As another mayoral election approaches, voters face a decision that extends far beyond choosing a name on a ballot. They are choosing what kind of city Thunder Bay wants to become and whether we are finally prepared to have honest conversations about the challenges standing in our way.

People regret tattoos for different reasons; perhaps those images are tied to past relationships, beliefs, losses, or periods of time that are different from who they are now. Tattoo removal or cover-up is almost always an option, but it begs the question: if you remove the tattoo, is that truly rewriting your past? Or does it simply erase the reminder? 

Mining has been a part of our region’s story for millennia, and by forging meaningful partnerships, we can ensure it remains a sustainable part of our future

Declaring a humanitarian crisis is a statement of pretty words, and we need more. We need direct action now, and the declaration of a state of emergency to bring the provincial government to the table.

The status quo is no longer status. Canadians have long prided themselves on being the friendly neighbour, but with recent developments in the USA (and specifically in our closest neighbouring state of Minnesota), is it clear that this relationship is changing.

Curious about the local scene, I asked friends what dating is like in Thunder Bay. The consensus was bleak but predictable: a microscopic dating pool where you’re always one degree away from someone you know, an abundance of “holding a fish” profile photos, and the occasional rejection for “not being country enough.” Beyond the regional quirks, the darker side of online dating remains universal—ghosting, harassment, and endless dead-end conversations.

A new year does not always have to mean new beginnings. The adage about not fixing what’s not broken is not always popular in politics, where leaving your mark means making change.  The passing of Bill 68 last November has created this scenario of breaking, not fixing, the Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority (LRCA).

Buying stuff isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it injects money into the economy, keeps stores open, and keeps people employed. If we see it that way, maybe Christmas is all about gifts, including the gift of continued economic growth if we spend our money in the right direction.

Since the return of concert-going, I’ve seen increasing conversation online about poor concert etiquette post-pandemic. I had been to a few smaller shows back home in Thunder Bay since returning after school, and didn’t notice anything much had changed. I thought this might just be the case in major cities where venues have massive capacities, given it had been a while since people had been in crowds and might just need time to acclimate. But then I experienced it for myself.

The issue I’ve been stuck with, though, is wanting to move myself beyond just acceptance and be able to see the beauty in my body. Recently, I have discovered the most incredible, perspective-adjusting form of art that has led me on a path to appreciating myself through music and movement: burlesque.

It's a curtain call for the democracy Canadians built after the world wars. Politics is evolving from an arena where powerbrokers create consensus from disparate viewpoints into a zero-sum game where stakeholders choose loyalties, the victor divides the spoils, and the losers are annihilated. Our partisan choices are either a technocratic centre-right that thinks it knows better or a rules-weary right wing that feigns no moral pretense.

I was ready for the unexpected on my first day as an outreach worker at Elevate NWO. Elevate is a harm reduction organization responding to treatment and prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C in Thunder Bay and the wider region, but also finds itself responding to other emerging issues. In Thunder Bay, that often means advocating for our unhoused neighbours in the fight for housing, not tents.  

All this said, I was nevertheless surprised when all the talk of my first day was about birds!