Rev. Canon Joan Cavanaugh-Clark sits at her kitchen table, with a physical day planner as well as one on her phone.

She’s got a newspaper interview at 10 a.m., then an Anglican Church women’s lunch at noon, Zoom calls at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and dinner out with husband Al’s car club. It’s a relatively light day for the woman who generally averages 12-hour work days.

The Diabetes Canada truck pulls up next to the manse, to pick up excess items from St. Paul’s Anglican Church thrift shop, and Deacon Martha Waind – whom Rev. Joan calls her “right hand” – goes to take care of that.

Despite the day planners, Rev. Joan said, “there is very little organization to my day, which I’ve learned to live with because I’m pretty organized, things just come up, so I’ve learned to be flexible.”

She’s asked to reflect on the past year, and what she deems to be accomplishments, thanks to the thrift shop and The Gathering Place on Bobcaygeon Road.

They re-opened the newly-expanded thrift shop in February, 2022, after being closed because of COVID restrictions. Rev. Joan said it didn’t take long for donations to start coming in. She notes the money raised from the thrift shop is not used for the operating costs of the church.

She said they were able to “share $27,000 from their abundance” with the community last year. They donated $10,000 to Places for People. Other donors have included Fuel for Warmth and Remedy’sRx to help with clients who could not afford medications. Every year, they give to the Bishop McAllister Anglican Church School in Africa, an orphanage for kids who have lost their parents to AIDS. They also purchased a fridge for a local medical centre.

Dr. Nell Thomas said the fridge was a perfect example of Rev. Joan’s ability to see a problem and find a solution. Quickly. She recalled her office was in a bit of a crisis because their vaccine fridge was malfunctioning. Rev. Joan and husband, Al, drove to Haliburton and bought a new fridge and arranged for Rev. Joan’s son-in-law to help them deliver it to the medical centre in Minden that very day.

Dr. Thomas added that former crisis worker, Andrew Hodson, who is now working for Jamie Schmale’s office, was her go-to guy for follow-up on crises, people experiencing physical or mental abuse, not having food, addiction issues or being suicidal.

“I found since Andrew’s departure, more and more, I think, ‘I bet Rev. John could help’.”

And, she has, with Deacon Martha and Al. For example, they assisted a person who was homeless and living in a tent. They’ve bought gas cards for people, driven patients to appointments and the pharmacy for medicine, helped people out of financial jams and made important connections.

“These are stories that are profoundly significant because these are really society’s downtrodden individuals that could easily be in the gutter or in the back wood,” Dr. Thomas said.

The Gathering Place

Rev. Joan’s other baby is The Gathering Place on Bobcaygeon Road in downtown Minden

She said homelessness is an issue that leads to loneliness.

trying to create is a place where people can come with no strings attached. They know it’s a God-centered place. There’s Bibles. But we have computers. We have the internet. We say it’s a place for the young, the old, the bold and the shy.”

It’s open Wednesday to Friday. They are starting classes in January, things such as sign language, art, and knitting. They are looking for volunteers and have designed a course so helpers have the sensitivity that goes along with that type of work.

Rev. Joan said she’s never been about pushing God at people but, “it certainly wouldn’t trouble me if people came into a relationship of faith.”

She recalls how one man told her he didn’t believe in God, but donated $3,000 because Rev. Joan did not force God down his throat and he believed in the work she was doing.

Through it all, Rev. Joan said it’s not her, Al, or Deacon Waind that deserve the credit.

“It’s not us doing it. It’s what the Lord calls us to do.”

For years, Peter Schleifenbaum’s innovations and outside-the-box thinking helped keep Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve at the forefront of an ever-changing industry.

Described as a ‘maverick’ by those who worked closest with him, Schleifenbaum transformed the 100,000-acre property from a sleepy collection of trees and brush into one of the largest tourism operations in the County. His story, highlighting his impact and contributions to the business over several decades, was captured in a 2016 documentary Against the Grain – A Story of a Maverick and his Forest. The piece was aired publicly for the first time in a Yours Outdoors speaker series event at the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association Fish Hatchery Jan. 11.

“Haliburton Forest is a one-of-a-kind (operation), and that’s all down to Peter,” said Tim Gray, executive director of Canadian advocacy group Environmental Defence, early in the film. There were dozens of other similar testimonials sprinkled throughout.

Arriving in the Highlands in 1988 from Freiburg, Germany, Schleifenbaum immediately set out reshaping Haliburton Forest. One of his first moves was to open the property to visitors, introducing new features to make it a more attractive tourist destination.

He was the man behind such ventures as the wolf centre, tree canopy tour and astronomy program. He also commissioned the design and reconstruction of the world’s first commercial, freshwater submarine.

There was a slightly rebellious nature to many of Schleifenbaum’s endeavours; the wolves arrived from the United States in 1993, but only after Peter had stepped in to prevent them from being destroyed. He pressed forward with the canopy tour even after being told it was a bad idea and wouldn’t stick, while stories of the submarine still reverberate around the halls at Queen’s Park today.

The machine completed close to 1,000 dives at MacDonald Lake on the forest property between 2004 and 2006 before being shut down by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour.

During the movie, Schleifenbaum recalls the day that several Royal Canadian Navy officials stopped by to check out the submarine and determine if it was safe.

“Canada had four submarines at the time – one had burnt out, and the other three had been dry docked. So, when the Navy arrived, I said ‘oh, have you come to look at the only functioning sub in Canada?’… that didn’t go over very well,” he said, with a grin.

He was just as inventive on the forestry side. After a tornado wiped out nearly 5,000 acres of trees in 1995, Schleifenbaum began using the felled wood to design log cabins. Almost three decades later and Haliburton Forest is one of the world’s most renowned producers of personalized log homes.

Schleifenbaum believed in the naturalization of forests and operating sustainably for logging at its sawmill. In 1997, Haliburton Forest became the first Canadian operation to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Following a near 30-year career, Schleifenbaum retired from his role at Haliburton Forest in 2016. He maintains a residence in the Highlands, along with wife, Elke. His successor, Malcolm Cockwell, said many of the practices “the maverick” implemented remain today.

Despite seeing tremendous growth across most of its operations in recent years, Cockwell said the organization hadn’t been the same since Schleifenbaum’s departure.

“We knew we couldn’t replace Peter’s brilliance, his outside-the-box thinking. That’s something we really miss at Haliburton Forest; the avant garde visionary stuff he brought to the table every single day,” Cockwell said.

Issues surrounding housing, health care and long-term care have become widespread in Haliburton County in recent years, but volunteers involved with the Highlands chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) have been trying to drive conversations on those pressure points “for over a decade,” according to the organization’s local president.

Different from service clubs such as Rotary or Lions, CARP is an advocacy organization that promotes the needs of retired seniors, says Jon Dannewald. Initiated more than 20 years ago, the Highlands chapter has more than 700 registered members.

Dannewald joined in 2012, stepping up to help friends, and founders, Bob and Joan Stinson. He caught the bug quickly and has been trying to inspire positive change across Haliburton County ever since.

“CARP is a great organization. Unlike most other groups, our focus is entirely on seniors’ advocacy. We advocate on behalf of our members with all levels of government,” Dannewald said. “The largest cohort of people in Haliburton County is seniors. We are the poorest county in Ontario on a per capita basis. Somebody has got to speak and advocate for us – that’s why I got involved, and why I stay involved.

“We’re trying to turn the Titanic, but it’s tough going,” he added.

Last year, in the lead up to the provincial election, Dannewald and his small team of board members, which also includes Michael Conrathe and Jack Virgin, established a “CARP top five,” focusing on issues important to seniors.

That list includes funding better home care; transforming long-term care provincewide; drastically cutting wait times at hospitals and for non-emergency surgeries; making vaccines more accessible; and establishing more fitness programs for seniors.

Several CARP members met with provincial officials in 2021 to discuss potential changes, or enhancements, to long-term care.

“They just want to build and bring more beds online. That’s not the issue. We’ve got plenty of beds, the problem is we can’t staff them. That’s the issue that really needs to be addressed,” Dannewald said.

“Ninety per cent of people would prefer to age within their own home. That’s where the government’s focus ought to be. That should be where they’re investing,” Conrathe added.

CARP meets four times per year. Prior to the pandemic, meetings would include a meal and guest speaker. Conrathe said the group is looking to host an in-person gathering in the spring. They are actively trying to recruit new members who are willing to pick up the proverbial baton and advocate for those most in need.

Annual memberships cost $19.95 and include various perks, including a CARP coupon book, which provides discounts to various stores and services such as Rexall, Zoomer Wireless and Hilton Hotels.

Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend the Highlands chapter’s AGM, taking place virtually Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. Diane Woodcock of SIRCH Community Services is the guest speaker. To pre-register, contact haliburtonhighlands@carp.ca.

A December donation from CanoeFM’s Radio Bingo proceeds was handed to SIRCH Community Services Jan. 10.

SIRCH put the money towards its Gifts From The Heart Campaign, which raised money for its community kitchen program.

SIRCH communications coordinator, Angelica Ingram, said the campaign is complete for the season and SIRCH thanked everyone who donated to make it a success.

The presentation took place in SIRCH’s Bistro, which is where all of its community kitchen meals are made.

Currently, they are making approximately 1,000 meals per month, plus soups and desserts, which are distributed through community partners.

The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) kicked off its ‘Grooming for Healthcare’ campaign Jan. 16, inviting representatives from Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation for a tour of the HCSA shop on Mallard Road in Haliburton.

Dozens of volunteers were on hand for the kick off.

John Enright, HCSA president, said the organization would donate $1 for every hour of grooming time spent this season along Trans Ontario Provincial B103, otherwise known as the County rail trail.

This is the third year for the fundraiser, which raised over $500 for the Minden Community Food Centre in 2022.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale believes issues surrounding inflation and cost of living are likely to get worse in 2023.

After a tumultuous 12 months that has seen the country come out the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, another very different threat has emerged forcing most Canadians to re-think their household budgets.

Inflation hit a new 39-year high last June, rising to 8.1 per cent. Increased prices at the pumps led to a drastic rise in grocery prices, while much higher interest rates, bumped up seven times by the Bank of Canada since March, has seen accommodation costs, whether through home ownership or rentals, spike considerably.

“These are challenging times for most Canadians,” Schmale told The Highlander. “The cost of living crisis looks like it will be with us for the foreseeable future. Food bank usage is up, with the number of first-time users through the roof in Ontario. More and more people are making tough decisions over whether to pay their rent or mortgage, pay their electricity bill, or buy food. That is extremely concerning.”

Schmale blamed the federal government for printing too much money and overspending throughout the pandemic. He said federal printing presses had created $400 billion of new money since February 2020. He has been critical of several recent federal investments, including a five-year $30 billion plan to subsidize childcare options across the country, and a $5.3 billion spend to improve dental care services for medium to low-income families.

While he was supportive of programs such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Business Account, he feels the government didn’t do a good enough job policing who qualified for supports and who didn’t.

“Tens of millions of dollars went to prisoners and people outside the country that should not have gotten those supports… when you consider that, and that half of the $400 billion printed did not go towards COVID-related supports, we could have printed significantly less money, and as a result our inflation rate would have been a lot less.”

The Consumer Price Index, used to determine inflation, was up 6.3 per cent in December.

Asked what the Conservatives would have done differently to support Canadians while also staving off inflation, Schmale said “we would have been more diligent. We wouldn’t have spent beyond our means. We wouldn’t have printed so much excess currency, devaluing everyone’s dollar.”

He’s remaining optimistic that Canada can avoid a recession this year, and said his primary focuses in 2023 will be bolstering housing, health care and internet connectivity options in the riding. He also wants to see the federal government assisting provincial partners to provide greater mental health supports for Canadians.

“There was definitely a problem before, but the pandemic has exasperated things. It’s been a difficult few years for everyone,” Schmale said. “I know the provinces are responsible for providing a lot of these services, but the feds have to step up and deliver on some of their election promises [to invest in mental health supports]. People are struggling, and they feel like they don’t have anywhere to turn.”

For the past number of years, Minden Hills has provided winter sand at the community centre as a courtesy to residents.

However, director of public works, Mike Timmins, told council Jan. 12 he had serious concerns about continuing, including cost, health and safety as well as taking staff and vehicles off the road at critical times.

During the 2021-2022 winter season, it’s estimated the department delivered two loads per week, on average, for public use.

“This quantity rises quickly during major winter weather events,” Timmins said. “This process likely cost the township between $7,000 and $10,000, but more importantly it takes our sand trucks off the road during the most critical weather events of the year.”

After snow and freezing rain, he said demand skyrockets and department phones get flooded with calls when sand runs out. He added they have “to react by pulling a truck off the critical road routes to deliver sand … this adds stress to public works staff and spreads the equipment thin during the most critical weather events of the year.”

Timmins added policies around sand use – such as a person only taking one five-gallon container, and no commercial use – are being abused, with no way to monitor or control it.

“What started as a courtesy to the small local community is being abused by property owners with lengthy laneways, or contractors and business owners who are taking advantage of the free sand provided by the township. It is also known that residents and contractors from neighbouring townships come … to get access to free sand,” he said.

He’s worried about people getting hurt when they come to pick up sand and suing the township. He said the only recourse to absolve the township from liability would be to have an attendant at the community centre.

As for timing, he said he’d like the program discontinued after this spring.

Coun. Ivan Ingram said he fills a recycling bin full of sand when he needs it. However, he understands there is abuse, including some people selling the sand. He asked about putting the sand at the landfill, or another site, but Timmins noted there would still be liability issues. Mayor Bob Carter said the Ministry of Environment would not allow relocating to the landfill.

“I think, in all honesty, the average person uses it properly, but I agree contactors are in there like crazy,” Ingram said.

Coun. Bob Sisson said in his opinion, “people need sand somewhere, so I’m not in favour of cancelling it altogether.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said she has an icy driveway but every time she goes to the community centre there is no sand because people are taking it away in pick-ups, so she buys it at a store. She said it does not seem like a lot of money for the safety it provides residents but there is no staff to regulate it and it is being taken and resold.

“Unless we can find another way to do this safely and equitably, I don’t know how we can continue it,” she said.

Ingram suggested using the township’s sandbagger and then charging a fee per bag to pay for the cost of an operator on site.

“It’s a tough one. At the end of the day, if we’re going to do it, shut it down, let’s give them lots of notice that it’s going to happen. If we know by spring that we’re not going to do this anymore, let’s get something out there so people are aware of it.”

Carter said they should further discuss it during budget deliberations. Council received the report for information only.

The County of Haliburton is expected to decide by the end of the month whether to support a Highlands Foodcycler program.

Climate change coordinator, Korey McKay, tabled a report to the Jan. 11 committee of the whole meeting, with options for a potential countywide program utilizing combined federal and local funding.

She said 77 per cent of municipal greenhouse gas emissions are a result of organic waste breaking down at landfill sites. She added managing the waste is very expensive for small townships.

Three of the four municipalities have run Foodcycler pilot programs, including Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al and Minden Hills. They offered subsidized Foodcycler units and McKay said the trials were successful.

She said some feedback was the size of the bucket was too small and even the cost of subsidized units too expensive. She said the County program would address those two issues. The units used today could be offered at $50, with a newer, double the capacity, unit at $150, the coordinator said.

She presented three options, noting Impact Canada funding timelines call for a decision by month’s end.

Coun. Murray Fearrey said, while a great idea, he felt it was being presented in the wrong place.

“I don’t understand what we’re doing as a County, trying to do something that private enterprise should be doing … I just don’t think that we’re in the appliance business here.”

He said it takes a lot of staff time in Dysart and the feedback he has received is the units are loud. He added people who can afford them should buy them rather than municipal government providing subsidies paid by for County taxpayers.

Coun. Walt McKechnie concurred, saying a lot of staff time was taken up “basically selling” the product and explaining how it worked. “It is a lot of money in this day and age, $100,000 for us to subsidize this.

“It’s a great project, but people who want it should go out and buy it.”

Coun. Bob Carter said the way the project is set up makes it a “take it or leave it” proposition for councils. He said the difference is paying $50 or $150 if subsidized, versus $500 on the open retail market. “There’s a huge savings for people. But it comes down to whether or not this is something that we need to do in our budgets.”

Coun. Jennifer Dailloux asked for a breakdown of waste management reduction costs. For example, she said option one appeared to show savings of $112,500, while investing $102,000. McKay said for every tonne of waste reduced, there is a $150 savings. “That’s really impressive,” Dailloux said.

Coun. Lisa Schell acknowledged while the County would be spending $120,000, they would be saving on landfill costs. Looking at the numbers, she said, “it’s almost a wash at the end of the day so I think that’s something to consider as well.”

Warden Liz Danielsen said they did a pilot at Algonquin Highlands, “and it was extremely successful. I heard not one negative comment about it.” She said the unit does take up counter space but she had not heard noise complaints. “I think this is an excellent program.” She added, “it could be considered to be the appropriate place here (at the County).” However, with some councillors voicing concerns, she suggested holding off until more budget talks.

Dailloux said AH councillors were able to trial units and McKay said there was one in the kitchen at the County office.

Council received the report and deferred a decision to a council meeting at the end of the month.

The owners of Fast Lane Bowling in Minden said they will continue to operate until the season ends, however, they are planning to sell and relocate to Sault Ste. Marie.

Ron Crump told The Highlander, “we’re here until April and then I’m going to put it up for sale.”

He said they have family, including grandchildren, in Sault Ste. Marie.

Crump, who owns the business with partner Debbie Gerzymisch, said landlord Hazma Khalid informed them of a substantial rent increase on Dec. 2. Initially, they said it was put at $2,850 a month, and then reduced to $2,100, but still a 75 per cent jump from what they had been paying.

Crump said at that time, “we just don’t make that kind of money.”

Gerzymisch added, “especially in the summer. We’re dead. And in the winter, we have an extra high hydro bill because of the heating.”

Resident Trina West organized a GoFundMe that raised $1,980.

As for plans to put the business on the market, Crump said, “it’s spreading by word of mouth right now. I’ve told a few people. Hopefully someone will pick it up and keep going with it.”

Last week, they notified various bowling leagues of their plans. The winter bowling season now boasts four leagues, including Red Wolves Special Olympics, as well as parties, fundraising events, and drop-ins.

Khalid told The Highlander last month that Bank of Canada interest rate hikes had forced his hand and even with the rent increase, he is still charging less than market rent.

Managing the bowling alley had been Crump’s retirement plan, to supplement income if there were any profits, but also to give himself something to do. Gerzymisch added they had enjoyed getting to know the County bowling community.

Pet store and hair salon

Two other businesses in the complex also had their rents hiked. Another had already moved out.

Susan Andresen of Pet-Tyme-Animal Krackers! was facing a 150 per cent jump, to $1,250 a month from $500.

She told The Highlander last week that the landlord had agreed to negotiate rent, “so we have no plans to move at this time. We love what we do and want to continue to serve the pet and animal lovers of Minden and area.”

Sonya Smith, of Sonya’s Unisex Hairstyling, told The Highlander she is going to try to stay put for now. Her rent increase was more than double. “They’ve come down a little bit. I’m going to try and stay if I can.”

She said she had to raise her prices a little bit, “because I have to do something. If I’m just working here to pay the rent, that’s no good. I need to pay my bills just like everybody else.”