While agreeing to support in principle a resolution brought forward by the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee to express interest in a new Ontario Tourism Centre here, town council won’t be discussing the matter further until it gives the nod to the final draft of the “Re-Inventing” plan.
The decision whether or not to negotiate with the Ontario Realty Corp. and the Ministry of Tourism came before council during its regular meeting Monday night, when “Re-Inventing” chair Susan Bodnarchuk, vice-chair Sam Woods, and member Larry Syrovy presented their case.
Syrovy first explained the positive meeting he had with representatives from both parties two weeks ago in Toronto. “It was an exploratory meeting about the possibility of having a [new] tourist complex built [here],” he said.
“The current location isn’t meeting their needs.
“No commitments were made,” Syrovy added. “But I have to report to you the ORC and the MoT are very keen to have a new Ontario Tourism Centre in Fort Frances soon.
“We encourage you to take a leadership role. The town should have a meeting.”
“What is your proposal? That we talk to the government?” asked Coun. Neil Kabel.
“A resolution to start talks would be a start,” replied Syrovy.
“What then?” asked Coun. Kabel.
“Whatever council sees fit,” noted Syrovy.
The new complex is necessitated by the fact the current one has seen a 68.9 percent drop in traffic since the building of a new Canada Customs facility here last year, noted Jane Johnstone of the tourist bureau, who also is a member of the “Re-Inventing” committee.
She added the ministry would be interested in opening a new tourism centre by 2004.
This proposed new facility, which Syrovy noted might be possible with little or no investment from the town, would be situated on the 200 block of Church Street.
It also quite possibly could include more services than the current centre—fitting well into the ‘Re-Inventing” project’s final draft plans to create a “gateway” welcoming tourists who cross the border.
“I should point out one more thing. Regardless of what happens with ‘Re-Inventing’ and the gateway concept, this has to happen anyway,” said Syrovy. “It could even be moved elsewhere.”
Woods added the importance of having the town say it is interested in even preliminary discussion was crucial to accessing more information from the ORC and ministry, including building specs, the opportunity for other businesses to set up in the complex, and other details the “Re-Inventing” group could work on in making the proposed complex all that it could be.
But Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach, who is a town rep on the “Re-Inventing” committee, noted the town already had a resolution before it to not commit to any further “Re-Inventing”-related ventures until a meeting to discuss the group’s final feasibility study draft, which was presented to council Feb. 24, was discussed and approved.
“As soon as we have your March 25 meeting, then we can say something solid,” he noted. “We can say ‘We are interest in this or that.’
“I hate to be a stumbling block to your progress, but we need to have this meeting before we can meet with them,” Naturkach stressed.
“There will be a time when this gets away from the town,” warned Woods.
Ultimately, council agreed to meet with the “Re-Inventing” committee over its final report on March 25, supporting the group in principle to allow them access to more information, and then, possibly, meeting with the ORC and ministry about the proposed new tourism complex.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
