After being denied a gaming licence to run its “Reel Raffle” this year, Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Inc. is looking for a way to make up for the loss in revenue.
FFCBC chair Doug Cain will appear before council Monday night to request $10,000 in financial assistance from the town in order to ensure kids’ events and family entertainment remain a part of the bass tournament this year.
“On Feb. 16, we were informed that the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship would be ineligible for a lottery licence in the future,” Cain wrote in a letter to the town dated Feb. 24.
“The ruling was totally unexpected and comes as a complete reversal of what was anticipated,” he noted.
“The late date of this unsettling decision precludes the possibility of launching an appeal, or restructuring the organization to meet the new interpretation of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario guidelines,” he added.
Last year, after paying for the lottery licence, prizes, and marketing of the raffle tickets, Cain said the “Reel Raffle” generated close to $10,000, which went towards kids’ events, Daytime Land, and family entertainment at the bass tourney.
“It has always been our goal to provide kids’ events, Daytime Land, and family entertainment at no charge to participants,” he remarked. “We have been able to do that, up until now, with the assistance of sponsors and the use of ‘Reel Raffle’ proceeds.
“For 2005, we planned to update the ‘Reel Raffle,’ Cain added. “We spent a lot of time completely revamping the prizes, the tickets, and our lottery marketing strategy.
“Our 2005 budget projected a $25,000 profit from the lottery. These funds were designated to maintain and grow the non-fishing, family-oriented aspects of the tournament.”
Cain is scheduled to be the last of four delegations at Monday night’s council meeting.
Starting at 7 p.m., Jim Neufeld, a clinic administrator from Winkler, Man., will make a brief presentation to council on doctor recruitment. He was scheduled to meet with the local doctor recruitment committee earlier Monday.
Then, Jeff Trudeau, project manager of American Water Services Canada Corp., will deliver his annual report regarding the town’s water treatment plant.
As well, Joyce Cunningham, chair of the Fort Frances Public Library board, will present council with the results of a survey conducted last fall to identify the need for a new library here.
Fort Frances Times
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