Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will launch its annual beautification program, “Project Petunia,” at the Home and Leisure Show later this week at the Memorial Sports Centre.
Chamber manager Anthony Mason said he’s asking individuals and businesses to sponsor the program, which supplies flowers for planters seen in the community.
Each year, the Chamber hangs baskets to brighten up the 400 block of Scott Street, as well as the stretch of King’s Highway from Tim Hortons to Central Avenue, up Central Avenue to the tourist information centre, and in the “gateway” area of town on Church Street and Mowat Avenue.
The project includes 55 flower baskets and 18 planters.
The beautification project is meant to complement that of the local Business Improvement Association, which features flower baskets on the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of Scott Street.
Mason said he is looking for sponsorships in any dollar amount.
“We’re looking for whatever people can give,” he explained. “It’s an expensive undertaking that we do each year, but it’s well worth it.
“It’s a community beautification project that it takes everybody to do,” Mason stressed.
“If you’re wanting to help donate so we can have good flowers each year, then write me a big cheque,” he chuckled.
Sponsors will be recognized in an ad in a future edition of the Fort Frances Times.
Mason said having the flowers really “adds to the class of the town.”
“It’s funny because I invested a lot of effort into [‘Project Petunia’] last year, and now when I go to different towns, I actually look and see what kind of flowers they’ve got,” he noted.
“It’s like, ‘Do we got better flowers than Steinbach?’”
The order for this year’s flowers already has been placed, so the money collected this weekend will go towards next year’s supply.
Upwards of $4,000 is spent on “Project Petunia” each year.
The Home & Leisure Show, meanwhile, how will run Friday (May 11) from 4-9 p.m. and again Saturday (May 12) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family (which includes admission to the “Strongman” competition on Saturday).
For more information on “Project Petunia,” drop by the Chamber booth at the Home and Leisure Show.
You also can e-mail Mason at thefort@fortfranceschamber.com or call him at 274-5773.
