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Show us your NWO

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As another Northwestern Ontario winter fades into memory, we’re taking a moment to look back at the season that once again reminded us just how breathtaking this region can be. From deep freezes and fresh snowfall to golden hours that seemed to set the sky on fire, winter gave us no shortage of unforgettable moments, and you captured them beautifully.

Beautiful Sunset by Connie Calvert

Throughout the season, viewers from across NWO shared scenes that told winter’s story in quiet, powerful ways. Frozen lakes stretched out beneath pastel skies, framed by towering evergreens dusted in snow. Several submissions featured sunsets blazing through the trees, rich oranges and pinks melting into deep purples as daylight slipped away over snow-covered landscapes. Even in the coldest months, there was warmth in the light.

Some photos highlighted the stillness of winter mornings: the sun low on the horizon, casting long beams across icy paths and untouched snow, reminding us how peaceful the world can feel before the day fully wakes up. Others captured dramatic skies, soft cloud layers streaked with colour, glowing halos around the sun, and subtle rainbows hidden in winter light, proving that the sky itself was often the main event.

Fireworks by Connie Calvert

One striking submission showed a nighttime winter gathering illuminated by fireworks bursting into the sky, their reflections glowing against the snow below. In a season defined by darkness and cold, moments like these stood out, proof that winter is also a time for connection and celebration.

Winter’s Last Glow by Robert Williams

Now, as temperatures slowly rise and the days stretch longer, spring is beginning to take over. Snowbanks will shrink, trails will soften, and those same landscapes will soon look completely different. But thanks to you, the magic of this winter is preserved, one photo at a time.

Ignace, ON – Matt Doran

Thank you to everyone who shared their view, their moment, and their slice of Northwestern Ontario with us this season. As we close the chapter on winter, we’re already looking ahead, because no matter the season, there’s always something worth showing off in NWO.

🌅❄️🌱
Keep sharing your views, and keep showing us your NWO.

Email in your photos:

Kenora – info@yourkenora.ca

Dryden – info@yoursunsetcountry.ca

Fort Frances/Rainy River – info@yourborderland.ca

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Show Us Your Northwestern Ontario!

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As winter in NWO edges toward its slow, beautiful fade, we’re taking a moment to reflect on something special… the way you see this place we all love.

Over the past season, fans of yoursunsetcountry.ca , yourborderland.ca and yourkenora.ca have shared so many of stunning photos, sun dogs glowing fiery sunsets stretching across lakes, quiet forests heavy with snow, and the wildlife that watches us from the treeline. Each image is a reminder that even at the tail end of winter, NWO has a magic that never really goes away.

This is beauty in cold weather. – Connie Calvert

Camouflage? – Connie Calvert

But what really makes this collection meaningful isn’t just the scenery, it’s the people behind the lens. And Connie, we see you… thanks for all the fantastic submissions.

It’s the way you bundle up, head out onto the ice, or pause on your morning or evening commute because the sky suddenly turned pink. It’s the way you notice the small things: the tracks on a frozen bay, the halo around the sun, the way the last light of day filters through snow‑covered pines. It’s the way you share those moments with all of us. Your photos let the whole region, and far beyond, see Northwestern Ontario through your eyes. They remind us why we love it here: not only for the landscape, but for the people who live close to it, look closely at it, and cherish it enough to capture it.

Sun Dogs captured by Government Dock – Janine Ahoff

Sunset Extraordinaire – Dana Leonzio

So as winter slowly loosens its grip and we begin to look toward longer days, we thank you…
Thank you for braving the cold, for stopping to notice beauty, and for showing us your Northwestern Ontario!
Reminder: Daylight saving time will begin this year on March 8, at 2 a.m so be ready to set your clocks forward! Hoo-rah to more sunshine!

Please keep the photos coming, we never get tired of seeing what you see! Snap away! 📸

Email in your photos:

Kenora – info@yourkenora.ca
Dryden – info@yoursunsetcountry.ca
Fort Frances/Rainy River – info@yourborderland.ca

Bearskin temp screen cap

Dryden Airport optimistic about service return

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Promising study results have Dryden Airport officials optimistic about the return of passenger service.

Julien Carron of InterVISTAs presented the findings of a Passenger Feasibility Study to city council last Monday, concluding with “a high level of confidence” that restoring air service is viable for the region.

“Air service is feasible. That’s full stop,” Carron told council. “What we have to look at now is scalability.”

Passenger service was terminated in 2024 after Bearskin Airlines left the region. Kenora and Fort Frances were left without service as well.

“Travel levels in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances have not rebounded to pre-COVID levels, posing significant challenges to the sustainability of our operations in these communities,” Bearskin’s parent company Perimeter Aviation said in a media release at the time. “Over the last year, the three destinations saw an average of two passengers per flight, reflecting the drastic reduction in demand for air travel in the region overall.”

Carron says strong pre‑pandemic demand and solid community support make the return of passenger service achievable.

“The community was very vocal about how important it was to get service back,” Carron said. “Not only to the economy, but the social factors in keeping connected to major hubs.”

He said there’s “a lot of movement” with airline companies beyond Bearskin, including Northstar, Pivot and PropAir.

“The great news right now is there are a lot of carriers operating in this space that are seeing the gap and seeing the need that Air Canada and say the top five (national carriers) are leaving behind or unable to fill,” Carron said.

Without air service, travel from Dryden to Thunder Bay can take up to seven hours via car in adverse winter road conditions.

“The north isn’t asking for a luxury,” said Maxx Kochar, Director of Airport Operations at Loomex Group, the firm responsible for the Dryden Airport. “It’s asking for a reliable link to essential services and opportunity. If the north is going to keep growing as an economic engine for Ontario and Canada, reliable connectivity is part of what makes that possible.”

Kochar says reliability is key to achieving pre-pandemic demand.

“The question came up: why did people stop flying?” Kochar said. “If you’re not meeting your customer’s requirements and expectations, they’re going to stop using your service. After enough cancellations and delays, people are going to choose driving.”

Carron says reliability concerns came up often in passenger surveys conducted by the firm.

“We have some competing forces on the regulation side of things as far as pilot hours, duty times and such,” Carron said. “We also have some challenges with equipment, aging equipment in our aircraft fleet. Shortages of pilots and shortages of mechanics are fighting against us when we talk about these size markets and some of the regional carriers.”

“But nonetheless […] I’m happy to say that (the Dryden Airport) is in a very good position as far as infrastructure is concerned.”

Kochar says he believes Dryden could be a hub for travel between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

“A realistic start that they’re talking about is four round trips a week (to and from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg)”, Kochar said. “Compared to other airports it’s small, but at least you know that if you fly in you have the ability to leave again in a reasonable amount of time. A lot of business travelers will fly in, have a meeting, then fly out. So at least they’ll know they can do that.”

Life preserver and caution sign near water

Dryden Drowning Prevention Program preparing for summer

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In the wake of four local drowning deaths last summer, the Dryden Drowning Prevention Program is taking steps to ensure a safer water environment in 2026.

A 12-year old girl and her 15-year old brother drowned in the Wabigoon River in July. Two months later, a 5-year old boy and 28-year old man drowned in Wabigoon Lake.

Dryden Fire Service Chief Chris Wood spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting to outline the education, prevention and emergency response initiatives underway in anticipation of this summer.

Third and seventh graders will be taught essential, life-saving water safety skills through nationally recognized programs Swim to Survive and Swim to Survive Plus.

The programs include in-class education sessions delivered by members of Dryden Fire Service, Dryden OPP, and KDSB Northwest EMS, and three in-pool instruction sessions delivered by the Dryden Pool and Fitness Centre.

“I really want everyone to know that there’s a sense of healing for all of our emergency responders to be able to get into classrooms and deliver some of this education,” Wood said. “It’s a positive spin from very tragic events.”

The city also committed to providing clear, accessible safety information at waterfront locations, including non-designated swimming areas. These signs will be placed at municipal locations to communicate parental supervision requirements, swimming zones, drop-offs, currents, lifejacket use, emergency location information (via QR codes), and notices indicating it is an offence to remove life-saving devices from shorelines.

“We’ve also engaged with Google and are looking to add a feature to Google Maps that if you’re looking at the app, you’ll see the same images on our shores explaining these hazards,” Wood said.

City staff are developing a lifejacket rental program in partnership with the Dryden Public Library. This program will provide free adult, child, and youth lifejackets to residents, and implementation is anticipated in early 2026.

As for rescue equipment, Dryden City Council has approved capital funding for dry suits to improve responder safety and operational effectiveness across all seasons. Dryden Fire Service currently has two certified RPAS (drone) pilots and has applied for funding to acquire a service-owned drone, which would significantly enhance water rescue operations and other emergency responses. Four throw-ring style floatation devices were installed at City Docks in October.

“Chief Wood, I am so grateful, so delighted, so appreciative of the amount of work that has gone into this very, very comprehensive report,” said Councilor Catherine Kiewning. “I’m so happy there are so many parts moving within the report, because this is the kind of stuff that is going to keep our residents safe.”

City CAO Roger Nesbitt says the city is thankful for the quick response form Woods and his team.

“I truly appreciate you jumping on this right away and recognizing that we needed to do better,” Nesbitt said. “You’ve done a tremendous job, not just within our community, but through your collaboration with other communities as well. I want to recognize your efforts in all this. Thank you.”

bokeh photography of snows

Less snow expected for Kenora and Dryden regions

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Special weather statements have now been lifted for areas including Kenora and Dryden.

Environment Canada says the anticipated storm system has moved further south.

Those regions were under special weather statements on Tuesday.

Around two centimetres of snow is now expected throughout Wednesday.

Other areas in Northwestern Ontario are expecting higher accumulations. Regions including Nestor Falls, Atikokan and Fort Frances remain under special weather statements with 10 to 15 centimetres of snow expected tonight and on Thursday, with wind gusts up to 80 kilometres an hour.

Thunder Bay regions are under winter storm warnings with up to 40 centimetres of snow expected.

If you have travel planned, be aware that you could experience winter weather conditions.

It’s recommended that you allow extra time for travel, as road conditions could be impacted.

Manual snow removal

More snow on the way to Northwestern Ontario

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Another storm system is headed to Northwestern Ontario, but Environment Canada says there’s still some uncertainty with its track.

Special weather statements have been issued for areas including Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances.

Forecasts are calling for between 5 and 15 centimetres of snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Current wind gust predictions are up to 60 kilometres per hour, and that could result in visibility issues.

Road closures are possible, and you should allow for extra time for travel.

Environment Canada will have updates if snowfall amounts or alerts need to be changed.

dryden opp detchment

Dryden OPP charge two in drug bust

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Two men from Toronto are facing criminal charges after a drug trafficking investigation by the Dryden OPP.

Police arrested the two men on Thursday after searching a home on Clearwater Crescent.

Dryden OPP says the investigation turned up evidence of drug trafficking, including large sums of cash.

A 28-year old man is charged with the following:

·      Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000

·      Failure to comply with probation order

·      Mischief – destroys or damages property

·      Obstruct peace officer

A 29-year old man is charged with the following:

·      Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000

·      Resist peace officer

Both accused appeared before court on Friday.

Dryden Fire Service logo

Three transported to hospital after house fire

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Three Dryden residents are being treated for possible smoke inhalation after a house fire this morning.

The City of Dryden Fire Service responded to the call around 7 am. Responders ensured the family had been evacuated before making entry and extinguishing a fire confined to the bedroom of the house.

A total of 21 firefighters attended the scene. Crews cleared the area around 8:30.

The Dryden Fire Service says they would like to extend its appreciation to Ontario Provincial Police – North West Region & Kenora District Services Board for their prompt response, and to local citizens for their patience while the road was closed as crews worked in the area.

Dryden City Hall

Dryden’s five-year plan prioritizes population growth management

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Dryden City Council is moving forward with their new 2026-2031 strategic plan.

Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt says the priority is to manage forecasted population growth in a sustainable manner by improving housing availability and affordability.

“I think it’s a foregone conclusion with many of the individuals that provided feedback that Dryden is destined for population growth,” Nesbitt said as he announced the strategic plan to council on Monday. “We need to preserve that quality of life that makes Dryden attractive to existing residents, new residents and businesses.”

Nesbitt outlined five strategic priorities for the city from 2026 to 2031:

  1. Implement an Infrastructure-First Development Policy. The city plans to adopt a policy that mandates necessary infrastructure upgrades are completed ahead of, or concurrent with, the approval of major new housing or commercial developments.
  2. Protect and Direct Development (Land Use Planning). The city plans to strategically define clear boundaries for growth, concentrating new development in specific, intended areas.
  3. Support Housing Affordability and Diversity. The city plans to proactively foster a diverse housing supply to meet the needs of all income levels and life stages.
  4. Proactive Investment in Critical Public Services. The city plans to work with appropriate community stakeholders and senior levels of government and use projected growth forecasts to immediately plan for increased staffing and facility expansions in critical service areas.
  5. Strengthen Municipal Capacity and Fiscal Health. The city plans to invest in municipal administrative strength and pursue diversified, sustainable revenue streams in order to build staffing and technical expertise to manage complex, large, scale growth and to fund sudden infrastructure needs without sole reliance on existing property tax revenue.

The full strategic plan can be viewed here.

Close-up. Arrested man handcuffed

Bail violation investigation leads to drug charge

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Thunder Bay OPP has seized suspected fentanyl and hydromorphone after stopping a 41-year old Dryden man for violating his bail conditions.

The accused faces the following charges:

  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – other drugs
  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid
  • Failure to comply with release order (2)

The accused was scheduled to appear before a court on Tuesday.

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