Heather Latter
Residents joined several dignitaries in marking the 100th anniversary of the Rainy River District Courthouse here last Wednesday afternoon.
The importance of law within society also was celebrated.
“In 1625, Sir Francis Bacon wrote in his essays of judicature, ‘The place of justice is a hallowed place,’” said Regional Senior Justice Helen Pierce of the Superior Court of Justice, who presided along with Regional Senior Justice Marc Bode of the Ontario Court of Justice for the special sitting of the court to mark the occasion.
“In those few poignant words, Bacon acknowledged the value of the law to society; a value that we recognize today,” she added.
“I don’t think we’re just celebrating the fact that this building was built, has stood a century, and remains a beautiful edifice,” echoed Justice Bode.
“I think, more importantly, we are celebrating the fact that for 100 years, this building has stood as a symbol of something we hold very dear and we are committed to preserving and enhancing,” he added.
“I’m speaking, of course, about our justice system
“As Canadians, we’re immensely proud of the justice system we have,” Justice Bode remarked.
“It may have it’s flaws and I think we do need to perfect it,” he conceded. “It’s probably a continuous project into eternity, but I think right now we can right consider it one of the best, if not the best, in the world. . . .
“This building is, from my perspective, a bricks-and-mortar symbol of our and our forefathers’ commitment to creating and maintaining a justice system that we can be proud of,” Justice Bode continued.
“This building, I think, embodies a promise to people of the district,” he noted. “It says bring your unresolved disputes here and we promise to treat you with respect.
“Bring your unresolved disputes here and they will be resolved, and they will be resolved with thoughtfulness, with fairness, with the proper application of rules and principles, rather than through the exercise of brute force or economic power.
“It’s a critical promise and I think the building reminds us consistently that we need to live up to that promise,” Justice Bode reasoned.
“The truth is the justice system that the bar and the bench in this district have built and nurtured has and continues to fulfil that promise.”
“The law was so important to civil society that it became institutionalized in special buildings we call courthouses,” Justice Pierce said.
“Over time, the law has expressed the standards we have for ourselves and what we expect of one another—courthouses are the visible manifestation of these standards,” she stressed.
“They are a tangible reminder that each person has a point of view.
“Our courthouses are constructed to promote the exchange of ideas in an orderly way,” Justice Pierce added. “They are also designed so that members of the community can listen, observe, and form their own judgements about a case.”
Justice Pierce also indicated the courtroom is an open place.
“It belongs to the community,” she remarked.
In southern Ontario, Justice Pierce said the funding and building of courthouses was the responsibility of the counties in which they were situated.
In Northern Ontario, however, the provincial government assumed the burden of erecting courthouses in the major city in each district.
She explained arrangements for the administration of justice in the District of Rainy River began with the construction of a jail in Fort Frances in 1907-1908.
“Until the courthouse was built, a temporary courtroom and judges’ chambers were set up at the Fort Frances town hall,” Justice Pierce noted.
The Rainy River District Courthouse was built by the Province of Ontario, with construction starting in 1913 and finishing the following year.
The chief architect was Mr. F.R. Heakes while the tender for the building was awarded to the Fort William firm of Seaman and Penniman.
Mr. A.F. Scott of Fort Frances was named the superintendent of works.
Meanwhile, plasterwork was done by William J. Hynes of Toronto, the Ontario Brass Co. of Toronto was responsible for the electric fixtures, and the Berlin Interior Hardware Co. won the contract for interior furnishings.
“The contract price for the building is reported at what now seems like the modest sum of $54,719,” Justice Pierce said.
She explained the design of this courthouse is similar to others built in Northern Ontario, following a ‘T’ shape.
“In addition to the courtroom in which we now sit, the original building accommodated a judges’ chambers, a jury room, a law library, and offices for the corporate quarter and crown attorney,” she said.
“The roof line features a central cupola, which lit the courtroom below,” she added. “As well, there are two attic dormers on both sides of the building, which afford a lovely view of the neighbourhood.
“However, the attic is a spooky place to visit, especially around Hallowe’en when the shadows and dust hint at murder cases tried in times past.”
Justice Pierce said the courthouse has been maintained and renovated over the past century to meet new demands.
“You may notice, for instance, the handsome new windows,” she remarked. “Most recently, the basement was renovated to deal with flooding that occurred two years ago.
“The building now contains renovated courtroom space in the basement, a motions room on the second floor that is also used for videoconferencing, office space for two judges and for the resident justice of the peace, robing rooms for the bar, a law library, a remote testimony room for child witnesses, improved cell space for prisoners who are held at the court during the day, the crown attorney’s office, and other improvements,” she noted
Justice Pierce explained the courthouse currently is used by three levels of court—the Justice of the Peace Court, the Ontario Court of Justice, and the Superior Court of Justice.
“Most citizens associate the courthouse with criminal proceedings,” she noted. “One source reports that between 1931 and 1945, six men were hanged at Fort Frances as a result of convictions for murder.
“We are no longer hanging people,” she remarked, citing the nature of the cases heard within the courtroom walls varies widely.
“The courthouse has served the District of Rainy River well low these 100 years,” Justice Pierce said. “Perhaps our descendants will gather to celebrate her bicentennial.”
“Today as we mark the centenary of our courthouse, I think we are really honouring the people of this community who have given Fort Frances and the Rainy River District their perspiration and their inspiration to build and maintain a justice system that we are justifiably proud of,” said Justice Bode.
“We’re, of course, honouring the people who had the vision and the commitment necessary to have the courthouse built,” he noted.
“But I think more importantly with this celebration, we are honouring the people who have, for the last 100 years, worked in the building, delivering to the people of Rainy River the kind of justice system they are worthy of,” Justice Bode added.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the staff, the criminal, family, and civil bar, the crown attorneys, and the judicial officers who are working here now and have worked here over the last 100 years.”
Justice Bode also touched on what he thinks the Rainy River District Courthouse is going to see in the years to come.
“[Aboriginal people are] less certain today than we need them to be about the strength, the integrity, the inclusiveness of our justice system,” he conceded.
“The people who work in the justice system in Fort Frances are, and I have observed this, working hard to demonstrate that our justice system has the strength, the integrity, and the inclusiveness that aboriginal people need it to have,” he stressed.
“I know their efforts are already paying dividends because I’ve had respected First Nations’ leaders from Treaty Three tell me that,” Justice Bode added, though noting there’s still a great deal to be done to fully repair the relationship between the Aboriginal people and the justice system.
“But I’m convinced that relationship will be healed,” he remarked. “I’m also convinced this courthouse will be one of the critical sites where much of that healing will take place.”
Other speakers during the special sitting of the court included Deputy Attorney General Patrick Monahan, James Cornish, assistant deputy Attorney General (Criminal Law Division), and Barbara Morgan, president of the Rainy River Law Library Association.
Lynne Wagner, assistant deputy minister for the court services division, offered opening remarks and served as the emcee.
Prior to the guest speakers, Elder Gilbert Smith and four local drummers offered a traditional First Nations’ ceremony.
Following the special sitting of the court, a commemorative tree-planting occurred in front of the courthouse, with the Superior Court of Justice donating a red maple tree.
The Ontario Court of Justice donated a silver maple tree, the Rainy River Law Association offered a red pine, and the court staff also planted a red pine.
A reception also was held, featuring a courthouse replica cake made by Shelley Wepruk, along with historical pictures, books, and new articles on display.
