Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly poppy and parades fly! Like any good athlete and titan champion you have to learn to adapt, pivot and push through pain. This time of year is no exception. ‘Tis officially the silly season – a time where you reach the pinnacle of all things that can push you past the limit. Time to take a deep breath, stay focused and find your emotional and time-management level, expert guru centre and step up to the plate, when all the bases are loaded. You have to pick and choose your battles wisely now, showcase your best-in-show, announce and implement your budgets, boundaries and whip together your big, bold and beautiful reinvention of the cheese wheel, parade wagon/float and wave your magic wand! I saw something the other day that said November is the month where you have to learn to say NO i.e. NOvember! So, to all of you over-exhausted, event-planners, parents, coaches, teachers, kids, mentors and mayhem mitigators, I’m here to remind you that it’s ok if you don’t have your game face on all the time and it’s also ok to say no. Just do your best, try to show up and make-face even if it’s your best impression of grumpy cat or the Grinch. We know you’ll get your groove back at some point or another. As we go forward to honour and remember the fallen heroes and heroines of yesteryear, remember to honour yourself and your own journey as well. Remember a little bit about how far you’ve come to get to where you are right now. You made it kid! Well done! Give yourself a pat on the back, keep your chin up, your sticks down, keep calm and carry, skate, smile and parade on. You are awesome!
Here’s what’s happening:
Puck Drop: Ice ice baby! Here we go!
Providence Bay War Memorial Community Arena, 5143 Hwy 551 in Providence Bay. Phone number is 705-377-4090.
Providence Bay Hall: Manitoulin recreational events calendar with class schedules for Providence Bay Hall visit centralmanitoulin.ca or contact Alison Sloss at asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca 705 377-5726.
Exercise classes continue Monday and Friday mornings at the Providence Bay Hall through until Monday, December 15.
Annual Fowl Supper and Turkey Take-out (Turkey Tuesday),
Tuesday, November 18 at the Providence Bay Hall from 4:30 to 7 pm.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church: Joys and community updates are Sundays at 10:30 am; Service is Sundays at 11 am. Check the Providence Bay Community of Christ Facebook page for announcements and updates!
Providence Bay Curling Club: Everyone is welcome at the Providence Bay Curling Club! Junior Curling is back Saturdays starting November 8 until the end of March. Ages SK to Grade 8 welcome. Equipment is provided, $25 per curler. For more info visit: provcurling.ca/junior.
Learn to curl free workshop is Sunday, November 9 from 1 to 3 pm, come throw some rocks at houses! All you need are clean running shoes and warm comfy clothing. We will provide the rest!
Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30 join in the fun at the first bonspiel of the Manitoulin curling season! This is an open bonspiel – teams can consist of any gender combination. Three games guaranteed. And of course, there are cash prizes! Don’t miss out on the fun! Contact David at providencebaycurling@gmail.com or 705-377-4668 to register your team!
The Lions Club: The Lions bottle drive continues next to the Arena – this program is open to the public and we encourage everyone to drop off their used bottles and cans -your empties help fund great local initiatives. Are you interested in becoming a Lions Club Member? Contact the Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions club Facebook page for details on how you too can give back to your community!
The Heavens: Manitoulin Island is a dark sky reserve so find a dark sky spot, bring your telescope and enjoy the wonders of the cosmos. Whether you’re a seasoned skywatcher or just love watching shooting stars and auroras.
November 12 is the Taurid Meteor Shower; November 18 is the Leonid Meteor Shower; November 21 is the Alpha- Monocerotid Meteor Shower; December 5 is the Full Supermoon (Cold Moon/Oak Moon, Little Spirit Moon).
The Countdown to Christmas!
“Remembering the heroes who gave their lives for freedom. May their memory inspire us to live with gratitude and cherish the peace they made possible.”
We remember with sincere love and thanks.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Like many out there, Team Fergmeijer can find this time of year a bit of a drag. We have some friends who are endlessly optimistic and often tell us we should ‘seize the day!’ We, however, believe you should not seize the day. It may startle the day and cause it to become aggressive and give you a nasty bite. Instead, we prefer to approach the day calmly, without making eye contact, pet it gently and slowly enfold it in a careful embrace. If the day shows any signs of resistance to being engaged with, it is likely to turn on you. Best to back off and return to bed.
It’s the official start to the festive season in Billings with Christmas in Kagawong this weekend! Check out the Christmas Market at the Park Centre and then head down to St. John’s Church for their annual baked goods table, craft table and gift baskets PLUS homemade lasagna, as well as beef and turkey pot pies (9 am to 2 pm). On second thought, if you want some of the meat pies, you should hit the church up first. Those pies go fast!
In addition, the library’s annual silent auction kicks off with bidding starting tomorrow (Thursday) at 9 am and closing Sunday at 6 pm. Visit FB.com/groups/libraryauction to bid!
The KGB (Kagawong Gobble Brigade) have been making their presence known in the village proper lately. It’s unclear if the turkeys are on a protection detail for local businesses or casing the joint while planning some fowl play.
Part-time Kagawongian Dave T and former Kagawongian Rachel M are both celebrating 29 fantastic years on the Earth. We hope your birthday is as fun and ridiculous as our jokes!
The Manitoulin Community Choir will be performing in Kagawong on Friday, November 28 at the Park Centre. Save the date! This is always a great concert with a lovely variety of music. You might even spy a Kagawongian or two in the chorus! The concert starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $15.
Thank you to the Kagawong Cenotaph Board for organizing and sponsoring the Remembrance Day service at the Park Centre on Tuesday. Remembrance Day may have passed, but you can still check out the banners around Kagawong honouring local veterans. Lest we forget.
Catch up on old times with the complete archive of Team Fergmeijer columns, all the way back to 2015! Check out http://teamfergmeijer.blogspot.com to get your fill of puns and haiku.
Do people who run marathons know they don’t have to? Have a great week!
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls
It’s a cool, grey day here on Barrie Island. We’ve had some rain this week. The farmers report that as winter temperatures approach, they’re feeding hay on most pastures and starting to get some cattle in.
Congratulations to Edith and Elwood Beange on the birth of their first great-grandchild! Details pending.
A bit of history pertinent to November 11 – a set of banners commemorating the heroes of WW1 and WW2 have been installed on the lamp posts in Gore Bay. Among them is a banner for Private Percy L. Runnalls who was a gunner in WW1, as told by son Richard Runnalls and granddaughter Judy Runnalls, “he fought in France, pulling the big guns with horses all the way to Koln, Germany when the war had ended. Following that he was tasked with bringing the horses to farmers in Belgium. He then returned to Barrie Island to carry on the family farm.”
There were two big birthdays celebrated here on November 3. Lil Greenman turned 80 and Cameron Runnalls turned 30. Lil’s family held a Come and Go party for her at the Barrie Island Hall on Saturday afternoon. Family and friends enjoyed a visit and lunch at the hall which was festooned with beautiful fresh flowers in an array of purples and violets. Lil enjoyed every minute of the party and generously sent home flowers to her friends who were unable to attend.
Cameron Runnalls’ big 3-0 was celebrated at a private gathering at the Gore Bay Airport. After cutting into a large pink birthday cake, the gang tuned into the World Series. Of course, we all know how that ended – but the Blue Jays played their best game ever and should be back to it for Cameron’s 31st birthday in 2026.
Oliver, Scott and Enid made a trip to Sudbury last week and ran into Garth Baker and sister Lonnie Baker. They had lunch with Carolyn Lane-Rock.
Arie and Isaiah Miller have joined the Gore Bay Bruins Hockey and have started the season with enthusiasm. Isaiah scored at his first game and big brother Arie enjoyed teamwork success with the U-9s.
Newlyweds Jeff and Casey Rock were on the Island to visit with their mother/mother-in-law Carolyn Lane-Rock. They stopped in to have breakfast with Enid and Scott Runnalls and said it was the best restaurant on Barrie Island!
Jim and Sandy Miller are back on the Island this week and went out to St. Joseph’s Lodge to attend the Manitoulin Swing Band concert which was entertaining to the residents. Barbara Runnalls really enjoyed the music and sat with Sandy and Jim. Also, Edna Wright and daughter Dianne Robbins Stachon were there.
Yesterday afternoon, Terry Land spoke eloquently at the Gordon Community Centre on the topic of ‘How to Bring Birds to Your Backyard.’ He told the history of the Gore Bay Christmas Bird Count, explained its local strictly set geographic diameter of 24 km and its purpose in providing bird population information ultimately to the Audubon Society. He went on to give a slide show of his own bird photography of some of the species that may be seen during the Gore Bay Christmas Bird Count. Terry also recommended black oil sunflower seed (which can be purchased at the Northland AgroMart) for your bird feeders and explained where and how to mount your bird feeders to discourage deer and squirrels. Also on hand was Wayne Aelick with an array of his hand-built bird feeders for sale.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, October 31 there was a Hallowe’en party at the Silver Water Hall. Euchre in Meldrum Bay had been cancelled. A lot of people stayed home to watch the Blue Jays, game six.
Saturday night I watched game seven of the World Series to the very end. Better luck next year.
Sunday morning, I made a lot of sandwiches and baked chocolate chip cookies to take to Tehkummah. The West End players had volunteered to make the lunch after the tournament.
My brother Shawn and I were partners for the day. We ended up with 80 points and the top prize. Lucky for me he was getting the cards. There were 11 tables of players.
Monday morning, I went to town to work for the day. I came home in time to get some supper and have a nap before leaving for euchre. I took Shawn, Myra Duncanson, Ken Duncanson and Heather Wilson with me. There were 11 tables of players. I had some good rounds and ended up with 96 points. I split the money jar with Roy Vessair who had 84 points. Thank you to everyone who helped our scores.
Tuesday there was yoga at the community hall in the afternoon. It is moving to Wednesdays.
Tuesday night was fire practice at the fire hall.
Wednesday Albert Meijer and I processed half of the celery out of our garden. There was a lot of it. The other half we gave away to the neighbours. It was a fantastic year for the garden.
Thursday afternoon was the UCW meeting at St. Andrew’s United Church in Silver Water. There were lots of ladies in attendance. A number of donations were approved.
Thursday evening there was euchre in Silver Water with six tables of players. Congratulations to Linda Rumley who won the money jar.
