The town of Fort Frances is getting almost half a million dollars from the provincial government.
The $495,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund will assist with the upgrades to Russell Hall at Sunny Cove Camp.
Northern Development Minister and chair of NOHFC, Greg Rickford, made the announcement during a visit to the camp on Tuesday.
Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, and Andrew Hallikas, Mayor of Fort Frances, at Sunny Cove Camp, March 12, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
Council approved last August to commit $215,000 for repairs after previously rejecting an administration recommendation to consider selling off the camp.
A contract for engineering services was awarded in December to help the town identify the extent of work needed to bring the 50-year-old hall up to standards.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas says restoring the hall will help determine the camp’s future potential.
“Whatever that potential may be because we’re not really sure where we are and where we’re going to go with this yet. But it’s definitely a gem, and we definitely want to restore it so that it can be used to further the development, move Fort Frances forward,” says Hallikas.
The town of Fort Frances acquired the camp in a deal with the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club in 2009.
It last operated in 2019.
Russell Hall at Sunny Cove Camp, March 12, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
Hallikas wants to wait for the engineers’ report before deciding on the next steps.
“You don’t really know what’s going to happen until you actually begin the work. So this is the beginning of the process. And we’re very grateful to Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for helping us get the seed money just to begin the process.”
An administration report issued last year identified Russell Hall as suffering from log rot and an infestation of carpenter ants, with other buildings in disrepair.
Russell Hall at Sunny Cove Camp, March 12, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
It estimated repairs at close to $800,000.
The engineer’s report on the building is expected this summer.
