Duane Hicks
The tourist information centre here had a good summer.
Tannis Drysdale, consultant with the Rainy River Future Development Corp., told town council Monday night that visits to the centre were up 20 percent over last year.
The centre also was enhanced with the addition of a taxidermied moose in its foyer, as well as eye-catching signs, banners, and other visuals inside.
“Members of the public who haven’t been down to see the tourist centre, I encourage them to visit,” said Drysdale, adding it’s now open Tuesday through Saturday through Thanksgiving.
The tourist information centre is a “must-stop for local residents to see what we’ve done, especially since we were left holding the bag when the [provincial] government reduced their budgets,” said Mayor Roy Avis, referring to the initial closure of tourist information centres here and in six other places in 2012.
Dignitaries who visited the centre this summer included Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks’ defenceman Duncan Keith and Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
“There’s no way we could have got our brand out there any more than that picture with Duncan Keith and that moose,” remarked Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig.
“I was amazed by that, seeing the hits and the comments world-wide,” he added.
“Our brand, our town, got out there and it’s because of that moose,” McCaig stressed.
“I would never have believed it but it’s true.”
Drysdale thanked the town for helping stage the various summer events RRFDC was involved with this year, including the Snowbirds’ performance, the Canada Day parade, “Harmony of Nations” Music Festival, and Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
“There was never a phone call that we made from our office that went unanswered quickly with reserve troops to put up tents or move a moose into a tourist centre at the last moment,” she enthused.
“It was really appreciated,” Drysdale added. “It made our job in assisting the tourism events run so much smoother.
“Thanks so much guys.”
In related news, Drysdale said the RRFDC has been busy promoting the town and its brand.
Signage gradually is being changed over to the new brand while two new videos have been produced for the town’s website (fort-frances.com).
Created by talented filmmaker Andrew George, one short film, “Fort Frances—Boundless,” focuses on the Fort Frances lifestyle.
Within the first week, it had 2,000 views.
The other video, “Chopping Wood,” highlights the work ethic of Fort Frances and “encourages folks to consider our community as a good, solid place to make things out of things, as is our brand,” noted Drysdale.
A third video currently is in post-production stage.
RRFDC also is completing a social media project with the Fort Frances Times to tie certain search terms to the town’s website to increase traffic to it.
For example, if someone is searching for a place to set up a business where the electricity rates are lowest, the town’s site will appear higher on search engine results.
The RRFDC and Fort Frances Times also are bringing social media guru Ferg Devins here for a seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 7-9 p.m. at the Copper River Inn.
The seminar is aimed at small business owners, marketing managers, and not-for-profits.
Attendance is free but those interested must RSVP by Sept. 28 by calling 274-3276 or e-mailing info@rrfdc.on.ca as space is limited.
