Jim Cumming – From the Publisher Emeritus’ Pen

We are reaching the midpoint of summer and it has been a season of unusual heat. The waters of Rainy Lake have had surface temperatures that arched over 80 degrees F. The real water temperature is a much more modest 74 F. Even those who really are not into swimming […]

There is no end to the discussion of weather. If it is cloudy, we complain about it. Too much rain and we are not satisfied. Crisp winter days have us complaining about cold car seats. And now with hot summer days, we are complaining about the warmth. We just can’t […]

Over the last several months, I have had those niggling thoughts that “I am not as young as I used to be.” There has been nothing conclusive. There have been some signs. Another columnist in the paper tells you that age is only in the mind. My mind keeps telling […]

Canadians will celebrate Canada Day this weekend. Across the country, we will move to the outdoors in droves to enjoy this first summer long weekend. Traditional Canada parades, barbecues, picnics and fireworks will mark the day for most of us. Canada became an independent nation in 1867 under Queen Victoria […]

I watch with fascination the TV commercials that show a Ford automobile parallel parking on a street. I remember how many practice hours I spent learning to put my father’s ’65 Chrysler into a tight space. We have seen robot vacuum cleaners. We have played with robot toys and marveled […]

Here at the Fort Frances Times, Tanya Cumming attends to everyone’s safety. She constantly is reminding everyone about health and safety rules, which often includes information about nutrition, diet, exercise, and working with computers to reduce the risk of injury. I like to think that our workplace is a very […]

Municipalities across Ontario complained that former premier Mike Harris downloaded many provincial costs to them. But in doing that, the Conservative government transferred additional funding to offset some of those. In a more subtle method, Premier Dalton McGuinty—in a bid to eliminate the provincial deficit—has handed over to Rainy River […]

For almost two decades, I have spent the Memorial Day weekend at the Canada Games Complex in Thunder Bay officiating at the Thunderbolts’ swim meet, which attracts swimmers from Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba as well as across Northwestern Ontario. For local swimmers, it is their one meet a season […]

Rainy Lake came alive this Victoria Day weekend. Since our first weekend at the cabin almost five weeks ago, hardly a light has been seen at night on the lake. But this past weekend, several lights lit the windows of cabins that we can see. Over the previous two weekends, […]

When I was growing up in Fort Frances, the police department only had two cars and the station was a small brick building attached to the old town hall. The town hall, the fire department, and the police station all existed in the space in front of the current Civic […]

While many cross-border shoppers may cheer the increases in merchandise allowance that Canadians will be allowed to return with from the U.S., many towns and cities along the border are petitioning the Ministry of Finance to rescind his June 1 changes. Currently, Canadian residents returning to Canada after 24 hours […]

Don Cumming received a very special award from the Canadian Community Newspapers Association last Thursday evening at the Royal York Hotel. He was the recipient of the “Gold Quill” Award, which is bestowed upon individuals who have worked within the newspaper years for 50 years and have been involved in […]