Kudos to the Rainy River Arts Collective, a group which formed just this past fall but whose members already have stepped to the plate by organizing a snow sculpture contest to “make Fort Frances a winter wonderland.”
The idea certainly isn’t new, of course, but anything that aims to generate some community spirit here, particularly in the dead of winter, should be saluted. More importantly, those who organize such an event deserve our thanks for taking on the challenge.
People bemoan that there’s nothing to do in Fort Frances. Well, thanks to the initiative of the fledgling RRAC, here’s a great opportunity to get together with family, friends, neighbours, or co-workers for a little winter fun—and a chance to show off your creative side to boot.
And who knows? Perhaps this snow sculpture competition will blossom into a major event that attracts visitors to town to see the various creations, or maybe even spurs the revival of a winter carnival here.
The only way to find out is to try.
Granted, as we know all too well here, coming up with community events is one thing. Keeping them afloat is entirely another. The Little Amik Winter Carnival bit the dust, as did Fun in the Sun (although a group of residents thankfully took charge to ensure Canada Day festivities didn’t suffer a similar fate).
And the Fort Frances Folk Festival evidently hasn’t survived beyond its second anniversary.
Fortunately, there are those among us who aren’t willing to simply throw in the towel. The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is an excellent case in point after teetering on the brink of extinction, and the revamped International Tug-of-War over the Rainy River offers great potential to thrust Borderland into the spotlight.
Can a snow sculpture competition follow suit? Why not?
The Rainy River Arts Collective is showing faith in our community with an idea. Surely we can do the same by supporting it.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
