Staff
The Fort Frances Curling Club is asking town council to proclaim Nov. 16-24 as “Curling Week” in Fort Frances.
Curling club chair Patrick Briere wrote a letter to council explaining the dates coincide with “Curling Week in Northern Ontario”—a time the Northern Ontario Curling Association has designated to promote the sport of curling and help curling clubs promote their facilities in the hopes of attracting new curlers.
“The Northern Ontario Curling Association is in the planning stages of another ‘Draw to the Button’ contest for anyone in Northern Ontario to take part in,” wrote Briere.
“Along with this contest, the Fort Frances Curling Club is in the planning process of putting on numerous fun activities/contests during this week to help promote the fame and our facility,” he added.
Briere noted the club was very fortunate to host the “Kraft Celebration Tour” this summer, which was a “huge event” for the club that also brought the community together.
He also said the club is fortunate this year to have the Kathie Jackson rink representing Northern Ontario at the Dominion Curling Club National Championships in Thunder Bay on Nov. 16-24.
Raymond Roy represented Northern Ontario at the national championships in P.E.I. back in 2010, and the club is home to many other local curlers who have represented it all levels of curling.
Another local request before council tonight is the local United Native Friendship Centre asking for permission to hold a clean-up day in Fort Frances.
In a letter to council, youth justice worker Lana Smith told council the UNFC has several community-based programs, such as alternative education, Wasa-Nabin, Akwe:go, and the Youth Justice Program.
The programs have been collaborating on ways to foster better working relationships and make more of a contribution to the community, she noted.
“What we are proposing and requesting is permission to have a ‘Clean Up Day’ at the Point Park or any park that needs cleaning before the snow comes,” wrote Smith.
She has spoken with Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown, who suggested there should be co-ordination with the town with regards to garbage disposal.
The UNFC would provide WHMIS training, gloves, garbage bags, and manpower.
This public portion of tonight’s meeting is slated to start at 6:20 p.m.
The committee of the whole will meet in-camera first starting at 5:30.
Other business on the agenda includes:
•reports re: 2014 budget considerations, including tree maintenance and the new sidewalk extension on the west side of Keating Avenue from J.W. Walker School to the First Street West intersection;
•a report re: the selection of a capital project to be submitted under Round Two of the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII) Capital Program;
•a request from Skyview Apartment Building for an exemption from the new $4 per month Environmental Fee;
•a report re: 2014 Parks and Cemetery Flowers.
•site plan control agreement certificates of final acceptance/release of security for Canadian Tire and Boston Pizza;
•a report re: municipal insurance and property values;
•a report re: WSIB Safety Group policies;
•travel expense reports from Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig, Mayor Roy Avis, and Couns. John Albanese, Andrew Hallikas, Paul Ryan, and Rick Wiedenhoeft;
•a report re: Minutes of Settlement for gas distribution lines (2013);
•a report re: Town of Fort Frances zoning bylaw update;
•an update on capital projects;
•a public meeting re: 357/358 applications for tax adjustment at 417 Portage Ave. (2013) and 1209 Second St. E. (2013);
•a break-open ticket licence application from the La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary from Nov. 1-April 30 at Sunset Schmiddy’s (256 Scott St.);
•a request from Bell Canada re: a proposed grant of easement to Bell Canada over Lot 3 on Williams Ave.;
•a financial request from the Friends of the Fort Frances Museum re: its wine and cheese fundraising gala Nov. 7 at the Fort Frances Museum;
•a follow-up report from Tannis Drysdale, consultant for the Rainy River Future Development Corp., re: the community foundation;
•a financial request from Bancroft and Hastings Highlands Disaster Relief Committee re: fundraising to assist those affected by the April flooding in that area;
•a request from the Recycling Council of Ontario to proclaim Oct. 21-27 as “Waste Reduction Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a request from the Ontario Lung Association to proclaim November as “Lung Month” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•By-Law 45/13 (a bylaw to prohibit and abate nuisances within the Town of Fort Frances);
•a report re: the upcoming “Local Government Week” (Oct. 20-26); and
•an invitation from Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle re: an NOHFC reception and announcement in advance of newly-revised programs Oct. 17-18 in Thunder Bay.
