It is with saddened hearts that the family of Marlene Lillian Gutpell (nee Watson) announce her peaceful passing on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Rainy River Hospital. She was in her 73rd year. Left to cherish her memory is her husband Thomas; their two children Brittany and Matthew (Kristie); and […]
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EVENTS CALENDAR The Fort Frances Puplic Library is hosting a Poetry as Self-Care workshop Wednesdays in February. “Join us for a four-week workshop that invites you to use poetry as a gentle tool for self-care and self-reflection. Through simple prompts, shared reading, and low-pressure writing exercises, you’ll explore how poetry […]
EVENTS CALENDAR Manitou Mounds is hosting a PA Day winter carnival. Join us for a day of outdoor adventures, skiing, hockey, s’mores, smoosh races and more. Jan 30 & 31. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $10 for one child, $20 for one adult, $40 for family of four. The […]
Thankfully it is looking like we might be moving out of the deep freeze. I am hoping I can stop worrying about all the things that could potentially go wrong. Then again, it is doubtful because that seems to be something I am good at. I really don’t have anything to complain […]
The Emo Walleye Classic early bird draw deadline is February 28, 2026. Payment must be paid in full to keep your spot. This years Walleye Classic takes place May 21, 22 and 23. The entry fee is $500.00 The Rainy River Valley Agriculture Society held its annual elections last night, […]
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Russell Cyr, 62, on January 25, 2026, at LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont., with his daughter Kayla, and niece Nancy by his side. Russell was born on April 23, 1963, to Louis and Rosie Cyr. Throughout his […]
It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Eddie Tetu, 82, of Stratton, Ont., at his residence on January 20, 2026. Eddie was born in Fort Frances on November 29, 1943, to parents Laurie and Clara Tetu. After his schooling, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air […]
As Prime Minister Mark Carney recently told the world: “We are a middle power.” There was no exclamation point, but the statement resonated with every other middle power in the room at Davos. It was a quiet declaration of reality – and a rebuke to the comforting fiction of the […]
Normally, I disregard column ideas from friends and readers, even when they’re both. However, comma… “I expect to see a Wilbur Wood column next week,” texted one loyal reader. Wilbur Wood, who died at 84 last Saturday, was a major-league pitcher. He became famous with the Chicago White Sox when […]
Most writers, lyricists and poets can attest to this. There are nights when writing feels less like an activity and more like ceremony. It is a returning pilgrimage across a portal into a room inside the soul where the air shifts. Where the light deepens. Where the world grows quiet […]
Did you know? Canada continues to face a critical and escalating shortage of firefighters; every year, we continue to lose 9,000 out of an estimated 126,000. This significant decline leaves numerous communities throughout our vast country dangerously understaffed, jeopardizing their ability to effectively respond to emergencies. Staffing shortage widely documented […]
We’ve just come through another seasonal dump of heavy snow here in Nova Scotia as I write this. I managed to dig my way out this morning with snowblower and shovel. I only use my snowblower when desperate times call for desperate measures. I prefer my shovel, telling myself I’m in a fresh […]
