Duane Hicks
The heat didn’t deter many local residents from spending July 1 outdoors, helping to make for one of the most successful Canada Day celebrations Fort Frances has seen in recent years.
“I am pleased with how events went on Canada Day,” said Canada Day Celebrations Committee chair Randy Thoms.
“I attribute it to the committee that had been formed months before myself and my wife [Sally] got on board,” he noted.
“So, the volunteers that helped with those committees, their organization in advance, really helped things go the way they were.
“It’s a testament to the volunteers that we have on our committee that really pulled through, and helped everything become a great success,” Thoms later added.
The day’s activities included a pancake breakfast at the local Legion, followed by the parade along Front Street.
Donned in red and white, families lined the streets to see the dozen floats, along with numerous individuals walking or on bikes, classic cars and emergency vehicles, and the Bemidji High School Lumberjack Band.
Float winners were the 2011 Mini King and Queen contestants, Borderland Roller Derby, and Gerber’s Produce, who received Boston Pizza gift cards for $150, $100, and $50, respectively.
“I was very happy with the parade, the number of participants and the floats,” said Thoms.
“We heard a lot of positive comments about the parade, so we were very happy with that.”
Out at Pither’s Point, there was a 4-on-4 beach volleyball tournament, fun and games for kids, bouncer castles, laser tag, a family scavenger hunt, food booths, the Energy Fitness’ 1K kids’ run, horseshoes, open mic karaoke, live music by several area artists, the infamous Great Canadian Bathtub Races, and Bingo.
There also was the Mini King and Queen contest, which this year featured 20 boys and girls in total.
Liam Dent and Piper Lidkea were named Mini King and Queen for 2011, but all the participants received a gift.
“I was really pleased with number of people that turned out, the Mini King and Queen contest seemed to attract a lot of people,” noted Thoms.
“There were lineups at the bouncy castles.
“I was in the Bingo tent all day, so I never really go to go out and visit many of the events, but just from my observations, things went really well,” he added.
“We did take a break from the Bingo for a little bit, and I took a wander down to the shores there, and I couldn’t believe the number of people that were out there on the beach there,” Thoms added.
A fireworks display, presented by the Canada Day Celebrations Committee and Town of Fort Frances, rounded out the festivities at dusk.
Thoms said the Canada Day Celebrations Committee will have a wrap-up meeting in the near future, and soon thereafter will start planning for next year’s Canada Day activities.
He added new volunteers are encouraged to join the committee.
Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Randy or Sally at 274-5634.