European settlement in the region began in the late 17th century with a Frenchfur trading outpost on the banks of theKaministiquia River.[13] It grew into an important transportation hub with its port forming an important link in the shipping ofgrain and other products fromwestern Canada, through theGreat Lakes and theSaint Lawrence Seaway, to the east coast.Forestry andmanufacturing played important roles in the city's economy. They have declined in recent years, but have been replaced by a "knowledge economy" based onmedical research and education. Thunder Bay is the site of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
On 1 January 1970, the City of Thunder Bay was formed through the merger of the cities ofFort William,Port Arthur, and the geographic townships of Neebing and McIntyre. The city takes this name from the immenseThunder Bay at the head of Lake Superior, known on 18th-century French maps asBaie du Tonnerre (Bay of Thunder).[13] The city is often referred to as the "Lakehead", or "Canadian Lakehead", because of its location at the end of Great Lakes navigation on the Canadian side of the border.[14]
VariousAnishinaabe peoples such as theOjibwa are indigenous to the Thunder Bay Area.[15] European settlement at Thunder Bay began with two French fur trading posts (in 1683 and 1717) which were subsequently abandoned (seeFort William, Ontario). In 1803, the Montreal-basedNorth West Company established Fort William as its mid-continententrepôt.
Fort William in 1865
By the 1850s, theProvince of Canada began to take an interest in its western extremity. The discovery ofcopper in theKeweenaw Peninsula of Michigan had prompted a national interest in potentialmining locations on the Canadian shores of Lake Superior. In 1849, French-speakingJesuits established theMission de l'Immaculée-Conception (Mission of the Immaculate Conception) on theKaministiquia toevangelize theOjibwe. The Province of Canada negotiated theRobinson Treaty in 1850 with the Ojibwa of Lake Superior. As a result, an Indian reserve was set aside for them south of the Kaministiquia River.
Another settlement developed a few miles to the north of Fort William after construction by the federal Department of Public Works of a road connecting Lake Superior with theRed River Colony. The work was directed bySimon James Dawson (seePort Arthur, Ontario). This public works depot or construction headquarters acquired its first name in May 1870 when ColonelGarnet Wolseley named it Prince Arthur's Landing. It was renamed Port Arthur by theCanadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in May 1883.[16]
The arrival of the CPR sparked a long rivalry between the towns, which did not end until their amalgamation in 1970. Until the 1880s, Port Arthur was a much larger community. The CPR, in collaboration with the Hudson's Bay Company, preferred east Fort William, located on the lower Kaministiquia River where the fur trade posts were. Provoked by a prolonged tax dispute with Port Arthur and its seizure of alocomotive in 1889, the CPR relocated all its employees and facilities to Fort William. The collapse ofsilver mining after 1890 undermined the economy of Port Arthur. It had an economic depression, while Fort William thrived.
In the era ofSir Wilfrid Laurier, Thunder Bay began a period of extraordinary growth, based on improved access to markets via thetranscontinental railway and development of the westernwheat boom. The CPR double-tracked its Winnipeg–Thunder Bay line. TheCanadian Northern Railway established facilities at Port Arthur. TheGrand Trunk Pacific Railway began construction of its facilities at the Fort William Mission in 1905, and the federal government began construction of theNational Transcontinental Railway.Grain elevator construction boomed as the volume of grain shipped to Europe increased. Both cities incurred debt to grant bonuses to manufacturing industries.
Thunder Bay was the first city in the world to enact daylight saving time, on 1 July 1908.[17][18]
By 1914, the twin cities had modern infrastructures (sewers, potable water supply, street lighting, electric light, etc.) Both Fort William and Port Arthur were proponents of municipal ownership. As early as 1892, Port Arthur built Canada's first municipally-owned electric street railway. Both cities spurnedBell Telephone Company of Canada to establish their municipally-owned telephone systems in 1902.
The boom came to an end in 1913–1914, aggravated by the outbreak of the First World War. A wartime economy emerged with the making of munitions and shipbuilding. Men from the cities joined the 52nd, 94th, and 141st Battalions of theCanadian Expeditionary Force.
Railway employment was hurt when the federal government took over theNational Transcontinental Railway and Lake Superior Division from the Grand Trunk in 1915, and the Canadian Northern Railway in 1918. These were amalgamated with other government-owned railways in 1923 to form theCanadian National Railways. The CNR closed many of the Canadian Northern Railway facilities in Port Arthur. It opened the Neebing yards in Neebing Township in 1922. By 1929, the population of the two cities had recovered to pre-war levels.
Theforest products industry has played an important role in the Thunder Bay economy since the 1870s. In the 1880s,Herman Finger established thePigeon River Lumber Company in the area, and also built theGunflint and Lake Superior Railroad, but he dissolved the lumber company and moved his operations to The Pas by 1919.[19] Logs and lumber were shipped primarily to the United States. In 1917, the first pulp and paper mill was established in Port Arthur. It was followed by a mill at Fort William, in 1920. Eventually, four mills were operating.
Manufacturing resumed in 1937 when the Canada Car and Foundry Company plant (opened for the manufacture of naval ships and railcars during the late World War I) re-opened to build British aircraft. Now run byAlstom, the plant has remained a mainstay of the post-war economy. It has produced forestry equipment and transportation equipment for urban transit systems, such as theToronto Transit Commission andGO Transit.
On 1 January 1970, the City of Thunder Bay was formed through the merger of the cities ofFort William,Port Arthur, and the geographic townships of Neebing and McIntyre.[13] Its name was the result of areferendum held previously on 23 June 1969, to determine the new name of the amalgamated Fort William and Port Arthur. Officials debated over the names to be put on the ballot, taking suggestions from residents including "Lakehead" and "The Lakehead". Becausethe vote split between the two similar names, "Thunder Bay" prevailed with a narrowplurality. The final tally was "Thunder Bay" with 15,870, "Lakehead" with 15,302, and "The Lakehead" with 8,377.[20]
There was more controversy over the selection of a name for the amalgamated city than over whether to amalgamate. A vocal minority of the population preferred "The Lakehead".[21] There was much discussion about other cities in the world that use adefinite article in their names. The area was often referred to as "The Lakehead" before and after amalgamation based on its geographic location. It was seen as the "head" of shipping on the Great Lakes and the "rail head".
The expansion of highways, beginning with theTrans-Canada Highway and culminating with the opening ofHighway 17 (linking Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay in 1960), has significantly diminished railway and shipping activity since the 1970s and 80s. Shipping on theSaint Lawrence Seaway was superseded by trucking on highways. Grain shipping on the Great Lakes to the East has declined substantially in favour of transport to Pacific Coast ports. As a result, many grain elevators have been closed and demolished. The Kaministiquia River was abandoned by industry and shipping.[22]
Thunder Bay has become the regional services centre forNorthwestern Ontario with most provincial departments represented.Lakehead University, established through the lobbying of local businesspeople and professionals, has proven to be a major asset. Another post-secondary institution isConfederation College.
In the 2010s, the Marina Park was developed as a tourist destination.[23]
Fort William as seen from theInternational Space Station, December 2008Thunder Bay is the brightly lit city along the top of Lake Superior, taken at 1:58 AM on 10 November 2017, during ISSExpedition 53.
The city has an area of 328.48 square kilometres (126.83 sq mi), which includes the former cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, as well as the former townships of Neebing and McIntyre. The city reflects the settlement patterns of the 19th century and sprawls. Anchoring the west end of the city, the Fort William Town Plot, surveyed in 1859–60, was named West Fort William (or Westfort) in 1888 by the CPR. The land adjoining the lower Kaministiquia River became the residential and central business district of the town and city of Fort William. A large uninhabited area adjoining the Neebing and McIntyre rivers, which became known as Intercity, separated Fort William from the residential and central business district of Port Arthur. At the extreme east of the city, a part of McIntyre Township was annexed to the town of Port Arthur in 1892, forming what later became known as the Current River area.[citation needed]
The former Port Arthur section is more typical of theCanadian Shield, with gently sloping hills and very thin soil lying on top of bedrock with many bare outcrops.Thunder Bay, which gives the city its name, is about 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) from the Port Arthur downtown to Thunder Cape at the tip of theSleeping Giant. The former Fort William section occupies flatalluvial land along the Kaministiquia River. In theriver delta are two large islands: Mission Island and McKellar Island. Since 1970, the central business districts of Fort William and Port Arthur have suffered a serious decline. Business and government relocated to new developments in the Intercity area. There has also been substantial residential growth in adjacent areas of the former Neebing and McIntyre townships.[citation needed]
The Port of Thunder Bay, as seen from Hillcrest Park in June 2006
Thunder Bay is composed of two formerly separate cities:Port Arthur andFort William. Both still retain much of their distinct civic identities, reinforced by the buffering effect of the Intercity area between them. Port Arthur and Fort William each have their owncentral business districts and suburban areas. Neighbourhoods include:Downtown Fort William andCurrent River among others.
This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this climate normals, change it from 1981-2010 to 1991-2020 to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2025)
The Thunder Bay area experiences a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Köppen:Dfb) and acontinental subarctic (Dfc) influence in northeastern areas of the city (including that affected byLake Superior), but not necessarily falling in this zone.[25][26] This results in cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures for an area extending inland as far as 16 km. The average daily temperatures range from 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) in July to −14.3 °C (6.3 °F) in January. The average daily high in July is 24.3 °C (75.7 °F) and the average daily high in January is −8.0 °C (17.6 °F).[27] On 10 January 1982, the local temperature in Thunder Bay dropped to −36.3 °C (−33.3 °F), with a wind speed of 54 km (34 mi) per hour for a wind chill temperature that dipped to −58 °C (−72.4 °F).[28][29] As a result, it holds Ontario's record for coldest day with wind chill.[29] The highest temperature ever recorded in Thunder Bay was 40.3 °C (104.5 °F) on 7 August 1983.[30] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −43.2 °C (−45.8 °F) on 31 January 1996.[31]Relatively recently, however, all-time records for both the latest first freeze and the longest growing season were set on October 17, 2021; the previous record of October 8, 2016, was beaten by 9 days, and the previous record for the longest growing season of 139 days (also set in 2016) was beaten by a day.[32]
The city is quite sunny, with an average of 2,121 hours of bright sunshine each year, ranging from 268.1 hours in July to 86.2 hours in November.[27] Winters are comparatively dry with the snowfall being somewhat limited and temperatures much colder than inHoughton, Michigan, on the U.S. side of the lake, where the climate is marked by heavylake-effect snow. Thunder Bay has more of a continental climate in comparison.
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Thunder Bay had a population of108,843 living in48,405 of its50,995 total private dwellings, a change of0.9% from its 2016 population of107,909. With a land area of 327.77 km2 (126.55 sq mi), it had a population density of332.1/km2 (860.1/sq mi) in 2021.[46]
At thecensus metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Thunder Bay CMA had a population of123,258 living in54,212 of its57,877 total private dwellings, a change of1.3% from its 2016 population of121,621. With a land area of 2,550.79 km2 (984.87 sq mi), it had a population density of48.3/km2 (125.2/sq mi) in 2021.[47]
According to the2016 Census, 48.8% of Thunder Bay's residents were male and 51.2% were female. Residents 19 years of age or younger accounted for approximately 19.9% of the population. People aged by 20 and 39 years accounted for 25.0%, while those between 40 and 64 made up 35.1% of the population. The average age of a Thunder Bayer in May 2016 was 43.3, compared to the average of 41.0 for Canada as a whole.[48]
According to the census, Thunder Bay was home to 13,565 people of Finnish descent,[50] the highest concentration of people of Finnish origin in Canada. Thunder Bay has a largeIndigenous population, representing 14.1% of the population;visible minorities represent 7.5% of the population.[51]
In the 2021 census, 56.0%[57] of Thunder Bay residents belonged to aChristian denomination, down from 72.0% in 2011:[58] 30.4% of the total population affiliated with theRoman Catholic Church, 17.6% wereProtestant, 4.9% were Christians of unspecified denomination and 3.2% followed other Christian denominations, largelyEastern Orthodox. People of no religion were 39.9%, up from 26.2% in 2011. Of non-Christian religions, the largest wereHinduism, (1.1%) andIslam (0.9%). 0.6% of residents adhered to traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality. All other religions and/or spiritual beliefs made up 1.4% of the population.
From 2012 to 2014, and again from 2016 to 2019, Thunder Bay had the highest per-capita rate ofhomicide among Canadian cities.[59]Winnipeg had previously held this distinction between 2007 and 2011.[60][61] In 2014, the per-capita rate of homicides in Thunder Bay was more than double the 2012 rate, and was over 2.5 times higher than the city with the next highest rate, with the city having a homicide rate of 10.1 per 100,000 people.[62][63] However, between 2014 and 2015, the crime rate decreased by 6%. This was the second-highest decrease in any major Canadian city, behind only Moncton, New Brunswick.[64] In 2022, Thunder Bay set a new homicide record with 15, giving the city a homicide rate of 13.7 homicides per 100,000 people, a rate which was comparable to cities like Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland in the same year.[65]
Alstom operates a 553,000 square feet (51,400 m2) plant in Thunder Bay whichmanufacturesmass transit vehicles and equipment, employing approximately 500 people.[69] The plant was built byCanadian Car and Foundry to build railway box cars in 1912, began building passenger railcars and transit cars from 1963 onwards[70][71] Alstom acquired the facility fromBombardier in 2021,[72] which had acquired it fromUTDC in 1992, and fromCancar in 1984.
Lack of innovation by traditional industries, such as forest products, combined with high labour costs have reduced the industrial base of Thunder Bay by close to 60%. Thegrain trade has declined because of the loss ofgrain transportation subsidies and the loss of European markets. The gradual transition from shipping by train and boat to shipping by truck, and theCanada–United States Free Trade Agreement have ended Thunder Bay's privileged position as a linchpin in Canadian east–west freight-handling trade. As a result, the city has lost its traditionalraison d'être as abreak-bulk point. However, in recent years shipments through the port of Thunder Bay have stabilized, and it remains an important part of theSaint Lawrence Seaway.[73]
To rejuvenate its economy, the city has been actively working to attractquaternary or "knowledge-based" industries, primarily in the fields ofmolecular medicine andgenomics.[74][75] The city is home to the western campus of theNorthern Ontario School of Medicine, the first medical school to open in Canada in a generation.[76] The city also has a law school.[77]
The city is governed by amayor and twelvecouncillors. The mayor and five of the councillors are elected at large by the whole city. In addition, seven ward councillors are elected by their respective constituencies.[78] The current mayor isKen Boshcoff and the five councillors at large are: Mark Bentz, Shelby Ch’ng, Trevor Giertuga, Rajni Agarwal, and Kasey (Taylor) Etreni.[79]
Highway 11/17,Highway 61, Chippewa Road, Mountain Road, Thunder Bay city limits
Greg Johnsen
Map of Thunder Bay's seven municipal wards
Currently, the city is studying a possibilities in reducing the size of city council from 13 to a smaller number. These changes, if successful, would be implemented from the 2026 Municipal election. In September 2024, two ideas were presented:[82]
No wards: All wards will be abolished, eliminating the positions of all ward councillors effective the 2026 election. Five new councillor at large positions will be created for a grand total of 10 councillors at large. This system allows all members of city council to be elected by all citizens of Thunder Bay, regardless of where they live.
4 wards: There would be four wards instead of seven. These new wards would be designed by splitting the city along east-west corridors. Instead of names like current wards, they would have numbers 1-4, with 1 being the northernmost and 4 being the southernmost. Wards 1 and 2 would be split byDawson Road, Red River Road, Junot Avenue, and River Street. Wards 2 and 3 would be split by Oliver Road while wards 3 and 4 would be split by Arthur Street. Each ward would have 2 councillors instead of 1, resulting in 8 ward councillors. The number of councillors at large would be reduced from 5 to 2, resulting in 10 city councillors.
A large formation ofmesas on theSibley Peninsula inLake Superior which resembles a reclining giant has become a symbol of the city. Sibley peninsula partially encloses the waters of Thunder Bay and dominates the view of the lake from the northern section of the city (formerly Port Arthur). The Sleeping Giant also figures on the city's coat of arms and the city flag.
Coat of arms
The Coat of Arms of the City of Thunder Bay, which incorporates features from the coats of arms of Port Arthur and Fort William
Thecoat of arms of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is a combination of the coats of arms of both Port Arthur and Fort William, with a unifying symbol—the Sleeping Giant—at the base of the arms.[83]
Corporate logo
The city logo depicts a stylizedthunderbird, called Animikii, a statue of which is located at the city's Kaministiquia River Heritage Park.[84] The slogan,Superior by Nature, is a double play on words reflecting the city's natural setting on Lake Superior.[83]
Thunder Bay'sflag was created in 1972 when mayorSaul Laskin wanted to promote the city by having a distinctive flag. The city held a contest, which Cliff Redden won. The flag has a 1:2 ratio and depicts a golden sky from the rising sun behind the Sleeping Giant, which sits in the blue waters of Lake Superior. The sun is represented by a redmaple leaf, asymbol of Canada. Green and gold are Thunder Bay's city colours.[83]
The municipal law enforcement agency was formed in 1970 from Port Arthur and Fort William Police forces cornered in the late 1800s.[85] It has over 200 sworn officers and 6 police centres.
The city of Thunder Bay was declared a "Cultural Capital of Canada" in 2003.[86] Throughout the city are cultural centres representing the diverse population, such as theFinnish Labour Temple, Scandinavia House, the Italian Cultural Centre, the Polish Legion, and a wide variety of others.
The shag, a combination shower and stag held to celebrate theengagement of a couple,[87] and thePersian, a cinnamon bun pastry with pink icing, both originated in the city.[88][89]
Thunder Bay is home to a variety of music and performance arts venues. TheThunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1960, is the only professional orchestra between Winnipeg and Toronto and has 31 full-time and up to 30 extra musicians presenting a full range of classical music.[90]New Music North is vital to the contemporary classical music scene in the city by offering novel contemporary chamber music concerts.[91] The largest professional theatre isMagnus Theatre. Founded in 1971, it offers six stage plays each season and is located in the renovated Port Arthur Public School on Red River Road. TheThunder Bay Community Auditorium, which seats 1500, is the primary venue for various types of entertainment.
TheVox Popular Media Arts Festival, established in 2005, is an independent film festival that features local, national, and international films with the theme of "Films for the People." The festival is held in early October at 314 Bay Street in the historicFinnish Labour Temple.[92] Thunder Bay is also home to the North of Superior Film Association (NOSFA). Established in 1992, the NOSFA features monthly screenings of international and Canadian films at the Cumberland Cinema Centre and organizes the annualNorthwest Film Fest film festival that attracts several thousand patrons.[93] Two of Thunder Bay's festivals were included in the 2018 list of the 100 best festivals compiled by Festivals and Events Ontario: Teddy Bears Picnic and Live on the Waterfront, the former also being recognized as the best promotional campaign and sponsor of the year.[94]
The Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop, founded in 1997, is writing groups based in Thunder Bay, which promotes the development of writers and literature in Northwestern Ontario.[95]
TheThunder Bay Art Gallery, which was founded in 1976, specializes in the works of First Nations artists, having a collection of national significance. TheThunder Bay Historical Museum Society, founded in 1908, presents local and travelling exhibitions and houses an impressive collection of artifacts, photographs, paintings, documents and maps in its archives. The City of Thunder Bay also houses the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and the Thunder Bay Military Museum (housed within the O'Kelley Armoury on Park Street).
Thunder Bay has two recognized Federal Heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings:
TheNorthwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre was founded in 2007 with a mandate to collect, preserve and celebrate the aviation history of the region. It houses a large collection of artifacts and photographs, particularly related to the Canadian Car and Foundry factory (Can-Car) which manufactured Hawker Hurricane fighters and Curtiss SB2C Helldivers during WW II.
Thunder Bay has many places of worship supported by people of a variety of faiths, reflecting the cultural diversity of the population.[98] A sample:
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church –Ukrainian Orthodox. The original wooden church, built byUkrainian Orthodox families in 1911/1912, was almost destroyed by fire in 1936. The current church was built on the same site and opened in 1937. It has decorative gold domes that are characteristic of Ukrainian churches of theBukovina area, with Orthodox crosses atop the domes.[99]
Calvary Lutheran Church was established in 1958 as a mission congregation of the Minnesota North District (USA).
Elim Community Christian Centre –Pentecostal Church located in the Current River area of the city which is now named Refreshing Waters Community Church.
Evangel Church – Contemporary Pentecostal church with a strong emphasis on children, youth and (with their convenient location next toLakehead University) young adults.
First-Wesley United Church – The current Wesley United Church was preceded by a much smaller structure, Grace Methodist Church, which was built in 1891 and had a capacity of 100 people. The current Gothic 1,025-seat sanctuary was constructed in 1910.
HilldaleLutheran Church – Offers services in both English and Finnish. The church has an intimate atmosphere and wonderful acoustics and is frequently used for musical performances.[100]
Holy TrinityGreek Orthodox Church – Founded in 1918, the church moved to its present building in 1991. The church is active in providing non-profit housing for needy families.
Hope Christian Reformed Church – Services are recorded so that anyone with an internet connection may listen.
Kitchitwa Kateri Anamewgamik –Roman Catholic communal church geared to Native culture and teachings. A drop-in centre provides coffee and serves soup & bannock.
Redwood Park Church –Contemporary member of the Christian Missionary Alliance. Runs an outreach at the old building (now New Hope Fellowship Church) on Edward Street with a food bank and a clothing store.
Saalem Church –Pentecostal church with services in both English and Finnish.
Shaarey Shomayim Congregation –JewishSynagogue. This egalitarian community has the onlymikvah between Winnipeg and Toronto.
Shepherd of Israel Congregation –Messianic Jewish. Affiliated with the Evangelical movement.
St. Agnes Church – Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1885, the new St. Agnes Church and Hall was dedicated on 6 June 1982.St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a food bank out of this church.
St Stephen the MartyrAnglican Church – Provides a food cupboard for the Current River area.
St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church – Founded in 1872, the current building was erected in 1884.
St. Patrick's Cathedral – Roman Catholic. The old St. Patrick's Church was built in 1893. In 1963 it was replaced by the current cathedral on the same site.
Thunder Bay's main tourist attraction isFort William Historical Park, a reconstruction of theNorth West Company's Fort William fur trade post as it was in 1815, which attracts 100,000 visitors annually.[101] The marina in downtown Port Arthur, an area known asThe Waterfront District, draws visitors for its panoramic view of theSleeping Giant and the presence of various watercraft. The marina, known as Prince Arthur's Landing also includes recreational trails along the lake, a playground, harbour cruises, helicopter tours, the Alexander Henry (a retired Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker), a splash pad (summer), a skating rink (winter), and art gallery, gift shop, numerous restaurants, and a newly opened Delta Hotel and conference centre. There are several small surfaceamethyst mines in the area, some of which allow visitors to search for their crystals.[102] A 2.74 m (9 ft)statue ofTerry Fox is situated at theTerry Fox Memorial and Lookout on the outskirts of the city near the place where he was forced to abandon his run. Other tourist attractions are listed below:
Thunder Bay's proximity to the wilderness of theTaiga and the rolling hills and mountains of the Canadian Shield allow its residents to enjoy very active lifestyles. The city has hosted several large sporting events including:
Thunder Bay enjoys many recreational facilities. The city operates fifteen neighbourhood community centres, which offer various sporting and fitness facilities as well as seasonal activities such as dances. The city also operates six indoor ice rinks and 84 seasonal outdoor rinks,[105] two indoor community pools and three seasonal outdoor pools as well as a portable pool and two maintained public beaches, severalcurling sheets, and threegolf courses, among others.[106] Listed below are some of the city's major facilities.
Thunder Bay is also home to the National Development Centre – Thunder Bay, an elite cross-country ski team that attracts many of Canada's best Junior and U-23 skiers.
Thunder Bay receives air, rail and shipping traffic due to its prime location along major continental transport routes.
Thunder Bay has some public transportation amenities. The municipally ownedThunder Bay Transit operates 19 routes across the city's urban area and some limited service routes serving the Neebing ward andFort William First Nation reserve.[108] Ontario Northland also provides intercity bus services to neighbouring cities, including Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie.[109]
The main highways through the city areHighway 11/17 andHighway 61, which are linked together in Thunder Bay as a four-lane highway designated as theThunder Bay Expressway. A notable expressway is theHarbour Expressway, which is a municipal expressway that connects the Intercity business district to the highways. Some of Thunder Bay’s arterial roads includeDawson Road (Hwy 102), Arthur Street, Memorial Avenue, and Fort William Road.[111]
The city is an important railway hub, served by both theCanadian National andCanadian Pacific Railway. Passenger rail service to Thunder Bay ended on 15 January 1990, whenVia Rail rerouted theCanadian to the north.[112]
Thunder Bay has been a port since the days of theNorth West Company, which maintained a schooner on Lake Superior. The Port of Thunder Bay is the largest outboundport on theSt. Lawrence Seaway System,[113] and the sixth-largest port in Canada.[76] The Thunder Bay Port Authority manages Keefer Terminal, built on a 320,000 square metre site on Lake Superior.
Thunder Bay has one major hospital, theThunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Other healthcare services include the St. Joseph's Care Group, which operates long-term care centres such as the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and Hogarth Riverview Manor. The city is also home to a variety of smaller medical and dental clinics.
The health authority in the region is the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.[114]
Thunder Bay has one daily newspaper,The Chronicle-Journal, which has a circulation of approximately 28,000 and has coverage of all of Northwestern Ontario.[115]The Chronicle Journal publishes a free weekly calledSpot every Thursday, focusing on entertainment. There are two weekly newspapers:Thunder Bay Source, a weekly newspaper operated by Dougall Media, andCanadan Sanomat, aFinnish-language weekly newspaper.Lakehead University has a student newspaper calledThe Argus, which is published weekly during the school year.[116] The city publishes a bi-monthly newsletter to citizens titledyourCity, which is also available online in a PDF format, by electronic subscription and RSS feed.[117]
Thunder Bay is home to 12 radio stations, all of which broadcast on theFM band.
There are four commercial radio stations based in the city –CJSD-FM andCKPR-FM, owned byDougall Media, the parent company of Thunder Bay Television andThunder Bay's Source, andCJUK-FM andCKTG-FM, owned byAcadia Broadcasting. One additional station,CFQK-FM, targets the Thunder Bay market from transmitters inKaministiquia andShuniah. The city receivesCBC Radio One asCBQT-FM andCBC Music asCBQ-FM, at 88.3 FM and 101.7 FM respectively. The FrenchPremière Chaîne is available as a repeater of Sudbury-basedCBON-FM on 89.3 FM. Lakehead University operates a campus radio station,CILU-FM, at 102.7 FM, andCJOA-FM 95.1 broadcastsChristian-oriented programming from theUCB Canada network. Thunder Bay Information Radio CKSI-FM is broadcast 24/7 on 90.5 FM, and is also the city's emergency radio station.
Thunder Bay had fivesister cities on three continents,[119] which were selected based on economic, cultural and political criteria. In July 2023, city council voted 7-4 to end the program.[120][121]
^F.B. Scollie, "Falling into Line : How Prince Arthur's Landing Became Port Arthur", Thunder Bay Historical Museum SocietyPapers and Records, XIII (1985) 8–19.
^Nicholson, Karen (February 2000)."The Lumber Industry in Manitoba"(PDF).Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport – Historic Resources Branch. Retrieved26 October 2019.
