Allan Bradbury is originally from St. John’s, NL. He studied journalism at the College of the North Atlantic in St. John’s and before that he studied at Tyndale University in Toronto. Before joining The Times, Allan wrote for CBC NL and Saltwire Network.
Next Tuesday, March 21 is a day recognized as World Down Syndrome Day. By my recollection this is probably my third time writing about this day. It’s a day close to my heart as my older sister Sheila has Down Syndrome. If you don’t know what Down Syndrome is, according […]
After years without touring in Canada because of COVID-19 Juno Award winning progressive rock duo Crown Lands are striking out on a cross-Canada tour they’re stopping in Fort Frances this Saturday, March 18. The band comprises singer and drummer Cody Bowles and guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Comeau. The Times connected with Comeau […]
A pair of goals by Grayson Burnell and a shorthanded marker by Ashton Velhuisen were enough to propel the Muskie boys to their second NorWOSSA championship in as many years.Coming home after a 4-0 loss on the road the Broncos came out hard and gave the Muskies almost all they […]
Members of the 807 Selects Volleyball Club along with some recruits from Thunder Bay Superior North Volleyball Club played in the Ontario Native Volleyball Invitational last weekend in Thunder Bay. The tournament was slated to be a 19 and under (19U) event but the 16 and under (16U) Selects team […]
From left Zander Hutton, Ben Huziak, Jackson Marchant, Adam L’Hirondelle, and Rowan Donaldson make up the Muskie Boys Curling team. With a tie-breaker win against Beaver Brae Secondary School, the Muskies won the NWOSSA championship and qualified for a place in the OFSAA championships in North Bay March 22-25.
At its February meeting the Board of Trustees of the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) approved the creation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the creation of a Student Support Foundation. This week, the Director of Education Heather Campbell and Superintendent of Business Meghan Cox have provided some […]
Businesses and organizations across the Rainy River District have raised over $30,000 for Aiyana Cochrane in support of her fight against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a diagnosis that came just days after Christmas, and the fundraising is still going. Proceeds earned at the spa run by Esthetician students at Second Generation […]
In the winter of 2020-2021 the Town of Fort Frances passed a bylaw that allowed snowmobiling on roads throughout most of town. Bylaw Enforcement Officer Patrick Briere says there are a few things to keep in mind. “In the winter of 2020-2021 we worked with the snowmobile club and the […]
The Fort Frances Spray Park has expanded to a full scale revamp of Legion Park, thanks to last week’s $499,000 Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation announcement. Conditions on the grant dictate that the funding make up no more than 75 per cent of the overall project budget. Because the initial […]
The public school Board of Trustees voted to create an ad hoc committee which will oversee the formation of a charitable foundation which will aid in the funding of school programming and ensuring education is equitable throughout the district. The ad hoc committee’s terms of reference were discussed at the […]
Tomorrow – Thursday, Feb. 16 – Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) in Fort Frances will officially open its first Makerspace. Maggie LeMesurier is the Makerspace Assistant at the Fort Frances campus she says a makerspace is a place for people to get creative. “A Makerspace is a place to go […]
From January 27-29 the Fort Frances Cyclones Swim Club attended the Northwestern Ontario Long Course Championships. While the team saw great podium finishes, head coach Debbie Murray says they don’t always gauge success by podium performances. “For our swim club what’s important and what’s always emphasized is personal goals,” Murray […]
Last Wednesday the Fort Frances High School Muskies cross-country ski team hosted NORWOSSA qualifiers for NWOSSA. Ilka Milne is the coach of the Muskies cross-country ski team. She says after not competing last year, the members who have stuck through this season are all new to the sport. “We have […]
Two required repairs in a short timespan has the Rainy River Curling Club appealing to the community for support. Club vice-president Alicia Anderson says the required repairs caught them off guard when the season opened. “At the start of the season it was found that our plant wasn’t running up […]
Three flower shops in the Fort Frances area all have different options this Valentine’s day from flowers to candy and other treats. At Fort Frances Floral on Scott St. Amber Lazar is the new manager. She says they have several options for Valentine’s Day this year. “Our special is a […]
Two women’s teams at the Northern Ontario Curling provincials will represent curling clubs in the Rainy River District. Team Jacki McCormic will curl out of the Stratton Curling Club and Team Hailey Beaudry will represent the Fort Frances curling club. Both teams will face some challenges as neither of them […]
Before sharing the results of last weekend’s squash tournament here is a brief history of the tournament as recounted by organizer Bob Tkachuk. The Sunset Country Squash Club’s annual home tournament dates back to 1988 according to Tkachuk. That year 20 players came together from Fort Frances and Kenora and […]
While one lives in southern Ontario and the other lives in Melbourne, Australia, both Suzie Vinnick and Lloyd Spiegel have great passions for blues music and both came to the genre at a young age. Growing up in Saskatoon, Suzie Vinnick started playing the guitar at age nine with plans […]
Record: 5-0 plus a tournament win (update with Tuesday game?) First place NORWOSSA standings Q: How has the season gone so far? Our season is going great. We have only lost one set so far (our rookie line’s first set of volleyball ever) including our tournament in Kenora which we […]
Record: 4-1; Second place at Westgate Tigers “Spike-off’ tournament in Thunder Bay and Third place at Winter Blast tournament in Kenora. Second place NORWOSSA standings Q: How has the season gone so far? A: We have been doing well so far this season. In league play we are in second […]
Residents of Fort Frances were upset when several Town sponsored programs were put on pause a few weeks ago. Town officials say this is due to insurance compliance and for participant safety. Recreation and Culture Manager Tyler Young says that many town recreation activities have been in violation of the […]
After only being able to play a fraction of their usual schedule last year the Fort Frances High School Muskies hockey teams are back to playing a much busier schedule and are seeing success in NORWOSSA play. The teams have had significantly expanded seasons this year over last which saw […]
The Fort Frances Lakers fired head coach Paul MacLean last week as the team headed into its Christmas break. Assistant coach Tyler Miller will now become the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Lakers president Gary Silander says the board determined McLean was not living up to […]
Danielle Marshall has taken on the role of new Curator at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre. Marshall comes to Fort Frances from southern Ontario where she worked at a variety of museums in different roles over the years. “I liked the idea of just being somewhere for a […]
On Nov. 28 the Make a Big Splash Spray Park Advisory Committee brought its final proposed designs to Fort Frances Town Council on Nov. 28. With a finalized plan, the group now has an idea of cost and can move into the fundraising stage of the project. The design was […]
Springboarding off of its resoundingly successful musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Row i Theatre company is launching weekly drama groups for both kids and adults starting in January. Trevor Barker is the director of Row i and will be hosting performing arts courses in January. One class is for students in […]
After an attempt to re-format the event in November backfired due to cold temperatures the Voyageur Lions Club is going back to the original format. The Polar Plunge had been rebranded as the Chilly Dash and Splash in an effort to save on the labour required to clear and cut […]
After mechanical issues delayed the ice making season in Rainy River, the recreation centre is investigating the cost to replace the plant which is over 50 years old. On Nov. 22 the Rainy River Recreation Centre sent out a notice that told residents why ice was not yet in place […]
According to a press release from the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), one in seven families in northwestern Ontario is struggling to put food on the table. A food costing survey done by NWHU last spring, indicated that the average cost to feed a family of four is $299.12 per week […]
Snow came quickly at the end of November but the Fort Frances snow clearing team has been up to the task. Aside from a few typical hiccups that come with the start of the season Fort Frances Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob says things have gone to plan. “So […]
Several Fort Frances players had standout performances at the Balmoral Park Northwestern Ontario Open Squash Tournament Nov. 18-22 in Thunder Bay. Fort Frances had 15 players in the 60 player tournament according to Mike Canfield, club member and Jr. Coach. “That’s one of the larger groups we’ve had attend a […]
If you weren’t already following parking regulations in Fort Frances, now’s a great time to start. At last week’s Town Council meeting a bylaw was passed which appointed Katelyn Svoboda as a new Municipal Law Enforcement Officer and Weed Inspector for the Town of Fort Frances. At a badge presentation […]
In parts of Fort Frances, spring flooding that spilled into summer delayed planned road work in certain areas. Elsewhere, supply chain issues delayed work. Travis Rob is the operations and facilities manager for the Town of Fort Frances. Rob says flooding delayed a lot of the planned work, some a […]
When a leaky roof became too much to handle in 2019, the Fort Frances Curling club was in dire straits. However, just a few years after receiving a loan from Curling Canada, the club has paid it off. In May of 2019 it was announced that the local curling club […]
Content warning: this story talks about mental health issues and suicide. Justin Anderson, the manager of Betty’s in downtown Fort Frances, and his uncle Blair Anderson are back fundraising for Movember this year. After selling a hoodie last year, they’ve expanded the line for people who want to continue their […]
The United Native Friendship Centre (UNFC) is accepting many forms of donations in an effort to help those less fortunate this Christmas. UNFC Executive Director Sheila McMahon says they serve a wide range of people with their services and usage has increased with the current state of the economy. “We […]
Matt Dusk is bringing his interpretation of Old Blue Eyes’ classics around the world. On Nov. 25, he’ll bring those Sinatra songs to the Townshend Theatre for the second show in the Tour De Fort season. Dusk has been running an intense touring schedule. Having spent the early part of […]
It won’t be plunging through an icy Rainy Lake but it’s sure to be plenty cold. The Voyageurs Lions Club is changing things up for what will be their first in-person plunge since before the COVID-19 Pandemic. Rather than jumping through a hole in the ice on New Year’s Day […]
There is a shortage of lifeguards, which has led to a reduction in services at the Memorial Sports Complex. Because of this, the staff that are there are working hard to keep the limited services available. Recreation and Culture Manager Tyler Young says the issue with not having enough trained […]
An awareness walk hosted by partnering health services in the Rainy River District will be held to honor National Addictions Awareness Week surrounding the theme “a community of caring” aiming to highlight the harms, preventative measures, and solutions surrounding substance misuse. The awareness walk will take place on Wednesday, November […]
Mayor-elect Andrew Hallikas is ready to go with a new town council. Hallikas and the new council will be sworn in on Nov. 21 ahead of their first meeting. “I was worried going into election day,” Hallikas said. “Because it looked like turnout was going to be fairly low.” Hallikas […]
The last time Skye Wallace came through Fort Frances was before the pandemic. Wallace is back next week with a new album and show at La Place Rendez-Vous. When The Times spoke with Wallace she was not very long back from touring in Germany and is now preparing to set […]
After a tough start to the season, the Fort Frances Laker’s coach thinks that the team has what it takes to turn things around. The Team has started the season on a 1-7-0-0 record with the lone win coming on a forfeit in the season opener. While he is working […]
Many people think that service clubs like the Lions Club and Kiwanis are something for older, often retired people. But McKenna Begin sees Kiwanis as an opportunity to volunteer and help children in her community. At just 24 years old, McKenna Begin is the President of the Fort Frances Kiwanis […]
A partnership with United Native Friendship Centre, North Western Health Unit and Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre (GHAC) has come together to sponsor a 5 km fun run/walk on the Friday before Haloween. The Monster Mash Dash is set to be a fun evening of family fun, costumes and exercise according […]
The NHL hockey season got underway last night and while at times this Montreal Canadiens fan has been a rabid follower of hockey over the last several years, I know my expectations are very low this year and I feel better for it and I think others might benefit as […]
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is hosting the seven candidates for town council and two candidates for mayor will be given the chance to address residents of Fort Frances next week as election day approaches. The event takes place next Thursday at the Townshend Theatre. Doors will open at […]
On Wednesday Sept. 28, Holmlund Financial announced a donation of $10,000 to Fort Frances High School (FFHS) Muskies sports. Owner Adrian Chapman says the company has experienced success this year despite financial turbulence and have been able to give generously out of that success. The business had pledged to give […]
Last weekend a conference was held involving various stakeholders from academia and residents of Treaty #3 territory at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung (Manitou Mounds). Professor Pamela Klassen is in the Department for the Study of Religion at University of Toronto. Klassen along with some of her students is one of the event organizers. […]
Fort Frances town Councilor Rick Wiedenhoeft concludes his career as a town councilor this year after 15 years of service to the town. He is also stepping back from his position as head football referee for the Fort Frances High School Muskies. Wiedenhoeft has seen a variety of changes in […]
Rainy River–Kenora MPP Greg Rickford was in the Fort Frances area last week meeting constituents and announcing funding for projects in the area. While in the area Rickford stopped at the Township of Alberton’s Fire hall and announced $16,200 for a new garage door for one of the bays. This […]
Well-known Canadian comedian and speaker Big Daddy Tazz is bringing his show to Rainy Lake Square tomorrow night after stops in a couple of area schools during the day. Also known as Tazz Norris, Big Daddy Tazz has been featured on a variety of platforms throughout Canada including Just For […]
After a summer of playing shows with a full band, three original members of The Trews will bring their acoustic trio to Fort Frances as the opening act of the 2022-2023 Tour De Fort Series. John-Angus MacDonald is the lead guitarist of the Trews and has been with the band […]
On August 17, 2022 Philip ‘Pete’ Peterson celebrated his centennial birthday with a paddle on Rainy River. While not as agile as in his younger days when he was a pilot serving for the US military in both World War II and The Korean War, with the help of Community […]
At Monday’s Town Council meeting a resolution was unanimously passed to submit a statement against the proposed redistribution of federal ridings in northern Ontario. As published in the agenda for Monday’s Town Council the resolution speaks to the way that the redistribution of the boundaries would affect Northern Ontario and […]
Having played in Fort Frances before My Son the Hurricane is happy to be touring post-pandemic. They’re hoping to bring happiness with them as they bring the funk back to Fort Frances on Sunday Sept. 25. Vocalist Sylvie Kindree says it’s been great to be back on the road after […]
Visitors were welcomed to an open house and fish fry on Saturday, Sept. 10 to explore the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre (Manitou Mounds). The open house served to celebrate the funding the foundation has given the mounds over the last few years. During the open house visitors were able to get […]
A local family hobby farm is using its annual fall event as a way to give back to the community that has helped them in the past. As a new addition to its annual fall farm day, The Spry Farm will be holding a charity fun run with proceeds earmarked […]
Science North’s traveling exhibit on climate change has arrived in Fort Frances. The interactive exhibit for all ages will be showing on the first floor of the Fort Frances Museum until Sept. 10. Funded by the Government of Canada and created in a collaboration between Science North and the Ontario […]
The Town of Fort Frances has added flag football for players in grades seven and eight to the fall recreation schedule. From Sept. 13 to Oct. 6 the Town of Fort Frances will be running a flag football league as a way to introduce young players to the game of […]
An all new festival celebrating the heritage of Nestor Falls will kick off this Labour Day weekend. Starting on Saturday, the Nestor Falls Wings and Wheels Festival will kick off a weekend filled with planes and automobiles, fun and food. One of the highlights of the weekend will be the […]
With equipment handed out and practices started, the Fort Frances High School Muskies football season has begun. With more returning to normal, the Muskies Touchdown Club is hoping to keep the sport affordable. COVID restrictions have now lifted a season after the Muskies won the NorWOSSAA championship, the Fort Frances […]
The Fort Frances Lakers Junior A hockey team is ramping up operations for another season, and that means they need housing for players. Sarah Kivimaki, billet co-ordinator for the Lakers says a billet family is meant to be a surrogate for players when they can’t be near their own families. […]
Paul MacLean has won championships as a player and a coach and has been working hard since he was hired to bring high-end young talent to Fort Frances. After a junior hockey career that saw him play across Canada from Toronto to Vernon, B.C. including a Centennial Cup in his […]
Now that flood waters have mostly receded the Town of Fort Frances has been able to proceed with some much-delayed road work and flood remediation. Travis Rob is the Manager of Operations and Facilities for the Town and he says things are starting to get back to normal but will […]
On July 27, the staff at Fort Frances Walmart had the opportunity to meet this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child for the region. Keira, 11, from Manitoba was born with a condition called Craniosynostosis and told Walmart staff all about it. “I was born with Craniosynostosis,” Keira said. “It […]
Museum Curator and Culturama’s lead organizer Kayleigh Speirs said she is very pleased with how the event went over and hopes to build on it next year. “I think, overall, it went fantastically,” Speirs said. “In a lot of ways it exceeded our expectations. We were thrilled with the amount […]
With time running short before the Sept. 18 run date, the Fort Frances Terry Fox Run is still in need of a co-ordinator. Kim Smith is the Ontario Events Co-Ordinator for The Terry Fox Foundation. She says Fort Frances has been a long-time supporter of the run but former co-ordinators […]
As election day gets approaches, two of the bigger District municipalities only have two candidates each for their respective municipal councils and another hasn’t received any at all, with less than three weeks remaining in the nomination period. Both the Town of Fort Frances and the Township of Emo have […]
With a full lineup of performers and workshops the revival of a long lost exhibition of cultures and traditions is set to happen this weekend. Kayleigh Speirs is the curator at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre. She has been the driving force behind the event and has spent […]
Revelers at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship this weekend likely saw a group of young people around the big tent in blue vests with naloxone kits hanging from their belt loops. These young people are First Responders, a group of high school students from Fort Frances High School (FFHS), […]
With no cuts to services to be made and facing a massive deficit, the Township of Emo is looking at a significant increase in taxes in its proposed 2021-2022 budget. With inflation, costs to the municipality have gone up significantly. Fuel for vehicles is over 75 per cent more expensive, […]
A pair of junior volleyball players are in southern Ontario this week meeting other players from across the province and working on their skills at a higher level. As part of the Team Ontario Regional Program, Payton Dolyny and Calleigh Counselor — both heading into Grade 10 at Fort Frances […]
In an effort to promote the local music scene, one area musician has put together a music festival featuring several local bands. Wes DeBungie is a member of the local music scene and the organizer of Wes Fest, which will run from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. “I […]
A group of young volleyball players from Rainy River First Nations (RRFN) are looking for local support to get to Ottawa for the Ontario Indigenous Summer Games. Tammy Horton has been coaching the group for several months now after a parent brought the idea to her. “They held tryouts in […]
A recent assessment of flooded public infrastructure has revealed the need for some repairs. Travis Rob, manager of operations and facilities for the town noted some areas of erosion where water levels have dropped. “Not surprisingly, we’re seeing some areas where we have some subsiding of the ground,” Rob said. […]
With provincial backing, Valley Adult Learning Association (VALA) is launching a new business venture that will allow it to teach job skills to clients in a setting that is flexible; suiting their needs. Matt Smart has trouble with anxiety, making certain tasks that might be assigned in some jobs a […]
Events and performers are starting to come together as the weekend of Aug. 5-7 approaches, though Kayleigh Speirs, Fort Frances Museum curator and event co-ordinator says it probably won’t look like Culturamas of the past. Speirs says they are hoping for many volunteers to help fill out some of the […]
Last Friday, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford was sworn in as the Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. He says being able to focus on these two areas will help him in constituency work. “I take a great deal of pride in the fact that we had […]
Last Friday Couchiching First Nation was the site of Treaty 3’s second annual 2SLGBTQ+ Powwow. The event was coordinated by the Treaty 3 Two-Spirit Youth Council. In 2021 Grand Council Treaty 3 added a two-spirit council to its governance structure under the leadership of Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was […]
Fort Frances Youth Soccer held its final games Saturday morning. Germany (Green) took home the championship for Div 4/5 after a tough, rain drenched championship game against France (Blue). Team Spain finished in third and Team Brazil finished fourth. Above, Jaxon Grimard was awarded the Bryce Devoe Memorial Award for […]
Fort Frances High School held a year-end softball tournament. Students had fun in the sun playing softball and enjoying freezies. Sometimes doing both at the same time.
New Fort Frances bylaw officer Mark Bridge is used to living on the border, but not with Minnesota. Bridge comes to Fort Frances from Sarnia in southern Ontario on the Canada-United States border with Michigan. Fresh out of the Protection, Security and Investigation program at Lambton College in Sarnia, Bridge […]
Gagwe-gikendamaawiziwin, formerly known as Quest for Knowledge, took place on May 27. Teams from five area schools competed to show their skills in Anishinaabemowin language at Seven Generations Education Institute. According to one of the lead co-ordinators, this year was the 22nd annual competition. Having had to shift to virtual […]
Last Friday, Justin Boshey walked from Crossroads Public School in Devlin all the way to Fort Frances in an effort to raise awareness of the addiction issues communities in the area are facing. Boshey is an addictions worker from Lac La Croix First Nation. He said he feels not enough […]
When the pandemic forced him out of the recreation industry, Tyler Young found himself stocking 451 toothbrushes in a grocery store display to make ends meet; that was when he knew he needed to get back into recreation. He has since joined the Administration team for the Town of Fort […]
In a media availability last week, members of the International Joint Commission (IJC) said given the sheer amount of rain and the natural geography of the area, little could have been done to avoid the current flooding. The IJC is a bi-national organization, comprised of regional experts, which co-operates to […]
The Fort Frances High School Muskie Girls hockey team held their awards banquet last Friday night. Members of the team were recognized for excellence in a season where the team took home the top prize for girls hockey in the region. Head coach Nicole Clarke along with assistant coaches Dylan […]
The Town of Fort Frances and the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre have great plans for the summer. Most of the programming will take place in July and August. The Town of Fort Frances will run day camps for all eight weeks out of the Memorial Sports Complex. Registration […]
A Free Non-contact Football Skills Camp is underway, with dozens of students coming out to play touch football, and learn skills from the Muskies football coaching team. The camp will run for a second week, June 13-17, from 6-8 p.m. at the Fort Frances High School field. No experience needed. […]
While on the campaign trail, recently re-elected MPP for Kenora-Rainy River Greg Rickford says he saw the damage throughout the riding caused by high water and he is working with other members of provincial government to ensure all options are available to the region. Rickford says that the unique timing […]
Last Thursday MPP Greg Rickford was re-elected, receiving 59 per cent of Kenora-Rainy River votes. Rickford says he’s taking some time to recover from the campaign trail, but will be ready to go when called back to Queen’s Park in the near future. Overall, the provincial election was largely lopsided. […]
The Devlin Little League is up and running again for another year. Organizer Roseanne Farmer says they have over 100 players across four age divisions. The league runs four days a week at Crossroads Public School and Carmody Field. The league is full but they would love to have some […]
12.5 tons of concrete was not enough to keep a Fort Frances landmark in place. With key infrastructure in its path, the safest course of action was to remove the Hallet from the water, according to Town of Fort Frances Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob. “As people may or […]
Three golf courses across the Rainy River district have been delayed by the wet spring experienced by northwestern Ontario. Some have missed initial opening dates while one has seen more days closed than open. Kitchen Creek Golf Club to the west of Fort Frances missed its traditional opening date ahead […]
Fort Frances native Jagger Lockman is planning to spend the month of July teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in Fort Frances. Lockman took up BJJ when he left the Fort Frances area for Southern Ontario. “I moved away when I was 18,” Lockman said. “I started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve […]
There’s a new exhibit at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre showcasing the stories and body art of people from all walks of life. My Story, My Tattoo is a traveling exhibit from the Wellington County Museum and Archives. It will be in Fort Frances until July 6 before […]
The Friends of the Library are happy to be back hosting their annual used book sale this year. The sale has been held on the last Saturday in May for close to 20 years. The Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library is a group of volunteers who support the […]
Jenks took part in the 126th Boston Marathon last month, finishing with a time of 4:42:59. But for Jenks, who just turned 60, her placement wasn’t as important as seeing the finish line. “My goal was to finish,” she said. “The big thing with Boston is getting into the Boston […]
Next Tuesday, March 21 is a day recognized as World Down Syndrome Day. By my recollection this is probably my third time writing about this day. It’s a day close to my heart as my older sister Sheila has Down Syndrome. If you don’t know what Down Syndrome is, according […]
After years without touring in Canada because of COVID-19 Juno Award winning progressive rock duo Crown Lands are striking out on a cross-Canada tour they’re stopping in Fort Frances this Saturday, March 18. The band comprises singer and drummer Cody Bowles and guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Comeau. The Times connected with Comeau […]
At its February meeting the Board of Trustees of the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) approved the creation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the creation of a Student Support Foundation. This week, the Director of Education Heather Campbell and Superintendent of Business Meghan Cox have provided some […]
In the winter of 2020-2021 the Town of Fort Frances passed a bylaw that allowed snowmobiling on roads throughout most of town. Bylaw Enforcement Officer Patrick Briere says there are a few things to keep in mind. “In the winter of 2020-2021 we worked with the snowmobile club and the […]
The Fort Frances Spray Park has expanded to a full scale revamp of Legion Park, thanks to last week’s $499,000 Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation announcement. Conditions on the grant dictate that the funding make up no more than 75 per cent of the overall project budget. Because the initial […]
Two required repairs in a short timespan has the Rainy River Curling Club appealing to the community for support. Club vice-president Alicia Anderson says the required repairs caught them off guard when the season opened. “At the start of the season it was found that our plant wasn’t running up […]
Two women’s teams at the Northern Ontario Curling provincials will represent curling clubs in the Rainy River District. Team Jacki McCormic will curl out of the Stratton Curling Club and Team Hailey Beaudry will represent the Fort Frances curling club. Both teams will face some challenges as neither of them […]
Residents of Fort Frances were upset when several Town sponsored programs were put on pause a few weeks ago. Town officials say this is due to insurance compliance and for participant safety. Recreation and Culture Manager Tyler Young says that many town recreation activities have been in violation of the […]
After only being able to play a fraction of their usual schedule last year the Fort Frances High School Muskies hockey teams are back to playing a much busier schedule and are seeing success in NORWOSSA play. The teams have had significantly expanded seasons this year over last which saw […]
The Fort Frances Lakers fired head coach Paul MacLean last week as the team headed into its Christmas break. Assistant coach Tyler Miller will now become the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Lakers president Gary Silander says the board determined McLean was not living up to […]
Danielle Marshall has taken on the role of new Curator at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre. Marshall comes to Fort Frances from southern Ontario where she worked at a variety of museums in different roles over the years. “I liked the idea of just being somewhere for a […]
Springboarding off of its resoundingly successful musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Row i Theatre company is launching weekly drama groups for both kids and adults starting in January. Trevor Barker is the director of Row i and will be hosting performing arts courses in January. One class is for students in […]
After an attempt to re-format the event in November backfired due to cold temperatures the Voyageur Lions Club is going back to the original format. The Polar Plunge had been rebranded as the Chilly Dash and Splash in an effort to save on the labour required to clear and cut […]
After mechanical issues delayed the ice making season in Rainy River, the recreation centre is investigating the cost to replace the plant which is over 50 years old. On Nov. 22 the Rainy River Recreation Centre sent out a notice that told residents why ice was not yet in place […]
Snow came quickly at the end of November but the Fort Frances snow clearing team has been up to the task. Aside from a few typical hiccups that come with the start of the season Fort Frances Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob says things have gone to plan. “So […]
In parts of Fort Frances, spring flooding that spilled into summer delayed planned road work in certain areas. Elsewhere, supply chain issues delayed work. Travis Rob is the operations and facilities manager for the Town of Fort Frances. Rob says flooding delayed a lot of the planned work, some a […]
There is a shortage of lifeguards, which has led to a reduction in services at the Memorial Sports Complex. Because of this, the staff that are there are working hard to keep the limited services available. Recreation and Culture Manager Tyler Young says the issue with not having enough trained […]
An awareness walk hosted by partnering health services in the Rainy River District will be held to honor National Addictions Awareness Week surrounding the theme “a community of caring” aiming to highlight the harms, preventative measures, and solutions surrounding substance misuse. The awareness walk will take place on Wednesday, November […]
After a tough start to the season, the Fort Frances Laker’s coach thinks that the team has what it takes to turn things around. The Team has started the season on a 1-7-0-0 record with the lone win coming on a forfeit in the season opener. While he is working […]
Many people think that service clubs like the Lions Club and Kiwanis are something for older, often retired people. But McKenna Begin sees Kiwanis as an opportunity to volunteer and help children in her community. At just 24 years old, McKenna Begin is the President of the Fort Frances Kiwanis […]
The NHL hockey season got underway last night and while at times this Montreal Canadiens fan has been a rabid follower of hockey over the last several years, I know my expectations are very low this year and I feel better for it and I think others might benefit as […]
After a summer of playing shows with a full band, three original members of The Trews will bring their acoustic trio to Fort Frances as the opening act of the 2022-2023 Tour De Fort Series. John-Angus MacDonald is the lead guitarist of the Trews and has been with the band […]
At Monday’s Town Council meeting a resolution was unanimously passed to submit a statement against the proposed redistribution of federal ridings in northern Ontario. As published in the agenda for Monday’s Town Council the resolution speaks to the way that the redistribution of the boundaries would affect Northern Ontario and […]
A local family hobby farm is using its annual fall event as a way to give back to the community that has helped them in the past. As a new addition to its annual fall farm day, The Spry Farm will be holding a charity fun run with proceeds earmarked […]
With equipment handed out and practices started, the Fort Frances High School Muskies football season has begun. With more returning to normal, the Muskies Touchdown Club is hoping to keep the sport affordable. COVID restrictions have now lifted a season after the Muskies won the NorWOSSAA championship, the Fort Frances […]
With time running short before the Sept. 18 run date, the Fort Frances Terry Fox Run is still in need of a co-ordinator. Kim Smith is the Ontario Events Co-Ordinator for The Terry Fox Foundation. She says Fort Frances has been a long-time supporter of the run but former co-ordinators […]
Last Friday Couchiching First Nation was the site of Treaty 3’s second annual 2SLGBTQ+ Powwow. The event was coordinated by the Treaty 3 Two-Spirit Youth Council. In 2021 Grand Council Treaty 3 added a two-spirit council to its governance structure under the leadership of Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was […]
New Fort Frances bylaw officer Mark Bridge is used to living on the border, but not with Minnesota. Bridge comes to Fort Frances from Sarnia in southern Ontario on the Canada-United States border with Michigan. Fresh out of the Protection, Security and Investigation program at Lambton College in Sarnia, Bridge […]
The Fort Frances High School Muskie Girls hockey team held their awards banquet last Friday night. Members of the team were recognized for excellence in a season where the team took home the top prize for girls hockey in the region. Head coach Nicole Clarke along with assistant coaches Dylan […]
Three golf courses across the Rainy River district have been delayed by the wet spring experienced by northwestern Ontario. Some have missed initial opening dates while one has seen more days closed than open. Kitchen Creek Golf Club to the west of Fort Frances missed its traditional opening date ahead […]
The Friends of the Library are happy to be back hosting their annual used book sale this year. The sale has been held on the last Saturday in May for close to 20 years. The Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library is a group of volunteers who support the […]
