The GPS said in 659 km, turn left off Trans-Canada Highway. You hardly can go wrong travelling from Regina to Calgary on a bitterly cold day just before Christmas. Just as everywhere, CBC Radio was describing how cold it was outside. Having left the Fort a day earlier, Marnie and […]
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
Who should get a stocking with a single potato or a lump of coal this year? There was a pervasive belief in the 19th century that if you were poor, it was because you or your ancestors did bad things. God was punishing you. If you live in the United […]
As I write this column, I realize there is less than two weeks until that jolly old elf makes his way into households around the world. Each year, we celebrate Christmas in different ways. For many, the arrival of that celebrated Christmas gentleman will offer little comfort. I listened Monday […]
It is now less than a year until new municipal councils are elected and sworn in across Rainy River District. But before those elections take place, Ontario residents will go to the polls June 7 to elect a new provincial government. All these races will have consequences for residents of […]
Monday evening’s recognition of Evelyn Metke as “Citizen of the Year” in Fort Frances recognizes her years of volunteering for the community. I have known “Evie” from the time I was 14 years old and she had made a decision to take her bronze medallion course. It seemed unusual that […]
When I first began selling advertising at the newspaper in the early 1970s, the Christmas selling season did not begin until the day after Remembrance Day. On Remembrance Day, the stores all were closed and the staffs attended the service at the cenotaph. In the afternoon, they returned to the […]
Back in 1992, 1,700 scientists from around the world issued a dire warning to humanity. They said humans had pushed the world’s ecosystem to a breaking point that would bring about colossal climate change. The warning noted that air and water pollution, the collapse of world fisheries, and the loss […]
Five years ago, I purchased winter tires with studs on them for the first time in my life. Up until then, I had relied on all-weather tires for all four seasons. I came to realize how good those winter tires were in the first storm of the year in Winnipeg. […]
When I visit the cenotaph on Remembrance Day, it is either a gorgeous, sunny fall day or, more often than not, the winter winds blow down the river and the occasional snow flurry wings by. On those days, I regret not digging out my long johns, insulated boots, and winter […]
When Ainsworth was looking to build its oriented strand board mill here in Rainy River District, they set out to get communities to compete against each other. Calgary just has re-elected Naheed Nenshi to his third term as mayor of that fine city. In his re-election bid, Nenshi was criticized […]
Weekly, my wife and I deliver the Fort Frances Times to our news dealers between Fort Frances and Rainy River. We call it our “date day” as we spend almost four hours with just ourselves without interruption. One of the other benefits is watching the west end of the district […]
The lights symbolizing the stars came on first, then the more powerful lights lit up the new Rainy Lake Square last Thursday night. The grey and black sidewalks and entrances were welcoming. It was a preview to concert-goers attending the final concert “Rainy Lake 150” series on the 200 block […]
