Travelling through Europe this past spring, I was amazed at the number of small book stores that were found in the centre of the cities we visited. I couldn’t help but wonder why in Europe, small book stores could be so successful. Yet here in Canada, we seem to see […]
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
I was wondering the other day if by living in a simpler time, in a remote area of the province, our quality of life and lifestyle was greatly improved over today. Back in the 1960s when I was in high school, almost everyone had an after-school job that often carried […]
We are at the whim of the weather. Emergency planners across Rainy River District have gone to extreme lengths to protect property and infrastructure over these past two weeks. And as the water has risen, everyone is looking at the skies—wondering if the darkening clouds are the precursor to more […]
Coming up this weekend, and through to Tuesday and the following weekend, are celebrations marking both Canada Day and the Fourth of July across Borderland. A combined effort on both sides of the border has created a week-long celebration, although the flood threat unfortunately has forced both the Dragon Boat […]
In a little more than a decade, Rainy River District has experienced two extreme rainfalls. They may be a result of climate change that is affecting our weather patterns. What was a 50-year extreme in 2002 is now repeating itself—and may mimic a 100-year extreme that brought on the flooding […]
Will your voice be heard at the ballot box? Or are you among the 50 percent of Ontario citizens who are going to let someone else make the decision for you about who will govern the province following tomorrow’s election? Around the coffee table, it appears no one is excited […]
The provincial election will be held June 12 but the advance polls already are open and voting is underway. As I watch the campaign unfold, I’m struck by how mean-spirited it has become among the three party leaders. Integrity and honesty seem to have been forgotten, and many of the […]
When is something considered old? In fashion it might be three months. When it comes to cars and trucks, it could be 10 years. A home might be considered old when it has been around for 50-60 years. A person might be considered old at age 70 or 80. Buildings […]
Well, we are off to the races, with the election date set for Thursday, June 12 here in Ontario. After the budget that Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government delivered at Queen’s Park last Thursday, I fully expected that Andrea Horwath and her NDP caucus would stand behind the premier and the […]
In my office at the moment sit four decoys for the annual Ducks Unlimited auction coming up this Friday evening. They range from a working decoy to museum-quality duck reproductions. Sitting on a filing cabinet, they face me from across the room. But come Thursday evening, they will travel to […]
This is “Spring Fever” weekend in Emo. This year, it also might be known as the “Cabin Fever Breakout.” The businesses of Emo have, for more than four decades, drawn district residents together to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring and summer. Some 47 years ago, […]
This past weekend, I was discussing the value of travel in young peoples’ education with parents from Kenora and Dryden. It is interesting to note that the current generation of young people are more informed, more mobile, and more adventurous than previous ones. When I was growing up, the big […]
