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Remo Knecht _ Crop

Show us your NWO: Winter Edition

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There’s a certain magic to Northwestern Ontario that reveals itself the moment the snowpack settles deep into the forests and lakes. Early mornings hum with the sound of a snowmobile engine warming up, sending echoes through the frosted pines. Riders follow winding white trails that weave through endless evergreens, each turn offering a fresh breath of crisp, cold air.

“Nature’s Beauty” Photographed by Remo Knecht

By afternoon, the cold settles in with its familiar bite, the kind that stings your fingertips. Out on the open stretches, the landscape feels vast and untouched, frozen lakes shimmering faintly under the pale sky, and spruce trees dusted with fresh snow. It’s the kind of cold that demands respect but rewards adventure, turning a simple ride into a journey through an untouched northern world.

“Fresh snow on trees on a crisp morning” Photographed by Wayne Morrison

And when night comes, the real magic happens. The sky erupts in sweeping curtains of green and red, dancing across the darkness like something alive. The aurora borealis paints the horizon above quiet towns and frozen shorelines, reflecting softly off the ice below. Under those lights, with engines quiet and the world hushed, Northwest Ontario reveals its soul, wild, beautiful, and unforgettable.

“Beautiful Grassy Narrows” Photographed by Robert Williamson

📸We would love to see what you see. Grab your Phone or Camera and send me your best shots.

Email in your photos:

Kenora – info@yourkenora.ca

Dryden – info@yoursunsetcountry.ca

Fort Frances/Rainy River – info@yourborderland.ca

dog on top of person's lap while sitting on ground at daytime

Major jump in homelessness reported in northern Ontario

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The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) reports that over 85,000 Ontarians were homeless last year, an eight percent rise from 2024.

In northern Ontario, homelessness grew by more than 37 percent.

“No one in Ontario should accept the scale and scope of homelessness described in this report,” said Robin Jones, AMO President. “We can solve this crisis, but we need to work together.”

Homelessness in the province could double by 2034 without significant intervention, AMO warns.

The organization recommends the provincial government shift its focus towards long-term housing solutions over temporary emergency measures. They propose an investment in 75,000 new affordable and supportive housing units over the next decade.

“We need the provincial government to lead with meaningful action, supported by federal investment, to protect individuals, communities and our collective prosperity,” Jones said.

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Update: Highway 17 reopens near Marathon following collision

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A stretch of Highway 17 near Marathon was closed in both directions following a collision early this morning.

The closure was in place between Peninsula Road — the former Highway 626 — and Marathon.

Officials listed the incident at approximately 7:02 a.m., noting that a tractor-trailer unit is blocking the highway.

It was listed as cleared approximately an hour and a half late,r around 8:30 a.m.

Details on the incident, including potential injuries or how many vehicles were involved, are not yet known.

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Flight forced to return to Sioux Lookout after alleged assault

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A woman is facing multiple charges after a disturbance aboard a flight from Sioux Lookout to Kasabonika Lake led the plane to return to Sioux Lookout Municipal Airport.

According to the Ontario Provincial Police, officers were called just after 7 p.m. on Friday after a reported assault on board the aircraft while it was in the air.

Police say a 44-year-old woman was arrested and charged with assault in an aircraft in flight, assault, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

She was released on bail with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court in Wunnumin Lake on January 19.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information or video related to the incident is asked to contact the OPP or reach Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Oshki-Wenjack nurses

Ontario investing in new program to train long-term care workers

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The province has announced $26 million in new investments into long-term care.

The Professional Growth Fund, which trains and upskills staff in long-term care homes, will be receiving an additional $5.5 million this year, bringing the total investment into the fund up to $15.5 million for 2025-2026.

The remaining $21 million will go into a new program to bring education into long-term care homes through “practical nurse (PN) Living classrooms”.

Traditionally, personal support workers (PSWs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) begin with classroom education before moving into clinical placements.

The new program will offer students looking to enter the field of long-term care the chance to receive an education in their home communities, with studying and training opportunities integrated into long-term care homes.

This change particularly implicates students from smaller communities, who would previously have had to leave home for their education.

The new investments are meant to help bring approximately 3,000 new long-term care PSWs and RPNs into the field by 2029.

blue bmw car in a dark room

Updated penalties for impaired driving now in effect across Ontario

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Harsher penalties for driving under the influence are now in effect under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.

The changes were implemented on January 1.

In the most significant of the changes, a conviction for impaired driving causing death now automatically brings an indefinite suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, with no possibility to apply for reinstatement for a minimum of 25 years.

Short-term penalties for drug and alcohol impairment have been increased: a first-time offender will now see their license suspended for seven days, where previously the punishment was three days, and a second-time offender’s license suspension is increased to two weeks, where previously it was one week.

Repeat offenders would previously see an impairment offence marked on their record for five years; now the look-back period has been doubled to ten years.

Drivers who see their license suspended due to alcohol and drug offences will now need to participate in an education program with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Those receiving subsequent suspensions will have to participate in treatment programs before getting behind the wheel again.

Update: Redditt Road open after fatal crash

Update: Redditt Road open after fatal crash

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One person is dead after a crash in Kenora overnight.

OPP say one vehicle collided on Redditt Road at around 11 p.m. Thursday. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

There’s no word yet on what caused the collision.

Kenora OPP Detachment, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene.

Reddit Road between Highway 17a and James Road was closed overnight while police investigated.

Canadian Parliament

Liberal government survives first confidence vote on 2025 Budget

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The Mark Carney-led Liberal government has survived its first confidence vote on this year’s budget.

Members of Parliament voted 198 to 139 to defeat a Conservative sub-amendment that called for rejecting the fiscal plan.

More tests of confidence are still ahead — including one Friday on a Bloc Québécois amendment opposing the budget.

If the government were to lose that vote or the final budget vote expected later this month, an election could be triggered.

The next major confidence test will come after MPs return from a week-long break in the parliamentary calendar.

round white pills

Warning issued after suspicious change in drugs across region

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The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is warning people about tainted drugs that may be sold on the streets in communities between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.

This is a second similar warning from the health agency after seeing an increase of suspicous overdoses, particularly in Dryden and Sioux Lookout.

According to the NWHU, people have been experiencing unusual reactions and effects from drugs and testing done by drug checking sites and people using drugs has shown there are often other substances mixed in that make use of these drugs more dangerous.

“We wanted to do a little more investigating,” says Donna Stanley, director of health protection with the NWHU. “So the second (warning) is like a follow up that we were saying this looks like it is around the region between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay so maybe everyone should know.”

The NWHU cautions people that substances are being sold as cocaine, however it is causing unusual symptoms of feeling unwell, sleepiness or unconsciousness, even death.

Stanley adds that sometimes naloxone isn’t proving effective, suggesting the substance is tainted with tranquilizer.

As well, opioids have been testing positive for medetomidine (vet tranquilizer) and crystal methamphetamine has tested positive for fentanyl.

The NWHU reminds people using drugs to practice safe harm reduction through such measures as testing drugs before using (NWHU has free test kits), keeping naloxone on hand, and to never use drugs alone.

In the end, the agency reiterates that people experiencing suspicious effects should contact emergency services and to report any adverse drug events.

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