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 June:
1. Kevin Holland made political history, winning Thunder Bay-Atikokan for the Progressive Conservatives and knocking off incumbent Judith Monteith-Farrell of the NDP. Her party’s fortunes were better in Thunder Bay-Superior North, where Lise Vaugeois edged Conservative Peng You and Liberal Shelby Ch’ng to capture the seat held by former Liberal cabinet minister Michael Gravelle since 1995.
2. Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth announced her retirement, saying she’d step down the following June. However, later in the month she was suspended after hours later it was announced she’d be facing misconduct hearings, the result of allegations brought forward by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
3. Musab Saboon received two life sentences in the 2019 shooting death of Lee Chiodo.
4. Twenty-year-old Tyrese Belmore was killed at a Shipley Street residence, the seventh murder victim of 2022, the sixth since May 2. No arrests have yet been made in the death of the Saugeen First Nation man.
5. Homicide investigators were kept busy, with murders taking place on back-to-back days. John Mark Reuben, 28, died on June 24 and the following day 19-year-old Aiden Cunningham died. Arrests were made in both incidents.
6. Testimony at a Police Services Act hearing looking into the 2015 death of Indigenous man Stacey DeBungee concluded. Staff-Sgt. Shawn Harrison and Det. Shawn Whipple were facing charges of neglect of duty and discreditable conduct. Police are accused of coming to too quick of a conclusion about DeBungee’s death, ruling out the possibility of foul play.
7. The city learned its $22 million federal funding application for a proposed indoor turf facility had been rejected, putting the controversial project in limbo.
8. An arrest was made in the disappearance of Alyssa Turnbull, who went missing in 2020. Nicholas Soos was charged with committing an indignity to human remains and obstruction of justice. A month later, Brian Soos was also charged.
9. For the first time since 2019, a Thunder Bay Pride Festival was held. The festival featured many booths, including vendors from the 2SLGBTQIA community, snacks and drinks, and plenty of activities for kids to enjoy.
10. Fort William First Nation celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day with a pow wow on Mount McKay. Outgoing Chief Peter Collins said it was a chance to renew relationships between community and bring together people who hadn’t seen each other in years.
