THUNDER BAY – EDITORIAL – As Thunder Bay wrestles with the visible rise in homeless encampments, nowhere is the pressure more intense than in the Fort William downtown core. Already reeling from construction and demolition of the Victoriaville Centre and persistent safety concerns, local businesses now face an added strain: city-backed efforts to concentrate homelessness services and sanctioned encampments near the area.
The result? A downtown ecosystem already on the edge is being pushed closer to collapse.
Retailers in Fort William report growing incidents of shoplifting, public intoxication, and loitering—all of which deter customers and employees, making it harder to attract new business or investment.
Many retailers report broken windows, very expensive to fix, and smaller retailers working behind a locked door.
These are not imagined threats. When a neighbourhood becomes synonymous with disorder, even the most resilient business owners begin to question staying.
The frustration among merchants is not rooted in a lack of compassion, but in the reality that Thunder Bay’s current strategy risks sacrificing one vulnerable group—small business owners—in the name of serving another.
The COTB Administration has taken a “rights plus” approach for the homeless. It is almost as if the Admin and Council are forgetting that the burden they are placing on taxpayers and businesses are their real bosses.
This shouldn’t be an either-or. None of the buslness people report animosity toward the homeless. However it seems that the Administration is more interested in bulldozering their way through this without consideration for all the people in the city.
Rethink the Location Strategy
City administration must abandon the reflex to site all encampment or shelter solutions in or near Fort William’s business district.
It’s not only economically short-sighted, but socially unsustainable. Thunder Bay needs a decentralized, distributed model, where low-barrier housing, mental health support, and temporary outdoor shelter options are spread across multiple neighbourhoods.
Such an approach:
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Reduces pressure on any one area
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Prevents further economic erosion in Fort William
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Encourages broader community responsibility for homelessness
Support for Business Owners Must Be Part of the Plan
If any form of emergency sheltering or social service remains downtown, the city must invest directly in business protection and revitalization efforts, including:
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Dedicated foot patrols from trained outreach and community officers (not just police)
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A downtown business protection grant program
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Improved sanitation, lighting, and public space maintenance
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Incentives for businesses that stay or expand in the area
Listen to Both Communities
Fort William’s entrepreneurs are part of Thunder Bay’s cultural and economic fabric. Their voices matter. At the same time, those experiencing homelessness also deserve solutions grounded in dignity.
The city must facilitate actual dialogue, not dictate decisions—and bring both groups to the table to co-create plans that serve the broader public interest.
Conclusion: A City That Works for Everyone
Thunder Bay’s downtown south core can’t afford another blow. Nor can the city ignore the needs of its unhoused residents. It’s time for a strategic reset—one that balances commerce with compassion, and recognizes that solutions must uplift all corners of the community, not pit them against each other.
