A group of people met with our MP Marcus Polowski for a sociable evening discussing items that impact residents of the district. A last-minute invitation was sent out making inviting people. I had missed an opinion piece written by our member and John McKay a former member of parliament and […]
Jim Cumming – From the Publisher Emeritus’ Pen
Jim is the former publisher of the Fort Frances Times Ltd. He writes a weekly column and can be contacted at jcumming@fortfrances.com
We should be in the season of optimism. We should be looking at the opportunities that can be found in the Rainy River District. We should be celebrating the differences between being Canadian and being American. Sometimes all those items are hard to understand. Sometimes the best ideas can be […]
We are in the Advent Season. The Christian religion begins with the lighting of the first of four candles symbolizing the season of hope. We are also in the Jewish season of Hanukkah in which multiple candles re lit over an eight day period. And we are also in the […]
As the holiday season is already upon us, I look to the traditions that this season brings to us. For many it includes a Christmas Eve service. For some it begins with a special Christmas Eve meal. For some it may be waiting for last minute arrivals of children and […]
I recently had an interesting conversation with Scott Fawcett about the value of parents supporting youth sports. Whether it is swimming, football, hockey, figure skating, dance, performing arts, or baseball, without their financial support and commitment, those programs would cease to exist. One of the most significant points that he […]
You can tell that Christmas is coming. After the Halloween decorations were safely stored, the town went dark. Only the streetlights hid blackness in our neighbourhoods. The moon disappeared. And slowly light came has drifted back into our neighbourhoods. Outdoor lights were strung, and blow-up decorations began filling front lawns. […]
A columnist in the Globe and Mail asked a question of readers: “What would you be willing to sacrifice with the new Carney budget that was being voted on Monday?” It was a pertinent question because the budget proposes to create a major deficit by borrowing money while maintaining social […]
In our household, the past two previous weeks involved getting our immunization shots. It was a simple process that involved making an appointment at a pharmacy or with the Northwestern Health Unit. For me, I received my Covid shot and the flu shot; one in each arm. The Covid shot […]
Remembrance Day and Veterans Week arrive next week. It was first celebrated on November 3, 1919, and was then known as Armistice Day. For over a decade it was celebrated on the first Monday preceding November 11. The date was set to mark the end of the first world war. […]
When I was the publisher of this newspaper, I set my agenda to be at the newspaper by seven in the morning. John Pierce often was there before me as we both wanted to get a jump on the day. I was usually up by six in the morning, having […]
We are at our children’s home in Calgary as I write this column. Winter arrived Saturday night and seems intent on staying for a few days. When we travel, the electronics come with us. I have a computer. My wife has a computer. My Android watch and our cell phones […]
It was a wonderful October weekend — perhaps a fitting close to summer. This coming weekend marks Canada’s Thanksgiving, a time to pause and appreciate all that we have across the district. It may well have been the best year ever for corn; we’re still enjoying sweet cobs from the […]
