Duane Hicks
A local group of volunteers has stepped forward to organize Canada Day activities here in Fort Frances.
Following the theme, “It’s Eh Celebration,” the group is looking to have a parade, children’s activities, a singing competition, live music, fireworks, and more take place on July 1.
A group of about 10 local residents, including some former “Fun in the Sun” volunteers, got together when they heard the organizing committee would be unable to carry on any more, spokesperson Sandra Allan noted yesterday.
“We thought, ‘We can’t have it not go.’ It hasn’t been that way ever,” said Allan, who’s been on the “Fun in the Sun” committee in recent years.
“We didn’t [want to] see things go by the wayside,” she added. “I don’t think there’s been a year yet when there hasn’t been something happening.
“The kids are always the main focus for the celebration,” Allan stressed. “The kids mean a lot to us in this area.”
Fort Frances can’t afford to lose its Canada Day activities, she remarked.
“Because we are a tourism town, we have a lot of tourists coming through at that time,” she reasoned. “It’s really good to promote our Canada Day.
“If we lose that, I don’t think it reflects well on our town, per se.”
While some recent local media polls have indicated a large number of people would not miss Canada Day activities here, Allan said she doesn’t see it that way.
“When you look at the numbers that are watching the fireworks on July 1, obviously they do care,” she remarked.
“People enjoy the fireworks, they enjoy the parade, they enjoy going up the Point,” she noted. “I’ve seen it because I’ve been on the committee in the last couple years.
“There are people that do enjoy it. Why lose something good?”
Allan said she remembers when she was a child, it seemed like so much was going on for Canada Day, “it was almost magical as a kid.”
“Why would you want to lose that?”
The group only recently got together but have “got quite a bit planned so far,” noted Allan.
At this point, the schedule includes:
•an “It’s Eh Celebration” dance (hopefully with live music) on June 30 at La Place Rendez-Vous;
•a parade on July 1 at noon (the parade normally has started at 11 a.m. but since July 1 falls on a Sunday this year, organizers figured they would give the public a chance to see the parade after going to church);
•children’s games at Pither’s Point Park following the parade;
•a singing competition (called “It’s Eh Singing Competition”) at Pither’s Point featuring three categories: age four-12, 13-19, and 20 and over;
•food booths and vendors, as well as a flea market area with arts and crafts for sale at the Point;
•“The Nitehawks” will provide live entertainment in the evening; and
•Larissa Desrosier will sing “O Canada” prior to the fireworks, which will be set off around 10 p.m. at Seven Oaks.
Allan said the group also will approach the International Early Iron Club about bringing classic automobiles to the Point on Canada Day.
And the group is looking for some way to get Rainycrest residents somehow involved in the celebration.
In addition to the events the “It’s Eh Celebration” committee is handling, Allan noted separate organizers also are planning a volleyball tourney and the mini-king and queen contest for July 1.
Allan said the group does need more volunteers, and anyone interested can contact her at 274-6115.
She noted the group only will meet sporadically due to everyone’s busy schedules, but members will keep in touch via phone calls and e-mails.
“Basically, we’ll be needing any help we can get,” stressed Allan, noting that manning the intersections along the parade route is just one job for which volunteers will be needed.
The group also is asking local businesses to help sponsor the event as money will be needed to make it all a reality.
As previously reported, the “Fun in the Sun” committee had applied for a “Celebrate Canada” grant for funds for Canada Day activities.
It is not yet known how much money the grant will yield, but Allan said she’s aware the bulk of it will go towards fireworks.
Any leftover grant money will go to other July 1 activities, but the group will have to do some fundraising.
“It costs a lot to put these events on,” said Allan.
“If we could ask local businesses to step up and possibly donate some money, that would be wonderful,” she added. “We would appreciate it.
“They can contact me [at 274-6115].”
Allan also said she hopes businesses and groups step forward to enter floats in the parade, and sent out a specific challenge to the four local banks to put floats in the July 1 parade.
Randy Thoms, who most recently was chair of the “Fun in the Sun” committee, said he wishes the new group all the best.
“I hope they’re able to pull things off,” he remarked. “The big things are going to be the volunteers and the cost.
“We haven’t heard about the ‘Celebrate Canada’ application yet, so right now there’s no money to divvy out,” Thoms added.
“Hopefully, if the ‘Celebrate Canada’ application comes through, then there’s going to be some money we’ll be able to forward to them.
“I am glad someone has stepped forward,” said Thoms, who is in the process of getting together budgetary information to pass onto the new group.
Thoms noted he also has been contacted by one individual who expressed interest in putting on kids’ activities, as well as two other groups that showed interest in helping out but never got back to him as to what they wanted to do.
“I am happy that there’s groups out there thinking about it,” he said.
“That’s probably where it’s going to go in the future—where individual groups do one little thing and come together as opposed to one group doing all the planning,” he speculated.
But if this proves to be the case, Thoms admitted that without a central body like “Fun in the Sun” in place, he’s not sure who will apply for grants such as “Celebrate Canada.”
“I am not sure if the province or federal government would accept it,” he remarked.
“Say there’s five different groups doing five different things, and they look at it, and see, ‘Okay, we’re getting five different applications for Canada Day from Fort Frances. What’s up?’”
Thoms said this also could pose a problem locally with different groups seeking aid from businesses.
“If you have all these different groups out there seeking money for Canada Day, these businesses could be hit by four or five different groups asking for the same dollar,” he reasoned.
“With ‘Fun in the Sun,’ we attempted to co-ordinate that a bit.”
