‘tour de Fort’ going ahead with season

FORT FRANCES—After holding its annual general meeting Wednesday night, the “tour de Fort” board of directors is remaining positive about passport sales and plans on going ahead with its 2006-07 concert series as scheduled.
“Our tickets sales are over 300 now. We’re looking at about 130 to go,” president Dave Legg said Thursday.
“We feel pretty optimistic we’re going to sell out,” he added. “We’re going to have a season this year.
“Most of the board had little doubt we were going to have a season this year.”
“The contracts have been signed, the artists have been paid. We’re not going to cancel anything,” stressed tour de Fort secretary Christine Denby.
“We were in this position a couple of years ago when we didn’t have a full sell-out, but we came back.”
Denby noted director of programming Kim Cornell, with the help of his wife, Pat Clysdale-Cornell, did a great job of finding the talent once again this season—and there’s something for everyone in the line-up.
“It’s a really good line-up. Every year it is,” she added. “I’m always floored by the amount of talent we have here in Canada, and being able to go to a concert series like this is great.
“As Canadians, we have to do a better job applauding our own before they go south.”
Passports for the 2006-07 season, which features six shows, cost $95 each.
They are available online at www.tourdefort.com, from Barb MacDonell (274-2544), at the Fort Frances Public Library and The Corner Closet in Emo, as well as every Saturday at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market here.
This year’s line-up includes:
•fiddling sensations Fidello (Sept. 26);
•country stars John Berry and Diane Chase (Oct. 2);
•swing/folk/roots artists Polyjesters (Oct. 20);
•earthy blues musicians Harry Manx and Michael Kaeshammer (Nov. 9);
•blues singers Sue Foley and Roxanne Potvin (March 5); and
•pop singer Ian Thomas (April 13).
All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre, unless otherwise noted.
In other news, Legg noted two members—Gary Rogozinski and Rod Newman—retired from the board while two new members—Kerry Zucchiatti and Kevin Nielson—have come aboard.
There still is one vacancy on the board. Anyone interested in joining should contact the board of directors via e-mail through a link at the “tour de Fort” website.
Legg also retired from the board, but after a motion was passed at the directors’ meeting after the annual general meeting to have him stay on as president, he noted the matter currently is “up in the air.”
Legg also said “tour de Fort” needs more volunteers.
“We can always use more if anyone’s willing to help. Just get a hold of us and we’ll utilize [you],” he noted.
Jobs range from selling passports, doing promotion, and writing concert reviews to setting up the stage, loading and unloading equipment, and running the light board at the Townshend Theatre (as a back-up for the current volunteer who does it).
Those interested in volunteering also can talk to any of the directors or contact the board via the website.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)