By Daniel Smeenk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Lake Report

U.S. tourism revenue saw a dip for Niagara Parks this spring, but its CEO says that revenue was “more than made up” through other international travellers, particularly coming from the U.K., France, Australia and Poland. Speaking to Niagara-on-the-Lake council in late June, Niagara Parks CEO David Adames said there was […]

By Connor McDowell
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brandon Sun

NINETTE – Richard O’Leary presses his power drill to the door of the vacant Ninette Sanatorium. He toggles the drill into reverse and unwinds five screws out of the wood that had sealed the entrance, and the door swings open. The floor inside is littered. Books, rubble and dirt rest […]

– Ken Kellar photo

Weechi-it-te-win Family Services had something for everyone at the Point Park on Friday, June 27, 2025, as they held a Summer Beach Party to officially kick off the summer season. The organization had plenty of games to play, including this bean bag toss, as well as a bouncy castle, and […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

Nadine Cousineau is a long-time fixture at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC), having started on a casual basis in 2014, before starting full-time in 2016, and now becoming the new CEO in June. Cousineau was living in British Columbia when she was first bitten by the library […]

By James Matthews
Staff writer
jmatthews@fortfrances.com

Fort Frances’ business community hopes foreign workers will pick up some of the slack created by its dwindling youth workforce. Heather Johnson, Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s director, said there was a time when university and college students would fill job openings during the summer months. In recent years, high […]

By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

A beloved Emo Fall Fair tradition has undergone significant changes in order to keep with the times. The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society Fair Queen event, a longstanding fixture of the annual Emo Fair, is no more. According to event organizer Mary Croswell, even though the event hasn’t run since […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

The Ontario government has announced new funding set aside for the expansion of teacher training across the province. Welcomed by the Rainy River District School Board and others, this new plan aims to train thousands of new, qualified teachers, with an emphasis on supporting underserved, rural, remote, Northern, and Indigenous […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

Ontario and Alberta recently signed two Memoranda of Understanding at the Calgary Stampede, with plans to collaborate on new interprovincial trade and energy infrastructure. This announcement is part of a national plan to make Canada a more competitive market and reduce interprovincial trade barriers following Trump’s tariff turbulence. “Built using […]

By Laura Balanko-Dickson
Staff writer
lbalankodickson@fortfrances.com

To expand access to primary care physicians across the province, the Ministry of Health has announced funding for over 130 new and expanded primary-care teams. This follows a previous announcement of $300 million to expand primary care teaching clinics across the province, providing greater access to training in primary care. […]