Duane Hicks
The “Hallett” was expected to make its final voyage today as the historic boat was to be floated down the upper Rainy River to its new site just west of the Sorting Gap Marina.
Community Services manager George Bell told town council yesterday evening that if all goes to plan, the “Hallett” would have been hoisted onto a flatbed trailer using two cranes this morning and then moved over to Armstrong’s dock at Seven Oaks.
The boat then would be lifted up by the cranes and placed into the water, where a tugboat belonging to George Armstrong Co. Ltd. would tow it down the river to its new spot, where it will sit in a cradle in the shallow water just offshore of the La Verendrye Parkway as part of the Heritage Tourism project.
Bell noted there is a concern the water level may be too low for the tugboat since some gates were opened at the dam recently and the river has gone down.
“The contractor will play it by ear about whether or not they feel comfortable taking it down the river, or if the water level’s high enough that Armstrong can get the tugboat into the river to tow it down,” he said.
“But I am pretty they’ll have the ‘Hallett’ in the water [today].”
Coun. Sharon Tibbs said many local residents, including her own family, seem very interested in seeing the “Hallett” float down the river, and was hopeful the town would be able to notify the public when it was going to happen.
“This is the last voyage of the ‘Hallett.’ It’s going home,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, the lookout tower is being re-painted this week.
Paint adhesion tests indicate part of the tower is ready to be re-painted while another portion of it still is being prepared with pressure washing or a biodegradable paint stripper before it can be done.
Bell said once the tower is re-painted, it will be moved in pieces to its new site just east of the Sorting Gap Marina, where it will be re-assembled.
He added the curbing, sidewalks, and landscaping has been completed at the future site of the tower and is ready for the relocation.
In response to a few questions from council, Bell said visitors will be able to climb the stairs at the new tower, as well as go out on a ground-level observation deck overhanging the shoreline.
Other aspects of the Heritage Tourism project, such as banners, signs, and panels, are coming along and should be ready by the early fall.
The banners will not be put up until next spring.
Regarding another Community Services division project, Bell said forming of the foundation of the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre continues.
The foundation should be completed by the end of next week, with the “roughing work” in the slab to be the next step.
“That’s a big part of the job because there’s a lot of work with electrical, computers, site services, and plumbing—all of that has to go in that slab. That’s going to take some time,” noted Bell.
He added work on the parking lot continues, with the intent to complete it before winter arrives.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•referred a financial request from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce re: the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce fall meeting, to be held here Sept. 24-26, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request from Patti-Jo LeDrew for the waiver of rental fees for the Townshend Theatre for use during the Fort Frances Chronic Pain Management and Addiction Prevention Symposium, slated for Sept. 19, to the Community Services executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred an advertising request from the Fort Frances Times re: NW Ontario Vacation Guide to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board for child care services; and
•agreed to buy a half-page ad, at a cost of $250, in the program for the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sept. 26 in Thunder Bay, as well as agreed to have Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft represent the town at the 28th-annual dinner (Fort Frances native Dave Allison is among this year’s inductees).
