The Township of Minden Hills said flooding is beginning to stabilize in the municipality – with the evacuation centre transitioning to a warming centre as of April 21.
It’s upstairs at the community centre at 55 Parkside St. with 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. hours for now, with shower facilities, refreshments, and spots for charging devices.
The recreation centre resumed scheduling April 22 with the fitness room, walking track, rink and drop-in programs all a go, while registered programming resumes April 27. The cultural centre also reopened April 22.
The township said this past Tuesday “water levels in the Minden watershed continue to fluctuate. The township will work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Parks Canada in monitoring water levels and conditions over the next two weeks.”
The Sunnybrook bridge downtown and Loggers footbridge by Canadian Tire are still closed.
Minister of emergency preparedness and response, Jill Dunlop, visited the Minden fire hall and evacuation centre April 20.
The township said while conditions are stabilizing, they are still in a holding pattern and planning for the recovery is underway.
Dunlop said the province stepped in late last week when they were contacted through the community emergency management co-ordinator – responding with Global Medic volunteers -who had been sandbagging at the fire hall – and Ontario Corps volunteers through the Salvation Army Corps, who have been coordinating efforts at the evacuation centre this week.
Dunlop last visited the community when it declared a state of emergency following the 2025 ice storm.
She commented Monday on “how the community has really come together.
“Everyone is working together … the province and the municipality and our Ontario Corps volunteers and partners out here.” She mentioned mental health supports are also being provided.
When asked about provincial funding once floodwaters recede and the damage to infrastructure can be assessed.
State of emergency to last several more days
Dunlop said she spoke to the minister of municipal affairs and housing April 20 advising she was visiting Minden Hills. “It will be something that I will be speaking to him about and assessing the situation.” She noted 10 communities had declared states of emergency.
The township declared its on April 14. Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter expected it to continue for another five to eight days from this past Monday.
He said they’ve probably had as much water as previous floods, in 2019 and 2013, but it’s been managed better, mitigating risk as much as possible.
Carter said they have to wait for the water to go down to assess damage, although they were planning to do bridge inspections later this week. “That’s the real thing. What’s been deposited on these lands, wells may have been affected.”
The Sunnybrook bridge reopened April 22.
Volunteers
During National Volunteer Week, The Highlander caught up with helpers in Minden.
Francis D’Antimo began volunteering last Thursday when a beaver dam broke, sending water across County Road 121.
“There was a whole bunch of us going up 121 to save these people’s homes,” he said.
He was on Anson Street last Wednesday night in waist-high cold water helping to sandbag. He helped lay bags on Water Street. He said one of the hardest things was talking to seniors who had no insurance.
Elizabeth Mathew swapped her night job checking in people at the rec centre for shifts in the kitchen at the evacuation centre.
The Hal High student served food made by the Minden Community Food Centre. She said it had been fun, hanging out with Minden Hills full-time staffers she never sees, “and it’s also nice just to be able to serve people and have conversations.”
She said she was personally unaffected by the flooding but “I really feel for anybody who is being affected in that way. I also feel really positive for how much, as a community, we have rallied together.”
Highlands East
Highlands East said this week that Contau Lake Road remains closed at Irondale Road due to flooding. Access is available from Gooderham (County Road 507) only. The Community Centre Road and Gooderham Park have been reopened. Updates will be shared as conditions change.
Sandbags are available at the public works yard at 19897 Hwy. 118. This is a self-serve station. Residents are asked to bring their own shovel and lend a hand to neighbours where possible.
