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!

April 16, 2025

Team Fergmeijer has been accused of being a bit egg-stra on occasion, but we have found that puns really help people come out of their shells. Chick out some of our plans for this very busy holiday weekend: we are egg-static for a big Easter brunch with friends (don’t want to be choco-late to that meal); we are taking an egg-spedition to the Park Centre for the Easter egg hunt; and basically eating candy around the cluck every day (you know, a lot of people will claim that chocolate is their favourite Easter candy, but all we’re saying is, give peeps a chance). 

Eggstra! Eggstra! Read all about it! The Township office will be closed Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 to observe the Easter weekend.

You’ll be eggs-hausted after running around at the annual Easter egg hunt this weekend, but it will be SO worth it! Starting at 11am on April 19th at the Park Centre, bring your basket, meet THE bunny, and put all your eggs in one basket, courtesy of the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee. 

Everyone in Billings is sending our best wishes to Tiana as she tackles a new, big adventure for herself and her family. We appreciate all that you have done for us over the years! 

With Tiana’s departure, the 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

For peeps sake, Carol L is turning 29! Hoppy birthday from your friends at Team Fergmeijer!

Ah, spring! It’s always a surprise what emerges from under the snow. 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. 

While you are at it, why not 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. 

Life in Kagawong? There’s an app for that! There’s a brand new app that you can use to stay up to date with all the goings-on in Billings. Check out TOWNApp - an easy-to-use, FREE app that provides updates about safety, events, road closures, taxes, and allows you to directly report road issues, accidents, floods and other concerns. Just download the app and enter “Billings.” 

Don’t forget! The Billings landfill has shifted to spring & summer hours. Hop on 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.

Word to the wise: If you don’t plan ahead for Easter activities, a last minute rush to get colouring kits for eggs is a do-or-dye situation. Have a great week!

April 9, 2025

Forget April showers bringing May flowers… this month so far has been April ice-showers bringing no-powers. Shockingly, we thought it would be a bright idea to amp up this week’s column with some electricity puns. Watts that? These puns are so bad they Hertz? There’s no use in complaining - when it comes to electricity puns, resistance is futile.

Don’t forget! The Billings landfill has shifted 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.

We would like to wish a happy 29th birthday to one of the original Fergmeijer fans, Maya H. Remember, age isn’t important (unless you’re cheese). We hope you have a fantastic birthday!

There’s no time like the present to get involved! The Township of Billings is looking for citizens interested in joining the Lake Kagawong Resource Committee, the Climate Action Committee, the Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee, and the Ad Hoc Water Advisory Committee. Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 11 at 12 noon. Check out the township website (www.billingstwp.ca) for more information and the application forms.

The township is planning for some new, seasonal banners to go up around town and your pictures could be featured on them. The deadline to submit your high quality photos is this Monday, April 14th. Contact the town office for full details.

Someone has been buying up all the local eggs. And there’s been a run on chocolate. Do you know who bun-it? The plot chickens! While you’re figuring it out, don’t forget that the annual Easter egg hunt is back! Starting at 11am on April 19th at the Park Centre, bring your basket, meet THE bunny, and put all your eggs in one basket, courtesy of the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee. 

It may not always be easy being green, but the Billings Climate Action Committee is making it a little easier! Join in the township’s Neighbourhood Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26 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. Cleaning up around your neighbourhood? You can 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. Easy peasy!

While you are at it, why not 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. 

It’s APPealing, it’s APPlaudable, and it’s APPlicable to your everyday life! There’s a brand new app that you can use to stay up to date with all the goings-on in Billings. Check out TOWNApp - an easy-to-use, FREE app that provides updates about safety, events, road closures, taxes, and allows you to report road issues, accidents, floods and other concerns directly. Just download the app and enter “Billings.” 

Team Fergmeijer loves board games. Especially the one where you arrange cheese and meat and crackers and grapes and then eat it. We’re so good at that one. Have a great week!

April 2, 2025

We at Team Fergmeijer have decided that Brendan Fraser and Keanu Reeves could do a movie together called, “Movie” and our entire country would line up at the theatres to watch it. 

Thank you to the competitors from far and wide who met up this week to show off their best Sandhill Crane impression on Tuesday, April 1st. This year, an incredible lineup of cooing hopefuls met on the steps of the Old Mill at the crack of dawn and gave it their best shot. Honorable mentions go out to competitors #6 Jack Potte, and #32 Walter U. Upto, but the ultimate coo-ing champion of 2025 was contestant #75 Pat Miback. Congratulations to all participants (but mostly to Pat).  

It’s April! Which means 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.

We would like to wish a happy 29th birthday to Sharon A this week. We didn’t know where to start on your birthday present so we figured we’d trawl the internet for inspiration. After a couple of hours, we found some really good stuff. But then we remembered we were supposed to be finding you a birthday present and it was too late. Sorry!

Did you know? There are two new ways to stay up-to-date with the goings-on in the township. You can sign up for emails from the township’s events calendar (https://calendar.billingstwp.ca/default/Subscription), and/or you can download the TOWNApp for the Township of Billings. The easy-to-use, FREE app provides updates about safety, events, road closures, taxes, and allows you to report road issues, accidents, floods and other concerns directly through the app. Just download the app and enter “Billings.” 

Speaking of staying up-to-date on community events…we’re so egg-cited, and we just can’t hide it - the annual Easter egg hunt is back! Starting at 11am on April 19th at the Park Centre, bring your basket, meet THE bunny, and put all your eggs in one basket, courtesy of the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee. 

The Manitoulin Community Choir is back performing in Kagawong this Saturday, April 5th at 7:30pm at the Park Centre. Come, relax and enjoy a mix of songs and styles. Admission is $15 with tickets available at the door.

There’s no time like the present to get involved! The Township of Billings is looking for citizens interested in joining the Lake Kagawong Resource Committee, the Climate Action Committee, the Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee, and the Ad Hoc Water Advisory Committee. Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 11 at 12 noon. Check out the township website (www.billingstwp.ca) for more information and the application forms.

The township is planning for some new, seasonal banners to go up around town and your pictures could be featured on them. The deadline to submit your high quality photos is Monday April 14th. Contact the town office for full details. 

It may not always be easy being green, but the Billings Climate Action Committee is making it a little easier! Join in the township’s Neighbourhood Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26 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. Cleaning up around your neighbourhood? You can 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. Easy peasy!

While you are at it, why not 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. 

Have a great week!