Dagwaagin Colour Run is a free event hosted by Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre on September 5. Registrations will continue until the event. The run starts at the Sorting Gap Marina and there is a 5K run option starting at 6pm, and a kid’s 1k run option starting at 5:30pm. More details on Facebook.

The Muskie Football season opener will be September 6 against John Taylor High School. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. at the Fort Frances High School field. The public is welcome to attend. Admission is free. A concession will be available, with all proceeds supporting the team through the Touchdown Club.

Muskie Touchdown Discount Cards are available! Players will be going door to door on September 9. Cards are $20, with all proceeds supporting the team.

The next Cookbook Collective’s next meeting will be September 10, at 6:45 p.m. Meetings for this group are held every second Tuesday in the Eisenhauer Lounge of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Everyone in attendance will choose a recipe, which they’ll go home to cook and serve. They’ll take photos, and share them and their thoughts on the recipes at the next meeting. The next meeting will be held September 24.

A Welcoming Week Open House will be held September 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. Welcoming Week is an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people, places and values that help everyone feel welcome, and give a sense of belonging, no matter where they come from. Come out and meet community organizations attending, learn more about your community and the resources available. Meet, greet, and welcome one another! Newcomers, please attend in order to learn more about what is available to you in this community. Plenty of community services and businesses will be on hand to address your concerns and provide guidance. Long timers, please attend to welcome our newcomers and to learn more about the challenges they face as they settle in. Remember, we need one another, no matter where someone comes from. Fort More information, contact Holly at 807-274-9879 ext 1614.

The Riverside Gala will be held September 14, at the Fort Frances Curling Club. Tickets are going fast for the “Pirates of the Riverside” themed bash! Tickets are $75 each, and include a Caribbean dunner prepared by Cater2U. Penny table, live auction and raffles, and special appearances by Captain Jack Sparrow and the fierce Scarlet, ready to regale ye with tales of the high seas. A fortune teller will reveal what the stars have in store for you, and a temporary tattoo parlour will have you living the pirate life. For more information contact Allison at the Riverside Foundation office at 807-274-4803 or allison.cox@rhcf.on.ca.

The Fort Frances Terry Fox Run/Walk will be Sunday, September 15, at 2 p.m. at the Sorting Gap Marina. Online registration is open now at terryfox.org, or check out the local event to support a runner. In-person registration at 1 p.m. on run day. Stay tuned for more information!

Fort Frances’ first Battle for Recovery, brought by national non-profit Empower 2 Recover, will be held September 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre. Guest speakers, displays and connection. Keynote speaker is professional Strongwoman Holly McRea. For information, and to purchase an event pass, visit empower2recover.com, or check out the Empower2Recover Foundation on Facebook.

Nominations are open for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Nominations will be open until October 4, with the awards banquet being held October 16 at la Place Rendezvous. If you know a business, entrepreneur or employee who has gone above and beyond this year, nominate them! Nomination forms available at fortfranceschamber.com.

Harvest Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir will be held October 5 at the Barwick Hall. Enjoy a delicious locally sourced meal in support of our community Abattoir. Silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100. Tables also available. Only 300 tickets will be sold. For information or to purchase tickets, contact kdesnoyers@outlook.com. Check out the poster at the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association Facebook page.

ONGOING EVENTS

Public engagement for Fort Frances Budget 2025 has begun. An online survey is available through the Town’s facebook page, and Facebook page, or at FortFrances.ca/2025Survey.

The seed library is welcoming your seeds! Harvest season is here – please harvest your seeds from your organic mature vegetables, or help to purchase new seeds for next spring. Please place your seeds in a small paper envelope, labelled with what seed is within, and drop them off at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.

A free Tai Chi in the Park program will run every Wednesday morning for August and September at 11 a.m. in Lions Park near the fountain. No registration, and no cost. All experience levels welcome. The one-hour sessions will be a chance to learn and practice basic moves.

Free Yoga sessions will be offered by Rainy Lake Zen Life Yoga, each Wednesday at 11 a.m. The studio is located at 600 hwy 11 (old Pinewood Sports building across from Badiuks). Space is limited, so please register first at www.vagaro.com/zenlifeyoga.

SGEI is hosting weekly guitar jam sessions with Raymond Polz in the SGEI library. Each session will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. until the end of August. Mondays are for people under 15, and Wednesdays are for ages 15 and up. All participants under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. All skill levels are welcome. No registration is required, just drop in and enjoy! We encourage participants to bring their own guitars, but if they need one, the library has some to borrow (please call or email ahead to reserve a guitar). Light snacks and beverages will be provided. If anyone has questions, they can contact CC Hayes at annaliseh@7generations.org or (807) 274-2796 x 1225.

The Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club welcomes new skeet shooters! Come as guest, no obligation to join. The club meets every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Having your muzzle in a neutral position is the main criteria. Fun and safe! Stop by to check it out!

The Rainy Lake Market Square is open for the season! Each Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop by the Rainy Lake Market to check out the local vendors. Produce, crafts, handmade items, baking and more!

Fishing rods, reels and tackle boxes are available for borrowing from the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. Just present your library card, and you can borrow equipment for up to a week at a time.

Best for Kitty is in need of assistance. Every donation counts. Your support saves innocent lives! For donations via e-transfer, use bestforkitty@gmail.com, or donate through www.bestfortkitty.net for instant tax receipts. cheques can be mailed to 308 Fifth Street West Fort Frances, P9A 3S1. Tax receipts can be issued for donations over $20. Fort more information on donations, volunteering or fostering, call 807-276-8670.

Milo’s Mutts is collecting damaged, unwearable T-shirts. They’ll be turning them into dog toys, which will be sold, with 50 per cent of the profits going towards Ruffcue Dog Rescue. If you have shirts to donate, drop them at the salon, in the back of 1132 Scott Street.

Are you a teen with health questions you’re too embarrassed to ask an adult about? A registered nurse from the Northwestern Health Unit will be hanging out at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre every second Tuesday, from 3-5 p.m. starting February 13, to answer your questions in a safe, private and judgement-free zone.

Stroke Survivors group – meeting the Second Wednesday of every month 10-11 a.m. Let’s have a coffee and talk. A good time to make friends with other people that understand what you’re going through. To register call or text Nathan Galusha 807-271-6262 or Shelly Jones 807-276-1319.

Lego Club at the Library, every Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. come build, create and connect. Compete in Lego building challenges, create unique builds and build big!

Tea and Tots, a drop-in play group, runs every second Friday, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at 605 McIrvine Road, in Fort Frances. Stop by, and make some new friends! Check out the Tea and Tots Facebook page for upcoming dates.

STEM Saturday is at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by for STEM-based fun, games and crafts! Anyone under 8 needs to be accompanied by an adult.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Fort Frances Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch #29 is seeking new members to join their dynamic group of fun, hardworking Ladies. If you would like to know more about this group, please contact Andrea at 275-8912.

Volun-TRY with the Girl Guides! Volun-try is a program that lets adults explore being a Guide leader. Age groups currently overseen are 5-11. Make new friends, have fun, and shape the future for a group of girls. Older groups could start with more leaders! To find out more, contact Monica Armour on Facebook.

The Rainycrest Tuck Shop is accepting donations– The Tuck Shop is open to residents, family, staff and visitors. Great items for donation are things like large stuffed bears, men’s and ladies’ hats, personal care items, knick knacks, gift items and items for residents to place on their night stands or wall/door. Proceeds from the Tuck Shop go to the Rainycrest Auxiliary, which benefits residents. Donations can be dropped off inside the main entrance, labelled ATTN: Gary Tuck Shop. For more information, call 807-274-9559.

Rainycrest Auxiliary Membership – New members are always welcome and current members are reminded to renew their membership for 2024 dues are $5 per year and can be paid at the Tuck Shop or by calling 274-6954 (Judy) or 271-4114 (Donna).

Meals on Wheels – Seeking volunteer drivers. Contact Nicole Piotrowski at 807-274-3266 ext 4818 or by email n.piotrowski@rhcf.on.ca.

Best for Kitty is in desperate need of foster homes, to provide a safe, warm and loving environment to house casts and kittens, while they wait for their forever homes. Full support and supplies are provided. For more information, e-mail bestforkitty@gmail.com, or visit Best for Kitty over Facebook or at bestforkitty.net for more information.