THUMBS Up to the City of Thunder Bay Parks and Rec. division for “the amazing skating rink at Vickers Park. As my hubby and I were going for our walk today, a couple of people were skating, taking videos/pictures and enjoying the beautiful day. It's so very nice to see Vickers Park being enj…

THUMBS Up to the city roads crews and the grader operators — “you guys are awesome. Also let’s not forget the guys running the sidewalk plows. You are all truly appreciated. Thanks for a job well done. You all deserve recognition for all of your long hours. Happy New Year.”

THUMBS Down to a lack of respect. “I am so disgusted with the dog owner who continuously brings their dog to Mountain View Cemetery to do its business and leave it there on a family member’s grave site. Shame on you. You also brush your furry friend there and leave that mess.”

THUMBS Up to three wonderful people — “Craig, Sheila Ryden, and Eddie, south of the border, who helped me when I blew a tire. They came to my rescue and refused any money that I offered. Sheila’s only request was that I remind their Canadian customers to pick up their packages from Ryden’s s…

THUMBS Up to Thunder Bay’s hockey excellence. “Over the years we’ve sent close to 100 players to the NHL thanks to leagues, clubs and coaches dedicated to the sport. Just this week goalie Matt Murphy went to the Toronto Maple Leafs while Marc and Eric Staal are headed to the Florida Panthers…

THUMBS Up to a south-side coffeeshop for great service, wonderful product and the best atmosphere in town. “The grounds and flowers are beautiful and well-maintained. It’s refreshing to go to a restaurant in Thunder Bay that truly shows pride of ownership. Let it be an example to the rest of…

THUMBS Up to the person that brought the inflatable wheel back to Splish Splash Water Park. “With the high winds on Sunday, the wheel blew to the end of the lake, and that night, someone brought it back without taking credit. Can that person contact us at Splish Splash so we can thank you fo…

THUMBS Up for shows of support from someone who knows. “Kudos to both school boards for proudly displaying LGBTQ2 pride flags. I grew up gay in Thunder Bay, and those flags would have meant the world to me. I’m so impressed with how far we have come. Thank you.”

THUMBS Up to all the bikers taking part in the huge event at Trowbridge Falls trails last Saturday. “Everyone from experts to families took part. What a lovely event to witness. Thunder Bay has it all!”

THUMBS Down to an elderly woman who yelled at a male employee of an Arthur Street grocery store on June 8 at around 8:15 p.m. “They only had one cashier open, but they do have six self-serve ones. It is not that employee’s fault that they are short-staffed. You should take this problem up wi…

THUMBS Up to all of those who worked so hard in such a small amount of time to make an appropriate landing area for the cruise ships to dock. “We should be so proud of our location at the centre of Canada on such a beautiful waterfront. It is unfortunate that the ‘Thunder Bay’ sign wasn’t ap…

THUMBS Up. “We recently attended a birthday party at the Boys and Girls Club on Windsor Street. What a wonderful time we had. We were greeted by a young man named Adam. He was wonderful with the children. We strongly recommend this Club for special events. It is truly amazing.”

THUMBS Down to those who create a sexist and exclusionary culture at the marina skatepark. “People avoid the park altogether and are even hesitant to get into the sport. Skateboarding is for everyone.”

THUMBS Up to the Fort William First Nation First Response Team, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, Dilico, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Red Cross and all the other organizations and workers that are hosting the evacuees from Kashechewan at the Valhalla Inn and the Victoria Inn. “You all are doing an inc…

THUMBS Up to Ken at the Fix-It Club in the 55-Plus Centre “who cheerfully spent numerous hours breathing new life into an old oak dresser. These guys are cooking with gas.”

THUMBS UP to Northwestern Ontario farmers who have been especially hard hit by the effects of this lingering winter. “Snow and heavy spring rains have delayed field preparation and plantings, cold temperatures sent heating bills soaring for already pricey fuel, and some barns and greenhouses…

THUMBS Up to a local plumbing company whose services were required recently when water from a sump pump line was leaking into a basement. “I called the company first thing one morning and a pleasant young plumber was at my door within half an hour, even though I live in a semi-rural area. Th…

MANY readers shared Thumbs Down to the condition of the streets in Thunder Bay. “Are the roads that city council drive on lined with unicorns and fairies, because I never here talk about the potholes or a plan to fix them at any council meeting. Let’s not forget the damage they have caused t…

THUMBS Down to lost service at grocery stores. “Good for stores with no more plastic. But cashiers will not bag your groceries in your own bags. So why do they have cashiers now that the plastic bags are gone? I always use self-checkout but thought I would treat myself on Friday, thinking sh…

THUMBS Up to winter weather kindness. “Thank goodness for ‘Sir Galahads.’ On many occasions our neighbour has offered his help when needed. After a recent snow squall (March 23), he came over with his mighty snowblower and had our driveway cleared in no time. Thank you, Rick, for your genero…

THUMBS Up to the security staff at Thunder Bay Airport. “On Sunday. there was a long wait at security due to Special Olympics visitors going home. I mentioned my age and inability to stand for an hour to a security officer and was taken, with kindness, to the head of the line and put through…

THUNDER Bay is host to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games this week and the reviews are positive. “Thumbs Up to all of the enthusiastic athletes, their coaches, families and fans — and a special thanks to the many volunteers who make the games possible.”

THUMBS Up to the organizers and volunteers at the city’s Family Day celebrations at Marina Park Monday. “Activities were creative and fun. Thanks to the ice slide volunteer with the continuous smile. The bannock volunteer was very enthusiastic. Thumbs Down to the price of the hot chocolate —…

THUMBS Down to teachers and their union reps who continue to hold students and their families hostage. “If and when the government does meet their demands, I hope they realize that they will have lost so much of the respect and high regard that people have always accorded the teaching profession.”

A HUGE Thumbs Up to the amazing cast of characters in the recent production of The Odyssey by the Eleanor Drury Children’s Theatre. “It was so professional, creative, witty and lively. The videos added a unique twist and were so well done. The singing voices were fantastic. Thank you for kee…

THUMBS Down to the City of Thunder Bay for the lack of cleaning sidewalks. “On Friday and Saturday nights they know 2,000 people go to Lakehead University hockey games. Send out a sidewalk plow around 4 p.m. We’re paying for services. Provide us with the services we’re taxed for. Clean a few…

THUMBS Up to two young men who “jumped out of a truck on Miles Street near May Street to help push an electric wheelchair through the snow to the lights at the intersection. I had stopped to help this young lady but was unable to push the chair. Just as I was calling 911, these great guys he…

THUMBS Up, “waaay up to the very kind stranger driving a Kubota who stopped to plow both my and my neighbour’s driveways. Thumbs Down to the city for promptly returning to fill our driveways that night with heavy blocks of ice and hard snow. Thumbs Up again to the man on the Kubota who stopp…

THUMBS Down to the roads division with the City of Thunder Bay for not plowing side roads for three days. “You were well aware of the forecast ahead of time so you should have been prepared. People pay taxes for a reason. The roads are so bad in residential areas that garbage pickup has also…

THUMBS Down to the roofers on a building that includes a “family” hair care business earlier this month. “Your choice of music and the language in the music was very unacceptable — worst visit I’ve ever had. Not very respectful in a busy area.”

THUMBS Up to Cheryl at the Kakabeka post office for making sure that all the children’s letters to Santa in the area get answered. “Job well done! Merry Christmas to you and yours.”

THUMBS Up to Bill Nicholl and family for “rescuing my sister and I when we were given the wrong address and ended up stuck in the snow down Highway 527. They took their time to assess the situation as the truck had slid and was wedged up against a metal fence. They managed to pull the truck …

THUMBS Up to Grade 5 students at St. Francis School, Brinley Vescio and Ava Piccinato, who came up with the generous idea to have a bake sale to raise money for Shelter House. “They made flyers and posted them around their neighbourhood, put up posters at their school, took orders from schoo…

THUMBS Up to all the City workers who fixed the broken hydrant that flooded the area around First Avenue and Ontario Street on Oct. 21, and filled in the huge sink hole. “We’re happy you were able to do it by bedtime.”

THUMBS way Up to the Mile Hill Melodrama theatre group for performing their 50th production at the South Gillies Hall. “They have been wowing audiences for 27 years, while keeping the old hall going. An amateur group that’s keeping audiences young and old thoroughly entertained and looking f…

THUMBS Up to the seasonal city workers that plant and maintain our major flower beds. “Outstanding job. When people take pride in their work it shows. Sad to see the end is near for this year, as cooler, wet weather takes its toll. Keep up the good work making our city so beautiful.”

THUMBS Down to the person who dropped used drywall on Rosslyn Road, “from which a nail punctured my back tire. Thumbs Up to the woman who caught my attention at the corner of Central Avenue and Golf Links Road to inform me my tire looked low, allowing me to get the tire repaired instead of h…

THUMBS Up to the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council for the wonderful Labour Day picnic at Current River Park. “The music, food, games, bouncy castle, horse rides and animals were enjoyed by everyone. I observed so many smiles from the large crowd. Thank you to the amazing volunteers fo…

THUMBS Up to good PR and “The Amazing Race Canada television program for the excellent coverage and photography of our city’s natural beauty. We can be proud.”

THUMBS Down to the neighbour who backs onto the McIntyre River. “Stop throwing your garbage onto the green space. The dogs and tiny people are not on the invite list to the buffet you put out for mice, rats, crows and larger critters. Join the game we all play — garbage in bag, bag in can, c…

THUMBS Down to those who portray the proposed location of a 58-unit transitional youth housing facility on Junot as ideal. “The safety of the children at St. Pius, Hammarskjold, the Gateway Program, Boys and Girls Club, the nearby baseball and park areas is paramount, not to mention the seni…

THUMBS Up to the Badanai Theatre summer production of Little Shop of Horrors playing until Aug. 15 at the Paramount Theatre. “We brought our whole family out and both young and old enjoyed the show. Fantastic time and just as fun as Mamma Mia was last winter from this talented local group of…

THUMBS Up to the man with physical disabilities that walks the downtown area with a shopping cart using a picker to collect trash. “This guy goes out for hours every day to clean up our city and he has physical limitations. What are you doing to better our community?”

THUMBS UP “and up and up to Magnus Theatre’s show Ivanka. Kudos to Crudo and Waytowich for giving their audiences many, many hilarious moments. Thunder Bay should be proud of the talent we have in this city. Hopefully Ivanka will return again as she is very popular. It doesn’t hurt to now ha…

‘FIVE senior ladies had lunch at Tony Roma’s on July 4; one of them was having a birthday. When it was time to pay, our server told us a couple seated by us had paid our bills. We couldn’t have been more surprised and pleased. A giant Thumbs Up to this anonymous couple. We will all be paying…

PROFESSIONAL response impressive. “Last month, I found myself in the midst of a police chase at 8:30 a.m., when children were walking to school and roads were full of people driving to work. My car was hit by the woman allegedly impaired on drugs, who fled the scene only to hit another vehic…

CONGRATULATIONS to the locally owned 2019 Thunder Bay Border Cats. Thumbs Up to “great baseball, great food and beverages, and lots of great entertainment. Our guys got off to a shaky start but had a very strong finish in the first half. Come on Thunder Bay. Let’s get out and support our tea…

‘RECENTLY my vehicle was stuck. Within minutes a kind gentleman, originally from Newfoundland, came to my aid. A comment was made that I will not forget: ‘We live on an island and we have to know how to help one another.’ Three other gentlemen came to my assistance and quickly, efficiently t…

THUMBS Up to the NBA champion Toronto Raptors “OMG, I know nothing about basketball. I think I had 10 mini-strokes watching that series. I know you get it in the basket! I am now a true Raptors fan. Watching the fanfare from east to west was awesome. And now, go Border Cats!”

A HUGE Thumbs Up to the many kind people “who helped us after my husband suffered a serious fall in one of the far parking lots at the regional hospital. I’m sorry I didn’t get everyone’s name, but thank you to the young couple that called for an ambulance. Thank you to the woman from Fort F…