Here are the stories that caught readers’ attention in May.
1. After a lengthy search, police found the body of 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse.
The Webequie First Nation youth who was living in Thunder Bay disappeared on Feb. 7 and was last seen getting off a Thunder Bay Transit Bus near Intercity Shopping Centre. The investigation led police to the Kaministiquia River near the Fort William First Nation.
2. The possible location of a proposed multiplex was the hot topic in council chamber in May, and council was able to narrow down their search to five possible spots.
The suggestions were the Water Street bus terminal, Innova Park, Pool 6, Port Arthur Arena and a property by the Thunder Bay International Airports Authority.
Residents had their say on where the multimillion-dollar centre should go. But many were split between two locations that appeared to be the frontrunners – Innova Park and the downtown north core.
3. A Thunder Bay filmmaker in Pennsylvania died in a tragic helicopter crash.
Greg Jacobsen, 33, was working in the U.S. on the production of the reality show Campus PD, which is close to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Jacobsen, who graduated from Confederation College, was one of four people on board the helicopter and received the most severe injuries.
4. Members of Fort William First Nation band council added their input into the controversial Horizon Wind Inc. project.
Representatives of the First Nation community invited officials from Horizon to the Fort William First Nation Community Centre to discuss the issue. But the message was clear that the First Nation had issues with the project Horizon was proposing.
Many spoke up about why they disproved of the proposed wind farm while Horizon officials struggled to get a word in. Many feared that the project could damage the environment as well as their traditional hunting grounds.
A day later, Horizon Wind Inc. president and CEO Anthony Zwig officially refuted the claims made by some band members and added that many who attended the meeting were misinformed.
5. The Conservatives won a majority government, but Thunder Bay’s two ridings re-elected their orange representatives. Unlike the previous minority government, The area’s two NDP members would be sitting in the House as members of the official opposition.
6. A proposed mid-luxury hotel near the airport took a step forward following a decision by city council.
Jeff Crocco, a managing partner of the group building the hotel, said the 75-room Hampton Inn by Hilton with an estimated $165-per-night stay looked at many locations for the hotel, but ultimately chose to lease the Thunder Bay International Airports Authority land because of its close proximity to existing hotels, restaurants and the airport.
7. Confederation College found a new president in Jim Madder. Madder took over from outgoing president Pat Lang.
Madder, from Winnipeg, was a former Red Deer College vice-president academic.
He said the rise of the mining sector, combined with the rebirth of the forestry sector means plenty of new opportunities for students seeking to make their way in the world.
8. Several delays kept Global Sticks from opening its Oliver-Paipoonge plant, but the company successfully started operations in Northwestern Ontario on May 20.
Company president Reggie Nukovic said securing funding to cover the estimated $20 million needed to build in Ontario became a bigger challenge than he previously thought. The company was expected to employ up to 15 workers when it reached capacity.
9. Westfort residents were pleased that they could finally have a look around the new Mary JL Black on South Edward Street.
The library, originally on Brock Street, officially closed its doors for the last time in April. The new Mary JL Black library was an improvement from its predecessor with new computers and more space for area residents to look around.
10. The American-owned Target Corporation released an initial list of 105 Zellers locations across Canada it intended to acquire the leases from, including the one at the Intercity Shopping Centre.
Each Canadian Target will employ 150 to 200 people, store officials said. The stores will continue to operate as Zellers until they need to be closed for significant remodeling before opening as Target stores.
Each remodeling is expected to cost about $10 million and will create “a significant number of construction jobs, company officials added during the initial announcement.
