Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your campaign trail and Easter fly.
Tariff-raff and sovereignty identity cries and crises (crisis plural) aside, what are we looking toward here in Northern Ontario? The migration of birds continues to gain momentum and is seemingly paralleled only by the number of people seeking safe haven, refuge and residency as a direct result of threats to safety, security, livelihood and livability. So, the powers that be continuing to bargain and build more and reevaluate and raging the institutions and infrastructures that once served before the world went mad and autonomous. So, we revert back to the action figures, political figures, facts and figures, scoreboards and servers to stay grounded and in an effort to stay on the collective path of finding purpose and belonging. In essence, we have turned to the very things that have thwarted our evolutionary spark. Let us look instead to what is all around us. The most beautiful and resilient tapestry and touchstone of all. Years of evolutionary progress that has eroded and crumbled under our ignorance and arrogance. So, we hide in shame and complacency in the virtual world. AI and apps will never replace the natural world. Our ability to create, craft, curate, carve, render, forge, forage, find, feel, navigate, cross, climb, cut, cultivate, grow, germinate, generate, pollinate, proliferate, produce, preserve is intrinsic. Our knowledge of the natural world has been our only and best teacher and testament. Our earth mother has made possible the impossible and has taught us that things that are worthwhile and worthy of accolades and admiration take time. The wild places and ecosystems that we know are sacred, interconnected and essential. So be patient with the seasons of your own passion, purpose and evolution and that of your community and creed. The things that really matter and make roots will find their way back to you. And when they do, give them plenty of water and light.
Here’s What’s Happening: Providence Bay arena and fairgrounds: The Agricultural Society are busy with bookings and fair weekend planning! If you wish to participate in the butterfly display contest and are looking for a prefab wooden butterfly to decorate and display, please reach out to Penny. Contact details are on the Providence Bay Fair Agricultural Society Facebook page.
Providence Bay Rec Nite and Soccer Schedules TBA soon!
Providence Bay Curling Club: Congrats to all the league award winners and players for an amazing season! Keep an eye on the Facebook button for updates.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church, Holy Week services, all are welcome! Good Friday service is at 11 am followed by hot cross fellowship. Easter Sunday service is at 10:30 am.
Providence Bay Hall: Exercise classes continue Friday mornings; Tai Chi continues Monday and Thursday.
On Saturday, April 26 join us at the Providence Bay Centennial Hall from 8 am to 12 noon for a pancake breakfast fundraiser benefiting Manitoulin Metal Robotics FRC 6865 Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club.
Gentle Yoga continues with chair yoga and gentle yoga continues on Tuesdays from 1 to 1:45 pm and 2 to 3 pm at Providence Bay Hall/Mindemoya Hall, check with instructors.
The Heavens: Around April 17 look to the eastern sky just an hour before sunrise and you’ll catch a rare cosmic lineup of four planets Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Neptune, all appearing together in the constellation Pisces. A miniature alignment tucked low in the east, a fleeting moment where four distant worlds seem to gather for a silent meeting before the sun rises. On April 22 and 23 it is the Lyrids meteor shower. The Lyrids usually produces about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from April 16 to April 25. It peaks this year on the night of the April 22 and morning of the April 23. Wishing you clear skies and bright sights! Happy sky-gazing.
The Friends: Happy Birthday wishes to all of you mid to late April babies, Abby D., Brooklyn D., Alex H., Alex D., Juliane, Alexia H., Chris B., Lexi, Jason M., Ron L., Robbie S. and many more!
If the weather stays warm after April 20 we should be in the clear! Time to get ready for those May polar bear dips Cheryl, Alessandra and Ceilidh!
April 18 is Good Friday and April 21 is Easter Monday, so happy egg hunt and happy Easter. Happy Peter Cottontail everyone!
April 22 is Earth Day.
“Even the smallest one can change the world.”
Peter Rabbit
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Team Fergmeijer has been accused of being a bit egg-stra on occasion, but we have found that puns really help people come out of their shells. Chick out some of our plans for this very busy holiday weekend: we are egg-static for a big Easter brunch with friends (don’t want to be choco-late to that meal); we are taking an egg-spedition to the Park Centre for the Easter egg hunt; and basically eating candy around the cluck every day (you know, a lot of people will claim that chocolate is their favourite Easter candy, but all we’re saying is, give peeps a chance).
Eggstra! Eggstra! Read all about it! The Township office will be closed Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 to observe the Easter weekend.
You’ll be eggs-hausted after running around at the annual Easter egg hunt this weekend, but it will be SO worth it! Starting at 11 am on Saturday, April 19 at the Park Centre, bring your basket, meet THE bunny, and put all your eggs in one basket, courtesy of the Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee.
Everyone in Billings is sending our best wishes to Tiana as she tackles a new, big adventure for herself and her family. We appreciate all that you have done for us over the years!
With Tiana’s departure, the township is advertising for a new deputy clerk. The full job description and information for applying can be found at https://www.billingstwp.ca/townhall/careers.
For peeps sake, Carol L is turning 29! Hoppy birthday from your friends at Team Fergmeijer!
Ah, spring! It’s always a surprise what emerges from under the snow. Join the Billings Climate Action Committee in a Neighbourhood Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26! If you are cleaning up around your neighbourhood, bring any collected waste in clear bags to the Park Centre parking lot that day where it will be sorted, weighed, and then brought to the landfill. You can also clean up on some deals by coming out to the Park Centre for a “junk in the trunk” community yard sale. If you’d like to book a table for the event, reach out to Vince at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca.
While you are at it, why not take part in Manitoulin Streams’ Great Manitoulin Island Clean Up?! With awards for the school, community, business, individual, seniors and group of four who clean up the most bags of garbage, it’s a win for you AND for the Island environment! Check out Manitoulin Streams on Facebook for full details of how to take part.
Life in Kagawong? There’s an app for that! There’s a brand-new app that you can use to stay up-to-date with all the updates about safety, events, road closures, taxes, and allows you to directly report road issues, accidents, floods and other concerns. Just download the free app and enter “Billings.”
Don’t forget! The Billings landfill has shifted to spring and summer hours. Hop on by to say hi to Denis (and drop off your sorted garbage and recycling) Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 pm – 6 pm, and weekends 10 am – 4 pm.
Word to the wise: If you don’t plan ahead for Easter activities, a last-minute rush to get colouring kits for eggs is a do-or-dye situation. Have a great week!
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalis
We are hoping that the spring storms are finally behind us here on Barrie Island. Fallen trees have to be cleaned up but mercifully, few properties were negatively affected. Today is a lovely sunny day.
This week’s warmer temperatures have shut sugar bush operations down for the year with good yields, although there was a bit of stopping and starting throughout the season. Cameron Runnalls is selling his Grand & Gold syrup, so reach out if you are interested. He had lots of visitors coming round to keep him company while he boiled and he really enjoyed it. Wayne Jeffkins and Allison and Robert and family were out to their family sugar bush with the kids, gathering the buckets of sap and boiling it in the specific methods of great-grandfather Charlie Langton.
Carolyn Lane-Rock has made a few trips over from Sudbury. She stayed with Scott and Enid Runnalls and had good visits with her friends and neighbours while here.
Some of our very brave ice fishers were able to do a bit of fishing close to shore, but it looks as if that will soon be over.
Barrie Island folk were among a large group of western Manitoulin people attending the delicious Filipino cuisine dinner at Robinson Hall in Lyons Memorial United Church. Jinjin, who was the lead chef of the evening and her team Margaret and Menchi hail from the Philippines and love to cook, bake and cater events. The hall buzzed with conversation and laughter as people enjoyed the dinner that was immediately followed by an art auction. All funds collected went towards the residents of the former Woods Lane Apartments which recently was destroyed by fire.
Lance is doing well at home and he and Lil are looking forward to a visit with Natalie later this weekend.
Over from Ottawa, Jim and Sandy Miller, along with daughter Fiona Perry and her wee sons Griffin and Rowan are here this weekend staying at the home of Barb and Oliver Runnalls. The boys are enjoying play time in the sugar bush and at the farm with their cousins, Micah of Barrie Island, and Arie, Isaiah and Eli of Kagawong.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, April 4 we went to Meldrum Bay to play euchre. There were 16 players.
On Sunday, Myra Duncanson and DonnaKay McDonald went with me to Tehkummah to play in their tournament. They had 10 tables of players.
On Monday morning, GFL Environmental did the rescheduled garbage pickup.
The roads to Gore Bay on Monday morning were covered with slush. I got behind a snowplow before Evansville and I stayed there all the way. The temperature dropped a lot before I drove home, but the roads were much improved by then.
Tuesday afternoon there was exercise class at the community hall.
Tuesday evening there was fire practice with a large group turning out to participate.
On Thursday, I went to work in Gore Bay for part of the day.
Thursday evening there was euchre at the hall. We had 22 players out.
On Sunday, April 20 there will be a sunrise church service in Meldrum Bay with a breakfast afterwards.
On Saturday, April 26 there is a ham and scalloped potato supper at the Silver Water Hall at 5 pm.
On Saturday, May 3 it is the Snowduster fish dinner in Silver Water starting at 5 pm
Happy 55th birthday to Melanie Carr, Kim Johnson, Natalie Hayden and Roger Morrell.
Condolences to the family of Mary Hutchinson.
Condolences to the family of Eric Joseph Holmes.
Condolences to the family of Hugh Moggy.
Happy Easter!
