Duane Hicks
Lovers of classic automobiles will be thrilled to know Fort Frances is one of the stops on the Canadian Coasters 50th Anniversary Cross-Canada Tour next summer.
The local International Early Iron Car Club will be hosting the Canadian Coasters—which consists of a procession of more than 100 vehicles of many types that travels coast to coast—here on July 19-21 and has asked town council for some assistance.
“We would like to make this a memorable experience for them and the town,” club president Al Smith wrote in a letter received by council at its regular meeting Monday night.
“Once the Canadian Coasters heard of what was taking place in Fort Frances, they decided to come a day early [July 19] so they could spend more time visiting and taking in community events,” Smith noted, referring to the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, Mall Day, Fort Frances Museum activities, and more.
In fact, the theme of the week will be: “Come for the car show and stay for the bass tournament.”
“This is also Canada’s 150th anniversary and the Early Iron Car Club is actively participating in the ‘Canada 150’ transportation events the museum is planning,” Smith added.
This will include a display showing how transportation developed in Fort Frances and Rainy River District over the decades.
As well, the club is moving its “Show ’n Shine” car show from June to July to coincide with the Canadian Coasters’ visit.
The club has asked the town for assistance with the following items:
•use of one or both indoor ice surfaces;
•use of all parking lots, washrooms, and shower facilities;
•use of the arena auditorium and kitchen;
•overnight custodian(s);
•declaration of July 16-22 as “Canadian Coasters 50th Anniversary Tour Week”;
•declaration of the event as a “significant event” in order to access any possible government funding and/or sponsorships; and
•souvenir Town of Fort Frances pins (the Canadian Coasters collect pins wherever they go).
The club is hoping the town will agreed to the above requests at no charge or as in-kind donations since the event is “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community to impress Canadian Coaster Tour Group to visit our fine community,” said Smith.
“Our hopes are that it may pique enough interest for them to return in the future on their own to partake in other community events, thus spawning more tourism dollars and get the word out that this is a unique tourist destination,” he noted.
Council referred the requests to the Community Services executive committee, with input from the Administration & Finance executive committee.
The Canadian Coasters 50th Anniversary Cross-Canada Tour tour will start June 28 at “Mile Zero” on Vancouver Island with a tire dip in the Pacific Ocean.
It will end on Labour Day weekend with a dip in the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland.
