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Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan

Alexia here with your ber Season fly!

Well, it has started now; the ber months are officially here! What does that mean? It means it’s time to put away the flip flops and get down to it! Only a few months remain before the close of another amazing and busy year! So, what do we have to look forward to? Plenty! There are all the Fall Markets and the marvel of the cascade of colour changes, and the Harvest time of delicious food—farm-fresh corn, apples, pears and plums and pumpkin everything! Oh, and then as we enjoy the last few days of warm weather and ebb into the cooler nights of warming ourselves by the fire and sweater weather - we reflect on the memories of the past months and how they changed us in some small way or another. This is the time for taking inventory of ourselves, our cords of wood, our preserves and supplies to sustain us through the winter, for ensuring our hunting gear, school gear and sports gear are checked; and for readying our motorized vehicles and winter tires, getting those maintenance checks done ahead of the colder weather. For parents, it is a time of total chaos: balancing school, work, home, sports, medical & dental appointments and schedules and calendars for every member of the household while standing on your head, filling out a million permission slips and consent forms, handling trip- planning, event- planning, holiday & menu planning and decorating, decorating and more decorating. 

Oh, and throw in a few bouts of the cold and flu bugs that will be circulating after schools and daycares re-open-Total mayhem! But we wouldn’t have it any other way! So, when you see the Moms, Dads, Volunteers, Teachers and Coaches taking a minute in December to put their feet up and whistles down... give them a minute to come up for air. As for right now, just go with the flow and know you are not alone! 

Thanks to everyone who came together to make the Magic happen at the 2026 Providence Bay Fair! Always a wonderful and fun time. The next event at the Providence Bay Arena is the Fall Market slated for Saturday, October 18 from 10 am – 4 pm.

Providence Bay Community of Christ Church joys and community updates, Sundays at 10:30 am, Service at 11 am. (Check the Providence Bay post office bulletin board for updates and events.) Courage, prayers and love to families and communities in mourning. 

Central Manitoulin Senior Drop-In is every Thursday from 1 - 3 pm at the Providence Bay Hall—a welcoming space to enjoy games, coffee, conversation and community. Upcoming dates: September 17 and October 15. For more information contact Alison at 705-377-5726 or by email at [email protected]

Exercise classes continue at the Providence Bay Hall on Fridays from 9 to 10 am. 

Pickleball Classes: Manitoulin Pickleball Club has booked every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 - 8 pm for organized play at the outdoor courts behind the Mindemoya ballfields (weather permitting). For information contact George Ballantyne 705 677-4732.

Knowledge sharing sessions continue at the Providence Bay Hall and Mindemoya Hall. Check the Municipality of Central Manitoulin webpage and Facebook page for updates and events. 

Manitoulin yoga: Registration is required to attend. For more information on class times and locations visit the central Manitoulin events page or to register, please email Alison at [email protected]. All skill levels are welcome.

Providence Bay Beach and Discovery Centre is an amazing 2 km sand beach on the Lake Huron coast that is open to the public. Play safe and enjoy the beautiful beaches, boardwalk and epic Sunrises, Moonrises and Sunsets. Big shout out and thank you to the Discovery Centre for another great Summer Season. See everyone next year!

Thank you, Lance Baptiste and Huron Island Time, for yet another amazing Sunset Music Series and shout out and thanks to all of the amazing artists who came to play for us ! We look forward to seeing you again next summer!

In support of fire prevention and fall clean-up, the Municipality of Central Manitoulin is pleased to offer residents waived tipping fees on clean brush brought to the Providence Bay Transfer Station during operating hours on the following dates: Saturday, September 5, 1 - 5 pm; Thursday, September 10, 1 - 5 pm; and Saturday, September 12, 1 - 5 pm. For more information on transfer station FALL hours and accepted materials, please visit our website at: www.centralmanitoulin.ca.

The Providence Bay Lions Club bottle-drive continues next to the arena. This program is open to the public and we encourage everyone to drop off their used bottles and cans-your empties help fund great local initiatives. Check the Lions social media pages for updates, local fundraisers and awesome events. 

Back to School Season is almost here and for many families across Manitoulin Island, that means new expenses at a tough time of year.  Manitoulin Family Resources is always accepting donations such as hygiene products, backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils, lunch bags, and other essentials! Call the Food Bank /Food Hub at 705 368-3400 ext 242 or stop by during their operating hours: Tuesday and Friday from 10 am -2 pm and Wednesdays from 4 - 8 pm. They are closed weekends and holidays. 

Manitoulin Island is a dark sky reserve so find a dark sky spot, bring your telescope and enjoy the wonders of the cosmos.  

Conjunctions: Moon and Mercury September 12, moon and Venus September 14 and moon and Saturn September 27.

Sept 5 to 21: Perseid Meteor Shower which peaks on September 9.

September Equinox: September 23.

September 26: Full Harvest Moon.

Happy Birthday to all of you mid-September babies! Happy nuptials if you’re getting hitched. Happy end of Summertime celebrations to all! 

Welcome friends, neighbours and visitors, old and new. Please please for the Love of all the beautiful creatures and people who call this place home -pick up and dispose of your refuse and recycling property and carefully - we must take care of this beautiful land and legacy! Hello and welcome to Manitoulin Island my friends and neighbours. 

Stay tuned for the Harvest Days updates in the coming weeks!

Happy Back to School and Happy Harvest Season, everyone!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” 

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer

Team Fergmeijer was out to the movies again this week! When we saw that there was a new Mortal Kombat movie out, as fans of the original video game, we absolutely had to go see it. The movie was action packed and exciting, as expected. Most interesting to us was the fun fact that the theme music to Mortal Kombat II is a worship song from Finland. That’s right, it’s a Finnish hymn.  

Fancy a little music this weekend? Catch choral ensemble Voices North performing on Saturday, September 12 at 7 pm at the Mindemoya Community Hall. You might recognize a few faces! All are welcome to an evening of acapella choral singing including classical, jazz, folk music, and more. They will also be joined by special guest cellist David MacDonald from the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Call 705-282-4955 for more information or for tickets.

Here in Billings Township, we put the ACTIVE in Seniors Active Living! Upcoming September events include an Exit Café with End-of-Life Doula Nicky Brown on Thursday, September 24 from 10:30 am until noon (cost of $2) and a free hearing screening on Wednesday, September 30 from 10am until 11am. A new eight-week strength training class for men and women over 55 starts Tuesday, September 29 from 10 am until noon. Cost is $20 per week, and class size is limited to 16 participants. All programs are at the park Centre. Contact Mary at 705 348-2285 for more information!

Want a chance to learn more about the candidates running for mayor and council? Come out to the Meet the Candidates event Wednesday September 30th at the Park Centre. The event starts at 6:30 pm. Audience questions will be taken (in an orderly fashion).

Alas, the hazy days of the Kagawong summer market have come to an end. Thank you to all the vendors for helping to make this year’s market the best on the island. An extra special thanks you to Ethel for coordinating the market again this year - a Herculean task to say the least! But we hear Ethel has one more market trick up her sleeve - stay tuned for more details on a special Saturday market on October 3!

Happy birthday to Kagawongians Jamie W and Kim B as they celebrate their 29th trip around the sun. At some point, blowing out that many candles can be considered a sport. Be sure to stretch first!

The township has recently passed a bylaw banning swimming in the pool at Bridal Veil Falls. The sheer number of people in the pool at one time has created a genuine safety issue, as well as bringing up multiple environmental concerns. Current plans involve posting of signage at the top and bottom of the fall’s stairs. Further steps may be taken for summer 2027.  

Here in Billings, we really know how to serve it up! Congratulations to Kagawongians Keith M and Chris T for winning the doubles division at the recent tennis tournament hosted by the Manitoulin Tennis Club and the Manitoulin Physio Centre. Congratulations also to arrogant Kagawongian Mike M for taking the Cedar Cup by winning the singles men’s division, and Kagawongian Cathy C for taking the Winona Cup as winner of the singles women’s division. All proceeds from the tournament go toward supporting the athletics program at Manitoulin Secondary. The Manitoulin Tennis Club still meets Sunday mornings at 10am and Wednesday evenings at 6pm at the MSS tennis courts. All are welcome to come out and play.

The library is back to their fall hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 -7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am - 1 pm), but the landfill is maintaining their summer hours until November (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 -6 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 4 pm). 

Fun fact: the law requires you to turn on your headlights when it’s raining in Sweden. We’re just not sure how we’re supposed to know when it’s raining in Sweden. Have a great week!

Silver Water
Karen Noble

Friday night we went to euchre in Meldrum Bay.

Saturday there was a roast beef dinner at the Burpee and Mills Complex to raise funds for the new St Joseph’s nursing home in Gore Bay. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who helped work. It takes many volunteers. Special thanks to Albert, Tamara, Shawn, Larissa, Diane, Natasha, Myra and Ellen.   

Monday, I worked in Tehkummah for most of the day. I did some errands on the way home. Then we went to euchre in the evening at the Burpee and Mills Complex. There were eight tables of players. Congratulations to Myra Duncanson and Linda Rumley who split the money jar.

Natasha McVey took her daughter Alexis back to Waterloo for another year of university.

Kits and quilts were cancelled on Tuesday. It will resume on September 15.

Wednesday night there was a Local Services Board meeting at the Silver Water Community Hall at 7 pm. The budget meeting will be in November.

There was a dinner on Wednesday night in Gore Bay for Lois Miller and some of the church members from the West End. She and daughter Margaret are here for a visit from Nova Scotia. Congratulations to Margaret and her fiancé Patrick on their engagement.

There was euchre at the Silver Water Hall on Thursday night.

Sharon Beaton is staying at her former cottage for a couple of weeks. She has already been out in her kayak.

Jim and Patsy Kling left their cottage to return to New York for a few days and will be back later to close.

Murray and Gladys had most of their family here over the weekend. Clarke, Heather, Aidan, Ethan arrived Wednesday, August 26 and left on Saturday, August 29. Craig, his daughter, Jamie and her friend Evan arrived Friday. Blake and daughter Shelby were here on Friday as well. They got to attend the beef dinner together.

Alysha McDonald was here with daughters Kinley and Everly for a few days with her parents, Randy and Lori Walker.

Glayds Duncanson and Heather Wilson and I had a few swim days in Silver Lake. The temperature is dropping but still nice enough. Heather also swam at Cook’s Dock.

Murray and Gladys spent two days in Sudbury for appointments.

Welcome to Carey who recently moved to Evansville.

Welcome to Nick and Melenie who bought property in Silver Water.

Happy Labour Day weekend to everyone!

Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls

It’s a beautiful day again on Barrie Island and this morning’s sunrise brought a brilliant pink sky to the horizon. It promises to be a lovely Labour Day weekend.

As your nose already knows, our local farmers are spreading manure. They’re trying to get that job done quickly and then move on to combining grain.

On Monday, Barrie Island school buses will be filling up with students from kindergarten all the way up to high school. Wishing those students a wonderful year of learning at CC McLean Public School and Manitoulin Secondary!

Gordon/Barrie Island will be having an election on October 26, to determine the new council, as there are now five hopefuls for the four councillor positions. Details pending.

The Millers are hosting friends from Toronto, Sheelah and Andy.

Scott and Enid visited the Plein Air Painting show at Studio 6 in the Gore Bay Harbour Centre. They then made their way to Sheguiandah’s Centennial Museum to enjoy the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association Members’ Art Show. They toured the museum’s wonderful collection of local heritage and the buildings on the property as well as Batman’s Mill. Such a lovely spot!

Carolyn Lane Rock is expecting company from the Toronto based chapter of Friendship Force. She plans to tour them about and go to the M’chigeeng Powwow.  

Quite a few Barrie Islanders were out to Purvis’ Fish and Chips in Gore Bay, on their final day of the summer season. 

Micah Runnalls returned from Toronto where he was delighted by his experience at Ripley’s Aquarium. He also road tripped this summer to Sioux Lookout with his mother and stepdad! 

Best wishes to Oliver Runnalls, who is under the weather.

Lil Greenman is getting along and feeling a bit stronger every day. 

A new family has moved into our neighbourhood and we’re hoping to meet them soon!

Please get in touch if you have news to share.