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Jon Thompson

@jonthompson.bsky.social
3.5K followers 928 following 680 posts

Belongs to Northwestern Ontario. Journalist @ Ricochet Media. Regional director @ CAJ. Past words & baritone for Canadaland, CBC, TVO.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Jon Thompson
Robert Jago @rjjago.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's something I've been working on for a while, that I'll be getting into a lot more soon. This is where Land Acknowledgements come from, this is what they mean, and this is how you've all been doing them wrong.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Claiming “Ontario plans to cut $121 million from emergency firefighting in its 2026-2027 budget, despite the record-high number of wildfires this season,” Amnesty International is calling for a public inquiry into the province’s handling of the file. amnesty.ca/press-releas...
amnesty.ca
Amnesty International Canada calls for public inquiry into Ontario’s wildfire response
In 2026, wildfires have burned more than 730,000 hectares of land across Ontario, displacing tens of thousands of people.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
About that time Flo Rida poured liquor all over the crowd at Wake the Giant, the sober music event welcoming high school students from fly-in First Nations across far northern Ontario to Thunder Bay.
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Warm Up The Guillotine @fiverdrive.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
60 people represent 0.4% of Kenora, population ~15,000. If this was to make its way to a much larger city, the toll would be severe. For reference: 0.4% of Ottawa's population is a little under 4,500.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A Northwestern Health Unit release says over 60 drug poisonings/ODs reported in Kenora Thursday/Friday. www.nwhu.on.ca/increase-in-... Tests show nitazene, a rare synthetic opioid, “significantly more toxic than fentanyl.” health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-re...
nwhu.on.ca
Increase in drug poisonings - Northwestern Health Unit
Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is warning people about a significant increase in drug poisonings. “If you use a drug that does not come from a pharmacy or legal dispensary, it may not be what you Rea...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The cubs are all right.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Ginoogaming Chief Sheri Taylor says her First Nation and OPP have terms of an agreement to increase policing drugs & violence. State of emergency declared in 2024: ricochet.media/indigenous/f... NAN-wide state of emergency declared in 2025: ricochet.media/indigenous/w...
ricochet.media
‘We’re losing control of our communities’: First Nations in states of emergency as Doug Ford pushes to mine the north
As Ontario government sells off the north to international mining companies, communities in crisis are demanding safety and healing instead of resource extraction
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Doug Ford’s cabinet shuffle today shows Dunlop, Harris, and Rickford all staying at their posts in emergency, MNR, and Indigenous, respectively. These were the ministers who oversaw the response to Ontario’s worst-ever forest fire summer, measured by hectares burnt.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Thunder Bay Police Service Board has named educator Christy Radbourne as its executive director.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The Sun’s Monday column is on how Trump renaming Lake Ontario is basically the same as how things are being renamed in Indigenous languages, and where’s the outrage for that? torontosun.com/opinion/colu... Never mind equating reconciliation with invasion threats,“Ontario” is an Indigenous name.
torontosun.com
LILLEY: Where was the outrage as Canadians renamed our own history?
Canadians are right to be angry at Trump's childish decision, but where was that outrage as we erased our own history? Read on.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Matawa council is calling on the federal and provincial governments to address the state of emergency Neskantaga First Nation declared on Aug.4. I filed this story from Neskantaga for @ricochetmedia.bsky.social on Aug.10. ricochet.media/indigenous/r...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Among things that are not a “road to the Ring of Fire,” repaving existing road infrastructure in Aroland First Nation.
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Do you find people are unable to restrain themselves from emptying their wallets and handing the contents to you? Do strangers feel compelled to pay you even after short exchanges? Do others often say of you,”I can’t believe how much I want to give that person all of my money?” Come work with us.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
In only two days, a fascinating 6,400 people have signed a petition calling for limits on the number of traditional media stories allowed to feature one individual. www.change.org/p/proposal-f...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Proposal for Arday’s Law: a limit to articles published on one person within a timeframe.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I see media's running Neskantaga First Nation's second evacuation of the summer. For those who want to read more, I flew to Neskantaga so @ricochetmedia.bsky.social could bring you this story: ricochet.media/indigenous/r... Note for editors: it's free to republish under Local Journalism Initiative.
ricochet.media
Repeated evacuations strain mental health in Northern Ontario
First it was wildfires. Then a sewage leak. For Neskantaga First Nation, summer is a series of hotel rooms
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
If you haven't checked in with Emo, ON Mayor Harold McQuaker's efforts not to recognize Pride Month, the latest is how he admitted to the integrity commissioner that he pocketed the proceeds of online fundraisers collected for his cause. McQuaker is currently running unopposed for a new term in 2026
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
On the lighter side, @ricochetmedia.bsky.social is proud to present Lakehead University's own Todd Dufresne telling Adrian Harewood about the end of enlightenment philosophy and the urgent need for climate revolution. www.youtube.com/watch?v=090S...
youtube.com
Climate Revolution for Beginners w/ Todd Dufresne
YouTube video by Ricochet Media
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Do you find people are unable to restrain themselves from emptying their wallets and handing the contents to you? Do strangers feel compelled to pay you even after short exchanges? Do others often say of you,”I can’t believe how much I want to give that person all of my money?” Come work with us.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The late Barbara Kentner’s home of Wabigoon Lake First Nation is calling her killer, Brayden Bushby’s, parole only two years into his eight-year sentence a “message that Indigenous lives are treated as expendable.“
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Andrea Woo @andreawoo.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
"Beneath the urgency of the present lies a confounding paradox: we mobilize to put fires out, but not yet to prevent them," writes @sethdklein.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
We need a wartime mindset to fight the threat of wildfires | Seth Klein
While many leaders compare the wildfire crisis to the second world war, governments fail to adopt the real lessons of pre-emptive wartime action
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Come out with Ricochet Media at 7 p.m. to a Reddit AMA with Jeremy Appel about how Postmedia (owned by a Trump-aligned U.S. hedge fund) has amplified conservative grievance politics — creating fertile soil for MAGA-style ideas, and Alberta separation. www.reddit.com/r/RicochetMe...
reddit.com
RicochetMedia
A place to discuss recent headlines from Ricochet Media — an independent Canadian national news outlet and Registered Journalism Organization. Keep up with critical Canadian journalism ⤵️ linktr.ee/r...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Nishnawbe Aski Nation calls the Parole Board of Canada’s decision to grant Brayden Bushby full parole, “devastating.” Bushby struck Barbara Kentner with a trailer hitch he threw from a moving car in 2017. She later died from her injuries. Parole board said he showed no remorse.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Returning to Cushing Lake, north of Lac Des Mille Lacs, after the fires.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
“Thunder Bay” was just the answer of a daily double on Jeopardy! Ontario city with stormy name. Slogan “Superior By Nature.” Guy didn’t get it. He guessed Toronto.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
A notice from Grassy Narrows band office says water has been restored but air remains in the system. Leadership expects to welcome members home from Winnipeg on Saturday.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation has declared a state of emergency and the community is under evacuation over water.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation has declared a state of emergency and the community is under evacuation over water.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Are we noticing how liberals have started using "those who present simple solutions to complex problems" as polite longhand to mean "fascists?
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Friends of the Attawapiskat River has applied for a judicial review in an effort to stop construction on the Webequie Supply Road, which would connect the First Nation to proposed mine sites in the Ring of Fire deposit. www.timminstoday.com/local-news/f...
timminstoday.com
First Nations group wants court to overturn Ring of Fire road approval
Friends of the Attawapiskat River have filed an application for judicial review
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I’m back from Neskantaga First Nation, whose eerie emptiness echoes the mental struggle of both those left behind and those who have spent their summer in Toronto hotels, especially among young people.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Repeated evacuations are beginning to take a mental health toll on the members of Neskantaga First Nation. It’s the silence that’s deafening. ricochet.media/indigenous/r...
ricochet.media
Repeated evacuations strain mental health in Northern Ontario
First it was wildfires. Then a sewage leak. For Neskantaga First Nation, summer is a series of hotel rooms
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
“It’s rough out there right now. Bigots on one side of the political aisle and too many cowards on the other."- Ken Jennings
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The latest from Gull Bay: fires are 20kms north and 28kms west from KZA First Nation. Today’s message from chief & council says anyone remaining or blowing blockades does so at their own risk. For more on those who are violating mandatory evacuation orders: ricochet.media/indigenous/r...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
The thing that has been coming is here. www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
thetrillium.ca
Ford government staging official announcements without inviting reporters
A review by The Trillium found a growing pattern of government announcements featuring the premier that took place without reporters present
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Joey Langdon @jlangdon76.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
From @jonthompson.bsky.social through the Local Journalism Initiative. Neskantaga, one of the communities evacuated from the wildfires, returned home earlier this month. However, only 5 days later, they had to evacuate again due to a critical sewage failure. www.snnewswatch.com/local-journa...
snnewswatch.com
From wildfire to sewage crisis: Neskantaga's nightmare isn't over
Read the full story and comment on SNnewswatch.com
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
From wildfire to sewage crisis: Neskantaga’s nightmare isn’t over Just days after a wildfire evacuation, the fly-in Ontario First Nation has declared another state of emergency forcing residents to leave their community again. New from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/f...
ricochet.media
From wildfire to sewage crisis: Neskantaga's nightmare isn't over
ust days after returning from a wildfire evacuation, the northwestern Ontario fly-in First Nation has declared another state of emergency after a sewage disaster has forced residents to leave their co...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
BREAKING: Only five days after being repatriated from a forest fire evacuation, Neskantaga First Nation is flying out again, this time due to a contractor causing a sewage backup in the health centre basement. ricochet.media/indigenous/f... Just as summer festival was to begin...
ricochet.media
From wildfire to sewage crisis: Neskantaga's nightmare isn't over
Just days after returning from a wildfire evacuation, the northwestern Ontario fly-in First Nation has declared another state of emergency after a sewage disaster has forced residents to leave their c...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Just a reminder that absolutely no one cares if you're working with your community partners. Even if your local media doesn't find it categorically disqualifying when you say that, zero readers/listeners/viewers will remember you or what you do if you pretend working with community partners is news.
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Adrian Harewood @caradrianh.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Trans Lives in An Age of Erasure: My @ricochetmedia.bsky.social podcast conversation w/ @trevellanderson.bsky.social about representation, resistance & resilience. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com
Trans Lives in an Age of Erasure w/ Tre'vell Anderson
Podcast Episode · In Bed with the Elephant · August 4 · 47m
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Ontario won't commit to an inquiry over response to the worst forest fire season on record, despite calls from every opposition party and First Nations leaders, whose communities have been evacuated. Chiefs have their own ideas they want to contribute. ricochet.media/indigenous/f...
ricochet.media
Ford government won’t commit to forest fire inquiry, as chiefs demand change
‘Ontario is burning and there’s no end in sight,’ say First Nation chiefs. But ‘we have a treaty partner that refuses to listen’
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Running the blockade: evacuation orders challenged in northern First Nations. NEW report from Jon Thompson: Elders left behind, speedboats used to get around checkpoints as wildfires loom over northern Ontario communities. ricochet.media/indigenous/r...
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
As mandatory forest fire evacuations continue in northwestern Ontario, I spoke to the few people who are being threatened with huge fines and even jail time for blowing blockades, as well as police & chiefs who say those people need to get out now. ricochet.media/indigenous/r...
ricochet.media
Running the blockade: evacuation orders challenged in northern First Nations
Elders left behind, speedboats used to get around checkpoints as wildfires loom over northern Ontario communities
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Eabametoong (Fort Hope First Nation) is moving into phase one of repatriation. If Ministry of Natural Resources assessment of surrounding fire risk remains low, community members could begin returning home on Friday. Eabametoong evacuated on July 19. ricochet.media/indigenous/a...
ricochet.media
Abandoned on the road to the Ring of Fire
Eabametoong First Nations leaders say poor communication with the Ontario government is putting their communities at risk
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) Chief Wilfred King has issued a letter warning those left behind in the mandatory forest fire evacuation that they could face up to $50,000 fines and a year imprisonment if they remain. “Please evacuate the reserve now..."
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Tension has been building between First Nations and the Ford government as wildfires tear across Northern Ontario. @ricochetmedia.bsky.social Northern Ontario reporter Jon Thompson breaks down the latest developments, as the worst wildfire season in Ontario history continues to rage.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland says communication is getting better between his PC government and First Nations leaders after two weeks of forest fire evacuations. He named Gull Bay Chief Wilfred King in that interview. King says he has “never” met with Holland ricochet.media/indigenous/f...
ricochet.media
First Nations Chief says government MPP is lying about meeting with him
PC representative Kevin Holland told a reporter he met with the Gull Bay Chief. Wilfred King says it never happened.
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Harbinger Media Network @harbingermedia.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
On 🌍GREEN MAJORITY🌍 ep1028 the team talk about wildfires and data centres, then @dgrdon.bsky.social interviews @ricochetmedia.bsky.social's @jonthompson.bsky.social about the fires raging in Northern Ontario and the abysmal response from the province. www.greenmajority.ca/the-podcast/...
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Reposted by Jon Thompson
Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
EXCLUSIVE: First Nations Chief says government MPP is lying about meeting with him. Kevin Holland, an associate minister in the Ford government, told a reporter he met with the Gull Bay Chief. Wilfred King says it never happened. @jonthompson.bsky.social reports. ricochet.media/indigenous/f...
ricochet.media
First Nations Chief says government MPP is lying about meeting with him
PC representative Kevin Holland told a reporter he met with the Gull Bay Chief. Wilfred King says it never happened.
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
It 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 www.greenmajority.ca/the-podcast/...
greenmajority.ca
Heat Laws, Wildfires, Oil Profits & North Ontario (1028) — Green Majority Radio
Aired July 24, 2026: We talk about El Niño, wildfires, maximum indoor heat bylaws, better nation-building projects, data centres and record oil profits from the US-Israel war on Iran. Dave Gray-Donald...
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