June 14, 2023

Team Fergmeijer is always happy to see spring in full swing, but we know not everyone shares our joy in the season. Our neighbour refused to believe it was already June. She has always been such a May-sayer. We focus on the positive: April showers bring May flowers. But she leans to the more pessimistic: May flowers bring June bugs. We tend to think her lack of enthusiasm stems from the family reunion they hosted last June. During the potluck dinner, most of the attendees got sick from eating some bacon that was a bit past its best before date. It was May-ham!

At the time of writing, there is a total fire ban in place in Billings Township due to the dry conditions. Check in with the township for up-to-date information (billingstwp.ca  and   FB.com/billingstownshipkagawong).

Congratulations to Brad MacKay, recipient of the Billings Township Volunteer of the Year award for 2023! Brad does so much around the community, most of it inconspicuously and out of the spotlight. Of course, the main exception to this are his annual Christmas displays. Nothing inconspicuous about that! And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Be sure to congratulate him when you see him!

The annual Anglican Church yard sale and BBQ is just around the corner! Saturday July 1st (10am-4pm) head to the Kagawong market pavilion to find treasures galore. 

Friends! Kagawongians! Countrypeople! Lens me your ears! Don’t miss out on the vintage camera and photographic exhibit at the Old Mill Heritage Centre. The museum is now open seven days a week, so be sure to pop on by!

And that’s not all the Old Mill Heritage Centre has up its historical sleeve. Be sure to save the date: “Speakers Night in Kagawong” with Arthur Milnes and Steve Paikin will be July 13th at the Park Centre!

Rumour has it that there would be no selfies or autographs, so being superfans, we are thinking we might bring our life-sized Steve Paikin standup with us. 

Billings Library has officially announced that their first annual NorthWords festival is coming to Manitoulin on July 21st and 22nd! NorthWords celebrates all the ways in which we use language. With the support of the Ontario Arts Council, authors Shelley Pearen and Claire Ross Dunn, poet Sophie Ann Edwards, playwright Kirk Dunn, artist Michael Cywink, and former Sudbury poet laureate Vera Constanineau are bringing their creativity to the festival. You can get full details on all the events and featured guests on the festival Facebook page (FB.com/NorthWordsFest) or email NorthWordsFest@gmail.com. 

A very happy 29th birthday goes out to honorary Kagawongian Karlene S who celebrates today! Always remember that age gets better with wine. 

Only a few more weeks until the first Kagawong market of the summer! Be sure to come out to the Park Centre Wednesday, June 28 for the first of the weekly markets, featuring all sorts of crafts, veg, and baked treats. Markets will continue throughout the summer on Wednesdays.

The annual Elemental Festival is back! Some fantastic plans are in the works to celebrate the beauty, bounty and history of Mnidoo Mnising, September 23 & 24 in Kagawong. Artist Announcements and Festival Schedule will be coming soon. Interested in getting involved? Contact info@4elementslivingarts.org to learn more.

If we are honest, the biggest difference between May and June is every single letter. Have a great week!