THUNDER BAY -- Here are 10 of the top stories we covered in March 2024, as compiled by Dougall Media Director of News, Leith Dunick.
- A courtroom at the Thunder Bay Courthouse had to be evacuated after Jonathan Massicotte was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2014 death of William Wapoose. An officer said Massicotte, who proclaimed his innocence, tried to reach for his gun.
- The province opened a new commercial vehicle inspection station near Shuniah, an attempt to promote safety on Northern Ontario highway. The $30-million project came with state-of-the art technology to address commercial motor vehicle safety, but also came under fire later in the year by those who don’t believe it’s open often enough.
- Two people had to be airlifted to Toronto after a fireball explosion took place at the Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper mill. The Ministry of Labour was brought in to conduct an investigation.
- Derek Turner pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the 2021 death of Jordan Lapointe. The 41-year-old was one of four people charged in Lapointe’s murder.
- The city’s council composition committee survey showed slightly more than half of respondents saw value in a ward system, 83 per cent felt a ward boundary review was in order and 75 per cent felt 13 councillors is not an appropriate number.
- An early spring storm saw up to 45 centimetres of snow fall on the city, a rarity in Thunder Bay in the 2023-24 winter-weather season.
- Nishnawbe Aski Police Service chief Roland Morrison was suspended for alleged misconduct. In November, Morrison was permanently removed of his duties, though the reason for his termination remains unclear.
- Canadian Blood Services announced they were reestablishing a plasma donor centre in Thunder Bay, after a 12-year absence. The facility will be housed at the Thunder Centre and is expected to open in early 2025.
- The municipal sunshine list grew to 659 members, 71 more than were on the public employee salary disclosure list the year before. Provincial legislation requires municipal and provincial employees making $100,000 or more to be on the publicly available list.
- Thunder Bay hosted up to 80 evacuees from Cat Lake First Nation, after the community’s Margaret Gray Nursing station burned down on March 2.
