District senior games set for Kenora

For the last two months, active senior citizens from Fort Frances have been gearing up for the 16th-annual District 1A senior games, which are slated June 5-8 in Kenora.
Sister Kennedy Centre here has been abuzz with a myriad of activities since April with close to 275 entries. But as friendly as these games are, there’s still an air of concentration, especially during Saturday’s contract bridge qualifiers.
There was nothing but silence throughout the seven tables. One player even refused to have his picture taken.
So far, 12 of the qualifying seniors have agreed to make the trip to Kenora for the district games. Qualifiers are not obliged to go, noted Nick Wihnan, the centre’s manager/director and organizer of the Fort Frances contingent.
He added many of them are on fixed incomes and cannot afford to travel. But that rarely gets in the way of why they participate in the first place.
“The intent is to keep active. It’s someplace for them to do and go,” said Wihnan, 73.
The games will feature more than a dozen events, including various card games, five-pin and carpet bowling, floor and table shuffleboard, horseshoes, snooker, walking, darts, and golf.
Margaret Maybank, secretary for the upcoming games there, is anticipating close to 150 participants from Fort Frances, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, and host Kenora. But the poor weather this spring could hurt turnout.
“I think this year we’re feeling a little dejected because the registration has been a little slow,” she admitted. “People don’t think spring has come.”
Next year, Fort Frances will take its turn to host the district games as a prelude to “Activefest” in Toronto. This event attracts more than 1,800 participants from across the province.
Only medal winners from the district level will be advanced there. Wihnan said these particular games can get a little serious.
“They give rules – they must play by ‘Activefest’ rules”, he warned.
For now, next month’s district games will feature every kind of setting; competitive, social, friendly.
“There’s a spirit of camaraderie between the three main cities [of Dryden, Kenora, and Fort Frances],” said Maybank. “It’s nice to get together once in a while and be a joint group and get away from the supposed rivalries.”