The lakes were still. The leaves of the trees were silent. The leaves were turning from red to orange to golden yellow. Silhouetted against the greens of the shores, the multi-coloured trees were awesome. The reflected images from the shores were mirrored in the water. Fall may be the most […]
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
We are all too prepared to accuse the provincial government—centered in Toronto—of not understanding Northwestern Ontario and investing in our communities. Some of those criticisms are warranted. Many are not. The province, for instance, has set an aggressive schedule rebuilding Ontario’s highways. Right across Rainy River District, we are experiencing […]
Back on April 1, 1985, we wrote on the front page of the Rainy River Record that as owners, we intended to keep separate the publications of the Fort Frances Times and Rainy River Record. “We hope to aid in the growth of business, educational, and cultural activities in the […]
Sometimes it takes someone from “away” to show you what a treasure you have in your own community. I frequently write about the bass tournaments and the great bass fishery of Rainy Lake, and I’ve caught numerous big smallmouth bass to prove my point. Those fish always are released back […]
There is a sign posted at the Civic Centre that reads, “Volunteerism is the rent we pay for living in a great community.” I’m regularly reminded of this quiet saying that Mohammad Ali originally spoke as I look throughout the district at all the projects that continue to benefit residents. […]
The yellow school buses were circling the block yesterday picking up students with new backpacks and brightly-coloured runners. Lineups of cars at Robert Moore and other schools had parents dropping off their children for the first day of school. Alas, we are heading into the last long weekend of summer. […]
Schools will be starting soon. Some parents will experience worry as their first youngster walks out the front door and boards a waiting school bus. Almost a decade later, that group will move on to high school and parents suddenly will realize that their children are growing and quickly will […]
Large golden round bales dot the fields along the highway. Today, some are lined in rows along fence lines waiting to be moved to feeding areas later this year. The tops of barley quickly are turning brown and will be harvested soon. The oats are turning from green to gold […]
In my youth, I was a paper carrier. My route extended from Central Avenue to the Memorial Arena and included all the avenues between First and Second Street. Tall American elm trees grew up from the edge of properties and the arching branches from one side of the street met […]
I think that Newfoundland Labrador must have some of the very best television ads promoting travel in its province. When Marnie and I travelled to Newfoundland in early June, we found it difficult to find accommodations when we started looking in March. The bed and breakfasts were all booked up. […]
The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship came to an exciting conclusion early Saturday evening. The finalists kept exchanging the “hot seats” as the crowd wound up from the blare of music and the showmanship of the anglers. I had not volunteered for the tournament in several years, but had kept […]
Why do birds begin singing at 3:30 a.m. before there is even the hint of a sunrise? Why on nights of high humidity are the sounds of the trains amplified? All of these questions—and even many more—have crossed my mind this past week as I have awakened from a deep […]
