Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your Friendly Flying Circus!
And just like that, the greater wallet prevails over the greater good and America is trumped again! Despite the media circus and hubbub south of the border we Canadians turned our gaze and greater attention to the memorials and masses honouring the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and who’s names etched in stone remind us of the battles of yesteryear. Anything worth fighting for is work and will have many lifetimes and war stories to tell and teach before any victories are truly celebrated or understood. For the moment we hear and respect the silence and peace that is ours to keep as we remember, salute and stand on guard for thee. What a wonderful struggle and strife; (don’t go postal if there’s a strike!) remember to smile, take it in stride, because ours really is a wonderful life.
Here’s what’s happening. Providence Arena: PB skating – not yet, kids – soon. The operating season at the Providence Bay War Memorial Community Arena is from mid-December until the end of March and is the host site for the Pearson Cup and the Bradly McAllister sportsman 4 on 4 hockey tournaments.
Mindemoya Arena is open! Go Mindemoya Thunder! Season is already off to a great start. The operating season at the JH Burt Memorial Arena is from November 1 until the middle of March and is subject to weather and safe ice operating conditions
Providence Bay Curling Club Season is off to a great start!
Join us for Manitoulin’s first bonspiel of the season!
This is an open spiel-men’s, women’s, mixed or any combination welcome! Entry fee is $220 and includes a minimum of three games plus a delicious Saturday dinner! (Plus, other random chances to earn cash!) Email providencebaycurling@gmail.com or call David at 705-377-4668 to register your team!
Providence Bay Hall and Village Square. John and Joanne Bisaillon have put the big, beautiful poppies up at the Village Square – Lest we forget.
Friday morning exercise classes continue from November 15 to December 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 am. For information call Alison at 705-377-5726.
Tai Chi Class are 10 am to 12:30 pm, Mondays and Thursdays. Contact Jean Pearce at 705 885-8444, Canadian Tai Chi Academy.
Providence Bay Community Centre Board invites you to the Annual Fowl Supper and Turkey Takeout on Tuesday, November 19 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Providence Bay Community Centre. Adults, $20; children (6-12), $10; ages 5 and under, free! Proceeds support the work of the Providence Bay Community Centre Board. To order turkey takeout, call 705-377-4503 on Tuesday, November 19.
Community of Christ Peace Church service is at 10:30 am.
Christmas Carols and Sing-along is Friday, December 20.
Spring Bay/Providence Bay Lions Bottle Drive: Drop off your empties next to the arena for a good cause. This helps keep our township clean and helps us give back to the community.
The Heavens: If the skies are clear look up!
November’s full Beaver Supermoon reaches peak illumination on Friday, November 15. This is our fourth and final supermoon of the year!
Mentions: Thoughts and prayers of courage to families who have loved ones in hospitals and who are away from home and family right now, and who are fighting the good fight. Your community, friends and neighbours are here for you, we will keep the homes fires of hope and love burning bright! Keep smiling and stay strong!
Happy birthday and happy wishes for a great year Pam A., Adriana C., Hunter M. and all you wonderful November babies!
“Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.” Clarence
It’s a Wonderful Life
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
You may know Team Fergmeijer as intrepid reporters, but we have recently been discussing what other ways we might fill our time. We started to brainstorm some ideas for businesses that might interest us. We started pondering an all-marsupial fighting championship that we would call Mortal Wombat. Then considered a residential security company (Surelock Homes). There was a brief consideration of a fish and chip stand, but the name Frying Nemo seemed a bit dark and we moved on rather quickly. This all came about because our friend, Richard, a flooring contractor we affectionately call Lino Richie (his voicemail message is, “Hello, is it me you’re looking floor?”), formed a partnership with a company that specialized in floor and wall tile called Bonnie Tiler. We decided perhaps entrepreneurial life is the way to go. The current front runner is a gardening business called Back to the Fuchsia, but we haven’t made any solid decisions yet.
Thank you to the Kagawong Cenotaph Board for organizing and sponsoring the Remembrance Day service at the Park Centre on Monday. Remembrance Day may have passed, but you can still check out the banners around Kagawong honouring local veterans. Lest we forget.
We want to send out happy birthday wishes to former Kagawongian Rachel M and seasonal Kagawongian Dave T this week. As you ponder another trip around the sun, just remember that birthdays are like golf; way more fun when you don’t keep count.
Get your lists and start checking them twice – Christmas in Kagawong is coming up on November 15th & 16th! On Friday, November 15, vendors will be set up from 4 to 8 pm at the Park Centre and the Gore Bay Legion will be hosting supper. On the Saturday, vendors will be back from 10 am to 4 pm. Rumour has it, St. Nick himself will be putting in an appearance that day from 11 am to 2 pm at the ice rink, where you can also pick up lunch hosted by the Billings Museum Board. Round out the day with a visit to the Anglican Church for their annual meat pie fundraiser, bake sale, craft table and gift bags.
The Billings Library will be holding their annual online silent auction starting on Thursday, November 21. All bidding is done via facebook.com/groups/libraryauction. Something for everyone will be available for bid. Load of gravel or mulch? Check! Beautiful artwork? Check! Ripley’s Aquarium passes? Check! With the library now able to accept payment via credit and debit, it’s never been easier to take part in the auction.
The Manitoulin Community Choir will be performing in Kagawong on Friday, November 29 at 7:30 pm at the Park Centre. They’ll be presenting a mix of songs and styles with a little something for everyone. Admission is $15 per person with tickets available at the door.
Last weeks’ time change had us really struggling to wake up on time. So, we have officially replaced our alarm clocks with pet ducks. Now we get up at the quack of dawn. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
We had an interesting week. At the waterfront the DCIA and community volunteers are working at getting the last of the docks secured for the winter. It is a big job and there is still some work to do. Thanks to everyone who helped.
If you came here for a drive, you would see a large number of trucks parked in the lot beside the Inn and at the waterfront. Those are the people from Cockburn and hunting is open on Cockburn Island.
A neighbour had family up and wanted to go out on the trails on side by sides. We loaned them ours for the day to provide space for everyone. It was a beautiful sunny day and they enjoyed the whole day together. Towards evening another friend phoned on his cell that he was stuck in a wet and remote area and could we help him. Thank goodness for cell service. We got in our truck even though we knew it was not the best vehicle under the circumstances but noticed that our friends had returned. Together on our respective quads, we found him and successfully pulled his quad out. He was very grateful. We stopped for a get-together afterwards to warm up, have fun talking and then returned home, happy that all had turned out well.
Sunday, November 10 should be a fun day. There will be baked pasta, a roll and dessert followed by a euchre tournament. We’re expecting a great time. It’s a good cause, the hall is a valuable place for the community and it needs repairs.
On Monday there will also be a potluck dinner in Silver Water to raise money for the Angel Bus.
On Friday night, November 1, at cards there were 15 people. Karen Noble took home the juice; Elaine McDonald was high man with 76 points; high lady was Brenda Carter with 73 points, and she also had six lone hands; ladies’ lone hands went to Natasha McVey with five; men’s lone hands went to Lisa Townsend with five; most euchres went to Rose Van Every with 13; door prize went to Karen Noble; Natasha McVey was the winner of the 50/50 draw. The money jar is safe for another week. Come and join us on Friday nights at 7:30.
The sun is shining on the bare limbed trees and grassy fields of Barrie Island this morning. The cattle are being moved to their winter-feeding areas and hunters are preparing their camps for the season ahead.
Carolyn and George Calback have had company recently, with a visit from Darlene Orford and her son Larry and just last weekend, a visit from their son Lorne and Dawn Calback and the boys.
In mid-October, Terrie Galbraith-Thrasher and her mother Marilyn cruised from Quebec City down the Eastern Seaboard for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They enjoyed the views from the ship and made a few port excursions to places such as Halifax, Portland, New York City, Boston, Norfolk and Charleston. It was a wonderful mother-daughter adventure that they will always remember.
Elwood and Edith spent the last week of October at their hunt camp getting things ready for the big deer hunt. Edith visited the little free library at the corner of 5th Side Road and East Line Road where she returned a few books and scooped some more. Edith shares that with so many good books to tuck into, she’s having a hard time getting her jobs done!
A reminder to all that the Gordon/Barrie Island hall on Noble Side Road will be hosting the Annual Holiday Market on Sunday, November 30, from 10 am to 3 pm. Come out for the festive vibes and the local artisanal market. In the spirit of our community, the township will be collecting donations at the door to go towards the Gore Bay Food Cupboard.
If you have any news/events to share, just give me a call or reach out on social media. Thanks!
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, November 1, I went to Mindemoya to do bookkeeping. Afterwards I did errands in Mindemoya and Gore Bay. I got home in time to have some supper and head to euchre in Meldrum Bay.
On Sunday, I took DonnaKay McDonald and Myra Duncanson to play at the Tehkummah tournament in the afternoon. Congratulations to Helen Black and her partner Hank who won the top score prize.
Monday night there was euchre at the Burpee/Mills Complex. They had six tables of players.
Tuesday afternoon there was chair yoga at the Silver Water Community Hall.
On Wednesday, Albert Meijer and I took Brenda Carter with us to Sudbury. We were in a lot of stores and got almost all of the ingredients for the Hunters’ Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, November 17. We had a fantastic meal at East Side Mario’s and brought take out from Swiss Chalet. We had a good trip and were worn out by the time the car was unloaded.
Thursday afternoon, I walked to St Andrew’s United Church for the UCW meeting. There were 13 ladies in attendance. Plans were made for the bake sale at the pancake breakfast. Anyone willing to bake something to donate is much appreciated. Anyone wanting to purchase the baking, it is also appreciated. There are plans for the next meeting on Thursday, December 5 which will be the Christmas party starting at 12 noon with a potluck lunch. There will be a loonie table full of items to bid on. DonnaKay McDonald is collecting donated items for that. All ladies are welcome to join in, upstairs at the Silver Water Hall.
Thursday evening there were five tables of euchre players at the Silver Water Hall.
