Last Thursday’s official announcement that the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. was providing almost $2 million in funding to the second indoor ice surface here was accepted with open arms by the town.
Northern Development and Mines minister Tim Hudak made the announcement inside the new arena before a small gathering of councillors, “Ice for Kids” members, and the public.
The $1,983,830 contribution was one of the keys to the town being able to go ahead with the $7.4-million project, which is being built adjacent to the former Memorial Arena and Sportsplex.
“This will go a long way to completing a beautiful complex,” said Hudak from a podium near one of the end boards. “As a border community, it will help expand the tourism sector.
“I want to commend the mayor, council, and the community.”
“For everyone involved, it’s been a long time coming,” an obviously pleased Mayor Glenn Witherspoon said at last week’s announcement.
“This is better than I thought and the spin-offs from tournaments are going to help the community,” he noted. “This facility will be booked every weekend.
“It’s kind of an awe-inspiring.”
Dave Egan, one of the key members of “Ice for Kids” which helped raise about $600,000 locally for the area project, said he wanted to commend Mayor Witherspoon in his determination to get this funding.
“To come in here and see the progress, it’s just amazing, just beautiful,” Egan enthused. “On behalf of ‘Ice for Kids,’ I want to commend the mayor. He made a statement and a promise and he lobbied for [the funding].”
As for the project itself, Mayor Witherspoon said everything is going as planned. The official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated Thursday, June 15, with the 1952 Allan Cup-winning Fort Frances Canadians being invited to take part.
The first event slated for the new arena will be the Fort High Millennium Reunion coming up July 7-9.
Fort Frances Times
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