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Good morning, Thunder Bay — and welcome to issue one hundred and fifty. Cloudy with morning drizzle clearing late, and a high of 13°C. It's Wednesday, and Thunder Bay now has its next mayor: Moe Comuzzi won Monday's vote by 946 votes. In today's issue: what the mayor-elect says she'll do first, the Ford Street pedestrian bridge closes for emergency repairs, the Pacific Avenue bridge is close to reopening, and a 26-year councillor says goodbye. Plus family picks for Halloween weekend, a round of This or That and seven things to do through Saturday.
In this Harbour Beat Issue…
Trivia: Curling stones are traditionally cut from granite quarried on a small island off the coast of which country — Scotland, Norway, or Ireland? (Answer at the bottom!)
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Thunder Bay Events
From a country night at the Auditorium and a Mediterranean guitarist to open-mic comedy, a local artisan market and Halloween-night karaoke, here's what's on through Saturday.
Wednesday, October 28
OCT 28 · Owen Riegling — 7:30 p.m. · 📍 The Auditorium, 1 Paul Shaffer Dr. · The country singer-songwriter and 2022 Boots & Hearts competition winner plays the Auditorium. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 28 · Catch the Ace at The Proz — draw at 7 p.m., $5 per ticket · 📍 Westfort Prosvita, 721 West Gore St. · Weekly charity draw; tickets are sold at the bar through the week and you don't need to be there to win. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Thursday, October 29
OCT 29 · Pavlo — 7:30 p.m., tickets from $64 · 📍 The Auditorium, 1 Paul Shaffer Dr. · The award-winning instrumental Mediterranean guitarist and recording artist in concert. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 29 · Open Mic Comedy Thursdays at Campfire Comedy — doors 7 p.m., sign-ups 7:30, show 8 to 10 p.m., no cover · 📍 117 Cumberland St. N. · Weekly open-mic night with touring comedians and rising stars, open to newcomers. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Friday, October 30
OCT 30 · Mum's Pantry General Store — noon to 6 p.m., Thursday to Saturday · 📍 100 Simpson St. · A community-driven general store and mini artisan market celebrating local food and handmade goods. · 📅 Add to Calendar
OCT 30 · Friday live music at Bar Polonia — 8 to 11 p.m., $10 cover · 📍 Polish Combatants' Association Branch No. 1, 209 N. Cumberland St. · Weekly live music night; everyone is welcome, call 807-345-1861. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Saturday, October 31
OCT 31 · Karaoke at The Proz — 8 p.m. · 📍 Westfort Prosvita, 721 West Gore St. · A Halloween-night karaoke session at The Proz. · 📅 Add to Calendar
⚔️ This or That: Thunder Bay Edition
Settle it for yourself, Thunder Bay — which side are you on?
🍩 Finnish pancakes or a Persian for the weekend treat?
💦 Kakabeka Falls or Ouimet Canyon for a day trip?
🛒 Memorial Ave or Arthur Street for errands?
🌅 Sleeping Giant or Mount McKay for the best view?
❄️ First snow in October — excited or already over it?
✅ NO WEATHER ALERTS IN EFFECT
Environment Canada has no alerts posted for Thunder Bay at the time of this update. Wednesday starts cloudy with a chance of drizzle that clears late in the morning.
☁️ Wednesday, October 28 — Thunder Bay
13°C
Overnight low 6°C
Cloudy, with a 40 per cent chance of drizzle in the morning, clearing late in the morning, and a high of 13°C. Wind west 20 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. The UV index is low at 2. Cloudy overnight with rain developing in the evening, and a low near 6°C.
Thursday is cloudy periods with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 9°C. Friday is sunny and 10°C, and Halloween Saturday is sunny and 9°C. Sunday brings a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 10°C. Forecast from Environment Canada.
Moe Comuzzi is Thunder Bay's next mayor, the third woman elected to the job since 1970
Moe Comuzzi won Monday's mayoral race by a margin of 946 votes, becoming just the third woman elected mayor since Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated in 1970. She takes over from Ken Boshcoff, who did not seek re-election, and says she wants to build a safer, stronger and more connected city, working with the new council and with the vulnerable people in the community. Her first stated step is a sit-down with the new council and city administration.
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The Ford Street pedestrian bridge closes for emergency repairs
Engineers found significant deterioration in one of the wooden support piles on the Ford Street pedestrian bridge, and the City closed the bridge effective immediately while a repair plan is developed. A structural engineer has been hired to design the repairs, but there is no timeline yet for when the bridge will reopen. If the bridge is part of your walk or commute, plan another route for now; the City says it will share updates as they become available.
🗳️ Your call: How often do you use the Ford Street pedestrian bridge?
Do you use the Ford Street pedestrian bridge?
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The Pacific Avenue bridge is close to reopening after months of rehabilitation work
The Pacific Avenue overpass, a main pedestrian and vehicle link to the East End, has been closed since late June while crews replace its entire centre span and make other repairs. Project engineer Mike Vogrig says the City is hoping to reopen it this week but won't commit to a date yet, since a couple of minor jobs remain and the work is weather dependent. A specific date is expected to be announced soon. East End drivers and walkers should wait for the City's confirmed date before changing their routes.
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Trevor Giertuga leaves city hall after 26 years on council
Trevor Giertuga finished third in Monday's mayoral race with 7,106 votes, or 19.1 per cent, behind winner Moe Comuzzi and runner-up Aldo Ruberto, and will leave council after 26 years. He thanked his supporters, including his wife Chelsea, who managed his campaign, and says he plans to take time to reflect and spend it with family. It's another long-serving voice leaving a council table that already has several new faces.
🧒 WEEKEND WITH THE KIDS
Halloween lands on Saturday this year, and Environment Canada calls for sun and a high of 9°C. Two family picks, on top of the weekend picks in the Events list above.
Dagwood's Slightly Batty Halloween — Saturday, Oct. 31 · 📍 Dagwood's Bakery and Deli, Brock Street location · A sensory-sensitive time runs from 2 to 4 p.m. with the animatronics turned off or toned down, then the doors open to all ages from 4 to 8 p.m. Kids get a free trick-or-treat dessert, and a haunted hour from 4 to 6 p.m. features $1 apple cider. Pre-orders are recommended by Oct. 29. Details →
TBSO Halloween Spooktacular — Saturday, Oct. 31, 2 p.m. · 📍 St. Paul's United Church, 349 Waverley St. · A symphony concert designed for young listeners, with costumes encouraged. $20 adults, $10 children, free under 4. Details →
Know a family event we missed? Hit reply and tell us.
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Trivia answer: Scotland. Most curling stones are cut from granite quarried on Ailsa Craig, a small island off Scotland's west coast.
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