Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at a residential building on Johnson Avenue yesterday night.
Smoke and flames were visible from the second floor of the two-story complex.
The blaze was brought under control and all occupants were evacuated.
Paramedics attended to two civilians and two police officers at the scene.
A new grant intake from Thunder Bay is supporting multi-unit and core area housing development.
Open for applications are the Multi-Unit Residential Grant, which supports projects creating two or more self-contained residential units, and the Construction Assistance Grant, designed to stimulate new residential development in strategic core areas.
The two programs are delivered by the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Project Manager Summer Stevenson says these grants are part of a larger initiative to build 1,755 new homes by February 28, 2027.
“Across all our grant programs, which these two are a component, we’ve committed over $11.3 million in funding to support the construction of 602 new units (in Thunder Bay)”, Stevenson said. “Many of these are affordable units as well, which is great to see.”
If Thunder Bay meets the growth target of 1,755 new homes in time, the city will be eligible for another grant intake through the Housing Accelerator Fund.
“So this intake, we’re looking for projects that are shovel ready and will be able to meet that February deadline,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson said proposals that incorporate elements of energy efficiency, accessibility and affordability will be prioritized during the evaluation process.
A Thunder Bay man is facing charges after an 11-hour standoff with police early Sunday morning.
Police were called around 2:45 a.m. after an individual known to the family had locked himself in a home on the north end and prevented residents from entering.
The Emergency Task Unit become involved when he threatened officers who tried to enter the home.
After determining there were no other occupants in the home, officers entered the residence and arrested the suspect without incident.
The man faces the following charges:
• Unlawfully in dwelling house
• Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm
• Failure to comply with release order
• Failure to comply with probation order (two counts)
He remains in custody with a future court date.
Health care students planning a career in northern Ontario are now invited to apply for the NOSM University Summer Studentship Program.
The paid summer experience lets students work in Northern rural communities to explore professional interests and build connections.
Learners in a variety of regulated health professions are eligible, according to the NOSM University website:
| • Audiology • Dietetics • Kinesiology • Medicine (MD) • Medical Laboratory Technology • Medical Radiation Therapy • Midwifery | • Occupational Therapy • Pharmacy • Physiotherapy • Registered Nursing (RN, RPN, PN) • Respiratory Therapy • Speech Language Pathology • Technology |
Applications close February 15. A resume and a Letter of Good Standing are required. Click here to apply if interested.
Funded by the Ministry of Health, the program has a track record of successfully recruiting professionals to the Northern Ontario health-care workforce.
The George Jeffery Children’s Centre is planning promotional events all year to celebrate its 65th anniversary.
The centre provides pediatric care for kids from birth to age 19. Its core services support early grade school-aged kids with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech language pathology. Behaviour support services and an infant child development program are also provided through the centre.
“We want to be known as that organization that’s mature in our community, is trusted and a competent service provider,” said CEO Tina Bennett. “So we thought that year 65 is often associated with all of those things.”
Events and promotions are planned through next winter to celebrate the 65-year milestone.
These events include a spring tea time for clients, a staff appreciation barbecue in June, and a formal gala planned for November.
“I’d like to say thank you to the community, our staff, and all of our partners,” Bennett said. “We look forward to continuing to be that trusted and competent service provider for our region.”
To support the George Jeffery Children’s Centre, visit its website.
Confederation College is hosting its annual Career Fair on Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm.
The event is open to current students, upcoming graduates, alumni and community job seekers.
The college recommends researching participating exhibitors beforehand to help foster more engaging conversations.
It’s also recommended to bring an updated resume and cover letter catered towards your preferred field. If you need support with your resume or cover letter, or want advice on how to navigate a job fair, you can reach out to Northwest Employment Works.
Over 70 local and national employers are expected to attend. Here is the complete list, courtesy of Confederation College:
The fair will be held at the SUCCI Lounge within the college.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire in the 3000 block of Oriole Place at around 3:45 a.m. on Friday.
Residents of the building had already evacuated by the time fire crews arrived, with no injuries reported.
By 4:30 a.m. on Friday, fire crews declared the fire under control.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
Members of the fire department remind residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms on every level of a home and outside all sleeping areas.
The department also recommends that households create and practice a fire escape plan.
Bay Village Coffee is kicking off their annual heart cookie fundraiser for local cardiac care on Monday.
The cookies are available throughout February, and all proceeds go to the cardiac sector of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Owner Alan Forbes says the goal is to top last year’s total of 10,000 cookies sold.
“A friend of ours passed away in 2018 from a heart attack, and the only symptom she had was a sore neck,” Forbes said. “When we found out that was a symptom that’s more common in women, I thought that we should just do a little bit of an education campaign, maybe raise a few bucks.”
The heart cookie fundraiser has raised over $100,000 in the last five years.
“Then in 2023, just after giving the check presentation, I had a heart attack myself,” Forbes said. “They ended up using equipment on me that had been purchased through the foundation so it was really full circle.”
Forbes has since recovered. He says he’s feeling re-energized and ready to break some records this year.
Ontario Parks is hosting its first-ever evening Skate with the Giant event tomorrow from 5 to 10.
The 550m trail will glow with string lights and cozy fires.
Parking permits are required and can be purchased at the Ontario Parks website.
Thunder Bay manager of tourism Paul Pepe says new attractions and funding have the city anticipating a busier season than ever.
Pepe noted the opening of the Hyatt House hotel, the Kisselgoff Motorcycle Museum, and the Rock Room rock climbing gym will improve interest in the city this year.
“Last year, what we saw was more Canadians exploring Canada,” Pepe said. “That trend is certainly going to continue in 2026.”
Pepe called Thunder Bay the nation’s “premiere outdoor city” at the unveiling of the official 2026 Thunder Bay Visitor Guide.
He admits that tourism from the U.S. was down last year, but the city will use inclusive messaging to draw those visitors back.
“We really focused on inclusivity in our U.S. messaging this year,” he said. “(We’re) letting our American neighbours know that all are welcome here and continue to be welcome here.”
“For the challenges the (tourism) industry does face, the positive stories outweigh them immensely. That’s something to communicate, something to celebrate, and it’s something that more visitors are finding us for.”
Pepe also mentioned the European market as a growth opportunity for this year and beyond.
Local artist Chelsea Virginia designed the cover art for the visitor’s guide. Her folksy and whimsical style shows in the cover, which features trademarks like a persian, the Terry Fox monument, and the Sleeping Giant.
“Thunder Bay is home. It will always be home. It has shaped my identity so immensely,” Virginia said. “My initial angle (for the cover) was what things bring me personal joy.”
“And I was trying to think, how can I pack the most into a cover as possible? So that’s sort of why I went with the square design so I could get every tiny thing in there.”