From the Editor, May 2025
by: Susan W. Smith
In February, I wrote that Thousand Islands Life should not get political, and as soon as we published, we received many emails. Some made me smile, others made me worry, but all were appreciated.
In early April a Politico Magazine reporter wrote to say he was coming to Gananoque and asked if I could introduce him to some members of the communities on both sides of the border. I did so, and I took the opportunity to invite him for dinner on Sagastaweka Island. The result was our being pictured and becoming almost famous! (Thank you, Calder McHugh, for putting a Thousand Islands in your Life.)
Calder McHugh visited Gananoque and published this article on April 24, 2025.
At the same time another reader wrote a most powerful message:
Spirit of the River reads like a eulogy delivered by someone too afraid to say who did the killing. It wraps itself in warm nostalgia, recounting hot dog roasts and cross-border friendships, while pointedly refusing to confront — or even name — the forces tearing that fabric apart. The result is a hollow lament that celebrates a way of life even as it watches it bleed out in silence. (Florida resident who spends time in the Thousand Islands each summer.)
Yes, powerful indeed, and it made me realize that no matter how much I would like to have an easy time and to ignore how divided life is becoming, it is impossible and rightly so.
I do know that some of our readers are not as upset as others. Some are happy with the changes south of the border. The tariff's will have an effect on Ontario and in New York State and we will have to take a "wait and see attitude." But either way, we are all neighbours and we need to get along. I hope you will plan to visit history, art, or boat museums on either side and plan to attend the Antique Boat Museum's boat show; the Tall Ships Festival in Brockville and Poker Runs will be here before we know it.
Everyone is asking the same questions. Is it safe for me to travel across the border? Will people get upset if they see I have this license plated from the USA or that plate from a Canadian province? Will I be able to cross the border in my boat? Are there patrols out there to stop my passage?
We don't have the answers, but the reactions on both sides have been positive so far. Let's start with the coffee guys who went to Kingston from Cape Vincent and bought everyone in the bar a beer as an apology. (See Calder McHugh's article in politico) There was one worrisome story as we learned that a boat in Canada on Easter weekend was surprised to have an RCMP helicopter check them out. The whirly bird hovered over them, then slowly came down very low (presumable looking for boating registration numbers). Then it took off. The only problem was that the whirling blades' churn up the water and the couple got soaked! Luckily all was fine.
Several readers have reported having lunch or dinner in Gananoque and being treated like any tourist. Investigating wait times at the border will show that there is much less traffic going into the USA. And, one reader took notice that no US flags are flying in or around Gananoque.
Headers from past issues of TI Life as they represent Life in the Thousand Islands.
Now, we need to get serious, as the summer is coming. Jennifer Caddick has written a second article on the theme of Spirit of the River, May '25 and presents the Questionnaire for you to answer. Please read it and add your experiences in the past or now, as the summer progresses.
All this brings me to thanking one reader who pointed out “we don’t need to express our personal feelings about any political situation or to write those feelings in Thousand Islands Life, but, we should always be concerned with our Life in the Thousand Islands.
So, my friends, start summer 2025 with a wave to a passing boater and invite your neighbours from Canada or the USA over for a visit. And, if you have time, put a Thousand Islands in your Life— by reading any issue between 2006 and 2025, but most of all, enjoy your Life in the Thousand Islands.
Sad News – Brian Johnson, Wolfe Island
We learned this week that Brian Johnson left the River on May 8. Brian is well known on Wolfe Island where he not only championed the history of the region but he wrote many articles for the Kingston Whig Standard and for TI Life. But, he also was one of five captains of the Wolfe Island car ferry Wolfe Islander III. He worked for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for more than 30 years. And we often saw him pass through the islands as captain of the Canadian Empress. Naturally, there are already some wonderful tributes written, and this editor will present our tribute to Brian in our June issue – but suffice it to say many islanders and mainlanders have lost a good friend and we send our deepest condolences to Brian's family.
You can read Brian Johnson's obituary here, and this is just one of several tributes. It was written by Eric Gagnon in his blog: Kingston's Hanley Spur.
Eric
Conclusion
This editor's letter was hard to write - and this will be a different if not difficult summer. Let us know if there are celebrations or events that we should know about for TI Life. Together, we will make it a great summer!
Please send comments to me on any article and I will post them. . . Our comment system is still being adapted.
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 posts books; Marie-Anne Erki is our illustrator; and Allison Burchell-Robinson has joined the team. Last, but definitely not least, Mike Cox is our IT Magician!
Our May 2025 Thousand Islands Life webpage header is a popular photograph taken by Ian Coristine several years ago. It is provided courtesy of ©IanCoristine/1000IslandsPhotoArt.com
