ISSN 0834-6283

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 $1.19 plus 6 GST, $1.25 U.S.

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Volume 115 Number 5 PAP No. 07429

www.fortfrances.com

ISSN 0834-6283

Construction of abattoir slated to start by late June

By Rick Neilson District correspondent Were going to build an abattoir, Steve Loshaw announced to spontaneous applause by the two dozen or so members attending the annual meeting of the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc. at the Barwick Hall on Thursday night. When we first started this four years ago, Geoff Gillon told me that it would be a long hard process but I never realized it would be that long or that hard, admitted Loshaw, who is president of the RRDRAI. As first reported in Fridays Daily Bulletin, it was not a certainty that Loshaw would be making the announcement given the board only received confirmation of funding last Monday (May 25). Construction is set to begin in late June, to be completed by the end of the year. The contractor, Coldbox Builders from Vaughan, Ont., will be using local sub-contractors as much as possible. Loshaw noted having local knowledge of the building will be valuable for maintenance or upgrades. The plant will be provincially inspected, but could be upgraded to federal standards down the road. It will operate as a not-for-profit business. The $2-million, 3,600 sq. ft. kill and chill plant, to be located at 26 Byng St. in Emo, will require a manager and two or three parttime workers once it begins slaughtering its anticipated 20 animals per week. The facility will handle beef, pork, bison, elk, sheep, and goats. Funding assistance for the project comes from FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and the Ontario Cattlemens Association. The local portion to be raised by the RRDRAI is $360,000. Loshaw suggested members encourage their neighbours to join, with a membership costing $500. There currently are 108 members, with about 900 animal commitments (which cost $100 per head to a ceiling of $2,000). Producers who are members get a discount, and those who have made animal commitments receive an additional discount as well as priority booking. It is projected to cost $140 to slaughter a beef. RRDRAI vice-president Trish Neilson noted the funding was contingent on sufficient animal commitment numbers. Our funding partners went through those numbers pretty thoroughly, she stressed. Please see Construction, A7

Whoa!
Brett Meyers netted the 6.02-pound walleye teammate Nathan Brigham had reeled up on Day 1 of the Emo Walleye Classic. The pair had good success Friday morning downstream from the dam here, propelling them to a lead after the opening day with a 13.99-pound catch. But the duo only brought in a 6.34-pound bag on Saturday to nish in third spot. Kelvin Caul and Ted Heyens captured their rst EWC crown with a two-day haul of 24.98 poundswell ahead of runners-up Paul Allan and Jason Rostek (21.40). See story on B1. Mitch Calvert photo

Lake level still rising

Staff Dont start building an ark just yet. While water levels on Rainy Lake currently are sitting above the International Rainy Lake Board of Controls rule curve at the moment, it remains to be seen whether these high levels will stick around for the summer. Rainy Lake is definitely higher than the IRLBC would prefer, interim co-chair Rick Walden said in an e-mail. As of May 28, Rainy Lake was at 1,108.3 feet9.3 inches above the upper rule curve but just 2.4 inches above the maximum URC level in July, Walden noted. He added with inflow at about 3,500 cubic feet per second larger than the outflow, the lake level is still rising. While it remains to be seen how high Rainy Lake will rise this year, the current level, at only 2.4 inches above a normallyacceptable summer level, is not regarded by the board as a flood level, Walden said. How much longer the level rises, and how high it gets, is dependent on rainfall, he stressed. We could easily end up with lake levels as high, or higher, than Please see Lake, A7

Funding cut to kill anti-tobacco program

By Peggy Revell Staff writer Theyve spent the past four years hammering home an antitobacco message, but Youth Action Alliances across the province will be shutting down at the end of August following the Ontario governments decision to end the programs funding. I was completely shocked, Tiffany Whalen, a Northwest YAA senior peer leader and summer student for tobacco-free sports and recreation, said of her reaction when she first heard funding had been cut to the YAA, which was created under the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy to establish youthled anti-tobacco initiatives. I was just shocked because all the work weve put into it, and all those changes weve made, she added. Its just a disappointment because of all the work weve done. We wanted it to continue, she stressed. All the resources, all the future events, and policy changes we could have madewe dont get to do it anymore. Its a very, very good program and its a bummer that its just being cut. Im deeply discouraged, echoed Jennifer McKibbon, tobacco strategy manager for the Northwestern Health Unit, which helped administer the YAA program in this region. As an organization, we were so tickled to have youth staff, and to have them work with us on some of the issues and then take the issues beyond where we might have thought of as adults. It added such a neat dynamic to our work, and not only that, but the work that they were doing was really critical public health prevention work, and so were really disappointed, McKibbon lamented. With our program, we got a lot of experience about policy change and advocacy for change, and the program was just great to teach us how to make a difference in politics today, said Whalen, expressing gratitude for the funding that was provided over the past four years. It gave us skills and tools to advocate for different changes in our province alone, she noted. Whalen pointed to the advocacy work YAAs across the province have done, including lobbying for a smoking ban in public places and workplaces, a smoking ban in vehicles carrying children, and the Flavour . . . Gone! campaign that originated from the local Northwest YAA, which has been lobbying the government to ban flavours Please see Funding, A7

All decked out

Taylor Meyers and Justin Bujold paused before family and friends during the Grand March portion of Fort Highs annual prom Saturday at the Townshend Theatre. This years theme was A Night Among the Stars, with 184 students participating in the Grand March. The dinner and dance followed at La Place Rendez-Vous. More photos are available online at www.fftimes. com alongside video at www.fortfrances.tv Elisabeth Heslop photo

Inside
Record number attend dog walk
Threatening skies Sunday afternoon couldnt stop a record number of people and their canine companions from turning out for the fourth-annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides here. This year, the 20 registered walkers raised more than $2,400double the amount raised in 2008towards training and providing service dogs for Canadians who require assistance.

Country
Music top-notch again at Classic
Music has been an integral part of the Emo Walleye Classic since its inception in 2002. Whether its during the Saturday night dance or as the boats enter the arena for the final weigh-ins, music always seems to encourage the participation of people from across the district. This year, the directors of the EWC put together an entertainment program aimed at pleasing spectators and performers.

Sports
Muskie boys survive thriller
It took a team effort, and a few favourable bounces, but the Muskie boys soccer team did almost the unthinkable here last Wednesdayclaiming the NorWOSSA crown and a trip to the all-Ontarios in Hamilton this week with back-to-back wins over the Dryden Eagles and Kenora Broncos. The Muskies prevailed over the Broncos on an overtime goal by Mitch Cain in a 1-0 win.

See story on A2

See story on A5

See story on B1

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

FORT FRANCES TIMES A7

Funding cut kills program

More from A1 like pina colada, cotton candy, and green apple being added to tobacco products like chew and cigarillosproducts that specifically are targeted towards youth. The program is really important, why would you want to cut a program thats doing so good? she wondered. And it doesnt even cost that much to fund in the beginning. We receive a little more than $200,000 a year, and thats what were losing, McKibbon said of the cost for the health unit to run the program across the region. It was $115,000 a year per clusteris what they used to call itand the Northwestern Health Unit had two clusters, so thats $230,000 a year. This funding covered all the costs for the program, including travel, training, program supplies, and employing one part-time adult staff and 16 part-time youth staff across the region. Provincially, the cancellation of the YAA program means 50 adult staff in public health units, and more than 350 youths, will lose their jobs. The ministrys position is that we take the fight against smoking seriously, but we know that we have to make changes to reach more Ontarians, Ministry of Health Promotions spokesperson Gary Wheeler said in response to why funding for the YAA program will be stopped. So we are seeking to build on the successes of the YAA program, by taking a broader approach to engage greater numbers of youth who are at risk in Ontario communities, he explained. Were currently developing new programs with our partners that will build on the accomplishments of the YAAs, Wheeler added. Our plan is to bring in new youthoriented programs this fall, and those programs are going to be developed in consultation with our partners. But since this new program still is in its development stage, details (such as if youths will be employed like they are with the YAA) are not yet available. Meanwhile, across the province, supporters of YAAs have been organizing, including a Facebook group called Save the YAAs! Stand up and have your voice heard! which has more than 700 members. Rallies and letter-writing campaigns also were planned before MPPs go on summer recess tomorrow (June 4). Local members of the YAA have been writing letters to politicians to express their disappointment with the program being cancelled, noted Whalen, who encouraged members of the public to do the same. Write letters, make phone calls, fax, e-mail, drive the government crazy and just help us get our program back, she stressed. We want them to realize that what theyve done has really put a damper on youth today, Whalen remarked. We were making such great headway, and we were making so many changes. Weve been doing this for years, and now that weve really got the ball rolling and weve really got the youth engaged and ready to go, our opportunities have just been cut. This includes further work with the Flavour . . . Gone! campaign, said Whalen, because while the federal government recently introduced a bill that bans flavoured cigarillos, flavoured chewwhose use is much more widespread in Northwestern Ontario by youths was omitted. I think the Flavour . . . Gone! campaign that they launched last July is a really excellent example of youth doing things that we, as adults, might not necessarily think of doing, explained McKibbon. They just have the energy to do that, and they can focus on those issues that are youth-centered. And its the kind of work that doesnt get done as well if its adults doing it, and sometimes it doesnt get done that way because the youth have this sort of unique perspective on the issue as it affects them. Some of the things they wanted to work on in the future was getting parks and playgrounds smokefree for kids, so trying to talk to the local municipalities about passing bylaws so that playgrounds were smoke-free, added McKibbon, citing second-hand smoke concerns, the butt litter that can be a dangerous to animals and young children, and to encourage adults to provide a good example to the children in those areas. Fort Frances, we kind of want to do a twist on it, said Whalen. Instead of banning the product in the open . . . we can put more cigarette cans, like the butt cans, up and more places to throw your garbage instead of just throwing it on the ground. Other areas that the YAA hoped to work on include asking municipalities to eliminate smoking around rec centres and pools, like Fort Frances already has done, noted McKibbon. They may get some work done on that this summer, but once the program gets cancelled, itll have to be on a volunteer basis and kids are busy, just like we are, she added, referring to school work, social lives, and other part-time jobs. And having paid staff, including the youth, running the program is one of the YAAs strengths, McKibbon stressed. From my perspective, we value their work by paying them like we would pay adults to do that work, she remarked. Youth are great for volunteering, theyre great for that, but Im not expecting the [new] program to be as successful. The youth are going to listen to youth more than anybody else, thats just my opinion, Whalen said on why the YAA is successful. If you get, for example, some adult in there, trying to preach to the youth, This is why smoking is bad or dont do drugs because . . . theyre just going of kind of brush it off and skip the assembly at the high school. Another loss will come with the end to jobs for the adult staff, who are a youth advisor and support the involved youth in planning how to take action on issues the youth feel are important, McKibbon added. The difficulty of running a program like thiswhere youth are really engaged and have influence over how the program is run, really have a meaningful roleis that if you dont have paid adult staff whose job is a youth advisor, the adult staff that are in the health unit dont have that kind of time. They have other programs that they have to do. These are the jobs that were losing. Were going to continue the program as fully as we can until the end of August, until the funding ends, but it is a sad time, McKibbon stressed. Were all feeling a little bit deflated about it because I cannot fathom why this is a good idea. It just gave us a voice to make a difference, and now we feel like weve lost that voice, echoed Whalen.

Abattoir a go
More from A1 RRDRAI secretary Bill Darby believes there is a likelihood there will be larger numbers than those committed. A lot of producers only bought a small number because they understood that it means youve got to bring your animals to the abattoir and they were not sure if they would be able sell at the farm gate, so they only committed to bring two or three animals. But they eventually could be bringing more, he suggested. Loshaw conceded there was some concern about being penalized if producers we unable bring the animals they had committed. We are not in the position to penalize them. We need the support, he stressed. We have a positive message tonight and we hope that maybe there is some money out there; that people would like to help reduce that $360,000 so that it is more manageable. Use the facility when it is up and running. Promote local products, Loshaw urged. Weve gone many years without an abattoir and we have to use it. The Rainy River Future Development Corp. will hold the mortgage. Loshaw praised the dedication and hard work of the board and the patience of the membership. He also acknowledged the RRFDC and Geoff Gillon, ag rep Gary Sliworsky, Jane Gillon with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and the townships of Barwick, Emo, and La Vallee for their contributions. Jeannette Cawston, the rural ag co-ordinator, spoke briefly about her efforts to build the appetite for local food while also trying to increase the interest of farmers in catering to the local market. We have conducted three surveys that show that 85 percent will buy local, she noted. They ask, Where can you get it? Ive been working with the [Rainy River Cattlemens Association] on protocols, as well as marketing and packaging, Cawston added. Our vision is to have Rainy River Raised beef in all of the retail stores across the region.

Lake level still rising

More from A1 those of 2008. However, it should not be assumed that this will be the case this summer. While the level is currently high, and is likely to be for a while yet, a return to better weather would easily result in quite acceptable levels in the summer months, Walden remarked. This past winters weather, including a record snowfall in March, is one of the factors behind why the water levels are high. Since late April, the RainyNamakan basin has experienced three periods of well above normal rainfall which, combined with the above normal snowmelt run-off, has resulted in the current high lake level, Walden explained. The fact that the rainfall has been fairly intense at times, instead of more evenly distributed, and the fact that the weather has been cool and cloudy, has also meant that more of the rainfall has run off into the lake and the basin hasnt had a chance to dry out as much as it would under warmer, sunnier conditions. Lake levels will continue to rise, he added, until inflow and outflow are equalsomething that is mainly subject to the continued amount of precipitation. As of Thursday, 14 of the 15 gates were open at the dam here and water was being passed through both powerhouses, Walden said, with the final gate expected to be opened once it is effective to do so. It is anticipated that the final gate will be opened soon, although the lake level is still about 3.5 inches below the level at which the IJC order requires all gates to be open, he noted. It is not effective to open gates faster than they have been due to the restriction in the upper river at the Ranier rapids, Walden stressed. Larger amounts of water simply cant pass through this restriction until the lake level is higher, so opening more gates sooner simply draws down the level of the river at the dam, resulting in less depth, or head, to push water through the sluices that are open. While some may suggest a solution to high water levels is drawing the level of Rainy Lake lower over the winter, Walden pointed to the IRLBC/IRRWPB Spring, 2009 report to the IJC, where in section 2.2 this proposal is addressed in the context of the 2008 event and presents modelling results which show that this is simply not effective. Walden advised property owners to keep updated on the water level conditions, and take precautions for protecting shorefronts and docks. Regularly updated water levels for Rainy Lake, and other information, can be found online at www. ijc.org, where a link to the Rainy Lake Board of Control can be found under the Boards tab.

McAuley & Partners

barristers & solicitors
Serving our Communities Since 1948
practices in the area of FAMILY LAW, of which she has extensive knowledge. MS. TRACH will be in Fort Frances on June 16th, 2009. If you would like to meet with Ms. Trach to discuss your legal needs please contact McAuley & Partners at 807-223-2254 to set up an appointment.

SARAH S. TRACH, B.A., LL.B

ATTENTION Youth Volleyball Players!

10th Annual Core & Elite Divisions Recital

Fort Dance Studio

presents

The Fort Frances Muskie Girls Hockey Team and the Redline Booster Club thank you for attending the Emo Walleye Tournament Fish Fry! The turnout was exceptional and we truly appreciate the support of the shing teams and residents from throughout the district who attended. Special thanks as well to our generous sponsors who include:

- THANK YOU -

Plan to attend the

5th Annual Fort Frances

VOLLEYBALL CAMP
For male and female players ages 12 - 17.

~A Reprisal of Select Past Performances~

Friday, June 5th, Townshend Theatre @ 7 pm AND Saturday, June 6 , Townshend Theatre @ 7 pm
th

10

Anniversary Special

Canada Safeway -Fort Frances Fort Frances General Supply Ernest Thompson Distributors

The Place Dalsegs Food Town Cloverleaf Foods Tompkins Hardware Beaver Mills Market in Rainy River

July 6th - 10th, 2009

9am to 2pm daily
HEADLINE COACH

Tickets sold @ Bettys and at the door on show nights. All tickets $11

~Dancing Down Memory Lane~

Your support provides for a delicious meal and for proceeds to be directed towards defraying the expenses of the Muskie Girls Hockey Program. Finally, a big thank you to the Emo Walleye Committee and to the Crossroads Rink Group for providing us with the opportunity to be a part of this special event.

BOB KOWAL - NIPISSING UNIVERSITY

Former Head Coach - Mens Volleyball Program

Happy 10th Fort Dance Studio

CAMP TUITION $165

Application forms can be picked up at FFHS (Main Ofce) or in the Recreator. Applications due by June 15th. Contact Duane Roen Fort Frances High School (807) 274-7747

In honour of

WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

June 15th The Fort Frances Elder Abuse Awareness Committee is pleased to present a FREE

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH #99

2009 Rafe Results

2009 Yamaha Phazer GT and 2009 Yamaha 350 Kodiak with plow and winch, plus Yacht Club trailer with swivel jack supplied by Tompkins Hardware Limited and Yamaha Winner: Robin McQuaker, Stratton Motorguide electric trolling motor courtesy of Nestor Falls Marine Winner: Larry Hagen, Fort Frances One day catch and release y-in shing trip for four including ight, boat, motor and gas supplied by True North Outposts Winner: Henry Petkau, Emo $1,000 worth of groceries supplied by Cloverleaf Shop-Easy Foods Winner: Deb Westover, Barwick Woods 10cu. foot freezer and frozen food package supplied by Greens Countrywide & Greensides General Store Winner: Darlene Smith, Devlin John Deere STIHL HS 45 Hedge Trimmer courtesy of DeGagne Equipment Winner: Lisa Loney, Winnipeg 20 Haro F1 BMX bike supplied by Skates & Blades, Bikes & Boards Winner: Tracy Gibson, Fort Frances Acer Aspire One 8.9 Notebook supplied by Walmart Winner: Dave Christiansen, Fort Frances Husqvarna 125c grass trimmer courtesy of Borderland Esso Winner: Aaron Heerema, Emo $250 Petro Canada Gas Card courtesy of Norlund Oil (2003) Limited Winner: Vernon Thompson, Emo

Thank You
The Board of Directors for the

Health & Safety Workshop for Seniors

Monday, June 15th, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Royal Canadian Legion 250 Church St. Fort Frances
The agenda for the session will be as follows: 10 a.m. ~ Drivewise with Constable Anne McCoy 11 a.m. ~Medication Safety with Edwin Bruyere, Pharmacist 12 noon ~ Light Lunch sponsored by the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition & the Older Adults Program 1 p.m. ~ Frauds & Scams with O.P.P. 2 p.m. ~ Safe Banking with Nancy Green, CIBC Bank Manager

Timothy Perreault Charitable Foundation

would like to thank the following businesses, organizations and individuals who helped make this years golf tournament a great success. Thank you to our Gold sponsor B-93 for all the advertising and radio interview, it was very special, to our silver sponsors DeGagne Equipment, Couchiching First Nations, a thank you to Sight and Sound, Howarths Home Centre, Otis Elevator Services, United Native Friendship Centre, North American Lumber, Sunset Country Ford, Revco Carpet, Holmlunds Financial Services, Gillons Insurance Brokers, Royal Bank of Canada (Winnipeg Branch), Tom Veert, MGI (Rice Financial Services), Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, E. Thompson Distributors, Heron Landing Golf Course, Sandwedge Restaurant (Greg Bruyere),Fortune Bay Resort and Casino, Chester Fried Chicken, Couchiching Convenience Complex, Couchiching Fire Department, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services, Rainy Lake Tribal Contractors, Wayne George Construction, Domenic Servillo, Construction Allied Workers Union, Heikki Lampi, Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat, Fort Frances Clinic Dispensary, LaPlace Rendez-Vous, Asselins, Wilsons Business Solutions, Linda Kennard, Maurice Fillion, Fort Frances General Supply, International Travel, Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services, Calder Law Ofce, Fort Frances Times, Richard Bruyere, Lannie Michell. Last of all and the most important people: Brenda McPherson, Sharon Strachan, Michelle Strachan, Diane and Gerry Martin, Josephine Potson, Mary Jane Kecwandh, Shania Weir, Patsy Friday, Sherry McLeod, Ashley Grimard. Also a very big thank you to all the players, I hope you had a wonderful day. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me. Thank you all very much, a little step in time, makes a big different.

Enter to win prizes!

For more information or to register, please call 274-9712 or 274-1403

This advertisement sponsored by

Pauline and Greg Perreault

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