Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your Friendly, Canadian Fly.
Providence Bay is sporting her summer’s best and showing off her red and white Canadiana for this weekend’s countdown to Canada Day beginning with a bevy of celebrations: live music, markets, festivals, a homecoming parade and an epic Canada Day yard sale. As June winds down, Canada Day (and fairway) flags go up and summer is served sizzling hot, segued by the serenade of the Providence Bay sunset music series and Canada Day fireworks at the Providence Bay beach and boardwalk. (Please consult local regulations regarding personal fireworks).
Summertime is coming in hot! Here’s what’s happening: Providence Bay Arena and Fairgrounds: Soccer families enjoyed last week’s soccer match and celebratory season closer beach-stomp-way to play! Happy summer to all. Well done coaches and kids!
Youth Rec Nite continues Fridays from 7 to 9 pm inside the arena.
Providence Bay Hall: Private commencement and grad events at the main hall.
Mindemoya: Taekwondo continues Tuesday and Thursdays at the town hall.
Run-canoe-bike classic is Sunday, June 30 at the Government Dock on Lake Mindemoya. Race start is 9:30 am.
The 3rd annual Manitoulin Ribfest with three big ribbers this year! Go Gonzalez BBQ, Bubba Lou Bar-B-Q and Made in America BBQ. A four-day festival on Canada Day weekend from Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1. Live music and performances all weekend! Win a Lions Club ultimate backyard barbecue dream package! Lions Club 50/50 draws! Amateur and Professional Rib Cookoffs! Vendor food, drinks, treats, domestic beer, coolers and local craft beer! Central Manitoulin Market in the Mindemoya arena on Saturday, June 29 from 11 am to 6 pm and Sunday, June 30 from 10 am to 5 pm. Youth entertainment, soap box derby and inflatables! Homecoming Canada Day weekend parade is on Saturday, June 30 at 11 am! Licenced Homecoming dance on Saturday night! The Mindemoya Classic Triathlon! Shaded seating and free parking! Entry by donation only! Yard sales through the town beginning at 8 am Saturday and Sunday.
Providence Bay Curling Club: Congratulations youth curlers who raised over $900 at the Father’s Day pancake breakfast and fundraiser. *No Events this weekend*.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church meeting at 10:30 am, service at 11 am.
Providence Bay Discovery Centre and Boardwalk:
Sunset Music series starts this weekend and the Discovery centre opens next week – woot! This Sunset music series boasts some local and travelling musicians and talent. “Saving Grace” will play on Monday, July 1 for the opening night Canada Day celebrations. Check the Huron Island time Facebook page or Sunset Music series online for the full musical lineup.
The Discovery Centre is filled with all the wonders and teachings of elders and locally trained experts. Drop by to celebrate Canada Day and learn about the incredible biodiversity of our Island ecosystem. Huron Island Time is busier than ever! Be sure to try the butter pecan and unicorn toots ice cream flavours! Ask Lance about his sweet and savoury Jamaican and Caribbean food delights. Stroll along the beach and boardwalk, take a dip or a wade in the warm waters of Lake Huron or the Mindemoya River. Make memories, snap selfies and enjoy the beautiful scenery and views! Happy Summertime students and grads!
Happy Canada Day, it’s time to switch into glide and enjoy some ‘Toulin time.
The Heavens: The Strawberry moon or planting moon was June 22 and yes, it’s actually warm enough now for all your seedlings and sprouts to thrive.
On June 29 planets align. A rare sight, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will line-up with the Moon and you should be able to see it with your naked eye early Saturday morning. The half-illuminated moon will sit between Mars and Saturn. Darker skies make for better star and galaxy gazing. Next full moon is July 21.
‘Toulin Turtles: Turtles are nesting all over the roadways and waterways now so please watch closely for them and watch your speed. If you see a turtle you can try to safely relocate it to the curb in the direction it was headed. Note: There are a lot of bunnies, foxes and other critters out there including the Kamikaze birds that will jump out in front of your car so be very alert with eyes on the road at all times! If you see an injured turtle contact Turtle Pond at 705-691-0433.
Mentions: Matt’s Stand had some airtime on CBC, way to go Matt! Grandmother Water Walker Josephine Mandamin of Wiikwemkoong was honoured with a postage stamp portrait unveiling, congratulations.
Happy birthday Sissy Wendy F. We love you! Ceilidh G. won third place in the 400m race for the CMPS track event, way to give it your alpha sigma despite the heat.
Enjoy a glorious, happy and safe Canada Day weekend everyone! Remember to dance like no0body is watching and always wear sunscreen and put maple syrup in and on everything.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Everyone romaine calm; it’s the very first market day of the season! It’s always so much fun to see all the vendors and the goods they have for sale. Did you hear that one of the most popular market vendors left last year mid-summer to attend mime school? We haven’t heard from him since. He always had the best root vegetables, so we hope he will turnip at the market today.
Grab your reusable tote bags, it’s the day you’ve all been waiting for! Today (Wednesday, June 26) is the first of the weekly Kagawong summer markets. Be sure to stop into the largest market on the Island for some great finds and support local artisans and bakers. There will be lots to explore between vendors in the covered rink, in the colourful cabanas and in pop-up stores in the parking lot. As well as many local shops in the village.
Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy local music at the Manitoulin Choirs benefit concert last Saturday at Manitoulin Secondary. All proceeds went directly to Manitoulin Family Resources and we’re still humming our favourite tunes from the night.
It must really be summer now, because the Manitoulin Tennis Club is meeting twice a week! Come on out Sunday mornings at 10 am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. Players of all abilities are welcome, with lessons available in the near future.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Stephanie M. and Abbie N. When we were kids, birthdays were all about the cake and presents. Now, well, it’s still all about cake and presents. Here’s hoping you get lots of both!
This Saturday! The annual Anglican Church yard sale and barbecue will be Saturday, June 29 from 10 am to 2 pm at the pavilion. You are sure to find something (perhaps several somethings) you didn’t know you can’t live without!
During the first weekend of July, come and spin a yarn with the Jabbawong Storytelling Festival! This festival is part of the art infusion weekend (July 5-7) which includes a vendor market, a barbecue lunch on the Saturday, an exhibition of the Manitoulin Island Artists Guild, art workshops on the Sunday and an evening with author Waubgeshig Rice on the Friday night. Check out the Jabbawong Storytelling Festival on Facebook for more information!
No sitting on your summer laurels, the very next Saturday (July 13), join classic car enthusiasts for the Kagawong Show and Shine car show! The cars will be at Dig and Doug’s Cedar Furniture on Main Street from 10 am to 3 pm. There will be lots of great vehicles on display for all to admire. Then, it’s time to hit the beach that evening for the library’s annual open air movie night!
Be sure to sneak in some rest and drink lots of water because things really take off the weekend of July 20! The Billings Library is hosting their annual book sale and a local author showcase on Saturday, July 20 (11 am to 3 pm), local authors interested in participating should reach out to the Billings Library (billingsreads@gmail.com) to be included. Also, that weekend, the Manitoulin Art Tour will spotlight a number of Billings artists in the region over the course of the entire weekend.
And don’t forget about the Island-wide Household Hazardous Waste Day, also on Saturday, July 20! Not as summer-y, we know. But an important part of helping the environment by keeping hazardous things out of our community landfill. Save up your batteries, old electronics, paints and chemicals, residents of Billings can drop off items at the Mindemoya Roads Building that Saturday from 1 to 4 pm.
Given that the opening for this column was about the market, it is just so frustrating that we couldn’t think of a single synonym for it. Talk about bazaar. Have a great week!
Barrie Island
Lillian Greenman
Lorne and Dawn Calback and boys from Sudbury visited George and Carolyn last weekend.
House guests at Ashton and Nina Calback’s home on Tuesday and Wednesday were Larry and Sherrin Emery from Curve Lake. Deborah Emery of Gore Bay joined Ashton, Nina and Lynn Calback for dinner on Tuesday. On Wednesday Larry and Sherrin treated Ashton, Nina and Deborah to dinner at the Watersedge Restaurant in Gore Bay. A good time, sharing memories was had by all.
Natalie and Roger Hayden from Lively were over last weekend and visited their parents.
Tom and Jackie Cunning from Webbwood visited Lance and Lillian Greenman last Saturday.
Damien Rogers and friend Sam from Burlington visited George and Carolyn Calback last weekend.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
Colin and Janice Frame had their children and friends visit with them last week.
On Friday, we went to Meldrum Bay for euchre. There were lots of players.
Saturday was the first vendor market in our yard. Thanks to everyone who came out to shop.
On Saturday the UCW’s annual yard sale was held in the basement of the hall.
On Monday night euchre at G.G.s in Evansville with eight tables of players was held.
Colleen Julseth went with Albert Meijer and myself to the Kits and Quilts in Meldrum Bay on Tuesday, June 18. There was a small crowd that got a lot done. The next one is July 2.
Wednesday evening, I went to Mindemoya to attend the Manitoulin Municipal Association meeting. There was a discussion of the mandatory certification for the fire fighters.
Thursday at the Silver Water Community Hall there were 13 euchre players out.
Shawn Noble went to Ottawa on Thursday to his daughters’ home.
Gladys Duncanson and I went swimming several days this week. The hot air temperatures helped to warm up the water.
Congratulations to Myra Duncanson who won the money jar.
The annual Silver Water picnic will be held on Saturday, June 29. The theme is “On the Farm”. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their yards and get a float into the parade. Maybe we will have a lot of tractors entered. There will be lunch available and ball games to watch. There will be a silent auction in the basement of the Silver Water Community Hall. The bidding will start at 10 am and end at 1:30 pm. Bring lawn chairs and spend the day.
