Heather Johnson, the executive director of Fort Frances’ Chamber of Commerce, has been named Citizen of the Year for her many years of passionate support for the community and dedication to the town’s business and community organizations. Recipients of the Outstanding Citizen awards were announced last week by Mayor Andrew […]
Liam Oliver Neilson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
The fate of a vacant piece of land on the river at Webster and Lillie Avenues remains undecided after Fort Frances Town Council requested that a committee considering locations for a dog park look elsewhere. The dog park committee had recommended that the open field southwest of Legion Park would […]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Emo residents will see municipal taxes rise by 1.5 per cent to prevent the general budget from falling short in 2026. The town’s council voted at its Monday meeting to implement the increase as the lowest of three options that would keep the budget out of the red. “With a […]
Local ournalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) Rainy Lake Campus hosted the annual Gagwe or “Quest for Knowledge,” on April 23, continuing a decades-old tradition that encourages students to learn and celebrate the Anishinaabemowin language. The annual event, which takes its title from Gagwe-gikendamaawiziwin— “to seek knowledge”—has been a long-standing annual gathering […]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Fort Frances Town Council has approved the Fort Frances Lakers Junior A hockey team and the Border Skating Club to move forward with a “straight swap” of dressing rooms, bringing a resolution to concerns that have been ongoing for more than a year. The Lakers currently have a dressing room […]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Town council is struggling with the decision to sponsor Rib Fest event in Fort Frances after it led to a cancellation from Burger Wars. Last year, the Town of Fort Frances was approached by a consortium of cross-Canada touring rib trucks inquiring about interest in holding a rib festival locally. […]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
The next steps for a proposed Central Avenue roundabout are on hold after a tied council vote to award the design contract pushed the decision, potentially to next year. Talks of a potential redesign for the intersection connecting Central Avenue to 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets initially sparked in October […]
Staff writer
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Fort Frances convenience store Ski’s Variety is changing hands and will soon become Rosey’s Convenience, Janice Neurinski, one of the outgoing owners, said. The announcement first came to the public light on Monday afternoon when Neurinski posted on social media, informing customers of the change and thanking the community for […]
Staff writer
lneilson@fortfrances.com
The Regular town council meeting for Fort Frances’ mayor and council was held Monday afternoon. Some agenda items brought to the floor were the 2025 OPP report, efforts to recruit a youth councillor and an amendment to a bylaw banning certain snake species to be kept in captivity. The meeting […]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
lneilson@fortfrances.com
Salary changes taking effect in 2027 for new and potential returning members of mayor and council were a key discussion point during Monday evening’s regular town council meeting. Present salaries for positions in the affected staff are as follows: $31,454 for mayor; $22,018 for deputy mayor, 70 percent of the […]
Staff writer
lneilson@fortfrances.com
A new program for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been launched by Kenora – Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services (KRRDCFS) to provide enhanced services designed specifically for the needs of people living on the spectrum. “A lot of clinicians felt inadequately prepared to work […]
Staff writer
lneilson@fortfrances.com
The Township of Emo approved a request from its fire department to obtain a cost quote for the installation of a wireless system for opening the building’s bay doors, at its regular council meeting on Tuesday. The council also approved a financial plan proposal from the Ontario Clean Water Agency […]






