E.D.O. working on many projects including updating R.R. history book

By Ken Johnston
Editor

He has had a busy first year in the job, but Town of Rainy River Economic Development Officer, Andrew Hartnell, is showing no signs of slowing down.
Hired as an intern last March, Hartnell has played a key role in getting many projects up and running. One that is prominent in various businesses and offices right now is the updating of the town history book.
Attempts to get an update done for the town’s centennial never came to fruition. So Hartnell has added it to his plate and recently placed coffee cans around town that are called Remembering When.
He is asking people to write down things that they remember happening since 1979. That is when the last history book ended (marking the town’s 75th anniversary). “It can be a historic event or something simple like when Johnny moved back to Rainy River,” said Hartnell.
He hopes to gather all the cans up after Railroad Daze in July and begin the update to the book.

Immigration Portal
Hartnell recently went to Thunder Bay for the grand opening of the Immigration Portal for the region. It is an online promotional tour featuring 32 communities in Northwestern Ontario. “It promotes what each community in the region has to offer and I think they did a great job on Rainy River.” The idea is to attract immigrants to the area in an attempt to promote growth.
Rainy River Trade Show
Hartnell said the annual Rainy River and District Chamber of Commerce Trade Show is setting up to be an even bigger success than last year. “The deadline to get booth space is April 15th and we are nearly full now! And we have not heard from many of our regulars!”
He said the maximum booths they can have on the arena floor is 54 and as of last Wednesday they had seven left. “We can expand to the main floor at the Rec. Centre or the upstairs if need be,” said Hartnell.
Relay for Life
Hartnell and his sister Missy Jenson have been instrumental in bringing this Cancer fund raiser to Rainy River. Hartnell said they have four teams officially registered and ten maybes. They also have groups interested in setting up food booths but have yet to secure some entertainment.
Other projects are still going ahead full speed. As for Hartnell’s future as economic development officer, he said he has been told he will get at least a two month extension on his contract. After that he is not sure. He hopes he can continue to play a role in moving Rainy River forward in a positive manner.