A new committee focusing on downtown Fort Frances has been formed.
The Business Recruitment and Downtown Revitalization Committee is looking at ways to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and make the downtown more vibrant.
One of its first steps is gathering public comment through an online survey.
Angela Halvorsen-Smith of the Rainy River Future Development Corporation says that input will determine their next steps.
“I think it’s going to give us a really good idea of the types of businesses that we would then go out and try to recruit or try to entice to come to the area,” says Halvorsen-Smith.
“We’re going to summarize that in a way that whatever seems to come out as the most prominent, then maybe that’s where we’ll start as far as any kind of recruitment or marketing towards businesses of those types and then sort of go from there.”
Halvorsen-Smith says it will also give them some information to use on the development of potential incentives that could be developed to encourage investments in the downtown core.
“The town of Fort Frances is going through a community improvement plan exercise right now, and part of that community improvement plan may be to be able to give some incentives,” says Halvorsen-Smith.
“So that’s sort of what also is part of this, is coming up with what do we want to see as a committee? What do we want to bring to the town and say this is what we would like the town to be able to do?”
Halvorson-Smith notes that RRFDC already offers support to those interested in starting a business, including loan programs and help with business plans.
There have been previous studies done.
Halvorsen-Smith says they may look back at those to review the recommendations to see if they are still applicable today.
“You know, things that may have worked 20 years ago may not work now or vice versa. Maybe things that didn’t work or wouldn’t work 20 years ago would work now because things have changed.”
“Through COVID, people got very used to shopping online and being able to access things from outside of the area. So, if there are things that we can bring here to give that opportunity for people to shop locally, then obviously that would be our goal.”
The survey can be found on the Rainy River Future Development Corporation’s Facebook page.
Organizers with Burger Wars are confirming the popular food festival in Fort Frances will be ready to go ahead next year.
They have set June 4th, 2027, as the date.
They were forced to postpone for this year after a conflicting schedule with a new RibFest event that will take place in September.
Spokesperson Angela Halversen-Smith says alternate dates were considered, but those conflicted with other events the food trucks were previously committed to.
Halversen-Smith says moving it to next year gives them more time to plan to make it an even bigger and better event, showcased in the highly successful inaugural event last September.
Burger Wars in Fort Frances, September 12, 2025. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
“We want it to be a social event. We’re going to, of course, have music and make that festival feeling,” says Halversen-Smith.
“So just trying to improve on what we learned from our first year and hopefully be able to make it bigger and better with more food, more community, more local businesses and bring people downtown.”
Halversen-Smith says they are looking at extending the event, which focused on the 200 block of Scott Street, into the 100 block if possible to add more market vendors and activities.
They also expect to add more food trucks.
They are also looking at the potential of having both blocks licensed so people can wander around with their beverages.
Last year’s event featured five food trucks and attracted an estimated 2,000-2,500 people.
“One of the things that we’ve heard many times is that I haven’t seen that many people downtown in 20 years, 30 years. It’s been many, many years since they had a very large event that brought that many people to the town square downtown area.”
The Zamburger was the inaugural winner of Burger Wars, September 12, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia News
The event also helped raise $10,000 for Fort Frances Community Chest, which helps residents with emergency medical needs.
Halversen-Smith says they have no ill feelings toward the second food festival coming or the town.
She feels there is plenty of room and support for both events.
“We certainly are excited about Ribfest, and we want everyone to support that festival as well,” says Halversen-Smith.
“We’ll just get these kinks figured out, and hopefully we’ll have two wonderful festivals for the town to participate in.”
Burger Wars in Fort Frances, September 12, 2026. Image: Johnathan Price/Acadia Broadcasting
