A lack of staff is preventing the town of Fort Frances from getting summer youth programming off the ground.
A five-week program was planned after council voted last month to offer them.
Manager of Recreation and Culture Aaron Bisson says he can’t find the staff to run it.
“We’ve been trying really hard to get staff to run this program. We’ve done advertising through our social media, through the paper and just haven’t had any up taking this position,” says Bisson.
Bisson says he’s already cancelled the first three weeks of the program. The other two are in jeopardy of not running if staff can’t be hired this week.
Bisson notes he doesn’t have the staff internally.
“We’re down to two full-time lifeguards now. We just had one provide us with their letter of resignation. Our lifeguard supervisor is also not able to work in the summer program,” says Bisson.
He says the supervisor is busy trying to hire staff to run their fall pool programs.
Councillor Mike Behan says it’s disappointing, but council was warned staffing would be an issue.
“(We) certainly did try to run the summer programs this year. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Aaron had warned us that it would be difficult to get staff at this late juncture. It seems that’s how it’s played out,” says Behan.
It is hoped that other programming will be able to fill the gap.
Both the Fort Frances Library and Fort Frances Museum are offering youth programs.
Ice will be going into the Memorial Sports Centre on August 16.
A hockey camp is scheduled for that same week.
Bisson says Fort Frances Minor Hockey is planning for 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 hockey but has yet to make its plans public.
The Fort Frances Girls-Women’s Hockey Association is also still working on plans for August.
