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!