The making of Reel Memories and our digitization services! This video was made for the 2024 Historical Film Night

Flashback to 1954 to see the first ever television station created at the Lakehead!

The Red Rock Bank Robbery - August 1963

Two 18-year old Red Rock men were charged with armed robbery after stealing $45,000 in cash from the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Red Rock, Ontario. After fleeing the scene, their getaway car was found 3 miles away in a bush near a CPR rail line. After con...

Interview with T.C. "Tommy" Douglas, leader of the New Democratic Party and Premier of Saskatchewan. Mr. Douglas discusses nuclear weapons and Canada's role in the nuclear arms race. Footage from 1961.

EPISODE ONE: Ice Sports. And… a little bit of basketball
This episode features 1960 High School Men’s Basketball, 1961 Ice Hockey, and the 1960 Macdonald Brier Curling.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 1960s showcasi...

A presentation by Dr. Peter Raffo at the Thunder Bay Museum on the life of Mayor Saul Laskin.

Watch this short video of how the Reel Memories of the Lakehead team restores and digitizes the 16mm film donated to the Thunder Bay Museum by Dougall Media. The footage ranges from 1954 to 1978.

In this short interview, Jack Adams interviews Fort William-born NHL players Pete Goegan, Alex Delvecchio, and Bud Poile at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, MI in 1960.

Flashback to 1957! In this episode, you will see the Lakehead airport consumed by flames, teens showing off their safe driving skills at the "National Teenage Safe Driving Road-e-o," the Fort William Redskins football team take on the St. Vital Bulldogs from Manitoba and win the W.S. Tomlinson Tr...

Flashback to 1958! In this episode you will see the launch of the Alexander Henry ice breaker, mineral explorations in the Lakehead region, Fort William Ice House fire, car racing at the C.L.E. grounds, Tom Tod Rink returning to Fort William as the National Schoolboy Dominion Curling Champions, a...

Flashback to 1959! In this episode, you can watch as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit the Lakehead, the collapse of a United Grain Growers grain elevator, the opening of the Silver Falls Hydro Plant, the Rossport Fish Derby, and horse racing at the Murillo Fairgrounds!

In this hard-hitting news story, women are interviewed about the drop in butter prices at the Lakehead and how it will affect their daily lives. Footage from 1962.

In this short interview, former Fort William Fire Chief Harold Lockwood discusses the large steam engine fire pumper that was purchased by the city in 1912 and in service until 1936.

Flashback to 1960! In this episode, you can watch as the Twin Cities celebrate C.D. Howe night, the installation of the Videon tower, the military exercise "Operation Fallout," the grand opening of the Lake Superior Circle Route, the return of the James Whalen tugboat, the welcoming of North Cent...

Flashback to 1961, part one! In this episode, you can see notable visitors at the Lakehead, such as Prime Minister Diefenbaker, NDP Leader T.C. Douglas, Finnish President Urho Kekkonen, and famed Polish General Anders. Also watch as Smokey the Bear visits the Lakehead to promote forest fire preve...

Flashback to 1961, part two! In this second half, you can see Bobby Curtola as he visits the Lakehead, the Alexander Henry as it is equipped with a new helicopter, the Cruise on the Bay event with visiting minesweepers, a large ship as it breaks loose in the Lakehead harbour, and lots of fun and ...

Flashback to 1962! In this episode, you can see the grand opening of Keefer Terminal, the opening of Mary J.L. Black library, the visiting North American luxury cruise liner, grand opening of Trowbridge Falls Park grand opening, the return of a stolen float plane, the success of the Lake Superior...

In this short video, watch the New Year's Eve amalgamation ceremony of the newly formed city, Thunder Bay! Previously Port Arthur, Fort William, Neebing and McIntyre.

EPISODE TWO: ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, GO
This episode features 1962 Football, and the 10 Mile Road Race of 1965.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 1960s showcasing various sports that occurred in Northwestern Ontario. From ...

EPISODE THREE: THE BATTLES OF THE AGES
This episode features the 1961 Rowing Regatta, 1962 Little Leaguers vs. City Council Baseball Game, and the 1962 Track and Field Meet.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 1960s showcasing v...

EPISODE FOUR: FRIENDLY COMPETITION?
This episode features 1963 Skiing, Dairy Best Open Golf Tournament in Strathcona, 1964 Five Pin Bowling, and 1962 Soccer between Polonia and Hungaria.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 1960s ...

EPISODE FIVE: SPORTS SPORTS… AND MORE SPORTS
This episode features the Finnish National Hockey Team playing in Nipigon in 1961, 1962 Horse Racing, and 1964 Women’s High School Basketball.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 19...

EPISODE SIX: ROUGH AND ROWDY
This episode features 1960 Professional Wrestling, 1963 Ice-Yachting, and Tug-Of-War from 1965.
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The Sports from the Giant project uses archival video and audio footage from the 1960s showcasing various sports that occurred in Northwestern Ont...

Meet Dr. Nathan Hatton, historian at Lakehead University. Listen as Nathan discusses the importance of the Reel Memories project to public and academic historians alike.