Here are the stories that had the most reads in Week 11 of 2015:
5 Ontario Restaurant News takes notice at city’s booming local eateries
The city’s restaurant scene appears to be building a reputation for itself.
A March article in Ontario Restaurant News take an in depth look at restaurants in Thunder Bay, stating that the city has undergone a food revolution and that its restaurant scene has been “quietly awakening for the past five year.”
The article takes a look at the many new local and independent eateries that have been opening up recently, and even takes a look at the city’s new craft beer options via Sleeping Giant Brewing Company.
4 Report recommends city move forward with event centre pending government funding
A new report recommends city council moves forward with the detailed design and construction of the full-scale, $114.7 million event centre pending provincial and federal funding.
City administration will provide an update on phase four of the event centre plan, including a breakdown of the financing plan, and ask council on Monday to extend the letter of intent with Thunder Bay Live Consortium by one month to April 20, 2015 to secure government funding.
It will also be recommended council proceed to phase five of the project – the detailed design and construction. However, that’s conditional on provincial and federal funding.
The project is the approved design set out in the phase three feasibility study; it includes 5,730 fixed seats and 66,000 square feet of convention, trade and exhibition space. The city estimates the facility would host about 200 events annually.
3 Finlandia Association warns it’s in financial dire straits
For more than 100 years the Finnish Labour Temple has served as a cultural hub in the city.
Yet, just as it receives recognition from the federal government, members of the board overseeing it and the popular Hoito Restaurant are raising concerns that closure could be imminent.
Kelly Saxberg, treasurer of the Finlandia Association, said the organization is in dire financial straits.
“We’re facing substantial debt and challenges that came as a result of renovations that were necessary. The new roof, heating system and wheelchair accessibility but we’re struggling,” she said.
“We need everybody’s help to make sure this place does not close. I’m telling you, as the treasurer, we are that close.”
The temple has been designated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as a site of national historic significance, with a ceremony taking place Saturday morning that included the unveiling of the plaque that will be featured along Bay Street.
2 Jets move AHL team to Winnipeg, City adamant team will come if event centre is built
Despite the Winnipeg Jets moving their farm team home, a city official insists the team will come to Thunder Bay if the proposed event centre is built.
The Jets, who had agreed in principle to move their American Hockey League team to Thunder Bay in the new arena, announced on Thursday they were moving the farm team from St. John’s to Winnipeg.
That move is part of a shuffle that sees the Montreal Canadiens move their affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, to the Newfoundland capital.
Michael Smith, city general manager of community services, said he believes the relocation has no direct impact on the city’s hopes of hosting the team.
“All indications are if we get the funding for this particular facility we would see the AHL team here in Thunder Bay starting on Sept. 1, 2017,” Smith said at city hall on Friday.
A letter of intent signed with Thunder Bay Live, a consortium put together to help bring a team to the city, expires on March 31.
The first report on the funding applications will be brought to council at a March 23 meeting with a special meeting scheduled for March 26 for councillors to debate and make decisions about the future of the 5,700 seat arena.
1 Truck crashes into south side apartment
Add this to the list of things not to do behind the wheel of a vehicle.
The driver of a pickup truck crashed into an apartment building on Gordon Street early Saturday evening.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, just behind Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute, at about 7 p.m.
Sources on scene said the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
There were people in the apartment at the time of the crash but none of them were hurt.
The truck has since been removed from the scene.
