June 25, 2025

This is a landmark edition of the Team Fergmeijer column - our 500th! We pondered how best to celebrate this significant moment. One possibility was an all pun edition, but really, how would anyone be able to tell the difference? We also pundered doing a single sentence column, but our pun-chent for pun-chlines wouldn’t let us stop at just one. So, here we are, doing what we do best - entertaining ourselves and hoping a few others out there also think we are the pun-nicle of humour. After all, a truly good pun is its own reword.

Hydro One has a brief planned outage for our area on Friday June 27 in the wee hours of the morning. With luck we won’t even know it’s happening.  

Have your say! The township is revamping how we use the landfill, drafting a new waste management bylaw. Council is keen to hear your thoughts and are accepting constructive criticism of the draft bylaw over the month of June. You can access the bylaw and the public at the township office or on the township’s website (www.billingstwp.ca/news). All comments must be submitted in writing via the comment form or via email to bylaw@billingstwp.ca. All comments must have your name and contact information included. 

Next on the agenda… Steve Paikin will no longer be on the Agenda! That’s right, our local history and political hero (only partly because we aren’t old enough to remember Lester B. Pearson) is retiring. We are looking forward to seeing more of Mr. Paikin right here in Billings with all his extra free time. Because really, where else would anyone rather be?

Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada is back! This Saturday, the 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Also on Saturday is the library’s spring puzzle swap! From 10am - 1pm, bring your used jigsaw puzzles to trade for new-to-you challenges. No puzzles? No problem! The library has a large surplus of puzzles and the librarian prefers it when you take more puzzles than you bring. 

The Kagawong market season kicked off in fine fashion today (as per usual!). Thanks to Ethel and her merry band of volunteers who keep things running so smoothly. Stop by the Kagawong River Complex every Wednesday to experience the largest summer market on the Island!

When we were very young, we couldn’t decide between being hairdressers or columnists. We ended up flipping a coin to see if it would be heads or tales. Have a great week!

June 18, 2025

Have you curd? With all the food trucks now open for the season, Team Fergmeijer is going all in on their daily extra fries routine. It’s a spudtacular time of the year when we can truly indulge in this beloved Québecois dish. Don’t agree? We’re just poutine it out there, but nobody puts gravy in the corner.

Mno-Nishnaabe Giizhgad! This weekend, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day! Here in Billings, be sure to check out the Billings Connections Trail. The Anishinaabeg (Odaawaa, Ojibwa and Pottawatomi) occupied what is now Billings Township long before European settlers arrived. Archeological and oral evidence has established at least 10,000 years of Indigenous occupation on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island). To learn more about the history of Billings’ original and settler inhabitants, visit the full series of historical plaques around the township, link to the QR codes on each plaque, and drop in to the Old Mill Heritage Centre in Kagawong, as well as the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M’Chigeeng First Nation.

Have your say! The township is revamping how we use the landfill, drafting a new waste management bylaw. Council is keen to hear your thoughts and are accepting constructive criticism of the draft bylaw over the month of June. You can access the bylaw and the public at the township office or on the township’s website (www.billingstwp.ca/news). All comments must be submitted in writing via the comment form or via email to bylaw@billingstwp.ca. All comments must have your name and contact information included. 

Hazy sunrises and sunsets remind us to be grateful to be spared from the forest fires burning out west. Here in Billings, don’t forget that burn permits are required if you want to burn any brush. Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week. 

We are daffodil-ighted to send Happy birthday wishes to Mary N and Stephanie M this week. We hope you have blooming good birthday celebrations that leave you feeling a little rose-y.

June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Also on the 28th is the library’s spring puzzle swap! From 10am - 1pm, bring your used jigsaw puzzles to trade for new-to-you challenges. No puzzles? No problem! The library has a large surplus of puzzles and the librarian prefers it when you take more puzzles than you bring. 

The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm. Stop by and check out the amazing “ship model” exhibit of all the ferries that serviced Manitoulin for over 100 years! The museum is also gearing up for its big celebration of the 100th anniversary of the mill on July 19th. 

Save the date! The annual island-wide Household Hazardous Waste Day is coming up next month. Typically the third Saturday in July, this is an important way of keeping hazardous things out of our community landfill. Save up your batteries, old electronics, paints, and chemicals - final date to be confirmed soon!

Ohboyohboyohboy… it’s t-minus 1 Wednesday until the Kagawong market kicks off for another season! We can’t wait for June 25th!

The popular Blind Date With a Book fundraiser for the library is happening again this year! Choose from 30+ new books wrapped in plain brown paper with just the genre and general clues to the story visible. As any good date should, each Blind Date book comes with a box of chocolates from Manitoulin Chocolate Works. This fundraiser starts July 3rd and is only available at the Wednesday market in Kagawong.

If we keep eating our fill of fries, curds, and gravy, we might just have to change our name to Pouteam Fergmeijer. Have a great week!

June 11, 2025

We came across an interesting summer job opportunity, and Team Fergmeijer decided to go for it! We applied for jobs sorting bugs at an insect farm. We were called in for an interview and everything seemed to go pretty well - the person interviewing us said we boxed all the right ticks. 

Have your say! The township is revamping how we use the landfill, drafting a new waste management bylaw. Council is keen to hear your thoughts and are accepting constructive criticism of the draft bylaw over the month of June. You can access the bylaw and the public at the township office or on the township’s website (www.billingstwp.ca/news). All comments must be submitted in writing via the comment form or via email to bylaw@billingstwp.ca. All comments must have your name and contact information included. 

Thinking of burning brush as you tidy up your yard? Don’t forget that burn permits are required in Billings! Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week. Burn permits are not required for a small bonfire.

Happiest of happy birthday wishes go out to the one and only Karlene S. May your presents be filled with joy and your cake be calorie free.

June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Stop by and check out the amazing “ship model” exhibit of all the ferries that serviced Manitoulin for over 100 years! The museum is also gearing up for its big celebration of the 100th anniversary of the mill on July 19th. 

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to get more involved in the community, the library is looking to fill a spot on its board. Contact billingsreads@gmail.com or stop in at the library to chat with the librarian for more information. 

Billings library’s annual used book sale is only a month away! On Saturday July 19th, rain or shine, there will be thousands of books up for grabs, and you will be turtley surprised by some of the developments in the works!. Did you know that the members of the library board and volunteers get first dibs on books? If you would like to volunteer at the sale, reach out to the library. Volunteer hours are available for any high school students who would like to help out. 

The library will also be holding their annual beach movie on August 9th. They will be showing the a-maze-ing 80s classic, Labyrinth!

As if that wasn’t enough library info for one column, the popular Blind Date With a Book fundraiser for the library is happening again this year! Choose from 30+ new books wrapped in plain brown paper with just the genre and general clues to the story visible. A true choose your own adventure! As any good date should, each Blind Date book comes with a box of chocolates from Manitoulin Chocolate Works. This fundraiser starts July 3rd and is only available at the library’s table at the Wednesday market in Kagawong.

Now, last, but not least - don’t forget that it’s t-minus 2 Wednesdays until the Kagawong market kicks off for another season!

One half of Team Fergmeijer couldn’t figure out why Siri kept calling her Shirley this morning. It was getting pretty annoying, but then she realized she’d left her phone on Airplane mode. Have a great week!

June 4, 2025

Team Fergmeijer has a new book on the way in the next few months! We have made the natural pivot from community reporters to financial gurus, and our book breaks down money milestones you should hit each decade of your life. We’ve managed to get permission from the publisher to include an exclusive sneak peek in this week’s column from chapter 6 - The Dirty Thirties: “By the time you are 30 you should own, not rent, OWN a bouncy castle. This is a time when you should be building equity. The only way to beat inflation is with inflatables.”  

The township has lifted half load restrictions. Good news for anyone looking to haul big heavy things!

 

The Billings Climate Action Committee is looking for another member to round out the group. Any interested persons are asked to contact the township office.

Thinking of burning brush as you tidy up your yard? Don’t forget that burn permits are required in Billings! Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week. Burn permits are not required for a small bonfire.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Alison O, and Trish T. Also celebrating this week is one terrific twosome. Honestly, June 4th is National Hug Your Cat Day, National Cheese Day, AND National Cognac Day. And it falls within National Frozen Yogurt Week. We don’t know what else any of you could possibly wish for when you blow out your candles! 

June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

The Old Mill Heritage Centre is gearing up for its big celebration of the 100th anniversary of the mill this summer. Keep your ears to the ground as more details will be available soon. 

If you start your upper body/arm workouts now, you will be in good shape just in time to be able to carry your haul from the library’s annual used book sale on July 19th. Rain or shine, there will be thousands of books up for grabs, and you may be turtley surprised by some of the developments in the works!. 

The library will also be holding their annual beach movie on August 9th. They will be showing the a-maze-ing 80s classic, Labyrinth!

Now, last, but not least - don’t forget that it’s t-minus 3 Wednesdays until the Kagawong market kicks off for another season!

What do you call a bee hive with no exit? Unbelievable! Have a great week!

May 28, 2025

With the slowly improving weather, we’ve seen a lot of people out and about for walks and jogs this week. It was really inspiring! We never thought we would be the type of people who woke up early just to get a workout in. We were correct. Turns out rolling out of bed early is easy. Getting up off the floor is the hard part. 

The Billings Climate Action Committee is looking for another member to round out the group. Any interested persons are asked to contact the township office.

Manitoulin Metal Robotics is once again hosting their annual e-waste drive. Stop by Manitoulin Secondary May 26-30 from 3-5pm, or Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 2pm to drop off any dead electronics, including appliances, batteries of any kind, and devices. Look for the robotics team members outside by the basketball court on those days.

For users on the Billings town water system, the Ontario Clean Water Agency will be flushing the lines June 2-3. If there is any discoloration in your water, leave it running until it is clear.

We just had the thought that If you combine wine with dinner the new word is winner, and that’s the kind of positive thinking we need this year. 

Thinking of burning brush as you tidy up your yard? Don’t forget that burn permits are required in Billings! Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week. Burn permits are not required for a small bonfire.

This week, we would like to wish Erin F, Casey B, and David H a very happy birthday with all our butts. We would say ‘with all our hearts’ but our butts are definitely bigger. 

June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Billings Library’s annual used book sale is set for Saturday, July 19th. Rain or shine, there will be thousands of books up for grabs, as well as a few surprises to be revealed in the coming weeks. 

The library will also be holding their annual beach movie on August 9th. They will be showing the 80s classic, Labyrinth!

Quick reminder: April is procrastination awareness month. Have a great week!

May 21, 2025

Things have been a bit difficult at our day jobs lately. Our boss calls Team Fergmeijer ‘the computers.’ Nothing to do with intelligence, it’s just that we go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes. Of course, if it were up to us, we’d still be at our old jobs as engineers. Guess we burned one too many bridges there, though. Our current occupations aren’t too bad, truthfully. Though the number of meetings is a bit of a drag. We firmly believe they shouldn’t last longer than a laptop battery or our bladders. We were venting to local career coach Jamie Ward, and he agreed with us saying, “My biggest problem with meetings is, that despite their name, they are rarely about me, yo!”

The Manitoulin Tennis Club would like to thank everyone who came out for the annual season kick-off, the Black Fly Tournament this past weekend. It was great to have everyone out swatting at tennis balls and flies. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome to come out to the courts at Manitoulin Secondary School Wednesdays at 6:30pm and Sundays at 10am for friendly matches. Free tips and lessons are also available from a certified coach. See you on the courts!

Come out on Sunday (May 25) for the Island Singers’ spring concert, Songs for the Earth. The performance starts at 3pm at Manitoulin Secondary School, will feature a variety of pieces from various genres, and a special performance by a member of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $15 each and are available at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

Manitoulin Metal Robotics is once again hosting their annual e-waste drive. Stop by Manitoulin Secondary May 26-30 from 3-5pm, or Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 2pm to drop off any dead electronics, including appliances, batteries of any kind, and devices. Look for the robotics team members outside by the basketball court on those days.

Happy birthday to a couple of smart, funny, good-looking and fabulous individuals: Gerry M and Casey B! (We’re pretty sure we got in all the things you wanted us to say. Just let us know if we missed any and we can add it in later.)

Interested in some pick-up pickleball? Head to the Pickledome (aka the Kagawong River Complex)! We haven’t been able to track down specifics, but it appears to be happening on Thursday evenings. If you have your own gear, you can play almost any time! 

There have been alterations made to the Billings bulk water system. If you have any issues or questions, the fantastic folks at the town office are happy to help you. 

Thinking of burning brush as you tidy up your yard? Don’t forget that burn permits are required in Billings! Stop by the township office to get your free permit, which is valid for one week. Burn permits are not required for a small bonfire.

We’re counting down the sleeps! The first Kagawong market of the summer will be Wednesday, June 25. We can’t wait to welcome all the vendors and visitors back to the Kagawong River Complex.

June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Billings Library’s annual used book sale is set for Saturday, July 19th. Rain or shine, there will be thousands of books up for grabs, as well as a few surprises to be revealed in the coming weeks. 

The library will also be holding their annual beach movie on August 9th. They will be showing the 80s classic, Labyrinth!

Don’t you hate it when people answer their own questions? We sure do. Have a great week! 

May 14, 2025

A friend of Team Fergmeijer has allergy issues, and decided her only option was to get a pet tree. She says it’s a lot like having a pet dog, but the bark is much quieter. She was trying to film the chipmunks that play in her pet tree and while she was distracted, ran into a lamppost. Luckily, she only sustained light injuries. When she looked back at the video, she realized she had accidentally taken a 10 minute cellphone video of her shoes. It was actually some pretty good footage. 

Birthdays are like spotting Bigfoot: you really do want to see them but you’re a little afraid of what they’ll look like. That said, we want to wish happy birthday to Kagawongian Sherri C and aspirational Kagawongian Leslie M who are turning 29 this week. 

This event is sure to be a smash hit! This Saturday (May 17th) is the annual Black Fly Doubles Tournament. Everyone is welcome to come out and shake off the winter rust. All ages and ability levels can participate - no partner, no problem! Registration is free. Contact ctheijsmeijer@gmail.com or check out Manitoulin Tennis Club on Facebook for more information or to register.

Have you heard? Bird is the word! The museum opens again for the season this weekend - be sure to stop in and check out the new exhibit!

The Island Singers are presenting their spring concert, Songs for the Earth, on Sunday, May 25 at 3pm at Manitoulin Secondary School. The concert will feature a variety of pieces from various genres, and will include a special performance by a member of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $15 each and are available at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

Manitoulin Metal Robotics is once again hosting their annual e-waste drive. Stop by Manitoulin Secondary May 26-30 from 3-5pm, or Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 2pm to drop off any dead electronics, including appliances, batteries of any kind, and devices. Look for the robotics team members outside by the basketball court on those days.

June may still be a little ways off, but word on the street is that the first Kagawong market of the year will be Wednesday, June 25. Save the date! We can’t wait to welcome all our summer vendors back to the Kagawong River Complex.

Mark your calendars - June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Little known fact: Team Fergmeijer does all our own stunts. Just not on purpose. Have a great week!

May 7, 2025

Spring is in the air, and Team Fergmeijer is getting out and having adventures. The single half of the team had a date last night. She said it was really good, so she’s going to try a fig tomorrow. The other half of the team is married and as a gift, her husband took her out to an orchard where they stood there looking at the trees for half an hour. It was not quite the Apple Watch she was expecting.  

Happy Mother’s Day to our Manitoulin Mom and our Mainland Mom! If moms were flowers, we’d pick you, because we love being y’orchids.

Billings Township is advertising for a new deputy clerk. The full job description and information for applying can be found at https://www.billingstwp.ca/townhall/careers

We wish a very happy 29th birthday to Kagawongian Sherri C and Kagawongian wannabe (cause everyone who isn’t a Kagawongian wishes they were) Shan K. Here’s to another year of pretending to be an adult!

The Manitoulin Tennis Club is getting ready to serve up its first tournament of the year! Mark Saturday, May 17th on the calendar for the annual Black Fly Doubles Tournament. Everyone is welcome to come out and shake off the winter rust. All ages and ability levels can participate - no partner, no problem! Registration is free. Contact ctheijsmeijer@gmail.com or check out Manitoulin Tennis Club on Facebook for more information or to register.

Whether you’re a night owl, an early bird, or a permanently exhausted pigeon, there’s a new exhibit at the Old Mill Heritage Centre this season just for you! The museum opens again for the season in May - stay tuned for more information!

The Island Singers are presenting Songs for the Earth, a spring concert on Sunday, May 25 at 3pm at Manitoulin Secondary School. The concert will feature a variety of pieces from various genres, and will include a special performance by a member of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $15 each and are available at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

Manitoulin Metal Robotics is once again hosting their annual e-waste drive. Stop by Manitoulin Secondary May 26-30 from 3-5pm, or Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 2pm to drop off any dead electronics, including appliances, batteries of any kind, and devices. Look for the robotics team members outside by the basketball court on those days.

We know June is still a little ways’ off, but a little birdie told us the first Kagawong market of the year will be Wednesday, June 25. Save the date! We can’t wait to welcome all our summer vendors back to the Kagawong River Complex.

Mark your calendars - June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Team Fergmeijer just finished writing a book on penguins. It probably would have been easier to write it on paper. Have a great week!

April 30, 2025

Team Fergmeijer is all about the HUSTLE!

Have a nap

Use the couch for napping

Sleep during the day (nap)

Take frequent naps

Lie down and nap

Enjoy a nice nap

Mark your calendars - June 28th is Team Aelick’s annual stroll for liver in support of Liver Canada. This 5k walk through the village starts at the Park Centre at 11am. You can join the stroll, support from the sidelines, and donate through their team page (bit.ly/teamaelick). Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt. 

Whether you’re a night owl, an early bird, or a permanently exhausted pigeon, there’s a new exhibit at the Old Mill Heritage Centre this season just for you! The museum opens again for the season in May - stay tuned for more information!

A word of caution as it is the season for farm animals to find weak points in fence lines: if you see cattle on the road, be patient and stay in your vehicle, especially if there is a bull. Wait for them to move, and do not honk your horn. That will only make them go slower. A male bovine’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. 

We are excited to see another fledgling business taking off this summer in the village. Island Vibes Aqua Adventures will be renting a variety of non-motorized watercraft at the marina. Their grand opening is May 17th and 18th. 

Billings Township is advertising for a new deputy clerk. The full job description and information for applying can be found at https://www.billingstwp.ca/townhall/careers

If you or someone you love has a birthday coming up, let us know (fergmeijer@gmail.com). We’ll ‘honour’ the special occasion as only Team Fergmeijer can!

Both ‘libel’ and ‘slander’ refer to defamation and are often confused for each other. ‘Libel’ is a written statement (‘L’ for letters). ‘Slander’ is for spoken (‘S’ for spoken). 

‘Label’ and ‘slender’ are different words and are rarely confused with each other. 

The neighbourhood is looking great! Thank you to everyone who pitched in for neighbourhood cleanup day this past Saturday. 

There’s still time to take part in Manitoulin Streams’ Great Manitoulin Island Clean Up! With awards for the school, community, business, individual, seniors, and group of four who clean up the most bags of garbage, it’s a win for you AND for the Island environment! Check out Manitoulin Streams on Facebook for full details of how to take part. 

Steve Paikin recently announced he is retiring from TVO’s “The Agenda.” We can only hope that means exponentially more sightings around the village this year. Have a great week!

April 23, 2025

They say finding workers is tough these days - good employees are hard to find. Which is why Team Fergmeijer hides as soon as we clock in at our job. That wasn’t always the case though. We once were fired from working at a barber shop. We just couldn’t cut it. 

Speaking of, are you dyeing for a new look to brush off the negativity in your life? Good news! There is a new salon opening in the village. There is locks to talk about, but long story short, if you see some workers in downtown Kagawong, these jack of all fades aren’t tress-passing, they are updoing the property so this trim-mendous new business can open soon. Stay tuned!

Saturday was an egg-citing day with many Easter enthusiasts willing to egg-nore their diet for the thrill of the hunt. Thank you to all the participants and the organizers for another fun event!

Billings Township is advertising for a new deputy clerk. The full job description and information for applying can be found at https://www.billingstwp.ca/townhall/careers

We have several Kagawongians (both full-time and seasonal) celebrating birthdays this week. Marilyn P, Kristy C, Jean W, Cameron H, and Gary H are all turning 29 this year! We wish them many happy returns and strongly encourage them to eat cake and just ignore the number of candles. 

This Saturday! Join the Billings Climate Action Committee in a Neighbourhood Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26. If you are cleaning up around your neighbourhood, bring any collected waste in clear bags to the Park Centre parking lot that day where it will be sorted, weighed, and then brought to the landfill. You can also clean up on some deals by coming out to the Park Centre for a “junk in the trunk” community yard sale. If you’d like to book a table for the event, reach out to Vince at vgrogan@billingstwp.ca. 

Why did the librarian slip on the library floor? She was in the non-friction section. To protect against this, the Billing’s library has recently installed new flooring in key areas of the building. Check out the new additions (and maybe some books, board games, cake pans, or magazines, too) during regular library hours: Tuesday & Thursday 4-7pm; Saturday 10-1pm. 

There’s still time to take part in Manitoulin Streams’ Great Manitoulin Island Clean Up! With awards for the school, community, business, individual, seniors, and group of four who clean up the most bags of garbage, it’s a win for you AND for the Island environment! Check out Manitoulin Streams on Facebook for full details of how to take part. 

Don’t yet have the TOWNApp on your phone? It’s time to auto-correct that! TOWNApp is a brand new, FREE app that you can use to stay up to date with all the goings-on in Billings, including updates about safety, events, road closures, and taxes. It even allows you to directly report road issues, accidents, floods and other concerns. Just download the app and enter “Billings.” 

If you are feeling down, try drinking a large glass of water before bed. It will give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Have a great week!