Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your New Year fire horse fly! Here we are on the first day of the new year, a little weathered and worn; still reeling from the great lessons and transformations of what has come to pass. We try now, to lessen the load of the carry-ons and carry-overs and reflect carefully on what we want to take with us on this new leg of our journey. We need to know what to hold close and know what to let go of in order to allow for our own evolution, good intentions and ethos to rise in and up. This is the first Month of so many new possibilities and beginnings. As communities change, so too, do the infrastructures, amenities and advocacies around them. True progress comes from listening, learning, partnering and planning together in ways that respect culture, history and future generations. It’s the future that counts so let’s make moves and motion toward New Year’s resolutions that invoke sustainable growth that keep communities livable, resilient and proud of who they are. Let’s adapt, pivot and press on toward meeting changing needs while protecting the integrity of what makes our communities unique. Let’s build, create, expand, preserve and protect with providence and purpose.
Here’s what’s happening: Providence Bay arena, the space is available and used for summer markets, weddings and festivals. The winter operating season at the Providence Bay Arena is from mid-December until the end of March and is the host site for the Pearson Brother Memorial and the Bradly McAllister sportsman 4 on 4 hockey tournaments.
Pearson Brothers Memorial Men’s Hockey Tournament is January 9-11. This is a licenced event.
Providence Bay Hall: Thanks to Friends of the Mindemoya Old School, a no-cost winter exercise will be starting at the Providence Bay Hall on Fridays from 9 to 10 am beginning January 9, for information on class schedules for Providence Bay Hall visit: centralmanitoulin.ca or contact Alison Sloss at asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca 705-377-5726.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church: Joys and community updates are Sundays at 10:30 am; service is Sundays at 11. 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 for ages SK to Grade 8. Equipment provided, $25 per curler. For more info visit: provcurling.ca/junior.
Winter Leagues are Monday, two-person curling; Tuesday, mixed open league; Wednesday afternoon, four-person traditional curling; Wednesday evening, mixed open league; Thursday evening, ladies’ league.
The Providence Bay Curling Club is selling $10 tickets for the Providence Bay Curling Club Youth Program, to win booze/beer for a year draw in March. For more information on upcoming bonspiels, tickets and events contact David at providencebaycurling@gmail.com or 705-377-4668 to register your team!
Clean-up/Reuse/Recycle: The Providence Bay Transfer station is located at 1077 Government Road in Providence Bay and is open. Effective January 1 please see the updated list of recyclable materials for Central Manitoulin. Note that glass and foam will now be recycled and alcoholic beverage containers will not be accepted.
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.
Wolf Supermoon January 3 is the first full moon of 2026
Quandrantids Meteor Shower January 3-4, one of the year’s best!
Jupiter at opposition January 10 it will rise in the east at sunset and be visible all night.
January 23, the moon meets Saturn and Neptune and they are visible to the naked eye.
January 27 moon meets Pleiades, the moon drifts past the dazzling “seven sisters” cluster in Taurus in the southern sky after nightfall.
The Friends:
Happy Birthday to all of you early January babies!
Go easy out there on the roads. The cold is here and that means more animals are on the move and more hazards and unpredictable conditions on the roadways so plan ahead of any weather and go easy. If you are visiting Manitoulin Island, welcome! Check out your favourite local businesses, gallery and restaurant social pages for updates and holiday hours. You can also visit the Central Manitoulin Township webpage at centralmanitoulin.ca or visit ExploreManitoulin.com for updates on all the events happening near you.
Stay in love with life, be positive, be passionate, be joyful, stay focused, be peaceful, be persistent, believe in togetherness, always be grateful! Go forward with greatness. This is going to be a wonderful year!
Happy New Year to All!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
At our last euchre game of the year Lisa Townsend won the money jar. Congratulations Lisa! The next euchre game was Friday, January 2 at 7 pm.
To celebrate Christmas, on Christmas Day Chad and Debbie from the store hosted a community Christmas dinner. It was warm and friendly with fantastic food. For New Years there was a dinner and dance in Silver Water. We missed it but a friend of mine who lives close to me said that they had a great time.
We enjoyed Christmas dinner with my brother-and sister-in-law Jamie and Norma Nelder. Their daughter and son-in-law with their three children joined us as well as my niece Amy. The new baby twins are just a few weeks old and were the centre of attention.
Longer days are starting. I can feel spring around the corner. Hope you have a great week.
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls
Happy New Year from Barrie Island!
Higher temperatures and lots of rain dampened the Christmas vibes here on Barrie Island but winter has returned. The snow ploughs are on the roads and local farmers to clean out their barnyards and feeding areas for cattle.
C.C.McLean Public School students entertained their parents and friends on the last week before Christmas. The students sang the classics, such as Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman and All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth; and then there were some bangers that surprised and amused the audience. The kids danced, sang, played bells, air guitar and boom whackers and even performed dramatic tableaux. Everyone went home with big smiles and some with cake from the Silent Auction Cake Walk.
Awards Night for students and graduates was held in late December at Manitoulin Secondary School. Proud families and friends applauded the graduates as they received over $75,000 in awards! Among the many awards presented to students from all over Manitoulin Island was the Carol Lane Memorial Bursary, awarded in fond memory of the notable Barrie Island citizen, the late Carol Lane. This year it was presented to her great-granddaughter Anika Smith (Carleton University). Also, the Gordon and Barrie Island Bursary was awarded to Tessa Merrylees (University of Waterloo) and Ryder Lockyer (Canadore College KTEI).
Even as we have so much to celebrate in our community, we have suffered the loss of some wonderful women at the end of 2025. Heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Grace Turner (nee Lane) who was born and raised here on Barrie Island on the 10th Side Road. We are also grieving the loss of Joanne Smith, a lifelong friend to many here on Barrie Island. Sending condolences to Jim Smith and family. Condolences to Dave and Theresa Carlisle for the loss of Dave’s mother, Geraldine. And to the Wright families of Gore Bay for the loss of Vicki.
