06/09/2026
It's Here! Hot off the Press, "The Ardbeg Gazette- Issue 5"
The Ardbeg Gazette – Issue #5
Summer Is Here… But the Club Isn't Slowing Down!
As another busy season gets underway, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on all the wonderful things happening at the Ardbeg Community Club. While our board meetings will take a summer break after our final June meeting and resume in September, don't be fooled into thinking the Club is taking a vacation. Quite the opposite! The building may not have a beach chair and sunglasses, but it will continue to be buzzing with activity all summer long.
The Ardbeg Community Club continues to be a place where neighbours become friends, visitors become regulars, and nobody leaves hungry. Whether you're attending a dinner, dancing the night away, enjoying live music, attending a Library event, or renting the hall for a special occasion, every event helps strengthen the sense of community that makes Ardbeg such a special place.
Annual General Meeting & Executive Update
The Club held its Annual General Meeting in May, where executive positions were up for election and nominations were received. We are pleased to announce one change to our executive team.
Congratulations to Mary Ellen Slykhuis, who has stepped into the role of Secretary. We know she will do a fantastic job and we appreciate her willingness to volunteer her time and talents to help keep the Club moving forward.
Your 2026 Executive Team is:
• President: Troy Burgess
• Vice-President: Muriel Stiles
• Treasurer: Rhonda Armstrong
• Secretary: Mary Ellen Slykhuis
A huge thank you goes out to both our past and present executives. Volunteer leadership often happens quietly behind the scenes, but the countless hours spent organizing events, attending meetings, answering emails, solving problems, and helping wherever needed are what keep our Club thriving. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our community.
Whitestone Scavenger Hunt
Looking for a fun summer adventure?
The Ardbeg Community Club has created a Whitestone Scavenger Hunt for everyone to enjoy. It's a great way to explore our beautiful area, learn a little local history, discover hidden gems, and maybe even uncover a story or two along the way.
Scavenger Hunt packages can be picked up at:
• The Ardbeg Community Club
• The Municipality of Whitestone Office
Or simply email the Club and we'll send one to you.
We encourage everyone to complete the hunt before the Dunchurch Fall Fair on August 22, 2026. When you're finished, stop by our booth in the Dundome and share your photos, stories, discoveries, and adventures with us. We would love to hear about the places you visited and the memories you made along the way.
Who knows? You may even discover something about Whitestone that you've driven past for years without ever noticing!
Looking Back at Another Fantastic Year
When we stop and look back over the past year, it's amazing to see just how much has happened at the Club.
We've enjoyed delicious community meals including our Spaghetti Dinner, Shrove Tuesday Dinner, Mother's Day Brunch, and the ever-popular Hunters Dinner. We've danced at the Halloween Dance, tapped our toes at our famous Thursday Night Country Music Jams, and rocked out during Tuesday Rock Nights.
The Library has continued to be a wonderful partner, bringing creative and educational programs to the Club every Monday last year and every second Monday this year. Their events have become a favourite for many residents and visitors alike.
Our hall rentals have also seen significant growth this year. The Club has hosted birthday parties, bridal showers, meetings, celebrations of life, private dinners, and community gatherings. Every rental helps support the Club while creating new memories within our walls.
Not bad for a building that some people once thought had seen its best days! It turns out a little determination, a lot of volunteers, and several pots of coffee can accomplish great things.
Upcoming Library Events
The Library has some exciting events coming up at the Club and they all sound like a lot of fun. Whether you're feeling crafty, creative, or simply looking for a good excuse to get out and socialize, these events are sure to be a great time.
June 1: Glass Etching
June 15: Magnetic Bookmarks (these are suuuper cute!)
June 29: Key Chains
July 13: Paint-Along with Acrylics
We hope you'll join us. The Library staff always bring enthusiasm, creativity, and plenty of laughs to every session.
Meet Our Executives/Board Members
My name is Muriel (Whitmell) Stiles. I am currently Vice-President of the Ardbeg Community Club (a role I was never going to take). I attended a few of the first meetings of the newly inspired “we’re going to renovate this place” and got hooked! Thursday evening Country Music Jams are among my favourite gatherings, followed by – greeting visitors at the door (and taking their admission) when a meal or entertainment event is being held.
I was born at home on the family farm and grew up in the wonderful community of Sunny Slope – my great grandfather received his Land Grant in 1871. My husband Norm was born at home at the western end of Ainslie Lake and for 50 years we’ve lived at the eastern end of the lake. His family’s roots in Whitestone go back to 1910 when his grandmother married John Montgomery. Three generations of Stiles met and began their life together in the vicinity of Wah Wash Kesh Lake. Norm and I began our years together when I worked at Wah Wash Kesh Lodge and although we lived many places and in two Provinces, it was a wonderful decision to move home in 1976 with our 3 children.
The Ardbeg Community Club has always been a vital part of the area and I belonged to the Club for a few years in the early 1980’s but raising 3 children, assisting my husband in his business became too much and I retired from active participation.
The 520 Highway has always been the subject of many legends, and we witnessed the many changes over the 50 years we have lived on a dangerous curve. Ditches were higher than the road; school busses unable to get through to Ardbeg due to mud holes; an enlightening ride on a school bus by our then Conservative Provincial representative ending at the Ardbeg Community Club with local residents voicing their concerns about the condition they had to deal with every day. This meeting concluded with a positive ending – the road work began, ditches were dug deeper than the roadway, improvements made. A few years later a second round of work was done whereby the roadbed was lifted and new blacktop was put in place. Once again, we are hopeful that $ will be spent to allow, residents, school busses, first responders and all those who drive in and out of the Ardbeg/Whitestone community a safe commute.
I trained as a Secretary in High School and began work at the age of 17. A few months in Parry Sound, followed by 6 years in Toronto and 8 years in Calgary before moving home to Whitestone. In 1986 I returned to High School to update a few of my business skills to prepare for the modern work environment. When I say High School there were no special classes for Adult Learning so I was immersed in the Student World, for the first few weeks I wore earplugs to save myself from their hallway language! I did get used to it and formed many long relationships with the students – I was told they didn’t even notice my age AND I COULD SPELL - end of period spelling contests were won by my side of the classroom. In 1987 I began a “term” position at the Canadian Coast Guard and retired at the end of 2003.
Looking back over my long life, I can only say – I am blessed! A loving supportive husband, family we are proud of, friends and neighbours from near and far who enrich our lives and a community that looks out for one another. To anyone thinking of coming to the Ardbeg Community Club I say Welcome, there’s always a sense of belonging and friendship.
And that dear readers… is front page news.
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