Local and Regional News – Thursday 2/19/2026
The University of Minnesota Extension is inviting the public to a special online session focused on the seasonal economy of Koochiching County.
“Embracing the Roller Coaster” will take place Friday, February 20th from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. The presentation will explore insights from cell phone analytics to better understand seasonal patterns that impact the community and local economy. Organizers will also discuss how highly seasonal rural areas can create welcoming communities for both year-round residents and visitors.
To register, visit z.umn.edu/KoochCoZOOM. For questions, call 218-281-8688.
The International Falls Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau — also known as Rainy Lake Tourism — is celebrating a major win at the state level.
Last week at the Explore Minnesota Tourism Annual Tourism Conference in Duluth, the CVB brought home two awards, including recognition for an outstanding promotional video highlighting Rainy Lake and the surrounding region.
The award-winning 15-minute feature showcases year-round adventure across Rainy Lake, Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, and Rainier. Since airing this spring, the video has reached more than 90-thousand viewers on Facebook.
The CVB also received a Social Media Excellence Award for expanding its digital storytelling efforts. Over the past year, its Facebook following has grown by 4,000 — now nearing 18,000 total followers — with many videos reaching tens of thousands of viewers.
Looking ahead, the CVB is partnering with the Chamber to introduce a new Hospitality Excellence Award at the Chamber’s annual gala April 23rd. Nominations are open through March 18th at rainylake dot org.
That quote refers to another big project — a brand-new interactive website set to launch in the coming weeks, featuring a customizable itinerary builder and enhanced trip-planning tools designed to make visiting Rainy Lake easier than ever.
For more information, visit rainylake dot org or stop by the CVB office, located in the same building as the Chamber.
Town of Fort Frances announced the cancellation of its Regular Meeting of Council scheduled for Monday, February 23rd at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers at 320 Portage Avenue. The meeting has been cancelled due to insufficient agenda items. The next Regular Meeting of Council will take place Monday, March 9th at 5 p.m. at the same location.
In other news, Fort Frances is receiving significant provincial funding. Last week, Greg Rickford announced $3.48 million through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream. The funding will support rehabilitation and capacity improvements to the Central Avenue and White Pine Lift Stations.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation has also awarded the town $500,000 for upgrades to the McIrvine Rink, including a covered rink, new concrete slab, new boards, and park sandbox repairs.