ThunderBay Daily News Brief | 2026-03-09

Thunder Bay Daily News Briefing (2026-03-09)

Today's Overview: Northern Ontario NDP MPPs raise awareness on highway safety. Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof said politicians can always speak, but others don't have that opportunity, and if they can use the honor they've received to show others, maybe they can move the obstacles on the highway. Grasshoppers beware: St. Urho's Day is coming up. On March 14, Thunder Bay's north core will turn purple and green as the Finlandia Co-op hosts its annual St. Urho's celebration, including breakfast, storytelling, and Finnish-style entertainment.

Time range:Only local news published in the past 24 hours is counted.

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Item 1 | Northern Ontario NDP MPPs raise awareness on highway safety. Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof said politicians can always speak, but others don't have that opportunity, and if they can use the honor they've received to show others, maybe they can move the obstacles on the highway.

Detailed reading:

Thunder Bay - On Saturday, NDP MPPs drove in the morning to Sistonens Corners and Kakabeka Falls as part of a nine-day northern tour. The road trip started in Toronto on Tuesday, with MPPs heading west on Highway 11 to the Manitoba border, then returning on Highway 17, documenting some of Northern Ontario's most accident-prone areas and the stories of affected communities. "It's about being human. It's about people, and I think the fundamental reason we're doing this is (to share) the real stories of people along Highways 11 and 17," said Saul.

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Impact note:This item may involve public safety/transportation/justice, etc. It is recommended to prioritize official updates.

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/northern-ontario-ndp-mpps-raise-awareness-on-highway-safety-11972380

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Item 2 | Grasshoppers beware: St. Urho's Day is coming up. On March 14, Thunder Bay's north core will turn purple and green as the Finlandia Co-op hosts its annual St. Urho's celebration, including breakfast, storytelling, and Finnish-style entertainment.

Detailed reading:

Thunder Bay - The Finlandia Co-op in Thunder Bay will host its annual St. Urho's Day celebration on March 14, bringing a full day of family-friendly festivities to the city's north core. Helena Stevens, event coordinator and volunteer at the Thunder Bay Finlandia Co-op, said the city has been marking the occasion for decades. "Thunder Bay has been hosting St. Urho's Day since the early 1980s and 1983, usually combined with parades around Thunder Bay and Algoma." The festival began in northern Minnesota in the 1950s and has grown into a cherished tradition in Finnish-North American communities. "The origins come from several g

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/grasshoppers-beware-st-urhos-day-is-coming-up-11952428

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Item 3 | Rural schools closed, rural bus routes cancelled, several public schools outside Thunder Bay closed due to road conditions.

Detailed reading:

THUNDER BAY - Icy roads have forced the closure of several schools in the Lakehead Public Schools Board and cancelled rural bus routes. According to an email sent Monday morning by the Student Transportation Service, Thunder Bay, Crestview, Five Mile, Gorham & Ware, Kakabeka Falls, McKenzie, NorwesterView, Valley Central, and Whitefish Valley public schools will be closed for the day. All Thunder Bay Catholic, French Catholic, and French public schools remain open.

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/rural-schools-closed-rural-bus-routes-cancelled-11975857

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Item 4 | Fort William Gardens celebrates 75th anniversary. Local former hockey player Rick Adduono said the city is great for sports, with winners, great players, and great coaches in every sport, so Thunder Bay has a lot to be proud of for a city of 110,000 people.

Detailed reading:

Thunder Bay - On Saturday, first-time visitors and long-time supporters of Fort William Gardens came together on the ice to celebrate the Gardens' 75th anniversary with a public skate. Many notable figures were present, including Jerry Kirk, who played in the first official hockey game at the venue for the Fort William Hurricanes and Fort William Canadians in 1951, and Rick Adduono, who played for the Thunder Bay Vulcans in the Minnesota-Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League from 1971 to 1972, as well as the Thunder Bay Twins of the Allan Cup. Similar to his face-off with Alex Irving of the Hurricanes, Kirk and his great-grandson Jackson Gardner

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/fort-william-gardens-celebrates-75th-anniversary-11974743

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Item 5 | Man charged with murder denied bail. Kyle Barry is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 54-year-old Shelley Marconi. 38 minutes ago

Detailed reading:

Thunder Bay - A Shuniah man accused of murdering his stepmother has been denied bail. A bail hearing was held for 26-year-old Kyle Barry in Thunder Bay court on March 3, and on Monday, Judge Danial Newton released his decision, denying Barry bail. The judge's reasons and all evidence heard during the hearing are subject to a publication ban. On July 14, 2025, Barry was charged with second-degree murder in connection with an incident at Blind Creek Drive in Shuniah.

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/man-charged-with-murder-denied-bail-11976545

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Item 6 | Two new hotel developments proposed in the city. A 105-room Fairfield Inn could be built next to the Valhalla Hotel, while a 120-room Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites are planned for 1208 Oliver Road.

Detailed reading:

Thunder Bay - The city has received two applications seeking to build new hotels in Thunder Bay. The first application is for a six-storey, 105-room hotel at 790 West Arthur Street, adjacent to the Valhalla Hotel and Conference Centre. The hotel would be branded as Fairfield Inn. The second application is to build a second six-storey, 120-room Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites at 1208 Oliver Road. The proponent is seeking to build an 11,129-square-foot facility.

Source:TBNewsWatch (single source)

Reference source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/two-new-hotel-developments-proposed-for-city-11976352

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Weather and travel

Tomorrow's temperature is expected to be between -6°C and 4°C. Dress warmly for morning and evening travel and be aware of icy road conditions.