October 1, 2025

It’s October, which means all of the cobwebs and dust in our houses have officially become Halloween decorations. Autumn is a spectacularly beautiful time of year in Billings and Team Fergmeijer has been enjoying some truly scenic hikes lately. The trick is to carry binoculars with you so that when you make frequent stops, it looks like you’re appreciating nature rather than gasping for air and clinging to consciousness by your fingertips. 

Although it’s only just barely fall, Billings is planning a sweet spring: the Manitoulin Maple Syrup Festival is in the works for March! There will be games, events, vendors, interesting guest speakers and of course food, all with a maple syrup focus. Vendors and baking competitors can pre-register, but tickets for the dinner are not on sale yet. Visit https://manitoulinculinarytourism.ca/ for more information and to register.

Tonight! There is a special meeting of council to discuss the new landfill by-laws, October 1 at 7pm at the Park Centre. Everyone is welcome to attend as usual.

We at Team Fergmeijer have been asked to put on our sleuthing caps and help Eleanor from Owen Sound reconnect with a couple she met on the mainland back in July. If you are a new Kagawongian from the Dornock area, and towed your belongings up to the island at the beginning of July, Eleanor would like you to know she misplaced your contact information but would love to get in touch. You can reach out to us at fergmeijer@gmail.com and we can help you reconnect. 

Here’s what’s happening with the Kagawong Seniors Active Living Program! Fitness with Kelly runs Thursdays from 9-10am (free), Monday yoga classes begin October 6 (also free), and Tuesday yoga classes begin on October 7 (still free!). All activities will be at the Park Centre, and anyone over the age of 55 is welcome to join. Contact Mary for more information, at 705-348-2285 or seniors@billingstwp.ca!

The township has a new position they are looking to fill for a casual part-time custodian to maintain the municipal buildings, and landfill attendant to assist the current attendant as needed, especially in the summer months. Visit www.billingstwp.ca for the full job posting. The application window is open until noon this Friday (October 3rd).  

We can’t wait to explore the special Fall Market this Saturday. Stop in at the Kagawong River Complex to check out the variety of local and handmade goods (1:30pm to 6:30pm). See you there!

And from the market, mosey on over to the church of St. John’s the Evangelist for an evening of music with Cia and Bill Savage! They’ll be presenting “Come as you are - 2,” an evening of contemporary inspirational music and sing-along at 7pm. Admission is by donation, with funds going right back to the church. Refreshments will be provided.

If you want to learn about the progress on the Mud Creek Road access survey, there is a public information evening happening on Friday, October 10th from 4-8pm at the Park Centre. The engineering firm that is conducting the study will be on hand in a drop-in setting to provide information, answer questions, and collect feedback from the public. 

The library board is busy gathering a fantastic collection of items for their annual silent auction. This year’s online auction is November 13th - 16th. Sneak peaks at auction items will be posted to FB.com/groups/libraryauction starting in November. Join now to be the first to see what is up for bid. 

Save the date and start working your way onto the “nice” list - the annual Christmas in Kagawong market is just around the corner on November 14th and 15th! 

Deep thought of the week: parenthood turns you into a morning person the same way being chased by a bear makes you a runner. Have a great week!

September 24, 2025

School has been back in session for a few weeks now, and we thought now was a good time to share some of the deep thoughts about the English language that have been plaguing us lately. You only see ‘glom’ with ‘on to’ and if you see ‘fro’ it’s usually with ‘to’ in front of it. If you are ‘wreaking’ 99% of the time it’s ‘havoc’ and if you want to ‘ebb,’ you will likely ‘flow’ immediately after. You only see ‘lop’ with ‘off’ or ‘sided;’ You only see ‘beck’ with ‘and call.’ There are many ‘wrenches’ but ‘wrenching’ usually involves a ‘gut.’ ‘Downpours’ and ‘rain’ are the only things that seem to be ‘torrential’ and most ‘troves’ are ‘treasure’ in nature. 

The Old Mill was under construction last week as a new accessible entryway was put in. At the time of writing this column, the work was wrapping up and the Old Mill is back in business. 

The Kagawong Seniors Active Living Program is in full swing for the fall, and is inviting anyone over the age of 55 to come and take part. Fitness with Kelly runs Thursdays from 9-10am (free), and yoga classes begin on October 7 (also free). On Tuesday, September 30 at 6:30pm, join Sheila for a painting night, where participants get to paint a hat! There will be different designs to choose from, as well as refreshments. Cost for the painting night is $60. All activities will be at the Park Centre. Contact Mary for more information, or to reserve your spot at the painting night, at 705-348-2285 or seniors@billingstwp.ca!

The township has a new position they are looking to fill for a casual part-time custodian to maintain the municipal buildings, and landfill attendant to assist the current attendant as needed, especially in the summer months. Visit www.billingstwp.ca for the full job posting. The application window is open until noon on Friday, October 3rd.  

Are you going through popcorn withdrawal? Don’t worry! There will be a special Fall Market on Saturday, October 4 from 1:30pm to 6:30pm at the Kagawong River Complex. Save the date, and be sure to stop by and check out the variety of local and handmade goods! 

From the market, mosey on over to the church of St. John’s the Evangelist for an evening of music with Cia and Bill Savage! They’ll be presenting “Come as you are - 2,” an evening of contemporary inspirational music and sing-along at 7pm on October 4. Admission is by donation, with funds going right back to the church. Refreshments will be provided.

This summer, St. Joseph’s took over operations of the Manitoulin Lodge in Gore Bay. With plans for a new facility in the works, the public is invited to meet with Kristal Lafantaisie, Director of Development with St. Joseph’s Foundation to learn about the new facility, how it will benefit the community and how you can help. There will be three chances to participate on Wednesday, October 1st: at Gordon/Barrie Island Community Hall (9:30-10:30am), at the Silver Water Community Hall (1-2pm), and at the Mindemoya Community Hall (3-4pm). 

Join Manitoulin Streams for their annual guided salmon tours! From October 1st to 31st (excluding Thanksgiving Monday), join a Manitoulin Streams guide along the Kagawong River to learn more about the science and stories behind the salmon run. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information.

The library board is busy gathering a fantastic collection of items for their annual silent auction. This year’s online auction is November 13th - 16th. Mark your calendars! And if you or your company would be willing to donate goods or services to the auction, the library would love to hear from you (billingsreads@gmail.com). 

Save the date and start working your way onto the “nice” list - the annual Christmas in Kagawong market is just around the corner on November 14th and 15th! 

Team Fergmeijer, in their thespian era, once put on a performance about puns. Really it was just a play on words. Have a great week!

September 17, 2025

Team Fergmeijer loves animals! People are often surprised to learn that one of us has a cat named after their father. Which is weird, because how would the cat be named before him? Those closest to us know we love to hear about their stories of animal encounters. For example, a neighbour told us that she saw a fox on the way to work. We have no idea how she knew it was on its way to work, but we appreciated her sharing.

After an incredible summer, the village is settling into the quieter fall season. The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am-5pm, and the library is back to their winter hours (Tuesday & Thursday 4-7pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm). The landfill remains on its current schedule (Tuesdays & Thursdays 2-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm) until October 31st. 

The Kagawong Seniors Active Living Program presents Fitness with Kelly! This program runs Thursdays from 9-10am at the Park Centre, and is free to anyone over 55 years old. Contact Mary for more information at 705-348-2285 or seniors@billingstwp.ca. Coming soon, free yoga classes for seniors will start in October. Stay tuned!

Are you missing the Kagawong summer markets? Fear not! The market fun continues into the fall with a special Fall Market on Saturday, October 4 from 1:30pm to 6:30pm at the Kagawong River Complex. Save the date, and be sure to stop by and check out the variety of local and handmade goods! 

From the market, mosey on over to the church of St. John’s the Evangelist for an evening of music with Cia and Bill Savage! They’ll be presenting “Come as you are - 2,” an evening of contemporary inspirational music and sing-along at 7pm on October 4. Admission is by donation, with funds going right back to the church. Refreshments will be provided.

Join Manitoulin Streams for their annual guided salmon tours! From October 1st to 31st (excluding Thanksgiving Monday), join a Manitoulin Streams guide along the Kagawong River to learn more about the science and stories behind the salmon run. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information.

Kim B celebrated her 29th birthday this past week. We hope you had a wonderful day filled with love, cake and many presents. Team Fergmeijer has often thought that at a certain age, a really good gift would be one of those candy necklaces, but with Tums and ibuprofen.

The library board is busy gathering a fantastic collection of items for their annual silent auction. This year’s online auction is November 13th - 16th. Mark your calendars! And if you or your company would be willing to donate goods or services to the auction, the library would love to hear from you (billingsreads@gmail.com). 

Hear that? Ever so faintly in the distance we can hear those sleigh bells jinglin’. Santa must be on his way! Pencil November 14-15 in your calendars for Christmas in Kagawong!

Did you know? You can catch up on all past Team Fergmeijer columns at http://teamfergmeijer.blogspot.com/. That’s right - all the punfoolery in one spot.

Our words of wisdom for this week: An old fox understands the trap. Have a great week!

September 10, 2025

Team Fergmeijer is always working at being healthy. We spent several afternoons last week sitting in front of the Chocolate Works working on staying well hydrated (mostly carbohydrated, but whatever). While there, we did a bit of people-watching and saw a number of locals out and about in warm, woollen sweaters that all appeared to be one size too small. It really is wonderful to live in such a tight knit community.   

This week, a very special happy birthday wish goes out to local aging expert Jamie Ward who turned the big 2-9 this week. We asked him for some words of wisdom on the eve of this momentous birthday, to which he replied: “Dance like no one is watching; sing like no one is listening; eat pizza like somebody might try to take it away from you at any moment, yo!” 

After an incredible summer, the village is settling into the quieter fall season. The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am-5pm, and the library is back to their winter hours (Tuesday & Thursday 4-7pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm). The landfill remains on its current schedule (Tuesdays & Thursdays 2-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm) until October 31st. 

Fun fact: koi fish will always travel in groups of 4. If attacked, koi A, B and C will scatter leaving behind the D koi.

The Kagawong Seniors Active Living Program presents Fitness with Kelly! This program is starting up again Thursday, September 11, 10am at the Park Centre. Contact Mary for more information at 705-348-2285 or seniors@billingstwp.ca.

Parents of littles who reside in Billings! Register your children (under 5) for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and each month, your child will receive an age-appropriate book in the mail, absolutely FREE. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information! 

Hear that? Ever so faintly in the distance we can hear those sleigh bells jinglin’. Santa must be on his way! Pencil November 14-15 in your calendars for Christmas in Kagawong!

Here at Team Fergmeijer, we’re never not thinking about what amazing things we’ll find at the library’s annual silent auction. This year’s online auction is November 13th - 16th. Mark your calendars! And if you or your company would be willing to donate goods or services to the auction, the library would love to hear from you (billingsreads@gmail.com). 

Legitimate question: why doesn’t the word coward mean “to move in the direction of a cow”? Have a great week!

September 3, 2025

Today is the first official day of classes for students across Manitoulin. We wish all students and staff a happy and productive start to the new school year. Team Fergmeijer will never forget the inspirational words our teacher once said to us: she said we were just like Superman, except that he had super vision and we needed supervision. 

Good luck, too, to all the young (and young-at-heart) Kagawongians moving away for post-secondary studies. Always remember the important life lessons that Kagawong has taught you: you have to show up early if you want the best baked goods, never swim in the plunge pool after the salmon have spawned, and always alternate your ice cream scooping arm for balanced muscle development!

Kagawong has closed the door on another market season and we would like to thank all the marketers who help create such an iconic event each week. Most of all, we need to offer heart-felt thanks to the one and only Ethel Newburn who works tirelessly to organize and manage all the moving pieces that make the market happen. We appreciate everything you do!

We’ve had a new book idea! It’s a crime novel where the twist is that the chicken did it. It might not win a lot of awards but we are hoping for a pullet surprise.

Body Stories Dance has announced their 2025/26 dance schedule for classes in Kagawong, which include offerings for children, youth, adults & seniors. You can register on their website: www.bodystoriesdance.com

Happy Birthday to our Manitoulin Mom who turned 29 last week. Age is just a number, but you know you are getting up there when people call at 9pm, only to apologize and ask if they woke you up. 

After an incredible summer, the village is settling into the quieter fall season. The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am-5pm, and the library is back to their winter hours (Tuesday & Thursday 4-7pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm). The landfill remains on its current schedule (Tuesdays & Thursdays 2-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm) until October 31st. 

Today we saw a man dragging a clam on a leash behind him. It must be difficult to walk with a pulled mussel. 

Want free books for your little ones? Billings families can register their children (under 5) for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! Each month, your child will receive an age-appropriate book in the mail, absolutely FREE. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information! 

Getting paid to stand in line for others is a strange ocqueuepation. Have a great week!

August 27, 2025

It is officially back to school time, and we’re sure parents and kids are both having big feelings about it (not necessarily the same feelings, though). It brings back a lot of memories for Team Fergmeijer. We went to a private school on a surfing scholarship - it was a boarding school. It had a great music program, but on the first day the teacher locked herself out of the classroom - her keys were on the piano. At one point, budget cuts meant the math teacher had to take a shift in the cafeteria, but at least it meant we were getting three square meals a day. 

In honor of the impending start of school, we present, “An Ode to Summer’s End”:

School bells ring, are you listenin’? 

New binders and backpacks, we’ll be christenin’,

A beautiful sight: new erasers and graphite, 

It’s time for back-to-school on the island!

And with the return to school this coming week drivers are reminded to watch for little ones getting on and off buses around the Island as everyone settles back into routine. 

Haven’t been able to make it to the Kagawong market this summer because you always have something on Wednesdays? Great news! The Kagawong Evening Market is back, Saturday, August 30th. Come by the Kagawong River Complex from 3:30pm to 8:30pm to shop from over 40 vendors showcasing unique, locally-sourced and handmade goods. There will also be live music and food available for sale on-site. See you there! And don’t forget there is still one more regular Wednesday market on September 3rd.

As we come to the end of another amazing summer season, we want to take a moment to thank the township summer students for all their hard work over the last months. You make a lot of amazing things possible in our little town!

Body Stories Dance has announced their 2025/26 dance schedule for classes in Kagawong, which include offerings for children, youth, adults & seniors. You can register on their website: www.bodystoriesdance.com

We want to wish Susan S, Diane L, and Kagawong-adjacent Amy H a very happy 29th birthday this week. If your age is getting you a bit down, consider this: You aren’t over the hill. You’re at the peak of awesomeness!

Billings Library invites all Billings families to register their children (under 5) for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! Each month, the Imagination Library program mails an age-appropriate book to registered children each month up to their 5th birthday, absolutely FREE to the family. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information! 

As students are gearing back up for English class, remember: pre- means before; post- means after. Using both at the same time would be preposterous. Have a great week!

August 20, 2025

We love walking the river trail and other off-the-beaten-tracks around the Island. We often indulge in deep, philosophical discussions as we trek, and the one thing that always stands out to us as we wander through this gorgeous landscape we live in is that squirrels always look and act as if it’s their first day being a squirrel. 

Body Stories Dance has announced their 2025/26 dance schedule for classes in Kagawong, which include offerings for children, youth, adults & seniors. You can register on their website: www.bodystoriesdance.com

We wish a very happy 29th birthday to Meg M and Andrew T, as well as Kagawong-adjacent Mike Z, and extended Kagawongian family members Tijs T and Emma T. Some of you might be feeling your age, but just remember, in geological terms, you are still incredibly young.

Billings Library has officially launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Billings Township! Each month, the Imagination Library program mails an age-appropriate book to registered children (age 0-5), absolutely FREE to the family. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information! 

If you missed the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the township’s draft waste management by-law, here’s an opportunity you can’t, ahem, refuse. A second public consultation period is now being held to gather additional feedback on the revised version of the by-law and the supporting policy. No trash talking though - serious comments only as Billings Township looks to modernize waste management. The consultation runs until August 22, and can be found at https://www.billingstwp.ca/live-here/waste-and-recycling

Some upsetting news: we’ve learned that there have been a number of thefts from local craft and fabric stores across the north shore. Based on the locations hit, the perpetrator seems to be following some sort of pattern. 

The Manitoulin Tennis Club is hosting an “End of Summer” tennis tournament, Saturday, August 23, beginning at 9am at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. There will be singles and doubles competition, with players of all ages and abilities welcome. There will even be prizes! Age-specific categories available if enough players sign up. Register by contacting Chris at ctheijsmeijer@gmail.com. 

For students (and teachers), August really is the Sunday of the summer and the new school year is just around the corner. Grade 9 students can come out to the annual Grade 9 BBQ at Manitoulin Secondary on Wednesday, August 27th. Students can get their schedule, learn about high school, explore the school while finding their classrooms, and even meet some of their teachers. The day starts at 10am and includes a BBQ lunch. Parents are also welcome to attend! For more information, contact the office at Manitoulin Secondary School. 

While watching some classic tennis matches this week, we realized that 50% of Roger Federer’s name is ‘er’. Have a great week!