When Minden Hills flooded in 2013 and 2019, Tiffany English volunteered to help fill and deliver sandbags. So, when the Gull River, along with the Burnt and Irondale rivers began to rise this spring, she headed down to the sand piles outside the Minden Curling Club once again.
“We’re on high ground, so just here to help,” she told The Highlander. A tiler by trade, she was taking time off to pitch in for the community. Her fiancé was out with the truck delivering sandbags, making runs to Carnarvon, Minden and Kinmount. She said some elderly folks had come to get sandbags to load into SUVs and volunteers just wanted to give them some extra help.
Asked about the spirit of volunteerism in Haliburton County, English said, “It always does amaze me, but I am honestly never shocked because we always come together whether it’s a state of emergency or a tragic incident.”
She referenced how the community answered a GoFundMe call to action for the family of Curtis Barker, who is battling a rare cancer – raising more than $100,000 in a short period of time.
English was working beside Faye Mortell, who’d come on her own to help. She said she was helping a resident who asked her what organization she was with. She answered, “myself, no organization. I was at my office watching the river and not being productive.”
Highland Hills United Church minister, Max Ward swapped his cassock for army attire, answering a shoutout for cadets to help out. He brought his mother, Sue Ward.
“Just doing some volunteering for the community,” Ward said. His mom added, “I’ve always done this type of thing.”
Nathalie Chartrand took her boys, Kyle and Ethan Chartrand, out of school for the volunteer gig. Kyle said he was there “because I can help people that are struggling with the flooding.”
Nathalie added, “we’re very fortunate. We don’t have water at our house so, really, this is the least we can come and do I think.”
