THUNDER BAY -- Here are 10 of the top stories we covered in August 2024, as compiled by Dougall Media Director of News, Leith Dunick.
- A young girl was seriously hurt in a climbing accident at Boulder Bear. The eight-year-old fell about 20 feet, hurting her wrist in the process. The girl’s parents were concerned staff didn’t react quickly enough. The business has since closed its doors.
- A Thunder Bay family was enraged after the owner of a dog walked away after it mauled six-year-old Willow Royer, after the youngster asked if she could pet the animal. The woman was caught on video scolding her dog, but not stopping to see if the girl was OK. The child suffered multiple lacerations to her face and head.
- Harm-reduction workers said the forced closure of Path 525, the city’s only safe-consumption site, will lead to more overdoses and more deaths. The province put rules in place banning such sites from operating withing 200 metres of a school, in the case of Path 525, Ogden Community School.
- Premier Doug Ford paid a second visit to the city, promising bigger and better pay cheques while announcing support for skills and safety training for local and regional trades organizations, in partnership with First Nations communities.
- The annual CLE fair drew tens of thousands of visitors over five days, from across the city and throughout the region. Fair goers attended for the rides, the food and the entertainment.
- A pedestrian was killed following a Cumberland Street collision that left another victim with serious injuries. Police said an investigation showed an SUV hit the two victims.
- Thunder Bay city council announced its target municipal tax levy increase, aiming for a 3.8 per cent hike – though few answers were forthcoming at the time on how the city expected to hold the planned spending to the proposed increase.
- A shooting incident on Picton Avenue sent one person to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
- City officials confirmed the former European Bakery and Hells Angels clubhouse in the 600 block of Simpson Street will be torn down. Both were damaged in fires between 2019 and 2023 and acquired by the municipality through a failed tax-sale process.
- Tbaytel announced its new president and CEO. Paul Norris was hired to take over from the retiring Dan Topatigh, the move becoming effective on Oct. 1. Norris formerly served in the executive ranks at Bell Canada. Days later Synergy North named its new CEO, Nova Scotia Power’s Rene Gallant.
