Duane Hicks
The Rainy River Future Development Corp. team continues change to meet the needs of the community, with one of the newer additions being forest tenure consultant Mike Willick, a former deputy assistant to the minister of natural resources.
RRFDC consultant Tannis Drysdale told town council Monday night that Willick’s role is to assist Fort Frances in its efforts to become involved in the forest tenure process, and has been consulting with council and industry directly.
Drysdale noted the province began looking at a new way to manage its forests back in 2011.
“The forest industry was changing, mills were closing, communities were demanding different things, and the Town of Fort Frances set it as a priority for the Economic Development Advisory Committee to look at different opportunities and come back to council with advice,” she recalled.
“We looked at various pilot projects and models across the province,” she noted. “We had probably six or seven speakers in to talk to us about things.
“We had numerous meetings with the Ministry of Natural Resources’ officials at various levels, from the local office here, where individuals were engaged in tenure reform, to the provincial manager, whom we have an ongoing dialogue with,” added Drysdale.
“We spoke, as a committee, with stakeholders, forestry companies—Resolute, Ainsworth—with the logging association, and we reached out to neighbouring municipalities and First Nations to discuss the file with them.”
The mayor and council also have been strong advocates, she said.
“With that in mind, we reached out and looked for expertise assistance, created a RFP [request for proposals], and hired Mr. Willick and associates to help us with that file and it’s been moving in a very positive way,” Drysdale remarked.
In coming weeks, the RRFDC will be hiring another consultant, who will focus on accounting and business consulting support for the logging industry in an effort to help them in this difficult time.
The RRFDC team also includes a telecommunications consultant currently looking at upgrading services here.
It also outsources design services and, in conjunction with the town, is about to close an RFP for web design, which will include video production and a new community profile, as well a new website for the Town of Fort Frances.
Drysdale noted the RRFDC also has two interns, including Shannon Darby, who spearheaded the inaugural “Harmony of Nations” Music Festival and continues to work on “Go Local.”
Meanwhile, recently-hired Jamie Petrin is going to manage the local tourist information centre, as well as work on a portfolio of projects that engage young people (aged 35 and under) to participate and work in the community, including forming a young professionals business network.
“That team changes from time to time when your needs change,” Drysdale explained.
“So if you come up with a project related to tourism and we need a consultant in that field, we go get that expertise and we bring it into the office for as long as we need it.
“If you need assistance in other areas, we write those grant applications, we provide that assistance,” she added.
Drysdale said she and client services manager Geoff Gillon are working on grants to replace the town signs, as well as marketing the community through digital media.
In addition to herself and Gillon, Drysdale noted the RRFDC also has a back office of folks handling all of the administration and keeping the funding going.
These include corporate services manager Cynde Milette, business investment officer Angela Halvorsen, bookkeeper Shaari King, and secretary/clerk Sandra Whalen.
Lastly, Drysdale said “Go Local” is entering its third successful year, and has seen interest from other communities wanting to adapt the model used here.
Residents will have noticed the town recently was blitzed with Post-it notes to re-engage the community and promote the program.
The note urges residents to take it to “Go Local” merchants and redeem them for five points each.
On the horizon, RRFDC continues to try to leverage opportunities with New Gold and other mining activity here.
In that vein, it is hosting a workshop entitled “Mining 101,” featuring New Gold project general manager Grant Goddard, next Tuesday (Sept. 16) from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous.
To register, call the RRFDC at 274-3276.
And on Oct. 8, professionals will come to Fort Frances to talk to local businesses about procurement for the mining industry.
