THUNDER BAY -- 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.
- Embattled Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth submitted her resignation and walked away from her post on Jan. 27. Hauth was suspended at the time of her resignation, but won’t face a Police Act hearing for allegations of misconduct, announced the same day of her resignation.
- The proposed city budget was announced by city officials and called for an initial 6.2 per cent tax-levy hike, deemed historically high and more than double the increase ultimately approved a year earlier.
- Twenty-three-year-old Dallas Bannon was identified as the victim of a fatal shooting that took place on Jan. 22 in the John Street area. An unnamed youth was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Less than a week later, Cody Young, 33, became the second murder victim of the year. Matthew Scavarelli, 24, was charged with second-degree murder in the McKenzie Street death.
- Property owners in the Kaministiquia area began to speak up about their opposition to the Waasigan Transmission Line, concerned about impacts to their property and quality of life.
- Three people were arrested and charged in the city’s record 15th confirmed homicide of 2022, after Ivan Achneepineskum was found dead at a south-side hotel. Taliyah Wabasse, 18, Draydin Bluecoat, 20 and Jayven Spence, 19 were all charged with second-degree murder.
- Lakehead University announced the hiring of Gillian Siddall as the school’s next president. Siddall had a long-time history at Lakehead, joining the university in 1998. She succeeded outgoing president Moira McPherson.
- A Thunder Bay-born Jeopardy champion stretched his remarkable run to 13 wins before finally tasting defeat. Ray Lalonde won nearly US$390,000 and earned a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
- City council voted unanimously in favour of calling for a decriminalization of simple drug possession, declaring the opioid crisis a provincial emergency and expanding funding for harm reduction services.
- A contractor was hired to begin work on the new Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Tom Jones Corporation will build the facility, which has been in the works for more than 14 years.
- The first baby of the year, Bowtig Beardy, needed only 64 minutes to arrive after the new year’s bell sounded. Bowtig weighed in at eight pounds and he and mother Kaya Beardy were doing just fine.
