Following was our April fool's day story published April 1, 2016.
PORT ARTHUR, Ont. – The City of Thunder Bay is no more.
In fact, it appears the city never actually technically existed to begin with.
Newly discovered documents reveal the amalgamation between the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William were never completed. While simply just a clerical error, the discovery means that the amalgamation of the two cities and the creation of Thunder Bay is immediately void.
“I was really kind of stunned,” said university student Leslie Dullard, who discovered the problematic documents while researching a history paper.
The final documents that were to complete the amalgamation appear to have been accidently replaced with a napkin containing what appears to be a pancake recipe scribbled on it.
“It looks like a good recipe,” Dullard said.
The twin cities now have 30 days to complete the finalization of the amalgamation or else they’ll have to start from scratch, explains Paul Dupe, who heads the province’s department of amalgamation oversight.
Despite its rarity, the province does have rules in place to deal with a botched amalgamation.
Because Thunder Bay was a case of human error and not malicious, the amalgamation will move forward with one exception – no city name proposed during the original amalgamation can be used.
“So no matter what, we can’t be Thunder Bay,” Dupe said, adding that Lakehead and The Lakehead are also banned as potential names.
“The Thunder Bay is available though,” Dupe said. “So is The The Lakehead and The The The Lakehead.”
Dupe also believes this is a chance for the twin cities to think outside the box, and possibly even generate revenue.
“This is 2016,” he said. “Why not think of selling naming rights to the amalgamated city? Why not be The Thunder Bay proudly brought to you by Blockbuster Entertainment?”
Happy April Fool’s Day.
