As the dust settled on an action-packed weekend of activities designed to celebrate the town’s 100th birthday last Friday (April 11), it’s easy to say they were a success.
“It went really well,” said Marla Simpson, co-ordinator for the centennial committee. “We had good attendance at everything. The enthusiasm has been great.”
Centennial events began Friday at 6 a.m. as B-93’s morning crew of Barrie Blake and Jennifer O’Reilly set up in the Fort Frances Museum to broadcast live.
They also invited people to make their way down for coffee and doughnuts—and to share stories of bygone days.
By 11 a.m., the CBC Radio One program, “Ontario Today,” was set up in the foyer of the Memorial Sports Centre ready to broadcast live. Mayor Glenn Witherspoon and Gail Rognerud, president of International Falls city council, were on hand to talk with host Dave Stephens about the unique relationship the sister cities have and how the border affects our lives.
The panel discussed things like the toll on the international bridge, the Borderland Community Orchestra, and the new Borderland Reads International Book Club.
From there, the mayor and many others had to make a quick transition to the Fort Frances Courthouse for the citizenship court, where 17 people became Canadian citizens, more than 30 local residents re-affirmed their citizenship, and three classes of students from J.W. Walker and Robert Moore Schools took the oath.
About 200 people packed into the courthouse to take the oath or support loved ones who were. Local MP Robert Nault and MPP Howard Hampton also were on hand to congratulate all those participating.
“Canada was made of immigrants, and so was Fort Frances a hundred years ago,” said Mayor Witherspoon in his congratulatory address.”
The large group then moved from the courthouse to the Civic Centre for refreshments and snacks.
“The highlight [of the weekend] was the attendance, even for the citizenship court,” said Simpson. “Also, the turnout Friday night was incredible.”
Festivities that night at the Townshend Theatre included a re-creation of the inaugural town council meeting in 1903, the unveiling of the centennial quilt, and numerous congratulatory addresses from VIPs.
“If the first 100 years is any indication, the next 100 for the community and the district will be prosperous,” Nault told those on hand.
“I’m not just the representative of the region,” said a proud Hampton. “I was a product of the last 50 years of this community.
“This is a community that has acted as a beacon of tolerance,” he added. “It’s incredible, this is a community where aboriginal and non-aboriginal work together.
“That doesn’t exist anywhere else in this province.”
The re-creation of the first council meeting was performed by members of Fort Frances Little Theatre, along with town clerk Glenn Treftlin and town crier Brian Haggarty.
The humorous version of council events covered discussion surrounding a tax on bachelors and the weight of bread to the moving of a single light in town and, jokingly, smoking in public.
“I wouldn’t touch that for 100 years,” said Joyce McCormick, who played a fortune teller in the re-enactment, to a burst of applause from the audience.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Great Centennial Beard-Growing Contest also were announced Friday night. During the initial judging, “ladies” from the theatre troupe entertained the crowd by swooning over the men.
Their immoral behaviour became one of many items discussed during the mock council meeting that followed.
The beard contest winners were Julian Brunetta (“Mr. Centennial”), Gord Sisco (“Mr. History”), Al Tibbetts (“Mr. Coloured”), Bill Gushulak (“Mr. Perfect”), Kenny Desjardins (“Mr. A for Effort”); and Willie Anderson (“Mr. Wild ’N Woolly”).
Pam Hawley, chair of the centennial committee, also announced the launch of a hat and poetry contest to be judged during the “Celebration of the Arts” here June 7.
“We were so overwhelmed from the response of the beard-growing contest,” said Hawley. “We got calls from all over the province, country, and the States.”
She noted the hat and poetry contest is for the ladies since the beard contest catered more to the men, though the guys can enter if they wish.
Activities at the Townshend Theatre then moved out to the high school cafeteria area for a 10 p.m. cake-cutting by the mayor and Citizens of the Year Jean and Lin Boileau.
A wine-and-cheese followed as people mingled and wrapped up a long day.
On Saturday, things continued with a “Celebration of Sport,” featuring a free public swim and skate, at the Memorial Sports Centre from 1-4 p.m.
Then there was the big event everyone was waiting for.
The Great Centennial Ball got underway at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium—with everyone dressed to the nines. Most were in period costumes, giving the ball a real turn-of-the-century feel.
“I was really pleased with the enthusiasm at the ball,” said Simpson.
“I liked the ball,” agreed Hawley. “It was great to see the participation of everybody in costume.”
More than 120 tickets were sold to the centennial ball—shy of the number expected but a decent turnout nonetheless.
“I think we wouldn’t have wanted too many more people there,” said Hawley, adding with a smirk, “With the gowns [complete with hoops], everyone was double-sized.
“It created a more intimate crowd.”
The Borderland Community Orchestra performed during dinner—even getting some up from their plates to dance. Then as the plates were cleared, the orchestra gave way to the Paul Severson and Friends band, which played for the rest of the night with very few breaks.
In the vote for best costume, Gord McTaggart took the prize home (a watch donated by Brockie’s Jewellers). Denise Onichuk won the best female costume award, with Katherine Williams and Lorena Jenks taking honourable mentions.
Sunday saw the wrap-up of activities as the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts closed with its annual highlights concert of song, music, and drama at the Townshend Theatre.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
