The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Where you live will help determine how much you pay to utilize public rec facilities in Flin Flon. Final details are pending, but the City of Flin Flon plans to in time change the fee structure at the facilities, with place of residence a key factor. The news comes as Mayor George Fontaine says the Community Hall, Aqua Centre and Whitney Forum all require 'major renovations' that cannot be funded by Flin Flon taxpayers alone. To underscore his p o i n t , h e s a i d t h e Community Hall is at serious risk of temporary or permanent closure, while reconditioning at the Aqua Centre is urgent. Mayor Fontaine made the announcement in a s t a t e m e n t t o T h e Reminder, the entire text of which follows: See 'Ashes' on pg. 12 Jonathon Naylor Editor Continued from pg. 1 Several years ago, a joint attempt at a new recreation centre for the Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage and outlying areas went down in flames. This wasn't a real fire, just the ashes of uncooperative governments unwilling or unable to work together. We live in a region with geographical borders of several types. These consist of a provincial border and several municipal entities, and, indeed, non-entities. Make no mistake; we do live as a regional community. Because the megaproject did not succeed, the major recreation facilities in Flin Flon have remained the sole source of swimming, large sports and meeting events and larger arts and cultural events for the entire region, including surrounding aboriginal communities. The cost of operating these facilities is becoming more and more of a burden on the taxpayers of Flin Flon. All these facilities, as recreational facilities in most communities, run at a loss financially, in the order of 70 per cent over income. Taxpayers who make up less than 50 per cent of user numbers make up the deficit. Changes will be made to fee structures with residence as a major factor. Some services and times of operation will be reduced or ended. It won't all happen at once, but is beginning now. All three recreational buildings are in need of major renovations, which are, in fact, unaffordable to the Flin Flon taxpayers. The Community Hall is in serious danger of shutting down temporarily or even permanently, due to structural and mechanical problems. The Aqua Centre is in need of severe and expensive reconditioning which must be done soon. Creighton and Denare Beach Councils have been approached and will again be approached to take part in funding upgrades and ongoing o p e r a t i n g c o s t s . Sur rounding a r e a s , including cottage areas, h a v e a n d wi l l b e approached again. These buildings are the centre posts of our strong and vibrant cultural and recreational lifestyle. We are in danger of losing them over time without assistance co-operation. I am urging community members from Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage, cottage areas, and First Nations, to take this seriously. Speak to your councillors, your leaders, your friends and neighbours, and, indeed, to the Flin Flon City Council, if you feel you have a stake in this issue. We would be pleased to work with all groups and anticipate responses from all.
