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Group formed to further proposed bike park in Atikokan

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A committee has been established to help develop a bike park in Atikokan.

The project is being spearheaded by a group of youth who first presented the idea to town council in February.

The committee includes members of the original delegation and community members, with assistance from town administration.

The town’s Chief Administrative Officer, Jason Young, says they are looking for confirmed town council support to move forward.

“With a clear indication from Council, the committee will feel better knowing that Council supports them, the project, and what they can do for it, because they’ve got a lot of ideas and they want to get to work on some fundraising,” says Young.

The group is also keen to explore grant opportunities and retain a professional to develop the park’s design.

The youth had initially proposed a site in the Dunbar Heights area, but now favour a location at Centennial Park.

Young says it is out of the way from residential properties, avoiding the potential of residents’ complaints and concerns that may arise.

“The other reason Centennial Park is the recommended choice is that there is room for expansion,” says Young.

“Apparently, in some of these places, they have different levels, beginners, intermediate or advanced. There is an area there that if you were to put a small modular pump truck, for example, there would be room for that expansion.”

Council has indicated support for the project.

A formal resolution indicating that and agreeing to Centennial Cup as the location is expected to come before council in April.

Point Park 2014

Fort Frances settles on Point Park ruling

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The mayor of Fort Frances is hoping the issue over Point Park is now over.

The town was forced to pay $1.5 million for the legal fees of the four First Nations that opposed the town’s ownership claim to the park.

A court ruled against the town last year and ordered the town to pay the legal fees of the First Nations, as well as those of the provincial and federal governments, who were also parties in the case.

Andrew Hallikas says the money owed to the First Nations has been paid.

“I am very pleased to put this litigation behind us,” says Hallikasa.

“Of course, it’s a financial blow to the municipality. But when you undertake litigation, you also undertake the risk of costs. We lost litigation. Costs were awarded to the other party, and we have to pay them.”

The town did not pay the legal fees of the provincial or federal governments, which also totalled close to $1.5 million.

With help from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski, the town was able to get those costs waived.

“We thought that was a bit of a David and Goliath thing,” says Hallikas in explaining the decision to reach out for assistance.

“The amount of money that we would pay the country of Canada is a drop in the bucket to them, but it’s a huge amount of money to a small municipality like us. And ditto Ontario.”

“We thought that there was a possibility that we could get them to waive their fees. So we spoke to our elected representatives.”

Hallikas credits both Rickford and Powlowski for helping the town.

He insists the payment had no impact on this year’s budget.

The money, he says, was taken out of reserves.

“It’s not affecting any property taxes at all because, like any municipality, we plan. We have a fund for contingencies, and the money came out of our reserves. It doesn’t affect any tax rates,” emphasizes Hallikas.

Hallikas says he is now focused on moving forward and improving relationships with the First Nations, which it took to court for nearly 30 years.

He has already had several conversations with their leadership since last year’s court ruling.

Legion Loop skating trail Jan 30 2026 (4)

New skating trail opens in Fort Frances

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The Legion Loop is now open.

It is a 350 kilometre long skating trail through Legion Park in Fort Frances.

The project was one anticipated during the planning for the new spray park.

Mayor Andrew Hallikas joined with town staff and skaters to officially open the trail.

Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas cut a ribbon to open the Legion Loop Skating trail at Legion Park, January 30, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

He hopes it becomes an attractive area for area residents and tourists.

“Fort Frances, as we all know, is a hockey town and a town that enjoys winter sports,” says Hallikas.

“And the people of Fort Frances are a hearty group undaunted by sub-zero temperatures.”

“It is my hope that this trail will serve as a gathering place, a place to enjoy that Sub-Zero winter air, to have fun, to connect with your neighbours and to enjoy a great Canadian pastime.”

Construction of the trail was left to the town’s park staff.

Lead Cody Vangel says the location was dependent on bringing equipment that did not require the removal of any trees.

“We had to plan the loop where our equipment could actually travel through,” says Vangel.

“The truck that we’re hauling the water around is a three-quarter ton, with a big arrow board on top, so it’s about close to eight feet tall.”

Vangel says they turned to Thunder Bay for some assistance.

Legion Loop Skating trail at Legion Park in Fort Frances, January 30, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

The city has operated a skating trail at Vicker’s Park for several years.

“I talked to a gentleman in the parks department in Thunder Bay, and they really gave us a good idea of how to implement a tee distribution bar off the back of our water truck, which really is the foundation of getting the water and the ice base down,” says Vangel.

“And just how they kind of maintain and pack a frost base down to hold the water, those are some key components that we took and implemented here.”

There will be regular maintenance of the trail, including snow removal once priority areas are complete, and flooding if required.

Barring a sudden warming of the temperatures, the trail will likely remain in place until at least into the early part of March.

Legion Loop Skating trail at Legion Park in Fort Frances, January 30, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting