Shoulda, woulda

Dear sir:
The old Fort Frances High School on First Street East is full of memories for most of our community, and can boast of producing students who’ve made their mark in society—Howard Hampton being a prime example.
In its centennial year, do the citizens of Fort Frances want to see the Rainy River District School Board, Economic Development Officer Geoff Gillon, and CAO Bill Naturkach endorse the idea Stratton Equipment take over ownership of the property?
If it’s an eyesore now, what will it be like in the future?
When CBC’s “Ontario Today” came to Fort Frances to share in our centennial celebration, I heard Linda Hamilton say Fort Frances is a place where miracles happen. I know everyone will endorse that statement because Fort Frances is a wonderfully giving community.
All the facilities like the new arena, the Townshend Theatre, future hospital developments, the “Community Chest,” and “Relay for Life” were made possible by folks who had a vision, then fought to make them happen.
Other things have happened over the past few years, making downtown Fort Frances a pleasant place in summer.
How many compliments have you read in the newspaper about the flowers at the traffic lights, the hanging baskets, and the benches on Scott Street? It all began with an idea which became a reality.
If anyone has seen the artist’s impression for “Reinventing Fort Frances” in relation to the high school, you will see a park. In that scenario, what best place to include the building of a new library. Use International Falls as an example. What person driving by doesn’t admire the library in the park?
If we want to attract and keep folks coming downtown, let’s work to make it happen. Build our new library there. With the library in place, a park could be used for all sorts of events—with so many talented people in our community, it could be hopping in the summer.
Local artists could have an arts festival. There could be an open air craft fair. If it included a small band shell, maybe we could have concerts given by local musicians or bands for about an hour or so on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon.
The Teddy Bear Picnic, a wonderful event given by the library every year, would have a place where the children’s performer could be seen by everyone. With a few picnic benches or a gazebo, people working downtown would have a spot to eat lunch on a bright sunny day.
I’ve heard the complaint, “If there was somewhere nice to sit, not far from work, I’d go there.” Let’s build it—and they will come!
Many of us tend to procrastinate; we complain and whine about things or situations we feel angry about or don’t want to happen. But we sit back, and before we know it, the very thing we objected to has happened, then we say, “Why didn’t someone tell me, I shoulda woulda done something!”
The library has such wonderful support from the community in all its endeavours, it’s for everyone, and “a lasting treasure.” Our library doesn’t cater for one section of the community. It caters for everyone—rich, poor, young, and old.
In Fort Frances, our library has received nothing but praise, especially from folks visiting from other places. Show your love.
Most of us have a sense of pride in our town, we want to attract more people to stay and not just travel through. With the possibility of Wal-Mart coming here, I’m sure we want our downtown to survive, as well.
If you have the same dreams as I do, let the powers that be know about it, before it’s too late. Please!
Sincerely,
Pat Bird
“All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the Sun
Talkin ’bout the things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda done . . .
But all those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.
—Shel Silverstein