*EcoSuperior no longer offers Energuide Evaluations for new customers.
For those customers already opted into the HER+ program, and wanting to receive a rebate, please call EcoSuperior as soon as possible at 807-624-2140 to book your follow-up evaluation ($400 fee). After October 15, 2025, there will no longer be Energy Advisors available.
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and radioactive gas that is naturally occurring caused by the breakdown of uranium in soil, and you can’t see, smell, or taste it. Outside, radon gas disperses into fresh air, and is harmless. Though naturally occurring outdoors, radon can be a threat to your health indoors, where it can accumulate to high levels when it enters through pipes, drains, and foundation cracks.
The Ontario Lung Association has shown that smokers who are exposed to high levels of radon have a 1 in 3 chance of developing lung cancer, compared to a 1 in 10 chance for smokers not exposed to radon. Radon is measured in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m 3). Health Canada recommends that homes should not exceed 200 Bq/m3.
According to a study conducted by Health Canada in 2012, over 12% of homes in the Thunder Bay district have high radon levels. A focal study conducted by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit in 2015 found that on average, 16% of homes in our community have radon levels with a concentration of 200 Bq/m3 or higher.
|
City Ward |
Homes Tested |
% with radon concentration of 200 Bq/m 3 or higher |
|
McIntyre |
82 |
43% |
|
Neebing |
47 |
30% |
|
Red River |
79 |
15% |
|
Current River |
68 |
13% |
|
McKellar |
63 |
6% |
|
Northwood |
75 |
3% |
|
Westfort |
54 |
0% |
In 2018, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit conducted a study analyzing radon levels in Oliver Paipoonge and Marathon. The report found that on average, 65% of homes in Oliver Paipoonge and 17% of homes in Marathon have high radon levels.
November is Radon Awareness Month! Check out our events page for more information on Radon Events.
The only way to know whether your home has radon is to test it. Fortunately, testing your indoor environments for radon is easy and inexpensive!
Health Canada recommends testing your environment for 90 days to 1 year, using a long-term detector certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program.
Detectors cost approximately $50, and can be purchased at EcoSuperior, local hardware stores, or rented out by your local library for free.
Click the images below to learn more about radon testing in your home.
The City of Thunder Bay offers financial incentives to install household drainage improvements through the Residential Drainage Rebate Program.
City homeowners may qualify for a rebate toward:
Please review the required program details and eligibility requirements in the documents below. Ensure applications are submitted as soon as possible. Rebates are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and available until funding is expended.
Rebate amounts are listed in the program brochure. Household water accounts and taxes must be in good standing in order for the rebate to be processed.
*Non-profit organizations (such as churches or co-op housing), homeowners who qualify for the City of Thunder Bay Property Tax and Water Credit Programs (for Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Persons with Disabilities), are eligible for additional rebates up to 80% of the invoiced cost of the work completed.
To qualify:
Click Here to Learn More About Our Rain Garden Rebate Program
