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 July:
1. Northwestern Ontario politicians Patty Hajdu, Sol Mamakwa and Anna Betty Achneepineskum were part of a delegation that travelled to Edmonton for Pope Francis’ visit to Canada to apologize for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the country’s residential school system.
2. Police said a violent incident in the 800 block of McMillan Street was a homicide, identifying Charlie Joseph Finlayson, 37, as the victim. Authorities would later arrest 32-year-old Justin Randy Dave Coaster.
3. After two years of limited activities, Canada Day returned to the city’s waterfront, with plenty of celebrate at Marina Park. However, in deference to the changing nature of the holiday, fireworks weren’t held out of respect to Indigenous Canadians. The Festival of Colours and Festival of India also returned to the waterfront later in the month.
4. David Hui was sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 slaying of Lee Chiodo, plus an additional 15 years, to be served concurrently, on a kidnapping charge. Hui won’t be eligible for parole for 25 years.
5. Peng You, a first-time city councillor, announced he was going to run for mayor, days after incumbent Bill Mauro announced he would not be seeking a second term as the city’s top elected official. Clint Harris, the former publisher of the Chronicle Journal, also announced his candidacy for mayor in July.
6. Paper Excellence Group announced it planned to purchase Resolute Forest Products, a deal which includes the Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill and the Thunder Bay sawmill.
7. Thousands turned out to Fort William Historical Park for the first annual Country on the Bay music festival, featuring Brett Kissel, Lee Brice, Teri Clark and Johnny Reid.
8. A Thunder Bay Police officer came under fire after letting a bridal party take a picture in and around a police car in Marina Park, at the scene of a recent sudden death.
9. Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa was named a deputy leader of the NDP, following the resignation of former leader Andrea Horwath.
10. A small sinkhole at the corner of High Street and Oliver Road caused a stir when a bus got stuck in the hole and had to be extricated with the help of a tow truck.
