My father never talked about his experiences in the Second World War. In our family, we only knew that he had been a navigator on a Lancaster bomber. His only souvenir was a leather flier’s cap, with an oxygen mask, something my brother and I played with. My father only […]
Editorials
We all know what happens when you cry “wolf” once too often. When the wolf finally does come, no one believes you. On the other hand, if you don’t cry “wolf” and it comes, everyone is outraged they had not been given any prior warning to protect themselves. That’s precisely […]
The success of the World Health Organization’s Conference on Safe Communities coming up here May 7-9, 2002 will hinge on the support of district residents. Fortunately, dozens have stepped to the plate and are eager to meet the challenge. Among them is Diane Maxey, who signed up as the volunteer […]
News last week the provincial government will give more money to those in Northwestern Ontario who must travel for medical treatment warrants polite applause, but certainly not a standing ovation. On paper, it looks good. Starting Nov. 1, people going to Toronto from Thunder Bay, for instance, would get $941.88–up […]
They are young–from kindergarten age to high school seniors. They are ordinary, yet they have done the extraordinary things that make a difference. They are Ontario Junior Citizens. Every year, community newspapers across the province seek out nominations of young people who have done those extraordinary things that make a […]
As a border community, residents in Fort Frances–and indeed right across Rainy River District–know firsthand the benefits of having relatively easy access to the United States via the international bridge here or crossing over at Baudette. Many families on both sides of the border are linked by marriage, and many […]
After years of neglect during the 1990s, it’s high time Fort Frances has realized the error of its ways and redirected new energy to economic development here. Clearly, an aggressive approach is needed to attract new businesses and industrial development to Fort Frances–and that must start with forward-looking leaders who […]
Canada is at war. That is a phrase many Canadians–spared the horrors of two world wars and the Korean conflict–never thought they’d ever hear in their lifetime. Nor could anyone have dreamed war was on the horizon as we headed to work last Tuesday morning. Sure, Canada hasn’t actually declared […]
No words can describe the horrific carnage that hit the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., yesterday morning. “Surreal” perhaps comes the closest. It played out like a plot from a Tom Clancy novel, or the climax of a Hollywood […]
When a batter connects with the ball in a game, the outfielder glances at where it is going and then turns his back to the ball and begins running to a point in the field where he turns to face the ball and make the catch. It is an instant […]
Janet McFarland, writing in the Globe and Mail on Monday said it all: “Rural Canada may need to drive itself on to the Net’s fast lane.” Although the Federal government has mandated that every Canadian will have high speed Internet available by 2004, no roll out schedule exists in Northern […]
The softwood lumber dispute is hurting, and it is affecting district residents. With local sawmills curtailing production and larger mills making major cutbacks, all sectors of the forest economy in Northwestern Ontario are hurting. Even the trucking industry delivering the materials to the U.S. lumber retailers are being hurt. One […]
