10. A local woman once convicted of fraud was cleared as she had the charges dropped through an appeal after the courts ruled the original judge had overlooked key evidence from a co-worker’s testimony. Kerry Wirkkunen had been convicted with fraud over $5,000, accused of stealing from her workplace.
9. City officials announced the municipality was filing a countersuit to a $300-million class-action lawsuit filed by victims of the 2012 flood. The city claims dozens of homeowners and institutions, including Lakehead University, had been told to disconnect downspouts from the city storm-water system.
8. Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day announced First Nations would attempt to raise $500,000 to help pay for an investigation into thousands of murdered and missing indigenous women in Canada, saying upper levels of government have stalled too long, or outright dismissed the need in the case of the feds.
7. A year after his death, the father of Will Wapoose reached out to the public, hoping to secure information that would lead to the arrest of his son’s killer or killers. John Shawinimash said he’s convinced someone must know something about the Chapples Park homicide.
6. A Thunder Bay bride’s biggest day was nearly ruined by callous thieves who stole her SUV days before her wedding – with her wedding dress inside. It was later found partially burned at an east-end ball field, but the community pulled together and donated a new dress and more than $1,500 to help with the unexpected last-minute costs.
5. City council was presented with a $47-million waterfront development master plan that could ultimately include a Nordic spa, a three-hilled trail network and a BMX bike track. A new marina plan was sent back to administration for further evaluation.
4. First Nations leaders were happy to hear the province’s chief corner had finally set a date for an inquest into the deaths of seven Aboriginal youths who died while studying in Thunder Bay between 200 and 2011. The process got under way in October.
3. Senior citizens and others with long-term care needs once again learned they’d face delays before they could move into the new Hogarth Riverview Manor complex. Construction delays were blamed by St. Joseph’s Care Goup president and CEO Tracy Buckler. The original move-in date was October.
2. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario’s members ramped up protests, threatening rotating strikes in October if the province refused to return to the negotiating table. Local members staged a rally in front of Mini Queen’s Park on James Street to draw attention to their plight. The province ultimately agreed to get back to bargaining.
1. Months after it seemingly the controversial event centre project was brought back to the council table. The mayor, buoyed by a July letter that suggested the $114-million project could get federal government funding if an amateur hockey team was the main tenant, convinced council to look at its options ahead of a soon-to-expire deal partnership deal with Thunder Bay Live.
