It's mid-November and the region has gotten its first taste of winter.
Here are some of the top stories of the past week from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario:
Thunder Bay honours veterans on Remembrance Day
Local residents came out on a snowy and icy Friday morning to pay their respects to those who served their country.
For the first time since 2019, a ceremony was held in the Fort William Gardens.
A large group of people turned out in the elements for services at Waverley Park and Fort William First Nation.
Delaney Arena closed due to cooling system failure
One of city's most well-utilized arenas will be unavailable for at least the next little while.
Earlier this week, city staff noticed significant a drop in the amount of brine, the fluid that runs in the piping below the rink surface that keeps the ice frozen, in the arena's refrigeration system.
City officials were unable to provide a definitive timeline for reopening, saying they would have to wait for the magnitude of the situation to be fully understood.
Fort William First Nation social worker creates her own healing place
Rita Fenton had a dream 10 years ago of opening up her home as a healing place.
The Healing Place, located in her backyard on Chippewa Road, features a 26-foot tall teepee and held a grand opening last weekend.
Fenton said she wanted to create a space where people could feel safe and welcomed, where they can sit by a sacred fire or talk to someone.
New city council to face designated truck route decisions
The next term of Thunder Bay city council will be looked upon to pick up the designated truck route issue from the last group of municipal leaders.
Over the last four years, the issue became gridlocked when council initially voted in favour of implementing a designated route, but was unable to move forward or change direction.
City administration recommends the implementation of the route, which would force heavy truck traffic off Dawson Road and Arthur Street.
Administration is expected to re-present the proposed bylaw to the new council sometime after the budget process concludes early next year.
CUPE ends walkout
Thunder Bay custodians and other education workers who began walkouts Friday in defiance of provincial legislation celebrated what they called a victory Monday in their dispute with the Ford government over wages and working conditions.
The province committed to back down from its legislation invoking the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract and prohibit the union's ability to legally strike, if CUPE agreed to return to the bargaining table.
It came after labour unions, representing several different sectors across the country, demanded a return to negotiations or raised the potential of a more widespread walkout.
