Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your December Fly! Yes, believe it or not it’s December! I am certain there is some slippage in the time space continuum because my mind and body are still on Providence Bay beach at the end of August. Did this year go fast? Absolutely! Was this past year a game changer? Aren’t they always? The lessons and life experiences granted to us with the passage of time are always meant to guide and transform. We don’t always know which way the tide will turn or if we will come out on the other side unscathed. The important thing is that we are living, breathing and breaking through every wild card, wipe, whiff, walk-off, wheelhouse; web-gem; warning-track; WAG; wraparound; wrist shot and waffle. We are all in this together, remember that. Take care of each other, take care of yourself, take care of our environments, try to make the world a better place for you, for me and for the next generation that will follow. Remember if you keep an open mind and heart and go forward with grace and gratitude, you can and will learn something new every single day and live your life well.
Here’s what’s happening:
Providence Bay: The operating season at the Providence Bay War Memorial Community Arena is from Mid-December until the end of March and is 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 Monday and Friday mornings 9 to 10 am 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 Saturdays until the end of March. Ages SK to Grade 8 – equipment provided, $25 per curler. For more info visit: provcurling.ca/junior.
Providence Bay Curling Club is selling $10 tickets for the Providence Bay Curling Club Youth Program for the win, booze/beer for a year, draw in March. These make great stocking stuffers. For more information on upcoming bonspiels, tickets and events, 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. The Providence Bay and Spring Bay Lions progressive “Catch the Ace” lottery continues to benefit the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary Inc. Weekly draws are broadcast live on the Providence Bay and Spring Bay Lions Facebook page. Thanks to everyone for all of their hard work in making this fundraiser happen and for all the community support!
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.
The full moon in December 2025 will occur at 6:14 pm EST. This full moon is known as the Cold Moon/Oak Moon or Little Spirit Moon. It is a significant event; the moon will appear full the night before and after its peak.
The Friends: Happy Birthday to all of you early December 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 for any weather and go easy. If you are visiting Manitoulin Island – welcome!
Countdown to Christmas:
Wishing everyone a joyous and wonderful holiday season with friends and family.
Minobimaadizin. Live your life well.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just three weeks away! Yours truly really got caught up in the whirlwind of holiday events last year, it can be overwhelming. This year we are opting for a quiet, unfussing Christmas. No extended family over, no expensive gifts, no elaborate meals. No need to worry about whether we got the right thing for this person or that person. Just time by ourselves with the dog, hangin’ in our little home on the mountain overlooking Whooville…wait a sec…
With the winter weather showing all the signs that it is here to stay, don’t forget that Billings council meetings are all available by remote Zoom link if you are not able to attend in person. You can find more information on their Facebook page (www.fb.com/billingstownshipkagawong) or contact the town office directly.
Team Fergmeijer loves to celebrate birthdays with Kagawongians (current, former, adjacent, and in-spirit). Although we do spend an inordinate amount of time peering through windows and rifling through mail looking for signs of someone’s big day, it is a lot easier if you just give us a heads up. Send us your birthday info, or the info of your friends (or enemies… no judgement). We’ll give them a proper birthday shout out in the column.
The library’s annual silent auction fundraiser was the biggest and best ever! The library board wishes to thank everyone who took part through donations and bidding. Gentle reminder that auction winners can pick up their items by Saturday, December 6 at the library (Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 pm; from Saturday 10 am to 1 pm).
Get the ultimate stocking stuffer for your little ones: sign them up for free books mailed right to your door! Billings families can register their children (under 5) for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Each month, your child will receive an age-appropriate book in the mail, at absolutely no cost to you. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information!
We hope all the hunters are satisfied with the results of hunting season this year. We are not deer hunters ourselves, but we do try to stay informed about the topic. For instance, we learned that in fact, a deer’s favourite snack is not fawn-due, nor is it cookie doe. And while they will eat sour doe bread, it’s not good for them.
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.
It was so embarrassing – we misplaced Dwayne Johnson’s cutting tool for the origami workshop. Can’t believe we lost the Rock’s Paper Scissors. Have a great week!
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, November 21, I took Robbie Baldwin to Gore Bay to pick up her car at Al’s Garage. I went on to Little Current to do some errands. In the evening, I took Myra Duncanson and Lois Wismer to play euchre in Meldrum Bay.
Saturday, we took a load of liquor containers to the recycling centre in Mindemoya in the morning. Our recycle bins were open in the afternoon.
Gladys Duncanson arrived home on the weekend after spending a week in Espanola.
On Monday, I spent the day working in Gore Bay. I was home in time to get ready to take Myra and Ken Duncanson to euchre at the Burpee/Mills Complex. We were one person short of eight full tables.
On Tuesday, I worked on a knitting project that needed to be delivered for a Christmas present.
Wednesday, I went to work in Mindemoya for the day. I did a little shopping and then attended the Manitoulin Municipal Association meeting in the evening.
There was yoga class at the Silver Water Community Hall on Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday, I went back to Mindemoya to finish the bookwork.
Hydro One called late afternoon to say there was going to be a power outage to deal with an emergency repair. The electricity was back on about 10:30 pm.
There was euchre at the Silver Water Hall Thursday night. The Generac was running.
Happy Birthday to Kate Duncanson on December 1.
