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Atikokan

an alarm clock sitting on top of a wooden table

Clocks in Atikokan to remain unchanged

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There appears to be little appetite in Atikokan to pursue a time change.

Councillor George Martin proposed earlier this year that Atikokan follow the same time as Thunder Bay year-round, instead of bouncing between the Eastern and Central time zones by the community not changing its clocks each spring and fall.

Administration looked into the steps necessary, which include public consultation and advocacy with the province.

It recommended council drop the matter because of the other issues impacting the town that were more pressing.

Mayor Rob Ferguson agrees.

He says it could have created confusion for residents who live just outside Atikokan’s boundaries.

“Are we going to be a different time than Sapawe half the year?, asks Ferguson.

“Are we going to be a different time than Perch Lake? There’s more to it. We’re Atikokan, and we don’t dictate what happens outside our municipalities. It’s a nice thing to throw out there, and it’s nice to get some publicity and talk about things. Let’s just move on to some more pressing.”

Atikokan council decided in 1954 to follow the same time as then-Port Arthur and Fort William to avoid confusion of mine and train operations in the shipping of ore.

When the mines closed, the community opted against having clocks changed in the spring and fall, leading to Atikokan being on Eastern time during the winter and Central time in the summer.

The Ontario Legislature supported legislation to do away with time changes a few years ago, but it was contingent upon Quebec and New York doing the same.

Atikokan is one of several communities in Canada that follows Daylight Saving Time year-round.

British Columbia recently enacted legislation to do the same.

Saskatchewan has not changed its clocks since 1966, when the province passed legislation to eliminate a patchwork of time zones caused by decisions that were previously left to the municipalities.

Time zone switch raised by Atikokan councillor

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An Atikokan councillor suggests it is time the community start following Daylight Saving Time.

The community is one of the few in Canada that does not change the clocks in the spring or fall.

As a result, Atikokan follows the Eastern time zone during the winter and the Central time zone during the summer.

Councillor George Martin admits it has created a lot of confusion for residents.

“All of our electronic devices. . . phones, tablets, watches, even our vehicles are constantly switching from one time to another time zone as we’re traveling and we’re constantly trying to figure out what time it is, where we’re going, are we going to be late for our meetings, are we going to be early for our meetings,” says Martin.

Martin says people have been missing medical and other meetings or showing up an hour early.

He suggests that Atikokan remain on the same time as Thunder Bay, a destination for most residents for appointments, leisure and shopping.

“Let’s face it, we’re connected greatly to the Eastern time zone, and practically everything we do is east of us,” says Martin.

Some others on council feel the idea has merit but wonder about the legalities of being able to do so.

Administration is gathering further information for council to consider at a later date.

This is not the first time the issue has been raised.

Many past councils have either rejected the notion of changing clocks or left it to a public vote, which has also voted it down.

The Ford government passed legislation in 2020 to make daylight saving time permanent, pending Quebec and New York State doing the same.

The province has yet to enact it.

Atikokan town council Feb 2 2026

Atikokan proposed budget hits mayor’s objectives

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The town of Atikokan intends to spend more than $29 million this year.

The proposed budget reflects Mayor Rob Ferguson’s directive last fall for a budget that included a tax increase of no more than 2%.

He says the use of new legislation achieved the goals he wanted.

“Using my strong Mayor’s powers was, one, to have the budget out earlier, which we’ve been talking about for years,” says Ferguson.

“By getting the budget out earlier, that gives the department heads a clear vision of what they’re going to do and how they’re going to spend their money.”

Ferguson says it also allows the town to get projects moving more quickly and seek out contractors sooner in hopes of getting a better price.

Capital spending is listed at $15.9 million.

The biggest expense will be replacing the bridge on McKenzie Avenue, estimated at $5.5 million, with grants covering about 40% of the construction costs.

The town expects to have more money to work from, with revenue projections to top $20 million.

This includes more than $5.7 million coming from the provincial government and $855 thousand from the federal government.

User fees will account for another $3.7 million.

“This ended up way better than I anticipated,” says Treasurer Brandy Coulson.

“I thought it would be more money from reserves, but because of all the extra revenue we’ve had this year and last, we’re going to be taking less, way less from reserves than I expected.”

The town budgets for more than $5.7 million in funding from the provincial government and another $855,000 from the federal government.

User fees will account for another $3.7 million.

Atikokan will pay about $42,000 more to the District of Rainy River Services Board, $6,500 more to the Northwestern Health Unit and $81,000 more on its policing contract with the Ontario Provincial Police.

Formal approval of the budget is expected to come within the next month.

OPP logo on side of car

Atikokan man arrested for breaking into residence

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A 47-year-old man from Atikokan has been arrested by members of the local Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment.

On Sunday afternoon at around 2:45 p.m., the accused man allegedly attempted to break into a home on Maple Crescent in Atikokan.

The accused fled when police arrived, but was later tracked down.

After being arrested, the OPP connected the accused individual with another crime from earlier that day – an assault.

The man is facing charges of forcible entry, breaking and entering, and assault with a weapon.

He is currently in police custody and is set to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Fort Frances on Wednesday.

Falcon Gold(1)

Falcon Gold to resume exploration north of Atikokan

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Falcon Gold is renewing interest in its exploration project near Atikokan.

The company is seeking a new permit to conduct drilling at its Central Canada Gold project.

It last worked in the area three years ago.

Falcon Gold states that the permit will enable it to drill up to 20 holes, focusing on expanding known gold zones and testing new areas identified during its 2021 exploration work.

“The submission of our Exploration Permit represents the next step in unlocking the scale potential of the Central Canada Gold Project,” states Karim Rayani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Gold, in a release.

“Our prior drilling confirmed multiple high-grade intercepts and continuity along a 1.6-kilometre corridor within a proven gold-bearing structure. We believe we’re only beginning to understand the size of this system, and with our Phase III program, we aim to connect the historic mine zones with newly defined gold mineralization along strike.”

The Central Canada Project is located 20 kilometres southeast of the gold-rich Hammond Reef deposit, which Agnico Eagle Mines recently announced it was again reviewing.

Falcon Gold has retained Bjorkman Prospecting of Atikokan to lead the permitting process and drilling operations.

The company is also ending its interest in a Chile project, saying it will redirect the resources towards its Canadian assets.

Atikokan Hospital (2)

Atikokan hospital workers vote to join Ontario Nurses’ Association

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New union representation for some healthcare workers at Atikokan General Hospital.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association will now represent medical laboratory technologists, technicians, x-ray and ultrasound technologists, radiation technologists and other health-care professionals in future bargaining.

The ONA says they voted overwhelmingly to join.

“These health-care professionals have put their trust in ONA to represent them, overwhelmingly voting to join ONA’s 68,000 members to use their collective voices to improve their working conditions, to fight attacks on the publicly funded and delivered health-care system and improve patient care,” states ONA President Erin Ariss in a release.

The hospital’s nurses were already members of the ONA.

“This highly skilled group of health-care professionals bring enormous value to the community,” states Ariss.

“The work they perform and the skills they bring to those seeking care at Atikokan General Hospital are vital to the diagnosis and care of patients. They more than deserve respectful working conditions, transparency and workplace protections from their employer.”

ONA represents more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

pic3 collision

Driver charged after single-vehicle crash near Atikokan

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A 49-year-old Atikokan man is facing charges after a crash on Highway 622 yesterday.

OPP say around 2 p.m., officers responded to a report of a collision near the Rawn Reservoir near Atikokan.

According to the OPP, the driver of a tractor-trailer with a fully loaded belly-up gravel trailer lost control and rolled the vehicle off the highway.

The driver walked away with only minor injuries.

He will face one count of careless driving in connection with the single-vehicle crash.

Bold Ventures Wilcorp-Grab-Sample-photo

Copper found amidst gold and silver near Atikokan

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A company exploring east of Atikokan says it has uncovered a unique find.

Bold Ventures says it has discovered a new style of mineralization showing signs of gold, silver and copper.

One rock sample confirmed strong traces of all three minerals.

The area identified by the company as the Wilcorp property has been known for its gold find and a former gold mine that operated briefly in the 1960s.

Bold Venture says it is unsure if the copper is connected to other nearby discoveries and that more geological mapping and petrographic work will be necessary.

The company resumed exploration on the site last year after more than a decade of inactivity.

This year’s rock sampling followed up on similar work in 2024.

A sample of quartz obtained last year identified as containing significant gold.