Duane Hicks
Facing a tough budget year, the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is asking the town for support and hoping to work together to make the event a success.
FFCBC chair Gord Watson spoke briefly to council Monday night, at which time council agreed to meet again with the FFCBC board and received a list of its requests to consider.
“We’re here to say thank you for your continued support moving forward,” said Watson. “It is going to be a lean year for the bass tournament, a little bit smaller.
“The biggest thing that we’re here to say is it is still a valuable Fort Frances event,” he remarked.
Longtime FFCBC director Doug Cain said the bass tournament continues to be an economic driver that stimulates the local economy, and the publicity it has generated for Rainy Lake over the past 16 years is “immeasurable.”
“It’s a very important event and we can’t let this opportunity slip by,” Cain stressed.
“We are in a bit of crunch year,” he admitted. “We realize that, our budget reflects that.
“We just look forward to meeting with you . . . and answering any question you have at that time.”
In a letter received by council, Watson elaborated more on the FFCBC’s financial position.
“We moved from the Sorting Gap Marina to the Memorial Sports Centre in 2010 to significantly save money,” he noted.
“In spite of operating within our budgeted expenses, we regrettably did not reach our budgeted income levels.
“Our nighttime income fell substantially short,” he wrote. “As a result, FFCBC operated at a $30,870.56 loss in 2010.
“We exhausted our retained earnings of over $14,000 and start 2011 with a deficit of $16,789.12.”
But the FFCBC is looking forward and “planning a more financially-successful event,” Watson pledged.
The 2011 tentative schedule will include the “KidPro” event, a parade of boats, three days of competition, and three nights of affordable entertainment.
“Quest for the Best,” organized by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, tentatively is scheduled as an adjacent event.
This year, the FFCBC upgraded the competition format and prize board to appeal to both out-of-town and local anglers.
Every team now will have a chance to win cash prizes daily.
As well, the $150 per team angler infrastructure fee supports the event by offsetting some of the costs directly associated with the angler portion of the event.
“The 2011 FFCBC board of directors has implemented comprehensive budget procedures, including a reduction in the footprint of the event, expense analysis, and conservative income projections in planning for a successful [2011] event,” Watson wrote.
“For all of the years I have participated in the bass tournament, it’s nothing but the best thing that has ever happened in the Town of Fort Frances,” said Coun. John Albanese.
“I’d like to see the bass tournament continue for years to come.
“Good luck.”
The FFCBC is requesting the town:
•designate the FFCBC as a community festival and event, and proclaim period commencing July 17 as “Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Week”;
•designate Mayor Roy Avis or another delegate to act as host of the FFCBC;
•commit $5,000 to the operating budget of the FFCBC to help ensure the economic impact and maintain awareness of our community;
•discuss with the FFCBC how the paid duty policing costs can be reduced either through financial support or by reducing the number of officers required (while the FFCBC reduced its security and policing costs by $10,000 last year by moving the event from the Sorting Gap to the arena, more than $6,000 was paid for “paid duty” OPP police services in 2010—an increase of $750 from 2009);
•permit the use of the Memorial Spots Centre from July 14-25, and waive facility rental fees;
•authorize the use of two picnic tables on the site (the FFCBC will arrange for pick-up and return of the tables);
•provide the FFCBC early in July with a list of Sorting Gap Marina slip lessees so the FFCBC can contact them with a formal request for the possible use of their slips during the tournament;
•paint lines in the AbitibiBowater woodyard to indicate safe parking areas for tournament angler vehicles and trailers;
•authorize tournament officials to use the Sand Bay dock as the morning start site and as an official check-in station throughout the tournament;
•waive launch fees for tournament competitors and volunteers from July 17-23 (they will provide the Sorting Gap Marina staff with a list of tournament anglers and names of volunteers who plan to launch there);
•authorize the temporary installation of poles and flags on the concrete pylons and edges of the launch ramp as in previous years (they will be removed the week after the event);
•allow the FFCBC to attach pennants, signs, and banners to street light poles, fencing, and other creative places with the assurance that no damage will be done and they’ll be removed promptly after the event;
•ensure that the flags in front of the Sorting Gap Marina concession building are in good repair;
•provide the FFCBC director of tournament operations and director of site and facilities with a dock key;
•provide and install chain link fencing to fence off the area north of the Ice For Kids Arena and east of the ’52 Canadians Arena;
•discuss the possibility of permitting the consumption of alcohol in the entire Ice For Kids Arena in the afternoon during weigh-ins; and
•reduce heat and increase air circulation in the Ice For Kids Arena.
The FFCBC’s requests were referred to all four of the town’s executive committees for their recommendations.
Council also agreed to meet with the FFCBC on March 28.
