Changes to the marina over the last three years have made Prov a better place to be
To the Expositor:
I was disappointed to read the recent letter to the editor called ‘Writer saddened by negative restrictions at Providence Bay dock’ (August 13). I would like to offer my opinion about the positive changes which have occurred in recent years at the Providence Bay Marina.
As a young woman who has spent her summers for the last 22 years in Providence Bay, and who has a family who has docked their boat at the marina for the past 16 years, I have seen many changes to the marina and the way that it has been run. Providence Bay has been my summer home for as long as I can remember, and the marina has been an integral part of growing up on Manitoulin Island.
I have yet to see a negative change, despite what others have suggested.
In the past three years, the Providence Bay Marina has been transformed. What was once just a building along the shoreline with a light and a few piers has been converted into a social hub where everyone is welcome. The building, which remained the same for most of my childhood, has been revived with new paint, new signs, and decor. The property of the marina has been well maintained, and many changes have been made to better facilitate the growing number of people who attend at the marina, for water sports, fishing, and just for visiting. The new addition of the deck off the front of the marina building boasts comfortable chairs, warm conversation, and a hot cup of coffee any time of the day. It is also a place that welcomes any person, young, old and in between to watch the sunset. The decorations, such as the old boat which has been moved around a couple of times, are comforting reminders of the past, tastefully placed for all to enjoy. The smaller additions, such as the flowerpots and pieces of limestone which line the parking lot, make the place feel kept and organized.
The organized parking allows for boat owners and slip renters to access their boats. It allows the families, some of whom have young children, to more easily load and unload their gear when participating in fishing and water sport activities. There have been many new spots added to the parking lot, facilitating parking for trucks with trailers, as well as making a safe environment with lots of room for people to launch their boats at the bottom of the hill. This is yet another positive change for the marina.
You are greeted by the dockmaster with a smile each time you arrive. He is knowledgeable, he is helpful, and he is always around when he is needed. His constant presence is comforting to the slip holders who leave their boats at the marina. He goes out of his way to take pictures of all of the fish that are brought into the marina—big or small. He also provides copies of these pictures as keepsakes for the fishermen and fisherwomen, as well as posting a board for the visitors to admire. If you’re lucky enough to catch a fish over 10 lbs, all nearby will know as the dock master rings his bell. Any fish over 20lbs gets the air horn—everyone in town can hear it! You are never made to feel that your catch is insignificant.
These new additions and changes to the marina are working. The slips that are available for boats to dock in on a seasonal basis are at full capacity this year. This means that there are many people traveling through Providence Bay, supporting our local businesses and shops. Not only that, but people are coming from all over the Island to launch their boats and remove them from the water on the same night, as there is no place to park them. While this has created some restrictions on fishing from some areas of the dock, it is really a function of the success of the marina. Nobody wants a triple hook in their canvass boat top. The end of the cement pier is always welcoming for anglers who want to cast a line and try their luck. This is something we should be thankful for, not complaining about.
Another event which has been created in the past three years has been the annual Providence Bay Fishing Derby. The derby has been so successful that the participation has had to be limited to allow for a reasonable number of entries. There just isn’t enough time to get the large number of interested participant boats in and out of the water. This is just another example of a positive change for the marina.
There have been many opinions expressed about the “loss” of the Providence Bay beach. It is my opinion that we have not lost any beach at all, rather we have gained water in our precious Great Lake. The water levels in Lake Huron have been so low for so long that we should be grateful and thankful to have gained back some of the inches that we have lost many years in a row.
I love Providence Bay. It is my home away from home, my utopia, my happy place. The Providence Bay Marina and the changes that have been instilled in the past three years have made the town of Providence Bay a better place to be.
There is nothing negative about that.
Kyla Nadorozny “Haweater wannabe” Providence Bay
