Providence Bay
Alexia Hanngian
Alexia here with your friendly Festivus and puck fly! Ah the weeks after remembrance – after all the emotions and reflection this is the time where I notoriously forget everything that falls sequentially after falling back and fall forward and face-first into the Christmas pudding. Perhaps it is the time change, the blaze orange sunset calm of the stand paired with the intensity of hunt before the big celebrations of Christmas and reflecting back on another year. Perhaps it’s the solar flares and the uncertainty of the new year. The stark reality of the cold winter ahead keeps us all in check. There is a great vulnerability and urgency that comes before the first snow, before nature’s last hurrah and nod, that quiet place where it all becomes much too loud. Or maybe it’s just us trying to try and try – until we cry! Managing everyone’s menus, events, mood swings and must-haves for the holidays is like being the Trump or Trudeau Press Secretary in a three-ring circus and the elephant in the room has gone on a rampage. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: to make a good omelet, you must break a few eggs. So let them break, let things fall. The delicate, delicious and dangerous first snow has no quest. It just is. Let it snow, let it be, revel in it. Stop trying so hard. Be yourself, be present in the now. Stay calm, take your time, reflect on the miracle of life, contemplate something that is bigger and more glorious than yourself and you will see the journey, the path, it’s all there, paved and not so neatly packaged with a big beautiful messy bow that is glorious, gregarious and just for you! So have faith, have courage and as I tell all of my real estate clients and friends, trust the journey. What is meant for you will find its way to you. The places, the people, the path, it’s yours, this crazy wild world and life we have, it’s a gift and it’s yours! Emphatically, incredibly, wondrously, unforgettably yours. Keep your eyes and hearts open to all of it. Like a slap shot that knocks your helmet off when you least expect it. Anything and everything is possible! Believe.
Here’s what’s happening: Ice Ice Baby! Here we go! The operating season at the Providence Bay War Memorial Community Arena is from mid-December until the end of March. We are the host site for the Pearson Cup and the Bradly McAllister sportsman 4 on 4 hockey tournaments.
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 and Friday mornings at the Providence Bay Hall through until Monday, December 15.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church: Joys and community updates are Sundays at 10:30 am; Service Sundays are 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 until the end of March. Ages SK to Grade 8. Equipment provided, $25 per curler. For more info visit: provcurling.ca/junior.
From Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30 join in the fun at the first bonspiel of the Manitoulin curling season! This 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 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 21 is the Alpha-Monocerotid Meteor Shower; December 5 is the Full Supermoon (Cold Moon/Oak Moon, Little Spirit Moon).
The Friends: Happy Birthday to all of you mid-November babies!
Go easy out there on the roads. The hunt is on, the cold is here and that means more animals are on the move and more hazards and unpredictable conditions on the roadways, plan of any weather and go easy. If you are visiting Manitoulin Island, welcome!
Countdown to Christmas has begun.
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
-John Muir
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Team Fergmeijer is all about safety, but the weather got icy before we got our winter tires on this year. We ended up having to drive 50 km in the snow and ice to get a computer part we needed. That bytes. Talk about a hard drive. We listened to the radio while on the road but kept jumping between the oldies station and a CBC Radio nature documentary. By the end of the trip, we decided that Carpenter ants are just like regular ants, except rainy days and Mondays always get them down.
Thank you to all the vendors and visitors to Kagawong this past weekend for Christmas in Kagawong. Even the jolly old elf himself stopped in! What a great way to kick off the festive season.
The Billings Library would like to thank everyone who took part in the online silent auction this past weekend! Thanks to generous donors, there were over 90 items up for bid, with all proceeds going toward the library. Winners will be contacted through Facebook Messenger.
Happy birthday to Dwyne C and Mel C who are celebrating their 29th birthdays. It’s actually kind of nice to be waking up about the same time you used to go to sleep on a Saturday.
The Kagawong Seniors Active Living program is still going strong this month, with yoga on Tuesdays (9 am), and Fitness with Kelly on Thursdays (9 am), both at the Kagawong Park Centre. Everyone over 55 welcome! Call or text 705-348-2285 for more information.
Kagawong singers are in high demand! The very next weekend, the Island Singers will be performing their holiday concert on Saturday, December 6 at 3 pm at the United Church in Little Current, and Sunday, December 7 at 3pm at Freshwater Church in Mindemoya. Tickets ($15) are available at the door for both concerts.
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.
We really admire the person who came up with ‘a penny for your thoughts,’ ‘don’t nickel and dime me’ and ‘another day another dollar.’ They sure knew how to coin a phrase. Have a great week!
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls
We’ve had some cold and wet days this week but no real snowfall to speak of. The farmers continue to bring their cattle off the fields and into their winter-feeding grounds.
An update on Edith and Elwood Beanges’ new great-grandbaby, it’s a boy! Charlie Elwood Beange was born on November 5, 2025 to Andrew and Lucia Beange!
Jim and Sandy Miller visited Barb and Oliver Runnalls last weekend. Along with spending time at the farm, Jim and Sandy were able to attend the hockey games of their older two grandsons, Arie and Isaiah. It was very exciting! Scott and Enid and Oliver were also there to cheer the boys on.
Lisa and Darren Carter were out for an afternoon touring around Barrie Island and then had dinner with Cameron and Reece and Micah.
Camps are being prepared as groups of hunters gather ahead of rifle season week to plan their hunt. Quite a few trucks have been seen slowly cruising the roads but it’s getting harder to spot the deer as their coats have darkened and they retreat into the woods. By this time next week there will be many adventures to share.
Please let me know if you have news to share.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
The community welcomes a new resident, Wanda Simpson. She is a friend of Paul Sorbara and Beth Wagner. She will be working in Sheshegwaning.
On Friday, November 7 we went to Gore Bay to shop. Friday evening, we went to euchre in Meldrum Bay.
Sunday at 12 noon the Silver Water Recreation Centre sold lunch at the hall. There was a euchre tournament that started at 1:30 pm. Thank you to Janet and Glenn who came from Tehkummah to participate. Congratulations to first place Joyce Robinson and DonnaKay McDonald; second place Tom and Linda Rumley; and third place Bob Trick and Jamie Woolhead. There was birthday cake for Lois Wismer to celebrate her 85th birthday. There were nine tables of players.
On Monday there was a potluck supper for Remembrance Day at the hall with about 40 people attending. There was a short service before we ate.
After supper, we went to euchre at the Burpee and Mills Complex.
Wednesday afternoon there was yoga class at the hall.
Wednesday at 7 pm, the Local Services Board of Robinson held its prebudget meeting.
Thursday night there was euchre at the Silver Water Hall.
Albert Meijer has spent the last few days making applesauce. The deer in the backyard are enjoying the peelings.
Get well to Ann Addison.
Get well to Roger Noble.
We wish everyone a safe hunting week.
