At first glance it seems that the government is making a poor investment, because they only collect approximately one quarter of the money they invest annually into Fort William. One could argue that the Fort is a waste of taxpayer’s money, and in terms of monetary value they are correct. However, the issue must be examined more deeply before the value of the investment can be fully interpreted. In order to due so, one must first consider several factors, not the least of which is the value of the experience and education numerous children leave with each year. Another factor, which must be examined, is the economic impact the Fort has on local businesses in Thunder Bay as a result of increased tourism in the area. Lastly one must figure in the value of passing on the history of our nation to future generations. After careful consideration, it seems that Fort William Historical Park is a priceless addition to the community, which repays more than tenfold on the minimal annual investments.

In addition to guided tours the Fort has many other programs and special events throughout the year ranging from, day trips and overnight camps to Artisan craft workshops, there is something to satisfy everyone’s taste. The Fort provides numerous day camps for children throughout the year. Winter camps focus on a wide variety of activities, which take place indoors and outdoors, some common activities a camper could expect are, games, crafts, winter survival, cooking, and skating.( Day camp, retrieved September 24th 20003, http://www.oldfortwilliam.on.ca/text_version.html ) The Fort also works closely with local organization and has set up specific programs, which can aid learning in the classroom. The fort has developed specific day trips for student from grade 1 to 12, all of the material learned at the fort can be tied in to the curriculum. The Fort complements the ideas and concepts expressed in the classroom with a hands-on learning experience. The instructor of the course also has the option to customize the tour to focus on a specific area of the Fort to correspond more appropriately with what has been taught. A similar program is in place for Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, Cubs, and Scouts, again the activities are geared to the age group and what has been taught. The camps are a very rewarding valuable experience for youth and adolescence alike.

Periodically, the Fort hosts special events to increase the number of visitors both locally and from a broad. Special events include, murder mystery theatres, beaver club dinners, concerts, corn roasts, cultural days and seasonal events. In addition to these special events, the visitor’s centre can be rented out for weddings and banquets. The interior is spectacular, and there's a huge outdoor deck with a panoramic view of the forest, which provides a perfect background for any large formal gathering. (Special Events, retrieved September 24th 20003, http://www.oldfortwilliam.on.ca/text_version.html)

Thunder Bay Nordic Trails is a non-profit organization with a mandate to groom and maintain ski tails in the Thunder Bay area and to promote all-season use of the trails. (Kamview Land Deal, retrieved September 24th, 2003, http://www.nordictrails-tb.on.ca/) The organization also regularly grooms 80 kilometres of trail in Sleeping Giant, and 13 kilometres in Kakebeka Provincial Parks.(Crooks, Peter, personal communication, September 20th, 2003) Since 1984 the Kamview Nordic Centre was leased from the government, this all changed, on March 15th, 2002 when the Thunder Bay Nordic Trails purchased the 600 acres property from the Ontario Reality Corporation for 220,000 dollars. The deal meant that the facility would forever remain open all season long for skiing. (Kamview Land Deal, retrieved September 24th, 2003, http://www.nordictrails-tb.on.ca/) Similarly the trails could be used in the off-season for walking, jogging and mountain biking. The property contains 28.5 kilometres, o

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