Massive Morrisseau masterpiece returns to public view after 40 years
By Clint Fleury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – The 22-foot-long and 9-foot-4-inch-tall rare Norval Morrisseau painting, called Morrisseau Masterwork, now welcomes guests as soon as they walk through the front door of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. The painting has not been seen in 40 years, and those who got a chance to look at it before it was put into storage have only seen it lying on the floor, Meaghan Eley, gallery collection manager, told Newswatch on Friday. It’s on loan to the gallery for the rest of the year. “It was last seen in 1986. It was painted in 1985, shown briefly shortly after that, and then it’s been in storage since then,” ,” she explained. “It’s one of the largest, if not the largest,...
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Artists at Nunavut Trade Show bring tradition to the marketplace
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News At the back of the Arctic Winter Games Arena in Iqaluit during the Nunavut Trade Show, there were two rows of tables reserved for Nunavummiut artists and crafts people. One booth was occupied by Mona Netser from Coral Harbour, who was selling mitts and hats made out of beaver skins, fox fur and seal skin. She also had de-haired polar bear skin. “Some of them I buy, some of them I prepare myself. I have boys that hunt,” Netser said. She has been sewing since she was 12 years old, though she joked that she started as a newborn. She comes from a long line of women who have made the same style of warm outerwear. “My mom was a...
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Arctic Stars – APTN’s fall programming highlights the real North
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation For it’s fall season, APTN is unveiling programming that emphasizes authentic Northern living. While new documentary series like Go North! celebrate traditional Inuit cultural practices and their adaptation across the changing Arctic, award-winning comedy North of North is back for a highly anticipated second season. “This isn’t content made about the North – this is the North telling its own stories,” said Adam Garnet Jones, APTN’s director of TV content and special events. The international success of North of North, commissioned jointly by APTN, CBC and Netflix, demonstrates the wide appeal of Inuit-led content. The streaming platform’s first Canadian original series hit the Top 10 in 33 countries, earned a 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, and won nine Canadian Screen...
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Carney touts ‘right partnerships’ in Arctic as he welcomes Norwegian PM to Ottawa
By Anja Karadeglija Prime Minister Mark Carney says his focus on building international relationships, including with Norway, is part of the answer to renewed threats from Russia. During a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Ottawa, both leaders were asked about warnings from the Polish prime minister that Russia may be planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries that support Ukraine. Store said those warnings should be taken seriously and that Norway’s intelligence has concluded there are “real threats coming from hybrid activity, ranging all the way to potential sabotage.’ Carney didn’t comment on the credibility of the threats, but said he agreed with Store’s statements. “One of the advantages of this relationship and deepening across a broad range of relationships is, yes,...
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Banff student canoes nearly 500 kilometres to school in Edmonton
By Leah Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook BANFF – Aven McKay took the scenic route to her first day of university. The 19-year-old canoed nearly 500 kilometres along the North Saskatchewan River from her home in Banff to Edmonton, just in time for her first day at the University of Alberta (U of A). “I really wanted to do a canoe trip by myself for quite some time,” said McKay who is enrolled in Native studies. Starting the 12-day paddle just outside of Banff National Park near Saskatchewan River Crossing, McKay was joined by her dad for the first stretch before going solo. “I did that section with my dad mostly because the water was really technical and some of the parts were pretty difficult,” said McKay...
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‘Everything’s unknown’: Canmore explorer completes multi-month sailing expedition to High Arctic
By Leah Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook GREENLAND – “If I’m going to die, at least I’ll have warm feet,” thought Pascale Marceau as gale force winds slammed her sail boat within inches of the white-capped sea below. Tucked in a bay somewhere off the coast of Greenland, the inlet wouldn’t be enough to evade the gnarly storm descending on the Canmore explorer and the crew aboard the Nord Hus. More than halfway into their sailing journey to the High Arctic, abandoning ship was starting to seem like their only choice as winds rose above 50 knots. “The mast was bending over sideways, and the rails were in the water on some of the gusts,” said the mountaineer with several Arctic first ascents under her belt. “We...
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Liberals expected to shake up labour code with new economic bill
By Craig Lord The Liberal government is expected to unveil new legislation with major implications for labour relations on Monday. The Building Canada Strong Act will be one of the first pieces of legislation Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduces in the new fall sitting of Parliament. In addition to streamlining rules for project reviews across the country, the act is expected to propose changes to the Canada Labour Code. Labour leaders, including the heads of Unifor and the Canadian Labour Congress, have said any measure that restricts workers’ ability to strike would weaken their rights and strip them of bargaining power. They worry the legislation will codify the government’s use of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to quash strike actions when a dispute is deemed to threaten...
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Government to table bill Monday aimed at speeding up major project approvals
By Nick Murray Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government will table a bill today to fast-track the approvals for major projects. The Building Canada Strong Act is expected to remove the responsibility for reviewing many big projects, such as pipelines and power transmission lines, from the hands of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. A discussion paper earlier this year also said Ottawa was aiming to create so-called “economic zones” to give ministers the power to pre-approve certain projects. The government originally intended to introduce the bill in the spring but pumped the brakes after pushback from environmental and Indigenous groups. It underwent extensive consultation through the summer, with Ottawa receiving more than 21,000 emails on it. Earlier this month, the government said it abandoned plans to exempt certain projects from...
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Manitoba RCMP: 60 collision deaths this year, e-bike laws coming
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader A sharp rise in fatal traffic collisions across Manitoba has police urging motorists to exercise greater caution, with local statistics showing severe crashes continuing to impact the Portage la Prairie region. According to year-to-date data released by Manitoba Traffic Services, RCMP officers across the province responded to 52 fatal collisions resulting in 60 deaths as of Aug. 31. The figures represent a 27.5 per cent increase in fatal collisions and a 24 per cent increase in total fatalities compared to the RCMP’s five-year average for the same period. Staff Sgt. Shelley Lepla of Manitoba Traffic Services described the upward trajectory as deeply concerning, noting that the month of August alone saw collisions claim eight lives across the province, including two...
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FCM research touts municipal investment amidst trade war
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader Portage la Prairie City Councillor and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Manitoba Director Joe Masi is pointing to new national research to highlight why federal cost-sharing is critical for major local projects, including the city’s planned $118-million water treatment plant expansion. The new study, released by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, highlights the substantial economic returns generated by municipal infrastructure investments across the country. According to the research, every dollar spent on local infrastructure yields $1.05 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), drives more than $2 in overall economic activity, and creates seven jobs for every $1 million invested. “This study really makes a strong case for government because we are in a period where the federal government wants to build...
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N.S. seafood processor wants accuser to name names in $10-million lobster lawsuit
By Devin Stevens A Nova Scotia seafood processor is arguing that a commercial fishing group suing it over claims it bought illegal lobster needs to name names and provide more detailed allegations before the case can continue. Independent Fisheries Ltd. and its president, Xiaoming (Mark) Mao, argue in court papers that they’re being asked to prepare a defence to the $10-million lawsuit “with no understanding of the (alleged) facts.” The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, a group representing thousands of independent, multi-species commercial fishers and associations across the Maritimes, filed a lawsuit against Mao and Independent Fisheries Ltd. in November 2024. The suit also names the owners and operators of Fisher Direct Ltd. and Seawell Holdings Ltd., both based in Shag Harbour, N.S., as defendants. The alliance alleges it conducted an...
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Carney touts ‘right partnerships’ in Arctic as he welcomes Norwegian PM to Ottawa
By Anja Karadeglija Prime Minister Mark Carney says his focus on building international relationships, including with Norway, is part of the answer to renewed threats from Russia. During a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Ottawa, both leaders were asked about warnings from the Polish prime minister that Russia may be planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries that support Ukraine. Store said those warnings should be taken seriously and that Norway’s intelligence has concluded there are “real threats coming from hybrid activity, ranging all the way to potential sabotage.’ Carney didn’t comment on the credibility of the threats, but said he agreed with Store’s statements. “One of the advantages of this relationship and deepening across a broad range of relationships is, yes,...
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Police statement heard in fatal hit-and-run case
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — A truck driver who pleaded not guilty in a fatal hit-and-run was told by a police officer that it was hard to believe the driver was unaware he had struck a person with his truck after the driver said he thought it was just a rock. The trial for Gurmeet Singh Brar, from Edmonton, continued this week in a Thunder Bay courtroom. Brar is accused of failing to stop at the site of a collision that killed Kathleen Desmoulin, 41-years-old, of Long Lake #58 First Nation in November 2023. On Tuesday, the court heard a three-and-a-half-hour video interview with police that was recorded following Brar’s arrest in May of 2024. The Crown said it was necessary to their case...
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‘Dooming the moose’: Manitoba Cree chief calls for voluntary stop to hunting
By Brittany Hobson The leader of a First Nation in Manitoba is urging all moose hunters to stop hunting in the community’s traditional territory due to what she calls dwindling population numbers. Misipawistik Cree Nation Chief Heidi Cook is advocating for a “voluntary hunting closure” of an approved game hunting area that encompasses a large part of the community along the northwestern shores of Lake Winnipeg. Cook is appealing to all hunters, including members of Misipawistik, to prioritize the long-term health of the moose population by halting harvesting in the area beginning Monday, when the season opens. “At this moment in time, the moose population just cannot sustain that harvest. So we’re asking all Manitobans to stand with us in protecting moose and calling on our government to do better,”...
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Rio Tinto agrees to continue paying for Nunavut region’s scholarships and cultural programs despite diamond mine closure
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Global mining company Rio Tinto signed a Diavik diamond mine closure agreement with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association on Sept. 17 in Kugluktuk, Nunavut. The deal committed Rio Tinto to continue funding scholarship and cultural programs in the Nunavut region during the permanent closure process for the mine, 300 km northeast of Yellowknife. Currently, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association offers a maximum $1,500 scholarship for college students who stay in their community, a $2,000 scholarship for students who leave their community, and $5,000 for post-graduate studies. Most of that comes from the Rio Tinto Diavik Community Scholarship Fund, which offers $3,100 per student up to two times in their educational career. The mining company has social impact contracts with the Government of...
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How groups tied to U.S. Atlas Network turned a fringe separatist movement in Alberta into a political threat
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Investigative Journalism Foundation Separatism has gone from an idea on the margins of the conservative movement to one at the centre of Alberta’s government. Over the last decade, a cadre of libertarian think tanks has been instrumental in bringing Alberta separatism into the mainstream, promoting the idea through research, conferences, social media and the press. They’ve helped craft government policy to prepare Alberta for independence, and to make the threat of secession a powerful “or else” in the province’s stand-off with Ottawa. Connecting this web of institutes and academics are their ties to the U.S.-based Atlas Network, and the revolving door relationship between members of the network and the administration of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Atlas Network is a U.S. non-profit that acts...
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Kronis talks amendments to abandoned boats legislation
By Hope Lompe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder, Gabriola Sounder Abandoned boats in the waters surrounding Gabriola, Nanaimo and Ladysmith is a long-standing issue multiple terms of federal MP’s have attempted to get on top of. Vessels left in the water pose a significant risk to the surrounding marine environment, including water contamination caused by fuels, oils and greases, anti-fouling paints and toxic materials found on boats, reads a 2020 report by Sheila Malcomson, MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island. In the “What We Heard” report, survey participants described the low value of older boats combined with the high cost of proper disposal and lack of disposal options, resulting in older boats being sold for a low price or abandoned when they become too costly to maintain. Tamara Kronis, MP for...
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N.L. politicians vote in favour of Quebec energy agreement worth billions
By Sarah Smellie The Newfoundland and Labrador government has voted in favour of a multi-billion dollar agreement to share energy from Labrador with Hydro-Québec, though it passed by a thin margin. The province’s 20 governing Progressive Conservatives rose in the legislature Thursday night in favour of the draft deal. One Independent member joined them. The remaining 18 members — 15 Liberals, two New Democrats and one Independent — stood to oppose. The draft deal came after years of negotiations, one change in government and a renegotiation process. It has inspired anxiety, anger and hope in a province desperate to end a history of hydroelectric failures and persistent crushing debt. Thursday’s vote came after a four-day debate about the non-binding agreement, which proposes plans for more than $50 billion worth of...
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Canadian Medical Association updates code of ethics to address racism, discrimination
By Alessia Passafiume The Canadian Medical Association has updated its code of ethics to clarify how doctors are expected to address racism and discrimination in health care. The CMA says the updates give physicians clearer guidance on providing culturally safe, trauma-informed and equitable care, respecting Indigenous knowledge and working with colleagues. The reforms are part of the CMA’s reconciliation action plan and the code is now available online in four Indigenous languages: Anishinaabemowin, Michif, Northern Michif-Cree and Inuktitut. “Racism and discrimination have no place in health care, yet we know that they persist, sometimes with tragic consequences,” said Bolu Ogunyemi, president of the CMA. “We can and must do better, and this updated code of ethics and professionalism is an important step in that process.” The CMA has apologized for...
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Few signs an election is underway in Quebec’s Far North
By Katrine Desautels North of the 55th parallel, there are few indications that a five-party race is underway to elect Quebec’s next government. In several Nunavik villages, not a single campaign sign was on display just over three weeks before the election. In the last Quebec general election, in 2022, voter turnout in the Ungava riding was 30.21 per cent — far below the provincial average of 66.15 per cent. The northern riding is the largest in the province, covering an area larger than Alberta. In addition to Nunavik, the riding includes about twenty sparsely populated municipalities, including Chibougamau, Chapais, and the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. The average person in the riding is under 33 years old and more than two thirds of the people who live in the...
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