Joey Payeur
Kraft isn’t finished with its generosity toward Fort Frances just yet.
The company said yesterday it plans to cover the roughly $600 cost of purchasing water for the crowd at the Sorting Gap Marina for Sunday’s festivities as part of the “Kraft Celebration Tour” stop here.
The Fort Frances Curling Club originally bought the water.
As reported in Tuesday’s Daily Bulletin, town council agreed at its meeting Monday night to compensate the club up to $600.
“We found out yesterday, and we were unaware up to that point, that the curling club had purchased that incremental water and the town would be reimbursing them,” Sue Brookes, senior promotions manager of Kraft Foods Canada, told the Times this morning.
“This was all a celebration for the town and we didn’t want [the town] to be on the hook for those incremental funds,” she reasoned.
As part of conducting the tour, Brookes said Kraft sends 3,000 bottles of water ahead of time to each stop.
“That number is based on the history of the turnout in the past,” she explained.
“We were absolutely thrilled that there were more people than [the average] that [came out] in Fort Frances,” Brookes added.
“If we had known ahead of time [of the turnout], we certainly would have sent more water.
“And you never know, of course, with the weather what’s going to happen,” she conceded.
“But when we found out, there was no question we would do this.”
With temperatures well above 30 degrees C on Sunday, coupled with humidity that made it feel like 40-plus, the conditions took their toll on some in the crowd.
One person was taken to hospital for treatment of heat-related illness while seven others were attended to on site by local medical personnel.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig was appreciative of the company’s gesture.
“It’s very generous of [Kraft] to do this,” he said this morning.
“But it doesn’t surprise me,” he added. “The Kraft people were very easy to work with from the start.
“Right from the beginning, they were very concerned about all aspects of health and safety during the event.
“They were good folks.”
Curling club president Ron Silver also lauded Kraft for its efforts.
“It’s just another example of Kraft and TSN’s commitment to the community and to doing the right thing,” said Silver, who headed the local organizing committee for the event.
“The club really thanks the Town of Fort Frances for [initially] stepping up to pick up the expenses,” he added.
“We’re more than grateful for their generosity.”
