Highway 2 reopened in Moncton
RCMP say the eastbound lane of Highway 2 in Moncton that’s between Elmwood Drive and Caledonia Road has reopened after a collision.
News
Kenora Catholic School Board wins award for mental health innovation
The Kenora Catholic District School Board has received the 2025 MBC Impact Award for Most Innovative Measurement-Based Care Implementation, presented by Greenspace Health.
The award recognizes KCDSB’s system-wide approach to strengthening student mental health supports through measurement-based care, in alignment with Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 169 – Student Mental Health.
The recognition highlights the work of KCDSB’s Mental Health team in using data, professional judgment, and student voice to guide care, support early intervention, and improve outcomes for students and families.
Measurement-based care helps demonstrate the effectiveness of services and informs decisions about additional interventions and supports.
The full list of 2025 MBC Impact Award recipients is available through Greenspace Health at Greenspace – The 2025 MBC Impact Awards.
Poirier to meet with provincial Finance Committee
2026 will be a very challenging year to create a municipal budget.
The City of Kenora has started the budgeting process, passing the capital budget at the end of 2025.
Mayor Andrew Poirier says he’s getting a chance to speak to the provincial Finance Committee about some of challenges they face.
“It’s not a lot of time (before the Finance Committee) but it does provide us with another avenue to provide some ideas and feedback and some issues we may be having in our community,” Poirier told city council at its Committee of the Whole meeting this week.
“That should be part of the budget process for 2026/2027.”
City council has yet to begin looking at the Operating Budget, wanting to get all the information, including the OPP costs for 2026, before finalizing the budget.
Heavy snowfall coming to Thunder Bay this weekend
Environment Canada is warning residents of Thunder Bay and Superior West of a significant dump of snow expected for Saturday.
The agency predicts that 15 to 25 centimetres of snow will fall between Saturday morning and evening.
Those travelling are advised to watch out for poor visibility due to blowing snow and to take extra care.
Developments in the situation can be followed on the Environment Canada website.
Memorial Sports Centre elevators out of commission for at least another 2-3 months
It will be a few more months before at least one elevator at the Memorial Sport Centre in Fort Frances is working again.
The elevator located in the main lobby to access the upper levels, has not worked since the end of October.
The town reveals that the roof above the elevator had a severe leak, allowing water to flood the lift and cause damage to electrical circuit boards, ceiling tiles and drywall.
Due to its age, replacement circuit boards are no longer available, requiring the installation of a new lift.
The town says a new lift is being ordered, but repairs will still take at least 9 to 12 weeks to complete.
Meantime, a second elevator located in the lobby area of the 52 Canadians Rink has also stopped working.
Parts to fix it are also longer available.
The town says is in the process of planning for a replacement but offers no timetable for when it will again be operational.
In the meantime, centre staff are assisting anyone needing to access the upper level on a case-by-case basis.
Snow and freezing rain expected across much of N.B.
A messy winter storm is expected to move across much of New Brunswick.
Environment Canada said the system will arrive Sunday morning and continue into the night.
The special weather statement covers Fredericton and Southern York County, Oromocto and Sunbury County, Grand Lake and Queens County, Sussex and Kings County, Saint John and Charlotte County, Grand Manan and Coastal Charlotte County, Kent County, Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick, and Kouchibouguac National Park.
The agency said northern regions could see 15 to 25 centimetres of snow, but southern areas are expected to receive 5 to 15 centimetres.
Environment Canada explained the snow may shift to ice pellets, freezing rain or rain before the system tapers off Sunday night.
The mix of snow and freezing precipitation may create slippery travel and walking conditions.
The agency is encouraging people to plan and be prepared for changing conditions throughout the day.
NB Power said it is monitoring the incoming weather system and preparing crews across the province in case outages occur.
We are closely monitoring this weekend's approaching weather, from Sunday into Monday, and its potential impact on New Brunswick, and we are ready to respond across the province in the event of outages. While we're preparing, there are also things you can do to get ready. 1/3
— NB Power (@NB_Power) January 9, 2026
The utility said residents can also take steps to get ready at home, such as ensuring they have basic emergency supplies.
Local charity requests city funds for new community kitchen
Thunder Bay charity Our Kids Count went before the city’s Finance and Administration Standing Committee on Tuesday to request a $450,000 grant.
The charity is hoping to use the sum, which would be taken from the city’s Community Partnership Reserve Fund, to cover the purchase of a building at 745 Simpson Street that used to be a Circle K.
The effort to renovate the old Circle K is already underway, but if the city approves the charity’s request, it will be able to purchase the building.
“It will allow us not to carry a lease or a mortgage, and be able to allocate the money towards programming instead of those leased costs,” says Our Kids Count Executive Director Jackie Knough.
Knough says that the organization has been fundraising for the project for some time and has already raised $2 million of its $2.7 million goal to convert the property into a community kitchen and hub.
Our Kids Count offers free programming at their locations to allow families to cook, share in a communal space, and access resources, such as budgeting education.
The organization is family-focused and offers children a chance to learn how to cook.
“It is a little bit different than some of the other programs that are also available in our community,” Knough says.
But she explains that demand for the charity’s services has increased over the years to the point that they require more space.
“With our breakfasts, families were lined up out the door, and it was more like takeout because our space didn’t hold enough people,” Knough says. “With this new space, we’re hoping to bring more people to be able to come back, sit inside, and connect with our team to learn about all of the resources and services that are available.”
With rising rates of food insecurity across the country, the mission of organizations like Our Kids Count seems more relevant than ever.
“It’s hard to see the number of families that are in financial need, but we are happy to be of some small relief,” Knough adds.
The Finance and Administration Standing Committee recommended the approval of Our Kids Count’s request at Tuesday’s meeting.
The proposal will now come before a full City Council meeting for the final decision.
Fort Frances readies for distribution of 2026 Moffat Family Fund money
There is no change to the amount of money available to Fort Frances organizations through the Winnipeg Foundation and Moffat Family Fund.
A total of $102,500 has been issued.
Funding is distributed to eligible groups and organizations that support programming for children and families.
The town is proposing to use $1,500 to offset its costs of marketing and administering the funds.
The Foundation allows for up to $3,075, but town administration states that only $1,500 was required in 2025.
The town expects to begin accepting applications next week.
A committee of council will review them before making recommendations in March for council to consider.
The Foundation gives final approval before the money is distributed.
Fort Frances has traditionally presented the successful organizations with their cheques in June.
A $100 million contribution to the Winnipeg Foundation by the Moffat family after the sale of Moffatt Communications to Shaw Communications led to the fund being established.
Communities where Moffat Communications did business have received annual funding since 2001.
3 men killed in Route 11 crash near Black Point
Three men are dead after a collision between a car and a transport truck on Route 11 near Black Point, according to the RCMP.
The crash occurred around 7:12 p.m. on Thursday, when officers, firefighters from Belledune, and Ambulance New Brunswick crews were called to the scene.
Mounties said the car is believed to have crossed the centre line before hitting the transport truck head‑on.
The victims were a 27‑year‑old man from Moncton, an 18‑year‑old man from Dalhousie and a 25‑year‑old man from Campbellton.
The RCMP noted that all three died at the scene from their injuries.
The driver and lone occupant of the transport truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police.
An RCMP collision reconstructionist and the New Brunswick Coroner’s office are assisting with the investigation.
Police said Route 11 was closed for about 11 hours before reopening.
RCMP NB officially introduce navy blue uniforms
Frontline RCMP officers have begun wearing new uniforms in New Brunswick.
The navy blue uniform shirts were introduced in December, but they officially became a part of the dress code in 2026.
This is part of the ongoing efforts to modernize the RCMP uniform.
During the transition period, the public may see frontline officers in navy blue and members on duty in grey uniforms.
“We understand that seeing a new uniform, or two members wearing different coloured shirts could cause confusion or a sense of unease”, says Corporal Hans Ouellette of the New Brunswick RCMP. “We also understand that there have been incidents of individuals impersonating police. If you have concerns about their identity, call your local police.”
The new uniforms are being introduced on a province-by-province basis.