A “gateway” project at the international bridge here welcoming visitors to the region is getting off the ground, with co-ordinators hoping to have it in place this summer.
“We’ve got all our ducks in row locally,” said economic development officer Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corp., who’s leading the project as part of his duties as district EDO.
“We have got all the partners on side. And we’ve signed a contract with Abitibi-Consolidated [to use the ‘lap’ building],” echoed Fort Frances Coun. Tannis Drysdale, who also has worked on the “gateway” project as a consultant.
“The request for funding has been forwarded to FedNor. We should be ready to go this summer,” she added.
Coun. Drysdale noted the $120,000 project will include a seven-banner display welcoming visitors to Northwestern Ontario as well as an electronic reader board on the “lap” building.
Gillon noted partner communities currently are selecting images of significance to them to have on the banners. He noted possible choices could be the wooden bridge for Sioux Narrows and “Husky the Musky” for Kenora.
The reader board, meanwhile, will inform visitors on happenings in the region as well as useful information for travellers like road closures and weather updates, said Coun. Drysdale.
She also noted the success of the “gateway” project has hinged on getting partners on board. These partners include Rainy River District (including Fort Frances, Emo, Rainy River, and more), Dryden-Machin, Kenora, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Onegaming First Nation, and the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre (Manitou Mounds).
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Coun. Drysdale. “I can’t remember a time when this many communities contributed to infrastructure that wasn’t located in their own area.”
“It’s a very positive thing to see,” echoed Gillon. “It goes to show how significant the border crossing at Fort Frances is to the region.”
The banners and reader board are considered Phase One of the “gateway” project, which was a recommendation from the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” study completed last year.
Once Phase One is completed, Coun. Drysdale said the next step will be to develop a plan for a Canada Discovery Centre and a new Ontario Tourist Information Centre here.
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