📬 Hello, Thunder Bay!
Your weekend Buzz is ready. 🐝
This week’s local update has a nice mix of community wins and practical things to know, from Mills Block upgrades and new support for the indoor turf facility to local sports highlights from the Ten Mile Road Race and Thunder Bay Chill. We’ve also included useful safety and service updates, including May road work, the Junot Avenue lands survey, a missing person update, and a few city safety notes worth keeping on your radar.
Then, for the weekend, we’ve rounded up 14 confirmed events from Fri to Sun, with cozy picks, live entertainment, family-friendly options, theatre, music, and a few night-out ideas around town.
Let’s get into it. 🐝
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📰 What Happened This Week in Thunder Bay
🌆 Community & City Updates
🌲 Mills Block Conservation Area getting major upgrades
A slate of improvements is moving ahead at Mills Block Conservation Area, giving residents another reason to enjoy one of Thunder Bay’s nearby outdoor spaces.
🏟️ Indoor turf facility receives $2M boost
The city’s indoor turf facility received $2 million in provincial funding, helping reduce the debt load on a project meant to support year-round recreation.
🩺 Doctors group backs Thunder Bay’s multiplex
A Thunder Bay family physician helped bring national doctors’ support to the city’s indoor turf project, adding another community voice behind the facility.
🏃 Ten Mile Road Race crowns 2026 winners
Thunder Bay’s 90th Ten Mile Road Race wrapped up with Matthew Dobson and Emily Whybourne taking the top titles in a cold, damp holiday run.
⚽ Thunder Bay Chill teams open season with strong results
The Thunder Bay Chill men picked up their first win while the women earned a draw, giving local soccer fans a solid start to the season.
🛟 Safety & Service Updates
🚧 May road work update released
The City shared its May construction project list so drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can plan around work affecting local roads, sidewalks, trails, and watermains.
🏞️ City asks for input on Junot Avenue lands
Residents can weigh in on a proposed surplus parcel at Junot Park, with the City’s survey open through June 1.
🔎 Police ask for help locating Kelsey Anderson
Thunder Bay Police are still asking residents to share any helpful information about missing person Kelsey Anderson.
🧯 East End fire-damaged building demolished
A long-standing fire-damaged building in the East End has been demolished, clearing a neighbourhood safety concern for nearby residents.
🗣️ Safety survey highlights resident priorities
A new public safety survey shows Thunder Bay residents want more visible policing and faster response, giving city leaders fresh feedback to work from.
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🎭 Events Today and This Weekend
Cozy & Feel-Good
📚 LitFest 2026 | Fri, May 22 • 7:00 PM | Italian Cultural Centre
Local readers and writers can settle in for a warm literary evening celebrating stories, workshops, and regional writing.
🎻 Daylight is Dawning | Fri, May 22 • 7:30 PM | Thunder Bay Museum
This concert-lecture pairing brings Finnish chamber music and local cultural history together inside the Thunder Bay Museum.
🌳 Thunder Bay Arbor Day | Sat, May 23 • 10:00 AM | Champlain Park
Neighbours can help grow the city’s tree canopy while learning from Thunder Bay’s urban forestry experts.
📄 Shredding Event | Sat, May 23 • 11:00 AM | Intercity Shopping Centre
Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers is hosting a simple way to safely shred documents while supporting a local cause.
🛍️ The Craft Revival | Sun, May 24 • 10:00 AM | WATERFRONT DISTRICT
The Waterfront District will be filled with local makers, storefronts, and creative energy for a relaxed Sunday wander.
High-Energy & Live Entertainment
💡 TEDxLakeheadU 2026 | Sat, May 23 • 9:00 AM | The Outpost, Lakehead University
A full day of talks, workshops, performances, and local ideas is coming to Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus.
🎸 We Will Rock You | Sat, May 23 • 7:00 PM | Badanai Theatre
Queen’s music takes over the stage in a big, bold musical night from Badanai Theatre and Badanai Young Company.
🎭 Be More Chill | Sat, May 23 • 7:30 PM | Paramount Theatre
Triple Threat Talent brings a high-energy musical about identity, anxiety, and belonging to the Paramount Theatre stage.
🎶 Blues Blast 2026 | Sat, May 23 • 7:30 PM | Da Vinci Centre
Thunder Bay Blues Society is bringing blues fans together for a lively Saturday night at the Da Vinci Centre.
Family-Friendly & All Ages
🐰 Alice in Wonderland Jr. | Sat, May 23 • 3:00 PM | Magnus Theatre
Families can enjoy a 60-minute musical theatre trip through Wonderland with Alice and the classic characters.
🎪 Under the Big Top! THE GREAT BENJAMINS CIRCUS | Sun, May 24 • 1:00 PM | Canadian Lakehead Exhibition - Coliseum Building
The Great Benjamins Circus brings an all-new family show to the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition for the weekend.
Nightlife, Bars & Restaurants
🎟️ No Man’s Land | Sat, May 23 • 7:30 PM | Magnus Theatre
Magnus Theatre’s Studio Theatre offers a thoughtful evening pick for local theatre fans.
🎭 Cambrian Player Performance Calendar Girls | Sat, May 23 • 7:30 PM | Cambrian Players
Cambrian Players brings a touching story of friendship, courage, and community spirit to the stage.
🤠 Tim Hicks - Going Somewhere Tour | Sun, May 24 • 8:00 PM | Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Canadian country artist Tim Hicks brings his Going Somewhere Tour to the Community Auditorium for a Sunday night show.
⚠️ Event Reminder
Event details may change. Dates, times, and venues are subject to updates or cancellations by the organizers. Always double check the official event page before attending.
🐝 Signing off from T-Bay Buzz
Thanks for reading and staying connected to our community. Stay safe, stay warm, look out for one another, and I’ll see you next Friday with more local updates.
🐝 If this update was helpful, feel free to share T-Bay Buzz with family, friends, or a neighbour who likes quick local updates.
Copy this link: tbaybuzz.ca/subscribe