Duane Hicks
Fort Frances will be celebrating Canada Day with a bigger “bang” than usual, Mayor Roy Avis promised.
“We’re expecting probably one of the best celebrations we’ve had in a long time,” he noted at last night’s council meeting.
Mayor Avis urged residents to enter floats in the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Sorting Gap Marina, and also make sure to attend Point Park to take part in the family fun there.
He said the “Fun in the Sun” committee has “done a tremendous job trying to get more activities going” this year.
On top of that, the mayor has learned from Dave Coats, who has been in charge of the Canada Day fireworks for many years, that thanks to extra support from the community, residents can expect “the best fireworks display we’ve ever had.”
In addition to funds from Heritage Canada, the Town of Fort Frances, West End Motors, Doug Kitowski Trucking, Northwest Road Management, New Gold, the Township of Alberton rec committee, Causeway Insurance, and La Place Rendez-Vous all have donated to the display.
About 25 percent of the $8,900 the committee received from the Moffat Family Fund this year also will go towards the fireworks.
“I’m sure we are going to have a display that’s second-to-none,” Mayor Avis remarked.
The fireworks display is scheduled to start at 10:15 p.m.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•referred a letter and a petition submitted by Dawson Mihichuk, re: changing the name of Colonization Road in Fort Frances, to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the Operations and Facilities executive committee;
•awarded the tender for the surface treatment of roadways at various locations to MSO Construction;
•authorized Sunset Water Sports to utilize the public docks and beaches surrounding the town for the operation of its water sports business, with the town being named as an additional insured on their business insurance policy ($2 million liability);
•authorized the submission of the 2017 Community Museum Operating Grant to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport;
•received Minutes of Settlement for property located at 363 Church St. for the 2016 taxation year;
•approved a travel expense claim for Fort Frances CAO Doug Brown in the amount of $17 for attendance at an MPAC strategic planning meeting June 13 in Thunder Bay;
•approved per diem and travel expense claims for Couns. Wendy Brunetta and Ken Perry, each in the amount of $337, for their attendance at an MPAC meeting and a NOMA meeting in Thunder Bay on June 13-14;
•declared the Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony here on Aug. 12 as a “municipally significant event”; and
•referred a request from the Watten Volunteer Fire Department, that the town donate the rental fee for Sunny Cove (or make a monetary donation in lieu of that) for its annual fish fry fundraiser on Aug. 25, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the Community Services executive committee.
