Editing Fort Frances (section)

== History ==
[[File:Fort Frances ON 1.JPG|225px|thumbnail|left|Fort Frances courthouse]]
Fort Frances was the first [[Europe]]an settlement west of Lake Superior and was established by [[French Canadian]] [[Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye]], first commander of the western district. In 1731, he built [[Fort Saint Pierre]] near that spot as support for the [[fur trade]] with native peoples. In 1732, his expedition built [[Fort Saint Charles]] on Magnuson's Island on the west side of [[Lake of the Woods]]. After some time, Fort Saint Pierre fell out of use.<ref name=heritage>{{cite web |url=http://www.fort-frances.com/heritage |title=A Short History of Fort Frances |publisher=Town of Fort Frances |access-date=2011-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519023302/http://www.fort-frances.com/heritage |archive-date=2011-05-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1817, following the [[War of 1812]] and the redefinition of borders between Canada and the United States, the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] (HBC) built a fort here. In 1830 HBC Chief Factor John Dugald Cameron<ref>Sylvia Van Kirk, "CAMERON, JOHN DUGALD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 8, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 22, 2015, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cameron_john_dugald_8E.html.</ref> named the fur trading post after [[Frances Ramsay Simpson]], the 18-year-old daughter of a London merchant,<ref>Sylvia Van Kirk, "SIMPSON, FRANCES RAMSAY," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 8, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 22, 2015, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/simpson_frances_ramsay_8E.html.</ref> who had married earlier that year in London, [[George Simpson (administrator)|George Simpson]], Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, who would visit the fort many times. In 1841 she became Lady Simpson after George Simpson was knighted, and she died in 1853 at [[Lachine, Quebec]].<ref>[[John S. Galbraith]], "SIMPSON, Sir GEORGE," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 8, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 22, 2015, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/simpson_george_8E.html.</ref>

[[File:July 1st parade, Fort Frances (I0002362).tif|thumb|July 1st parade, Fort Frances, ca. 1905 ]]
Incorporated in 1903, the town held a big [[centennial]] celebration in 2003.

The main employer was a [[paper mill|pulp and paper mill]] established in the early 1900s. It had numerous owners over the years, notably [[Edward Wellington Backus]]. Most recently owned by [[Resolute Forest Products]], the mill employed about 700 persons until its closure in 2014.

On June 25, 1946, the town was struck by a [[tornado]], which caused major damage and struck a week after the deadly [[1946 Windsor–Tecumseh tornado|Windsor tornado]].

On August 25, 2013, the town hosted the final pitstop in the Kraft Celebration Tour by receiving the most votes out of all 20 communities

On January 14, 2014, Resolute Forest Products announced that it planned to stop operations of the final paper machine and close out its operations in Fort Frances by the end of the month.

On December 13, 2014, [[Tim Hortons]] filmed a commercial in Fort Frances. The commercial, which dubs Fort Frances "one of the coldest places in Canada", was shot at the local Tim Hortons. In the days leading up to the filming, yarn was seen covering trees, benches, etc. Workers had spent the night covering the interior of the restaurant with yarn and building a giant toque on the roof. For the day, the coffee was free.

In August 2015 the Seven Generations Education Institute hosted the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium's (WINHEC) Annual General Meeting at the Nanicost Grounds for members attending from all over the world.