The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is continuing its work to establish a cardiovascular surgery program in northwestern Ontario, a move that will allow more patients to receive specialized cardiac care closer to home.
Developed in partnership with the University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, the initiative follows a “One Program, Two Sites” model and is considered one of the most significant clinical expansions in the hospital’s history.
“Launching the Cardiovascular Surgery (CVS) Program is one of the largest clinical transformations our Hospital and region has ever undertaken,” TBRHSC wrote in a release. “It requires deep collaboration among many teams, clinicians, and partners, each contributing their expertise to build a program that meets the highest standards of care.”
While construction crews are building the facilities needed to support cardiovascular surgery, the hospital says teams are working behind the scenes on program planning, staff recruitment and training, operational readiness, and strengthening relationships with health-care partners across the region.
A multidisciplinary project team is spearheading the effort, overseeing the clinical and operational work required to safely launch the service and ensure its long-term success.
As planning progresses, the TBRHSC says efforts will focus on recruiting specialized staff, expanding education and training opportunities, developing care pathways, enhancing information technology systems and strengthening regional collaboration.
According to hospital leaders, the program will help create a more connected cardiovascular care system for northwestern Ontario, reducing the need for patients and families to travel far from home for advanced treatment.
THUNDER BAY — Premier Doug Ford and Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu delivered a message of cooperation Saturday as northwestern Ontario continues to battle one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent memory, while also emphasizing strong federal-provincial collaboration in responding to the emergency.
Speaking at a news conference in Thunder Bay, Ford praised frontline emergency responders and said all levels of government are focused on protecting residents forced from their homes by advancing wildfires.
“This is collaboration at its best,” Ford said. “We say collaboration, cooperation and communication. We’re all working together.”
Ontario is currently dealing with 191 active wildland fires, including 73 that remain out of control. Ten communities have already been evacuated, while several others remain under evacuation warnings or are preparing for possible evacuation orders.
Ford highlighted the scale of the response, noting that approximately 155 fire crews and 80 water bombers and helicopters are currently deployed. He also credited Ontario Provincial Police officers for carrying out dozens of rescue missions involving hundreds of stranded campers and residents.
The premier said the province is working closely with Ottawa and the Canadian Armed Forces to coordinate transportation, accommodations and support services for evacuees.
“We’re also working across government and with our federal partners and the Canadian Armed Forces to establish transportation and accommodation, food and registration services,” he said.
Queen’s Park and Ottawa work together to respond to the wildfire emergency
Hajdu, who joined Ford at the event, said Canadians should be reassured by the level of cooperation taking place behind the scenes.
“Canada is working very efficiently with Ontario and has been since the beginning of the fire season,” Hajdu said.
She added that federal Emergency Preparedness officials have maintained close communication with Ontario counterparts throughout the crisis and that the federal government remains prepared to provide whatever support is required.
“The Prime Minister wants to be very clear that we’ll be there to support Ontario,” Hajdu said. “We’ll be there to work hand-in-glove with Ontario to make sure that we protect people and we protect our region.”
Hajdu warned that political divisions can make an already stressful situation worse for residents facing evacuation orders and uncertainty.
“A lot of people, rightly so, are afraid,” she said. “They’re scared about their lives, their pets, their property, the future, the ability to breathe. But what doesn’t help with the fear is when people work at opposite ends.”
Instead, she pointed to the coordinated efforts involving federal agencies, Ontario officials, municipalities and First Nations communities as evidence that governments are united in their response.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford (July 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTING)
Ford echoed that sentiment while criticizing attempts to politicize the wildfire emergency. He rejected suggestions that wildfire resources have been underfunded and pledged that cost will not be a factor in the province’s response.
“I will not spare a penny, not a penny,” Ford said. “There is no limit to making sure that we support and save people.”
Both Ford and Hajdu emphasized that cooperation between governments remains essential as crews continue to battle fires across the northwest.
“This is a relationship that happens at the government operation centres with Emergency Preparedness Ontario and the Government of Canada,” Hajdu said. “The focus is really to get people to safety, to protect property to the degree that is possible, and to put these fires out as quickly as we can.”
The leaders expressed hope that a more favourable weather forecast for the coming days will help firefighters gain control of several major fires across the region.
A New Brunswick man is hoping his thumb will help to raise $100,000 for cancer research.
Twenty-year-old Quinn Strang, who is a cancer survivor, is hitchhiking across Canada to raise funds.
He was first diagnosed with cancer when he was 15 years old.
“I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I had Ewing Sarcoma in my left femur, and it spread to my lungs and lymph nodes. I didn’t catch it till pretty late, so I probably shouldn’t be here today. After a gruelling nine-month battle involving chemotherapy and radiation, I was declared cancer-free. But I relapsed in grade 12, and then I had to get a femur transplant,” Strang explained.
Following that, he was valedictorian at his high school graduation, where he told his story.
Three years later, on May 17, Strang started his cross-Canada journey in Newfoundland. He plans to follow the same route as Terry Fox did on his Marathon of Hope, hitching rides along the way.
He spent Sunday night in Thunder Bay, and on Monday, he is headed for Kenora.
“There are just beautiful people all around, and I’m trying to showcase that as well,” Strang expressed.
“I have a propeller hat on and a sign, so I hope that makes me look more friendly, and people are more keen to pick me up.”
Strang added that he has found that if you smile, you’re more likely to get picked up.
He hopes to complete his cross-country journey by mid-June, but without a set schedule and not knowing when he’ll get picked up and how far they’ll take him, he is just taking it day by day.
“You just take it as it comes. I kind of live my life with a go with the flow philosophy. I just kind of see where the day takes me. I do try to set minor goals for the day. I’m on the road for 10 to 12 hours. So I just kind of see how far I can get. It really is a gamble. You could be waiting two hours for a five-minute drive, or you could be waiting five minutes for a two-hour drive, right? So I do kind of set little goals though,” Strang said.
Quinn has been in remission for almost 3 years, and his family says he wants to give back to the IWK hospital that did so much for him, along with the Terry Fox Foundation for research in the hopes of finding a cure.
A GoFundMe page has been set up, and as of 8 am Monday, over $67,000 had already been raised.
Unions, educators and government shared a roundtable discussion at Confederation College Thursday, focusing on northwestern Ontario’s implementation of a proposed $6 billion skilled trades investment nationwide.
Announced in April, the proposal would support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Team Canada Strong initiative, aiming to attract up to 100,000 Red Seal-certified trades workers over the next five years.
“We wanted to start here in my own riding to talk about the investments that Canada is going to make to attract people to the trades, to help them get through the training pipeline, and finally to help employers hire those apprentices so they can gain those hours,” said Thunder Bay MP Patty Hajdu, also Ontario’s Minister of Jobs and Families.
Hajdu said local northwestern Ontario unions and educators provided valuableinsight into how this project can be implemented across the province (via Patty Hajdu / May 21 2026)
Hajdu said Canada is facing a shortage of about 30,000 skilled trades workers per year.
“Part of the challenge is people just haven’t thought about a career in the skilled trades,” she said. “They don’t necessarily know what it’s like to pick up a hammer and participate in a housing project.”
The investment was proposed during the spring economic update. While the proposal is still going through the House of Commons and later the Senate, Hajdu says it will soon get passed and the government can start providing financial supports for the trades.
“There’s no question all of the provinces want to make this happen. The question is, how can we work most efficiently together? And the union voices are very important in helping design this program,” Hajdu said.
She says Ontario will focus on attracting tradespeople aged 15 to 30 and creating more opportunities for them to gain hands-on experience and complete apprenticeships.
Proposed incentives discussed at Thursday’s roundtable include:
Boosting Employment Insurance to $400 a week during training
Increasing supports for those laid off while in training
Ensuring a $5,000 bonus upon Red Seal certification
Offering grants to employers for first-year apprentices
Improving digital tools to connect people with apprenticeship pathways
“We’ve got major energy projects happening in northern Ontario,” Hajdu said. “In order to get all these things built, we need the skill.”
Hajdu said more information is on the way once Ottawa approves the proposal and the funding distribution starts to take shape.
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.
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
Early child care essentials like diapers, formula, breast pumps and toys are on their way to remote northern communities.
These supplies will be donated to families for free through the Mikinakoos Children’s Fund.
The non-profit smashed their donation goal, raising over $26,000 through their Giving Tuesday Infant Campaign. This success allows them to make it a staple program and continue donations in 2026 and 2027.
“When you have a newborn, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to be able to afford diapers, especially in a community where sometimes supplies just aren’t available,” said Database Manager Will Scholz. “So it provides a lot of security to families who are facing a lot of insecurity, frankly.”
There have been four communities serviced so far: Sachigo Lake First Nation, Bearskin Lake First Nation, Keewaywin First Nation, and Kingfisher Lake First Nation.
“Different supplies that you and I would typically just take for granted being able to run out to the store to grab, are just not available in northern communities,” Executive Director Stephanie Paxton said. “Or if they are available, the cost is so incredibly inflated by three, sometimes four times the cost of what we pay here.”
The Mikinakoos Children’s Fund works with shipping partners like Bearson Airlines and Northstar Air to deliver these goods. These airlines sometimes offer discounted or completely free shipping out of charity.
“We’re really working to help support families and new parents in securing the best first start for their little babies in the north,” Paxton said. “Our mission is to make sure that every child has the best opportunity to thrive and survive in their home communities.”
“A huge thank you to the community,” Scholz said. “As a smaller non-profit, community support is always really essential for us meeting our goals and being able to support families in need.”
A made-in-Thunder Bay horror film is set to spook local audiences, starting Thursday night.
Written by Tina Petrick and directed by her filmmaking sibling Laura Lynn Petrick, Lempo is a Nordic-style folk horror film based on Finnish mythology, but set on the outskirts of Thunder Bay.
“Lempo started as the God of fertility and love and then when Christianity took over the country, he was transformed into the Devil himself,” says Tina about the real Finnish mythology that inspired the film. “I thought that served as such a beautiful metaphor for relationships and love. Sometimes a relationship can start in a really beautiful place and then end up turning out to be quite haunting.”
Filmed around the Thunder Bay area with the help of local cast and crew that Tina describes as “heavensent,” Lempo will screen for free Thursday through Sunday at the Co. Lab Gallery in Goods and Company Market on Red River Road as part of Culture Days, the three week-long series of free, or pay-what-you-can, activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and Thunder Bay.
For the Petrick sisters, it was a great opportunity to showcase not only their homegrown short-film to local audiences, but it was also a chance to present the filmmaking duo’s calling card.
“I think that’s always the dream for filmmakers who make a short, that it becomes a calling card and leads to bigger productions with bigger budgets,” says Tina. “It would be amazing to turn it into a feature or work on another feature-length production together and ideally, set it again in Thunder Bay.”
More stormy weather is expected in northwestern Ontario.
Environment Canada issued thunderstorm warnings early Sunday afternoon for the Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Ear Falls, Lac Seul First Nation and Sioux Lookout areas.
Just after 6 p.m., the final thunderstorm warnings were ended.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts,” said Environment Canada in the notice.
“Any thunderstorms that develop may produce strong wind gusts up to 100 km/h. Utility outages are possible. Significant damage to property, buildings and trees is possible.”
The forecaster says the storms are moving southwest to northeast, with multiple rounds of heavy showers possible for some areas, before tapering off later today.
The following areas are under rainfall warnings:
Kenora
Ear Falls
Grassy Narrows
Sioux Lookout
Red Lake
Pikangikum First Nation
Poplar Hill First Nation
Roughly 50 to 75 mm of rain is expected, with some areas that receive multiple thunderstorms possibly seeing more than 75 mm.
Strong winds are also expected in a number of locations, including:
Thunder Bay
Dryden
Fort Frances
Kenora
Sioux Lookout
Nipigon
Atikokan
Ignace
Nestor Falls
Winds of up to 70 to 90 km/h are expected to gust through the region on Sunday afternoon.
