Centennial to see CBC coverage

With the town’s centennial now less than a month away, April 11-13 is shaping up to be a very busy weekend.
It also is a chance for Fort Frances to get broader exposure as the CBC Radio One show “Ontario Today” will be broadcasting live from the Memorial Sports Centre from noon-2 p.m. on April 11—the actual date of the town’s centennial.
“We heard from CBC about a week or two ago,” centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson said Monday. “Pam [Hawley] e-mailed them quite a while ago, inviting them to come here.
“It’s going to be great exposure,” she added.
Simpson noted while no particular event will be going on at the arena at the time of the broadcast, the public is encouraged to come out and welcome the radio crew.
“They wanted a venue that was really easily accessible. They want people there,” she said, adding you never know who will get on the air.
CBC Radio One can be heard at 90.5 FM in Fort Frances.
But if you’re not at the arena, why not go to the citizenship court at 1 p.m. at the Civic Centre and watch nine new Canadian citizens get sworn in.
As something special for the town’s centennial year, Simpson is hoping to get 100 local residents to come out for the ceremony and renew their Canadian citizenship.
So far, about 15 local residents, including Mayor Glenn Witherspoon and several town councillors, have volunteered.
Those residents interested in renewing their citizenship are encouraged to contact Simpson before this Saturday (March 15). She can be reached at the Fort Frances Museum (274-7891).
The citizenship court will be followed by a reception with refreshments thanks to the Legion Ladies Auxiliary Br. #29. The Fort Frances Highlanders will provide music.
Then later on April 11, a re-creation of the inaugural council meeting and the judging of the centennial beard-growing contest will be held at the Townshend Theatre.
The Fort Frances Highlanders will kick things off with some pipes and drums starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the swearing in of the 1903 and 2003 councils (the former being portrayed by Fort Frances Little Theatre members).
This will be followed by a skit by Little Theatre, during which the 1903-08 council minutes will be reviewed and issues comparable between 1903 and 2003 (property standards, roads, Front Street, etc.) will be discussed in character.
The re-enactment will be followed by a cake-cutting ceremony and a toast to the centennial year in the Fort Frances High School cafeteria.
The evening also will kick off a poetry contest and a ladies’ hat contest—a contest for the women of Fort Frances which will run from April through June.
Refreshments, local entertainment, and programs sealed with wax will be offered, as well.
Free passes to attend the inaugural meeting soon will be available at the museum and Civic Centre (this will be the only way you can get into the event as seating is limited there).
On April 12, the Memorial Sports Centre will be having a free skate and swim called a “Celebration of Sport” during the day (exact hours are yet-to-be-determined). This will be sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
Meanwhile, tickets for the “Great Centennial Ball” slated for April 12 are now on sale at the Fort Frances Public Library. Tickets for the dinner/dance cost $50, with a $25 tax receipt.
The gala gets underway with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by a grand march at 6:45 and then dinner at 7.
The dinner will be catered by Kathy Cuthbertson while the hall will be decorated by Linda Lovisa. And In Focus Photography will be on hand to take “prom-style” photos, said Simpson.
A dance will follow until 1 a.m., featuring music by the Borderland Orchestra and Paul Severson and Friends.
Turn-of-the-century dress is encouraged, which can be rented at Masquerade here as well as arranged through local seamstress Judy Tucker.
Patterns for period clothes also are available at Betty’s for those handy with the sewing machine.
Prizes will be awarded for best costumes.
And on Sunday, April 13, the Rainy River District Festival for the Performing Arts will stage its annual highlights concert at the Townshend Theatre starting at 1:30 p.m.
The cost of admission still is being determined.
For more info on this event, call festival president John Jankiewicz at 274-5494.