July 30, 2025

As many of you know, Team Fergmeijer enjoys puttering about in the kitchen. We also quite enjoy a good cooking show. We have recently finished watching the final episode of the Australian Master Chef series. It was surprising to hear the audience clapping and cheering when the chef made a fancy meringue. In our experience, Australians normally boo meringues. 

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets regularly Wednesdays 6:30pm until 8:30pm and Sundays from 10am to noon at the Manitoulin Secondary tennis courts. Beginners and players of all ages and abilities are welcome! Team Fergmeijer has only just started getting into tennis, and we were wondering if tennis players realized that if they hit the ball a little gentler, their friend could hit it back and they could play longer. 

Things are heating up at the library - they hold Summer Fun Days for youth 5-10 years old each Tuesday throughout the summer. Stop in from 10-11am for games, crafts and stories. 

The library’s next big summer event is the annual summer beach movie on Saturday, August 9th. This year’s offering is 80s classic, Labyrinth starring David Bowie! Show starts at 9pm; admission is by donation. 

This week we are sending out heartfelt birthday wishes to Mike C, Meredith C-N, Dawn N, and Beth G on their 29th trip around the sun. We wish you good health, happiness, and just a bit of magic. Failing all of that, we wish you doughnuts. 

On Saturdays we do Yoga! Seniors (55+) are invited to drop-in Yoga classes at the Kagawong Park Centre at 9:30am. Beginners and experienced yogis are welcome. Classes are $5 each and run Saturdays until August 16th.

On Tuesdays we paint! Tuesdays through July, the township of Billings invites everyone aged 55+ to Painting with Sheila from 1-4pm at the Kagawong Park Centre. These classes are $35 each and include all materials. Beginner painters welcome, refreshments and lots of laughter to be expected! Contact Mary at seniors@billingstwp.ca for more information or to RSVP. 

Please note that the pink Sic Sox containers are no longer available at the Park Centre. The company has unexpectedly discontinued the program, and the township is looking for alternative providers. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Old Mill in the village. In honour of its significance to our town and the wider region of Manitoulin and beyond, the museum has published a book that explores its venerable history. These can be purchased at the Billings Heritage Centre (conveniently located in the Old Mill) and at the weekly Wednesday markets. 

The museum is also hosting its annual History Day in Kagawong on August 14th, featuring Kagawong’s favourite celebrity, Steve Paikin, who will be speaking with local historians Candy Tracey, Dianne Fraser, and Lois Linley. There will be historical photos and home movies dating back 100 years, and the Manitoulin Swing Band will be performing. Come out for the matinee at 3:30pm or the evening show at 7:30pm. Admission is free, though donations to the museum are appreciated. 

Billings residents, property owners, business owners, and other stakeholders are invited to review the proposed draft bylaw on shipping container use and to let council know your thoughts and suggestions. The proposed bylaw and the consultation form can be found on the township website (billingstwp.ca/townhall/by-laws-and-policies).

We bought a vinyl record called “Sounds Wasps Make” but when we got home and played it we agreed it sounded nothing like wasps. Turns out, we were playing the bee side. Have a great week!

July 23, 2025

We at Team Fergmeijer are strong proponents of life-long learning. For instance, we just learned that Albert Einstein was a real person. All this time we thought he was a theoretical physicist.

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets regularly Wednesdays 6:30pm until 8:30pm and Sundays from 10am to noon at the Manitoulin Secondary tennis courts. Beginners and players of all ages and abilities are welcome! Team Fergmeijer has only just started getting into tennis, and we were wondering if tennis players realized that if they hit the ball a little gentler, their friend could hit it back and they could play longer. 

Things are heating up at the library - they hold Summer Fun Days for youth 5-10 years old each Tuesday throughout the summer. Stop in from 10-11am for games, crafts and stories. 

Many thanks to all the volunteers and dedicated book addicts who helped to make the library used book sale fundraiser a huge success! The library’s next big summer event is the annual summer beach movie on Saturday August 9th. This year’s offering is 80s classic, Labyrinth starring David Bowie! 

Because someone missed the Expositor submission deadline last week (we won’t name names), we have a slew of happy birthday wishes to send out this week! On the occasion of their 29th birthday, many happy returns go out to this chronologically gifted crew: Caroline B, Carol G, Linda R, Craig F, Jenifer F, Arik T, Ethan T, and Jen C. 

On Saturdays we do Yoga! Seniors (55+) are invited to drop-in Yoga classes at the Kagawong Park Centre at 9:30am. Beginners and experienced yogis are welcome. Classes are $5 each and run Saturdays until August 16th.

On Tuesdays we paint! Tuesdays through July, the township of Billings invites everyone aged 55+ to Painting with Sheila from 1-4pm at the Kagawong Park Centre. These classes are $35 each and include all materials. Beginner painters welcome, refreshments and lots of laughter to be expected! Contact Mary at seniors@billingstwp.ca for more information or to RSVP. 

The Township of Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting a community yard sale this Saturday, July 25 from 8am until noon at the Park Centre parking lot and Kagawong River Complex. Bring along any items you’d like to sell, and take some time to browse for some new treasures, all while helping to keep items out of our landfill. There’s no need to sign up in advance - come one and all! Tables are provided if needed.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Old Mill in the village. In honour of its significance to our town and the wider region of Manitoulin and beyond, the museum has published a book that explores its venerable history. These can be purchased at the Billings Heritage Centre (conveniently located in the Old Mill) and at the weekly Wednesday markets. 

The museum is also hosting its annual History Day in Kagawong on August 14th, featuring Kagawong’s favourite celebrity, Steve Paikin, who will be speaking with local historians Candy Tracey, Dianne Fraser, and Lois Linley. There will be historical photos and home movies dating back 100 years, and the Manitoulin Swing Band will be performing. 

In an effort to always be learning, we have also taught ourselves how to make a bunch of people unreasonably angry really quickly. We’re happy to share our tricks with you, but first we need to soak our cast iron skillet into the sink overnight before running it through the dishwasher. Have a great week!

July 9, 2025

It’s summer! Which means between the beach, the falls, the local eats, the marina, the markets, and ALL the goings-on, Kagawong is THE place to be! This week’s column is chock-a-block full of upcoming events, so much so that we have to be a little light on puns. 

Tonight (Wednesday, July 9) is Students’ Night with the Manitoulin Tennis Club. High schoolers can get some summer competition play, and younger students are welcome to come and try out the sport. The club meets regularly Wednesdays from 6:30pm until 8:30pm and Sundays from 10am to 12noon at the Manitoulin Secondary tennis courts. Beginners and players of all ages and abilities are welcome!

The Billings Library is hosting Summer Fun Days! Kids aged 5+ are welcome to the library every Tuesday through the summer from 10-11am for games, crafts and stories. Can’t make it during those times? The summer hours for the library are Tuesday - Saturday, 9am -12 and 1pm - 5pm. Stop in and check out the fabulous selection of childrens’ and young adult books, puzzles, games, and of course lots of books for the adults too! Visit the library Facebook page for more information (Fb.com/Kagawonglibrary). 

Also Tuesdays through July, the township of Billings invites everyone aged 55+ to Painting with Sheila from 1-4pm at the Kagawong Park Centre. These classes are $35 each and include all materials. Beginner painters welcome, refreshments and lots of laughter to be expected! Contact Mary at seniors@billingstwp.ca for more information or to RSVP. 

Beginning this Saturday (July 12th), seniors (55+) are invited to drop-in Yoga classes at the Kagawong Park Centre at 9:30am. Beginners and experienced yogis are welcome. Classes are $5 each and run Saturdays until August 16th.

The Manitoulin Art Tour coming up on July 18th, 19th and 20th! An annual, self-guided, island-wide celebration of art and artists on Manitoulin, the Art Tour is organized by the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association. In Kagawong alone, you can explore 9 artists in 4 locations. You can download a copy of the map of all the artists across Manitoulin taking part at www.manitoulinart.com.

Island-wise household hazardous waste collection is back! Residents of Billings Township looking to declutter (and keep harmful substances out of our landfill) can drop off batteries, electronics, paint, cleaners, pharmaceuticals, propane cylinders, pesticides, and more at the Mindemoya Roads Building (7 Lakeshore Road off highway 542/551) on Saturday, July 19 from 1-4pm. Check out the poster on the Billings Township Facebook page for more details on what you can and cannot bring.

The library board would like to remind everyone that the annual book sale fundraiser is Saturday, July 19th. Friends of Manitoulin Turtles and Manitoulin Streams will be there with amazing displays, a children's book reading, and fun activities. Rumour has it Science North might even be putting in an appearance! Stop in at the picnic pavilion in downtown Kagawong between 11am and 3pm to check it out.

The Township of Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting a township yard sale on Saturday, July 25 at the Park Centre parking lot and Kagawong River Complex. Bring along any items you’d like to sell, and take some time to browse for some new treasures, all while helping to keep items out of our landfill. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Old Mill in the village. In honour of its significance to our town and the wider region of Manitoulin and beyond, the museum has published a book that explores its venerable history. These can be purchased at the Billings Heritage Centre (conveniently located in the Old Mill) and at the weekly Wednesday markets. 

And back by popular demand, August 14th is the annual History Day in Kagawong. This year, Kagawongian extraordinaire Steve Paikin will be speaking with local historians Candy Tracey, Dianne Fraser, and Lois Linley. There will be historical photos and home movies dating back 100 years, and the Manitoulin Swing Band will be performing. Save the date!

We mentioned that we’d have to be light on puns this week. Truth was we weren’t bright enough to think of any. Have a great week!

July 2, 2025

We are often mistaken for an adult because of our age. That said, you know you are maturing when you realize that your mom was right, but she could have worked on her tone. 

The Manitoulin Tennis Club will be hosting some special tennis nights for any and all folks interested! Tonight (July 2) is Ladies’ Night, with free treats for everyone, and Wednesday, July 9 is Students’ Night - high schoolers can get some summer competition play, and younger students are welcome to try out the sport. The club meets Wednesdays from 6:30pm until 8:30pm and Sundays from 10am to 12noon at the Manitoulin Secondary tennis courts. Beginners and players of all ages and abilities are welcome!

Even if a bear is wearing shoes and socks, he will still have bear feet. 

You know summer has started when the Anglican Church holds their annual summer yard sale and BBQ! This Saturday, July 5, stop by the Kagawong River Complex from 10-2 to pick up some great deals and some tasty treats. All proceeds to support St. John’s Church. 

The Manitoulin Art Tour is back, July 18th, 19th and 20th! An annual, self-guided, island-wide celebration of art and artists on Manitoulin, the Art Tour is organized by the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association. In Kagawong alone, you can explore 9 artists in 4 locations. You can download a copy of the map of all the artists across Manitoulin taking part at www.manitoulinart.com.

Of all the martial arts, karaoke inflicts the most pain. 

Did the timing of the library’s puzzle swap leave you puzzled? Not to worry! The library has now switched to their summer hours and you can go in and pick up a new-to-you puzzle at any time! The summer hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 9am -12; 1pm - 5pm. Stop in and meet Dana, our summer librarian! You can also bring the kids to the library every Tuesday morning this summer for a fun hour of stories, crafts and games. Check out the library Facebook page for more information (Fb.com/Kagawonglibrary). 

The library board would also like to remind everyone that the annual book sale fundraiser is Saturday July 19th. Friends of Manitoulin Turtles and Manitoulin Streams will be joining us with amazing displays, a children's book reading, and fun activities. Rumour has it Science North might even be putting in an appearance!

Did you know? If you turn a canoe over you can wear it like a hat. Because it’s cap sized. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Old Mill in the village. In honour of its significance to our town and the wider region of Manitoulin and beyond, the museum has published a book that explores its venerable history. These can be purchased at the Billings Heritage Centre (conveniently located in the Old Mill) and at the weekly Wednesday markets. 

One half of Team Fergmeijer keeps dreaming that she is slowly turning into a tree, and her fingers are acorns. It’s a re-oakcurring nightmare. 

Save the date! The Township of Billings Climate Action Committee is hosting a township yard sale on Saturday, July 25 at the Park Centre parking lot and Kagawong River Complex. Bring along any items you’d like to sell, and take some time to browse for some new treasures, all while helping to keep items out of our landfill. 

Team Fergmeijer are pleased to announce we are working on a new book on how to fall down the stairs. It’s a step by step guide. Have a great week!

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!