The Fort Frances Senior Centre is now preparing to safely celebrate senior’s month in June, in coordination with the Town of Fort Frances.
Irene Lang, board chair, wrote to council saying the centre is planning four events in June. The month will be kicked off on June 1 with an exhibition and a riverwalk. A scavenger hunt will take place on June 9, a sports day on June 22 and a barbecue on June 29.
The senior centre is also requesting that the Town donate ice cream cones at the Sorting Gap Marina for seniors participating in the walk.
In a report submitted to the Administration and Finance Executive Committee, Aaron Bisson, culture and recreation manager, said the request submitted by the senior centre indicated that attendance for the walk will be capped at 200 individuals, due to COVID-19.
Given attendees of the walk will not exceed 200 people and the cost of an ice cream cone in 2020 was $2.50, the town would be looking at about $500.
However, Bisson stated that with a private individual leasing the Sorting Gap Marina, the sum amount of money the senior centre requires will be hard to calculate.
“Complicating the potential donation is the fact that the Sorting Gap Marina will potentially be operated by an operator other than the Town of Fort Frances and the cost of this potential donation could be significantly higher, but at this point would be unknown,” Bisson wrote in the report.
Due to the uncertainties surrounding the Sorting Gap Marina’s operations and number of attendees, Bisson said it may be most beneficial to consider a set monetary donation toward other activities planned for seniors in June.
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft is a board member at the Senior Centre. He said he agrees with Bisson’s recommendation.
However, he said once a business takes over the Sorting Gap Marina, the senior centre could approach the new lessee and get them to also make a contribution.
The committee agreed to forward the recommendation that $500 dollars will be given from the Town’s public relations budget to the Senior Centre and to the Administration and Finance Executive Committee.
Weather and COVID-19 restrictions permitting, the walk is set to begin from the Senior Centre, where tickets would be handed out to participants.
