On the brink

In what has become a regular plea around this time of year, more volunteers must step forward if a full slate of Canada Day festivities is to go ahead here.
Local celebrations of our country’s birthday were on life support a few years ago until a group of residents banded together to save the day. But that initial enthusiasm has waned and the bare-bones committee which remains now is left with the painful choice of pulling the plug unless more people are willing to lend a helping hand.
That decision could come as early as today if new blood doesn’t materialize when the committee gathers at 6:30 p.m. in the ’52 Canadians Arena meeting room.
Funding isn’t the problem, with a budget of about $26,000 projected for this year’s celebration. What good is money, however, unless people are available to not only plan events but, equally important, be on hand July 1 to help run them?
It would be a shame to see Canada Day activities fall by the wayside, especially when the annual “Pulling for Peace” tug-of-war across the Rainy River between Fort Frances and International Falls is held July 2, which happens to be the holiday Monday this year. And with Northern Community Development Services here recently acquiring a dragon boat, an inaugural festival coinciding with the Canada Day weekend certainly would create an added buzz.
Talk about an opportunity for one heck of a party!
Unfortunately, interest has dropped off in far too many community events. The annual men’s and women’s bonspiels, for instance, each wrapped up on the Saturday night this year due to a lack of teams—a far cry from their heyday. The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is drawing fewer teams and continues having trouble getting residents out, particularly for the night-time entertainment.
If we don’t support these events as organizers, volunteers, and spectators, we will lose them. And once they’re gone, it’s very difficult to bring them back.
Is that the kind of community we want?