Duane Hicks
The Fun in the Sun Committee is asking town council for its support of expanded Canada Day festivities in 2018.
Committee chair Cynthia Donald, making a verbal presentation during the public budget meeting held Monday night in conjunction with the regular council meeting, requested council put aside $2,000-$5,000 to help them with next year’s celebration.
“We would like to extend the July 1 holiday to a two-day event because July 1 is on a Sunday,” she noted.
“We would also like to include our senior citizens and the groups that may need assistance to enjoy the celebration.”
Donald said FITS was “quite fortunate to have the citizens of Fort Frances support us on many fundraisers throughout the year.”
On top of that, the Moffat Family Fund was “very generous to our cause in such a way that we were able to pay expenses and also provide a new type of log for a log-rolling program that is at the Sportsplex,” she added.
The FITS committee also realizes Moffat funding may not be available to it again in 2018, but still will apply for a piece of that annual funding nonetheless.
FITS also is asking council to earmark funds for next year’s Canada Day fireworks.
In a letter from committee member Dave Coats, he noted the Town of Fort Frances contributed $7,500 to the Canada Day fireworks show this past July 1.
“Over the past couple of years, we have been able to increase our budget through the contributions of the town and many local sponsors,” Coats wrote.
“This increased budget has allowed us to put on fireworks displays that are the best the town has ever seen.
“To allow us to continue to put on top-quality displays to end one of the biggest public gatherings of the year, I would ask mayor and council to consider once again contributing $7,500 towards the purchase of fireworks products,” Coats said.
He noted the committee also will pursue additional funds through federal and provincial grants, local sponsors, and fundraising.
Both requests were referred to the 2018 budget process for consideration.
