From the Editor, March 2025

This is what we were waiting for: 2025 – SEAWAY NOTICE #2

The opening of the 2025 navigation season is scheduled to take place on the following date and time: Montreal / Lake Ontario Section: March 22, 2025 – 0800 hours (D.S.T.); Welland Canal: March 22, 2025 – 0800 hours (D.S.T.). Ship transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Restrictions may apply in some areas until lighted navigation aids have been installed.

Ha. Who is excited? Yes, you, me, and all mainlanders, mariners, and snowbirds.

Politics

Paul Malo and Ian Coristine gave this editor wise counsel: No politics. Therefore, you will not see any posted comments nor will you read about the current North American political situation in this publication. However, we will continue to share good news stories and promote all institutions on both sides of the border. Therefore, if you are part of an arts organization, museum, art gallery (and more) that is celebrating some good news, please forward this news to TI Life. 2025 may be a very different year, but we are hoping we can come together to continue to enjoy the best events of the Thousand Islands.

 Our Own Tall Ship Organization Wins!

Bytown Brigantine Inc. was honoured to receive the Sail Training Organisation of the Year – Small Vessel award at the 2024 Sail Training International Conference in Coruña, Spain! This prestigious recognition celebrates BBI’s dedication to excellence in sail training. TI Life will learn more about this honour and present the details in an upcoming issue.

Art Challenge Taken Up!

In February, a group of artists undertook an art challenge to produce a collage and/or mono-print every day (or every second day, even just once a week). Four Kingstonians answered the call, Kris Hulme, Lucille Davies, Yina Wang, and Marie-Anne Erki, and they were joined by artists in England (Deryck Solomon), Australia (Natalie Williams), and Switzerland (Barbara Chuck). A compilation of the month’s submissions is given in the photograph, but the pieces can be seen in more detail on the Webpage: https://feb2025artychallenge.blogspot.com

Summer calendars -Start planning your summer

Brockville: https://members.brockvillechamber.com/eventcalenda

Gananoque: https://www.1000islandsganchamber.com/

Kingston: https://business.kingstonchamber.ca/chamber-events-calendar

Ogdensburg: https://business.visitstlc.com/events/calendar

Alexandria Bay: https://visitalexbay.org/events/

Clayton: https://visit1000islands.com/events/

Cape Vincent: https://capevincent.org/events-calendar/

International Women's Day Celebrated Again

Many of us celebrated March 8, 2025, International Women's Day 2025, across the world. However Glennis Newton did it the right way for two years in a row. In March 2024 Glennis sent us her photo taken in the Thousand Islands off her property on Howe Island. But this year the ice was still solid as far as the eye could see. What to do? Celebrate in the hot tub of course! But an email received on March 12 says the ice is out and she is ready to take her first plunge next weekend. On behalf of women around the world – we thank you most sincerely.

2025 A Bay Polar Bear Dip

All Divers Invited

Conclusion

Please send comments to me and I will post them... Our new system is still being adapted.

Enjoy our spring season and if you are driving north, stay safe!

By Susan W. Smith, Editor, info@thousandislandslife.com

And the TI Life Team:
Elspeth Naismith is the "Real Editor"; Georgia Barker, Dane Zabriskie, and Rick Taylor are our proofreaders. In addition, Jennifer Caddick has taken over social media; Dan Mathias posts events; Beth Lavos is posting books; Marie-Anne Erki is our illustrator; and Allison Burchell-Robinson has joined the team, and last but not least, Mike Cox is our IT Magician.

Our March 2025 Thousand Islands Life webpage header is courtesy of © Ian Coristine/1000IslandsPhotoArt.com