THUNDER BAY — TBNewswatch is taking a look back at the top stories, month-by-month, of 2022. Here are 10 of the stories that made headlines in May:
1. The James Whalen Tug found its way to the bottom of the Kaministiquia River, the 117-year-old vessel having taken on water. Later in the year a crane was brought in to raise the tug, which was moored at the Kam River Heritage Park, at a cost of three-quarters of a million dollars.
2. It turned out to be one of the deadliest months in Thunder Bay history, with five confirmed homicides. Victims included Adrian Richardson, James Chapais, Cody Bulmer, Alan Esquega and an unnamed 91-year-old who died at a local nursing home. In total, 10 people were charged in the deaths.
3. Future Coun. Dominic Pasqualino and one of his Northwood rivals were the first candidates to sign up for the municipal election, filing their paperwork to run in the Oct. 24 election. When all was said and done, 59 candidates filed to run for council’s 13 positions. Later in the month Neebing’s Cody Fraser announced he would not seek a second term.
4. After a mass resignation in April, Northwood Coun. Shelby Ch’ng was appointed to the beleaguered Thunder Bay Police Services Board, a position she was reappointed to after winning an at-large seat on Oct. 24.
5. Premier Doug Ford made a campaign stop in Thunder Bay in support of local candidates Kevin Holland and Peng You, stopping by Heddle Marine to visit with employees and speak to media. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath’s planned trip to the city was waylaid by COVID-19.
6. Gasoline prices soared past the $2 per litre mark in Thunder Bay, after it first passed that threshold in March. Prices would jump to as high as $2.299 before slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels later in the year.
7. The Thunder Bay International Airport was reduced to one runway as construction began on a $20-million the main runway and its supporting infrastructure.
8. Future Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre paid a visit to Thunder Bay during his leadership bid, bringing his populist message to about 350 local supporters.
9. Four people were charged in the 2019 killing of Samatar Warsame, including a pair of suspects from Thunder Bay.
10. Rap star Polo G played to a packed Fort William Gardens, thrilling fans who waited through long security lines to get into the facility.
