based Therapy student Haley Florell won a silver medal at the national wrestling championships hosted at Lakehead last weekend. She competed in the women’s 76‑kg division, the same category in which she won gold last year.
She said the energy from the home crowd at Lakehead was incredible.
“(Competing in front of a home crowd) definitely came with a different level of pressure,” Florell said. “For me personally, coming from a small town, I’ve never competed in front of a home crowd ever. I thought I was going to be a lot more nervous about it, especially with everyone asking questions and getting excited for me, but really it just added to it and I got to give a little bit of a show.”
Florell says she has struggled with nerves in the last two years, but she’s developed pre-match routines to keep herself centered.
“Usually the night before or the morning of, I’ll write down everything I know about myself in ‘I am’ statements. I am strong. I am balanced. I am confident. I do breath work just to really feel myself in my body and be present in the moment. And then, of course, for my warm-ups I also dance around. Just as a reminder to have fun with it,” she said.
Her advice to young wrestlers is to let loose.
“Don’t be scared of failure and embarrassment in trying things for the first time. You’re going to fail. Just have fun with it. Find the joy in what you do, and others will be gravitated towards that. People will want to hop on that ride with you.”
Third year nursing student Stephen Hudec broke the school’s record in the 200m on Valentine’s Day.
Hudec ran the 200m in 21.99 seconds at the David Hemery Valentine’s Invitational at Boston University.
He said the first thing that crossed his mind when he finished was how he could have improved.
“I thought I could have been a bit more relaxed in my upper body before I came through,” Hudec said. “I could have had a slightly better time. (Laughs). I shouldn’t think that way (…) I’m still happy with it either way.”
Hudec has a tightly regimented training schedule to improve form and speed.
“The most important part is really every single day that you train, you should be thinking, ‘What am I focusing on today?’ What am I really trying to improve?’ so you’re not just going through the motions, but you’re consciously thinking about what you’re doing in training,” he said.
Hudec’s advice for young athletes is not to lose sight of their goals even if they feel improvement has stagnated.
“Even if it feels like you’re not improving, you’re always improving in one way or another,” Hudec said. “Hard work always leads to results.”
Three suspects are facing charges after $233,000 of cocaine and cash were seized from a Keeywaywin First Nation home.
Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Intelligence Unit and Emergency Response Team executed the bust.
Police located and seized an estimated $211,000 worth of suspected cocaine, a rifle, $32,000 in cash, and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.
Of the three suspects, one is from Winnipeg and two are from Keeywaywin First Nation.
All three are being charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and unauthorized possession of a firearm among other felonies.
One remains in custody; the others were released with conditions and a later court date.