Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly summer fly!
This time of year reminds me a lot of Christmas time, bittersweet emotions that stir when one Season turns and another one burns- new beginnings on the horizon and a new feather in our cap.
The absolute next-level cat-in-the-hat chaos of trying to balance festival, cultural, sports, entertainment, work, holiday and personal events and schedules is madness. This coveted, seemingly impossible work-life balance has spawned more than one “Gone Fishing” hiatus over the years and it is no wonder. The bonus? “Gone fishing” is multi-tasking level-expert because you check-off the entire aforementioned list while still managing to find your Zen and feed yourself. It’s the perfect sport. While we take up sport, celebrate our achievements, commencements, graduations, creations and innovations, we are softly and subtly reminded of summer’s sweet solstice, kiss and caress, that every living thing has its season of blossoms, bliss and “mellow fruitfulness.” With each setting sun, we reflect on the marvel of this merry-go-round we call life. The dancing horses, the dizzying and dazzling colours and sounds around and around – hold on! Summer’s circus tents are pitched, patio tables set, cottages cleaned, boats buoyed and moored. We are ready and welcome you all to the Largest Freshwater Island in the World. Welcome to Manitoulin Island folks!
Here we go!
Providence Bay fairgrounds/arena: Providence Bay “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams” fair committee and crew are going full tilt again, leading up to opening day this August! For updates, quilt raffle tickets and Lone Pine Stage tickets and information check out the Providence Bay Facebook page or visit https://providencebayfair.ca.
Providence Bay Hall: Saturday, July 5 “Songs of Summer Music Bingo Fundraiser” – is sold out! Doors open at 7:30 pm and bingo starts at 8 pm. It’s a 19 plus licenced event with proceeds and raffles in support of the Providence Bay Curling Club and Providence Bay Agricultural Society.
For the full Manitoulin Recreation events calendar with class schedules for Providence Bay Hall, Mindemoya Hall and Spring Bay Hall visit: events.centralmanitoulin.ca or contact Alison Sloss at asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca or call 705 377-5726 ext. 35.
Providence Bay Curling Club: The Youth and Junior Curling Club has 50/50 tickets for sale! Proceeds go toward their program as well as the first Manitoulin Girl Guides. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased by e-transfer to provbayjrcurlers@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!
The Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club is reaching out to the community and local businesses for sponsors or silent auction donations for our upcoming golf tournament. We cordially invite you to participate in the third annual 2025 Lions Golf Tournament. This fundraising event supports the Providence Bay Curling Club youth and junior curling programs.
The first Western Manitoulin Girl Guides SEGPR has a tournament that is scheduled for Saturday, July 12 at Manitoulin Golf. Kindly contact Lion Chris Bryan at 705-348-0493 or email chris_bryan84@outlook.com to confirm your attendance, donations and sponsorship.
Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club: The Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club is seeking donations of gently used items for their annual Canada Day yard sale set to take place the last weekend in June at the Providence Bay Hall parking lot. To arrange for pickup or drop-off of donations and items, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lion John at 705-377-7740.
Providence Bay Beach Boardwalk and Discovery Centre: Providence Bay Beach is an amazing 2km sand beach on Lake Huron coast that is open to the public. Play safe and enjoy the beautiful beaches, boardwalk and views!
Be sure to stop into Huron Island Time. Walk to the end of the Boardwalk and say hello to the folks at the Providence Bay Tent and Trailer Park and get some selfies in front of Maxim’s beautiful art murals!
Check out the Mutchmor Peace Café and delight in local art, crafts, clothes, jewelry and enjoy a cup of coffee or an iced latté and be sure to snap a selfie in front of the South shore community bear mural.
Reuse/Recycle: The Providence Bay Reuse Shed is open at the Providence Bay Transfer Station. For more information contact 705-377-5726. Visit the transfer station at 4077 Government Road. Summer hours are Thursday, Saturday or Sunday from 2 to 6 pm until the September long weekend.
The Lions Club 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 Heavens: June 19 is the triple conjunction of moon, Saturn and Neptune. June 21 – Summer Solstice: The official start of summer. June 27 Bootid meteor shower. June 29 Saturn-Neptune conjunction.
Manitoulin Island is a dark sky reserve so find a dark sky spot, bring your telescope and enjoy the wonders of the cosmos.
The Friends: Happy Birthday to all of you June bugs who are celebrating!
Parting words of wisdom to all of you grads out there: Always stoke the fire in your belly, stay true to your passion and your heart, continue to learn, create and stay curious, ask questions and always, emphatically respect your elders and remember your roots. Happy summer solstice everyone!
Gone fishing.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Have you curd? With all the food trucks now open for the season, Team Fergmeijer is going all in on their daily extra fries routine. It’s a spudtacular time of the year when we can truly indulge in this beloved Québecois dish. Don’t agree? We’re just poutine it out there, but nobody puts gravy in the corner.
Mno-Nishnaabe Giizhgad! This weekend, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day! Here in Billings, be sure to check out the Billings Connections Trail. The Anishinaabeg (Odaawaa, Ojibwa and Pottawatomi) occupied what is now Billings Township long before European settlers arrived. Archeological and oral evidence has established at least 10,000 years of Indigenous occupation on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island). To learn more about the history of Billings’ original and settler inhabitants, visit the full series of historical plaques around the township, link to the QR codes on each plaque and drop in to the Old Mill Heritage Centre in Kagawong, as well as the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M’Chigeeng First Nation.
Have your say! The township is revamping how we use the landfill, drafting a new waste management bylaw. Council is keen to hear your thoughts and are accepting constructive criticism of the draft bylaw over the month of June. You can access the bylaw and the public at the township office or on the township’s website (www.billingstwp.ca/news). All comments must be submitted in writing via the comment form or via email to bylaw@billingstwp.ca. All comments must have your name and contact information included.
Hazy sunrises and sunsets remind us to be grateful to be spared from the forest fires burning out west. Here in Billings, don’t forget that burn permits are required if you want to burn any brush. Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week.
We are daffodil-ighted to send Happy birthday wishes to Mary N and Stephanie M this week. We hope you have blooming good birthday celebrations that leave you feeling a little rose-y.
On Saturday, June 28 it is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11 am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt.
Also, on the 28th is the library’s spring puzzle swap! From 10 am to 1 pm, bring your used jigsaw puzzles to trade for new-to-you challenges. No puzzles? No problem! The library has a large surplus of puzzles and the librarian prefers it when you take more puzzles than you bring.
The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open seven days a week, from 10 am to 5 pm. Stop by and check out the amazing “ship model” exhibit of all the ferries that serviced Manitoulin for over 100 years! The museum is also gearing up for its big celebration of the 100th anniversary of the mill on July 19.
Save the date! The annual Island-Wide Household Hazardous Waste Day is coming up next month. Typically, the third Saturday in July, this is an important way of keeping hazardous things out of our community landfill. Save up your batteries, old electronics, paints and chemicals – final date to be confirmed soon!
Ohboyohboyohboy… it’s t-minus 1 Wednesday until the Kagawong Market kicks off for another season! We can’t wait for June 25!
The popular Blind Date With a Book fundraiser for the library is happening again this year! Choose from 30+ new books wrapped in plain brown paper with just the genre and general clues to the story visible. As any good date should, each Blind Date book comes with a box of chocolates from Manitoulin Chocolate Works. This fundraiser starts July 3rd and is only available at the Wednesday market in Kagawong.
If we keep eating our fill of fries, curds and gravy, we might just have to change our name to Pouteam Fergmeijer. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
On Friday night, June 6, at cards we had 17 people. High lady was Anne Gifford-Steele with 81 points; she almost won the money jar but was short one point; high man was Natasha McVey with 73 points; Myra Duncanson won for ladies’ lone hands with three; Doug Carter won for the men’s lone hands with two. He had tied with Diane Jones, Harold Rogers, Karen Noble and Rick Bradley; most euchres went to Rose VanEvery with nine who also won the 50/50 draw; Diane Jones won the door prize.
The Bay is beautiful. Business at the campground has been steady. There have been some interesting guests from far away countries. Chad at the store has a visitor’s book that many have signed in at. I was looking at where many were from and I was surprised. Right now, on the pier we have a Government of Ontario boat which is quite large and interesting to look at. I am curious to know their business.
We saw a swan this morning in the bay, but it was gone this afternoon. We took a couple of pictures.
We have been getting some rain which has been needed. The corn is starting to grow, and the cattle are enjoying the grass. We are expecting more rain tonight.
This Sunday is the luncheon at the Hall with chili and stew. It will be followed by a euchre tournament. We’re all looking forward to Joe’s Poker Paddle on Saturday, June 21.
Have a great week everyone.
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls
Congratulations to Oliver Runnalls who celebrated his 90th birthday on Sunday, June 8 with a family dinner at Watersedge Pub and Restaurant in Gore Bay. Scott and Enid, Jim and Sandy Miller of Ottawa, Jordan and Kate Miller with Arie, Isaiah and Eli, Kate’s parents Harry and Sharon Kooy of New Market, Katie Runnalls of Toronto, Cameron and Reece Carter and Micah were all in attendance. Oliver plans to have another celebration later in the summer with the rest of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. The meal was followed by cake and ice cream outside in the courtyard of Manitoulin Lodge where Barb joined in the festivities. With a bit of help from Katie, they lit the (90) candles in a jiffy and then Oliver and his great-grandson Micah blew them out twice as fast!
Jim and Sandy have made their big move back to Barrie Island. Usually they’re here a bit sooner, however, Jim was in bike training and then on the Seven Day May Cycling 1,100 km Challenge around southwestern Ontario to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. Also, part of the cycling team were locals Peter Carter and Brady Wilson. Jim was able to raise $8,200 towards the cause! He reports that pancreatic cancer is the third leading cancer killer in Canada and if you would like to donate to the cause visit pancreaticcancercanada.ca for more information.
Carolyn Lane-Rock is busy getting ready for her son’s wedding shower at the Barrie Island Hall. Details to follow.
Doug Lane is home after an emergency gall bladder operation. Linda reports that he is recuperating at home. We are wishing Doug well and hoping he can rest.
Natalie Hayden has extended her time on the island to help her mom and dad. Hoping that Lance feels stronger with time and that Lil is also feeling well.
Oliver Runnalls attended the Rotary Club annual dinner meeting at Red Lodge, where they acknowledged his history with the club. He was accompanied by his daughter, Sandy Miller.
Grace Turner (nee Lane) is in Sudbury at Health Sciences North recovering from surgery. We are all thinking about her and wish her a good recovery.
Carolyn Lane-Rock attended the high school graduation of her great-niece Anika Smith (daughter of Russ Smith and Sarah Turner, granddaughter of Grace and Brian Turner) at M.S.S. on Thursday night. Anika plans to study science at university in the fall.
Gordon/Barrie Island will be hosting a jam making workshop on June 28 at 10 am. Please register and pay at the municipal office by June 20 (call 705-282-2702).
Please let me know if you have any news to share!
On Friday, June 6 we went to euchre in Meldrum Bay.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
Saturday afternoon Lee McDonald married Sandra at the Spring Bay Pentecostal Church. The supper and reception were held at the Burpee/Mills Complex which was decorated beautifully. Congratulations to the happy couple.
On Sunday, the United Church of Canada celebrated their 100th anniversary.
On Monday, I worked from home most of the day. I watched online at 10:35 am as my niece Larissa Chevrette walked across the stage at Trent University in Peterborough to graduate with her Bachelor of Biology. Congratulations to her and all the other students graduating.
Albert Meijer and I had the recycle bins open from 1 to 2 pm on Monday.
In the evening, I took Myra and Ken Duncanson, Heather Wilson, DonnaKay McDonald and Brenda Carter to euchre at the Burpee/Mills Complex. We celebrated Natasha McVey’s 39th birthday and Guy Bigras’ birthday.
On Tuesday, I went to Tehkummah to work and had a very productive day.
On Thursday there was euchre at the Silver Water Community Hall with 20 players.
There will be a market in our yard on Saturday, June 21 from 9 am to 12 noon. Vendors are welcome to set up free of charge. Bring your own tables.
The Canada Day picnic in Silver Water will be on Saturday, June 28. The theme is “in the garden.”
Congratulations to Mark and Ulrika Wismer on the arrival of their son Oscar Samuel.
Congratulations to Bob Benedict who gained a great-granddaughter Beatrice on Tuesday. She is the daughter of Gwenyth (McLeod) and Gjilas Memabtene.
Condolences to the family of John Niganiwina.
