In the wake of Janis Lesko’s resignation as chair of the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee Monday, it looks like her replacement will be fellow committee member Susan Bodnarchuk.
“I have been asked by the committee to be chair,” Bodnarchuk said Tuesday afternoon. “We just have to go through the formalities.
“I have accepted so long as everything goes right,” she added.
The decision likely will be formalized at the committee’s meeting next Tuesday.
Bodnarchuk said she’s excited to fill the shoes of Lesko, who has moved on to a job at local MP Robert Nault’s constituency office in Kenora.
“I have lots to learn,” she admitted. “[But] it’s an amazing project, with a lot of potential in what we can achieve.”
And Lesko won’t be an easy act to follow, Bodnarchuk stressed.
“Janis was a tremendous contribution to the committee. I’m only now realizing the workload she was dealing with,” she said. “She really kept us on our toes.
“We’ll miss her. But at the same time, she’ll be in a position where she can benefit the region by working alongside our MP,” Bodnarchuk added.
Lesko, who is training for her new job in Dryden this week, could not be reached for by press time today.
The “Re-Inventing” committee, which was formed last summer, consists of Bodnarchuk, Sam Woods, Gord Winik, Dan Cousineau, Larry Zyrovy, Jean-Marc Blanc, Tammi Shoemaker, Jane Johnstone, Mayor Glenn Witherspoon, CAO Bill Naturkach, Geoff Gillon, and Ted DeBenetti.
In related news, one or more meetings are being planned for October or early November at which time the public will be welcome to offer their input on the “Re-Inventing” project.
Meanwhile, consultant Hilderman, Thomas, Frank and Cram is working away at the roughly $110,000 study to see how the town can be improved in terms of tourism and commerce.
Such work has included a traffic analysis of the downtown area and a survey to gather data from local businesses.
One of the projects the “Re-Inventing” group would like to see is a large “fort” structure located as a gateway to the downtown area.
It would house multiple services to visitors, such as Ontario tourism services, a duty-free and Canadian products shop, a fish and wildlife museum, a currency exchange, and the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.
Concepts for renovating old Fort Frances High School on First Street East, the old CN station on Fourth Street West, and other local historical structures also are being discussed by the committee.
There also are plans for developing additional heritage art and statuary attractions for young people, a comprehensive parking and traffic plan for the downtown area, and landing more industry.
HTFC expects to finish its consulting work by late January.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
