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Show us your NWO

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As another Northwestern Ontario winter fades into memory, we’re taking a moment to look back at the season that once again reminded us just how breathtaking this region can be. From deep freezes and fresh snowfall to golden hours that seemed to set the sky on fire, winter gave us no shortage of unforgettable moments, and you captured them beautifully.

Beautiful Sunset by Connie Calvert

Throughout the season, viewers from across NWO shared scenes that told winter’s story in quiet, powerful ways. Frozen lakes stretched out beneath pastel skies, framed by towering evergreens dusted in snow. Several submissions featured sunsets blazing through the trees, rich oranges and pinks melting into deep purples as daylight slipped away over snow-covered landscapes. Even in the coldest months, there was warmth in the light.

Some photos highlighted the stillness of winter mornings: the sun low on the horizon, casting long beams across icy paths and untouched snow, reminding us how peaceful the world can feel before the day fully wakes up. Others captured dramatic skies, soft cloud layers streaked with colour, glowing halos around the sun, and subtle rainbows hidden in winter light, proving that the sky itself was often the main event.

Fireworks by Connie Calvert

One striking submission showed a nighttime winter gathering illuminated by fireworks bursting into the sky, their reflections glowing against the snow below. In a season defined by darkness and cold, moments like these stood out, proof that winter is also a time for connection and celebration.

Winter’s Last Glow by Robert Williams

Now, as temperatures slowly rise and the days stretch longer, spring is beginning to take over. Snowbanks will shrink, trails will soften, and those same landscapes will soon look completely different. But thanks to you, the magic of this winter is preserved, one photo at a time.

Ignace, ON – Matt Doran

Thank you to everyone who shared their view, their moment, and their slice of Northwestern Ontario with us this season. As we close the chapter on winter, we’re already looking ahead, because no matter the season, there’s always something worth showing off in NWO.

🌅❄️🌱
Keep sharing your views, and keep showing us your NWO.

Email in your photos:

Kenora – info@yourkenora.ca

Dryden – info@yoursunsetcountry.ca

Fort Frances/Rainy River – info@yourborderland.ca

K9 Unit Police Service Dog Becks at the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Headquarters in Thunder Bay (Sam Goldstein/January 9, 2026)

NAPS reintroduces K9 unit after nearly a decade

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For the first time in almost 10 years, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) has welcomed a new K9 team to its ranks.

Constable Daniel Birch and his nearly-three-year-old Police Service Dog (PSD) partner, Becks, were officially introduced during a news conference at NAPS headquarters in Thunder Bay on Thursday, January 8.

Birch earned the position through an internal competition in 2025 and completed a 21-week training program before being paired with Becks.

The duo graduated from the OPP-led General Service Dog course on December 5 and were deployed the following day.

Since then, Birch says the pair have “created quite a special bond.”

Constable Daniel Birch and PSD partner Becks at the NAPS headquarters in Thunder Bay. (Sam Goldstein/January 8, 2026)

Becks is trained in a wide range of specialized tasks, including:

  • Tracking missing persons
  • Detecting drugs and firearms
  • Locating evidence
  • Criminal apprehension
  • Conducting building searches

Birch says that having a service dog “brings a whole different element to the work we do.”

As a Belgian Malamois, Becks has a nose that simply outclasses anything a human can smell, which “allows him to locate people a lot faster than just humans,” the constable explains.

Birch greatly respects his canine companion: “I’ve always had a passion for dogs, and always admired their abilities,” he says.

Constable Birch plays fetch with PSD Becks. (Sam Goldstein/January 8, 2026)

NAPS first launched a K9 Unit in 2009, but its previous canine member, Pax, retired in 2016.

Terry Armstrong, NAPS Chief of Police, says that the service had to go without a K9 replacement for many years because “as the world knows, we were drastically underfunded at the time.”

He feels that the service would have found a replacement earlier had they been able.

“The chiefs have been asking for years about reinstituting the K9. It was always something we’d hoped to do after the retirement of Pax,” he adds.

NAPS plans to recruit another two canines to their new K9 unit, so that one can be assigned to each of the three regions NAPS polices.

The reintroduction of the unit is expected to strengthen policing services across the 34 Northern communities NAPS serves.

But Armstrong stresses that the K9 unit is not only for NAPS.

“There really aren’t boundaries when it comes to helping people and public safety,” says the police chief. “When other agencies need our help, just as when we lean on them, it’s great to be able to cross-pollinate to help out with those things.”

Birch and Becks have already responded to about 15 service calls, with both NAPS and other police services in the area.

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New COVID-19 Case In Kenora Area

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The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting a new positive COVID-19 test result in the Kenora area.

Follow up with the person involved and their contacts has started and anyone who is identified as a contact for this case will be contacted directly.

For privacy, NWHU does not release or comment on information about the location of COVID-19 test results.

Information about gender, age and method of transmission will be posted to the Ontario COVID data website when it is available.

The health unit strongly recommends that everyone assume COVID-19 is in their community and practice preventive measures like physical distancing, wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is a challenge, good hand hygiene, and not touching their face.

Anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, should get tested.

For information about getting tested, please visit the NWHU website for instructions on how to schedule an appointment at an assessment centre.

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Winds Damage Dryden Area Family Health Team Building

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Powerful winds Sunday night caused a bit of damage to the Family Health Team building and some information technology systems at the Dryden Regional Health Centre.

Staff and service personnel are on site to address and remedy any damage.

Services at the Family Health Team will be open Tuesday as normal.

The safety of staff and patients is DRHC’s number one priority.

DRHC appreciates ongoing patience and cooperation, if any delays or inconveniences be experienced.

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AUDIO: Dryden Businesses Respond To Mask Order

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It’s been over a week since the mandatory mask order went into effect.

CKDR spoke with several Dryden business owners to see how their customers were responding.

The feeling of the businesses that CKDR spoke with was that a majority of customers have reacted positively and are wearing a mask.

One business owner says there was the worry of how the mask order could affect business.

“I was very concerned that at the beginning of last week when masks became mandatory, that it would get very quiet as a result. But it’s been just the opposite!”

This business owner adds almost a hundred percent of customers wear masks in their store.

Another business that CKDR talked to says they’re pleased with how many customers are complying with the mask order and as a business owner they feel protected.

“I feel quite safe. We have a big store, so on top of the masks we’re able to physically distance just fine.”

Businesses say their customers have been upfront about indicating health issues at the door and their choice not to wear a mask.

All businesses that CKDR spoke with say they understand and welcome customers who have health issues and their choice to not wear a mask.

More information from the Northwestern Health Unit has surfaced in the last few days that further clarifies details of the policy for area businesses.

Listen below to hear from Dryden businesses:

  1. Dryden Businesses on Mask Order


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Two People Confirmed Dead After Crash East Of Ignace

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OPP have confirmed that two people are dead after a crash 15 kilometres east of Ignace.

Around 2:30 am Thursday morning, officers from the Ignace and Dryden Detachments of the OPP responded to a crash on Highway 17.

Three transports were involved in the crash, with two travelling west and one travelling east.

Two occupants of one of the West bound units were pronounced dead.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld until next of kin can be contacted.

Other occupants had serious, but non-life threatening injuries and were transported to hospital.

Cause of the crash is under investigation and Highway 17 was closed until 7 PM.

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Domtar To Educate Public About Hazardous Substances

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Like many facilities, Domtar is now required to educate area residents about hazardous substances.

This comes after a change was made by Environment Canada to the Environment Emergency Regulations.

The new requirement starts August 24 and requires companies like Domtar that work with hazardous substances to educate the public, in case of an environmental emergency were to occur.

Bonny Skene with Domtar says this is a proactive measure so that community members are aware and understand the health and safety risks.

Skene explains the two hazardous substances used to make of pulp.

“Two substances that we use in the making of pulp-and we’re not alone we’re similar to any craft pulp mill in operation- one substance is chlorine dioxide and hydrochloride acid. With chlorine dioxide its inhalation. If you inhale it it can be very severe. Range from mild to severe symptoms. We are constantly working on prevention, preparation and response.”

Skene adds that in the event of an emergency, residents would receive further instruction to shelter or even evacuate.

“We work hard to ensure employee, community safety and to protect the environment. We are constantly working on prevention, preparation and response. We prepare for an emergency of this type.”

Domtar also works with Dryden Emergency Services to make sure they are prepared and fully trained to respond.

Skene stresses that there is no emergency and this is a proactive measure to inform the public of health and safety risks associated with the hazardous substances used on site.

Residents and area businesses will receive a brochure in the mail with more information.

You can also view the brochure here.

 

BACKGROUND:

In 2003 the Government of Canada rolled out the Environmental Emergency Regulations. The purpose of the regulation was to “help reduce the frequency and severity of accidental releases of hazardous substances into the environment”, and it mandated facilities to develop systems and plans to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from accidental releases of specific substances.

REVISED E2 REGULATION:

The regulation now requires that we proactively inform the public about the risks these substances could pose, and the actions we’ve taken to prevent, prepare for, communicate during and respond to in the unlikely event of an environmental emergency.

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Dryden Rotary Club Sends Congrats To 2020 Graduates

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The Rotary Club of Dryden would like to extend their congratulations to all the 2020 graduates from Dryden, Red Lake and Ignace high schools.

The Club says “Your work ethic, enthusiasm and juggling of schedules during this very challenging year has paid off. You have met this challenge with great success and should feel very proud of your accomplishments and adaptability.”

This year, thanks to the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation, the Rotary Club of Dryden has donated 10 thousand dollars in scholarships to the 2020 graduating students.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Ignace High School:

A 1 thousand dollar bursary for Service Above Self was split three ways and awarded to Chloe Arbour, Jayna Ferrara, and Erica Pietila.

Red Lake District High School:

15 hundred dollars were awarded to both Isabella Maltais and Kyle Gelderland for the male and female student with the highest average in the Grade 12 graduating class.

Five hundred dollars each awarded to Reese Pattison and Wil Campbell for Service Above Self.

Dryden High School:

15 hundred dollars were awarded to both Tristan Stemkens-Mineault and Jessie Robinson for the male and female student with the highest average in the Grade 12 graduating class.

A 1 thousand dollar scholarship was awarded to Brooke MacKenzie, the DHS student chosen by the Rotary Club of Dryden to represent the Rotary Club, Dryden, and Canada as an International Ambassador during the upcoming academic year which unfortunately has been cancelled due to the pandemic.

5 hundred dollars each were awarded to Carter Loewen, Autumn Langford, Rachel Hart, and Nicholas Peters for Service Above Self.

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Sioux Lookout OPP Remind Motorists To Drive Safe

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Sioux Lookout OPP will be on high alert in the next few weeks for dangerous driving.

As always, officers will be out patrolling local roads to educate drivers on safe driving habits.

Officers will be looking out for aggressive driving, speeding, unsafe passing and other high-risk driving behavior.

Sioux Lookout OPP would like to remind motorists to practice responsible driving, to keep everyone safe on the road.

Drayton Road, Sturgeon River Road, Sturgeon Meadows, and Abram Lake Road have speed limits of 50 km/hr.

Highways 72, 516, 642, and 664 have speed limits of 80 km hour.

Drivers are reminded that speed limits are set to ensure the safety of all road users.

For more information on safe and responsible driving, visit their website.

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New Case of COVID-19 in Kenora Area

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The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting a new positive case of COVID-19 in the Kenora area.

The health unit says they have started follow up with the person involved , as well as contact tracing.

Anyone who is identified as a contact for this case will be contacted directly.

For privacy, the NWHU does not release or comment on information about the location of COVID-19 test results.

Information about gender, age and method of transmission will be posted to the Ontario COVID data website when it is available.

The health unit recommends that everyone assume that COVID-19 is in their community and keep up health practices like physical distancing, wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is not possible, continue proper hand washing and avoid touching your face.

Those experiencing symptoms or who have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 should get tested.

Go to the NWHU website for instructions on how to schedule an appointment at a local assessment centre.

 

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