In Rearview Mirror 2024 we are going to take a look at the year's top stories, culminating in a vote by readers for the BayToday "Top Story" of 2024 and "Newsmaker" of 2024.
To simplify things, our reporters have condensed the monthly top stories from January to December.
March saw the city lose another building in the downtown core to fire. It is now a vacant lot.
The fire appears to have started in the Cedar Tree building: 'We got here and there was heavy smoke and flames ... There is heavy damage to the building ... We have since confirmed everybody was able to safely evacuate from the building ... We're going to be here all night' said Deputy Fire Chief Greg Saunders.
See: Fire crews battle downtown blaze
March was also dominated by the public's concern for city drinking water. Citizens packed the house for a session on local PFAS drinking water concerns. So many showed up to take in the information session and to share their concerns about the future of North Bay's supply of drinking water that organizers were on the verge of asking folks to leave so they would not breach the fire code.
See: Packed house for a session on local PFAS drinking water concerns
Also in March, many residents reacted to news that the North Bay Police Service had adopted a new policy that prohibits visitors from taking video or photos on the North Bay Police Service headquarters property. The issue prompted many to comment on the story.
"There are two signs on our front doors - one in English and one in French - and it just indicates to the public under the trespass to property act that should anybody be engaging in that type of activity then they will be asked to leave," stated Constable Merv Shantz, corporate communications officer for the North Bay Police Service.
See: Photos and video prohibited at North Bay Police headquarters
And that month, a big layoff in the local film industry. In 2022, Mitch Ouimette and North Star Studios announced they would build the region's largest film studio in North Bay. Fast forward and the 44 laid-off employees are owed money and the company is done in the city.
See: It's a wrap: Local film studio suspends operations, lays off 44
See January here.
See February here.
