The Haliburton Highlands Water Trails in Algonquin Highlands, the Haliburton School of Art + Design in Dysart et al, Central Food Network in Highlands East, and The Riverwalk in Minden Hills were touted as examples of how communities and councils have worked well together in the past – during the first ‘Voices and Votes’ talk Sept. 16 in Haliburton.
More than 90 people, including current and former councillors, and municipal staff, as well as residents “curious about how things work,” attended the session at the Haliburton Legion, according to host, Jessica Slade, of Civics with Slade, and the Haliburton Highlands Healthy Democracy Project.
“Tonight is about putting us all on the same page, creating shared conversation so we all understand how government works, and community works with it, to make us stronger,” she said.
Slade founded Civics with Slade just before the last provincial and federal elections, “to make politics more accessible, especially for youth and women in rural communities.”
In the first month of operation, she said they received 90,000 views, signaling gaps in the way people talk about democracy, and engage in the process.
She outlined how local government works, why it matters in the Highlands, positions up for election in 2026, and how the local community can play a part.
She noted voter turn out in the Ontario 2022 municipal election was the lowest in history – with 33 per cent of eligible voters casting a ballot, or just one in three. “That is a huge drop and a trend we really need to talk about.” She further noted the rise in acclamations, where there is only one candidate, so no vote. In 2022, 32 full Ontario councils were acclaimed and 553 positions uncontested.
She said the healthy democracy project isn’t just about encouraging people to run for council, but also “strengthening civic participation in all of its forms. We want to support local leadership, celebrate successful community collaborations, and give residents the tools they need to shape the future of our County, building on the great work that’s already been (accomplished).”
Organizers used the app, Menti.com to allow audience members to answer questions during the presentation, providing instant feedback to Slade.
For example, one question was “have you ever considered running for local government?” with 19 per cent saying ‘yes’, 38 per cent ‘no’ and 26 per cent ‘maybe’.
Asked what might move that needle, common responses were the need for mentorship or encouragement from others, better pay, and requiring less money to run a campaign.
Some of the other information that came out was that the majority of the audience did not sit on a board of directors or committee but volunteered with a local organization.
Heather Reid of the Haliburton County Development Corporation, working with the project, presented the four success stories.
One example was the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails. Reid said in 2000, citizens voiced concerns about the overuse of the Frost Centre area to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Algonquin Highlands council. The municipality got a land use permit, and grant, from the MNR, with an agreement for the township to manage a registration system for backcountry camping throughout the area, creating “one of the crown jewels of our community,” Reid said. They went on to oversee Poker Lake as well. The impact on the environment is now closely monitored.
“This demonstrates that what first appears as a problem can turn into an incredible opportunity and it really is a way that communities can bring ideas to the council table and collaborate and stretch that regular mode of operation box and make things happen that have a huge legacy for our community,” Reid said.
Slade challenged people to get involved. “Attend a meeting, join a committee, contact your councillors, share your input.”
The second talk will feature former MPs Barry Devolin (Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock) and Maryam Monsef (Peterborough-Kawartha) discussing why people should get involved by running for office, supporting a political campaign, or being an informed community member. It will take place Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Watson Community Centre in Wilberforce.
