Media Releases

On February 17, 2026, City Council approved the 2026 municipal operating budget which will see a modest 3.74% net tax levy increase. City Council and Administration approach the annual budgets with a focus on maintaining existing services while also addressing the needs of future generations.

The City is thrilled to celebrate a record-breaking result for the 2025 Holiday Trail. Building on the momentum from last winter’s historic 2024 campaign, which earned the City a Marketing Canada Award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada, the 2025 Holiday Trail surpassed those award-winning numbers.

The City’s on-demand transit service, The Wave, has achieved a major milestone, having delivered more than 60,000 rides since launching in October 2024.

Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Stace Gander as the City’s new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) effective February 5, 2026.

Mayor Andrew Poirier, Councillor Robert Bernie, Councillor Barbara Manson, and Co-CAO’s Heather Pihulak and Stace Gander will join more than 1,900 participants from across the province at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The conference is being held in downtown Toronto, from January 18 to 20, 2026.       

The City is excited to announce that the Keewatin Branch Library is now open to the public. A Grand Opening, in partnership with Kenora Public Library Board and New Horizons Senior Centre, will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 3 p.m. The Grand Opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from Hon. Greg Rickford and Mayor Andrew Poirier.

The City of Kenora, in collaboration with the Northwestern Health Unit, Kenora Makwa Patrol, the All-Nations Health Partners-Ontario Health Team, Lake of the Woods District Hospital - Mental Health and Addictions Program, and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC), is excited to announce the launch of a Needle Disposal Pilot Project for 2026.

The City of Kenora is pleased to announce that on Thursday, December 4, 2025, it successfully reached a new five-year collective agreement with the Kenora Professional Firefighters Association (KPFFA).

The City of Kenora’s 2026 utility budgets and capital budget were approved during a Regular Meeting of Council on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Council met on December 5 and December 9 to review and amend the draft 2026 utility and capital budgets. Council and Administration held detailed discussions on the draft budgets identifying the needs and priorities of the City.

The Kenora OPP will have a dedicated holiday patrol in the Harbourtown Centre for the month of December between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.