April 24, 2024

There’s been a lot going on in the township recently. But not only that, there are some days being celebrated on a national scale that we wanted to recognize here in our community column! First up, April 18 was National Exercise Day. It was also National Velociraptor Awareness Day. Which makes sense to us since once you become aware of a velociraptor, you better start running!

Got bedding, curtains, clothes, or other fabrics that you don’t want any more? Drop them into the lavender deposit boxes near the Kagawong Park Centre. Items in good shape will be re-sold at the Sic Sox retail store. Other textiles that would otherwise be garbage are recycled into insulation. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for the environment! 

Happiest of happy 29th birthday wishes go out to Kagawongians Jean W and Kristy C, as well as seasonal Kagawongian Marilyn P. We find birthdays are an excellent time to look back over our lives and reflect on the really big questions. Like, can you believe we used to think people our age were adults and had their life in order?!

Sunday (April 21) was Big Word Day. Not to be too sesquipedalian, but Team Fergmeijer finds that absolutely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Come out the Rotary Club of Gore Bay fundraiser “Life on a Farm” this Saturday, April 26th being held at the Gore Bay community hall. Enjoy an evening of song and poetry with Vernon Bailey and John McCleneghan, featuring the poetry of Charlie Smith of Massey. Tickets are $25 and are available at Central Pharmacy and at the door. 

Billings council has established an Ad-Hoc Committee to create a Municipal Owned Water System Policy. The committee will be responsible for developing clear procedures on capital projects and major upgrades to the water lines, as well as reviewing options for implementing a capital levy that can be used to create a water capital reserve, among other important tasks. The Township is looking for 4 members of the community to serve on the committee. Application details are available on the Township website.  

Today (April 24) is National Pig in a Blanket Day. It is also Stop Food Waste Day, so in honour of the day, pass over the rest of those pigs in blankets!

In other township news, Todd Gordon has been appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/ Municipal Project Manager, effective immediately. The Deputy CAO role is an integral part of the Senior Management Team and acts as the CAO in the CAO’s absence. Todd is a dynamic and experienced municipal leader with a demonstrated history of managing projects and strategic initiatives in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Congratulations!

Old Mill Rd. Bridge replacement will begin on May 1st! There will be several weeks when the bridge is out-of-service and the only access to properties on Old Mill Rd. will be via Newburn Rd/Graham Hill. Full closure of the bridge is expected to be no later than May 15th. Please note that construction will also affect those using the river trail. Anyone walking on the east side trails (along the bluff) will not be able to cross the river at the river mouth and will have to retrace their steps to the pedestrian bridge. 

The worst part of April is when the meteorologist keeps predicting sprinkles and you just get regular droplets of water like always. Have a great week!

April 17, 2024

Turns out, today is International Bat Appreciation Day! Just bat-tween us, Team Fergmeijer loves watching them flit around at dusk, doing their acro-bat-ics. We imagine they would be pretty good if they played bat-minton. Except bats don’t really know about it; they like to be kept in the dark about most things. Now, don’t give us any bat-itude; just because we are kind of winging it with these puns, doesn’t mean they aren’t fang-tastc.  

Another splash of colour has been added near the Kagawong rainbow cabanas! Sic Sox is a new program which will help divert textile waste (i.e. clothing) from island landfills. Got bedding, curtains, clothes, or other fabrics that you don’t want any more? Drop them into the lavender deposit boxes near the Kagawong Park Centre. If what you drop off is still in good shape, it will be re-sold at the Sic Sox retail store. Other textiles that would otherwise be garbage are recycled into insulation. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for the environment! 

Rumour has it that the one and only Carol L is celebrating a birthday this week. Although we are sure she is turning 29, rumour has it she is old enough to remember bell bottoms and love beads. Either way, we wish her a very hippie birthday.  

We’re back to summer hours at the Billings Landfill! Stop by to say hi to Denis (and drop off your sorted garbage and recycling) Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and weekends 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

It’s time to get your green on! In an early celebration of Earth Day, there is a full day of activities planned in Kagawong on Saturday, April 20th, brought to you by the Billings Climate Action Committee and Manitoulin Streams. All morning long, join community members in picking up garbage around Billings Township. Before noon, bring it by the Park Centre for sorting into garbage and recyclables so waste can be properly diverted (bonus points if you bring it pre-sorted!). From 9am until 3pm, bring some previously-used treasures to sell at the “junk in the trunk” community yard sale! Pop open your trunk or spread out into the covered rink - limited tables under the roof will be provided. For the younger environmentalists, children’s activities will be happening downstairs in the Park Centre from 10am-12noon hosted by the Billings Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee. And don’t forget about the vendor displays on green technologies, happening upstairs in the Park Centre, with possible presentations around 1pm.

That same weekend, join The Island Singers as they celebrate their 60th anniversary! On Saturday, April 20th at 2pm, at Manitoulin Secondary School, current and past members of the choir will be presenting a concert of classics and modern favourites. Tickets are $20 and available at the door. Visit “The Island Singers - Manitoulin Island” on Facebook for more information.

Come out to Life on a Farm - a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Gore Bay on Saturday, April 26th being held at the Gore Bay community hall. Enjoy an evening of song and poetry with Vernon Bailey and John McCleneghan, featuring the poetry of Charlie Smith of Massey. Tickets are $25 and are available at Central Pharmacy and at the door. 

Save the date! Manitoulin Streams is hosting an outdoor angling trade fair right here in Kagawong! More details on the May long weekend event will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, check out manitoulinstreams.com, or contact anglingtf.manitoulin@gmail.com, or 613-857-9877. 

What is a bat’s favourite dessert? Upside down cake. Have a great week!

April 10, 2024

Caution! Do not stare directly into these eclipse puns! The humour may seem obscure, but they could do real damage. Team Fergmeijer took a road trip down to southern Ontario so we could be in the path of totality for the eclipse. We were heading where the sun don’t shine. It’s a long drive to get to the viewing place for the eclipse, so it’s good we packed a light snack. Afterwards, we attended a solar eclipse party. It was a wonderful solar-bration. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was a good experience, but if we had to rate it, we’d only give it one star.

This weekend! “Come as You Are” on Saturday April 13th, and enjoy an evening of contemporary inspirational music (and sing-along) courtesy of Cia and Bill Savage at St. John’s Anglican Church. The fun starts at 7pm with refreshments provided. Donations towards repairing the front stained glass window of the church are greatly appreciated. 

Happy 29th birthday wishes go out to Maya H. We hope you get out there and seize the day! Remember, some only dream of cake, others bake it happen.

We’re back to summer hours at the Billings Landfill! Stop by to say hi to Denis (and drop off your sorted garbage and recycling) Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and weekends 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

Next weekend, the Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting an Earth Day event. Come out Saturday, April 20th for a community clean-up, a “junk in the trunk” sale, activities for youth, and information on green technologies. Interested in being a vendor? It’s not too late! Contact Vince Grogan at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca for more information.

That same weekend, join The Island Singers as they celebrate their 60th anniversary! On Saturday, April 20th at 2pm, at Manitoulin Secondary School, current and past members of the choir will be presenting a concert of classics and modern favourites. Tickets are $20 and available at the door. Visit “The Island Singers - Manitoulin Island” on Facebook for more information.

Save the date! Manitoulin Streams is hosting an outdoor angling trade fair right here in Kagawong! More details on the May long weekend event will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, check out manitoulinstreams.com, or contact anglingtf.manitoulin@gmail.com, or 613-857-9877. 

What is Mr. T’s favourite month? April, fools. Have a great week!

April 3, 2024

This time of year Team Fergmeijer channels their inner pirate and has a good time walking the prank. Some people can go a bit far with the pranks, though. Like the person who stole all the lavatory equipment from the OPP station in Little Current. Police report that they are investigating, but at this time they have nothing to go on. And that friend of ours who went a bit overboard with his prank last year. He swapped the price labels on the gas pumps at that local station. Looking back, it was not a great April Fuels joke.

We were so excited to see Providence Bay’s community column back up and running - welcome back!

Happy 29th birthday wishes go out to Kagawongian Sharon A, seasonal Kagawongian Tahnee P, and Andrew C who, back in the day, was Kagawong-adjacent. Remember, you are only as old as you feel, so don’t let it get you down that you now require multiple packs of candles for your cake. 

Special thanks to the Easter Bunny who hopped back into Kagawong this past weekend working with the Parks, Rec, and Wellness committee in an amazing collaboration! Kids of all sizes were on the hunt for goodies and everyone had a wonderful time. As always, the key to a good easter egg hunt is to remember that if you find a chocolate on the ground, but it’s not wrapped in foil, it’s not chocolate. 

This year’s Annual Manitoulin Sandhill Crane Coo-ing Competition on April 1st had a record number of competitors take part! While we can’t name them all, we can give you the highlights of the event. In 5th place was Randy Holeweigh (seemed quite out of breath, which may have affected his score), in 4th place was Kent C. Strait (an optometrist from the Sudbury region). Jenna Rossity (who brought gifts for all the competitors) came in 3rd, and Juan Manband (who had his own squeeze box and harmonica to accompany his coo-ing) placed 2nd. Honorable mention goes out to Lowden Cleer (who had the coo heard the farthest away), but the top performing entrant was Andy Wineriss with a truly inspired coo. The only moment to mar the occasion was a brief encounter between two competitors that got a bit heated. We interviewed one of the individuals, Kirstin Swoare, but the Expositor refused to publish her comments. 

As of April 1st, the landfill hours shift to spring & summer hours. Stop by to say hi to Denis (and drop off your sorted garbage and recycling) Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and weekends 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

“Come as You Are” on Saturday April 13th, and enjoy an evening of contemporary inspirational music (and sing-along) courtesy of Cia and Bill Savage at St. John’s Anglican Church. The fun starts at 7pm with refreshments provided. Donations towards repairing the front stained glass window of the church are greatly appreciated. 

On the following weekend, the Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting an Earth Day event. Come out Saturday, April 20th for a community clean-up, a “junk in the trunk” sale, activities for youth, and information on green technologies. Interested in being a vendor? Contact Vince Grogan at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca for more information.

On the same weekend, join The Island Singers as they celebrate their 60th anniversary! On Saturday, April 20th at 2pm, at Manitoulin Secondary School, current and past members of the choir will be presenting a concert of classics and modern favourites. Tickets are $20 and available at the door. Visit “The Island Singers - Manitoulin Island” on Facebook for more information.

Later on in May, Manitoulin Streams is hosting an outdoor angling trade fair right here in Kagawong! More details on the May long weekend event will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, check out manitoulinstreams.com, or contact anglingtf.manitoulin@gmail.com, or 613-857-9877. 

How do you keep an Islander in suspense? We’ll reveal all in the next column! Have a great week!

March 27, 2024

Oh, for peep’s sake, it’s Easter this weekend! We hope you have an egg-stra good time this long weekend. We at Team Fergmeijer are a big fan of the Easter punny, and we know you are just dyeing to find out what puns we have in store for you. We hope we meet your eggs-pectations - we included so many Easter puns, it’s not even bunny. As always, feel free to poach some of our egg puns if you like. Now, on a serious note, it’s easy to go off the peep end on the holidays with plans and activities, so make sure you take some time for yourself. We don’t claim to be eggs-perts, but it is always a good idea to get in some eggs-ercise to ensure you don’t eggs-haust your social battery. No eggs-cuses when it comes to self-care! 

This weekend! The Easter Bunny is hopping back into Kagawong on Saturday, March 30th for the annual Easter egg hunt! Youth of all ages are welcome to come by the Kagawong Park Centre at 11am that day and fill their baskets with goodies. Who will find the Golden Ticket? You’ll have to come out to see! Thanks to the Billings Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee for hosting this event.

With the equinox last week, we’re getting into the swing of spring with lots on the go in Kagawong! First up, “Come as You Are” on Saturday April 13th, and enjoy an evening of contemporary inspirational music (and sing-along) courtesy of Cia and Bill Savage at St. John’s Anglican Church. The fun starts at 7pm with refreshments provided. Donations towards repairing the front stained glass window of the church are greatly appreciated. 

On the following weekend, the Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting an Earth Day event. Come out Saturday, April 20th for a community clean-up, a “junk in the trunk” sale, activities for youth, and information on green technologies. Interested in being a vendor? Contact Vince Grogan at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca for more information.

On the same weekend, join The Island Singers as they celebrate their 60th anniversary! On Saturday, April 20th at 2pm, at Manitoulin Secondary School, current and past members of the choir will be presenting a concert of classics and modern favourites. Tickets are $20 and available at the door. Visit “The Island Singers - Manitoulin Island” on Facebook for more information.

Later on in May, Manitoulin Streams is hosting an outdoor angling trade fair right here in Kagawong! More details on the May long weekend event will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, check out manitoulinstreams.com, or contact anglingtf.manitoulin@gmail.com, or 613-857-9877. 

Happy 29th birthday to former Kagawongian Micki B who turns 29 this weekend. Someone once said that the best gift is the gift of laughter. So, we are gifting you with the entire back catalog of this column (teamfergmeijer.blogspot.com). You’re welcome!

The township is currently seeking members for the new Ad Hoc Municipal Owned Water System Committee. If you are a resident of the Billings, and own property that currently derives or will derive a benefit in the future from the Kagawong Water System, you may be eligible to serve on the committee. If interested, please submit your application no later than April 5, 2024 at 4:00pm to tmills@billingstwp.ca

Word to the wise: a boiled egg for breakfast is really hard to beat. Have a great week!

March 20, 2024

You know Team Fergmeijer loves a good holiday, and we have been especially pi-ning for March 14th - Pi Day! It’s a day that celebrates both nerds and dessert. What’s not to love? We could quite easily eat pi 22/7, but only a la mode. Anything less is mean. As much as we love pie, we do have an issue with the equation ‘pi r squared.’ Mostly because pi are round and cake are square. 

Cooo-ngratulations to this year’s Sandhill Crane spotting challenge winner, Peter G! Peter both spotted the migratory birds and heard their melodious coo on Wednesday, March 13th. No stranger to the fame that comes with winning this prestigious award, this is Peter’s second time taking the title. Next up: the annual April 1st Sandhill Crane coo-ing competition.  

Feeling saucy? Come on out for the Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at the Kagawong Park Centre on Saturday, March 23rd from 5pm to 7pm. Tickets are $20 at the door (kids under 11 only $12) with all proceeds going to the Jabbawong Storytelling Festival this summer. Take-out is available. For more information contact Diane Larocque at (705) 919-1751.

Happy 29th birthday to Shirley F and not-quite 29th to Brett V. Don’t stress about your eyesight failing as you get older. It’s nature’s way of protecting you from shock as you walk past a mirror. Side note: we are hoping you youngsters start letting us know when you actually turn 29. We would hate to get your age wrong, and everyone knows we try very hard to avoid looking foolish in this column.

   

Mark your calendars! The Easter Bunny is hopping back into Kagawong on Saturday, March 30th for the annual Easter egg hunt! Youth of all ages are welcome to come by the Kagawong Park Centre at 11am that day and fill their baskets with goodies. Who will find the Golden Ticket? You’ll have to come out to see! Thanks to the Billings Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee for hosting this event.

“Come as You Are” on Saturday April 13th, and enjoy an evening of contemporary inspirational music (and sing-along) courtesy of Cia and Bill Savage at St. John’s Anglican Church. The fun starts at 7pm with refreshments provided. Donations towards repairing the front stained glass window of the church are greatly appreciated. 

The Billings Climate Action Committee is planning on hosting an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20th! The event should include community clean-up, a “junk in the trunk” sale, activities for youth, and information on green technologies. The committee is currently looking for vendors interested in presenting green solutions with either a booth or in a discussion panel. Contact Vince Grogan at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca for more information.

Keeping on the green theme, Manitoulin Streams is hosting an outdoor angling trade fair right here in Kagawong on the May long weekend! More details will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, check out manitoulinstreams.com, or contact anglingtf.manitoulin@gmail.com, or 613-857-9877. 

What do you call it when someone gets a huge tattoo of pi on their face? An irrational decision. Have a great week!

March 13, 2024

Fiddle dee dee! ‘Tis only a few days until the greenest of celebrations: St. Patrick’s Day! Team O’Fergmeijer has a friend coming up from Boston for the occasion. He’s totally the life of the patty. He’s more of a clover than a fighter, and always has the best advice. Our favourite is: in the pursuit of hoppiness, you can’t give in to beer pressure. It will only lead to making pour decisions and you don’t want to reach the pint of no return. 

With the ice breaking up on the North O’Channel already, we’re sad to announce that the Kagawong outdoor rink is now closed for the season. Thanks to Andy O’Preyde for heading up a team of volunteers to keep the rink open as much as possible this winter. Please stay off the surface until the ice and slush is removed.

There is a special Townhall meeting coming up on Tuesday, March 19th from 2-4pm at the Park Centre to present the final draft of the township’s Five Year O’Strategic Plan. The discussion will be led by Capital O’Park, and there will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions and provide feedback.

Why cook when you don’t need to? Come on out for the Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at the Kagawong Park Centre on Saturday, March 23rd from 5pm to 7pm. Tickets are $20 at the door, with kids under 11 only $12, with all proceeds going to the O’Jabbawong Storytelling Festival this summer. Take-out is available. For more information contact Diane O’Laroque at (705) 919-1751.

Mark your calendars! The Easter O’Bunny is hopping back into Kagawong on Saturday, March 30th for the annual Easter egg hunt! Youth of all ages are welcome to come by the Kagawong Park O’Centre at 11am that day and fill their baskets with goodies. Who will find the Golden O’Ticket? You’ll have to come out to see! Thanks to the Billings Parks, Recreation and O’Wellness Committee for hosting this event.

The Billings Climate O’Action Committee is planning on hosting an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20th! The event should include community clean-up, a “junk in the trunk” sale, activities for youth, and information on green technologies. The committee is currently looking for vendors interested in presenting green solutions with either a booth or in a discussion panel. Contact Vince O’Grogan at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca for more information.

Happy 29th birthday to Kim O’N and Mike O’M who are both celebrating their big days this week. You guys don’t look a day over 29! (Of course, the O’ptometrist recently told us we need a stronger prescription, but we stand by our statement.) 

Town council approved a new Municipal Owned Water System O’Ad-Hoc Committee. The town will be issuing a call for members on their website soon (billingstwp.ca). 

There have been sightings of geese so far, but no reports of seeing O’Sandhill Cranes or of hearing their melodious coo. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Keep your ear to the ground and your eyes on the sky (also on the fields) and be sure to send in the date and time of your sighting/sounding to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge! 

Some timely advice: Never iron a four-leaf clover. You don’t want to press your luck. Have a great week!

March 6, 2024

The days are getting longer, and March Break is almost here! Team Fergmeijer wishes all students and teachers a well-deserved break next week.

National Pancake Day was on February 28th this year and we nearly flipping forgot about it! We weren’t sure we were going to admit to forgetting, and kept waffling back and forth over putting it in the column this week. It was a bit of a sticky situation, but in true Fergmeijer fashion, we have for you a hearty serving of pancake puns. You batter believe there are some really good ones to sink your teeth into this year. Here’s hoping none of the jokes fall flat. 

The next Manitoulin Streams Youth Rangers event is just around the corner! Youth in grades 1-8 are invited to join Manitoulin Streams on Wednesday, March 13 from 11am - 2pm at the Park Centre in Kagawong, making it a perfect mid-March-Break activity. Participants will do some maple tree tapping, and enjoy a pizza lunch. Cost is $10 per child, with limited space available. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information or to register.

Happy 29th birthday to a trio of Kagawongians: Arthur H, Shirley F, and Paula V-F! Congratulations on reaching that special age where you are now waking up at the time you used to go to sleep on a Saturday. 

Town council approved a new Municipal Owned Water System Ad-Hoc Committee. The town will be issuing a call for members on their website soon (billingstwp.ca). 

The community rink is open as long as the current cold weather holds (as of this writing), but the volunteers have decided once the ice goes, they will call it for the skating season this year. We are so thankful to everyone who has been working so hard to keep the rink up and running during this crazy winter season! 

What do you call a vampire who eats pancakes? Count Spatula. 

Given the unseasonably warm winter, it is possible we might see the iconic Sandhill Cranes arriving early this year. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Email any sightings to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge!

We wanted to surprise our Manitoulin Mom with some homemade pancakes (in part to butter her up so she’d let us borrow her car), but we must have gotten the recipe wrong, because they were absolute crepe. Have a great week!

February 28, 2024

Team Fergmeijer wasn’t initially going to celebrate Leap Day, but eventually we decided to jump on the bandwagon. Did you know a person born on February 29th is called a ‘leapling’? If this is you and you need ideas about where to celebrate your birthday, may we suggest IHOP? We were wondering, instead of an extra day every four years, could we just sleep in for an hour every day for 6 days out of the year? Will Office 365 work on a leap year? If you get married on February 29th, do you only have to remember your anniversary every four years? 

The next Manitoulin Streams Youth Rangers event is just around the corner! Youth in grades 1-8 are invited to join Manitoulin Streams on Wednesday, March 13 from 11am - 2pm at the Park Centre in Kagawong, making it a perfect mid-March-Break activity. Participants will do some maple tree tapping, and enjoy a pizza lunch. Cost is $10 per child, with limited space available. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information or to register.

Town council approved a new Municipal Owned Water System Ad-Hoc Committee. The town will be issuing a call for members on their website soon (billingstwp.ca). 

The community rink is closed at the time of writing due to the mild weather. Follow the township Facebook page for the most up-to-date information as conditions can change pretty quickly.

It’s true! One half of Team Fergmeijer heard a Canada Goose honk its way across the sky just last week. Given the unseasonably warm winter, it is possible we might see the iconic Sandhill Cranes arriving early this year. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Email any sightings to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge!

The final submission in our short contest of Short Poems for a Short Month is the shortest of short poems - a simple rhyming couplet:

In leap year's span, an extra day we earn,

A fleeting gift, for time's swift turn.

Do you know what the best part of a leap year is? You don’t have to endure our leap-themed puns again for another 4 years. Have a great week!

February 21, 2024

Team Fergmeijer is always up for learning new things (which is why the fact that some people can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bugs us in ways we can’t put into words), and we thought we would share one of our newfound bits of knowledge with you! Did you know that William Durant co-founded General Motors and Chevrolet. Most importantly, he also founded Frigidaire which made him the very first refrigerator magnate. 

At time of writing the community rink is OPEN again due to the cold weather, but follow the township Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

The Park Centre in Kagawong was a-buzzin’ for the Winter Market on February 10th. Thanks to all the vendors and visitors for making the day so successful!

Thanks also to everyone involved in the Kagawong Winterfest, especially the volunteers with the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee who organized it all! It was nice to see everyone out and about, enjoying themselves. 

Happy belated birthday wishes go out to Valentine’s babies Neil L and Chase C, and Valentine’s-adjacent baby Heather S. Celebrating this week are Ruth F, Suedy H, and Maddy M. Remember, age is just a number. A big, really annoying number that keeps getting bigger every year, but still. 

This week’s submission for Short Poems for a Short Month is an ode to one of our favourite majestic birds. 

In fields where the tall grasses sway,

Sandhill cranes greet the break of day.

With coos loud and clear,

They migrate each year,

In formations that dance and sway.

Given the unseasonably warm winter, it is possible we might see the iconic Sandhill Cranes arriving early this year. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Email any sightings to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge!

Did you miss Beauty and the Beast last week at the high school? There are still two more chances for you to be our guest! Performances run Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased at the door, online at bit.ly/MSSmusical, or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

Baha’i children’s programing is throwing a party this Sunday! Children 8-10 years old, as well as their friends and family, are invited to join in on the fun from 1-3pm at the Park Centre. There will be skits, games, music and crafts. Organizers also provide a healthy snack! Contact Ina Swain (705-282-3498) for more information. 

We decided that if we ever built our own house, we would add a waterway around it with a bridge that we can raise and lower with the push of a button. We will insist on having a remoat control! Have a great week!

February 14, 2024

For those of you who might be punfamiliar with Team Fergmeijer … saying we love a cheesy joke is a definite punderstatement. We hope that the joy we get from this column is apundantly clear, but while we love what we do, writing this column each week can sometimes feel like a huge pundertaking. Each week we have to sit down and put pun to paper, and it can be pundamentally exhausting. Especially because we have to make sure we get the pun-chlines just right. Hopefully, our punchant for jokes has not offended you. If they do make you a bit puncomfortable, just give it a chance - this column really groans on a person over time. 

Today we are celebrating Valentine’s Day AND Short Poems for a Short Month! Sprinkled throughout today’s column will be some love-themed poems. Have a short poem you’d like to share? Email it to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate. 

Congratulations to Ian Anderson who was appointed to the vacant council seat last week. Several interested citizens put their hats in the ring and were given the opportunity to address the mayor and council before voting commenced. Although there was an initial tie, Mr. Anderson was ultimately appointed to the position. 

Roses are red, Our poems are short:

Some make you laugh, some make you snort!

At time of writing the community rink is closed again due to the warm weather. Please stay off the surface as long as the rink is closed so we don’t undo all the hard work the volunteers put into making and maintaining the ice surface. Follow the township Facebook page for regular updates on the rink.

Roses are red, Kagawong is pretty.

We’d rather live here than in a big noisy city!

Attention all youth! Want to come work in the best village on the island? Kagawong summer student position applications are now open for two marina assistants, one public works assistant, one museum assistant, and one library assistant. Check out the township website for more details (http://billingstwp.ca) but don’t dilly-dally… applications will only be accepted until this Friday, February 16. For more information, contact Tiana at the township office, at tmills@billingstwp.ca. 

Roses are red, February has been sunny.

Our column this week is particularly punny!

Be our guest! The Manitoulin Secondary School Musical Theatre Program cordially invites you to their 2024 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. With singing and dancing galore, all accompanied by a live band, it is an upbeat show perfect for the entire family. Performances run Friday Feb. 16 (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 17th (2pm), as well as the following weekend - Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased at the door, online at bit.ly/MSSmusical, or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

Roses are red, poetry’s not easy

All of our efforts seem pretty cheesy.

It’s back! Don’t miss Kagawong Winterfest on the Family Day weekend! On Saturday and Sunday there will be Family Pick-up Hockey (contact Andrew at 705-968-0375 for more details). On Monday, February 19th from 10am-3pm, there will be skating and sliding for the whole family at the rink/Park Centre, with free hot chocolate, hot dogs, pizza, and treats! Indoors at the Park Centre, stop in to see family-friendly displays from Trapper Ian Anderson and Manitoulin Streams from 11am-1pm. The fun continues at the Park Centre with an afternoon of family fun and movement with Candice of Body Stories Dance from 1pm-3pm. Thank you to the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee for hosting!

In case anyone is interested, Team Fergmeijer’s favourite love song is “My Punny Valentine.” Have a great week!

February 7, 2024

Our Manitoulin Mom asked us this week why we were suddenly learning a foreign language. We told her we weren’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition. Our interest in learning a new language comes from our elderly neighbour. When we were growing up he would always say, “If it weren’t for me, you’d be speaking German!” He was such a lovely man. Terrible foreign language teacher, though. No idea why the school board hired him. 

Things are heating up in the village! This Saturday (Feb. 10th) come on out to the Kagawong winter market from 10am to 3pm at the Park Centre. Candles, teas, cute clothing, baked goodies, a chili lunch, and more! Just in time to get a Valentine’s gift for the someone special in your life!

Help brighten up the short winter days of Kagawongians near and far by submitting your short form poetry as part of our third annual Short Poems for a Short Month challenge. Your effort should be short (think haikus, rhyming couplets, limericks, etc). Email it to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate. Sadly this challenge does not have a cash prize, because everyone knows that rhyme doesn’t pay. Here’s a very timely submission that arrived just recently:

This week’s warm weather we’ve felt, 

All the snow is starting to melt.

One step closer to spring,

There’ll be birds on the wing, 

And next, we’ll be catching some smelt!

At time of writing the community rink is closed again due to the warm weather. Please stay off the surface as long as the rink is closed so we don’t undo all the hard work the volunteers put into making and maintaining the ice surface. Follow the township Facebook page for regular updates on the rink.

We were sad to hear that the town clerk, Emily Dance, will be leaving us come the spring. We are so grateful for her work here and wish her all the best in her next endeavors.  

Attention all youth! Want to come work in the best village on the island? Kagawong summer student position applications are now open for two marina assistants, one public works assistant, one museum assistant, and one library assistant. Check out the township website for more details (http://billingstwp.ca) but don’t dilly-dally… applications will only be accepted until Friday, February 16. For more information, contact Tiana at the township office, at tmills@billingstwp.ca. 

Be our guest! The Manitoulin Secondary School Musical Theatre Program cordially invites you to their 2024 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. With singing and dancing galore, all accompanied by a live band, it is an upbeat show perfect for the entire family. Performances run Friday Feb. 16 (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 17th (2pm), as well as the following weekend - Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased online at bit.ly/MSSmusical or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

It’s back! Don’t miss Kagawong Winterfest on the Family Day weekend, February 17-19. Lots of details still to come, but if we know there will be Family Pick-up Hockey on the Saturday and Sunday. If you want more information to put in a team, contact Andrew at 705-968-0375.

Baha’i children’s classes each Sunday from 1-3pm at the Park Centre. Youth ages 8-10 are welcome to participate in prayer and meditation, art, and music activities. Organizers also provide a healthy snack! Contact Ina Swain (705-282-3498) for more information. 

It’s a sad fact that a lot of us do NOT know the meaning of the French word “pourquoi.” Translate that into English and you’ll see why. Have a great week!