There were multiple closures along Highway 17 Tuesday as winter weather created dangerous driving conditions across northwestern Ontario.
Earlier in the day, several collisions east of Ignace forced partial closures along the Trans-Canada Highway, with one lane reopening later in the afternoon.
Conditions worsened into the evening.
Ontario Provincial Police say a stretch of Highway 17 between Marathon and Terrace Bay was closed around 11:15 p.m. due to severe weather and deteriorating road conditions.
Drivers were told to avoid travel and follow all posted closures.
That section of highway has since reopened.
Police say the road reopened around 12:30 a.m., thanking drivers for their patience and cooperation.
Road conditions in the region were described as snowy and slippery throughout the day.
The snow is expected to taper off this afternoon though the snowfall warning is being continued.
A few flurries are expected tomorrow in the Kenora and Dryden areas.
Monica Vaswani from Environment Canada says they are expecting things to warm up this weekend finally.
“In terms of temperatures, normal for this time of year, at least in the daytime, is +7 degrees,” says Vaswani.
“So, we do have to wait until the end of the workweek. We’re looking at a daytime high of +6 on Friday in the forecast and anywhere from +8 to +11 on Saturday.”
Vaswani says right now the forecast for the weekend is looking pretty good.
“Both of those days (Friday and Saturday) are expected to be sunny. Sunday is on the average side of +10, but there may be rain showers associated with that.”
The rains and warmer temperatures should help melt much of the snow that has fallen over the past 24 hours.
A local produce provider is getting crafty to continue supplying nutritionally healthy food to Port Hawkesbury and the surrounding community.
Square Roots Port Hawkesbury is requesting to use the Civic Centre in-kind on a Wednesday each month to hold a Community Market including artisans and other vendors instead of their Saturday sale on their own.
This solution is their preference rather than raising prices or relying on donations going forward.
One of the Community Managers, Michele Tabensky tells us why they want to have a larger vendor presence after funding for leftover produce was cut earlier this year which caused markets in the Quad Counties to pause for a couple months.
“We have to absorb the cost of anything that’s not sold. So that plays a factor on our bottom line, because we’re not-for-profit, so when we start losing in sales, then it makes it really hard to continue,” she shared.
She explains how the Town will benefit from the market that could start as early as June.
“It will help with increased foot traffic on during the quieter seasons at the Civic Centre. It’ll help not only Square Roots provide nutritionally healthy food to the community, but it will also help vendors within the community get their wares for sale, so help income for their households. It’ll bring some community spirit to the town, as well.”
She’s hopeful by having other vendors selling with them that will raise their visitors and sales to everyone in the community.
Her and the other Community Manager, Yvonne MacDonald emphasize that Square Roots is for everyone to benefit from, regardless of your income or location because everyone deserves fresh and healthy produce.
They say the more they sell, the more they can help local groups and people in need with food security by giving away the leftovers.
Together, they started Square Roots in Port Hawkesbury in March 2025.
People can preorder 10-pound bags of mixed produce for $10 that include 2 pounds of carrots, a large onion, 4 apples, 4 oranges, and the remainder in potatoes.
They also take preorders for bulk items if anyone wants a large quantity of any given produce.
The Community Managers say the produce is grown locally in the valley or sourced by farmers when anything is not available depending on the season.
They announced at the council meeting that they have provided 25,000 pounds of produce to the Port Hawkesbury community since last year.
Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is confident that the Town will be able to help as the request goes through the motions with council.
A strike is looming for some staff at the University of King’s College in Halifax.
In a statement on their website, Vice President of King’s, Tim Currie says, the University of King’s College Teaching Association (UKCTA) indicated a strike could begin on Thursday at noon after conciliation talks failed, Tuesday.
The union represents the Faculty Fellows and Senior Fellows; a group of teaching assistants and markers in the school’s Foundation Year Program.
The Fellows alongside student supporters held a rally at the Quad Campus Tuesday.
Key sticking points include fair wages, a cap of class sizes and contract renewals.
Currie says classes will continue as scheduled until they hear otherwise.
“King’s remains committed to a respectful bargaining process and continues to hope that an agreement can still be reached,” says the statement. “Faculty Fellows and Senior Fellows make an important contribution to the Foundation Year Program, and our focus remains on supporting students and helping you complete the academic year successfully.”
He says more information will be provided when available.
Work is underway on the development of an anti-black racism plan for the Rainy River District School Board.
Education Director Heather Campbell says it included meeting with the group Parents for Black Children.
“This advocacy group is province-wide and is meeting with each board and looking really at the Dreams Delayed Ontario Human Rights Committee report and each board’s movement to recognize those recommendations.”
The report identified systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario’s education system.
In providing an update on the board’s work, Campbell says they are working to remove barriers, improve opportunities and ensure schools reflect and honour the diversity, identities and cultures of the communities they serve.
The board is also involved in a survey with others in the area.
A localized survey was tried, but the response was not as expected.
“So we’ve reached out to other boards part of the region, so Kenora Catholic, Keewatin-Patricia, and Northwest Catholic to join forces in doing a broader survey to form the development of a framework that each board can then individualize for its plan,” says Campbell.
The final plan is to come before the trustees at a later time.
A 150-year-old church in Digby, Nova Scotia is at risk of losing one of its most historically significant features, and advocates are now asking for the public’s help to save it.
The Trinity Anglican Church was named a top 12 finalist in Canada’s Next Great Save competition. Advocate Greg Turner says they’re hoping to restore the church, which he describes as “a rare piece of Atlantic Canada’s architectural history.”
“The church is a National Historic Site,” Turner explains. “It was built in 1878, and it’s a cornerstone of Digby’s heritage and identity, and this Rose Window is a really prominent feature in the church on the South Wall. It’s one of the most spectacular stained glass pieces in Trinity, and it’s now in danger.”
According to Turner, an engineer’s report indicates a loss of integrity around the window and inside plaster coming away. Turner says it’s stabilized but needs repairs soon. He notes the Rose Window—also known as the Children’s Window—is key to protecting the south wall and entire structure.
“It’s one of the first things you see when you drive in, and when you go inside it becomes illuminated as the sun shines through it and it really highlights the stained glass features of the church,” Turner says. “It’s essential for worship and celebrations, concerts, civic events.”
He wants to ensure the symbolic artwork continues serving Digby for generations, noting “it’s pretty important for the church itself and for the community.”
Competition sponsor Ecclesiastical Insurance is funding the $50,000 grand prize and reinforcing its commitment to protecting Canada’s historic places. Second- and third-place winners receive $10,000 and $5,000.
Turner says the church was “built by the community back in 1878. The Gothic Revival Architecture style is by Stephen Earle, and there are not too many buildings in Atlantic Canada that follow that architectural design. Public voting opened yesterday and runs until April 24th, so hopefully we can make our way to the top.”
Canadians can vote once per day at nextgreatsave.ca. Turner also invites the public to an open house on Saturday, April 18th to see the architecture firsthand.
The province says the door is open for discussions with First Nations leaders on cannabis.
Last Thursday, April 2, members of First Nations communities blocked key highways for several hours.
The protests were over RCMP raids of cannabis storefronts on First Nations.
Tensions are high, First Nations say it’s their Treaty right to sell cannabis on their lands.
Justice minister Scott Armstrong says they’re always open to meeting, but there are policies in place.
“We have a policy where First Nations can actively participate in cannabis sales at NSLC locations, with proceeds going back to the bands. We’re willing to have discussions on that, and other policies,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong says the province strongly supports the RCMP and their actions on illegal cannabis.
“The Cannabis Control Act is the law of the land in Nova Scotia. The Cannabis Act is the law of the land across Canada. Health Canada produced cannabis products are the only legal ones across the country.”
Armstrong was asked what it will take to resolve tensions.
“We’ll have to work on that together. I think the onus is on all leadership to work together to try and find a solution to all of these issues. The issue of public health and safety for young people is a priority.”
Premier Houston issued a lengthy statement over Easter weekend, saying blocking a highway or road is never acceptable.
He said they are ready to work together to address the drug crisis, but they are not prepared to accept the status quo.
Several RCMP cars are parked outside of a cannabis store along Highway 4 in Potlotek First Nation on Thursday. PHOTO: ACADIA BROADCASTING
3 arrested after RCMP vehicles damaged
Meanwhile, RCMP say two men, aged 33 and 30 from Potlotek and a 19-year-old man from River Bourgeois were arrested in relation to mischief Thursday.
This was after several police vehicles were damaged during the protests in Potlotek, RCMP say seven vehicles had damage of some kind, including broken windows and flat tires.
Police say no charges have been laid.
Potlotek First Nation released a statement condemning the vandalism, and asked anyone with information to come forward.
The First Nation said the raid Thursday caused fear, and what followed was a powerful demonstration of unity and solidarity across the community.
There was a false sighting of the man wanted on a Canada Wide warrant at NSCC in Bridgewater.
Bridgewater Police say it was Wednesday morning when an officer was flagged down on High Street by a driver who believed they saw the man on the school’s campus.
Police notified staff, who followed safety protocols, but it was confirmed Latif Tag El Din was not at the location.
It was Monday afternoon when Bridgewater Police issued a statement that they were looking for Din. They had labelled him a “dangerous man”, which had many in town wondering why an emergency alert was not issued.
Mayor David Mitchell says even with the situation did not warrant an alert and he thanked police for how they handled the situation.
