Tourist Info. Centre reopened by Town of RR

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Tourists and businesses that service them again have a link to each other!
The Rainy River Tourist Information Centre reopened last week after being closed all of last summer. The facility was run by the Ontario government for decades. But last year the province announced that it was closing Rainy River’s, Fort Frances’ and Kenora’s centres in this region. There was little advanced warning of the move before the summer travel season began.
In Fort Frances students were hired to hand out information at the border. However, in Rainy River the centre was shut and stayed that way despite lobbying efforts from MPP Sarah Campbell and Rainy River Town Council.
After it became clear that the province was not going to reverse its decision, the Town of Rainy River took a different tactic. They approached the government and asked if they could have the building for a dollar. They did one better getting it for absolutely nothing.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan said last week, “It was either that or they were going to demolish it.”
Council saw the Tourist Info. Centre as a vital need in the summer. With that in mind they applied for and received grants to hire four students that will work at the Tourist Info. and the 4008 Railway Museum (also owned and operated by the Town) in Heritage Square.
Last week Aislinn Matwaychuk began operating the centre and next week the rest of the students will come on board. Starting then, it will be open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Businesses having brochures for tourists to utilize are encouraged to drop them off at the Centre, which is located in the heart of Heritage Square on Hwy. 11.
“While we will promote the area this is also a great opportunity to promote what we in Rainy River have to offer,” explained Vogan. The centre will be collecting camping fees for Hannam Park, promoting the new River Trails, bird watching, and many other aspects of the community.
New signage has been ordered for the facility so that tourists will know it is back in business!
Mayor Deb Ewald was very pleased to see it reopen last week. “It is a benefit to the community and tourists alike. I am sure there were people that stopped last year and were unable to be served.”
The evolution of what all will be offered at the centre will take place over the summer. It is very early in the game now, having just opened. But as tourists demands grow the centre will work to provide services to them.
Members of the community are welcome to stop in and see what it has to offer.