- Incumbent MP and cabinet minister Patty Hajdu easily won re-election in Thunder Bay-Superior North, handily knocking off Conservative hopeful Frank Pullia and the NDP’s Anna Betty Achneepineskum, a former deputy chief with Nishnawbe Aski Nation. In Thunder Bay-Rainy River, rookie candidate Marcus Powlowski held the seat for the Liberals, edging Conservative Linda Rydholm. Hajda was later returned to cabinet as minister of health.
- Coun. Brian Hamilton expressed frustration after yet another shooting in his ward, this time at a residence at the corner of Dease and McKenzie streets. A male victim from southern Ontario was shot and taken to hospital for treatments. Hamilton said the city needs to find the help police need to end the scourge of gangs and violence in Thunder Bay. Two suspects were arrested separately later in the month.
- The city’s integrity commissioner found McKellar Coun. Brian Hamilton in conflict of interest over his vote on the designated truck route. Coun. Trevor Giertuga raised concerns about Hamilton, regarding his participation in the June 17 vote, saying it breached the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act because of Hamilton’s pecuniary interests.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid a visit to the city and promised $30 million for broadband access to five Matawa First Nation communities.
- A 49-year-old woman in a wheelchair was struck and killed on Memorial Avenue, leading to charges against a 29-year-old motorist. Renee Jennie Graves was charged with dangerous operation causing death and two counts of breach of probation.
- A human appendage was found in Marina Park, leading police to hold the scene for more than a day while they looked for a person in distress. A passerby notified police after finding the appendage.
- The opening of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery was pushed back from 2021 to either 2022 or 2023, mainly because of delays in the province’s environmental assessment process. Contaminated soil from decades of industrial use requires remediation.
- A planned soccer bubble off Golf Links Road hit a snag when zoning regulations were uncovered requiring developers to first build a planned hotel for the site. Developer Robert Zanette was behind the project, which would have seen two 90- by 150-foot soccer fields constructed at the site. City council later in the month approved $1.5 million to proceed with a study for its own $30-million indoor soccer facility.
- The threat of a strike by 55,000 Ontario school staff was averted less than a day before Canadian Union of Public Service Employees were schedule to hit the picket line. About 150 Lakehead Public Schools administration staff, special education assistants, cafeteria and maintenance workers and custodians would have been affected locally.
- Marshalls created a stir in the local retail world, opening its doors at Intercity Shopping Centre after months of anticipation. The retailer took over a portion of the space vacated when Sears Canada went out of business nationwide. The good news was short-lived at the mall, as later in the year Lowe’s announced it was closing its Thunder Bay store.
Between now and Jan. 1, tbnewswatch.com will be presenting our annual Year in Review feature, with a look back at the top news stories each month throughout 2019. We'll culminate with our top 10 news stories of the decade on New Year's Day.
