News

The Economic Development Advisory Committee is recommending the town pursue the purchase of the former Ontario Tourism Information Centre (OTIC) here once it becomes available, and enter into a private-public partnership to support the cost.

A parade will be part of the Canada Day celebrations here after all, with the Rainy River Future Development Corp. taking over the reins.
RRFDC regional economic developer Geoff Gillon told town council last night that the RRFDC has obtained Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. funds to hire an intern.

The location of a ceremony to honour 26 residents with Volunteer Service Awards this evening has been changed.
The ceremony now will be held at 7 p.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous here.
It originally was scheduled to be held at the Townshend Theatre.

Since it’s been three weeks since their last meeting, town council has a lengthy agenda ahead of it tonight, including three presentations on various matters.
Artist and art instructor Lindsay Hamilton will speak to council about the placement of a second mural at the ’52 Canadians Arena.
The mural was created during a summer camp at Confederation College last year.

Fort Frances is hosting 64 residents of Attawapiskat First Nation, who had to evacuate their community due to flooding and sewer back-ups.
The first plane of evacuees arrived at Fort Frances Airport at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with a second Dash 8 arriving at 5:20 p.m. that day.

Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances is launching a “Messy Church” event on the second Tuesday of each month.
“It’s a family fun night where you don’t have to come up with the ideas, you don’t have to shell out a lot of cash, and you don’t have to deal with any chaos in your own home,” explained organizer Sherri Putzer.

Ontario made official amendments to the Fire Code and Building Code yesterday, making it the first province to make automatic sprinklers mandatory in care homes for seniors and those with disabilities.
Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. CEO Allan Katz said Riverside soon will begin to work with key stakeholders to review compliance requirements for Rainycrest Long-Term Care here.

In an effort to encourage local residents to do some spring cleaning in their yards, the town once again will suspend the collection of tipping fees at the local landfill this Saturday (May 11) for half-ton vehicles and utility trailers.
Tipping fees will be waived from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., but only for leaves, tree branches, grass clippings, and garden waste.

The town is asking residents to check the sump pumps used for their weeping tile systems in their basements and make sure they are not discharging directly into the sanitary sewer system.
Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown said yesterday that it’s time to put those sump pumps into “summer mode.”

The “Friends of the Fort Frances Museum” is looking for visual artists, performing artists, crafters, and artisans to submit proposals for workshops or activities to conduct for young people this summer.
The group, active for more than a year, and has been fundraising—and receiving donations—in order to provide community programming.