News and Notices | Municipality of Central Manitoulin

Dredging the Mouth of Mindemoya River to Allow Fish Migration

The Municipality of Central Manitoulin in partnership with Manitoulin Streams will be dredging the sand at the mouth of the Mindemoya River in Providence Bay, ON to allow spawning salmon to access the river. The work will be conducted on Thursday, September 24th, 2026. An excavator will be used to pull sand out of the mouth of the river and it will deposited on the adjacent beach area.

Wave action and a low flow rate of the Mindemoya River allows sand to build up at the mouth of the river during critical spawning times. This work will allow salmon to migrate into the river system to spawn. The work will enhance the fisheries around Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron and positively contribute to the economic, social and environmental well being of the area.

Provincial Funding Supports Upgrades to J.H. Burt Memorial Arena

The Municipality of Central Manitoulin is sincerely grateful to the Province of Ontario and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for contributing $157,219 toward essential upgrades to the J.H. Burt Memorial Arena in Mindemoya.

The funding supported the reconstruction and structural repair of the arena’s west wall, the removal and reinstallation of the low-e ceiling, the replacement of a refrigeration plant valve, and required engineering work. These improvements will help ensure the arena remains a safe, welcoming and fully operational space for recreation, community events and social gatherings.

Although it was not included as part of the provincial NOHFC announcement, the Municipality would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the Mindemoya Arena Repair Committee (MARC) for its generous donation of $23,362 toward the arena improvements. This valuable community contribution, together with the support received from the Province, helped make these essential upgrades possible.

For the full NOHFC announcement, please click here.

Disaster Recovery Assistance Update for Central Manitoulin

This spring, the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that financial assistance through the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program could be available to eligible communities affected by flooding.

Following that announcement, the Province investigated the flooding impacts in Central Manitoulin as part of its assessment process. The municipality, along with affected residents, provided information and supported the Province's review of reported damage and impacted properties.

After completing its investigation, the Province advised the Municipality of Central Manitoulin that the DRAO program would not be activated for our community. To qualify for activation, a community must meet provincial criteria, including a minimum threshold of affected primary residences and eligible businesses. Based on the information gathered and assessed by the Province, Central Manitoulin did not meet that required threshold.

We understand that this news may be disappointing for those who were affected by this spring’s flooding. While the provincial threshold was not met community-wide, the Municipality recognizes that residents, property owners and businesses experienced varying degrees of damage and disruption, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who reported damage, submitted information and assisted with the DRAO assessment process. Your time, cooperation and willingness to document and share your experiences were greatly appreciated and helped ensure that the effects of the flooding within our community were properly communicated to the province.

More information about the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program is available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance

Safety, Security and Health and Office and Administration Committee Meetings Cancelled for September 15th, 2026

Please be advised that the Safety, Security and Health and the Office and Administration Committee meetings scheduled for Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, have been cancelled.

Fall Clean-Up: Free Brush Disposal Event

The Municipality of Central Manitoulin is helping residents prepare their properties for the fall season while supporting local fire-prevention efforts.

Tipping fees will be waived for clean brush brought to the Providence Bay Transfer Station during regular operating hours on the following dates:

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
Thursday, September 10th, 2026
Saturday, September 12th, 2026

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to remove unwanted branches and brush from around their properties. Reducing the amount of dry vegetation around homes and buildings can help lower potential fire risks while keeping properties clean and well maintained.

All loads must be sorted and contain clean brush only. Regular fees will apply to any other waste, and all other transfer station rules and requirements remain in effect.

Transfer Station Fall Hours in Effect

Please be advised that the Providence Bay and Big Lake Transfer Stations will begin fall hours effective Saturday, September 5th, 2026.

The Providence Bay Transfer Station will be open:

Thursdays and Saturdays
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

The Big Lake Transfer Station will be open:

Saturdays
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

These fall hours will remain in effect from the September long weekend through to the May long weekend.

Council Meeting Cancelled for September 10th, 2026

Please be advised that the Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 10th, 2026, has been cancelled.

Full List of Certified Candidates for the 2026 Municipal Election

Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election officially closed on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

A total of 20 candidates are running in the election, with multiple candidates seeking the position of Mayor and Ward Councillor in each of the Municipality’s three wards.

For the full list of certified candidates for Mayor and Ward Councillor, please click here.

Residents are also encouraged to confirm that they are on the Voters List. To check if you are currently on the Voters List or if you need to update your information, please contact the Municipal Office or email Denise Deforge, CAO/Clerk, at ddeforge@centralmanitoulin.ca.

For additional information about the municipal election, please visit www.centralmanitoulin.ca/our-government/elections.

Water, Waste and Education Committee Meeting Cancelled For September 3rd, 2026

Please be advised that the Water, Waste and Education Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd, 2026, has been cancelled.

Splashtown Manitoulin Water Park Removal Notice

Please be advised that Splashtown Manitoulin will begin removing their inflatable water park at 4:30 pm today, August 21st, 2026, with work continuing into tomorrow, August 22, 2026. Removal will take place at the Mindemoya Government Dock and beach area. For everyone’s safety, we kindly ask the public to avoid the area during this time unless accessing the dock to launch a boat. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Central Manitoulin News and Notices