Around Town

A Gardening Seminar is being hosted by Emo Feeds, for anyone interested in growing their own food. The sessions will be held March 12: Gardening Basics, March 19: Seed Starting and More and March 26: Greenhouses, Harvesting Produce and Preserving. Sessions will be held in person at Emo Feeds, from, 9-11 a.m. To register, call 482-2017 or e-mail info@emofeeds.com.

The Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club will hold March Break Loppet, starting at 11 a.m., Sunday March 13. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Come out to ski or cheer! Hot dogs and hot chocolate available, or feel free to bring your own goodies to share. Races open free of charge to all ages and skill levels. Choose from three loops – the 4 km White Pine Loop, 4 km Classic Cougar Loop or 1 km Classic Sprint Loop. The Club is located East of Fort Frances. Turn right at George Armstrong Road and follow the Rocky Inlet Road sign.

Alzheimer Society staff Mary O’Connor will have an education table at Pharmasave in Fort Frances on Friday, March 18 from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. Stop by and chat, pick up brochures or ask questions about Alzheimer’s Disease or any type of dementia.

Billet homes are urgently needed for the Fort Frances Lakers. Without billets, there can be no hockey. Billet families provide a safe home, healthy food, private bedroom, and access to laundry and internet. To find out more, call Sarah at 275-6991.

Riverside Foundation for Health Care monthly 50/50 tickets are continuing into the new year. Don’t miss out! 10 chances for $10, 100 chances for $20 or 250 tickets for $40. Get your tickets now at www.riversidefoundation.ca/5050.

The Fort Frances Lions Club TV Bingo will run Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m., on Shaw Cable. Tickets at all the usual places.

The Right Relations Circle meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Fort Frances Museum & Cultural Centre at 10 a.m. – EVERYONE WELCOME. This community group is committed to improving settler-Indigenous relations in the Rainy River District (Treaty 3 territory) through education, outreach, sharing, and advocacy on issues of reconciliation, diversity, and inclusion.

All seniors are invited to play BINGO each Friday at 1:30 p.m. Participants must show proof of full vaccination. For more details, call Cindy Noble at 274-7656.

Manitou Mounds is 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.

Join the Air Cadets! If you’re between the ages of 12 and 18, enjoy outdoor survival, marksmanship, shorts, planes and having fun, this is the place for you! Registration is free – join anytime. For more information, contact the Squadron at 908aircadets@gmail.com. Visit www.cadets.ca to learn more about the Cadet program.

The Fort Frances EarlyON Centre is holding in-person events! Each week brings new activities and crafts. To see the week’s offerings, and how to register your child for some fun activities, visit the Fort Frances EarlyON Centre on Facebook.

Volunteer opportunities

Culturama is coming back! The Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre is organizing a revival of Culturama – a community multicultural festival. Organizers are seeking committee members and volunteers, or even just feedback on what you’d like to see! To be part of the Culturama team, reach out to Kayleigh Speirs, museum curator, at 274-7891, or check out the Museum’s Facebook page.

Festival of the Performing Arts is planning a return to an in-person festival, and is seeking volunteers to fill a wide variety of roles. To get involved, contact Marie Brady at 274-5105 or e-mail mbrady1104@gmail.com.

Billet homes are urgently needed for the Fort Frances Lakers. Without billets, there can be no hockey. Billet families provide a safe home, healthy food, private bedroom, and access to laundry and internet. To find out more, call Sarah at 275-6991.

Rainycrest is seeking musical volunteers, who would like to perform dances and happy hours for long term care residents. If you have a band, play an instrument, or love to sing, and would like to brighten the lives of seniors, through a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, call Heidi at 807-274-3261 ext 2543.

The Seniors Companion Project is looking for volunteers for its friendly phone call program. Take a little time out of your week to alleviate loneliness in a senior – and even yourself! Training and full support are provided. Call Andrea Avis at 271-6370, or e-mail seniorsproject@fortfrances.ca. Seniors looking to receive friendly calls can use the same phone number to sign up.

Best for Kitty is in desperate need of foster homes to provide a safe and loving environment, while kittens and cats await their forever homes. Full support and supplies are provided. For more information on what’s involved, or to volunteer, e-mail bestforkitty@gmail.com.

The Fort Frances Meals on Wheels is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver meals to seniors. To join in, or get more information, call the Riverside Community Support Services at 274-2244.

The Fort Frances Senior Centre is looking for a few volunteers to work on a casual basis covering for someone when they cannot come in. Please call Cindy at 807-271-2021.

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.

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 Tuck Shop is accepting donations. The Tuck Shop is open to residents, family, staff and visitors. We could use large stuffed bears, men’s and ladies’ slippers, socks, hats, personal care items and items for residents to place on their night stands or wall/door décor as well as gift items and knick knacks. Residents are always excited to see new items in the Tuck Shop! Proceeds from the shop go to the Rainycrest Auxiliary, which enhances the home for residents. Many thanks for all donations received. Donations can be dropped inside the main entrance of Rainycrest, labelled ATTN: Gary Tuck Shop.