I had circled Jan. 31 on my work calendar as that was the day of the last TOK Coachlines bus going from Haliburton to Toronto.
With a service having operated for more than 30 years coming to an end, I thought I should ride that last bus to the city in the morning, and take it back home again that evening.
I easily ordered the ticket online, only having to decide whether I would get off in Scarborough or Vaughn. I did a little online research and figured there would be more for me to do in and around the Scarborough Town Centre for the close to six hours I would be waiting for my bus back. The cost was $58.50 one way or $117 return.
I was doing this for a story. Taking my journalism hat off, and thinking like a rider, I asked myself if I would ever take the service otherwise. I hadn’t before. I’m lucky enough to own a car and while I am not crazy about it, I am capable of driving to the city. But what if I didn’t own a car, or couldn’t city drive?
Initially, I thought it was a bit pricey. However, when I factored in that I would be riding the bus for nearly eight hours… it worked out to less than $15 an hour. After some initial interviews with the driver and some passengers, I was able to just settle in from about Norland on. There was nowhere to plug in my laptop and there was no Wi-Fi so earlier plans of working as I drove along flew out the door. But that wasn’t entirely a bad thing. I sat and looked out the window and watched the world go by. It was relaxing. I’d also packed a book.
It definitely took longer than if I had been driving myself. But I was in no rush. I was gathering research and taking photos. Had I been going to a specialist appointment in Toronto, I would have had time with that nearly six-hour gap. If I was not coming back that night, three hours and forty-five minutes was not that big of a chunk out of my day.
At Scarborough, I had a short walk to Scarborough Civic Centre. They have a branch of the Toronto Public Library so I was able to get my laptop set up and Wi-Fi to work from there. After a few hours, I was then able to pop into the Scarborough Town Centre for a quick shop and to grab an early dinner before making my way back to the bus stop.
On the return trip, I was greeted by Stephen and Mieke Foster who were on their way to Haliburton. We chatted as the GTA receded. On the highway to Lindsay, we all settled into our own little worlds. There was a stop at Lindsay to let some people off. Some stretched their legs. Others grabbed coffee. Then it was onto Norland and home. This nearly four-hour ride did seem long – and by the time we got to Haliburton, I was happy to get off the bus. I’d left at 8 a.m. and it was now 9:30 p.m.
On the drive, I learned that a new company is taking over the service. My advice to them? They need to market. A lot of people do not know about the bus and word of mouth is not a good advertising plan. I was told there were only two passengers on their Feb. 2 inaugural trip to Toronto. The new operators might have a Minden connection and want to ensure people are not left without a service but their patience will thin if they cannot cover the cost of fuel, maintenance and a driver. And for the people of Haliburton County the message is also clear: they need to use the service or they will most definitely lose it.
On the buses
McFaddens and hungry kids the winners
This past summer, Vince Duchene and Troy Austen played in the Bernie Nicholls Foundation golf tournament.
On one of the silent auction bidding tables were two tickets to a Feb. 22 Dallas Stars-Ottawa Senators home game.
Duchene, father of Stars’ forward Matt Duchene, said he didn’t know who’d donated the tickets but he and Austen pooled their money to buy them.
“And then the idea kind of morphed from there,” Duchene said. They decided to donate the tickets for an adult and kids’ hockey trip draw – to raise money for Trillium Lakelands District School Boards’ Feed All Four Foundation program. That’s the charity Nicholls’ foundation had earmarked in the summer golf tournament.
Vince talked to Matt about the idea, “and he loved it,” planning to meet the winners, sign jerseys and autographs, and pose for photos. Vince secured two Duchene jerseys for the winners and the realtors ran a social media contest.
The winner was Mike McFadden of McFadden’s Meat Market in Haliburton. He’d never been to a professional hockey game. Originally, the McFaddens were going to go as a couple but Duchene and Austen wanted them to take their three kids. So, McFadden said he went online and found three additional tickets for the game. Meanwhile, Duchene donated a third jersey so all the kids had one to wear at the game. Duchene also booked them dinner before the game, and transportation was donated by a local limousine company.
McFadden said it was quite a surprise and a lot of fun. “We’d never been to a game, ever.” He said it was different to watching a game on TV. “These guys, when they skate, they are so quick, you can hear them skating. It’s not like on TV, where you pick up all the sounds. These guys are just going so fast you hardly hear their skates hitting the ice.” He added the atmosphere was electric.
“It was nice… quite an experience.” He added Matt is a long-time customer and supporter of his business and was happy someone he knew had won.
And the McFaddens weren’t the only winners, with Duchene saying they raised more than $8,100 for the school-based food program.
U13 rep team storms back
The U13 Walker’s Heating and Cooling rep team continued their march towards the Lindsay Muskies, and a best outof-three challenge for an OMHA Championship berth. The Storm had a thrilling come-from-behind win Saturday at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena against the Brock Wild.
The Wild came to Minden fired up after an upset loss to Durham on Friday night, and their efforts paid off. They took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission due to aggressive play and had a quick goal to start the third to build a 2-0 lead.
The Storm didn’t give up, and Levi Rowe stepped up to net a key goal with steady efforts from Cruize Neave and Brycen Harrison.
The Storm continued with relentless pressure, amassing over 50 shots by the game’s end.
Henry Neilson finally pocketed the tying goal with a blistering five-hole blast, supported by Hudson Meyer and Tyler Hughes.
Blake Hutchinson made key saves to keep the Wild at bay until Hawksley Dobbins fought through a pile of players in front of the Brock net to pound in the winner as Linus Gervais and Chase Kerr helped with efforts throughout the game.
Travis Rowe gave the Storm some breathing room with an empty-netter supported by Jaxon Hurd and Lyla Degeer’s relentless forechecking to lock in the 4-2 final.
“Strong players’ efforts made this a true team victory and kept the Storm undefeated with a 5-0-1 record in the playoffs, which includes a 9-0 shutout by Marshall Heasman. The Storm has an unbelievable 26-1-3 in Victoria Durham play this year,” the coach said. (
Huskies to play Cougars in first round
The Haliburton County Huskies will square off against the Cobourg Cougars when the first round of the OJHL playoffs begins March 9 in Minden.
The Huskies had a winning weekend – beating the Toronto Junior Canadiens 6-4 at home Saturday – before pipping the Niagara Falls Canucks 2-1 Sunday – to propel themselves to a fourth-place finish in the East conference.
That pits them against the fifth place Cougars and gives them home ice advantage in the series.
They’ll open at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena this Saturday at 4 p.m.
Head coach and GM Ryan Ramsay said it was a “weird” regular season, with the Huskies dipping as low as 10th place in the East conference, and sitting in eighth for a long stretch. At times, a playoff spot seemed in doubt, but the squad rose to the challenge.
“This group’s pretty resilient,” Ramsay said. Down the stretch, the team stayed healthy and went on a roll. They are going into the playoffs healthy, with just Gavin McGaheySmith doubtful for the first round.
Preparing for Cobourg, Ramsay said the key is trying to stop Trevor Hoskin and Andy Reist. The two were in the top three in scoring with a combined 195 points. “If we can contain them a little bit, we’ll be alright.” He added they have to stick to their game plan as well.
He believes his team may have greater depth, so it’s about containing the threat and “getting some bounces.
“We’ve got a young group, they’re pretty excited.”
As for home ice advantage, Ramsay likes that he’ll get the last change four out of a potential seven games. And if it goes to seven, the final match will be at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.
“With our barn, and the fans, and the atmosphere in our rink, it’s a huge plus and a huge momentum shift.”
Huskies 6 Toronto 4
On March 2, the Huskies got the jump early. Patrick Saini scored his 42nd from Raine Nadeau and Charlie Fink at just 1:07.
But the Canadiens stunned the crowd with two goals in less than one minute. Nathan Phillips scored at 13:07 and then Connor Van Weelie put one behind goalie Brett Fullerton at 13:51.
However, the blue and white showed mettle as Matt Milic answered the call at 14:49 with his sixth goal of the season, from Saini. And, at 16:07, Ty Petrou recorded his 18th, from Milic and Saini to put the home side up 3-2 at the end of the first.
The Huskies then netted two late second period goals. McGahey-Smith scored his sixth at 15:06, from Tyson Rismond and Noah Lodoen. And, with just a second on the clock, Saini banged one in from Petrou and Fink to propel the blue and while to a commanding 5-2 lead.
It looked to be all over when Petrou scored his 19th, at :43 seconds of the third.
But the Canadiens made it a game when they answered with tallies at 3:24 (Dylan Bly) and 8:08 (Joel Taylor).
The Huskies, though, barred the door the rest of the way to seal the 6-4 victory. Fullerton stopped 34 shots.
Huskies 2 Canucks 1
After a scoreless first period in Niagara Falls, Saini opened the scoring at 4:20 of the second with his 44th goal of the season, assisted by Fink.
Just over a minute later, the Canucks answered with a Wolf Giles marker at 5:35, from Alex Hebblewaite and Braeden O’Keefe.
However, Lodoen scored the eventual game-winner at 8:22, from Aidan Yarde and Milic.
Fullerton turned aside 24 of 25 shots while the Huskies peppered Logan Snyder in the Canucks’ net with 34 shots.
Forging her own path in motocross
While 12-year-old Kadyn Gillooly may have caught the dirt biking bug from brother, Keenan, and dad, Kieran, the Halls Lake youngster is paving her own path while making quite the name for herself on the competitive racing scene.
The Gilloolys recently returned from an international motocross event in Ohio, where Kadyn tested her mettle against a dozen other racers to earn the first major hardware of her young career, a second-place plaque in the Route 62 MX Track Winter Series Championship.
Given it was the Highlands youngster’s first time competing on a professional level supercross track, parents Kieran and Kayla said she surpassed everyone’s expectations. She was the only one of six bikers from her race team, United MX, to finish on the podium.
“It was a really cool experience, being in an environment like that. Everywhere I looked there were people racing around on bikes, moving bikes around, or fixing them. I just remember having this huge smile that I couldn’t get rid of,” Kadyn said.
Her first race was a qualifier against 12 other racers, with the top 10 finishers advancing to the finals. Kadyn came in third, recovering well after a rough start that saw her overshoot the first corner and almost lose control of her bike.
The final was a different story, with Kadyn starting strong. She said she was nervous as she approached the gate, but adrenaline soon took over.
“I just wanted to show all the Americans up,” she cheekily exclaimed.
Kieran admits to getting a bit overzealous at Kadyn’s runner-up finish and while Kayla was excited, she knew her daughter had it within her to do well.
“We got there pretty late on the Friday after a full day of driving, but Kadyn never once complained. She went out on the track that night for practice, most of the others out there were boys from Ohio who knew the track, but she kept up with them. For someone who had never done a supercross track before… she was a natural,” Kayla said.
Kieran added, “you lose a lot of feel for bikes when you’re not on it every week. Kadyn hasn’t ridden in months, so for her to enter this competition cold and do as well as she did… we couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Kadyn has five years of racing experience under her belt, competing in the Burnt River MX Series between the ages of seven and 10 before moving up to the Amateur Motocross Ontario (AMO) circuit last summer. She has a custom pink and white 85CC Husqvarna – her pride and joy that she inherited from Kayla.
“When she first started, she was on a 65CC, but once she got her technique down and started to show improvement, she found she couldn’t really compete with the older kids, who all had bigger bikes. She needed more power, and so she’s been racing mine ever since,” Kayla said.
Kadyn will be upgrading again this year – transitioning to a KTM 112CC super mini as she looks to improve on last season’s 10th place finish in the AMO girls nine-16 year age bracket.
She’s also harbouring hopes of returning to Ohio for a regular spot on the Route 62 schedule. Kieran said it’s the closest competitive indoor winter motocross event, with monthly races from November to April. He’s also keeping his eyes open for other events Stateside that could help get Kadyn’s name out there.
Kadyn said she wants to make her mark in what is a largely male-dominated sport. She hopes to emulate her mentor, Bella Morgan, a 16-year-old pro who races for Team Kawasaki. The two are close friends, having connected through United MX.
“Bella has really taken Kadyn under her wing – they have a lot of similarities,” Kayla said. “Bella has walked that path as a young girl making it in motocross, so there’s no better person to learn from.”
Biking is in Kadyn’s blood. She’s already counting down the days until spring, when she can again whip around her own custombuilt mini motocross track at home – every lap leading towards something.
“I hope one day I’ll be able to make it as a pro and race the Triple Crown Series (Canada’s premiere motocross event). That would be a dream for me,” Kadyn said.
Corridor ‘necessary’ for climate change
Paul Heaven said efforts to protect a 100,000-hectare parcel of land connecting the Haliburton Highlands to three provincial parks progressed well in 2023.
The Highlands Corridor initiative was introduced by the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) in 2020, seeking to protect an important wildlife corridor that would bridge the gap between the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, and Silent Lake Provincial Park.
Speaking at a recent HHLT event, Heaven said the team working on the project has defined 4,800 hectares of provincially significant wetlands in the area and is completing mapping all wetlands in the townships of Snowdon, Lutterworth, and Glamorgan.
“We’ve made tremendous headway… the work has provided us with the science to understand why we’re trying to protect the corridor, especially when it comes to the value of wetlands for flood attenuation and carbon storage,” Heaven said.
Referencing the significant flooding seen across the County in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2019, Heaven said it’s important these wetlands be protected and maintained as they serve as natural sponges that trap and slowly release water. Without them, local flooding events could be catastrophic.
There are implications for wildlife too, Heaven noted. By connecting the three provincial parks, it will give animals the chance to escape areas where there’s disease, drought, fire, or lack of a sustainable food source and relocate elsewhere.
“Climate change and other threats pose big problems for our wildlife communities. If wildlife can’t move from an area experiencing issues, they die out. The way to mitigate that is to maintain, and improve, connectivity,” Heaven said. “That’s one of the biggest drivers of this whole project – to bring these core areas together and give wildlife the opportunity to move around.”
The corridor is home to 39 federal and provincial species at risk, 25 provincially significant species, and 42 regionally or locally significant species.
Approximately 60,000 hectares of the corridor is made up of Crown land, Heaven said. Haliburton County council passed a resolution of support for the corridor in February 2023, standing with HHLT in trying to establish the bulk of that land as a conservation reserve.
The remaining 40,000 ha is mostly private land, Heaven said. HHLT has established a new ‘building partners in conservation’ program, aiming to bring private landowners on board to help protect the corridor. Through that, the land trust has preserved around 1,800 hectares.
“We provide management plans, we get people enrolled in tax incentive programs, and generally speak of the importance of good stewardship,” Heaven said. “Private landowners have a tremendous role to play.”
While there has been some talk by some members of County council, notably Cec Ryall – deputy mayor in Highlands East – of using some of the land included in the corridor to explore housing opportunities, Heaven said there’s been no movement on that front.
“We’re a long way from nailing down boundaries. We’re willing and fully understanding that there’s going to be pieces [of land] where we’ll work with municipalities and community partners [to explore] other interests, so there will be lots of massaging,” Heaven said. “The focus now is on establishing the concept and highlighting the importance.
“We need climate change resiliency here in central and southern Ontario. As a country, we’re trying to have 30 per cent of our landscape protected by 2030. We’re only a third of the way there… we’ve got another [20 million hectares] we need to protect – we can’t have that all up north,” Heaven added.
“Our wildlife populations are at risk here, our towns are at risk of flooding, we need solutions here.”
HHLT has secured funding to map wetlands in Monmouth and has submitted a proposal to the province to do Cardiff, potentially in 2025. Heaven noted the land trust shares its mapping data with the County, which is used for planning purposes.
Central Food Network: Hydro help doesn’t go far enough
Recently announced enhancements to the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) is welcome news to Tina Jackson, executive director of Highlands East’s Central Food Network (CFN), though she believes the County’s lowest income residents require further support.
The Ontario Energy Board announced effective March 1 income eligibility thresholds will increase by up to 35 per cent, making the program accessible to thousands more households.
The OESP provides a monthly hydro credit for eligible customers based on household income and size. Credits are applied directly to customers’ monthly bills once an application is approved, Jackson said.
“I don’t want in any way to not celebrate this, because it is an enhancement, but I think more help is needed,” she told The Highlander. “People are being hit on all sides in terms of increased cost of living, not simply just increases in their hydro bill.”
Under the new criteria, single people with an after-tax income of up to $38,000, and couples with an after-tax income of up to $54,000, will qualify. Credits range from $35 to $75 per month. Higher credits are provided to customers who use certain medical devices, those who heat their home with electricity, or are Indigenous or living with Indigenous family members.
Jackson said CFN has processed 540 applications, unlocking close to $350,000 in hydro credits for local households since OESP launched in 2016.
“It is application-based, so people have to know about it, they have to apply for the money to get it. The same is true for the increase,” Jackson said, saying those already enrolled will need to reapply. Local staff can assist with any application, she said, noting Heat Bank Haliburton – a CFN program – is an OEB-authorized intake agency.
Thresholds for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) will match the new OESP levels. Jackson said LEAP provides emergency financial help to households in hydro-related arrears. Effective March 1, LEAP grants for households who heat their home using electricity will increase to $780, from $600, with those who use other methods jumping to $650, from $500.
Bigger picture ‘bleak’
Jackson said CFN has seen increased demand across all programs over the past year. In 2023, food banks the organization has in Cardiff and Wilberforce saw a monthly average of 217 unique visitors – a 37 per cent increase from 2021.
“I feel like I say this every year, but we are now serving the greatest number of people we have ever served. I don’t see that changing any time soon,” Jackson said.
CFN has been able to meet this increased demand by developing connections with other food banks across the province. Whenever some of these other facilities, often located in larger urban areas, has too much, they connect with CFN who then arranges to pick up and transport the food to the Highlands.
It’s a similar story for the heat bank. Typically, CFN serves around 120 households each year, but from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 they served 156 households – a 27 per cent increase. Jackson said that number would likely have been up again if not for this winter’s mild weather.
Jackson said the situation isn’t likely to change until Ontario beefs up other social assistance programs such as Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The base monthly rate for those on OW is $733 a month, with ODSP paying $1,308 – only $556 of which can be applied to shelter/accommodation costs.
“It would be next to impossible to find an apartment in Haliburton while also putting food on the table, paying for transportation and utilities – it just doesn’t add up, which is why so many are struggling,” Jackson said.
Those on ODSP are further restricted by what Jackson called outdated rules preventing them, or anyone else, living in their household, from topping up a collective income with other revenue streams.
“It’s all income tested, so if you or anyone else you live with is in receipt of other income, your benefits are reduced. Even if somebody was getting money from the Canada Pension Plan, that is deducted dollar for dollar off their ODSP cheque,” Jackson said. “So, really, if you rely on ODSP you are basically forced to live in poverty.”
For more information, visit centralfoodnetwork.org or call 705-306-0565.
Vendors speak out on market situation
Two key agricultural vendors from the Haliburton farmers market say they’ll be “crushed” if the popular weekly event doesn’t return to Head Lake Park this season.
Marchand Lamarre has had his Garliccloves stall since 2020, while Heather Bramham’s Esson Creek Maple has been a staple since 2018. The pair spoke to The Highlander this week about concerns over the way the market situation has unfolded in recent months.
The event ran for 11 years at Head Lake Park before being relocated to nearby Rotary Beach Park ahead of the 2023 season. Officials from the Haliburton County Farmers Market Association (HCFMA) have spent months advocating for the markets’ return to the downtown park – something Lamarre and Bramham “wholeheartedly” support.
“The big reason we want to go back to Head Lake Park is for increased accessibility,” said Bramham, who has mobility issues. “People can walk around on the footpath, it would be closer to the downtown, it provides increased visibility for vendors, and brings people into town. It just makes the most sense for the entire community to have it there.
“There were lots of problems at Rotary Beach,” Bramham said, noting seniors and parents with strollers stopped attending due to a problematic layout, while there were numerous issues with people using the nearby basketball courts. “I lost count of the number of times I saw a ball fly into a stall or hit someone standing in line. It’s not the safest thing.”
Dysart council has given the green light for the market to return to Head Lake Park, providing HCFMA pays an additional $5 per vendor, per market day to the township. Based on the market having 40 vendors over a 21-week season, this amounts to approximately $4,200.
Bramham said while some members of council have described the fee as “not a big deal”, she says it is for smaller agricultural vendors struggling to turn a profit.
She said Esson Creek Maple is a part-time endeavour for her and her husband, who both have full-time jobs. It supplements their income and is a hobby they’re both passionate about. She indicated they would return at the increased rate but know others won’t. “That’s tough, because to be designated as a farmers market you need a certain number of local agricultural vendors… the Haliburton market is right on the line,” Bramham said.
Market officials previously told The Highlander if the Haliburton market lost two of those vendors it would lose its farmers market designation.
At a Feb. 27 meeting, Dysart council reaffirmed its decision to implement a fee with no conditions attached. This came after HCFMA submitted a letter suggesting three alternate resolutions ranging from the market going ahead with no increased cost and HCFMA agreeing to a $5 per vendor, per market day hike providing the township records all rehabilitative work at the park this summer.
HCFMA officials gathered for a board meeting March 4, which ended without consensus, according to Angel Taylor.
“The proposed $5 per vendor, per market day has not undergone the requisite public consultation process, is not published in Dysart’s fee schedule and we don’t know what the exact wording will be… it is not subject to the conditions surrounding the fee schedule, it is a loosely proposed fee with no contractual understanding regarding terms, limits, and rules. Until those matters are properly addressed, we cannot responsibly consent to this arrangement,” Taylor said in an emailed statement on behalf of the board.
Asked whether the board has committed to having a market in Haliburton this year, whether at Head Lake Park or at Rotary Beach, Taylor said, “if the information and evidence we acquire provide support that it is a prudent and responsible decision to be in Head Lake Park, we will work hard to implement that.”
She said there was no timeline for a decision.
Lamarre said the ongoing dispute has left many vendors in limbo.
“It’s too late now to apply to other markets. If this doesn’t go forward, I’m going to be left with a lot of leftover products. I just won’t have the opportunity to sell it,” he said.
While that would represent a significant financial loss, Lamarre said he’s more concerned with losing his connection to the community.
“There’s no other community group I’m involved with outside the market. I wouldn’t have any interaction with local residents,” he said. “I’ve gone through Dysart’s municipal plan, the Head Lake Park master plan, the five-year destination management plan – they all speak of the importance of a thriving farmers market… if an agreement isn’t reached, it would be a monumental loss to this community.”
Haliburton farmers market vendors Marchand Lamarre and Heather Bramham want to see the weekly event return to Head Lake Park
County crosses fingers for grants
If successful, provincial funding opportunities could see downtown Minden revitalization, signage to help people better find their way around the County, and a refurbished terminal building at Stanhope Airport.
County director of economic development, Scott Ovell, told a Feb. 28 County council meeting staff are applying under the Rural Economic Development (RED) fund. They are also supporting an application by Algonquin Highlands for an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for an airport project.
Ovell said they sent their application to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), which oversees RED funding, on Feb. 21. He said staff opted to target the strategic infrastructure stream “with a focus on signage and downtown revitalization,” which are stated priorities within the program.
Staff have requested money for the installation of four community maps in each township. Each map would highlight points of interest, such as trails, parks, and museums. Ovell said they would be in high volume traffic areas, such as the Village Green in Minden and Head Lake Park in Haliburton. He said the maps can be repurposed once the County finishes its wayfinding signage work.
Ovell said in talking to the regional OMAFRA advisor, they were told they should apply with an existing community improvement plan, which Minden Hills implemented in 2019. It helps businesses improve facades, for example.
He said are also requesting funding for sign improvements and public art. Ovell said it would roll out in Minden Hills, if approved, but “this is being viewed as a pilot project, and if successful, could provide County staff with the evidence that would support the creation of CIPs within other urban settlement areas within the County.”
Warden Liz Danielsen did question why Minden and “not Haliburton, or why not downtown Wilberforce?” Ovell said, “It’s more of a requirement of the province than us trying to cherry pick one community over another.”
County staff have submitted an application to the province for $19,450, with $15,000 coming from the County and $4,500 (30 per cent) from the province. The County’s contribution would be allocated from the economic development programing budget. Ovell said the line is currently budgeted at $43,000 in the draft 2024 economic development and operating budget.
As for airport terminal renovations, Ovell said the County would be a co-applicant with no financial commitment. He said it could be to make the airport a community hub, or an economic development hub.
Danielsen said the application is primarily to improve the terminal building, to create a community hub, and make it accessible. “Because at the present time, the washrooms are not accessible.” She expressed appreciation for the County’s support.
Ambulance response times
The Haliburton County paramedic service met, or exceeded, response time targets for 2023, chief Tim Waite told council.
Under provincial regulations, services have to set, adhere to, and publicly report, their response times every year.
They are under the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), for level one (resuscitation), level two (emergent), level three (urgent), level four (less urgent) and level five (nonurgent), as well as for sudden cardiac arrest.
Waite said for sudden cardiac arrest, the goal was to arrive on scene within six minutes 20 per cent of the time, and they did it 32 per cent of the time.
Their CTAS 1 goal was to arrive on scene within eight minutes 30 per cent of the time, and they achieved 32 per cent of the time.
For CTAS 2, the goal was to arrive on scene within 15 minutes 65 per cent of the time and they met that goal.
The CTAS 3 goal was to arrive on scene within 20 minutes 65 per cent of the time. They did 79 per cent.
The CTAS 4 goal was to arrive on scene within 23 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved that, arriving on scene within 25 minutes 91 per cent of the time.
And, the CTAS 5 goal was to arrive on scene within 30 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved 96 per cent of the time.
Sir Sam’s to become community ski hill
When Doug and Kim Wilkinson retired, their plan was to invest in a number of Haliburton County-based businesses that were “fun.”
But in 2021, when Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride was put up for sale, Doug Wilkinson said the family could not pass up the opportunity to purchase it “and help ensure it would thrive in a post-COVID world.”
Now, he said he is looking for investors for the hill, that turns 60 in 2025. Wilkinson said they are opening up ownership to the local community – individuals and businesses – whilst still maintaining a 20 per cent share themselves. Wilkinson said he’ll use capital raised to look for other investment opportunities in the Highlands.
“A community-based hill will ensure its ongoing existence in perpetuity,” Wilkinson said.
While being admittedly “coy” about sharing financials, Wilkinson said in his three years of ownership, the hill is in “great” financial shape and debt-free.
The Highlander asked about climate change and the impact on ski hills – referencing an article entitled Climate change and the skiing industry in Ontario: exploring the importance of snowmaking as a technical adaptation. The report found the average ski season was projected to reduce 0-16 per cent in the 2020s, seven to 32 per cent in the 2050s and 11-50 per cent in the 2080s. Wilkinson was asked why someone would want to invest in the industry.
He replied the hill had been around since 1965 and “is not going anywhere.”
Wilkinson said they have the added advantage of being further north than other southern Ontario ski hills. “Our weather is not as bad as some of the hills that are to the south, or closer to Georgian Bay, such as Collingwood.” He said they are traditionally one of the first hills in Ontario to open.
He added snowmaking equipment “has come a long way, where you can make more snow with less water more efficiently.” He said they have good snowmaking equipment, with more to come, as well as experienced snowmaking staff.
Wilkinson added it is no longer just a ski hill, but a three-season destination. In 2021, Sir Sam’s introduced the Eagle View Wedding and Events Centre, and started planning to build the Eagle View observation tower to add additional revenue streams and create a new colour venue in the County. He noted the Dorset tower gets 60,000 visitors every year, and Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride would like a piece of that pie.
He estimated the hill gets 40,000 visitors a year now, creating local jobs and spin-off spending at Highlands accommodations, restaurants and stores.
“It’s a hugely sentimental hill, it’s been a destination beacon for Haliburton County for a long time. We want to turn this into a community hill. We’re hoping this community will want to see that happen as opposed to selling to some big corporation.
“Obviously, we’re doing this because we want to be transparent, especially with the community, around what we’re trying to do. And, as a family, we’re not going anywhere. We’re still as keen to support the hill as we were the day we bought it. We’re continuing to look to invest further into the community and this is just something that’s going to enable us to get back on to our original track in terms of what our plans were.”
In outlining the business model, Wilkinson said the plan is to bring in a general manager for day-to-day operations and continue to market in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. He said a new governance structure would be set up with the general manager reporting to the new ownership group, as determined by the executive committee, of four to five key owners.
The equity offering is being completed in five per cent blocks. Wilkinson said new owners will receive an annual dividend and payout of income based on their ownership and determined by the executive committee. Wilkinson also expects the group to set up an ongoing reserve fund to ensure there are sufficient funds for future capital projects at the hill.
Contact Doug at sirsams.com