THUNDER BAY — TBNewswatch is taking a look back at the top stories, month-by-month, of 2022. Here are 10 of the stories that made headlines in December:
1. Thunder Bay police investigated the city's 15th homicide case after the body of 21-year-old Ivan Achneepineskum was found in a room at the Kingsway Inn on Christmas Eve. While no arrests had been made as of Wednesday, investigators said there are individuals that they're looking for and there was confidence that the people responsible would be identified in a short period of time.
2. The court system was busy throughout the month, with multiple homicide matters from the last several years. Jeffrey Miller, who had been charged with second degree murder in the 2019 death of Robenson Saint Jean, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is set to be sentenced in the new year. Also, Peter Keeash was found guilty of second degree murder in the 2018 death of Irene Barkman, with sentencing to follow next year. Natalie Moonias was sentenced to nine years in jail for her role in the 2020 death of Christopher Meeseetawageesic.
3. User groups in Thunder Bay continued their vocal push for a new indoor turf facility in Thunder Bay, presenting their vision for a new building near the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and Canada Games Complex. In their presentation to city council, Soccer Northwest officials said that project's price tag is estimated around $20 million, less than half of the cost for the proposed Chapples Park facility. Council voted Monday to direct city administration to assess the proposal and report back by mid-March.
4. Thunder Bay city council voted in favour of a multi-million dollar assistance package for the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, which included covering $2 million of its debt and providing capital funding. The arrangement also creates an arms-length relationship between the city and the venue, which auditorium staff said will allow them to run lotteries and access grant funding.
5. The city's annual Christmas Cheer Fund had a 20 per cent increase in the number of families applying for a holiday hamper. Christmas Cheer Fund chair Joleene Kemp said they received about $250,000 in donations. The Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Toys for Tots campaign brought in nearly $160,000.
6. The public discourse around whether the city should implement a designated truck route heated up again after a transport went off Dawson Road and ended up in the backyard of a Pine Grove Place home. Nobody was injured, but the vehicle came to rest a short distance away from the home and in an area that would be used as a patio in the summer. The driver of the transport was charged with a red light violation.
7. A long-awaited indoor skate park opened. The Cinema 5 Skatepark is located in the former Cinema 5 building on Cumberland Street. The process of transforming the space into a year-round skateboarding centre had been in the works for a while.
8. A well-known community volunteer and activist could face deportation at the end of the month. Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, who came to Thunder Bay as an international student in 2018, could face a deportation order on Jan. 1 after he ran into trouble financing his education during the pandemic. His legal representation has filed a request for a stay of that order while his application for a permanent residency pathway has been decided. His case has led to a strong outpouring of public support and an online petition that has garnered thousands of signatures.
9. Agencies resumed programs that have helped provide support and shelter for vulnerable populations during the coldest months. NorWest Community Health Centres relaunched their care bus, which offers free transportation, shelter, and connections to health and social services. People Advocating for Change through Empowerment also reopened their south-side warming centre after receiving funding from the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board.
10. Somebody will end up a multi-millionaire from the The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation's Thunder Bay 50/50 draw. The jackpot climbed over $1 million by Dec. 6, and has since eclipsed the $2-million mark.
