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Good morning, Thunder Bay — and welcome to issue one hundred and thirty-one. Sunny, turning to a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon, with a high of 14°C and an east wind picking up late in the day. It's Friday, and Lakehead Public Schools has lifted lockdowns at two south-side education centres. In today's issue: what happened and what police say; the district's new 10-year housing and homelessness plan; a full-service restaurant coming to Thunder Bay Airport; and a school-zone speeding charge on Rosslyn Road. Plus eight things to do between now and Tuesday, with 22°C on the way for Saturday.
In this Harbour Beat Issue…
Trivia: In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Elliott lures the alien into his house with a trail of which candy — M&M's, Reese's Pieces, or Smarties? (Answer at the bottom!)
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Thunder Bay Events
From Menopause The Musical and Come From Away to the Medieval Faire and a free community Thanksgiving dinner, here's what's on between now and Tuesday. Thanksgiving Monday has no listings on the City calendar.
Friday, October 9
OCT 9 · Mum's Pantry General Store — noon to 6 p.m., open Thursday to Saturday · 📍 100 Simpson St. (corner of Simpson and Victoria) · A community-driven general store and mini artisan market for local food and handmade goods. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 9 · Menopause The Musical — 7:30 p.m., tickets from $73 · 📍 The Auditorium, 1 Paul Shaffer Dr. · A musical parody about four women at a lingerie sale, set to classic hits. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 9 · Come From Away — 7:30 to 9 p.m., $36 · 📍 Badanai Theatre production (venue details on the event page) · The true story of the Gander airlift on Sept. 11, 2001, as a musical; the last performance is Saturday, Oct. 10. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Saturday, October 10
OCT 10 · Thunder Bay Medieval Faire — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 10 and 11; tickets online or at the gate · 📍 Hymers Fair Grounds, 47 Hymers Fair Dr., Gillies · The Knights of Valour bring two days of medieval merriment to the fairgrounds. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 10 · GenX Comedy Takeover Tour — 7:30 p.m. · 📍 The Auditorium, 1 Paul Shaffer Dr. · A night of stand-up from four social-media comedians. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 10 · The Lazys at Black Pirates Pub — 8 p.m., 19+, $35 advance or $50 at the door · 📍 Black Pirates Pub, 215 Red River Rd. · Australian rock band The Lazys return for one night, with Winnipeg grunge rockers The Bloodshots in support. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Sunday, October 11
OCT 11 · The Salvation Army's Free Thanksgiving Dinner — 12 to 2 p.m., free, everyone welcome · 📍 Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre, 545 Cumberland St. N. · A community Thanksgiving meal prepared and served by Salvation Army members. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Tuesday, October 13
OCT 13 · Tuesday Group Run — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. · 📍 Boulevard Lake, Rita Street parking lot · A friendly 5k run or run/walk around the lake; all speeds and fitness levels welcome. · 📅 Add to Calendar
✅ NO WEATHER ALERTS IN EFFECT
Environment Canada has no alerts posted for Thunder Bay as of Thursday evening. Expect sunshine this morning turning to a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon, with an east wind reaching 20 km/h late in the day.
☀️ Friday, October 9 — Thunder Bay
14°C
Overnight low 9°C
Sunny, becoming a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Wind becoming east 20 km/h late in the afternoon. UV index 3, moderate. Increasing cloudiness tonight with a southeast wind easing near midnight, and a mild low near 9.
Saturday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 percent chance of showers and a high of 22°C, and Sunday holds at 22°C with sun and cloud. Thanksgiving Monday turns cloudy and cooler near 10°C with a 60 percent chance of showers, and Tuesday reaches 9°C. Forecast from Environment Canada.
Lockdowns lifted at two south-side education centres
Lakehead Public Schools placed the Jim McCuaig Education Centre and the Lakehead Adult Education Centre, both on Lillie Street South, in hold and secure and then lockdown on Thursday morning after "a possible threat outside of the area," and lifted both by noon. Police separately warned of a visible presence in the 600 block of Victoria Avenue East, which a police spokesperson says is not connected to the lockdowns; officers were first called to that area on Monday and the investigation is ongoing. If you're travelling through the 600 block of Victoria Avenue East, expect a visible police presence.
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The district's new 10-year housing and homelessness plan sets 54 goals
The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board released its roadmap through 2036 on Wednesday, with a stronger focus on transitional and supportive housing. About 1,400 people are on the waiting list for social housing, and the city's latest count found 652 people known to be experiencing homelessness, though advocates say the real number could be double. It's a ten-year roadmap rather than a funding announcement: the board itself says rising building and rent costs are the constraint.
🗳️ Your call: the new plan has 54 goals. Which should come first?
Your call: the district's new 10-year plan has 54 housing goals. What should come first?
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A full-service restaurant and bar is coming to Thunder Bay Airport
The airport is building a new floor over the car rental booths for a restaurant with a commercial kitchen and bar, a project that also expands the departure lounge. Phase two of nearly $10 million in government-supported renovations should wrap up by Christmas, and the airport says it is on pace for 840,000 passengers this year, just shy of the 2018 record of 869,000. The operator hasn't been announced. Don't plan a sit-down meal there just yet: the restaurant is projected to open early in the new year.
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A driver clocked at 89 km/h in a 40 km/h school zone loses their licence for 30 days
An officer in the Rosslyn Road area on Oct. 7 around 2:30 p.m. spotted a vehicle doing 89 km/h in a posted 40 km/h school zone, and police charged the driver with speeding and stunt driving. The driver faces a 30-day licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impound. Police reminded drivers that reduced speeds protect children walking, cycling or crossing during peak travel periods. Around a school zone, the posted limit is the number to follow — the penalty here was a month without a licence and two weeks without the car.
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Trivia answer: Reese's Pieces. Mars, the maker of M&M's, reportedly passed on the film, so Hershey's Reese's Pieces got the role instead.
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