"KYRC" - 'Know Your Regional Campuses - Rainy River District Campus

(Fort Frances, January, 30 2012) -

Our Rainy River District Campus, the first stop in the western leg of my journey is located in the high school, in the town of Fort Frances.

Fort Frances is located on the Canada/USA border, directly across Rainy River from International Falls, MN, 4.5 hrs from Thunder Bay. Resolute Forest Products (formerly Abitibi Bowater) is the major employer which produces pulp for markets near and far away. Gold mining is active and gaining strength in the area and hockey definitely rules in recreational sports ...

This article is part of a series entitled "Know Your Regional Campuses" (KYRC) - Rainy River District Campus ... an opportunity to become more familiar with our Regional Campuses, some of the people who work there, and the unique communities in which they reside, along with a little history of the area.

Campus Staff

Here are a few key staff from the Rainy River District Campus (photos supplied):

Ann Renaud photo

Anne Renaud - Campus Director

Kathy Egan - Program Officer

Evelyn Sletmoem - Administrative Assistant

Cathy Tysz

Cathy Tysz (my tour guide) is their computer & IT guru

Rainy River District Campus - staff photo

(l to r) Brody Marsonet, Instructor, Kathy Caul, Faculty SSW, EA, & NCFW, Tracy Roach, Instructor,

Dede McCool, Classroom Assistant, Cathy Tysz, Systems Administrator/ Instructor,

Evelyn Sletmoen, Administrative Assistant

To see more campus staff, see their Faculty & Staff page ...

Gwen Barlow - Faculty - Coordinator for the EA program
Raeann Watson is the Contact North - Site Coordinator

Hockey

Minor hockey is huge in Fort Frances. They have new multi-sports arena which boasts two ice surfaces, a swimming pool, and a weight-training facility.

Fort Frances Memorial Sports Centre

Fort Frances Memorial Sports Centre - ice surface 1

Ice Surface #1 with seating - ideal for regional hockey tournaments

To see a movie, residents frequently head across the border and across Rainy River to International Falls, MN.

Tourism & History

Included among their tourist attractions is the "Hallett" logging tug boat which was the largest and most powerful boat on Rainy Lake. It was retired in 1974, after hauling an estimated 1.5 million cords of wood. The boat has recently been restored and is now parked downtown on the edge of Rainy River, an area known as La Verendrye Parkway, named after a French explorer who traveled much of Northwestern Ontario in the 1700's, looking for a route to the western sea.

Hallett logging tug photo

The "Hallett" a powerful logging tug boat, that worked for many years on Rainy Lake, now parked downtown along the La Verendrye Parkway as a tourist attraction.

La Verendrye Parkway photo

La Verendrye Parkway, running along Rainy River, named after a French explorer, who explored much of northwestern Ontario

Fort Frances Museum photo

Fort Frances Museum located on the main street in the downtown area.

Fort Frances border crossing photo

Canada border crossing, with the Resolute Forest Products mill in the background.

The Fort Frances Economy

The Fort Frances economy revolves largely around the pulp industry and the Resolute Forest Products mill.

Abitibi Bowater plant photo - Fort Frances

Resolute Forest Products, (formerly Abitibi Bowater), is located right at the Canada/USA border crossing.

logging truck photo - Fort Frances

Large trucks hauling logs through the Fort Frances downtown area
is a common sight.

Sport Fishing - Canadian Bass Championship

Fort Frances is famous for its Canadian Bass Championship Tournament on Rainy Lake, during the third week of July, drawing throngs of fishing enthusiasts with many high end bass boats from near and far (Canada and the USA).

Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship - photo of sign