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 November.
- More than three-and-a-half years after she went missing, the remains of Alyssa Turnbull were finally discovered after two men accused of being involved led police to the burial site in a remote area of Kaministiquia. Nick Soos, 29, and Brian Soos, 61, were charged with committing indignity to a body and obstructing justice.
- At-large Coun. Rajni Agarwal drew the ire of the city’s integrity commissioner, who slammed her conduct for recent behaviour, that included giving the middle finger to city residents and breached council’s code of conduct. Council later voted to strip Agarwal of one month’s pay.
- A series of threats against several Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board schools resulted in hold-and-secure and outright closures of several schools, most notably St. Patrick High School.
- City council reversed a previous vote on a proposed indoor turf facility plan, and approved a $38-million financing plan to move forward with a planned structure adjacent to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. A week earlier council delayed approving a $44-million proposal.
- Lakehead District School Board said they hoped a four-month suspension of former director of education Ian MacRae, and a written reprimand would bring closure to those affected by comments MacRae is alleged to have said, including derogatory comments about Indigenous people and board staff members.
- The Northern Ontario School of Medicine and its unionized workers reached an 11th-hour deal to avert a possible strike at its Thunder Bay and Sudbury campuses.
- The Thunder Bay Police Services Board announced its 2024 operating budget that included a $2.4-million spending increase, prompting at least board member to suggest looking at ways to save police resources spent on mental health and addiction calls.
- Dr. Sarita Verma announced she will leave her post as head of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine when her contract expires next year. Verma led the school’s move to independent university status.
- The annual Santa Claus parade was a huge hit once again, drawing thousands of spectators, who lined the route to kick off the holiday season in Thunder Bay and for a chance to catch a glimpse of Jolly Old St. Nick himself.
- MPP Patty Hajdu declared the federal government’s deal with Google, which will ensure Canadian news sites don’t get dropped from the world’s largest search engine, was a win for local journalism.
