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Good morning, Thunder Bay! Happy Monday — we're easing into the week with full sunshine and a high near 27°C. There's a classic-car cruise-in tonight, the Teddy Bears Picnic lands at Vickers Park tomorrow, and a snapping turtle has been stealing the show out at Chippewa Park. Here's everything worth knowing to start your week.
In this Harbour Beat Issue…
⚽ Chill roar to the top of the Prairies Premier League
🗳️ A new challenger enters the McKellar Ward race
🚒 Crews knock down a Coppin Road house fire
🐢 A snapping turtle nests at Chippewa Park
Trivia: What is the collective noun for a group of flamingos? (Answer at the bottom!)
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
Your week-ahead guide to Thunder Bay — here's what's worth getting out for over the next few days. 🎉
Monday, July 6
Dawson Diner Monday Night Cruise-In — 6:30 p.m. · 📍 Dawson Diner · Classic cars, chrome and good company at the weekly Monday cruise-in. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Tuesday, July 7
Teddy Bears Picnic — 11 a.m.–3 p.m. · 📍 Vickers Park · A free, all-ages City picnic with games, music, snacks and plenty for the kids (bring a teddy!). · 📅 Add to Calendar
Wednesday, July 8
Free Meditation Workshop — 6:30 p.m. · 📍 North End Community Centre · A free guided session to reset midweek — all experience levels welcome. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Lil Godd — Live — 6:30 p.m. · 📍 Black Pirates Pub · A live hip-hop show on Red River Road. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Thursday, July 9
Mills Block Conservation Area Grand Re-Opening — 3–7 p.m. · 📍 Mills Block, 4045 John Street Rd · Celebrate $700K in new accessible boardwalk and trails at the reopened conservation area. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Summer in the Parking Lot — 6 p.m. · 📍 Superior Inn, 555 Arthur St. W · Outdoor live music; this week: Reckless Abandon, Traveler & V3nom. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Friday, July 10
Dogs Do Magic — 7 p.m. · 📍 Thunder Bay Community Auditorium · A family-friendly night of magic, comedy and jaw-dropping canine tricks. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Monday is a stunner: sunny skies and a high of 27°C, with a very high UV index of 8 — so pack sunscreen, a hat and water if you're out at the picnic or on the trails. Look for a clear evening before a 60% chance of showers and a slight risk of a thunderstorm overnight, with a low near 13°C. The rest of the week cools off a touch: showers are possible Tuesday, it turns cloudier Wednesday and Thursday, and sun returns Friday. Full forecast at Environment Canada.
Chill roar to the top of the Prairies Premier League
The Thunder Bay Chill put on a clinic in Saskatoon on Sunday, rolling to a 6-1 win over Forza Soccer Academy. Nick Phyllis bagged a hat trick and Matteo Bosch added two as the Chill improved to 4-1-3 and briefly climbed into sole possession of first place in the Prairies Premier League. They close out their Saskatchewan road trip Tuesday in Regina before the home finale on July 17.
A new challenger enters the McKellar Ward race
The field for this fall's municipal election is filling out. Donnalee Morettin, a McKellar resident and 34-year hospitality manager, has filed to run for McKellar Ward councillor, pitching tighter budgets, smarter procurement and protecting essential services. She's also flagged the ward's aging sewer infrastructure as a priority. Morettin will face incumbent Brian Hamilton, who announced his own re-election bid last week.
Crews knock down a Coppin Road house fire
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue was called to a Coppin Road home just after 10:40 a.m. Sunday for a deck fire that had spread inside. Both people in the house got out safely. Crews fought the blaze from the outside and in — with up to seven pumpers on scene — in extreme heat that had firefighters cycling through rehab to cool down. The cause is under investigation. Platoon Chief Brent McPhail's reminder: “Smoke detectors really do save lives.”
A snapping turtle steals the show at Chippewa Park
Campers at Chippewa Park got a front-row nature lesson when a common snapping turtle — Canada's largest freshwater turtle — dug a nest and laid her eggs right in the middle of a campground road. City staff quickly ringed the spot with barriers to protect the clutch, which should hatch between late August and early October. The species is listed as special concern, so crews are keeping human impact to a minimum (vehicles can still get around the barricade).
Meme of the Day
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What’s faster than word of mouth? The Harbour Beat Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what’s going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.
Trivia answer: A flamboyance. Fittingly, a group of these bright-pink birds is called a “flamboyance” of flamingos.