TBNewswatch is looking back at the top 10 stories of each month in 2023, as chosen by Dougall Media's director of news, Leith Dunick. Here are the picks from December.
- Gary Lamont pleaded guilty to a pair of charges related to his role in a Norval Morrisseau art fraud ring. Lamont was charged with forgery and defrauding the public over $5,000. Later in the month Lamont pleaded guilty to three more counts of sexual assault, for incidents that took place in 2021 and 2022. Lamont got five years on the forgery charges.
- Tragedy struck when the body of missing 14-year-old Neskantaga First Nation resident Mackenzie Moonias was located by police at Marina Park.
- Northwestern Ontario highways proved to be deadly, with fatal collisions in the area taking place on three consecutive days, and a fourth occurring just days later.
- Warm weather was the topic of conversation for much of the month, with temperatures soaring to 13 C and more on at least one occasion. A white Christmas never materialized, as rainy weather continued throughout the area.
- Dustin Moffatt pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the 2021 death of 16-year-old Cody Furioso. Furioso was stabbed near the James Street Swing Bridge after he and a friend got into an altercation with a man.
- Two children were rushed to hospital with what police called serious injuries after a driver struck them in a hit-and-run at the Northwood Park Plaza parking lot. A 25-year-old man was later arrested and charged in the incident.
- Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu introduced the First Nations Clean Water Act. Bill C-61 commits to providing safe drinking water and wastewater management, collaboration and self-governance in First Nations communities.
- Matawa First Nation spoke up in support of Wequedong Lodge, citing a lack of confidence in the federal government to help fund the facility, which is facing millions in deficits.
- City workers approved a possible strike mandate, but did not set a strike date. Members of CUPE Local 87, a union representing 550 workers in garbage collection, park maintenance, roads and sewer and wastewater, voted 98 per cent of a walkout.
- Neebing residents were up in arms after a property owner, who said he had permission to do so, burned garbage for nearly a week in an effort to clean up the land. Residents complained about thick black smoke and an intense smell from the fire, which including the burning of a run-down house on the property.
