by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Good financial news looks to be on the horizon for the Manitoulin Centennial Manor which recently learned that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s (MOHLTC) tight financial clawback schedule threatening the facility’s cash flow, could be extended. This will make the paybacks to the ministry more feasible for the facility. “It’s not finalized yet, but it looks, through ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—This year’s Manitoulin Country Fest event, the sixth one, will not only feature a huge lineup of country artists, but will also unveil the festival’s new permanent stage at the Island’s first purpose built amphitheatre. The Manitoulin Transport Amphitheatre stage, made possible with funding from the trucking giant headquartered in Gore Bay, will be 65 feet wide by 30 feet hi ...

by Robin Burridge with files from Alicia McCutcheon LITTLE CURRENT—When the estimated 300 Manitoulin residents turned out last Sunday (July 15) to both participate in and observe the presentations to the full board of the International Joint Commission (IJC) on dropping Lake Huron water levels, some themes caught fire and were clearly representative of the feelings and frustrations of the entire Island grou ...

by Robin Burridge with files from Alicia McCutcheon M’CHIGEENG—M’Chigeeng First Nation Chief Joe Hare is calling for the stop of ‘carry home’ methadone treatment after the death of M’Chigeeng resident Daniel Dallas Joseph Anwhatin earlier this month––a fatality the chief suspects was linked to methadone. “Another death has occurred in M’Chigeeng,” states a press release issued by the band. “A young man died ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Earlier this month, Northeast Town council passed a motion supporting the dedication of the Graham Creek Bridge in Honora in memory of Constable Lloyd C. Lackey. Constable Lackey, who was posted to the Little Current detachment, was killed in a motor vehicle collision in 1972. Constable Lackey was on duty returning from a call in M’Chigeeng (then West Bay) First Nation on Su ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Four weeks after the announcement that the Manitoulin Centennial Manor was drowning in an operating deficiency totalling $1,178,318, negotiations between the Manor board and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to clarify financial claims from the ministry have finally led to a breakthrough, thus halting the government fiscal clawbacks that have threatened the ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Last week, the Manitoulin Centennial Manor board held a special meeting with the municipal leaders of Manitoulin to discuss the facility’s financial issues. Manor board chair Rev. Mary Jo Eckert-Tracy had previously told The Expositor that “all would be revealed” at the meeting, indicating that the Manor’s financial problems would be discussed as well as the board’s recommen ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Several elected municipal leaders support the claim by veteran Centennial Manor board members that money spent in 2006 and 2007 on mandated improvements to the facility would not have to be repaid to the province. This is important support for the beleaguered institution that, on paper, is $1.2 million in the red according to its most recent audited statements. The province ...

by Robin Burridge MANITOULIN—The second annual Taste of Manitoulin (TOM) will once again highlight the Island’s local culinary talents and rich cultural and historical background next Friday, June 8 through June 17. The festival will highlight a different area/community each day, but will be celebrated Island-wide throughout the week. TOM will kick off with the Gore Bay farmers’ market on the waterfront fro ...

by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—Years of claims that the Manitoulin Centennial Manor is in financial trouble have been validated with an announcement at last week’s Northeast Town council meeting that the manor is operating at a deficit totalling almost $1.2 million, according to the Manor’s 2011 statement of finance. “This is the biggest problem our council will have to deal with during our term,” stated ...