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 October:
1. The municipal election brought plenty of change to city hall, including returning Ken Boshcoff to the mayor’s chair for the third time – and first since 2003. Kasey Etreni, Greg Johnsen, Dominic Pasqualino, Rajni Ajarwal and Mike Zussino were all newly elected to the council table.
2. The election wasn’t without controversy, as results were delayed because a Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board trustee candidate was left off the ballot, forcing a re-vote for those voters affected. Earlier, some voters in McKellar Ward cast votes for Red River candidates, due to an error with the online voting system.
3. Michael Park, 24, was identified as the city’s 12th homicide of 2022 after police investigated reports of a shooting at a Brodie Street residence. Greg Casamir Meshake was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
4. An inquest into the deaths of two Indigenous men, who died in custody, opened. Roland McKay and Donald Mamakwa died, in separate incidents while locked up in jail cells at the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters. More than 30 witnesses appeared over the mandatory coroner's hearing, including a medical expert who said Mamakwa likely would have survived if given medical treatment.
5. Cody Echum was sentenced to six years for his role in the 2020 killing of Austin Robinson. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter last spring.
6. Representatives of the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario school board officially announced a new public French school would open in Thunder Bay at the former Edgewater Park Public School, a first for Thunder Bay. The school will open next fall.
7. Thunder Bay Olympian Katie Weatherston was furious that Hockey Canada chose not to help with her medical expenses, related to injuries suffered playing for her country, while spending millions on confidential sexual assault payouts.
8. Former Lakehead Public Schools director of education Ian MacRae will face a misconduct hearing after an investigation into his actions and allegations of inappropriate comments made to board employees and trustees over a period of several years.
9. Vandals damaged wood carvings installed at the recently opened Centennial Park playground.
10. The Port Arthur Branch No. 5 unveiled a plaque honouring troops who defended Hong Kong in the Second World War.
