Centennial gift

Fur is what brought the first voyageurs to this area some 300 years ago, but it was the lure of the forest—and the seemingly boundless timber resources—that laid the foundation for this town to be officially born in 1903.
It is very fitting, then, as Fort Frances celebrates its centennial this year, that Abitibi-Consolidated, current owner of the local paper mill, should be honoured with Canadian Standards Association certification for sustainable management practices in the Crossroute Forest—the first woodland in Ontario to earn such a designation.
The local Woodlands Division of Abitibi-Consolidated also was the first to fulfill the company’s pledge to get CSA certification for all its forests by 2005.
The accolades were flowing at a plaque presentation ceremony here last Thursday afternoon. And deservedly so, as this milestone achievement, first and foremost, is a testament to the skill and dedication of the local Woodlands staff.
Equally important, though, are the ramifications for this area. CSA designation potentially could open up the market to more sales overseas, which, in turn, bodes well for Abitibi-Consolidated’s long-term viability.
As well, this designation clearly illustrates not only the company’s commitment to sustainable management practices in its forests, but also that the effort has been successful, thus ensuring there’s plenty of wood to harvest here for decades to come.
And that, of course, bodes well for Fort Frances’ future.
As divisional forester Paul Jewiss put it, “The town is 100 years old, the mill is 100 years old. And with a plan like this in place, we could still be running 100 years from now.”
Frankly, Fort Frances could not have been given a bigger centennial gift.
Congratulations to all involved, and keep up the great work!