The Fort at Fort Frances

07/08/2026

🏒 We're all in for Fort Frances Hockey! the Fort is proud to support the Ice for Kids Arena and greats of the future.



Town of Fort Frances

06/22/2026

A milestone moment for Fort Frances!

We're grateful to Fort Frances Council for approving our first comprehensive subdivision of the former Mill site — the Wellness Precinct.

The lots which will be developed in the area spanning Victoria Avenue and Portage Street, will be individually available for a wide array of uses designed to enhance Fort Frances’ downtown and leverage the site’s proximity to La Verendrye Hospital.

This plan of subdivision incorporates the alignment of existing Portage and Sinclair roads and defines four developable parcels which include the large and thoroughly remediated areas which received ministry approval for sensitive uses such as residential.

Some of the lands within this subdivision have already begun to be revitalized through the renovation of existing buildings now home to Giishkaandago'Ikwe Health and Mishkosiminiziibiino Development Corporation. But this is truly just the beginning.

A heartfelt thank you to Caroline Baker for her support in Planning, and to MTE Consultants for their instrumental role in achieving the RSC.

Former mill lands offer strong industrial infrastructure and existing amenities that can be thoughtfully repurposed by public and private organizations. BMI takes a big-picture approach to re-futuring these sites, enabling them to serve communities in new and lasting ways.

05/27/2026

Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services is expanding at the Portage Warehouse! After operating out of multiple locations, GHS is bringing many of their services under one roof.

In this timelapse, watch as we start to transform another 20,000 sq. ft. of industrial space into two stories totalling 40,000 sq ft. functional areas for expanded health services and offices for GHS.

Next up: an exterior upgrade!

05/15/2026

05/15/2026

BMI collaborated with our planning partners to create a district-based master plan that redefines the former mill lands as vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Built around the waterfront, market, enterprise, gateway, wellness, and utility districts, the plan contributes to the growth of Fort Frances, its potential as a destination, and its status as a regional centre.

The Masterplan is a work in progress, but we look forward to it coming together piece by piece.

05/07/2026

The site shop was our first project on the paper mill property. The 3,200 sq. ft. building was uninsulated, overgrown, and dealing with major drainage issues—and it did not have a parking lot!

Our team renovated the building with new insulation, cladding, and LED lighting, addressed the drainage issues and landscaped around the building. Today, it’s leased to a new client in the fiber-optic industry.

Great job team!

05/07/2026

The site shop was our first project on the paper mill property. The 3,200 sq. ft. building was uninsulated, overgrown, and dealing with major drainage issues—and it did not have a parking lot!

Our team renovated the building with new insulation, cladding, and LED lighting, addressed the drainage issues and landscaped around the building. Today, it’s leased to a new client in the fiber-optic industry.

Great job team!

04/20/2026

Our Portage Warehouse welcomed new tenants last year!

The industrial office is being customized for Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services. This Indigenous-led organization provides culturally grounded health care guided by the elder teachings of the Anishinaabeg and serves ten Southern Treaty 3 communities.

The transformation of the Portage Warehouse into a purpose-built space for Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services is evolving a former mill into a place for healing.

Just one of the many ways brownfield redevelopment is helping shape a stronger Fort Frances.

04/13/2026

Turning an industrial site into a livable, residential one requires a Record of Site Condition (RSC), acknowledged by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

An RSC confirms that environmental remediation is complete and the land is suitable for sensitive (residential) use.

At The Fort, this process included cleaning up soil in areas once used for a biomass facility and rail and storage operations. Thank you to MTE Consultants who supported the process!

Receiving the RSC in 2025 was a major milestone for The Fort, opening the door to a wide range of future residential and commercial development opportunities. It’s something our team still celebrates even a year later.

04/06/2026

Instead of receding, we’ve re-seeded. Not regressed—just re-grassed. 🌿

Here are a few before-and-after shots from last summer. This portion of The Fort has been closed to the public since the early 1900s due to it being a privately owned industrial site. As we work to clean and re-activate the site, the grass is coming back, and future plans for this space include a community gathering place for Fort Frances to enjoy.

We can’t wait to see the grass even fuller this season!