The Northern Policy Institute has been focussing on human capital across Northern Ontario. Their findings do not provide for a great deal of optimism for either the Kenora or the Rainy River Districts. Even though both districts have high unemployment rates, they also have high job vacancy rates. In the […]
Jim Cumming – From the Publisher Emeritus’ Pen
Jim is the former publisher of the Fort Frances Times Ltd. He writes a weekly column and can be contacted at jcumming@fortfrances.com
Before there was the Noden Causeway, the highway ended at the Five-Mile dock and weekly my mother would have sandwiches ready and right after work my father, brother and I would be on the dock, having bought some minnows there. The dock was exciting as it was the jumping off […]
I recently spoke with two young graduates from university about what they viewed their beginning career moves. One looked to go on to post grad studies for a law degree to develop green energy policies for the future. The other was looking to begin his engineering career in developing green […]
One company offered $10 million to Resolute Forest Products to buy the Fort Frances mill operation and was rejected by them. Riversedge was paid $1 for the Fort Frances mill operation, but before signing the final papers on July 9, Resolute paid a numbered company (Riversedge) $2 on July 2 […]
It is a sweltering 95 F on the second day of August. The Weather Network calls for four consecutive days of this heat wave. The blistering sun has heated Europe to its highest temperatures. President Trump volunteered to send fire fighters to Siberia–not as Stalin used to do to get […]
Last Wednesday as my wife and I travelled to Rainy River dropping off papers at stores and restaurants along the way, we were tuned into the radio listening the testimony of Robert Muelller who was asked to investigate claims that there was Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Near […]
Is Rainy River District a welcoming community? On Monday evening, my wife and I attended the Festival of India at the Rainy Lake Square. It was a fun event organized by members of the local East Indian community. Song, dance, and music representative of different areas of India were featured. […]
I remember the first Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship. On the Sunday of the tournament, I went out on Rainy Lake with Rick Socholotuk to check some fishing boats in the afternoon. We ducked under the low side of the causeway and snapped the antennae that was in contact with […]
The National Post headline reads: “Pikangikum First Nation faces second evacuation in just over one month.” I can’t imagine what it is like to live in that community where two fires have combined into one giant fire shooting a plume of smoke high into the air. I can’t imagine fleeing […]
As I write this week’s column, I can’t help but think of how fortunate we are to be on Rainy Lake. We hosted a party for all of the residents within an island of our cabin this past weekend marking two national holidays. Over time, we have lost track of […]
I am looking out through the windows of our cabin sunroom. It is overcast and warm. The rain that was called for overnight didn’t occur. I can hear birds in the background. The Canadian flag that has flown from our flagpole for decades hangs limp. I realize that my family […]
TREES I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A […]
