Journalist. Belongs to Northwestern Ontario. Ricochet Media. “Thunder Bay” now streaming on Crave. Past words & baritone for Canadaland, CBC, TVO, APTN.https://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mrkxavfjtk2326 Jul 2026 17:54 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrkxavfjtk23https://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mrhzt5fc3s2tIt was meaningful to be asked to guest on Green Majority Radio this week (@greenmajority.bsky.social) Canada’s longest-running environmental news hour Thanks Dave Gray-Donald (@dgrdon.bsky.social) for turning ears to the Northwest’s forest fire story in the south https://www.greenmajority.ca/the-podcast/2026/7/24/heat-laws-wildfires-oil-profits25 Jul 2026 14:02 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhzt5fc3s2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mr72mapovc2gWow. Staff for Ontario’s emergency measures minister Jill Dunlop just audibly jumped in ON AIR and pulled her out of a CBC As It Happens interview on forest fire response. “Let’s just wrap it up now if that’s OK.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-2-as-it-happens/clip/16227502-was-ontario-ready-years-wildfires22 Jul 2026 00:23 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr72mapovc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mr5vpcrfmk2hMNR placed Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) under mandatory evacuation at midnight. The community's leadership says the order took effect at midnight and that no one will be allowed to pass the Highway 527 closure. Six fires burn nearby.21 Jul 2026 13:22 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5vpcrfmk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mr3jpuwtp22gFollowing rain over the weekend, Upsala Fire is now advising residents, "I am not telling you you should go home, I am no longer suggesting you shouldn't," but also to "sleep with one eye open." Fire chief Doug Kiezebrink says MNR continues not to allocate resources to this fire.20 Jul 2026 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3jpuwtp22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mr3bx6ntgc2vJust did a hit on 640 Toronto re: northwestern Ontario’s Forest fire situation. Host @gregbradyx was kind delay the news hit on the hour to have his audience hear how provincial communication has soured necessary relationships in the proposed Ring of Fire. https://ricochet.media/indigenous/abandoned-on-the-road-to-the-ring-of-fire/20 Jul 2026 12:23 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3bx6ntgc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqzh25eu7k2aWhitewater Lake First Nation has confirmed that "much of the community" northeast of Armstrong has been destroyed by forest fires. "While no words can adequately express the magnitude of this loss, the Whitewater Lake community remains steadfast in its identity and strength."19 Jul 2026 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzh25eu7k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqzgpxmzpk2lThe City of Thunder Bay is opening some splash pads on Sunday and is hinting at re-opening municipal golf courses. The city closed outdoor pools and beaches while cancelling outdoor concerts, and other services on Wednesday, due to poor air quality from forest fire smoke.19 Jul 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzgpxmzpk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqywgow4y22cMe on CHCH Hamilton news re: northern Ontario forest fires: “The communications they [First Nations leaders] are getting from Ontario are insufficient for them to make the decisions they’re making and Ontario is making it incumbent upon them ti make those decisions.” https://www.chch.com/chch-news/premier-ford-in-thunder-bay-as-fires-continue-to-devastate-northern-ontario/19 Jul 2026 13:52 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqywgow4y22chttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqxvxd3ask2uOne of the best scoops of the year. Ontario internal documents on its new prison AI: “Indigenous & racialized individuals face systemic discrimination in our justice system…As a result, assessments like SAFER would likely contribute to overrepresentation of Indigenous inmates in maximum security.” [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Jul 2026 04:11 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqxvxd3ask2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqxjq45aa22rAs Northwestern Ontario fires rage, First Nations leaders whose support is instrumental for developing the proposed Ring of Fire mines say they feel burned by poor communication and inaction. https://ricochet.media/indigenous/abandoned-on-the-road-to-the-ring-of-fire/ My latest for @ricochetmedia.bsky.social19 Jul 2026 00:32 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqxjq45aa22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqx5qurhqs2oOntario & Canada want a $40B mining project in northern Ontario they call the Ring of Fire. But First Nations leaders who live there have spent days under fire smoke and what they call unacceptable communication & service. "Protect Ontario? What is that?" https://ricochet.media/indigenous/abandoned-on-the-road-to-the-ring-of-fire/18 Jul 2026 20:58 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqx5qurhqs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqwsjx62z22tBREAKING: Smoke has lifted in Neskantaga First Nation. The first flight of 14 elders and vulnerable people has taken off. Neskantaga Chief Gary Quisess says he doesn’t have enough information from Ontario to determine whether to lift the state of emergency he declared on Friday.18 Jul 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwsjx62z22thttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqvh7gvvb22gMNR has mapped the Wabakimi Provincial Park fire known as Thunder Bay 36 (THU036) at 318,812.7 hectares by end-of-day Friday. That one fire has burned a third more than all fires combined burned in Ontario last year. The 10-year total seasonal average is 210,000 hectares.18 Jul 2026 04:41 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqvh7gvvb22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqv3rvanzs2eEnvironment Canada has issued a tornado warning for Upsala, Larson, Raith, and it looks like Lac Des Mille Lacs. The warning urges everyone in this area to take shelter. Upsala is not under official evacuation from forest fires but local fire brigade has urged everyone to leave.18 Jul 2026 01:17 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqv3rvanzs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mquivf7tsk2hOntario Premier Doug Ford says, "We're not the experts, they're the experts" re: forest fire crews. But according to chiefs speaking on the record and one speaking at AFN, emergency management forced First Nations chief & council to call evacuations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JJIr8olzsA [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Jul 2026 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mquivf7tsk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mquhym7uc22aBREAKING: Planes are now able to land in Cat Lake First Nation. Smoke prevented aircraft from two different airlines from landing to retrieve evacuees. Some Cat Lake evacuees have already arrived in Toronto. This was the scene last night on departure, captured by Gerald Kwandibens.17 Jul 2026 19:23 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mquhym7uc22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqu4y6p5oc23BREAKING: Neskantaga First Nation has declared a State of Emergency. It's looking to begin evacuating elders and those with special needs. These are photos taken yesterday and today, looking eastward down the Attawapiskat River.17 Jul 2026 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu4y6p5oc23https://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqu3eh7hyk2aSome fly-in First Nations on standby for possible evacuation due to northern Ontario wild fires have told me they will be destined for Toronto, if necessary. Aroland's elders arrived in Sudbury yesterday. I'm told Hornepayne has availability. Dryden has not been designated.17 Jul 2026 15:37 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu3eh7hyk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqtz5jtzq225Shebandowan Fire is reporting rural crews south and west of Thunder Bay have extinguished and brought wild fires under control that have been threatening Nolalu.17 Jul 2026 14:57 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqtz5jtzq225https://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqtt6zt5p22lAI slop of Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) includes roads and vehicles, in this community that was only accessible by boat and rails. Oh, the humanity.17 Jul 2026 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqtt6zt5p22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqtryd7ktc2lThe Ministry of Natural Resources has issued an evacuation order for the area east of Atikokan. Ontario ordered residents to leave the area below at 7 a.m. on Friday. The land is threatened by Fort Frances 14, a 55,106-hectare fire that is listed as “not under control.”17 Jul 2026 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqtryd7ktc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqsrtsfzqs2cJill Dunlop says she’ll “spare no expense” for northerners who are threatened by wild fires. This letter the Ontario Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response issued Thursday evening claims 150 crews are on the ground and 80 “firefighting aircraft” are at work in the region.17 Jul 2026 03:14 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsrtsfzqs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqslvognns2yTanya Talaga happened to be in Thunder Bay when fire gripped the entire region. Her column appears here; facebook.com/share/1BMdC4oA… Presented in the medium of Facebook, as one does when in Northern Ontario. https://facebook.com/share/1BMdC4oA…17 Jul 2026 01:27 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqslvognns2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqsh7vv6bk2oHave you guys seen this? “If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own, to protect our people.” Oh man, somebody save me a seat for the episode when America finds out what’s causing the end of the world.17 Jul 2026 00:04 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsh7vv6bk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jonthompson.bsky.social/post/3mqsd5t46rk2iMatawa First Nations have declared a public health emergency due to forest fires. The tribal council northeast of Thunder Bay demands Canada & Ontario develop a liaison and have Canadian Armed Forces, Red Cross, and Canadian Rangers on standby for immediate deployment, if needed.16 Jul 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:wt4im2v63yrefso2m54gvnv5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsd5t46rk2i