September 9, 2026

Team Fergmeijer was out to the movies again this week! When we saw that there was a new Mortal Kombat movie out, as fans of the original video game, we absolutely had to go see it. The movie was action packed and exciting, as expected. Most interesting to us was the fun fact that the theme music to Mortal Kombat II is a worship song from Finland. That’s right, it’s a Finnish hymn.  

Fancy a little music this weekend? Catch choral ensemble Voices North performing on Saturday, September 12 at 7pm at the Mindemoya Community Hall. You might recognize a few faces! All are welcome to an evening of acapella choral singing including classical, jazz, folk music, and more. They will also be joined by special guest cellist David MacDonald from the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Call 705-282-4955 for more information or for tickets.

Here in Billings Township, we put the ACTIVE in Seniors Active Living! Upcoming September events include an Exit Café with End-of-Life Doula Nicky Brown on Thursday, September 24 from 10:30am until noon (cost of $2) and a free hearing screening  on Wednesday, September 30 from 10am until 11am. A new 8-week strength training class for men and women over 55 starts Tuesday, September 29 from 10am until noon. Cost is $20 per week and class size is limited to 16 participants. All programs are at the Park Centre. Contact Mary at 705 348-2285 for more information!

Want a chance to learn more about the candidates running for mayor and council? Come out to the Meet the Candidates event Wednesday September 30th at the Park Centre. The event starts at 6:30pm. Audience questions will be taken (in an orderly fashion).

Alas, the hazy days of the Kagawong summer market have come to an end. Thank you to all the vendors for helping to make this year’s market the best on the island. An extra special thank you to Ethel for coordinating the market again this year - a Herculean task to say the least! But we hear Ethel has one more market trick up her sleeve - stay tuned for more details on a special Saturday market on October 3rd!

Happy birthday to Kagawongians Jamie W and Kim B as they celebrate their 29th trip around the sun. At some point, blowing out that many candles can be considered a sport. Be sure to stretch first!

The township has recently passed a bylaw banning swimming in the pool at Bridal Veil Falls. The sheer number of people in the pool at one time has created a genuine safety issue, as well as bringing up multiple environmental concerns. Current plans involve posting of signage at the top and bottom of the falls stairs. Further steps may be taken for summer 2027.  

Here in Billings, we really know how to serve it up! Congratulations to Kagawongians Keith M and Chris T for winning the doubles division at the recent tennis tournament hosted by the Manitoulin Tennis Club and the Manitoulin Physio Centre. Congratulations also to arrogant Kagawongian Mike M for taking the Cedar Cup by winning the singles men’s division, and Kagawongian Cathy C for taking the Winona Cup as winner of the singles women’s division. All proceeds from the tournament go toward supporting the athletics program at Manitoulin Secondary. The Manitoulin Tennis Club still meets Sunday mornings at 10am and Wednesday evenings at 6pm at the MSS tennis courts. All are welcome to come out and play.

The library is back to their fall hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-7pm and Saturdays from 10am-1pm), but the landfill is maintaining their summer hours until November (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm-6pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm). 

Fun fact: the law requires you to turn on your headlights when it’s raining in Sweden. We’re just not sure how we’re supposed to know when it’s raining in Sweden. Have a great week!

September 2, 2026

Team Fergmeijer is a huge musical theatre fan, so it is natural that we have some strong opinions about related things. One opinion that may surprise some people is that we cannot stand the parodies of modern major general, they’re overdone and simply not as good as the original. They’ve done them about everything, whatever topic, big or small. And when we notice one of them our eyes will always start to roll. The diction’s always slurry when they rush the complicated words, and adding many fricatives will turn it so cacophonous. The slanted rhymes are silly and they keep just making more and more, please someone stop the parodies of modern major general. The scanning of the lyrics in the meter is unbearable, they emphasize the syllables in ways that are untenable, in short in matters musical, prosodic and ephemeral, we cannot stand the parodies of modern major general. 

Students are back to school next week and we want to remind drivers to keep an eye out for buses and to give them the space to get our kids on and off safely. 

The Billings Township fire department’s 50th anniversary celebration and rededication of the fire hall went off without a hitch last week. Many, many thanks to the organizers who spent a good portion of their free time this past year brainstorming, planning, and carrying out the legwork to get the event off the ground. There is a commemorative book that tells the story of the formation of the Billings Fire Department (in 1976!) and its developments over the last 50 years. You can reach out to members of the fire department if you would like to purchase a copy.  

It’s official! The list of candidates running for office in Billings Township include Roger Chenard, Jim Cahill, and Sandi Hurcomb for mayor, and John Foster, Rick Vanderschot, Sharon Jackson, Simon Wheeler, Don Nuyten, and Stephanie Gillingham for council. Lisa Corbiere-Addison keeps her seat as Rainbow District School Board Trustee (acclaimed). Rumour has it that a Meet the Candidates townhall is in the works. Stay tuned for more details.  

The rumour mill also suggests that the township has hired a new CAO. We are excited to meet them and hope they have a solid appreciation for puns (a critical requirement for any employee of this township). 

Work has begun on the river trail and though we can’t go and see the progress (the trail is off limits for safety reasons, especially now that there are chainsaws and any number of large machines working), we can sure hear the progress happening! Word is that the pedestrian bridge has been cleared of all debris and trees that had gathered in and around it, though it is still not connected to the shores of the river on either side. Thank you to all the people and businesses that are helping and that have donated time and/or resources to the river and trail remediation and rehabilitation. We know it will be a long process, but it is encouraging to know that the work is off to a good start. 

Yoga continues at the Kagawong Park Centre Mondays at 9am, brought to you by the Seniors’ Active Living program. Don’t forget to sign up for the 8-week strength class starting next Tuesday, September 8th. Text or call Mary at 705-348-2285 for more information.

We would like to wish a hearty happy birthday to former Kagawongians Amanda G and Susan S. Remember, getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better (as long as you remember your glasses)!

Billings has deep musical roots. Case in point, the many Kagawongians in the Choral ensemble Voices North performing on Saturday, September 12 at 7pm at the Mindemoya Community Hall. All are welcome to an evening of acapella choral singing including classical, jazz, folk music, and more. They will also be joined by special guest cellist David MacDonald from the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Call 705-282-4955 for more information or for tickets.

We went to see The Odyssey, the movie everyone has been talking about all summer. It’s not musical theatre, but of course we still had thoughts about the adaptation. Overall, it was good, although some details from the original story were left out—or were just plain wrong. At least, we’re fairly sure they were wrong. Getting Greek mythology wrong is our Hercules ankle. Have a great week!