The Iroquois Falls Arts Council (IFAC) was a recipient of a financial contribution from North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) in the amount of $1,000.

The IFAC created a promotional video to showcase the arts in all their diverse forms within the community of Iroquois Falls and surrounding areas.

The IFAC captured and gathered video footage for this project over the course of several months. The IFAC partnered with local videographers Tiny Town Media to bring this video to life. It was launched at our Annual General Meeting on February 18, 2023.

Grant awarded on May 26, 2022

Click here to watch the promotional video.

The Iroquois Falls centenary tartan blanket project was part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for the Town of Iroquois Falls in 2012. The Town used the year of the start of construction on the mill belonging to the Abitibi Power and Paper Company in 1912 as the founding year of the town. Previously, for the Town's 50th and 75th anniversaries, the year of incorporation, 1915, had been used. 

Iroquois Falls started out as a closed company town, carved out of the boreal forest, built to house the employees of the paper mill. Iroquois Falls benefited from the presence of its largest employer for over 100 years. In 2015, the paper mill was shut down and dismantled.

Iroquois Falls residents supported the planned centenary tartan project right from the start. Arlene and Milt Jaworski were the very first to place their order. The tartan pattern had not even been designed at that point, however residents put their faith in the design team of Marilyn Chircoski, Helen Denault and Fran Côté, and looked forward to the eventual arrival of their special anniversary blanket.

The Iroquois Falls tartan blankets were originally going to be woven by Belle Vallée Wools in New Liskeard. Sadly, that very unique Northern Ontario mill, whose slogan was, “From fleece to finish”, burned to the ground in March of 2012. The project was almost canceled at that point, but enthusiastic blanket customers such as Pat Puckalo hoped that the project would still continue, stating, “I would rather have a blanket in my hands than a refund in my pocket.” After trying unsuccessfully to find another mill here in Ontario or any other Canadian province to weave the Iroquois Falls tartan into blankets, the project was given to Lochcarron in Scotland.

It took much longer than expected to have the blankets woven as there were several production delays, but 30 Lambswool double-size blankets finally arrived in Iroquois Falls in early October, 2012. Every customer who had waited so patiently was pleased with their purchase and felt that the blanket was well worth the wait.

Once people saw how beautiful the blankets were, there was a call for a second order to be placed with Lochcarron. A second order for 50 blankets was placed the following year.

These unique tartan blankets will most likely become treasured collector's items, as only 80 of them have been woven. They are already cherished souvenirs of the Iroquois Falls 100th Anniversary celebrations. Perhaps when the town celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2037, a new group of volunteers will take up this project once again. 

The Iroquois Falls Centenary Tartan is officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans at www.tartanregister.gov.uk