‘Fun in the Sun’ not marred by weather

Despite a tornado warning in the afternoon, and then some evening showers, the weather didn’t stop people from flocking to Scott Street and Pither’s Point Park for “Fun in the Sun” activities on Canada Day.
“I think it went very well,” said Dawn Booth, who was part of the FITS committee.
The celebration got underway around 11 a.m. as hundreds of people lined Scott Street to catch the annual Canada Day parade. They saw everything from kids on bikes to the FITS pageant contestants—as well as a marching band from Bemidji High School.
The “best theme” prize ($200) for an entry was won by Scott Pryde and his son, Jamie, for their Mountie float while “best overall” float ($250) belonged to 2002 “Fun in the Sun” queen Sarah Noonan.
FITS queen contestant Shanna Calder was “best individual” float ($50).
After the parade, the focus turned to Pither’s Point Park, where children’s games and activities were running all day, along with food booths and a pie sale.
“The food booths seemed to be selling well,” noted Booth.
The Fort Frances Aquanauts held a mile swim on Sand Bay, followed by the annual horseshoe tournament, children’s activities, a 50/50 Bingo, and the ever-popular bathtub races.
The FITS royalty pageant wrapped up Monday with the picnic basket auction, followed by the crowning of this year’s king and queen around 5:30 p.m.
The grand finale to Canada Day—the fireworks display—also got underway on time around 10 p.m. at Seven Oaks and with no problems.
“The weather put a lot of stress on us,” said Charlie Turgeon, former deputy chief of the Fort Frances Fire Department, who’s been responsible for setting off the fireworks for many years now.
“We started to load earlier that day, and we didn’t know what the weather was going to do. But the end result is they stayed dry and we were able to get it off as planned,” he added.
Turgeon noted he would like to thank not only both local police departments and the Fort Frances Fire Department for ensuring the public kept clear of the fireworks launch site, but volunteers June and Bill Caul, Steve and Mary Caul, and Betty Ann and Lin LaRocque for helping with the 36-hour preparations.
“Fun in the Sun” officially kicked off here June 22 with the annual Mini-Queen contest, won by Calie Clendenning, and Culturama. This was followed by the BIA’s annual “Mall Day” on Scott Street last Thursday.
The day-long event featured not only sidewalk and in-store sales by local merchants, but a cookie contest (won by Anne Johnston), a “Name that Tune” contest, lift rides by the Fort Frances Power Corp., a petting zoo, free hotdogs, snow cones, children’s crafts, mini-putt, clowns, balloons, and much, much more.
As well, children’s games and inflatables were set up, along with a fundraiser barbecue and volleyball games at Pharmasave featuring this year’s FITS royalty contestants.
Also last Thursday were the St. John’s Anglican Church annual fish-and-chips sale and Knox United Church pie sale.
The fun continued Friday with the Fort Frances Public Library’s annual Teddy Bear Picnic, featuring children’s entertainer Rodney Brown.
And Warp 9 hosted a teen dance and a comedienne Sunday night.