View source for Thunder Bay

{{Other uses|Thunder Bay (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Thunder Bay
| official_name      = City of Thunder Bay
| nickname           = [[List of city nicknames in Canada#Ontario|"Canada's Gateway to the West"]], "T-Bay", "Lakehead" or "The Lakehead"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portofthunderbay.com/article/canadas-gateway-to-the-west-271.asp |publisher=Port of Thunder Bay |title=Canada's Gateway to the West |access-date=3 December 2018 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226091556/http://www.portofthunderbay.com/article/canadas-gateway-to-the-west-271.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Ontario|City]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Single-tier municipalities|single-tier]])
| total_type         = 
| motto              = Superior by Nature / The Gateway to the West
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
 |photo1a            = Thunder Bay skyline.JPG
 |photo2a            = Lakehead University Summer Campus.jpg
 |photo2b            = MAgnust Theatre Thunder Bay October One.jpg
 |photo3a            = Thunder Bay City Hall 2010.jpg
 |photo3b            = Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda.jpg
 |spacing            = 2
 |size               = 250
 |foot_montage       = From top, left to right: view from [[Mount McKay]], [[Lakehead University]], [[Magnus Theatre]], City Hall, [[Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda|Tourist Pagoda]]
 }}
| imagesize          = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Thunder Bay.svg
| flag_size          = 120x80px
| image_blank_emblem = Thunder bay logo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 120x80px
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Thunder Bay, Canada.png
| shield_size        = 120x80px
| pushpin_map        = Ontario
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Thunder Bay
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of census divisions of Ontario#Districts|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Thunder Bay District|Thunder Bay]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Census Metropolitan Area#Census metropolitan areas|CMA]]
| subdivision_name3  = Thunder Bay
| seat_type          = Electoral&nbsp;Districts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />[[List of Canadian federal electoral districts|Federal]]
| seat               = <br />[[Thunder Bay—Superior North (federal electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Superior North]]/[[Thunder Bay—Rainy River]]
| parts_type         = [[List of Ontario provincial electoral districts|Provincial]]
| parts              = [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Superior North]]/[[Thunder Bay—Atikokan (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay—Atikokan]]
| government_footnotes = <ref name="citycouncil">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625213619/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=29 City Hall]}}, Thunder Bay City Council. Retrieved 2 June 2007.</ref><ref name="citymanager">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625213911/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=768 Municipal Code]}}, by-law 218-2003. Retrieved 2 June 2007.</ref>
| government_type    = [[Local government in Canada|Municipal Government]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Thunder Bay, Ontario|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Ken Boshcoff]]
| leader_title1      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1       = <nowiki>Norm Gale</nowiki><ref name="CAO">Smith, Jamie. "[http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/379847/Norm_Gale_named_full-time_city_manager Norm Gale appointed city manager at city council meeting Monday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123405/http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/379847/Norm_Gale_named_full-time_city_manager |date=4 March 2016 }}", TB News Watch (11 January 2016). Retrieved 10 January 2016.</ref>
| leader_title2      = Governing Body
| leader_name2       = [[Thunder Bay City Council]]
| leader_title3      = [[House of Commons of Canada|MPs]]
| leader_name3       = [[Patty Hajdu]] ([[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]])<br />[[Marcus Powlowski]] ([[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]])
| leader_title4      = [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|MPPs]]
| leader_name4       = [[Lise Vaugeois]] ([[Ontario New Democratic Party|ONDP]])<br />[[Kevin Holland (Canadian politician)|Kevin Holland]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]])
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1683 as [[Fort Kaministiquia|Fort Caministigoyan]]
| established_title2 = [[Amalgamation (politics)|Amalgamation]]
| established_date2  = 1 January 1970
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="census2016">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census: Thunder Bay, City |publisher=Statistics Canada |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609080854/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="census2016metro">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census: Thunder Bay [Census metropolitan area] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=595&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609080856/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=595&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="census2016urban">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census: Thunder Bay [Population centre] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=0935&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609080853/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=0935&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 447.5
| area_land_km2      = 328.24
| area_water_km2     = 119.0
| area_water_percent = 26.6
| area_urban_km2     = 179.38
| area_metro_km2     = 2556.37
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="Environment Canada">{{cite web |url=http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=4055&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ONT&provBut=&month1=0&month2=12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216013101/http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=4055&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ONT&provBut=&month1=0&month2=12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2012 |title=Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 |location=Thunder Bay A, Ontario |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=12 April 2012 |date=19 January 2011 }}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 199
| population_as_of   = [[2021 Canadian Census|2021]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2021">[https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/search-recherche/results-resultats.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=thunder+bay Census Search "Thunder Bay"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603072634/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/search-recherche/results-resultats.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=thunder+bay |date=3 June 2023 }} Statistics Canada. Retrieved 12 February 2022.</ref>
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 108843 ([[List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population|51st]])
| population_density_km2 = 332.1
| population_metro   = 123258 ([[List of census metropolitan areas and agglomerations in Canada|34th]])
| population_density_metro_km2 = 48.3
| population_urban   = 95266 ([[List of the largest population centres in Canada|36th]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1253
| population_demonym = Thunder Bayer
| demographics_type2       = Gross Metropolitan Product
| demographics2_title1     = Thunder Bay {{Abbr|CMA|Census metropolitan area}}
| demographics2_info1      = [[Canadian dollar|CA$]]6.2{{nbsp}}billion (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000) |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2019&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2020&referencePeriods=20190101%2C20200101 |website=Statistics Canada |access-date=9 December 2023 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122184338/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −05:00
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −04:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|22|56|N|89|14|46|W|region:CA-ON_type:city|notes=<ref name=cgndbthb>{{Cite cgndb|FCWFX|Thunder Bay }}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]
| postal_code        = [[List of P postal codes of Canada|P7A to P7G, P7J to P7K]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 807|807]]
| blank_name         = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
| blank_info         = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|52|A|6}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
| blank1_info        = FCWFX<ref>{{Cite cgndb |id=FCWFX |name=Thunder Bay }}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.thunderbay.ca/}}
}}

'''Thunder Bay''' is a city in and the seat of [[Thunder Bay District]], Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in [[Northwestern Ontario]] and the second most populous (after [[Greater Sudbury]]) municipality in [[Northern Ontario]]. Its population is 108,843 according to the [[2021 Canadian census]].

Located on [[Lake Superior]], the [[census metropolitan area]] of Thunder Bay has a population of 123,258 and consists of the city of Thunder Bay, the municipalities of [[Oliver Paipoonge]] and [[Neebing, Ontario|Neebing]], the townships of [[Shuniah]], [[Conmee, Ontario|Conmee]], [[O'Connor, Ontario|O'Connor]], and [[Gillies, Ontario|Gillies]], and the [[Fort William First Nation]].

European settlement in the region began in the late 17th century with a French [[fur trading]] outpost on the banks of the [[Kaministiquia River]].<ref name="TBHistory">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071022160858/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=313 Brief History of Thunder Bay]}}, City of Thunder Bay. Retrieved 5 June 2007.</ref> It grew into an important transportation hub with its port forming an important link in the shipping of [[grain]] and other products from [[western Canada]], through the [[Great Lakes]] and the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]], to the east coast. [[Forestry]] and [[manufacturing]] played important roles in the city's economy. They have declined in recent years, but have been replaced by a "[[knowledge economy]]" based on [[medical research]] and education. Thunder Bay is the site of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

On 1 January 1970, the City of Thunder Bay was formed through the merger of the cities of [[Fort William, Ontario|Fort William]], [[Port Arthur, Ontario|Port Arthur]], and the geographic townships of Neebing and McIntyre. The city takes this name from the immense [[Thunder Bay (Ontario landform)|Thunder Bay]] at the head of Lake Superior, known on 18th-century French maps as {{Lang|fr|Baie du Tonnerre}} (Bay of Thunder).<ref name="TBHistory"/> The city is often referred to as the "Lakehead", or "Canadian Lakehead", because of its location at the end of Great Lakes navigation on the Canadian side of the border.<ref name="Lakehead">Tronrud, Thorold J; Epp, Ernest A.; and others. (1995). [http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm "Introduction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207031852/http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm|date=7 February 2012}}, ''Thunder Bay: From Rivalry to Unity'', p. vii, Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society {{ISBN|0-920119-22-0 }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Port Arthur, Ontario|Fort William, Ontario}}

===Before 1900===
Various [[Anishinaabe]] peoples such as the [[Ojibwa]] are indigenous to the Thunder Bay Area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/history-of-thunder-bay.aspx |title=History of Thunder Bay |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212215/https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/history-of-thunder-bay.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> European settlement at Thunder Bay began with two French fur trading posts (in 1683 and 1717) which were subsequently abandoned (see [[Fort William, Ontario]]). In 1803, the Montreal-based [[North West Company]] established Fort William as its mid-continent ''[[entrepôt]]''.

[[File:Fort William 1865.jpg|thumbnail|left|Fort William in 1865]]
By the 1850s, the [[Province of Canada]] began to take an interest in its western extremity. The discovery of [[copper]] in the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]] of Michigan had prompted a national interest in potential [[mining]] locations on the Canadian shores of Lake Superior. In 1849, French-speaking [[Jesuits]] established the {{Lang|fr|Mission de l'Immaculée-Conception}} (Mission of the Immaculate Conception) on the [[Kaministiquia River|Kaministiquia]] to [[Evangelism|evangelize]] the [[Ojibwe]]. The Province of Canada negotiated the [[Robinson Treaty]] in 1850 with the Ojibwa of Lake Superior. As a result, an Indian reserve was set aside for them south of the Kaministiquia River.

Another settlement developed a few miles to the north of Fort William after construction by the federal Department of Public Works of a road connecting Lake Superior with the [[Red River Colony]]. The work was directed by [[Simon James Dawson]] (see [[Port Arthur, Ontario]]). This public works depot or construction headquarters acquired its first name in May 1870 when Colonel [[Garnet Wolseley]] named it Prince Arthur's Landing. It was renamed Port Arthur by the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) in May 1883.<ref>F.B. Scollie, "Falling into Line : How Prince Arthur's Landing Became Port Arthur", Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society ''Papers and Records'', XIII (1985) 8–19.</ref>

The arrival of the CPR sparked a long rivalry between the towns, which did not end until their amalgamation in 1970. Until the 1880s, Port Arthur was a much larger community. The CPR, in collaboration with the Hudson's Bay Company, preferred east Fort William, located on the lower Kaministiquia River where the fur trade posts were. Provoked by a prolonged tax dispute with Port Arthur and its seizure of a [[locomotive]] in 1889, the CPR relocated all its employees and facilities to Fort William. The collapse of [[silver mining]] after 1890 undermined the economy of Port Arthur. It had an economic depression, while Fort William thrived.

===20th century===
[[File:T-bay Railway Station.jpg|thumb|CN Railway Station]]
In the era of [[Wilfrid Laurier|Sir Wilfrid Laurier]], Thunder Bay began a period of extraordinary growth, based on improved access to markets via the [[transcontinental railway]] and development of the western [[wheat]] boom. The CPR double-tracked its Winnipeg–Thunder Bay line. The [[Canadian Northern Railway]] established facilities at Port Arthur. The [[Grand Trunk Pacific Railway]] began construction of its facilities at the Fort William Mission in 1905, and the federal government began construction of the [[National Transcontinental Railway]]. [[Grain elevator]] construction boomed as the volume of grain shipped to Europe increased. Both cities incurred debt to grant bonuses to manufacturing industries.

Thunder Bay was the first city in the world to enact daylight saving time, on 1 July 1908.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.northernontario.travel/thunder-bay/the-thunder-bay-connection-to-daylight-savings-time |title=Time to change your clocks – but why? |date=8 March 2018 |work=Northern Ontario Travel |access-date=9 October 2018 |archive-date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010011523/https://www.northernontario.travel/thunder-bay/the-thunder-bay-connection-to-daylight-savings-time |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/ |title=Daylight Saving Time |access-date=8 October 2018 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009153519/https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1914, the twin cities had modern infrastructures (sewers, potable water supply, street lighting, electric light, etc.) Both Fort William and Port Arthur were proponents of municipal ownership. As early as 1892, Port Arthur built Canada's first municipally owned electric street railway. Both cities spurned [[Bell Canada|Bell Telephone Company of Canada]] to establish their municipally owned telephone systems in 1902.

The boom came to an end in 1913–1914, aggravated by the outbreak of the First World War. A wartime economy emerged with the making of munitions and shipbuilding. Men from the cities joined the 52nd, 94th, and 141st Battalions of the [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]].

Railway employment was hurt when the federal government took over the National Transcontinental Railway and Lake Superior Division from the Grand Trunk in 1915, and the Canadian Northern Railway in 1918. These were amalgamated with other government-owned railways in 1923 to form the [[Canadian National Railways]]. The CNR closed many of the Canadian Northern Railway facilities in Port Arthur. It opened the Neebing yards in Neebing Township in 1922. By 1929, the population of the two cities had recovered to pre-war levels.

The [[Forest product|forest products industry]] has played an important role in the Thunder Bay economy since the 1870s. In the 1880s, [[Herman Finger]] established the [[Pigeon River Lumber Company]] in the area, and also built the [[Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad]], but he dissolved the lumber company and moved his operations to The Pas by 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/internal_reports/pdfs/Lumber_Industry_Mb_Nicholson.pdf |title=The Lumber Industry in Manitoba |last=Nicholson |first=Karen |date=February 2000 |website=Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport – Historic Resources Branch |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822115612/http://gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/internal_reports/pdfs/Lumber_Industry_Mb_Nicholson.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Logs and lumber were shipped primarily to the United States. In 1917, the first pulp and paper mill was established in Port Arthur. It was followed by a mill at Fort William, in 1920. Eventually, four mills were operating.

Manufacturing resumed in 1937 when the Canada Car and Foundry Company plant (opened for the manufacture of naval ships and railcars during the late World War I) re-opened to build British aircraft. Now run by [[Alstom]], the plant has remained a mainstay of the post-war economy. It has produced forestry equipment and transportation equipment for urban transit systems, such as the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] and [[GO Transit]].

===Amalgamation===
On 1 January 1970, the City of Thunder Bay was formed through the merger of the cities of [[Fort William, Ontario|Fort William]], [[Port Arthur, Ontario|Port Arthur]], and the geographic townships of Neebing and McIntyre.<ref name="TBHistory"/> Its name was the result of a [[referendum]] held previously on 23 June 1969, to determine the new name of the amalgamated Fort William and Port Arthur. Officials debated over the names to be put on the ballot, taking suggestions from residents including "Lakehead" and "The Lakehead". Because [[Vote splitting|the vote split between the two similar names]], "Thunder Bay" prevailed with a narrow [[plurality voting|plurality]]. The final tally was "Thunder Bay" with 15,870, "Lakehead" with 15,302, and "The Lakehead" with 8,377.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070809121412/http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/business/1012.pdf About Thunder Bay]}}, pp. 2. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref>

There was more controversy over the selection of a name for the amalgamated city than over whether to amalgamate. A vocal minority of the population preferred "The Lakehead".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thunderbay.ca/Assets/CEDC/docs/Thunder_Bay_Overview+-+opens+a+new+window.pdf |title=The City of Thunder Bay |access-date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100254/http://www.thunderbay.ca/Assets/CEDC/docs/Thunder_Bay_Overview+-+opens+a+new+window.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There was much discussion about other cities in the world that use a [[definite article]] in their names. The area was often referred to as "The Lakehead" before and after amalgamation based on its geographic location. It was seen as the "head" of shipping on the Great Lakes and the "rail head".

The expansion of highways, beginning with the [[Trans-Canada Highway]] and culminating with the opening of [[Ontario Highway 17|Highway 17]] (linking Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay in 1960), has significantly diminished railway and shipping activity since the 1970s and 80s. Shipping on the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] was superseded by trucking on highways. Grain shipping on the Great Lakes to the East has declined substantially in favour of transport to Pacific Coast ports. As a result, many grain elevators have been closed and demolished. The Kaministiquia River was abandoned by industry and shipping.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Canada |first=Geological Survey of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54EOAQAAIAAJ&q=The+Kaministiquia+River+was+abandoned |title=Annual Report |date=1899 |publisher=The Survey }}</ref>

===Today===
Thunder Bay has become the regional services centre for [[Northwestern Ontario]] with most provincial departments represented. [[Lakehead University]], established through the lobbying of local businesspeople and professionals, has proven to be a major asset. Another post-secondary institution is [[Confederation College]].

==Geography==
[[File:Thunder Bay NASA.jpg|thumb|Fort William as seen from the [[International Space Station]], December 2008]]
[[File:ISS053-E-223431.jpg|thumb|Thunder Bay is the brightly lit city along the top of Lake Superior, taken at 1:58 AM on 10 November 2017, during ISS [[Expedition 53]].]]

The city has an area of {{convert|328.48|km2|mi2}}, which includes the former cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, as well as the former townships of Neebing and McIntyre. The city reflects the settlement patterns of the 19th century and sprawls. Anchoring the west end of the city, the Fort William Town Plot, surveyed in 1859–60, was named West Fort William (or Westfort) in 1888 by the CPR. The land adjoining the lower Kaministiquia River became the residential and central business district of the town and city of Fort William. A large uninhabited area adjoining the Neebing and McIntyre rivers, which became known as Intercity, separated Fort William from the residential and central business district of Port Arthur. At the extreme east of the city, a part of McIntyre Township was annexed to the town of Port Arthur in 1892, forming what later became known as the Current River area.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

The former Port Arthur section is more typical of the [[Canadian Shield]], with gently sloping hills and very thin soil lying on top of bedrock with many bare outcrops. [[Thunder Bay (Ontario landform)|Thunder Bay]], which gives the city its name, is about {{convert|22.5|km|mi}} from the Port Arthur downtown to Thunder Cape at the tip of the [[Sleeping Giant (Ontario)|Sleeping Giant]]. The former Fort William section occupies flat [[alluvial]] land along the Kaministiquia River. In the [[river delta]] are two large islands: Mission Island and McKellar Island. Since 1970, the central business districts of Fort William and Port Arthur have suffered a serious decline. Business and government relocated to new developments in the Intercity area. There has also been substantial residential growth in adjacent areas of the former Neebing and McIntyre townships.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

===Neighbourhoods===
[[File:View Of Thunder Bay Harbour.jpg|thumb|The Port of Thunder Bay, as seen from Hillcrest Park in June 2006|222x222px]]
Thunder Bay is composed of two formerly separate cities: [[Port Arthur, Ontario|Port Arthur]] and [[Fort William, Ontario|Fort William]]. Both still retain much of their distinct civic identities, reinforced by the buffering effect of the Intercity area between them. Port Arthur and Fort William each have their own [[central business district]]s and suburban areas. Neighbourhoods include: [[Downtown Fort William, Ontario|Downtown Fort William]], Westfort, Northwood, McKeller Park, Mariday Park, Jumbo Gardens, County Park and [[Current River, Thunder Bay, Ontario|Current River]]. Newer neighbourhoods include River Terrace, Parkdale, and Sherwood Park.

===Climate===
{{climate chart
| Thunder Bay
|-19.2 |-7.6 |31.3
|-18.3 |-5.2 |24.9
|-11.8 |1.0 |41.6
|-1.9 |8.9 |41.5
|1.9 |15.9 |66.5
|7.8 |21.6 |85.7
|11.0 |24.9 |89
|10 |24.2 |87.5
|5.5 |19.2 |88
|-0.3 |10.9 |62.6
|-6.7 |2.6 |55.6
|-14.6 |-4.5 |37.5
|float = left
|clear = none
|source = <ref>[https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnName_1991&txtStationName_1991=thunder+bay&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=204000000&dispBack=1 Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Thunder Bay)]</ref>
}}
The Thunder Bay area experiences a warm-summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfb'') with a [[Subarctic climate|subarctic]] (''Dfc'') influence in northeastern areas of the city (including that affected by [[Lake Superior]]), but not necessarily falling in this zone.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peel |first1=Murray C. |title=World Map of Koppen-Geiger climate classification |url=http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/mpeel/Koppen/World_Koppen_Map.png |publisher=The [[University of Melbourne]] |access-date=3 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.plantmaps.com/koppen-climate-classification-map-canada.php |title=Interactive Canada Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Map |website=plantmaps.com |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=12 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012014555/https://www.plantmaps.com/koppen-climate-classification-map-canada.php |url-status=live }}</ref> This results in cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures for an area extending inland as far as 16&nbsp;km. The average daily temperatures range from {{convert|18.0|C|1}} in July to {{convert|-13.4|C|1}} in January. The average daily high in July is {{convert|24.9|C|1}} and the average daily high in January is {{convert|-7.6|C|1}}.<ref name="CCN" /> On 10 January 1982, the local temperature in Thunder Bay dropped to {{convert|-36.3|C|1}}, with a wind speed of {{cvt|54|km}} per hour for a wind chill temperature that dipped to {{convert|-58|C|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climateData/hourlydata_e.html?timeframe=1&Prov=ONT&StationID=4055&hlyRange=1953-01-01%7c2012-04-12&Year=1982&Month=1&Day=10 |title=Thunder Bay Airport Hourly Data Report for January 10, 1982 |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220841/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climateData/hourlydata_e.html?timeframe=1&Prov=ONT&StationID=4055&hlyRange=1953-01-01%7c2012-04-12&Year=1982&Month=1&Day=10 |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=windchill>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/severe-weather/winterwx_factsheet_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524062419/http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/severe-weather/winterwx_factsheet_e.html |archive-date=24 May 2008 |title=Fact Sheet−Winter Weather Warnings |access-date=3 June 2014 }}</ref> As a result, it holds Ontario's record for coldest day with wind chill.<ref name=windchill /> The highest temperature ever recorded in Thunder Bay was {{convert|40.3|C|1}} on 7 August 1983.<ref name=extremes/> The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-43.2|C|1}} on 31 January 1996.<ref name=extremes/>
Relatively recently, however, all-time records for both the latest first freeze and the longest growing season were set on October 17, 2021; the previous record of October 8, 2016, was beaten by 9 days, and the previous record for the longest growing season of 139 days (also set in 2016) was beaten by a day.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinne |first=Gary |title=A record-late fall frost stretched Thunder Bay's above-zero weather to 140 days |date=18 October 2021 |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/a-record-late-fall-frost-stretched-thunder-bays-above-zero-weather-to-140-days-4525927 |publisher=tbnewswatch.com |access-date=30 September 2022 }}</ref>

The city is quite sunny, with an average of 2,121 hours of bright sunshine each year, ranging from 268.1 hours in July to 86.2 hours in November.<ref name="CCN1981" /> Winters are comparatively dry with the snowfall being somewhat limited and temperatures much colder than in [[Houghton, Michigan]], on the U.S. side of the lake, where the climate is marked by heavy [[lake-effect snow]].<!-- http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=21457&cityname=Houghton-Michigan-United-States-of-America background source for statement and relevant since at the same lake. --> Thunder Bay has more of a continental climate in comparison.

{{Weather box
|location = [[Thunder Bay Airport]], 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1877−present{{efn|Climate data was recorded at [[Port Arthur, Ontario|Port Arthur]] from July 1877 to July 1941, and at [[Thunder Bay Airport]] from August 1941 to present.}}<ref name=extremesmetadata>
{{cite web |url=https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-stations/items?f=csv&limit=30000&ELEMENT_NAME_E=TEMPERATURE |title=Technical Information and Metadata |work=Daily climate records (LTCE) |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=15 October 2024 }}</ref>
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan maximum humidex = 9.2
|Feb maximum humidex = 15.4
|Mar maximum humidex = 24.2
|Apr maximum humidex = 29.7
|May maximum humidex = 38.7
|Jun maximum humidex = 43.1
|Jul maximum humidex = 46.2
|Aug maximum humidex = 45.4
|Sep maximum humidex = 41.2
|Oct maximum humidex = 32.3
|Nov maximum humidex = 21.7
|Dec maximum humidex = 11.8
|year maximum humidex = 46.2
|Jan record high C = 9.4
|Feb record high C = 15.5
|Mar record high C = 23.8
|Apr record high C = 28.3
|May record high C = 35.2
|Jun record high C = 39.0
|Jul record high C = 40.0
|Aug record high C = 40.3
|Sep record high C = 34.1
|Oct record high C = 30.0
|Nov record high C = 21.7
|Dec record high C = 13.7
|year record high C = 40.3
|Jan high C = -7.6
|Feb high C = -5.2
|Mar high C = 1.0
|Apr high C = 8.9
|May high C = 15.9
|Jun high C = 21.6
|Jul high C = 24.9
|Aug high C = 24.2
|Sep high C = 19.2
|Oct high C = 10.9
|Nov high C = 2.6
|Dec high C = -4.5
|year high C = 9.3
|Jan mean C = -13.4
|Feb mean C = -11.8
|Mar mean C = -5.4
|Apr mean C = 2.4
|May mean C = 8.9
|Jun mean C = 14.8
|Jul mean C = 18.0
|Aug mean C = 17.1
|Sep mean C = 12.4
|Oct mean C = 5.3
|Nov mean C = -2.1
|Dec mean C = -9.6
|year mean C = 3.0
|Jan low C = -19.2
|Feb low C = -18.3
|Mar low C = -11.8
|Apr low C = -4.2
|May low C = 1.9
|Jun low C = 7.8
|Jul low C = 11.0
|Aug low C = 10.0
|Sep low C = 5.5
|Oct low C = -0.3
|Nov low C = -6.7
|Dec low C = -14.6
|year low C = -3.3
|Jan record low C = -43.2
|Feb record low C = -40.6
|Mar record low C = -36.7
|Apr record low C = -23.3
|May record low C = -8.9
|Jun record low C = -3.9
|Jul record low C = 0.0
|Aug record low C = -1.1
|Sep record low C = -8.3
|Oct record low C = -15.6
|Nov record low C = -30.6
|Dec record low C = -39.6
|year record low C = -43.2
|Jan chill = -58.2
|Feb chill = -54.0
|Mar chill = -42.7
|Apr chill = -32.0
|May chill = -16.2
|Jun chill = -5.8
|Jul chill = 0.0
|Aug chill = -4.0
|Sep chill = -10.8
|Oct chill = -20.6
|Nov chill = -40.0
|Dec chill = -51.0
|year chill = -58.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 26.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 20.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 31.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 52.9
|May precipitation mm = 67.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 83.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 87.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 89.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 73.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 64.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 53.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 35.2
|year precipitation mm = 683.7
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 0.39
|Feb rain mm = 2.9
|Mar rain mm = 16.1
|Apr rain mm = 36.6
|May rain mm = 66.3
|Jun rain mm = 83.5
|Jul rain mm = 87.0<!--Rainfall should match up with precipitation-->
|Aug rain mm = 89.5<!--Rainfall should match up with precipitation-->
|Sep rain mm = 72.0
|Oct rain mm = 55.3
|Nov rain mm = 30.7
|Dec rain mm = 6.2
|year rain mm = 546.5<!--Due to rounding-->
|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 36.5
|Feb snow cm = 21.2
|Mar snow cm = 18.2
|Apr snow cm = 10.3
|May snow cm = 1.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 1.1
|Oct snow cm = 9.4
|Nov snow cm = 26.5
|Dec snow cm = 38.9
|year snow cm = 162.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.5
|Mar precipitation days = 10.3
|Apr precipitation days = 9.5
|May precipitation days = 11.5
|Jun precipitation days = 13.8
|Jul precipitation days = 12.9
|Aug precipitation days = 12.3
|Sep precipitation days = 13.7
|Oct precipitation days = 12.9
|Nov precipitation days = 12.1
|Dec precipitation days = 12.4
|year precipitation days = 142.9
|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 0.57
|Feb rain days = 1.1
|Mar rain days = 3.4
|Apr rain days = 7.1
|May rain days = 11.0
|Jun rain days = 13.8<!--Rainy days should match up with precipitation days-->
|Jul rain days = 12.9<!--Rainy days should match up with precipitation days-->
|Aug rain days = 12.3<!--Rainy days should match up with precipitation days-->
|Sep rain days = 13.5
|Oct rain days = 11.0
|Nov rain days = 4.7
|Dec rain days = 1.2
|year rain days = 90.7
|unit snow days = 0.2&nbsp;cm
|Jan snow days = 12.9
|Feb snow days = 9.6
|Mar snow days = 8.4
|Apr snow days = 4.0
|May snow days = 0.50
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.27
|Oct snow days = 3.4
|Nov snow days = 9.7
|Dec snow days = 13.9
|year snow days = 62.5
|time day = 15:00 LST
|Jan humidity = 65.6
|Feb humidity = 59.6
|Mar humidity = 56.3
|Apr humidity = 48.7
|May humidity = 50.7
|Jun humidity = 57.5
|Jul humidity = 58.8
|Aug humidity = 58.6
|Sep humidity = 61.6
|Oct humidity = 62.1
|Nov humidity = 66.2
|Dec humidity = 69.7
|year humidity = 59.6
|Jan sun = 109.6
|Feb sun = 126.7
|Mar sun = 159.8
|Apr sun = 213.0
|May sun = 259.0
|Jun sun = 262.0
|Jul sun = 268.1
|Aug sun = 255.9
|Sep sun = 163.8
|Oct sun = 125.4
|Nov sun = 86.2
|Dec sun = 91.2
|year sun = 2120.5
|Jan percentsun = 40.1
|Feb percentsun = 44.2
|Mar percentsun = 43.4
|Apr percentsun = 52.0
|May percentsun = 55.0
|Jun percentsun = 54.5
|Jul percentsun = 55.2
|Aug percentsun = 57.6
|Sep percentsun = 43.2
|Oct percentsun = 37.2
|Nov percentsun = 31.0
|Dec percentsun = 35.0
|year percentsun = 45.7
|source 1 = [[Environment Canada]] (precipitation/rainfall/snowfall/sun 1981–2010)<ref name =CCN>{{cite web |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=204000000&dispBack=0 |title=Thunder Bay, Ontario |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=13 April 2025 }}</ref><ref name="CCN1981">{{cite web |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ONT/ONT_OWEN-WARR_ENG.csv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010154230/ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ONT/ONT_OWEN-WARR_ENG.csv |archive-date=2017-10-10 |url-status=dead |title=Thunder Bay A |access-date=29 September 2013 }}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web |url=https://dd.weather.gc.ca/climate/ltce/daily/temperature/ON/climate_LTCE_Temperature-Records_ON_VSON100.csv |title=Long Term Climate Extremes for Thunder Bay Area (Virtual Station ID: VSON100) |work=Daily climate records (LTCE) |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=13 April 2025 }}</ref>
|date=December 2014}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Population history
|type        = Canada
|align       = right
|cols        = 2
|state       = 
|shading     =
|percentages = 
|footnote    = Sources:<ref>[http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/business/974.pdf The People of Thunder Bay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227172434/http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/business/974.pdf |date=27 February 2008 }}. Retrieved 1 September 2007.<br />For 1911: Tronrud, Thorold J; Epp, Ernest A.; and others. (1995). ''[http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm Thunder Bay: From Rivalry to Unity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207031852/http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm |date=7 February 2012 }}''. [[Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society]], pp. 59. {{ISBN|0-920119-22-0}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.erudit.org/revue/uhr/1997/v26/n1/1016661ar.pdf |title="Planting the Municipal Ownership Idea in Port Arthur, 1875–1914." ''Urban History Review,'' Vol. XXVI, no. 1. October, 1997. |access-date=4 October 2015 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017103038/http://www.erudit.org/revue/uhr/1997/v26/n1/1016661ar.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cp2011"/><ref name="census2016"/>
|1881|1965
|1891|4874
|1901|7211
|[[Canada 1911 Census|1911]]|27719
|1921|35427
|1931|46095
|1941|55011
|1951|66108
|1956|77600
|1961|92490
|1966|104539
|1971|108411
|1976|111476
|1981|112486
|1986|112272
|1991|113946
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|113662
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|109016
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|109140
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|108359
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|107909
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|108843
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Thunder Bay had a population of {{val|108843|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|48405|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|50995|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:108843-107909}}|107909|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|107909|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{cvt|327.77|km2|sqmi}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|108843|327.77|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 |title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=9 February 2022 |access-date=27 March 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512141434/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[census metropolitan area]] (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Thunder Bay CMA had a population of {{val|123258|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|54212|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|57877|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:123258-121621}}|121621|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|121621|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{cvt|2550.79|km2|sqmi}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|123258|2550.79|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021censusCMA>{{cite web |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000501 |title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=9 February 2022 |access-date=28 March 2022 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327085922/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000501 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the [[Canada 2016 Census|2016 Census]], 48.8% of Thunder Bay's residents were male and 51.2% were female. Residents 19 years of age or younger accounted for approximately 19.9% of the population. People aged by 20 and 39 years accounted for 25.0%, while those between 40 and 64 made up 35.1% of the population. The average age of a Thunder Bayer in May 2016 was 43.3, compared to the average of 41.0 for Canada as a whole.<ref name="StatscanCity2016">[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=CD&Code2=3558&Data=Count&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1 City of Thunder Bay], 2016 Community Profile. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2017.</ref>

A further 13,712 people lived in Thunder Bay's [[Census Metropolitan Area]], which apart from Thunder Bay includes the [[municipality|municipalities]] of [[Neebing, Ontario|Neebing]] and [[Oliver Paipoonge, Ontario|Oliver Paipoonge]], the [[Township (Canada)#Ontario|townships]] of [[Conmee, Ontario|Conmee]], [[Gillies, Ontario|Gillies]], [[O'Connor, Ontario|O'Connor]] and [[Shuniah, Ontario|Shuniah]], and the [[List of Aboriginal communities in Canada|aboriginal community]] of [[Fort William First Nation]].<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-cma-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CMA&GC=595&TOPIC=1 Focus on Geography Series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325050943/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-cma-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CMA&GC=595&TOPIC=1 |date=25 March 2018 }}, Thunder Bay CMA. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.</ref>

=== Ethnicity ===
According to the census, Thunder Bay was home to 13,565 people of Finnish descent,<ref name="statcan2016"/> the highest concentration of people of Finnish origin in Canada. Thunder Bay has a large [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] population, representing 14.1% of the population; [[visible minorities]] represent 7.5% of the population.<ref name="2021censusB"/>
{| cellpadding="1" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 1em 0; border:1px #bbb solid; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#8899aa;"
! colspan= "2" | Selected ethnic origins, 2016<ref name="statcan2016">[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=595&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Ethnic%20origin&TABID=1 Profile of Ethnic Origin for Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area, 2016 Census]. [[Statistics Canada]]. Retrieved 24 March 2016.</ref>
|- style="text-align:center; background:#abc;"
|Ethnic origin
|Population
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[English Canadian|English]]
|32,825
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[Canadian ethnicity|Canadian]]
|27,850
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[Scottish Canadian|Scottish]]
|25,425
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[Irish Canadians|Irish]]
|22,115
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[French Canadian|French]]
|19,405
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[Italian Canadian|Italian]]
|16,610
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[Ukrainian Canadian|Ukrainian]]
|16,085
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[Aboriginal people in Canada|Indigenous]]
|15,670
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[Finnish Canadian|Finnish]]
|13,565
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[German Canadian|German]]
|13,015
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[Polish Canadian|Polish]]
|8,395
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
|[[Swedish Canadian|Swedish]]
|5,360
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[Visible minorities]]
|4,790
|- style="text-align:center; background:#bcd;"
| colspan= "2" | multiple responses included
|}
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the City of Thunder Bay (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]]<br />group
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="2021censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&DGUIDlist=2021A00053558004&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130171433/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&DGUIDlist=2021A00053558004&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name="2016census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=27 October 2021 |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=CD&Code2=3558&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="2011census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=27 November 2015 |title=NHS Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name="2006census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=20 August 2019 |title=2006 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="2001census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2 July 2019 |title=2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206083134/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name="euro"}}
| 83,620
| {{Percentage | 83620 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 87,030
| {{Percentage | 87030 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 92,300
| {{Percentage | 92300 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 95,270
| {{Percentage | 95270 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 97,520
| {{Percentage | 97520 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 15,055
| {{Percentage | 15055 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 13,490
| {{Percentage | 13490 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 10,085
| {{Percentage | 10085 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 8,845
| {{Percentage | 8845 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 7,250
| {{Percentage | 7250 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 2,745
| {{Percentage | 2745 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 935
| {{Percentage | 935 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 575
| {{Percentage | 575 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 380
| {{Percentage | 380 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 330
| {{Percentage | 330 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under the visible minority section on the census.|name="EastAsian"}}
| 1,490
| {{Percentage | 1490 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 1,155
| {{Percentage | 1155 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 1,020
| {{Percentage | 1020 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 1,285
| {{Percentage | 1285 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 535
| {{Percentage | 535 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[African-Canadian|African]]
| 1,185
| {{Percentage | 1185 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 665
| {{Percentage | 665 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 485
| {{Percentage | 485 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 435
| {{Percentage | 435 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 425
| {{Percentage | 425 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| Southeast Asian{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name="SoutheastAsian"}}
| 1,135
| {{Percentage | 1135 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 870
| {{Percentage | 870 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 770
| {{Percentage | 770 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 625
| {{Percentage | 625 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 560
| {{Percentage | 560 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name="MiddleEastern"}}
| 625
| {{Percentage | 625 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 515
| {{Percentage | 515 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 170
| {{Percentage | 170 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 80
| {{Percentage | 80 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 215
| {{Percentage | 215 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 390
| {{Percentage | 390 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 340
| {{Percentage | 340 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 205
| {{Percentage | 205 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 165
| {{Percentage | 165 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 240
| {{Percentage | 240 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
| Other{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name="Other"}}
| 400
| {{Percentage | 400 | 106640 | 2 }}
| 235
| {{Percentage | 235 | 105225 | 2 }}
| 350
| {{Percentage | 350 | 105950 | 2 }}
| 205
| {{Percentage | 205 | 107290 | 2 }}
| 245
| {{Percentage | 245 | 107405 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 106,640
! {{Percentage | 106640 | 108843 | 2 }}
! 105,225
! {{Percentage | 105225 | 107909 | 2 }}
! 105,950
! {{Percentage | 105950 | 108359 | 2 }}
! 107,290
! {{Percentage | 107290 | 109140 | 2 }}
! 107,405
! {{Percentage | 107405 | 109016 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 108,843
! {{Percentage | 108843 | 108843 | 2 }}
! 107,909
! {{Percentage | 107909 | 107909 | 2 }}
! 108,359
! {{Percentage | 108359 | 108359 | 2 }}
! 109,140
! {{Percentage | 109140 | 109140 | 2 }}
! 109,016
! {{Percentage | 109016 | 109016 | 2 }}
|}
* Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

=== Language ===
;Mother-tongue language (2016)<ref>Statistics Canada: [[Canada 2016 Census|2016]] census</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Language
! Population
! Pct (%)
|-
| English
| 90,135
| 86.1%
|-
| Italian
| 2,815
| 2.7%
|-
| French
| 2,405
| 2.3%
|-
| Finnish
| 1,635
| 1.6%
|-
| Ojibwe
| 920
| 0.9%
|-
| Polish
| 830
| 0.8%
|-
| Oji-Cree
| 660
| 0.7%
|}

===Religion===
In the 2021 census, 56.0%<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census Profile: Thunder Bay, Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=thunder%20bay&DGUIDlist=2021A00053558004&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |website=Statistics Canada }}</ref> of Thunder Bay residents belonged to a [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination, down from 72.0% in 2011:<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS Profile, Thunder Bay, CY, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Data=Count&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |website=Statistics Canada |date=8 May 2013 |access-date=14 December 2022 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214154027/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Data=Count&SearchText=thunder%20bay&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> 30.4% of the total population affiliated with the [[Catholic Church in Canada|Roman Catholic Church]], 17.6% were [[Protestant]], 4.9% were Christians of unspecified denomination and 3.2% followed other Christian denominations, largely [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]]. People of no religion were 39.9%, up from 26.2% in 2011. Of non-Christian religions, the largest were [[Hinduism]], (1.1%) and [[Islam]] (0.9%). 0.6% of residents adhered to traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality. All other religions and/or spiritual beliefs made up 1.4% of the population.

===Crime===
From 2012 to 2014, and again from 2016 to 2019, Thunder Bay had the highest per-capita rate of [[homicide]] among Canadian cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510007101&pickMembers%5B0%5D=2.2&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2013&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2019&referencePeriods=20130101%2C20190101 |publisher=Stats Canada |access-date=12 March 2021 |title=Number and rate of homicide victims, by Census Metropolitan Areas1 }}</ref> [[Winnipeg]] had previously held this distinction between 2007 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/manitoba-murder-capital-of-canada-for-fifth-year-in-a-row/ |publisher=CTV |date=24 July 2012 |title=Manitoba murder capital of Canada for the fifth year in a row |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=28 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728224428/http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-murder-capital-of-canada-for-fifth-year-in-a-row-1.890828 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Manitobas-homicide-rate-highest-among-provinces-236553311.html |date=19 December 2013 |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |title=Manitoba's homicide rate highest among provinces |archive-date=5 March 2014 |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305094212/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Manitobas-homicide-rate-highest-among-provinces-236553311.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, the per-capita rate of homicides in Thunder Bay was more than double the 2012 rate, and was over 2.5 times higher than the city with the next highest rate, with the city having a homicide rate of 10.1 per 100,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2014 |title=A look at the 11 Thunder Bay homicide cases of 2014 |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/a-look-at-the-11-thunder-bay-homicide-cases-of-2014-399747 |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717034357/https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/a-look-at-the-11-thunder-bay-homicide-cases-of-2014-399747 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/373522/Statistics_Canada_report_shows_city_has_one_of_Canadas_highest_crime_rates |publisher=TBNewswatch |date=22 July 2015 |title=Statistics Canada report shows the city has one of Canada's highest crime rates }}</ref> However, between 2014 and 2015, the crime rate decreased by 6%. This was the second-highest decrease in any major Canadian city, behind only Moncton, New Brunswick.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160720/dq160720a-eng.pdf |title=Alternative format – Portable Document Format (PDF) |date=21 November 2018 }}</ref> In 2022, Thunder Bay set a new homicide record with 15, giving the city a homicide rate of 13.7 homicides per 100,000 people, a rate which was comparable to cities such as Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2023 |title=Homicides taking toll on Thunder Bay police |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/homicides-taking-toll-on-thunder-bay-police-6338938 |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717034355/https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/homicides-taking-toll-on-thunder-bay-police-6338938 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==

{| cellpadding="1" style="float:left; margin:0 1em 1em 0; border:1px #bbb solid; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="text-align:center; background:steelblue;"
!colspan=4|Labour force<ref name="StatscanLaboour2016" />
|- style="text-align:center; background:lightsteelblue;"
| Rate || Thunder Bay || Ontario || Canada
|- align=center
| Employment || 56.0% || 59.9% || 60.2%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Unemployment || 7.7% || 7.4% || 7.7%
|- align=center
| Participation || 60.7% || 64.7% || 65.2%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| colspan= "4" | As of: Census 2016
|}
As the largest city in Northwestern Ontario, Thunder Bay is the region's commercial, administrative and medical centre. Many of the city's largest single employers are in the [[public sector]]. The City of Thunder Bay, the [[Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre]], the [[Lakehead District School Board]] and the Government of Ontario each employ over 1,500 people.<ref name="employers">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070809121416/http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/business/2284.pdf Major Employer List – Thunder Bay, 2006 45kb]}}. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> [[Resolute Forest Products]] is the largest private employer, employing over 1,500 people.<ref name="nob">''[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Thunder+Bay+top+20+employers-a0102024040 Thunder Bay Top Private Sector Employers], Northern Ontario Business'' (May 2006). Retrieved 4 September 2007.</ref>

[[Alstom]] operates a {{convert|553000|sqft|sqm}} plant in Thunder Bay which [[manufacturing|manufactures]] [[mass transit]] vehicles and equipment, employing approximately 500 people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 July 2024 |title=UPDATED Ontario and Unifor pressure feds to fund subway cars |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/ontario-and-unifor-pressure-feds-to-fund-subway-cars-9175363 |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |language=en }}</ref> The plant was built by [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] to build railway box cars in 1912, began building passenger railcars and transit cars from 1963 onwards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bombardier.com/content/dam/Websites/bombardiercom/Sites/supporting-documents/Bombardier-Transportation-SiteFactSheet-ThunderBay-Canada-en.pdf |title=Site Fact Sheet, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |publisher=Bombardier |access-date=3 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=16408 |title=HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca |website=www.historicplaces.ca }}</ref> Alstom acquired the facility from [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chronicle-Journal |first=The |date=30 January 2021 |title=Alstom takes over rail plant |url=https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/alstom-takes-over-rail-plant/article_5245a328-62ac-11eb-9951-73fb51318767.html |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=The Chronicle-Journal |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201021001/https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/alstom-takes-over-rail-plant/article_5245a328-62ac-11eb-9951-73fb51318767.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which had acquired it from [[UTDC]] in 1992, and from [[Canadian Car and Foundry|Cancar]] in 1984.

{| cellpadding="1" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 1em 0; border:1px #bbb solid; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="text-align:center; background:steelblue;"
!colspan=3|Employment by Occupation, 2016<ref name="StatscanLaboour2016">[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=ontario&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Labour&TABID=1 Statistics Canada Community Profile 2016] City of Thunder Bay, Labour. Retrieved 24 March 2018</ref>
|- style="text-align:center; background:lightsteelblue;"
| Occupation
| Thunder Bay
| Ontario
|- align=center
| Management
| 8.1%
| 11.3%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Business, Finance and Administration
| 14.4%
| 16.1%
|- align=center
| Natural and Applied Sciences
| 6.2%
| 7.4%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Health
| 10.0%
| 6.4%
|- align=center
| Education, Law, and Government
| 14.5%
| 11.9%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Art, Culture, Recreation, and Sport
| 2.3%
| 3.2%
|- align=center
| Sales and Services
| 30.7%
| 23.4%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators
| 15.0%
| 13.3%
|- align=center
| Natural Resources and Agriculture
| 1.9%
| 1.6%
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee;"
| Manufacturing and Utilities
| 2.5%
| 5.2%
|}

Lack of innovation by traditional industries, such as forest products, combined with high labour costs have reduced the industrial base of Thunder Bay by close to 60%. The [[grain trade]] has declined because of the loss of [[Crow Rate|grain transportation subsidies]] and the loss of European markets. The gradual transition from shipping by train and boat to shipping by truck, and the [[Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement]] have ended Thunder Bay's privileged position as a linchpin in Canadian east–west freight-handling trade. As a result, the city has lost its traditional [[wikt:raison d'être|raison d'être]] as a [[Break bulk cargo|break-bulk point]]. However, in recent years shipments through the port of Thunder Bay have stabilized, and it remains an important part of the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]].<ref>''{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120910133724/http://www.portofthunderbay.com/article/56year-cargo-statistics-179.asp 56-Year Cargo Statistics]}}, Port of Thunder Bay''. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref>

To rejuvenate its economy, the city has been actively working to attract [[quaternary sector of industry|quaternary]] or "knowledge-based" industries, primarily in the fields of [[molecular medicine]] and [[genomics]].<ref>''[http://www.tbrhsc.com/patient_information/media_releases/molecular_medicine_research_centre_celebrated.asp New Molecular Medicine Research Centre to be Headquartered in Thunder Bay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228004347/http://www.tbrhsc.com/patient_information/media_releases/molecular_medicine_research_centre_celebrated.asp |date=28 February 2014 }}, TBRHSC.com'' (6 September 2006). Retrieved 4 September 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.genesisgenomics.com/ Genesis Genomics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327035612/http://www.genesisgenomics.com/ |date=27 March 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> The city is home to the western campus of the [[Northern Ontario School of Medicine]], the first medical school to open in Canada in a generation.<ref name="siteselection">''[http://www.siteselection.com/features/2005/nov/ont/pg02.htm Thunder Bay Blends Old, New Industries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927115319/http://www.siteselection.com/features/2005/nov/ont/pg02.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}, Site Selection'' (November 2005). Retrieved 4 September 2007</ref> The city also has a law school.<ref>''[https://www.lakeheadu.ca/academics/departments/law Lakehead University Faculty of Law], Site Selection''. Retrieved 27 February 2014</ref>

==Government and politics==
{{See also|Thunder Bay City Council}}

The city is governed by a [[List of mayors of Thunder Bay, Ontario|mayor]] and twelve [[Local government in Canada|councillors]]. The mayor and five of the councillors are elected at large by the whole city. In addition, seven ward councillors are elected by their respective constituencies.<ref name="auto">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011152251/http://www.thunderbay.ca/cityservices/index.cfm?fuse=ServiceDetails&thisservice=48 Guide to City Services]}}, Municipal Government, Wards. Retrieved 4 June 2007</ref> The current mayor is [[Ken Boshcoff]] and the five councillors at large are: Mark Bentz, Shelby Ch’ng, Trevor Giertuga, Rajni Agarwal, and Kasey (Taylor) Etreni.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Results - City of Thunder Bay |url=https://www.tbayvotes.ca/en/results/ |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=City of Thunder Bay - Election 2022 |language=en }}</ref>

Thunder Bay is represented in the [[Ontario Legislature]] by two provincial ridings, also split along the Harbour Expressway. North of the expressway, is [[Thunder Bay—Superior North (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay-Superior North]], served by [[Lise Vaugeois]] of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] since [[2018 Ontario general election|2018]]. On the south side of the city is [[Thunder Bay—Atikokan (provincial electoral district)|Thunder Bay-Atikokan]], served by [[Kevin Holland (Canadian politician)|Kevin Holland]] of the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] since [[2022 Ontario general election|2022]].

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+Thunder Bay provincial election results<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.on.ca/en/resource-centre/elections-results.html |title=Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Thunder Bay) |publisher=Election Ontario |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228175029/https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Ontario|Green]]
|-
| style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP}}|
! [[2022 Ontario general election|2022]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''12,079''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 34%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''12,953''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 27%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''10,320''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 3%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,054''
|-
| style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal}}|
! [[2018 Ontario general election|2018]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | 19%
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''9,155''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 37%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''18,033''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 39%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''18,926''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 3%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,251''
|-
|}

Thunder Bay is represented in the [[House of Commons of Canada|Canadian Parliament]] with two federal ridings, split at the Harbour Expressway. South of the expressway, is the [[Thunder Bay-Rainy River]] riding, currently served by [[Marcus Powlowski]] since [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]. The north side of the city is in the [[Thunder Bay-Superior North]] riding, served by [[Patty Hajdu]] since [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015]]. Both incumbent [[member of parliament]] are members of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]].

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+Thunder Bay federal election results<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Thunder Bay) |date=10 May 2022 |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305223518/https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 41%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''22,296''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 23%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''12,358''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 29%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''15,559''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 2%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''896''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 43%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''24,287''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 24%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''13,326''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 25%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''14,178''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 6%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''3,555''
|-
|}
{{Clear}}

===City Wards===

Thunder Bay can be divided into seven wards, each of which has one councillor:<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Number
!Ward Name
!Boundaries
!Ward Councillor
|-
|1
|[[Current River, Thunder Bay, Ontario|Current River]]
|Thunder Bay city limits, [[Lake Superior]] waterfront, Red River Road, Algoma Street, McVicar Creek, Highway 11/17, [[Current River, Thunder Bay, Ontario|Current River]]
|Andrew Foulds
|-
|2
|Red River
|Highway 11/17, McVicar Creek, Algoma Street, Red River Road, High Street, John Street, Balmoral Street, [[Harbour Expressway]]
|Michael Zussino
|-
|3
|McKellar
|Red River Road, [[Lake Superior]] Waterfront, Arthur Street, Waterloo Street, Balmoral Street, John Street, High Street
|Brian Hamilton
|-
|4
|McIntyre
|Thunder Bay northern city limits, [[Current River, Thunder Bay, Ontario|Current River]], Highway 11/17, Thunder Bay western city limits
|Albert Aiello
|-
|5
|Northwood
|[[Harbour Expressway]], Balmoral Street, Waterloo Street, Arthur Street, [[Ontario Highway 61|Highway 61]]
|Dominic Pasqualino
|-
|6
|Westfort
|Arthur Street, [[Kaministiquia River]], [[Lake Superior]] Waterfront, City Road, Chippewa Road, [[Ontario Highway 61|Highway 61]]
|Kristen Oliver
|-
|7
|Neebing
|Highway 11/17, [[Ontario Highway 61|Highway 61]], Chippewa Road, Mountain Road, Thunder Bay city limits
|Greg Johnsen
|}

[[File:Thunder Bay ward map.svg|thumb|right|Map of Thunder Bay's seven municipal wards]]

Currently, the city is studying a possibilities in reducing the size of city council from 13 to a smaller number. These changes, if successful, would be implemented from the 2026 Municipal election. In September 2024, two ideas were presented: <ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2024 |title=Thunder Bay council composition committee readies proposals |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/council-composition-update-1.7312253 |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=CBC News }}</ref>

* '''No wards:''' All wards will be abolished, eliminating the positions of all ward councillors effective the 2026 election. Five new councillor at large positions will be created for a grand total of 10 councillors at large. This system allows all members of city council to be elected by all citizens of Thunder Bay, regardless of where they live.
* '''4 wards:''' There would be four wards instead of seven. These new wards would be designed by splitting the city along east-west corridors. Instead of names like current wards, they would have numbers 1-4, with 1 being the northernmost and 4 being the southernmost. Wards 1 and 2 would be split by [[Ontario Highway 102|Dawson Road]], Red River Road, Junot Avenue, and River Street. Wards 2 and 3 would be split by Oliver Road while wards 3 and 4 would be split by Arthur Street. Each ward would have 2 councillors instead of 1, resulting in 8 ward councillors. The number of councillors at large would be reduced from 5 to 2, resulting in 10 city councillors.
However, by April 2025, the possibilities of implementing either composition was defeated following a vote by city council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=Council and ward reforms defeated, again |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/council-and-ward-reforms-defeated-again-10527545 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |language=en}}</ref>

===City symbols===
;[[Sleeping Giant (Ontario)|Sleeping Giant]]
A large formation of [[mesa]]s on the [[Sibley Peninsula]] in [[Lake Superior]] which resembles a reclining giant has become a symbol of the city. Sibley peninsula partially encloses the waters of Thunder Bay and dominates the view of the lake from the northern section of the city (formerly Port Arthur). The Sleeping Giant also figures on the city's coat of arms and the city flag.

;Coat of arms
[[File:Thunder Bay Coat of Arms.png|thumb|right|The Coat of Arms of the City of Thunder Bay, which incorporates features from the coats of arms of Port Arthur and Fort William]]

The [[coat of arms]] of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is a combination of the coats of arms of both Port Arthur and Fort William, with a unifying symbol—the Sleeping Giant—at the base of the arms.<ref name="City Symbols">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625213814/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=49 Thunder Bay City Symbols]}}. Retrieved 4 June 2007.</ref>

;Corporate logo
The city logo depicts a stylized [[thunderbird (mythology)|thunderbird]], called Animikii, a statue of which is located at the city's Kaministiquia River Heritage Park.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100914122938/http://www.thunderbay.ca/Living/recreation_and_parks/Parks/05index484e.htm Kaministiquia River Heritage Park] }}</ref> The slogan, ''Superior by Nature'', is a double play on words reflecting the city's natural setting on Lake Superior.<ref name="City Symbols"/>

;[[Flag of Thunder Bay|City flag]]
Thunder Bay's [[flag]] was created in 1972 when mayor [[Saul Laskin]] wanted to promote the city by having a distinctive flag. The city held a contest, which Cliff Redden won. The flag has a 1:2 ratio and depicts a golden sky from the rising sun behind the Sleeping Giant, which sits in the blue waters of Lake Superior. The sun is represented by a red [[maple leaf]], a [[National symbols of Canada|symbol of Canada]]. Green and gold are Thunder Bay's city colours.<ref name="City Symbols"/>

==Thunder Bay Police Services==

The municipal law enforcement agency was formed in 1970 from Port Arthur and Fort William Police forces cornered in the late 1800s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.falconers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Thunder-Bay-Police-Services-Board-Investigation-Final-Report-December-14-2018.pdf |title=Thunder Bay Police Services Board Investigation - FINAL REPORT |date=1 November 2018 |website=www.falconers.ca }}</ref> It has over 200 sworn officers and 6 police centres.

==Culture==
[[File:TB PERSIAN.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Persian (roll)|Persian]], local to Thunder Bay]]

The city of Thunder Bay was declared a "Cultural Capital of Canada" in 2003.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070517110136/http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ccc/ccc2003_e.cfm Cultural Capitals of Canada 2003]}}. Retrieved 4 June 2007.</ref> Throughout the city are cultural centres representing the diverse population, such as the [[Finnish Labour Temple]], Scandinavia House, the Italian Cultural Centre, the Polish Legion, and a wide variety of others.

The shag, a combination shower and stag held to celebrate the [[engagement]] of a couple,<ref>[http://www.theconferenceplanner.ca/lifelearning/PDFS/7wonders.pdf Seven Wonders of Thunder Bay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204657/http://www.theconferenceplanner.ca/lifelearning/PDFS/7wonders.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Shags. Thunder Bay Source. Retrieved 11 June 2007.</ref> and the [[Persian (roll)|Persian]], a cinnamon bun pastry with pink icing, both originated in the city.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312075458/http://www.geekent.com/blog/2004/06/thunder_bay_food.html Thunder Bay Food]}}. Retrieved 11 June 2007.</ref><ref>The Universal Cynic (26 June 2006) [http://theuniversalcynic.blogspot.com/2006/06/lexicon-of-yore.html Lexicon of Yore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708070408/http://theuniversalcynic.blogspot.com/2006/06/lexicon-of-yore.html |date=8 July 2011 }}. Retrieved 11 June 2007.</ref>

Thunder Bay is served by the [[Thunder Bay Public Library]], which has four branches. These branches are Waverley (Downtown Port Arthur), Brodie (Downtown Fort William), Mary J.L. Black (Westfort), and County Fair (County Fair Plaza)

Events in the city include [[Thunder Pride]], an LGBTQ pride parade held since 2010, and the annual [[Canadian Lakehead Exhibition]]. Marina Park also hosts several events in the summer, including [[Canada Day]] celebrations and the Festival of India/Festival of Colours.

===Arts===
[[File:Thunder Bay Historical Museum.jpg|thumb|right|Thunder Bay Historical Museum]]

Thunder Bay is home to a variety of music and performance arts venues. The [[Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra]], founded in 1960, is the only professional orchestra between Winnipeg and Toronto and has 31 full-time and up to 30 extra musicians presenting a full range of classical music.<ref>[http://www.tbso.ca/ Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra]. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> ''New Music North'' is vital to the contemporary classical music scene in the city by offering novel contemporary chamber music concerts.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192849/http://www.newmusicnorth.org/ New Music North]}}. Retrieved 2 August 2008.</ref> The largest professional theatre is [[Magnus Theatre]]. Founded in 1971, it offers six stage plays each season and is located in the renovated Port Arthur Public School on Red River Road. The [[Thunder Bay Community Auditorium]], which seats 1500, is the primary venue for various types of entertainment.

The [[Vox Popular Media Arts Festival]], established in 2005, is an independent film festival that features local, national, and international films with the theme of "Films for the People." The festival is held in early October at 314 Bay Street in the historic [[Finnish Labour Temple]].<ref>[http://www.shebafilms.com/baystreetfilmfestival/index.html Bay Street Film Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054558/http://www.shebafilms.com/baystreetfilmfestival/index.html |date=16 July 2011 }}. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> Thunder Bay is also home to the North of Superior Film Association (NOSFA). Established in 1992, the NOSFA features monthly screenings of international and Canadian films at the Cumberland Cinema Centre and organizes the annual [[Northwest Film Fest]] film festival that attracts several thousand patrons.<ref>[http://www.nosfa.ca/ NOSFA Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613132228/http://www.nosfa.ca/ |date=13 June 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> Two of Thunder Bay's festivals were included in the 2018 list of the 100 best festivals compiled by Festivals and Events Ontario: Teddy Bears Picnic and Live on the Waterfront, the former also being recognized as the best promotional campaign and sponsor of the year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-festival-awards-1.5041150 |title=Thunder Bay festivals earn provincial awards |date=4 March 2019 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-date=5 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305080532/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-festival-awards-1.5041150 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop, founded in 1997, is writing groups based in Thunder Bay, which promotes the development of writers and literature in Northwestern Ontario.<ref>[https://www.nowwwriters.ca/who-we-are.html NOWW Website]. Retrieved on 24 September 2018.</ref>

===Museums and galleries===
The [[Thunder Bay Art Gallery]], which was founded in 1976, specializes in the works of First Nations artists, having a collection of national significance. The [[Thunder Bay Historical Museum]] Society, founded in 1908, presents local and travelling exhibitions and houses an impressive collection of artifacts, photographs, paintings, documents and maps in its archives. The City of Thunder Bay also houses the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and the Thunder Bay Military Museum (housed within the O'Kelley Armoury on Park Street).

Thunder Bay has two recognized Federal Heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings:
* Ordnance Store (recognized 1997)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordnance Store |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_fhbro_eng.aspx?id=8248 |publisher=Government of Canada – Parks Canada |access-date=3 December 2018 }}</ref>
* Park Street Armoury (recognized 1994)<ref>{{cite web |title=Armoury |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_fhbro_eng.aspx?id=6482 |publisher=Government of Canada – Parks Canada |access-date=3 December 2018 }}</ref>
Both are part of HMCS Griffin.

The [https://www.noahc.org/?pgid=1 Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre] was founded in 2007 with a mandate to collect, preserve and celebrate the aviation history of the region. It houses a large collection of artifacts and photographs, particularly related to the Canadian Car and Foundry factory (Can-Car) which manufactured Hawker Hurricane fighters and Curtiss SB2C Helldivers during WW II.

===Places of worship===
[[File:St Andrews Presbyterian Church Thunder Bay.jpg|thumb|right|St. Andrews Presbyterian Church]]

Thunder Bay has many places of worship supported by people of a variety of faiths, reflecting the cultural diversity of the population.<ref>[http://www.lspc.ca/circ/default.asp?pg=results.asp&SubjID=397 "Thunder Bay Community Information Database: Churches"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706200706/http://www.lspc.ca/circ/default.asp?pg=results.asp&SubjID=397 |date=6 July 2011 }} Thunder Bay Community Information & Referral Center. Retrieved 3 January 2009</ref> A sample:

* Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church – [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada|Ukrainian Orthodox]]. The original wooden church, built by [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] Orthodox families in 1911/1912, was almost destroyed by fire in 1936. The current church was built on the same site and opened in 1937. It has decorative gold domes that are characteristic of Ukrainian churches of the [[Bukovina]] area, with Orthodox crosses atop the domes.<ref>[http://www.thunderbay.ca/Assets/Living/Heritage/docs/Ukrainian+Orthodox+Church+of+the+Assumption+of+the+Blessed+Virgin+Mary.pdf "Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229082255/http://www.thunderbay.ca/Assets/Living/Heritage/docs/Ukrainian+Orthodox+Church+of+the+Assumption+of+the+Blessed+Virgin+Mary.pdf |date=29 February 2012 }}, City of Thunder Bay. Retrieved 3 January 2009</ref>
* Calvary Lutheran Church was established in 1958 as a mission congregation of the Minnesota North District (USA).
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) – The church has a family history library open to anyone to research their genealogy.
* Elim Community Christian Centre – [[Pentecostal Church]] located in the Current River area of the city which is now named Refreshing Waters Community Church.
* Evangel Church – Contemporary Pentecostal church with a strong emphasis on children, youth and (with their convenient location next to [[Lakehead University]]) young adults.
* First-Wesley United Church – The current Wesley United Church was preceded by a much smaller structure, Grace Methodist Church, which was built in 1891 and had a capacity of 100 people. The current Gothic 1,025-seat sanctuary was constructed in 1910.
* Hilldale [[Lutheran]] Church – Offers services in both English and Finnish. The church has an intimate atmosphere and wonderful acoustics and is frequently used for musical performances.<ref>[http://tbso.ca/ "Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra Brochure"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203202824/http://www.tbso.ca/ |date=3 December 2009 }} TBSO. Retrieved 3 January 2009</ref>
* Holy Trinity [[Greek Orthodox Church]] – Founded in 1918, the church moved to its present building in 1991. The church is active in providing non-profit housing for needy families.
* Hope Christian Reformed Church – Services are recorded so that anyone with an internet connection may listen.
* Kitchitwa Kateri Anamewgamik – [[Roman Catholic]] communal church geared to Native culture and teachings. A drop-in centre provides coffee and serves soup & bannock.
* Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship – This [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist]] community includes [[Christians]], [[Buddhists]], [[paganism|Pagans]], [[Theists]], non-theists, Humanist-[[agnostics]], and [[Atheists]]. They welcome and celebrate the presence and participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.
* Redwood Park Church – [[Contemporary]] member of the Christian Missionary Alliance. Runs an outreach at the old building (now New Hope Fellowship Church) on Edward Street with a food bank and a clothing store.
* Saalem Church – [[Pentecostal church]] with services in both English and Finnish.
* Shaarey Shomayim Congregation – [[Jewish]] [[Synagogue]]. This egalitarian community has the only [[mikvah]] between Winnipeg and Toronto.
* Shepherd of Israel Congregation – [[Messianic Jewish]]. Affiliated with the Evangelical movement.
* [[St. Agnes Church, Thunder Bay|St. Agnes Church]] – Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1885, the new St. Agnes Church and Hall was dedicated on 6 June 1982. [[St. Vincent de Paul Society]] operates a food bank out of this church.
* St Stephen the Martyr [[Anglican Church]] – Provides a food cupboard for the Current River area.
* St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church – Founded in 1872, the current building was erected in 1884.
* [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, Thunder Bay|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] – Roman Catholic. The old St. Patrick's Church was built in 1893. In 1963 it was replaced by the current cathedral on the same site.
* St Paul's [[Anglican Church]] – Historic, stately parish built in the [[English Gothic architecture|English Gothic]] style.
* St. Anthony's Parish – Roman Catholic. Located in the John-Jumbo area of Port Arthur.
* Thunder Bay Masjid – Muslim [[mosque]]
* Vedic Cultural Centre ([[ISKON]]) Thunder Bay – [[Hindu temple]]

==Visitor attractions==
Thunder Bay's main tourist attraction is [[Fort William Historical Park]], a reconstruction of the [[North West Company]]'s Fort William fur trade post as it was in 1815, which attracts 100,000 visitors annually.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070412033632/http://www.fwhp.ca/who_we_are.html Fort William Historical Park]}}, Planning Your Visit – Beginnings. Retrieved 4 June 2007</ref> The marina in downtown Port Arthur, an area known as ''The Waterfront District'', draws visitors for its panoramic view of the [[Sleeping Giant (Ontario)|Sleeping Giant]] and the presence of various watercraft. The marina, known as Prince Arthur's Landing also includes recreational trails along the lake, a playground, harbour cruises, helicopter tours, the Alexander Henry (a retired Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker), a splash pad (summer), a skating rink (winter), and art gallery, gift shop, numerous restaurants, and a newly opened Delta Hotel and conference centre. There are several small surface [[amethyst]] mines in the area, some of which allow visitors to search for their crystals.<ref>[http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/ims/amethyst/ame03-mining_e.asp Ontario Amethyst: Mining Ontario’s Amethyst] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808110759/http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/ims/amethyst/ame03-mining_e.asp |date=8 August 2007 }} Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Retrieved 4 August 2007.</ref> A 2.74&nbsp;m (9&nbsp;ft) [[statue]] of [[Terry Fox]] is situated at the [[Terry Fox Memorial and Lookout]] on the outskirts of the city near the place where he was forced to abandon his run. Other tourist attractions are listed below:

[[File:Hillcrest Park View Of Fort William date-2006 06 22.JPG|thumb|upright|Hillcrest Park, looking south to Fort William]]
{{Div col|colwidth=24em}}
* [[Current River Greenway#Bluffs Scenic Lookout|Bluffs Scenic Lookout]]
* [[Boulevard Lake Park]]
* [[Canada Games Complex]]
* [[Canadian Lakehead Exhibition]]
* [[Current River Greenway#Cascades Conservation Area|Cascades Conservation Area]]
* [[Centennial Conservatory]]
* [[Centennial Park (Thunder Bay)|Centennial Park]]
* [[Chapples Park]]
* [[Chippewa Park]]
* [[Connaught Square (Thunder Bay)|Connaught Square]]
* [[Finnish Labour Temple]]
* [[Fort William Gardens]]
* [[Fort William Stadium]]
* [[Hillcrest Park (Thunder Bay)|Hillcrest Park]]
* [[Intercity Shopping Centre]]
* [[Kakabeka Falls]]
* [[Magnus Theatre]]
* [[Mission Island Marsh]]
* [[Mount McKay|Mount McKay Lookout]]
* {{MV|Miseford}}
* [[Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame]]
* [[Ouimet Canyon]]
* [[Prince Arthur's Landing waterfront district]]
* [[Port Arthur Stadium]]
* Silver Falls
* [[Thunder Bay Art Gallery]]
* [[Thunder Bay Community Auditorium]]
* [[Thunder Bay Historical Museum]]
* [[Marina Park (Thunder Bay)|Thunder Bay Marina]]
* [[Thunder Bay Soroptimist International Friendship Garden|International Friendship Gardens]]
* [[Current River Greenway#Trowbridge Falls Park|Trowbridge Falls]]
* [[Waverley Park (Thunder Bay)|Waverley Park]]
{{Div col end}}

==Sports and recreation==
Thunder Bay's proximity to the wilderness of the [[Taiga]] and the rolling hills and mountains of the Canadian Shield allow its residents to enjoy very active lifestyles. The city has hosted several large sporting events including:
* Summer [[Canada Games]] in 1981
* [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1995|Nordic World Ski Championships]] in 1995
* [[Continental Cup of Curling]] in 2003
* [[U-18 Baseball World Cup]] in 2010 and 2017<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2017 |title=Countdown on to baseball world cup in Thunder Bay |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/baseball-world-cup-1.4268065 |access-date=7 July 2021 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref>
* [[2024 Women's Baseball World Cup]] (Group A and Finals)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dates announced for WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024. World Champion to be crowned on 3 August in Thunder Bay, Canada |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/dates-announced-for-wbsc-womens-baseball-world-cup-finals-2024-world-champion-to-be-crowned-on-3-august-in-thunder-bay-canada |website=WBSC |publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) |access-date=28 July 2024 }}</ref>

===Recreational facilities===
Thunder Bay enjoys many recreational facilities. The city operates fifteen neighbourhood community centres, which offer various sporting and fitness facilities as well as seasonal activities such as dances. The city also operates six indoor ice rinks and 84 seasonal outdoor rinks,<ref>[http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=5506 City of Thunder Bay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213124831/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=5506 |date=13 December 2007 }} – Outdoor Rinks. Retrieved January 2008</ref> two indoor community pools and three seasonal outdoor pools as well as a portable pool and two maintained public beaches, several [[curling]] sheets, and three [[golf]] courses, among others.<ref>Thunder Bay Telephone (2007) ''TBayTel 2007–2008 Directory'', Pages 56 to 58.</ref> Listed below are some of the city's major facilities.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Multi-use facilities

* The [[Canada Games Complex]]
* The [[Fort William Gardens]]
* [[Port Arthur Stadium]]
* [[Chapples Park|Royal Canadian Legion Sports Complex]]

Municipal ice rinks and indoor pools

* Current River Arena
* Delaney Arena
* Grandview Arena
* Neebing Arena
* Port Arthur Arena
* Thunder Bay Tournament Centre (2 ice surfaces)
* [[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill]] Community Pool
* Volunteer Community Pool
{{col-break}}
Golf courses<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070818031548/http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=2967 Golf Thunder Bay]}} and [http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.asp?dest=Thunder+Bay+ON Golflink – Thunder Bay] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202727/http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.asp?dest=Thunder+Bay+ON |date=27 September 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref>

* Centennial Golf Course (9 holes)
* Chapples Memorial Golf Course (18 holes) (municipal)
* Dragon Hills Golf Course (9 holes)
* Emerald Greens Golf Course (9 holes)
* Fort William [[Country Club]] (18 holes)
* Municipal Golf Course (9 holes) (municipal) (closed)
* Northern Lights Golf Complex (9 holes par 3/9 holes regulation)
* Strathcona Golf Course (18 holes) (municipal)
* Thunder Bay Country Club (9 holes)
* Whitewater Golf Club (18 holes)

Ski hills

* Loch Lomond Ski Resort
* Mount Baldy Ski Resort

Cross-country skiing facilities

* Lappe Nordic Ski Centre
* Kamview Nordic Centre
{{col-end}}

===Sports teams===

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:190px;"|Club
! style="width:100px;"|Sport
! style="width:300px;"| League
! style="width:200px;"| Venue
|-
| [[Thunder Bay North Stars]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Superior International Junior Hockey League]]
| [[Fort William Gardens]]
|-
| [[Lakehead Thunderwolves]]
| [[Basketball]]
| [[Ontario University Athletics]]
| C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse
|-
| [[Lakehead Thunderwolves]]
| [[Baseball]]
| [[National Club Baseball Association Div 2 (USA)]]
| Baseball Central
|-
| [[Lakehead Thunderwolves]]
| [[Ice Hockey]]
| [[Ontario University Athletics]]
| [[Fort William Gardens]]
|-
| [[Lakehead Thunderwolves]]
| [[Volleyball]]
| [[Ontario University Athletics]]
| C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse
|-
| [[Thunder Bay Border Cats]]
| [[Baseball]]
| [[Northwoods League]]
| [[Port Arthur Stadium]]
|-
| [[Thunder Bay Chill]]
| [[association football|Soccer]]
| [[USL League Two]]
| [[Fort William Stadium]]
|-
| [[Thunder Bay Kings]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Greater Toronto Hockey League]]
| [[Fort William First Nation Arena]]
|-
| [[Kam River Fighting Walleye]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Superior International Junior Hockey League]]
| [[Norwest Arena]]
|-
| [[Thunder bay Kombans|Thunder Bay Kombans]]
| [[Cricket]]
| [[Northern Ontario Cricket League (NOCL)]]
| [[Chapples cricket ground]]
|}
Thunder Bay is also home to the National Development Centre – Thunder Bay, an elite cross-country ski team that attracts many of Canada's best Junior and U-23 skiers.

===Sport events===
* [[Thunder Bay 10 mile road race]]
* [[2010 World Junior Baseball Championship]]
* [[2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup]]
* [[2024 Women's Baseball World Cup]]

==Infrastructure==

===Transport===
{{Main|Transport in Thunder Bay}}
Thunder Bay receives air, rail and shipping traffic due to its prime location along major continental transport routes.

Thunder Bay has some public transportation amenities. The municipally owned [[Thunder Bay Transit]] operates 20 routes across the city's urban area and some limited service routes serving the Neebing ward and [[Fort William First Nation]] reserve.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2023 |title=Transit |url=https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-services/transit.aspx |access-date=25 January 2024 |website=www.thunderbay.ca |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123163216/https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-services/transit.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Ontario Northland also provides intercity bus services to neighbouring cities, including Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2023 |title=Find a Station |url=https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/travel/find-station |access-date=25 January 2024 |website=www.ontarionorthland.ca }}</ref>

The city is served by the [[Thunder Bay International Airport]], the [[List of Canada's busiest airports|fourth busiest]] [[List of airports in Ontario|airport in Ontario]] by aircraft movements.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070926060804/http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/report/TP1496/pdf/2006/51F0010PIE2006000.pdf TP 1496 Preliminary aircraft statistics 2006]}}. Transport Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> In addition, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has a helipad.

The main highways through the city are [[Ontario Highway 11|Highway 11]]/[[Ontario Highway 17|17]] and [[Ontario Highway 61|Highway 61]], which are linked together in Thunder Bay as a four-lane highway designated as the [[Thunder Bay Expressway]]. A notable expressway is the [[Harbour Expressway]], which is a municipal expressway that connects the Intercity business district to the highways. Some of Thunder Bay’s arterial roads include [[Ontario Highway 102|Dawson Road (Hwy 102)]], Red River Road, Arthur Street, Golf Links Road, Balmoral Street, Memorial Avenue, and Fort William Road.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bing.com/maps?cp=48.449265~-89.265453&lvl=14.6 |title=Bing Maps |website=Bing Maps }}</ref>

The city is an important railway hub, served by both the [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] and [[Canadian Pacific]] Railway. Passenger rail service to Thunder Bay ended on 15 January 1990, when [[Via Rail]] rerouted the ''[[Canadian (train)|Canadian]]'' to the north.<ref>Canada Transportation Act, 1990. [http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/regu/sor-89-488/latest/sor-89-488.html#SCHEDULE%20III Order Varying Certain National Transportation Agency Orders Respecting Railway Companies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614073244/http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/regu/sor-89-488/latest/sor-89-488.html#SCHEDULE%20III |date=14 June 2013 }}, SOR/89-488 S III 1. (2) (c). Retrieved 5 June 2007</ref>

===Harbour===

Thunder Bay has been a port since the days of the [[North West Company]], which maintained a schooner on Lake Superior. The Port of Thunder Bay is the largest outbound [[seaport|port]] on the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway|St. Lawrence Seaway System]],<ref>[http://www.portofthunderbay.ca/ Port of Thunder Bay], official website. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref> and the sixth-largest port in Canada.<ref name="siteselection"/> The Thunder Bay Port Authority manages Keefer Terminal, built on a 320,000 square metre site on Lake Superior.

===Medical centres and hospitals===
Thunder Bay has one major hospital, the [[Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre]]. Other healthcare services include the St. Joseph's Care Group, which operates long-term care centres such as the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and Hogarth Riverview Manor. The city is also home to a variety of smaller medical and dental clinics.

The health authority in the region is the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thunder Bay District Health Unit |url=https://www.tbdhu.com/ |access-date=25 January 2024 |website=www.tbdhu.com }}</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|Education in Thunder Bay, Ontario}}

Thunder Bay has 38 [[elementary school]]s, three [[middle school]]s, eight [[secondary school]]s, two [[private school]]s, and an adult education facility. The city also has several other private for-profit colleges and tutoring programmes. Post-secondary institutions in Thunder Bay include [[Confederation College]], [[Northern Ontario School of Medicine]] (NOSM), and [[Lakehead University]].

The [[Lakehead District School Board]] is the largest school board in the city, with 22 elementary schools, 3 high schools and a centre for adult studies. The [[Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board]] is the second largest, with 16 elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. [[Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales]] operates one elementary and one high school in Thunder Bay, and an additional six schools throughout the Thunder Bay District. [[Conseil scolaire de district du Grand Nord de l'Ontario|Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord]] operates one public French-language elementary school in Thunder Bay, and additional schools throughout [[Northern Ontario]].

==Media==
{{Main|Media in Thunder Bay}}

===Print===
Thunder Bay has one daily newspaper, ''[[The Chronicle-Journal]]'', which has a circulation of approximately 28,000 and has coverage of all of Northwestern Ontario.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071008060804/http://www.netnewsledger.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1358&Itemid=2 ''Sudbury Star'' and ''Sault Star'' Part of Media Buyout]}}. Netnewsledger, 1 June 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2007.</ref> ''The Chronicle Journal'' publishes a free weekly called ''Spot'' every Thursday, focusing on entertainment. There are two weekly newspapers: ''[[Thunder Bay's Source|Thunder Bay Source]]'', a weekly newspaper operated by Dougall Media, and ''[[Canadan Sanomat|Kanadan Sanomat]]'', a [[Finnish language|Finnish-language]] weekly newspaper. [[Lakehead University]] has a student newspaper called ''The Argus'', which is published weekly during the school year.<ref>[http://argus.theorem.ca/index.php?view=section&iid=9457&sid=1 The Argus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807173147/http://argus.theorem.ca/index.php?view=section&iid=9457&sid=1 |date=7 August 2011 }}. Retrieved 8 June 2007</ref> The city publishes a bi-monthly newsletter to citizens titled ''yourCity'', which is also available online in a PDF format, by electronic subscription and RSS feed.<ref>[http://www.thunderbay.ca/yourcity Your City], Thunder Bay. Retrieved 2 September 2007.</ref>

===Television===
Three English-language stations supply Thunder Bay with free digital [[Terrestrial television|over-the-air]] television. Programming from the [[Global Television Network|Global]] and [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] networks is provided by a locally owned [[twinstick]] operation branded as [[Thunder Bay Television]], and the city receives [[TVOntario]] on channel 9. [[CBC Television]] and [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé]] are available only on cable and satellite in the area.

The cable provider in Thunder Bay is [[Shaw Communications|Shaw]]; although locally owned [[Tbaytel]] has been granted a licence by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) to compete in the cable TV market.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/db2008-289.htm CRTC Decision 2008-289] – CRTC. Retrieved 3 March 2009</ref> The [[community channel (Canada)|community channel]] on Shaw Cable is branded as [[Shaw Spotlight]], and airs on cable channel 10.

===Radio===
Thunder Bay is home to 12 radio stations, all of which broadcast on the [[FM broadcasting|FM]] band.

There are four commercial radio stations based in the city – [[CJSD-FM]] and [[CKPR-FM]], owned by [[Dougall Media]], the parent company of Thunder Bay Television and ''Thunder Bay's Source'', and [[CJUK-FM]] and [[CKTG-FM]], owned by [[Acadia Broadcasting]]. One additional station, [[CFQK-FM]], targets the Thunder Bay market from transmitters in [[Kaministiquia, Ontario|Kaministiquia]] and [[Shuniah, Ontario|Shuniah]]. The city receives [[CBC Radio One]] as [[CBQT-FM]] and [[CBC Music]] as [[CBQ-FM]], at 88.3 FM and 101.7 FM respectively. The French [[Première Chaîne]] is available as a repeater of Sudbury-based [[CBON-FM]] on 89.3 FM. [[Lakehead University]] operates a campus radio station, [[CILU-FM]], at 102.7 FM, and [[CJOA-FM|CJOA-FM 95.1]] broadcasts [[Christian radio|Christian-oriented]] programming from the [[United Christian Broadcasters|UCB Canada]] network. Thunder Bay Information Radio CKSI-FM is broadcast 24/7 on 90.5 FM, and is also the city's emergency radio station.

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Thunder Bay}}

==Sister cities==
Thunder Bay had five [[sister city|sister cities]] on three continents,<ref>[http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/Sister_Cities/Our_Sister_Cities.htm Thunder Bay Sister Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161542/http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/Sister_Cities/Our_Sister_Cities.htm |date=28 February 2018 }}. Retrieved 1 August 2014</ref> which were selected based on economic, cultural and political criteria. In July 2023, city council voted 7-4 to end the program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2023 |title=Sister cities program faces chopping block |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/sister-cities-program-faces-chopping-block-7269972 |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2023 |title=Thunder Bay ends sister cities program |url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/thunder-bay-ends-sister-cities-program-7289577 |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=TBNewsWatch.com |language=en }}</ref>

* {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Seinäjoki]], Finland, since 1974
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Little Canada, Minnesota]], United States, since 1977
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Duluth, Minnesota]], United States, since 1980
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]], Japan, since 2007
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Jiaozuo]], China, since 2017<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/thunder-bay-gains-th-sister-city/image_cb4dd636-442a-11e7-bf25-e7e270f7d394.html |title=Thunder Bay gains 5th sister city |work=The Chronicle-Journal |access-date=19 October 2018 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Siderno]], Italy

==See also==
{{Portal|Ontario}}
* [[Synergy North]]

==Notes and references==
* <small>Thorold J. Tronrud and A. Ernest Epp (1995) ''Thunder Bay: From Rivalry to Unity'', {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120207031852/http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm#tbrival Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society]}}, {{ISBN|0-920119-20-4}}</small>
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="cp2011">{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=CD&Code2=3558&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |title=Thunder Bay, Ontario (Code 3558004) census profile |work=[[Canada 2011 Census|2011 Census of Population]] |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=25 April 2013 |date=8 February 2012 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701170212/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3558004&Geo2=CD&Code2=3558&Data=Count&SearchText=Thunder&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Thunder Bay, Ontario}}
{{Wikivoyage|Thunder Bay}}
* {{official website|http://www.thunderbay.ca}}

{{Geographic location <!-- This geo box is for DIRECTLY ADJACENT municipalities as standardized for all other municipalities -->
| North = [[Unorganized Thunder Bay District|Unorganized Thunder Bay]] ([[Lappe, Ontario|Lappe]])
| Northeast = [[Shuniah]]
| West = [[Oliver Paipoonge]]
| Centre = Thunder Bay
| East = ''[[Thunder Bay (Ontario landform)|Thunder Bay]] ([[Lake Superior]])''
| South = [[Neebing, Ontario|Neebing]], [[Fort William First Nation|Fort William 52]]
}}
{{Thunder Bay District}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thunder Bay| ]]
[[Category:1679 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:Cities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1679]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Superior in Canada]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Ontario]]
[[Category:Single-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Canada]]