Duane Hicks
A parade will be part of the Canada Day celebrations here after all, with the Rainy River Future Development Corp. taking over the reins.
RRFDC regional economic developer Geoff Gillon told town council last night that the RRFDC has obtained Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. funds to hire an intern.
“We’re going to use that intern to help us with general programs like ‘Go Local’ and marketing, but also to work on some events,” he noted.
In the case of Canada Day activities, the RRFDC has offered to have its intern organize the parade which until now been without someone to head it.
“There was a huge gap there—we had a tug-of-war going on and a dragon boat [festival] going on, but nobody was coming forth to do that [the parade],” said Gillon.
“So this intern will . . . help us put that together.”
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft said he has happy to hear the intern would be handling the parade, joking that it was looking like he and Coun. Andrew Hallikas would have to take it on themselves.
Gillon also said the RRFDC and the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee will take a look at how they can assist with other local celebrations, and how to maximize the town’s existing infrastructure to enhance community events.
Also last night, the town announced it will go ahead with developing the “Huffman” residential subdivision on Williams Avenue this year.
Following an in-camera (behind closed doors) session of the committee of the whole, Mayor Roy Avis explained that despite not yet having any buyers for the 16 lots, the town must look ahead to the future.
As such, council feels the subdivision is worth pursuing.
Mayor Avis added the school will be demolished and the first phase of construction—installing services for the 16 lots—will be done this spring and summer.
In order to hopefully make the lots more attractive to prospective home-builders, council also adjust the lot pricing and some of the terms and conditions to build lots.
Council also held a public meeting last night regarding a proposed zoning amendment on York Avenue to allow the Fort Frances Native Urban Wahkaihganun Corp. to build a new six-unit apartment complex.
Two residents, George Bliss and Amy Marchuk, spoke in
opposition of the re-zoning.
Council will vote on the zoning amendment at its next meeting (May 27).
Also last night, council:
•approved a break-open ticket licence application from the Riverside Foundation for Health Care at 110 Victoria Ave. from May 31, 2013-May 31, 2014;
•referred a financial request for $2,000 from the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Club to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a financial request from K. Erwin, re: support of the Special Olympics through the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a financial request from Bruce Caldwell, re: the 14th-annual “Fly-in, Drive-in BBQ” at Fort Frances Airport on June 9, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request from Rainy River District Municipal Association, re: Town of Fort Frances as host municipality for the 2014 NOMA conference, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the Community Services executive committee;
•referred correspondence from the OPP Municipal Policing Bureau, re: the 2010 Public Sector Compensation Framework Agreement, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request from Fort Frances Traffic Safety Committee, re: implementation of a “Kiss ’n Ride” safety program, to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the Operations and Facilities executive committee;
•passed a bylaw to establish a percentage by which tax decreases are limited in 2013 to properties in the commercial, industrial, and multi-residential property classes;
•proclaimed May 12-18 as “Emergency Preparedness Week” in the Town of Fort Frances; and
•proclaimed Oct. 20-26, 2013 as “English Language as a Second Language Week” in the Town of Fort Frances.
