Holding our breath for activities!
Ok, nobody blink! Students are now back in school and we are all hoping for an uninterrupted season of invaluable, extra-curricular activities. Of course, we don’t want another COVID shoe to drop, that could put off another school year of the necessary, hyper-cautious protocols to combat the scourge. Thusly, these activities, outside the regular school schedule, will help students be more well-rounded, even worldly, if you will.
I don’t want to go on and on about these benefits to students because I think they have been well researched and demonstrated. However, some younger students, with a two year lapse, may not have even had the opportunity to participate in some of those life-long memories that have stayed with a lot of people in their own, adolescence.
Keep up the fight everyone! We want to limit COVID’s effect this fall and transition back into what we can hope is the all-encompassing experience that it should be.
High level hockey!
Over the summer, Mindemoya’s Delaney Bridgeman participated in the U18 division of the Sudbury and District Girls Hockey league’s MK23 Memorial Tournament in Sudbury. This event is held in honour of Melisa Kingsley, an outstanding former Lady Wolves and Ottawa Gee Gees player who tragically lost a battle with cancer in 2018 at just 20 years old. The event allows the girls to form teams outside of their regular season affiliations and compete in the summer, with all proceeds from the event going to the Melisa Kingsley Scholarship fund.
Delaney ended up on what might be called a ‘Goon Squad’ with some ‘AA’ teammates, some SLW ‘A’ players and with a couple of girls and head coach from Barrie. The ‘Goons’ side soundly dispatched the MK23s 5-1, the Northern Chill 4 – 0 and the Sudbury Bears 5-0 through their first 3 games in the round robin. They then lost a squeaker to Meagan’s Minions, a team with a majority of her U18 SLW ‘AA’ teammates. The Minions scored on their first shot, and despite playing the majority of the game in the MM end, the Goons gave up an empty netter to fall 2 – 0.
In the semis the Goons repeated their 5-0 score from round robin over the Sudbury Bears to set up a rematch against Meagan’s Minions in the final. This time the Goons had a much better showing, defeating the Minions 4 -1 finishing the tournament as U18 Champs and ending the tourney with an impressive 23 goals for and 4 against! It was an impactful weekend, so much so for Delaney, that she decided to give up her U18 AA spot to play with the girls she met and played with on the U18A team for the 2022-2023 season. Nice to see you back playing and happy, Delaney!
Providence and Spring Bay-ers are always active
Angela Johnston and her volunteers are planning to run a fall soccer session, but have not quite worked out the details yet. They plan to be in Prov on Saturdays, so stay tuned to the Providence Bay, Spring Bay Recreation Committee Facebook page or Eventbrite page. They will have it all figured out by next week though, so just be aware that they have another great, active session to sidle up to the hockey season.
Angela would also like to send kudos to Amber Wahl, who was the volunteer coach for this past spring/summer basketball session that finished up just a couple of weeks ago. Thanks from parents and players alike, Amber!
Dancing days are here again!
Candice Irwin, the director of Body Stories Dance Instruction has just announced her fall dance schedule and registration is open. She will be back teaching Tuesdays in Mindemoya, Wednesdays in Little Current and Thursdays in Manitowaning. Fall programming starts with two weeks of free drop-in classes (September 20 – 29), followed by a nine-week dance session and mini-performances to finish off the season.
This fall season includes some new classes including Creative Movement for ages 3-4 and a ‘Creation and Performance’ program that will perform at local community events in late November/December.
Their free seniors dance classes are also back in Manitowaning. The full, fall schedule and registration can be found on their website: www.bodystoriesdance.com. Folks can also email (bodystoriesdance@gmail.com) or call (647-213-1497) with questions.
Pickleball Place!
The August, “Introduction to Pickleball” was quite successful. Over the five sessions in August a total of 16 adults came out to participate on Tuesday evenings. The smaller ratio of new player to Instructor turned out to be quite popular as was the dedication of the Tuesday night for beginners was more inviting. Club organizers also noted that half of the participants were seasonal residents and therefore another reason to come to the beautiful Manitoulin Island.
The Manitowaning Pickleball Club will use this as important “learnings” for next year when they plan to run the sessions again. This past iteration, had six participants join the club and four other participants committed to join when they return to Manitoulin Island next summer.
Their daytime play schedule continues at the NEMI indoor courts in the curling rink on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays from 10 am-12 pm. Their doors open by 9:30 am. Of course, members of the public are invited and will be given an “Introduction to Pickleball.”
A good sport is good for sports.
chipstoquips@gmail.com
