FORT FRANCES – Non-profit organizations make “invaluable” contributions every day, the mayor of Fort Frances says.
“If we didn’t have these not-for-profits, our community would be much, much less,” Mayor Andrew Hallikas said in an interview a week after honouring the District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) and several other organizations for Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week.
Hallikas noted that he represents the town on the DRRSB’s board of directors “but it doesn’t take away from the value that they present to the community, because I’m honoured to serve on that board for that very reason.”
Collectively, he said, “non-profit organizations provide an invaluable service to our community.”
The mayor presented DRRSB chair Debbie Ewald and chief administrative officer Dan McCormick with a certificate of appreciation at the board’s Feb. 15 meeting.
The DRRSB delivers Ontario Works, services to the unhoused and many other services across the Rainy River District, which includes Atikokan, Emo, Chapple and several other municipalities near Ontario’s border with Minnesota.
Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week, which fell on the week of Feb. 12, was created by the Ontario government to recognize the importance of the sector in the province.
Also honoured by the Town of Fort Frances were the Royal Canadian Legion, United Native Friendship Centre, Weechi-it-te-Win Family Services, Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch, Community Living Fort Frances, and Northwestern Ontario Métis Child and Family Services.
