FORT FRANCES—After getting a major shot-in-the-arm from Shaw Communications last month, the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre’s “Building for the Future” campaign will be aiming to reach its fundraising goal of $750,000 with a phone blitz next month.
Campaign chair Mark Kowalchuk, who was out of town for the Shaw announcement, said Monday he’s ecstatic about the news.

Kish-Gon-Dug Canada Handcrafted Wood Products had its official grand opening at Naicatchewenin First Nation last Wednesday.
Although the business has been up and running since 2000, this still was an important milestone for the factory as the ceremony marked the success it has enjoyed so far.
Working out of an old bus garage, they started by producing lawn and patio furniture made from western red cedar from British Columbia trying to prove it would be a good project to invest in.
FedNor assisted the company and supplied money for marketing.

The Fort Frances Horticultural Society had a brilliant display of bouquets at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market here on Saturday.
They were creations by members of the horticultural society made of blooms and foliage grown in their own gardens.
It was a delightful blend of creativity and the natural beauty of the flowers.
The stand was run by Astrid Sobkowicz, Vivian O’Donnell, and Evelyn Goldamer.
At the close of the market, Helen Crook drew three names (Carole Bruyere, Rochelle Kennett, and Diane Williamson), who all received elegantly-designed arrangements created by Astrid.

Fort Frances may be too far south to bear the brunt of the Ontario government’s announcement last week to preserve large areas of northern wilderness and reopen the mining act, but the impact of these changes remain unclear for local industry.
“I can’t speak for all of industry, but certainly for AbitibiBowater, the announcement . . . as I understand, is primarily north of the undertaking,” noted company spokeswoman Sue Prodaniuk.

Children’s birthday parties and family gatherings are the target for a new laser business in town.
The first of its kind in the district, Outlast Laser Sports is a family-owned business operated by local residents Corey and Natalie Cousineau along with Andrew and Lorraine Peters.
The young group—all born and raised here—wanted to bring some entertainment to the area and came across the idea on the Internet to rent out a full laser tag set-up.
It’s to get the whole family out and active, said Corey Cousineau.

FORT FRANCES—While the company is making changes to the way it operates in Fort Frances, Shaw has vowed to try and keep aspects of local programming viewers here are used to, including town council meetings.
Deb Avis, vice-president of marketing for Shaw Cablesystems, said Monday that Shaw general manager Doug Steele has been in contact with several freelance “shooters” (camera operators) in town to produce local content, and is expected to retain one very shortly.

Robert van Oort, Chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board, is pleased to announce that the trustees approved the 2008/2009 Annual Budget, on Saturday, June 21.
“Our trustees are committed to supporting the Catholic school system so that it meets the needs of all students and offers them excellent facilities, and great teachers in an excellent faith filled learning environment,” said van Oort.

The housing market here in Fort Frances has seen little to no growth or decline over recent years, according to one local broker.
“It’s plateaued for a number of years now. It hasn’t done a lot,” said Dan Cousineau of Cousineau Brokers Inc.
He noted there haven’t been many fluctuations in the market, which has both its pros and cons.
“Obviously the good is you know where you are at all times and there’s nothing crazy going on,” Cousineau remarked. “You’re not buying a house this year and next year it’s not worth anything.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff believes the Liberal Party of Canada’s “Green Shift”—a plan for the environment and the economy—will not only benefit Canadians, but particularly residents of Rainy River District.
“Many of the concerns that they had in terms of rural and small communities are in the ‘Green Shift’ plan because of the tax cuts,” he noted.

A partnership between Northern Bulk (part of the Gardewine Group) and the Rainy Lake Tribal Development Corp. was formed following last year’s announcement that a biomass fuel boiler would be built in Fort Frances by AbitibiBowater.
The two companies, which formed the new business Rainy Lake Logistics, came together to help meet the rising demand for biomass fuel product.