A proposal to attract more hockey teams to Fort Frances.
The Rainy River Future Development Corporation (RRFDC) and the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) committee propose the creation of a position to expand participation in tournaments.
They are asking the town to partner on the initiative, funded partly from the tax collected on motel and hotel rooms and a grant.
In a letter to town council, Tannis Drysdale, a member of the MAT committee, states the Tournament Growth Coordinator would work with tourism officials and businesses.
The position would focus efforts on attracting teams from outside a 100-kilometre radius of Fort Frances.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas sees it as an opportunity to increase the economic benefits hockey tournaments bring.
“Fort Frances is and always has been a hockey town,” says Hallikas.
“I know that when we have tournaments here, we reap a really significant economic benefit to our hotels, motels, shops, restaurants. If we can increase that and become known throughout a greater radius as a hockey community that welcomes teams from other places, I think that could really give us an economic boost.”
Councillor John McTaggart sees it benefiting other sports and events in the future.
“There are other events, even beyond sports that maybe we could expand to,” says McTaggart. “But this is really an attempt to try to drive traffic to local businesses, restaurants and hotels.”
“I think it really needs a real good look at and see if we can make it work.”
Town administration is now taking a closer look at the request and will report back to council in October.
