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.
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 […]
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 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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
A tradition that dates back over 20 years is back. Chem-Free Grad — a safe celebration for graduating students from Fort Frances High School (FFHS) makes its return after COVID-19 shut it down the last few years. It started at Sunny Cove campground and back then it was necessarily “chem […]
The Fort Frances Gun and Hobby Show is back at the Fort Frances Curling Club this weekend and organizer Scott Stafford says there will be more exhibitors than ever. Stafford says the Fort Frances Gun and Hobby Show was started in 2008 by he and his wife Tasha at the […]
Students enrolled in nursing and Personal Support Worker programs to have tuition waived On Wednesday April 20, MPP Greg Rickford announced that the government of Ontario has earmarked over $12.9 million over the next four years to help Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) to increase the number of indigenous and […]
After a two-year hiatus from fundraising events for environmental conservation with Ducks Unlimited are back. Ducks Unlimited Fort Frances is hosting its 36th fundraising banquet and charity auction on May 13 at La Place RendezVous. Ducks Unlimited is a registered charity that works to preserve wetlands. Charles Fisher is the […]
Next Thursday, May 5, Whitehorse is coming to the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances. The band’s style varies from rock and roll to blues to country. The final show of the Tour de Fort season features the husband and wife duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. They came together […]
After a year of selling tickets to individual shows, Tour de Fort will primarily be selling passports for the ‘22-’23 season. Passport sales will begin at the May 5 show featuring Juno Award winners Whitehorse. Tour de Fort board president Charles Fisher said it’s been a rocky season, which was […]
On Tuesday, Apr. 12 Weechi-it-te-win Family Services (WFS) opened a home in Fort Frances that will host youth who are learning to live semi-independently in hopes of helping them transition smoothly into adulthood. Nizigos Nimishomeh Endaad or, Aunties and Uncles House will provide young people aged 17-20 with a safe, […]
Prospective new car buyers will have some electrifying new choices soon, to combat the rising costs of gas; two local car dealerships in the Beyak Automotive Group are entering the electric car market. Sunset Country Ford hopes to have cars any day now, while Fort Frances GM is in the […]
Project Petunia is looking for sponsors to add some flower power to Fort Frances. The annual project has been blooming in Fort Frances for 21 years. The project enables Fort Frances residents and businesses to sponsor hanging baskets of flowers that will be placed on the light poles along Scott […]
After two years without in-person Easter services many churches across the Rainy River District are happy to be hosting congregants in their seats for services this Holy Week. Though Mother Nature may also have something to say about that. Many churches in Fort Frances and surrounding areas have been able […]
Avery Raquel is a young singer-songwriter who will bring her distinct ‘Alternative Soul’ style of music to Fort Frances next Friday. Raquel’s new self-titled album is out this Thursday on streaming platforms. Raquel’s style is different, not truly conforming to a single genre, she says. “I think the lines between […]
The girls will face Dryden Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. for all the marbles. For information on how to stream the game check out the Muskie Girls Hockey Facebook page here.
There’s a lot to know if you want to run for town office Fort Frances town Clerk Gabrielle Lecuyer is hosting an information session for people interested in running for town council in Fort Frances. On Friday April 8, at 6:30 p.m. Lecuyer will host a virtual information session for […]
The weather of the last day or two might not feel like it, but believe it or not, spring has officially arrived. This winter was snowier than average, causing Fort Frances snow clearing crews some headaches. Manager of Operations and Facilities for the Town of Fort Frances, Travis Rob says […]
As the shelling continues, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski is working to help Ukrainians displaced by war into Canada. Powlowski, who is of Ukrainian heritage, is especially hoping to help some of his own relatives get to Thunder Bay. It’s been reported that over 2.8 million people have fled […]
Next Monday, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day. I have an older sister with Down Syndrome so this topic touches me deeply. 3/21 is Down Syndrome Day because Down Syndrome is caused by the fact that there are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome For a long time the […]
Two years after her previously scheduled Tour De Fort show was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, jazz singer Molly Johnson is finally making her way to Fort Frances. Johnson starts a tour of Western Canada tonight in Burnaby, BC and will end the tour in a week right here […]
Rhonda Snow is an Anishinaabe artist from Fort Frances and has recently finished a series of paintings of Ojibwe Spirit Horses which will be shown in partnership with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO). Snow has been a long-time champion of Ojibwe Spirit Horses and was instrumental in saving the breed, […]
Twin Flames will be burning bright in a five-show tour across northwestern Ontario, including a stop in Fort Frances on Tuesday March 15 at Townshend Theatre. The Ottawa-based husband and wife pair have developed a unique sound which digs into their heritage as a couple. Jaaji (pronounced Yaah Yee) is […]
Tour de Fort is back on. After its January date was postponed due to a rise in COVID cases and an increase in restrictions the Townshend Theatre will be alive with music again this Friday with another show less than two weeks later. This week sees a double bill of […]
At their February 9 meeting, members of Emo Town Council discussed the physician shortage crisis facing the region. On Jan. 18, the Fort Frances and District Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee sent a letter to the region’s MP, Marcus Powlowski and MPP, Greg Rickford. The letter was sent in hopes […]
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford was in Fort Frances last week, announcing funding of over $5 million for several projects, including an expansion for St. Mary School and renovations at the Memorial Sports Complex. “Supporting local communities helps create jobs and keeps the North competitive,” Rickford said. “Today’s investment will […]
Ontario Provincial Police were on hand to direct traffic and keep the border accessible Sunday morning as trucks and personal vehicles lined the right-hand side of Central Ave and Kings Highway leading to the International Bridge and the border with the United States. Truck drivers and others looking for an […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
After a two-year hiatus from fundraising events for environmental conservation with Ducks Unlimited are back. Ducks Unlimited Fort Frances is hosting its 36th fundraising banquet and charity auction on May 13 at La Place RendezVous. Ducks Unlimited is a registered charity that works to preserve wetlands. Charles Fisher is the […]
Next Thursday, May 5, Whitehorse is coming to the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances. The band’s style varies from rock and roll to blues to country. The final show of the Tour de Fort season features the husband and wife duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. They came together […]
After a year of selling tickets to individual shows, Tour de Fort will primarily be selling passports for the ‘22-’23 season. Passport sales will begin at the May 5 show featuring Juno Award winners Whitehorse. Tour de Fort board president Charles Fisher said it’s been a rocky season, which was […]
Avery Raquel is a young singer-songwriter who will bring her distinct ‘Alternative Soul’ style of music to Fort Frances next Friday. Raquel’s new self-titled album is out this Thursday on streaming platforms. Raquel’s style is different, not truly conforming to a single genre, she says. “I think the lines between […]
Rhonda Snow is an Anishinaabe artist from Fort Frances and has recently finished a series of paintings of Ojibwe Spirit Horses which will be shown in partnership with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO). Snow has been a long-time champion of Ojibwe Spirit Horses and was instrumental in saving the breed, […]
