MINDEMOYA—The Mayor of the Town of Espanola has implored the Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) not to close the local MNR office in Espanola. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Central Manitoulin is in support of calls by Espanola for the office to remain open. Mike Lehoux, mayor of the Town of Espanola told the Recorder after the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference last week, “we ...

MINDEMOYA—The municipality of Central Manitoulin is in a “crisis” situation as the lifespan of its landfills is estimated to be less than two years. This prompted the municipality to host a public meeting to discuss the situation last week, with council imploring members of the public to bring forward any ideas on how waste can be decreased so the landfills can remain open longer. “I would like to welcome a ...

TEHKUMMAH—It was the occasion of the arrival of an insurance bill in his mailbox that set Larry Killens on a quest to discover how rural fire protection works and how it intersects with the state of his bank balance. Along the way, he discovered that things in the country often operate differently than they do in more urban areas. “I was listed as living in an ‘unprotected’ area,” said Mr. Killens. Since th ...

BURPEE MILLS—A petition requesting that the provincial government cease and desist in declaring lands tax exempt has been making the rounds in the Township of Burpee Mills and beyond under the stewardship, and with the blessing, of the municipal council. Councillor Wayne Bailey has nothing against conservation and wildlife, he just wonders why it is that residents in small rural communities are having to be ...

Tom Sasvari The Recorder EVANSVILLE—The municipality of Burpee-Mills has passed another zero percent tax increase in its budget. “We have passed a budget with no increase in taxes,” said Ken Noland, reeve of Burpee-Mills, earlier this week. Mr. Noland explained that council was able to pass the zero percent budget increase, while taking care of its portion of funding for the Gore Bay-Manitoulin Airport repa ...

Tom Sasvari The Recorder MANITOWANING—A former reeve of the municipality of Assiginack, Leslie Fields, has been selected by council to take over a vacant councillor seat. Leslie Fields was selected among five people who had put their names forward for the vacant council member’s position. With the recent passing of Bud Rohn (June 1), Assiginack Township council had sworn in councillor Dave Ham as reeve for ...

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 ...

The board of directors of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor has been wrestling with a series of difficult challenges over the course of the past decade and, for the large part, the members of the board and staff at the Manor have attempted to address these challenges largely in the shadows. The time for quiet stoicism has passed. The residents of the Manor are among the most vulnerable members of our communit ...

Tom Sasvari The Recorder PROVIDENCE BAY—It would be hard to determine who had the broadest smile on their face: the children who will wholeheartedly enjoy the new playground at the Providence Bay beach, or the 200 volunteers who helped with the construction of the new playground last Saturday. Island youth Hayden Young seemed to sum it up best when he stated, “this is really cool. I never realized everythin ...

Tom Sasvari The Recorder GORDON/BARRIE ISLAND—After being presented to council on April 3, the first draft of the Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island’s 10-year strategic plan is ready for review from the public. “I think the plan is fairly straight forward and reflective of the sentiments that have been expressed over the last year or two by the public and by council,” stated Laura Barfoot, economic develo ...