Acts of Kindness Wanted

Your acts of kindness could go to help the Fort Frances Community Chest.

Committee member Tannis Drysdale says it's a new fundraiser planned for December 3 to raise money for the fund available to area residents needing to access medical care outside the district.

"All of the acts of kindness that will be donated by either businesses or individuals in the community are going to be sold in the week coming up to the benefit or at the benefit itself," says Drysdale. "We going to have some auctioned on E-Bay. We're going to have some live-auctioned at the benefit and then some just for sale for individuals at the benefit."

The group is now seeking individuals willing to donate a service by calling the Chamber office.

Halloween for Hunger

(Supplied photo)


The first ever Halloween for Hunger is being hailed a huge success.

Twenty high school students with the group "Saving Faces," trick-or-treated last night in Fort Frances and Emo for non-perishable items and collected more than 1,500 items.


They will now be given to Safeway's food bank drop box where the total weight will be matched by Shaw Communication's and Cambell's Canada's food bank campaign.

Use-of-Force Up at Border

(Canada Border Services Agency photo)


Troublesome travellers are prompting more Canadian border officers to draw their guns, use pepper spray, and swing their batons.


An internal report shows so-called use-of-force incidents jumped 170 per cent over the past four years.

Canadian border officers have fired just one bullet since they started carrying guns in mid-2007.

It happened last summer, when an injured moose was put down on a B.C. highway.

Ignatieff Speaks Out on Border

(CKDR photo)


Problems at the border were among the issues discussed during a town hall meeting in Dryden with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff says he's the only leader who believes its a major issue.



"The one time I met with the President of the United States for thirty-five minutes, what did I talk about for 15 minutes? It was the border," says Ignatieff. "I thought this was my one shot as leader of the opposition to talk about something really matter economically and I did raise that issue with him."

Ignatieff says Americans with minor convictions who want to spend a week fishing in northwestern Ontario shouldn't be turned away at the border.

State Patrol

The Minnesota State Patrol is on the move in International Falls.

The Patrol's four officers, including two K-9 handlers, are relocating to the new U.S. Border Patrol facility along the Rainy River.

It's the first time in the U.S. that Border and State Patrols will have shared facilities.

The move of the Minnesota State Patrol was necessary because their current location, an old state-own building, is being sold.

Spirit Horse Performed

(Supplied photo)


A play that challenges cultural stereotypes was performed before grade 3 to 8 students across the Rainy River district last week.

Actress, Cara Gee, says Spirit Horse focuses on a number of sensitive issues such as racism.

"When we present the play or when we bring it to schools, we discuss that afterwards," says Gee. "We have a question and answer period where we point out the moments where the girls were experiencing racism and we talk about how we can all make a difference if we choose treat each other with respect and open mindedness."

Public and Catholic board teachers also received hands-on professional development to help bring portions of the play back into their classrooms.

African Choir Performs

The sounds of Africa resonated through the Townsend Theatre Friday night.

Members of the African Children's Choir performed as part of a cross-Canada tour.

Chimera Victor, a team leader, says they're also raising awareness of Africa's orphaned and abandoned children.

"The African Children's Choir is out to spread a message that the African child still has dignity and amazing potential," says Victor, "and wants even the opportunity for the African child to reach to greater heights."

It's the sixth year the choir has visited Fort Frances and hosted by Bethel Baptist Church.