About Town for August 12

Tour de Fort is making a comeback! To kick off the comeback tour, an afternoon of music and entertainment will be held at Rainy Lake Square, Saturday August 14. Admission is by donation. The first set begins at 2 p.m., with the last performer taking the stage at 8 p.m. To check out the line-up, visit Tour de Fort on Facebook or online at www.tourdefort.com. 

An “Explore Rainy Lake Digital Fishing Tournament” will be running August 13 to 22, with $5,000 in prizes up for grabs! Sponsored by the Town of Fort Frances in conjunction with the Rainy River Future Development Corp, the catch and release walleye and sauger tournament will be held over the MyCatch app, and managed by AnglersAtlas.com. Registration is $25, or $10 for youth. For the full details and registration, visit the official tournament page at https://buff.ly/3jnjlKp.
Week 3 of the FREE Non-Contact Football Skills Camp is scheduled for Monday through Thursday August 16 – 19. Practices will be held all 4 nights at Fort Frances High School from 5:55 PM - 8:00 pm with Touch Football games starting at 8:00 pm. Players will get an equal opportunity to play all positions. A total of 45 players participated during the two-week camp in July. No experience is necessary and new players who were unable to attend the first two weeks are encouraged to attend. Players are asked to wear t-shirt, shorts and football or soccer cleats and bring their own full water bottle.
The annual backpack giveaway is just around the corner! The Salvation Army will be giving away 75 FREE backpacks stuffed with school supplies and snacks for grades 1 thru 6 students on Thursday, August 19th from 11:30am to 1pm at 351 Scott Street.  First come, first served.

An All Around Town Scavenger Hunt will be held August 16-30. Pick up your entry form at the Fort Frances Library, then solve the riddles around town! Prizes for participation, and for the fastest-solving participants. To register, stop by or call the library, or e-mail halleenugentffpltc@gmail.com.

The Rainy Lake Gymnastics Academy will be holding registration for the 2021/22 season at our new building (248 Scott St) on Tuesday, August 24th (ages 18 months-3 years and 9+) and Wednesday, August 25th (ages 4-8) at 6:00 PM both nights. Class schedules and fees will be posted on www.rlga.ca and on our Facebook page one week prior to registration. If you need any other details, please feel free to contact Jessica Ogden at 276-4428 or info@rlga.ca. 

A Fort Frances Skeet Club Shoot-off is being planned for September 11. There will be two rounds before lunch,two after lunch. All shooters past and present welcome. For more information, call Ted Brockie at 274-9136 or Brad Houghton at 275-6183.

Did you know the Fort Frances Public Library loans fishing rods and tackle and ukuleles?? Members with a valid card can sign out equipment for a week.

The Fort Frances Museum & Cultural Centre is now open, featuring Cassandra Cochrane: Nindinawemaaganag: My relations & Nidizhichigewinan by Nancy Jones. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm. 259 Scott St, Fort Frances. For more information visit www.fortfrances.ca/museum or check out the museum on Facebook.

Square Days are back! The Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre will be holding fun activities in the Rainy Lake Square, for kids aged 4-12. Registration is $5, and is required to attend. Participants will be Covid-screened and masks are highly encouraged. Events run from 1-3 p.m. each Wednesday in August. Themes include Olympics, Blast from the Past, Mad Scientist, Unleash your inner artist and Mix it up! To register, call the museum at 274-7891 or message them on Facebook. 
Riverside Foundation for Health Care August 50/50 tickets are available! Don’t miss out – there's still time to buy before the early bird! Five chances for $5, 20 chances for $10 and the best deal of 100 chances for $20. Get your tickets now at www.riversidefoundation.ca/5050 or call the Foundation Office at 807-274-4803 to make arrangements for offline payment. Every dollar raised will go towards the $1.5-million Picture This diagnostic imaging campaign.
Manitou Mounds has re-opened to the public! The restaurant and gift shop are open, along with indoor and outdoor tours, which must be booked ahead of time, and reservations are preferred for the restaurant. To book, call 807-483-11163.
Summer programming is up and running at the Fort Frances Library Technology Centre. Outdoor story time, TD Summer Reads program, Craft Club, Senior's Technology Workshop, Senior's Art Studio - there's something for everyone! Check them out on Facebook or online at ffpltc.ca to see the latest.
The annual WWRD Lions Pontoon Boat tickets are going fast! Only 5,000 will be sold. Tickets are available at the Fort Frances Times office and other local merchants, or e-mail WestRRDLions@gmail.com or phone 807-483-5403. They can be purchased right online through an e-transfer at www.westlions.ca
The Fort Frances EarlyON Centre has re-opened programming to in-person outdoor events! Each week brings new activities, staged at area parks. Activities include picnics, craft time, open play, and other events. To see the week's offerings, and how to register your child for some fun outdoor play time with other kids, visit the Fort Frances EarlyON Centre on Facebook.

Volunteer opportunities

The Cattlemen’s Association needs a few extra hands to get the new Sales Barn ready for the first auction of the season. If you can help, call Louis Bujold at 807-276-3493.

Volunteers are needed for the Emo Fall Fair! Lots of positions needing to be filled. To join the team, call Laura Haglin at 807-487-1888 before the fair, or at the fair office the week of the fair only, at 807-482-2238, or e-mail her at R.R.V.A.S@hotmail.com.

The Fort Frances Lakers are looking for billet families and a billet coordinator, to provide a home away from home for players. To join, or just to find out what’s involved, call Sarah at 275-6991.

The Big Tent is going up for the Rainy River Walleye Tournament. The project typically requires a dozen pairs of hands. All welcome. Tent will go up, weather permitting, on August 26. To pitch in, call Richard trenchard at 276-7580.

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is welcoming volunteers throughout the summer to pack bags for clubs and other jobs. Schedules are flexible, and students are welcome! To apply, go to https://FORMS.GLE/Y5MJFM9TZ93TACNM.

Rainy River District Victim Services Program is looking for compassionate and empathetic individuals for our team of volunteers. Our volunteers provide emotional and practical support to victims in their time of need.
Individuals in all major centers of the District (Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River) are encouraged to apply.  Free specialized training is included and involves 30 online hours (work at your own pace) and 10 hours of in house certificate training based on Ministry Standards. For more information please visit www.rrdvsp.ca, call 274-5687 or stop by our office at 334 Scott Street.

The FORT FRANCES VOLUNTEER BUREAU (FFVB) is accepting applications for membership renewals and new member volunteers. If you are a volunteer or someone interested in volunteering and believe in the positive impact volunteers have on our community, please pick up an application form at the FFVB (open 11:00 am to 3:00 pm daily) or send an email to fortfrancesvb@gmail.com requesting an application form.

The WWRD Lions Club is seeking new members. They meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church. Fort more information, contact Secretary, Peggy Advent at WestRRDLions@gmail.com or phone 807-483-5403.

Best for Kitty is in desperate need of foster homes to provide a safe and loving environment, while kittens and cats await their furever homes. Many cats have had to be turned away from the shelter, due to a lack of fosters. Full support and supplies are provided. For more information on what’s involved, or to volunteer, e-mail bestforkitty@gmail.com.

The Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 29 is always on the lookout for new members! If you would like to know more about joining this group of fun and hard working ladies please contact Cindy Noble at 271-2021 or Joanne Gosselin at 274-5932.

The Big Tent is going up for the Rainy River Walleye Tournament. The project typically requires a dozen pairs of hands. All welcome. Tent will go up, weather permitting, on August 26. To pitchin in, call Richard trenchard at 276-7580.

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is welcoming volunteers throughout the summer to pack bags for clubs and other jobs. Schedules are flexible, and students are welcome! To apply, go to https://FORMS.GLE/Y5MJFM9TZ93TACNM.

Rainy River District Victim Services Program is looking for compassionate
and empathetic individuals for our team of volunteers. Our volunteers
provide emotional and practical support to victims in their time of need.
Individuals in all major centers of the District (Atikokan, Fort Frances and
Rainy River) are encouraged to apply.  Free specialized training is included
and involves 30 online hours (work at your own pace) and 10 hours of in
house certificate training based on Ministry Standards. For more information
please visit www.rrdvsp.ca, call 274-5687 or stop by our office at 334 Scott
Street.

The FORT FRANCES VOLUNTEER BUREAU (FFVB) is accepting applications for membership renewals and new member volunteers. If you are a volunteer or someone interested in volunteering and believe in the positive impact volunteers have on our community, please pick up an application form at the FFVB (open 11:00 am to 3:00 pm daily) or send an email to fortfrancesvb@gmail.com requesting an application form.

The WWRD Lions Club is seeking new members. They meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church. Fort more information, contact Secretary, Peggy Advent at WestRRDLions@gmail.com or phone 807-483-5403.

Best for Kitty is in desperate need of foster homes to provide a safe and loving environment, while kittens and cats await their furever homes. Many cats have had to be turned away from the shelter, due to a lack of fosters. Full support and supplies are provided. For more information on what’s involved, or to volunteer, e-mail bestforkitty@gmail.com.

The Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 29 is always on the lookout for new members! If you would like to know more about joining this group of fun and hard working ladies please contact Cindy Noble at 271-2021 or Joanne Gosselin at 274-5932.

The Rainycrest Auxiliary would like to thank you for all of your generous donations to the Tuck Shop. It means a lot to the residents to be able to go shopping at our shop for gifts, toiletries, personal items and snacks, especially during the times when we have all been asked to stay at home due to Covid. We could use: unused toiletries (remember Rainycrest is a scent free zone) knick knacks or decorative items for residents to use as gifts or to decorate their own space. Jewelry and stuffies are always appreciated. We would also like you to remember to donate items for our male residents. Items can be left inside the front door with a label saying ATTN Gary in the Tuck Shop.