As April 11, 2003 draws closer and closer, the Fort Frances centennial celebration keeps getting bigger and bigger—and those organizing it soon will have a full-fledged leader.
“We’re interviewing for the centennial co-ordinator [Monday] afternoon. Hopefully, we’ll have a announcement by the end of the week,” said museum curator Pam Hawley, who also sits on the centennial committee.
The deadline for applications was last Wednesday.
The one-year contract position is partially funded by the FedNor Youth Internship Initiative grant, which the centennial committee landed a few weeks ago.
And the timing couldn’t be better, said Hawley, as many committee members have been juggling both the 100th birthday celebration and other projects simultaneously—and centennial planning really is starting to heat up.
“We’re working to get things organized now. We’ve had a really good response with our postcards, and people are getting excited about this thing,” she remarked.
Hawley noted she also recently learned the local museum has been granted more funding under the Canadian Heritage Information Network’s “Community Memories” program.
“We’ll be setting up a virtual exhibit Web site. My proposal was based on the fact we’re having a centennial year,” she said, adding the local museum is one of 41 across the country to be included in the program.
While Hawley said she’ll seek public input for ideas about the Web site down the road, details on this recent development won’t be announced just yet.
Other projects on the go include a centennial quilt being done by the local Sew n’ Sews club, an address book and local heritage walk-through guide (featuring paintings of local historical landmarks by Vi Plumridge), and a special calendar featuring all the centennial-related events scheduled here next year.
There also are preparations for a community open house and the re-creation of the inaugural town council meeting, complete with authentic dress, as well as a centennial ball—both of which will be happen April 11-12.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the centennial committee, or a related event, can contact Hawley at 274-7891.
