OWEN SOUND—Water levels in Lake Huron and Michigan remain far below the recorded monthly mean for this time of the year and the Canadian government’s best case projected rise in water levels for May 2013 lies some 25 centimetres below what was found at the dock in 2012, but the Owen Sound Transportation Company is maintaining its position that the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry’s schedule will go forward as planned. ...

OWEN SOUND—The Owen Sound Transportation Company is still scheduled to begin the 2013 sailing season for the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun (between South Baymouth and Tobermory) on May 3, while continuing its discussions in regards to concerns due to low water levels with Transport Canada and the Canada Hydrographic Service. “The Canada Hydrographic Service does not do any dredging; they do work such as navigational ch ...

SOUTH BAYMOUTH—Low water levels in the Great Lakes are threatening the smooth passage of Manitoulin’s ferry link to southern Ontario, leading the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), operators of the Chi-Cheemaun, to engage an engineering company to survey the entrance to the ferry’s South Baymouth berth in order to lay the groundwork for deepening the channel, should it be required in the future. “We ...

SOUTH BAYMOUTH—Last week, during the Manitoulin Tourism Association’s (MTA) annual general meeting, the membership was surprised to learn that the Chi-Cheemaun ferry has increasingly less keel draft in its South Baymouth port entrance. Susan Schrempf, president of the Owen Sound Transportation Company (the Chi-Cheemaun’s operating company), was invited to the meeting as the guest speaker, giving an informed ...

To the Expositor: The Stephen Harper government is fighting its deficit by slashing funding to all five Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) units in Canada, including the Toronto team on scene at the collapsed mall in Elliot Lake. For those of us who find our hearts being sad, and I am sure that is most of the readers, this is an example of a government out to ensure their fishing trips, limousines and de ...

With Canada Day just around the corner there is lots to look forward to across Manitoulin from community festivals (see this weeks edition of The Expositor) to fireworks. This year's firework line up on Sunday, July 1 includes a firework display in Mindemoya at the community centre ball field at 10 pm, Providence Bay fireworks over the beach at dusk, Gore Bay will be holding their annual waterfront Canada D ...

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 Stacey Lavallie NORTH BAY—The decision of the provincial government to “download its responsibilities” to the municipalities in regards to the still unresolved 1990 land claims agreement was the subject of a unanimous resolution at the annual conference of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM). Northeast Town Mayor Joe Chapman, on behalf of the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA), ...

by Alicia McCutcheon WIKWEMIKONG—During the one-year memorial of his friend and partner in medicine, Dr. Jack Bailey shared in the sunrise ceremony at the medicine lodge at the Nahndahweh Tchigehgamig Wikwemikong Health Centre he and the late Ron Wakegijig worked so hard to develop. Following the ceremony (a full house) the group gathered in the lobby of the Health Centre for the unveiling, to much applause ...

by Alicia McCutcheon SOUTH BAYMOUTH—The MS Chi-Cheemaun will make its first trip of the season this Friday, May 4, sailing into port at 10:50 am after a long winter dockage in Owen Sound. The ferry makes its first trip from South Baymouth following the spring schedule, May 4 to June 21, at 11:10 am. South Baymouth departures as per the spring schedule include Monday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:10 am ...