THUNDER BAY — Can a text message help improve patient care? The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is betting that it can.The hospital is the first in Ontario to adopt a text message-based patient survey distribution.The hospital has seen a two per cent increase in people responding to surveys since switching to SMS (Short […]

The number of property tax accounts in arrears has risen sharply in St. Catharines since 2022, according to documents obtained by The Pointer through a Freedom of Information request. The disturbing increase aligns with the controversial hikes in municipal tax rates introduced by the current City Council. Residents of Niagara’s largest city were shocked in […]

Let’s protect our planet by keeping recyclables out of landfills and planting trees to create a greener future! That’s the message King Township is sending in advance of upcoming community tree planting events and several recycling initiatives.Recycling is crucial for several reasons. It helps keep the environment clean by reducing the amount of waste produced […]

The procedural bylaw lays out rules for how council conducts its business, but also  generally allows council to suspend those rules when two-thirds of council agrees. Presenting on a new draft of those procedural rules was the team that did the updates, Michelle Smibert and Michelle Casavecchia Somers. They presented an updated procedural bylaw, and […]

As the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment board continues to hit the ground running, members hope to find a permanent meeting locale. Board administrator Phil DeBruyne presided over this week’s meeting in Tiny Township with nearly-official community representative Judy Contin who was awaiting finalization on CSPA requirements before her full participation next meeting. A verbal […]

Cybersecurity experts are scanning a new dataset of leaked files from 12 schools in south Winnipeg for passport scans and social insurance numbers. The Pembina Trails School Division updated staff and student families Thursday about its ongoing probe into a cybersecurity attack that has paralyzed the organization since it was flagged Dec. 2. Superintendent Shelley […]

The Xatśūll First Nation is asking a judge to urgently stop the controversial Mount Polley mine from raising its nearly 20-storey tailings dam even higher on its territories. On Friday, leaders from the Secwépemc community filed for an injunction “on an urgent basis” against ongoing construction to increase the height of the dam — which […]

An arbitrator found a contractor on the $18 billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat violated a worker’s right to privacy and bodily integrity when he underwent a drug and alcohol test after a minor injury. “I conclude that (Altrad Services Ltd.) did not establish a significant incident warranting an inquiry into post-incident testing and would […]

The Canadian Association of Journalists bestowed a dubious honour on the federal government last week over its policy of fighting Indigenous groups over access to records from Residential Schools for the last decade. The CAJ made the federal government the 2024 recipient of the federal Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy […]

The Town of Three Rivers council unanimously voted to move ahead with a video surveillance policy at the April 14 regular council meeting. The camera systems are installed at several municipal buildings and facilities and the policy will be effective immediately. Mayor Debbie Johnston said the policy is being implemented for two main reasons. “We’ve […]

Representing the organization, Melody Littell provided an in-depth overview of the services they offer to victims of crime and tragedy across eastern Alberta, including the Cold Lake area, and fielded questions from council members about eligibility, coverage, and how community members can access support.  “As part of our work with Victim Services, in partnership with […]

Phillip BlancherLocal Journalism Initiative Reporter BROCKVILLE – A cyber attack which compromised the data of tens of thousands of current and former students, staff, and donors of the Upper Canada District School Board now has a price tag – approximately $3 million.  Trustees learned of the financial impact of the January 2025 hack on the […]