March break is coming March 11-15. The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre has plenty of events going on!
MONDAY
March Madness Crafts Kites and Windsocks 1-3 pm
TUESDAY
Family Movie Sing-Along: Frozen 11:30 am – 1 pm
Talk to a Nurse 3-5 pm
Teen Movie Matinee: The Super Mario Broths Movie 4 – 5:30 pm
WEDNESDAY
Storytime (St. Patrick’s Day Themed) 10:15 – 11:15 am
March Dance Party! 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
THURSDAY
Baby Time 10:15 – 11:15 am
Lego Club 3:30 – 5 pm
Teen Movie Matinee: Spiderman into the Spider-Verse 4 -5:30 pm
FRIDAY
Family Movie Matinee: Encanto 11:30 am – 1 pm
Pokémon Club 4 -6 pm
Come find out about volunteering with RuffCue dog rescue. The Boston Pizza meet-up has been cancelled, but keep an eye on the group’s RuffCue Facebook page for the latest development – it may be cancelled for it may move locations. Learn about the organization, or sign up to volunteer. RuffCue also has a website at ruffcue.ca.
Lakers Night OUT with Borderland Pride – The First ever pride night for Fort Frances Lakers, will be held March 1. The evening will include a Pride-themed Fort Frances Lakers hockey game followed by a drag performance in the sports complex auditorium. Tickets for the whole night available via eventbrite. Tickets at the door will be for each event sold separately. Proceeds from the Drag show and cash bar will be split between Borderland Pride and the Fort Frances Lakers. The Drag show will cater to a PG-13 audience.
Head down to SnOasis this weekend! The popular family event will take place Saturday, March 2 starting at 10:30 a.m-noon with Stem Saturdays at the library, then head to Rainy Lake Square and the Museum and Cultural Centre for winter games, food, emergency vehicles, face painting, jigging, hot chocolate and more until 2 p.m. Finish the day with a free family skate at the memorial Sports Centre until 5 p.m. Want to volunteer? Call 807-275-6930.
A goodwill donation spaghetti dinner will be held March 2 at 5 p.m. at the Evangelical Fellowship Church, 605 McIrvine Road. Proceeds will go towards costs associated with Doug Cridland’s medical trip to Toronto. The dinner is being organized by the church, and will feature a dinner of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and dessert.
Kids & Company returns from winter break with TWO shows in March! The first in March 4. Experience Arch8’s physically awe-inspiring work – Tetris – featuring a gravity-defying combination of acrobatics, extreme physicality and movement. Tetris, inspired by the addictive puzzle game and the twists and turns of a Rubik’s Cube, has performers fitting, merging, stacking and combining in various feats. Tickets available online or at the door for $10, with kids three and under free. Show is at the Townshend Theatre, starting at 6:30 p.m. The second show on March 20 will feature the Merry Marching Band- In a resolutely modern performance that combines world music with the clown arts, The Merry Band introduces young audiences to brass instruments and even a little body percussion.
Coffee, Tea and History will take place at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre on March 7 with the theme: Musical Instruments: from the unique to the antique! For just $4, you’ll get an exclusive look at unique objects. Come have coffee, tea and doughnuts. While you’re there, you can check out the new Tied Together exhibit, and the permanent collections! No registration required, but for more information, call 807-274-7891 ext 1112. Stay tuned for next month’s theme!
An afternoon of gaming for adults (18+) will commence at the Fort Frances Public Library on Thursday, March 7th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Featured games will include Fort Frances Opoly, Clue and Scrabble. The activities will get underway in the Great Space, where others may acquaint themselves with these cordless, electricity-free fun games.
Music Bingo hosted by the Kiwanis Club Friday March 22, 6:45 p.m. at the Curl Fort Frances Community Centre.
The 10th annual Easter Egg-stravaganza March 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Collect a map at the Rainy Lake Square and then go to the participating businesses. Return your map by 1 p.m. for prize draws. Bring your Easter basket and a camera for photos with the Easter Bunny.
Save the date for the Ducks Unlimited Fort Frances Dinner. Friday, May 10, 5 p.m. at the Curl Fort Frances Community Centre.
ONGOING EVENTS
The Annual “Lenten Fish Fry” is happening every Friday until March 22 at St. Mary’s Church. This event is open to the whole community. Walleye Fish Dinner & all the fixings for $20 Pick Up for Fish Dinners is 4:00 to 4:30 at St. Mary’s Church. Delivery is available. Tickets are available at St. Mary’s Church Office, 209 Victoria Avenue 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday to Friday. Order cutoff is 3 p.m. the Thursday before the meal. For information, call 807-274-5233.
Milo’s Mutts is collecting damaged, unwearable T-shirts. They’ll be turning them into dog toys, which will be sold, with 50 per cent of the profits going towards Ruffcue Dog Rescue. If you have shirts to donate, drop them at the salon, in the back of 1132 Scott Street.
Are you a teen with health questions you’re too embarrassed to ask an adult about? A registered nurse from the Northwestern Health Unit will be hanging out at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre every second Tuesday, from 3-5 p.m. starting February 13, to answer your questions in a safe, private and judgement-free zone.
The Museum is seeking local fibre artists! The Museum is assembling a Community Ties and Tapestries: Fibre Artists of the Rainy River Valley exhibit. Whether you’re an experienced textile artist or just starting, we want your submissions for a vibrant celebration of fiber arts in the Rainy River Valley. Theme: Fibre arts made in or with ties to the Rainy River Valley. Deadline for entry is March 15. See the Museum on facebook for more information.
Stroke Survivors group – meeting the Second Wednesday of every month 10-11 a.m. Let’s have a coffee and talk. A good time to make friends with other people that understand what you’re going through. To register call or text Nathan Galusha 807-271-6262 or Shelly Jones 807-276-1319.
Lego Club at the Library, every Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. come build, create and connect. Compete in Lego building challenges, create unique builds and build big!
A (mini) Teen Reading Challenge has kicked off at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. Sign up for prizes, including Apple Airpods, a $75 Dominos Gift Certificate, or a special mystery prize! Sign up at the library, read or listen to books to fill out your BINGO card, and turn it in by April 1 for a chance to win!
Tea and Tots, a drop-in play group, runs every second Friday, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at 605 McIrvine Road, in Fort Frances. Stop by, and make some new friends! Check out the Tea and Tots Facebook page for upcoming dates and other news.
A joint exhibit, Tied Together, featuring beadwork from across the region, is open at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre. The exhibit has been created in partnership with Kay-nah-chi-wah-nung Historical Centre, and will move to that facility in the spring.
The Winter Recreator is out! Link is available at the Town website or Memorial Sports Centre Facebook page. There’s loads of drop-in Pickle Ball, shinny hockey, public skates, yoga, tai chi, Rec N Crew and kids drop-in programs and upcoming camps. (Even some programs that are free!) Registration has started, but there’s drop in options as well – something for everyone to stay active all winter long.
Drop in shinny hockey and public skating are ongoing. Cost is $3. A waiver needs to be signed for hockey. Check out the full winter schedule on the Memorial Sports Centre facebook page.
Kiwanis/Senior Centre Bingo Is running for nine weeks until March 8, (not 18) all seniors are welcome!
Stem Saturday is at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by for STEM-based fun, games and crafts! Anyone under 8 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Dungeons and Dragons will be held Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. Age 13+. No previous experience with the game is required, and all supplies provided.
Legion Burgers and Brew – stop by the Royal Canadian Legion Fort Frances Branch for $10 burgers and brew, each Friday evening from 5-7 p.m. Tickets will be available for the meat draw as well!
Monday Night Radio Bingo is back! Play Bingo and support Girls and Women’s hockey! The game gets underway every Monday night at 7 p.m. over B93.1. Bingo cards are available at: The Great Bear, CC Complex, Rainy lake Sports and Tackle, Ski’s Variety, Tagg’s Source for Sports, The Place Fine Foods, Cloverleaf Grocery, Wood’s Quality Bakery, and Zig’s Place.
Lions TV BINGO – on Shaw channel 10 every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 cards available from the usual outlets including the Fort Frances Times.
Narcotics Anonymous Meeting – Thursdays, 6:30pm at 140-4th St W, Fort Frances. “No addict seeking recovery ever need die from the horrors of addiction.” More info: FortFrancesNA@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volun-TRY with the Girl Guides! Volun-try is a program that lets adults explore being a Guide leader. Age groups currently overseen are 5-11. Make new friends, have fun, and shape the future for a group of girls. Older groups could start with more leaders! To find out more, contact Monica Armour on Facebook.
Volunteer to help out at SnOasis! To be part of the fun, contact the friends of the Museum at 807-275-6930.
Be a Snow Buddy! Would you like to help out local seniors by shoveling snow (once we get some to shovel) Sign up as a volunteer with the Fort Frances Seniors Centre by calling 807-274-7656 or online at snowangelscanada.ca.
The Seniors Companion Project is seeking volunteers for the Friendly Phone Call program. Full training and support are provided. For more information, call 807-271-6370 or e-mail seniorsproject@fortfrances.ca. Seniors looking to receive friendly calls can call the same number to sign up!
The Rainycrest Tuck Shop is accepting donations– The Tuck Shop is open to residents, family, staff and visitors. Great items for donation are things like large stuffed bears, men’s and ladies’ slippers, socks, hats, personal care items, knick knacks, gift items and items for residents to place on their night stands or wall/door. Proceeds from the Tuck Shop go to the Rainycrest Auxiliary, which benefits residents. Donations can be dropped off inside the main entrance, labelled ATTN: Gary Tuck Shop. For more information, call 807-274-9559.
Rainycrest Auxiliary Membership – New members are always welcome and current members are reminded to renew their membership for 2023 dues are $5 per year and can be paid at the Tuck Shop or by calling 274-6954 (Judy) or 271-4114 (Donna).
Meals on Wheels – Seeking volunteer drivers. Contact Nicole Piotrowski at 807-274-3266 ext 4818 or by email n.piotrowski@rhcf.on.ca.
Best for Kitty is in desperate need of foster homes, to provide a safe, warm and loving environment to house casts and kittens, while they wait for their forever homes. Full support and supplies are provided. For more information, e-mail bestforkitty@gmail.com, or visit Best for Kitty over Facebook or at bestforkitty.net for more information.
