Staff
Organizers are looking to co-ordinate a race here in September that will combine swimming and running.
Council tonight will be receiving a written request from organizer Jeff Tilbury for approval an the “aquathlon” event to be held at Pither’s Point Park on Sept. 8.
In a letter to council, Tilbury explained an aquathlon consists of two portions.
The first is a swim of about 700-750 metres, with organizers looking to set up the course to start and finish near the public dock at La Place Rendez-Vous.
After completing the swim portion, Tilbury said competitors then will make their way to a transition zone, where they’ll change into running shoes and do a five-km run along the riverfront to the Sorting Gap Marina and back.
The town would provide lifeguard assistance as required, and marshals would be set up along the ground course to watch and assist runners.
The event would be non-sanctioned but participants would sign a waiver to indicate they’re aware of any risks.
A person trained in first aid will be on-site, and ambulance, police, and fires services would be notified prior to the event.
Tilbury is asking the town for permission to use the Point park, the sidewalk over the Highway 11 overpass, and paths along the riverfront.
He also would like to put up “no parking” signs the morning of the event along Lake Road (between the dock and Idylwild Drive). This would be done to ensure a transition zone for the runners.
Any course markings put up would not be permanent, and only consist of flags or arrows which would be removed afterwards.
Any road marking would be made with chalk and thus disappear in short order.
Tonight’s council meeting is scheduled to start at 6:20 p.m. It will be preceded by the committee of the whole, which will meet starting at 5:30 p.m. but be in-camera until 6.
Other business on the agenda includes:
•a presentation from Duane Harris of Union Gas re: Union Gas’ limited utility cross bore safety program;
•a financial request from the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame re: its 26th-annual golf tournament July 22;
•a request from the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario re: proclaiming June, 2013 as “Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Month” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a bylaw to approve a contract under Tender 13-OF-03 with Wagner Construction Canada ULC for 2013 road reconstruction and the Huffman subdivision development;
•a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Rainy River District School Board for a before- and after-school program at J.W. Walker School;
•a request for support from the Community Arts and Heritage Education Project re: Canadian Heritage Rivers Initiative—Northern Route Boundary Waters-Voyageur Waterway Project;
•a request from the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board re: use of the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium for its annual general meeting June 13;
•an invitation from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. to attend its annual general meeting June 18 in Rainy River;
•a report re: the Sister Kennedy Centre roof;
•a report re: private renewal of airport hangar lot lease with Shane Armstrong;
•a request for water supply for 121 Oakwood Rd. (Township of Alberton);
•a report re: the 2014 Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference.
•a report re: contribution to help pay for a legal opinion on MPAC/ARB decisions;
•a travel and per diem claim for Coun. Ken Perry;
•a report re: a financial request for 14th-annual “Fly-In, Drive-In BBQ” at the Fort Frances Airport;
•a report re: financial and in-kind requests from the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship;
•a report re: the branding exercise as recommended by the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC); and
•a report re: the 2013 Tourism Marketing Plan as recommended by EDAC.
