By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Many education experts have questioned the usefulness of EQAO standardized testing for students, criticizing the bending of day to day work around the test in the months leading up to it. According to Joel Westheimer, a Full Professor of Education and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, “a lot of […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

According to a media release from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada’s new regulations on international students will “strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs.” Moreover, the federal Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship will be introducing “consequences” for Designated Learning Institutes. Additionally, this could […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

A release from the Government of Ontario states that Starlink, a SpaceX subsidiary, will offer high-speed internet access to rural households in Northern Ontario using “all viable” technologies effective this coming June. Moreover, some sources think this will help bridge the “digital divide.” “[The Ontario] government is pleased to work […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Heather Johnson of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce says it’s small and medium-sized businesses that support the municipality with tax money, helping to make Fort Frances “a wonderful place to live.” According to Johnson, shopping local, and the revenue it generates, benefits the town in multiple ways. “When we […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff Writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has its second Sweet Christmas Spirit event beginning December 1, to treat local shoppers to prizes of sweets and wine. Heather Johnson of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce says Sweet Christmas Spirit was created last year as a way to showcase downtown Fort […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Heather Campbell, Director of Education for the Rainy River District School Board thinks observers need to balance EQAO with in-class assessments to paint a full picture of student achievement. “I think we need to balance the fact that we have large-scale assessments, but we also have at the school level […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Although she was bullied about her appearance while growing up, 21-year-old Keisha DeBungie always had an interest in beauty and fashion, leading to her candidacy with Miss Indigenous Canada. Despite her anxiety about public speaking at the upcoming event and her existing educational commitments, she finds reassurance in the supportive […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Half the people in the district that have diabetes are completely unaware of their condition, according to Amanda Roy, Communications Lead for the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team. That’s why the health team, along with their community partners, is hosting a diabetes awareness campaign, with plans to distribute thousands […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Rebecca Beebe, a teacher at Mine Centre School created a multi-day event to link problem-solving with mathematics and teamwork, together. Moreover, the event combined interactive elements where students cooperated in counting and estimating how many seeds were in the pumpkins, and then calculated the sum of all seeds in the […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

According to Kevin Knutsen, Executive Officer of Employee and Labour Relations for the Rainy River District School Board, the need for teachers will “increase significantly” by 2027 on both a provincial and national level. Moreover, Knutsen thinks the teacher shortage will influence “a shortage of teachers to become administrators.” Furthermore, […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

On December 12th, 2015, Canada signed the Paris Agreement and ratified it in parliament on October 5th, 2016. According to a statement on the Government of Canada website, the agreement outlines “the essential roles of subnational governments, cities, civil society, the private sector and financial institutions in responding to climate […]

Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff Writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

According to a document on the Rainy River District School Board website, as of September this year, “all Rainy River District School Board elementary and secondary schools will be introduced to updated Student Dress Guidelines.” These guidelines were developed with students across the district, and, according to the school board, […]