Halloween has come and gone, and it's already November.
Here are some of the top stories of the past week from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario:
Education workers walk off the job
A contentious, and public back and forth collective bargaining process, culminated on Friday when education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees walked off the job.
The union was set to be in a strike position on Friday, but the province passed legislation using the notwithstanding clause to impose a four-year contract and take away the ability for the union legally strike.
While each individual school board was affected differently, there was an impact to services. The Northwest Catholic District School Board closed its schools. Cafeteria services for Lakehead District School Board high schools were unavailable on Friday.
A series of protests were held, including outside the constituency office of Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland.
Inquest results in 35 recommendations
The coroner's inquest into the deaths of two men who died in Thunder Bay Police Service custody resulted in 35 recommendations.
Don Mamakwa, 44, of Kasabonika First Nation died in cell 13 of the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters on Aug. 3, 2014 after being arrested for public intoxication. Roland McKay, 50, of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, was also arrested for public intoxication and died on July 19, 2017 while in cell 12 of the police station.
The jury determined that the means of Mamakwa's death was undetermined, while McKay's was accidental.
One of the ecommendations is for the establishment of a task force with a mandate of bringing a sobering centre to the city. Other recommendations include increasing detox beds in Thunder Bay, supporting community-based outreach programs, training for emergency responders, and increased communication between arresting police officers and jailers working at the police station.
Construction of new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex underway
More than five years have passed since the former Liberal provincial Liberal government promised that a new correctional facility would be built in Thunder Bay.
This week, the Progressive Conservative government announced that ground has been broken on the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, a 345-bed facility with a price tag of $1.2 billion.
The facility, located on Highway 61, would replace the nearly century-old Thunder Bay District Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.
Parade of Lights to return in December
One of Thunder Bay's most popular holiday traditions will be back next month.
The event, organized by the Thunder Bay Police Association, will roll on Dec. 10.
While it contributes to the city's holiday spirit, it also raises funds for a number of local charities. Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $40,000.
Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill on the market
The mill, owned by Resolute Forest Products, is available for sale.
The news was announced last week, and came among an acquisition process between Resolute and Paper Excellence Group.
A forestry industry expert believes there will be interest in purchasing the mill, which he said is "producing probably the very best quality pulp in the midwest."
Meanwhile, its current general manager expressed optimism for its future prospects by saying the mill remains a money generator.
What time is it? It's Novemburger!
Foodies, get ready, it's Novemburger in Thunder Bay.
Several local restaurants have used their culinary creativity to create specialty burgers for the month of November to raise funds for the United Way of Thunder Bay.
This year has 15 different restaurants participating, with $2 from every burger sold during the month donated to benefit local causes.
