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Good morning, Thunder Bay — and welcome to issue one hundred and sixty. Mainly sunny with a high near 8°C and a morning wind chill near −10. It's Saturday, November 7. In today's issue: police say a waterfront explosives scare was a false alarm, the health unit urges early flu and COVID shots as cases climb, and Remembrance Day tribute banners spread across the city. Plus Scrollback, Ask Harbour Beat and things to do this weekend.
In this Harbour Beat Issue…
Trivia: The adult brain makes up only about 2% of your body weight, but roughly what share of your body's energy does it use — 2%, 20%, or 50%? (Answer at the bottom!)
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Ask Harbour Beat: Thunder Bay only became a city in 1970 — which two cities merged to form it, and what does the name "Thunder Bay" refer to?
Answer: Fort William and Port Arthur amalgamated in 1970, along with the townships of Neebing and McIntyre, to create the City of Thunder Bay. The bay's name refers to the Thunderbird, a figure in the folklore of the Indigenous peoples of the area. Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Got a Thunder Bay question? Hit reply. We answer one here every Saturday.
Thunder Bay Events
Here's what's on from today through Wednesday, from the City's community events calendar, Your Thunder Bay and TBNewsWatch's weekend guide.
Saturday, November 7
NOV 7 · Fandom Fair — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free · 📍 Moose Hall, 434 Fort William Rd. · A one-day market for fans of video games, sci-fi, anime and fantasy, with costumes encouraged and photo backdrops. · 📅 Add to Calendar
NOV 7 · Country Christmas Craft Fair — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, free · 📍 Vanderwees Garden Gallery, 6488 Mapleward Rd. · Over 100 local vendors and more than 35 themed trees in the Winter Wonderland display. · 📅 Add to Calendar
NOV 7 · Cass Furman: Funny For A Girl! — two shows, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. · 📍 Campfire Comedy, 117 Cumberland St. N. · One night in Thunder Bay for the stand-up comic's cross-Canada tour. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Sunday, November 8
NOV 8 · Canada's Largest Indigenous Christmas Market (final day) — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free · 📍 CLE Coliseum Building, 425 Northern Ave. · Last chance to browse handmade gifts from Indigenous makers. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Tuesday, November 10
NOV 10 · City Council: last meeting of the 2022-2026 term — 6:30 p.m. · 📍 City Hall · The outgoing council's final meeting before the new term begins. · 📅 Add to Calendar
Wednesday, November 11
NOV 11 · Remembrance Day Service — 9:30 a.m. to noon · 📍 Waverley Park, Waverley St. · A service honouring veterans of the world wars, Korea, peacekeeping missions and Afghanistan. · 📅 Add to Calendar
NOV 11 · Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile JR. — The Musical — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., $20 (runs Nov. 11–14) · 📍 Badanai Theatre, 499 Dewe Ave. · Badanai Young Company presents the musical about a crocodile who loves to sing. · 📅 Add to Calendar
📌 Also happening
Sat 10 a.m. · Seasonal Artisan Market · The Auditorium · (check before you go — listing is dated Sat but its text says Nov. 8, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Sat 10 a.m. · A World Market Affair · African Boutique, 18 Court St. S.
Sat noon · Mum's Pantry General Store · 100 Simpson St.
✅ NO WEATHER ALERTS IN EFFECT
Environment Canada has no alerts in effect for Thunder Bay. A chilly start gives way to a mainly sunny, milder afternoon; the wind picks up tonight.
☀️ Saturday, November 7 — Thunder Bay
8°C
Overnight low +3°C
Mainly sunny, with winds up to 15 km/h and a UV index of 2, or low. The morning wind chill is near −10, so dress warm early. Tonight is clear in the evening, then partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers overnight and west winds of 30 km/h gusting to 50.
Sunday is sunny with a high of 9°C, Monday is a mix of sun and cloud at 11°C, and Tuesday cools to 6°C. Forecast from Environment Canada.
Police say the waterfront explosives scare was a false alarm
Construction crews working at Prince Arthur's Landing uncovered what police called "possible explosives" on Friday afternoon, and people were asked to avoid the area around International Taiji Park. Police's emergency task unit responded, the OPP's explosive disposal unit attended, and a second release just before 4:40 p.m. confirmed no live explosives were present. Police say the incident is resolved and their presence in the area has ended. If you were planning a waterfront walk this weekend, police say the scare is over.
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The health unit urges early flu and COVID shots as cases rise
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is hosting a series of vaccine clinics as influenza cases climb earlier than usual across the province and locally, says Laura Dennis, who manages the health unit's vaccine-preventable diseases program. She urged everyone to get both their COVID and flu shots, even if they are healthy, to protect grandparents and others with weaker immune systems. The health unit also warned on Oct. 30 that invasive pneumococcal disease is rising, with the district's case count five times the provincial average. Check the health unit's website for clinic dates and locations, and if you are over 65, ask about the pneumococcal vaccine.
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Remembrance Day tribute banners grow to 170 across the city
The Remembrance Day Memorial Banner project has grown this year, with new banners along High Street and at the marina anchorage. George Romick of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5, Port Arthur, says 170 tribute banners honouring local veterans will hang around the city in time for Remembrance Day, up from about 35 last year on Memorial Avenue and at the Waverley Park and city hall cenotaphs. The Remembrance Day service is Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Waverley Park, and the banners are viewable at two more locations than last year.
🗳️ Your call: Flu cases are rising early — have you had your shot yet?
Flu cases are rising early this year. Have you had your flu shot yet?
🔙 SCROLLBACK: Readers backed the councillor sanction, and want shelter-village units opened fast
The councillor sanction (13 responses): Council took up a recommended 30-day pay suspension for an outgoing councillor. What should it do?
🥇 Approve it as recommended — 10 votes (77%)
Let it lapse now that her term is ending — 3 votes (23%)
Debate it before deciding — 0 votes
Takeaway: Among those who voted, a clear majority wanted the sanction applied. Council ultimately docked 15 days' pay, half of what was recommended.
💬 What readers are saying: One reader who backed the sanction said people in official positions should not see themselves as privileged and that the conduct should not be condoned.
The shelter village (11 responses): It passed its October target. What should come next?
🥇 Open the next units as soon as they're ready — 5 votes (45%)
Put more money toward permanent housing — 3 votes (27%)
Add more on-site health and support services first — 1 vote (9%)
Wait for neighbourhood committee feedback before expanding — 1 vote (9%)
Other — 1 vote (9%)
Takeaway: Speed topped the list, with permanent housing a clear second.
Final thoughts: Both polls are small samples, so treat them as a fun temperature check rather than a definitive verdict. Thanks to everyone who voted.
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Trivia answer: 20%. The brain is only about 2% of body weight, yet it uses roughly a fifth of the body's energy even at rest.
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