Happy birthday, Fort Frances!
Centennial festivities began Friday morning at the Fort Frances Museum when B-93’s Barry Blake and Jennifer O’Reilly were on hand doing the morning show live.
Robin’s Donuts provided doughnuts and coffee for the public who were invited to drop by and start the anniversary celebrations.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson said of the crowd who turned out—though the majority came after 8 a.m.
“It’s just a wonderful event,” said Mark Faragher, who was on hand for the opening. “They’ve done a great job promoting the centennial and the history of the town.
“It’s great.”
At least 25 people made their way in and out of the kick-off Friday morning, including “Citizens of the Year” Lin and Jean Boileau, who reminisced by looking at the displays of pictures and paintings depicting the town’s 100 years.
NDP leader and local MPP Howard Hampton also was there, and said he’d be attending some of the other centennial events here over the weekend.
Also today, a live broadcast of CBC Radio One’s “Ontario Today” was slated to be held at the Memorial Sports Centre from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
This afternoon, a citizenship court was to be held at the Fort Frances Courthouse at 1 p.m., where more than 100 residents re-affirmed their citizenship along with 21 new Canadians.
A reception followed at the Civic Centre.
Then Friday tonight, a re-creation of the inaugural town council meeting in 1903 and the judging of the centennial beard-growing contest will be held at the Townshend Theatre.
The event also will include a performance by the Fort Frances Highlanders, the unveiling of the centennial quilt, and a speech by Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
Also there tonight, the ladies’ hat and poetry contests will be launched, Fort Frances Little Theatre will perform, and the minutes of the 1903-8 council meetings will be read in character.
The evening will wrap up with a cake-cutting ceremony and toast to the centennial year.
A limited number of free passes, which are required to attend tonight’s events due to the limited seating at the Townshend Theatre, are available at the museum.
Then tomorrow, the Memorial Sports Centre will hold a free skate and swim, dubbed a “Celebration of Sport,” from 1-4 p.m.
Also Saturday, the “Great Centennial Ball” will be held at the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium, starting with cocktails at 6 p.m. and supper at 7, with a dance to follow.
Tickets for the ball, which cost $50 each (a $25 tax receipt will be issued) still can be purchased until the end of the day today at the Fort Frances Public Library.
Those attending are encouraged to dress in period costumes for which prizes will be awarded.
Then on Sunday, the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts will stage its annual highlights concert starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre.
Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family.
But the centennial celebration won’t end after this weekend as a slew of other events are planned for May, June, and July.
These include a Victorian tea and quilt show, the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s trade show, Mall Days, the Great Centennial Airport Show, Culturama, a golf tournament, and the grand opening of the La Verendrye Parkway (Front Street).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
