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Happy Thursday, Thunder Bay! The air is back to normal and there are no weather alerts in effect — a proper summer day, even with a few afternoon showers in the mix. In today's issue: First Nations chiefs demand a public inquiry into Ontario's wildfire response, Thunder Bay records the country's fastest-growing crime rate, a famous bagel chain eyes a spot in the city, and a bumper strawberry crop at Belluz. Plus this week's Business Spotlight, your week-ahead events, and today's forecast. 🧡
In this Harbour Beat Issue…
🪶 First Nations chiefs demand a public inquiry into Ontario's wildfire response
📊 Thunder Bay posts the fastest-growing crime rate in the country
🥯 A famous Montreal-style bagel chain eyes Thunder Bay
🍓 A bumper strawberry crop at Belluz — despite the smoke
🧖 Business Spotlight: Kangas Sauna
Trivia: Which is the only sea on Earth with no land coastline — its borders defined entirely by ocean currents? (Answer at the bottom!)
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Your week-ahead guide to Thunder Bay. ✅ The smoke has lifted and the weather alerts are down — a good week to get back outside. (The regional fires are still burning, so a wind shift could always change an outdoor plan.)
Thursday, July 23
JUL 23 · 8th Annual Dilico Powwow — from 1 p.m. · 📍 200 Anemki Pl, Fort William First Nation (outdoor) · A day of drumming, dance and celebration — everyone welcome · 📅 Add to Calendar
JUL 23 · Summer in the Parking Lot — 6 p.m. · 📍 Superior Inn, 555 Arthur St W (outdoor) · $7. Live music with Mark Potvin, Junior & The Bifocals and Bill Durst · 📅 Add to Calendar
JUL 23 · Dear Evan Hansen — Summer Theatre at Badanai — 7 p.m. · 📍 Badanai Theatre, 499 Dewe Ave (indoor) · $30. The Tony-winning musical, staged by Badanai's summer company (also on stage Fri–Sun) · 📅 Add to Calendar
Saturday, July 25
JUL 25 · Bay & Algoma Buskers Festival — 12–9 p.m. · 📍 Bay & Algoma neighbourhood (outdoor) · Free. Street performers, food and shops all through the district — continues Sunday 12–5 p.m. · 📅 Add to Calendar
JUL 25 · Single Wound w/ Teknosis & VHS — 9 p.m. · 📍 Black Pirates Pub, 215 Red River Rd (indoor) · A loud night of live metal downtown · 📅 Add to Calendar
Sunday, July 26
JUL 26 · Border Cats vs. Eau Claire Express — 5:05 p.m. · 📍 Port Arthur Stadium, 425 Winnipeg Ave (outdoor) · Northwoods League baseball — Jimmy Buffett Night with a team photo giveaway · 📅 Add to Calendar
✅ NO ACTIVE WEATHER ALERTS
Environment Canada has no alerts posted for Thunder Bay. Air quality is back to normal — though the forecast still notes some local smoke drifting through, so sensitive groups may want to take it easy if it thickens up.
🌤️ Thursday, July 23 — Thunder Bay
28°C
Overnight low 14°C · Wind W 30 km/h (gusts 50)
Sun & cloud, PM showers · Humidex 33 · UV 5 (moderate)
Warm and a touch unsettled. Thursday opens with a mix of sun and cloud, then clouds build near noon with a 60% chance of afternoon showers and a risk of a thunderstorm. It's breezy early — west winds 30 km/h gusting to 50 in the morning before easing off. The high hits 28°C with a humidex of 33, and the UV index is 5 (moderate), so grab the sunscreen. A little local smoke may still drift through. Skies settle overnight to a comfortable low of 14°C. The weekend stays warm near 26°C with the odd shower. Full forecast and any new alerts at Environment Canada.
First Nations chiefs demand a public inquiry into Ontario's wildfire response
The fires aren't over — and on Tuesday, chiefs of six directly affected First Nations gathered in Thunder Bay to say the province's response hasn't matched its promises. Backed by Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Anishinabek Nation, they called for a formal public inquiry into how Ontario handles wildfires and for the “immediate removal” of the Ministry of Natural Resources officials leading the response. Leaders said communities such as Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) and Whitewater Lake were left to self-evacuate with little warning, and disputed the province's claim it was in “constant contact.” “What he is saying is not true,” said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. Their core ask: move emergency response out of the MNR and give First Nations a seat at the table on evacuation timing, fire intelligence and recovery.
Thunder Bay posts the fastest-growing crime rate in the country
New Statistics Canada figures released Wednesday show Thunder Bay's overall crime rate jumped 18% from 2024 to 2025 — the biggest increase of any metro area in Canada — to 8,373 incidents per 100,000 people, the sixth-highest rate nationally. There's a bright spot: the city's violent crime severity index actually fell 7.4%. But non-violent crime pushed the overall Crime Severity Index up about 3% (to 114.1, fourth-highest in the country), the third straight year that number has climbed. Thunder Bay Police say they're reviewing the report.
A famous Montreal-style bagel chain is eyeing Thunder Bay
Fresh, hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels could be on the way. Ottawa-based Kettlemans Bagel Co. — which bills itself as Canada's fastest-growing bagel company — tells Newswatch it's “in the process of finalizing the agreement” on a Thunder Bay franchise. There's no location or opening date yet, and details will come once the deal is done, but it's another national name betting on the city.
A bumper strawberry crop at Belluz — despite the smoke
It's a banner year for strawberries at Belluz Farms in Oliver Paipoonge — a “heavy fruit set” co-owner Jodi Belluz credits to last year's long, mild fall. Wildfire smoke made the peak of the three-week season tricky, forcing the farm to close to the public for two of the smokiest days. But the community showed up: 3M donated masks, and neighbours pulled them on to pick berries for people who couldn't get out themselves. The farm's mostly local, student crew is now moving on to raspberries and vegetables — check their website for daily picking updates before you head out.
Local Business Spotlight
Featured Sauna & Restaurant: Kangas Sauna
Overview. A true Thunder Bay original, Kangas Sauna is a beloved Finnish sauna house and restaurant all under one roof on Oliver Road. Private, wood-panelled saunas you book by the hour sit steps from a cozy diner famous for its oven-baked Finnish pancake — a nod to the city's deep Finnish roots and a ritual locals have leaned on for generations.
Highlights
Private saunas rented by appointment — great on your own, as a couple, or with a group
A full breakfast-and-lunch restaurant known for its Finnish pancake, crepes and hearty diner classics
A Grab-n-Go fridge & freezer for take-home treats
A genuinely one-of-a-kind “sweat, then eat” experience you won't find in many cities
Ambiance & Experience. Warm, steamy and nostalgic — equal parts wellness ritual and comfort-food diner. Come for a private sauna and stay for pancakes, or just drop in for breakfast; either way, it's pure Thunder Bay.
Location & Contact
📍 379 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay
📞 (807) 344-6761
Operating Hours. Restaurant — breakfast & lunch, roughly 8 a.m.–3 p.m. daily. Private saunas — by appointment, about 8 a.m.–8 p.m. (last sauna at 8 p.m.). Hours shift seasonally, so it's worth a quick call to book ahead.
Final steam: book a sauna, order the Finnish pancake, and you've basically done Thunder Bay right. Visit Kangas Sauna →
Meme of the Day
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Trivia answer: The Sargasso Sea. It's the only sea on Earth without a land coastline — its edges are defined by four ocean currents in the North Atlantic (including the Gulf Stream) rather than by any shore. It's named for the free-floating Sargassum seaweed that blankets its surface and shelters baby sea turtles and eels.