BIA kicks off Christmas season

While the snow didn’t blanket the town until Sunday, signs of the holiday season certainly were evident in downtown Fort Frances on Saturday during the Business Improvement Association’s Christmas activities.
“I think it went well,” BIA co-ordinator Harlene Lowey said Monday. “We had a large crowd downtown, and it wasn’t too bad [weather-wise] when the wind wasn’t blowing.”
The day kicked off with the annual Santa Claus parade, which returned to the daylight hours after several years of being held at night. While Lowey said she hasn’t heard much feedback yet as far as the change, it will remain that way “as long as the BIA is doing it.”
The parade, which featured more than a dozen floats, individuals, and vehicles—ranging from the Robert Moore/Kiwanis Builders’ Club and the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim team to the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living and the Fort Frances Fire Department’s ladder truck—got underway at 11 a.m. at the Shevlin wood yard and proceeded down Scott Street to Mowat Avenue.
This year’s theme was “Celebrating 100 Years,” and a few participants followed this motif, such as St. John’s Anglican Church.
Once again, the local Salvation Army, along with B93-FM staff, led the parade collecting money, unwrapped toys, and non-perishable food donations for its food bank.
“Citizen of the Year” John Dutton rode in a white limo, courtesy of North Air Services, while jolly ol’ St. Nick himself brought up the rear.
The BIA also enlisted the aid of a “snowman” and “reindeer,” as well as “elves” (Muskie cheerleaders) to hand out candy to youngsters lining the parade route.
This candy was donated leftovers from last month’s “Scott Street Scare.” And any leftovers from the parade is being given back to the Salvation Army for its Christmas hamper program.
Immediately following the parade, spectators swarmed outside the Rainy Lake Hotel to catch “Snowballs of Savings.”
Some 575 ping-pong balls were dumped from the top of the hotel by BIA vice-chair Larry Zyrovy, Dawn Booth, co-ordinator of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, and her 10-year-old daughter, Mackenzie.
The balls were numbered, and each of the 18 participating business had a corresponding number. Those who caught the balls then could bring them into stores and get a specific deal at that store.
Booth noted she learned they should try to drop the balls in a more dispersed fashion next time around. But she added, judging by the crowd waiting for the “snowballs,” the new event was a success.
Then, the BIA’s always-popular “Lunch with Santa” followed from 12:30-2 p.m. at the Rainy Lake Hotel. “We had 110 kids for lunch and about 170 for photos,” said Lowey.
Children had a chance to tell Santa what they want for Christmas and also have their pictures taken with the big guy in red.
Also on Scott Street on Saturday, the Fort Frances Museum hosted a musical “Christmas Prelude,” featuring an ensemble from the Borderland Community Orchestra, starting at 1 p.m.
“We thought it was a huge success. I would guesstimate we had 60 people,” said museum staffer Janet Bell. “The count might have been down a little, but people filled the seats and enjoyed the music.”
The ensemble played for an hour.
“I think next year, we might try to get the music outside the museum to draw people in,” Bell noted, adding it would be nice to have the orchestra play on the lower level of the museum to ease access for the handicapped and elderly.
Dainties and cider also were served there, and children got a chance to decorate their own cookies.