HKPR health unit celebrates vaccine clinic volunteers

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July 14, 2022

Without Highlands volunteers, getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the County may have been a lengthier process.

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit and Rotary Club of Haliburton thanked some of the estimated 150 County residents who staffed vaccine clinics in 2021 and 2022 at an appreciation night July 5.

The health unit asked Rotarians to spearhead the volunteer effort at its clinics, helping sign people in, providing direction and timing post-vaccine monitoring periods.

Ursula Devolin, president of the Rotary Club of Haliburton, said it initially seemed like a daunting task.

“We’re a community service club, this is the kind of thing we do. But we’ve never tackled something so big that would require so many people. We knew we needed the community to participate.”

The community showed up, she said.

“Not once was I desperate to find a volunteer.”

Kate Hall, with the HKPR’s Haliburton health unit, said “it was wonderful to work with everyone” who volunteered.

She coordinated with Devolin and fellow Rotarian Sally Moore, who headed up the Minden effort.

“We put the call out and asked, you answered the call as you usually do,” Hall said.

‘It was a pretty intense time and process. I just wanted to say thank you so much to everybody for your time and enthusiasm to come out and support your community.”

Pam Stuckless, director of health promotion with the health unit, extended thanks on behalf of the administration team. She said approximately 43,000 people received COVID-19 vaccines in Haliburton.

She said long-term care home staff, pharmacies, primary care physicians, school boards, and community groups all were “instrumental” in administering doses.

Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts, who volunteered at the clinics, said helpers were “friendly and welcoming.

“You put these people at ease from the time they entered the A.J. LaRue Arena to the time they left,” she said.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation celebrates class of 1998-2021

By

Mike Baker

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July 14, 2022

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Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation (HHHSF) is hosting something of a family reunion this summer, and the community has been invited to join in the festivities.

The organization kicked off its annual fundraising campaign in style last month with a unique celebration honouring what executive director Lisa Tompkins is referring to as the hospital’s graduating class of 1998- 2021.

Smaller, softer and more cuddlier than the real-life graduates that recently crossed the stage in Haliburton County, this occasion revolves around the Foundation’s ‘Family of Bears’. For the past 25 years HHHSF has held a stuffed animal program, with a new bear released annually over the holidays and sold to the public. The initiative has raised more than $150,000, with all proceeds contributing to the purchase of priority capital equipment at the Haliburton and Minden hospitals.

Now, the Foundation is selling a 504- piece jigsaw puzzle featuring community favourites such as Radcliffe (1999), Benji (2002), Freckles (2008), Boomer (2009) and Sebastian (2012). The puzzles, produced locally by specialty jigsaw maker TheOccurrence, are available for $35.

“Over the past couple of years, with COVID, I think the art of jigsaw puzzle solving has regained a lot of popularity… We had a few people suggest to us that we should do something special to commemorate our bears,” Tompkins said. “We thought this would be a nice chance to gather them all together for a class photo and put something out there so that people could enjoy them in a different way.”

Tompkins said the Foundation will continue its stuffed animal program, with a new bear to be released later this year.

“It’s been a great program for us, very, very successful. People are very fond of our bears, I think there’s a lot of sentimental value there,” she said. “We have some collectors who come back every year to add another bear to their collection.”

There are a few notable absentees, Tompkins said. Between 2013 and 2017, the organization pivoted from selling stuffed bears to other creatures, including Mumford the Moose, Freckles the Fox and Ringo the Raccoon. That group will be getting a puzzle of their own later this year, Tompkins confirmed.

Funds generated through this campaign will help the Foundation conclude its nurse call bell system replacement program – a more than $400,000 commitment – and purchase several new IV pumps. Money will also be set aside to support the hospital’s community support services, such as the hospice and palliative care programs, Meals on Wheels, and hospital transportation initiative.

Opening minds to new perspectives for art

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Lisa Gervais

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July 14, 2022

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Halls Island will be alive with creativity and energy as nine artists are hosted over eight residency sessions this summer.

The Halls Island Artist Residency is into its four year on Koshlong Lake, featuring an off-grid island for successful artists.

Each was selected through an application process and final choices made in February.

“Our 2022 residents range from musicians to writers to mixed media artists. They come from as far away as Texas and PEI and from as close as Haliburton Village,” spokesperson Joan Duhaime said.

One is local fabric artist Jane Selbie.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity, within such beauty and tranquility, to feel renewal and to focus on my illustrated manual project. An island offers 360 degrees of vistas and being there will open my mind to new perspectives to enrich my art,” she said.

Ruth Walker, co-chair of the Halls Island Artist Residency said, “We are excited to once more welcome a diverse and intriguing group of artists to our residency. A number of artists will be offering free workshops or presentations throughout the summer. We invite the community to check out the dates and times posted on our website.”

The residency received a grant from TD Bank’s Ready Challenge Fund this past year. It means artists will receive an honorarium to offset their expenses.

Halls Island is privately-owned by a family whose generosity is providing the residency, accommodations and island access for the artists. It is a member of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative, a not-for-profit organization that encourages, develops and supports several community groups in the Highlands.

Applications for the 2023 residency will open in the fall of 2022.

Charles Pachter comes to Haliburton: from summer camp to the Corner Gallery

By

Sam Gillett

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July 14, 2022

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In the late 1950s, Margaret Atwood asked a young assistant arts and crafts leader at Camp Whitepine to pet a toad.

“To prove to kids I wouldn’t get warts. That’s how we became friends,” said artist Charles Pachter.

Since his days canoe-tripping, putting on plays and swimming around Hurricane Lake, Pachter, now 79, has emerged as one of Canada’s preeminent contemporary artists, and he and Atwood are still friends.

He’s soon returning to the Highlands for his first exhibit in the County, set to premiere at Haliburton’s Corner Gallery July 16.

Highlanders are well acquainted with his most famous muse: the moose.

“I did for the moose what Andy Warhol did for Marilyn Monroe,” said Pachter. “I made the moose glamorous.”

His most famous painting plopped Queen Elizabeth II on top of one.

Pachter met the Queen in 2015 and gifted her the image.

“She actually chuckled and said ‘how amusing,’” he recalls.

That wasn’t the end of the moose’s journey: across his collection of work spanning multiple decades, moose trot across tightropes above the CN tower, fall off cliffs, and explore arctic realms. His work is bold: silhouettes and blocky barns, flags, or softened portraits transposed on vibrant backgrounds.

Pachter said his perspective on Canada was shaped by his starring role in Johnny at the Fair, a 1947 short film showcasing the then-groundbreaking Canadian National Exhibition.

He shook hands with the prime minister, got pecked on the cheek by celebrities and was ferried around the sunny streets of Toronto in a convertible.

“I got the illusionary impression that Canada was glamorous,” he said.

He’s garnered acclaim for both depicting the country’s imagery and sharing his wistful love of the country’s quirkiness with the worldwide art scene.

Throughout his career, he’s been named an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, received the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals and been named to the Chevalier of France’s Order of Arts and Letters. Multiple paintings have sold for more than $30,000.

“When I’m in the mood, I paint: I never stop,” he said, talking about his creative process.

He kept creating throughout the pandemic too.

“For artists, self-isolation is normal. During the pandemic, it wasn’t such a big change for me. The studio is my sanctuary. It’s where I’m happiest. As long as I’m painting, I don’t get depressed,” he said.

He’ll be bringing paintings and prints to Haliburton, which, in a sense, will be a long-awaited return voyage.

“After nearly 60 years, I’m coming back to an area I was very fond of,” he said. The gallery is at 123 Maple Ave. See cornergallery.ca for more information

Gelato on the rocks in Haliburton

By

Sam Gillett

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July 14, 2022

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Walk inside Tipples North and you’ll find a fluorescent flamingo, frosty gelato and cocktail ingredients for any occasion.

Owners Jessica Hardie and Liam Maloney hope the Highland Street store can be a destination for mixed drink lovers, as well as anyone craving a cup of gelato, Italian-style ice cream.

They said the idea came about after chatting with family and other cottagers who said mixed drink ingredients and shakers and other accessories were hard to find in the Highlands.

“We weren’t sure how people were going to react,” said Maloney, chatting about the store’s opening day, which was in late May.

But they’ve gotten great feedback so far. Their shelves are lined with bitters, glasses, shakers, caesar mixes, cocktail books and more.

In tubs near the back, the shop has several flavours of a gluten-free, lactose-free, peanut-free and vegan versions of the cold snack. They have a portable gelato cooler, too, which they had a chance to try out at the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show. Flavours include French vanilla cherry swirl, classics such as mango and alcoholic gelatos such as mojito, espresso martini or pina coloda.

It’s not strong stuff, containing too little alcohol to be classified as an adult beverage.

However, they hope to acquire a liquor license this summer to start serving mixed drinks in the retro-inspired store.

“We want it to be a spot to hang out and have a good time,” Maloney said.

With a liquor license, they’ll likely be open to 9 p.m. “If people are here still at nine, we’ll stay open to 10. We’re pretty easygoing,” Maloney said.

As well, they hope to begin making gift baskets to order.

Since the pair are full-time university students, they’ll likely be hiring staff near the end of the summer.

Opening Tipples North meant “lots of allnighters,” Hardie said with a laugh. But it’s also been a long-time goal.

“Owning my own business is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “This was a perfect chance to do that.”

Now that they’re up and running, they hope to add local products to their shelves too.

Hidden Gem 118 now open to the public

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 14, 2022

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When Andre ‘Junior’ Cleroux says the new Hidden Gem 118 is a family business, he isn’t joking.

His dad, Andre ‘Senior’ Cleroux has been doing a lot of the work on the property located just east of Carnarvon. With a background in organic farming, he has been busy working on the existing manmade pond, taking care of fruit trees, planting gardens, tapping maple trees and beginning to collect honey.

Junior and his brother, Alexandre Cleroux, own Critter Care Brothers. They make a range of raw animal food and kibble, nutritional treats and chews. They can also do meal planning for dietary restrictions and supplemental feeding. Their products are one of the staples in the new enterprise.

And Junior’s mother, Sylvia, is into handmade soaps, bath bombs, candles and other similar products under the label Cleroux Inspired Soaps, as well as freeze-dried foods.

Junior and Senior own the new Highlands enterprise that held a soft opening July 1 and will hold a grand opening Aug. 1.

The family hails from the Ottawa area but Junior plans to relocate permanently. They’re just waiting on a little cash flow from the store so they can build a couple of cabins on the property.

Junior said for them the key in product lines is to stay as natural as possible. So, for example, with the animal feed, Junior said their focus is homeopathic.

“Instead of using commercial brand additives, we do them ourselves. My brother is a butcher and chef and I’m a registered German Shepherd breeder. With the pandemic, animals were the big boom. We thought, ‘it’s time. We put our knowledge together and made an awesome business called Critter Care Brothers.”

Sylvia’s products are also all natural, whether it is soaps, bath bombs, candles or packaged, freeze-dried food “because dehydrated isn’t appealing to the taste and freeze dried also keeps the nutritional value,” Junior said, adding it’s great for camping and outdoor adventures.

He added they are also selling items in less expensive, smaller sizes as opposed to bulk. He said they know there is an older population, many living alone or with just a partner. He said they prefer once a week trips rather than stocking up.

They’ve done much of the work themselves, creating a rustic, cottage feel inside the store.

“We’re doing this for the locals. Obviously, the money is going to be from the tourists but we’re going to be seeing the locals on a regular basis. We want to get to know everybody and it is going to be different if you’re from here or just passing by,” Junior said.

With this being his fourth family business, he said he has been successful because he works for the client.

“My mentality is that I might not make my money today but I will make my money over the lifetime of the business. If I can save the customer money, and perhaps make a little less, but offer an awesome service, I know the client will run back instead of just coming back. Our main focus is to establish ourself in the community. Our quality of service has always been on point. I’ve been in business since I was 19. I’m 32 now. Service is key”

Long-time HE councillor calls it a day

By

Sam Gillett

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July 14, 2022

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Without a friend’s nudge, Highlands East Coun. Suzanne Partridge might not have been through two amalgamations, served as County Warden or developed broad community connections during her 25 years as a municipal politician.

The seasoned councillor has announced she will not seek re-election this fall. She said she wants to make time for travel and other activities.

She added that she has “lost some enthusiasm, I think the people in the community deserve someone who can give it their all.”

Partridge said one of the biggest moments in her career was serving as the reeve of Cardiff Township while Highlands East was amalgamating.

“There was a lot of push back from the communities: it was generally not wanted,” she said.

She said the communities of Highlands East took years to ease into being part of the larger entity.

“Just in the past five years, there has been a more cohesive municipality, not just protecting the interests of each little community,” she said.

Trying to balance those interests, said Partridge, has often meant vocal feedback from residents.

“I feel as if people should be speaking. How can people make their voices heard if they don’t tell politicians how they feel?”

She advises incoming councillors to not take criticism or impassioned emails to heart.

“That’s just part of the whole package of being on council.”

She also served as Haliburton County warden in 2018.

“That was a really good experience for me. It was very educational to get together with wardens from other areas of eastern Ontario.”

She said there weren’t too many contentious issues that year, however that was the time shoreline protection became a large focus.

She said protecting Haliburton’s shorelines is one of the County’s biggest challenges.

“We have to protect our lakes and watercourses and otherwise we won’t have any economy. If the lakes aren’t healthy, no one will come. We have a good opportunity to do that before we have a lot of degradation,” she said.

She said she supports County council passing the bylaw as it is currently stated.

Partridge said she hopes new councillors will continue advocating for environmental issues which have been her passion. Partridge also worked in the environmental and landscaping fields, until recently owning a landscaping company in Highlands East.

She is also chair of the township’s environment committee.

“It’s a great group of people. So many good ideas come forward, we’ve really gelled as a group.”

She encouraged those passionate about the area to put their name forward for Highlands East council, and added that she’ll miss attending council meetings.

“The best part is when you can accomplish something you know is good for the community. Part of the job is being part of the community, you become more involved in it along the way,” she said.

Haliburton County told to prepare for seventh wave of COVID-19

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 14, 2022

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The health unit and at least one family doctor are telling the community to be vigilant in the wake of COVID-19’s seventh wave, dominated by the BA.5 variant.

On July 6, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health confirmed the province is in a seventh wave of COVID-19, driven by the more infectious Omicron BA.5 subvariant.

While other parts of Ontario are starting to see a surge in cases, Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health with the HKPR district health unit, said on July 12 they’d had only preliminary indicators of the seventh wave, including a slight uptick in test positivity and a small increase in the number of outbreaks among highest risk settings.

However, she added, “We do expect the situation to change within the next week or so in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.”

Dr. Bocking said evidence suggests that while the BA.5 subvariant is becoming the dominant strain in Ontario and is more easily spread, it is not more severe than the previous Omicron subvariants. She added this summer wave is expected to be smaller than the previous Omicron waves seen in January and in the spring.

The medical officer of health added that, “We also know that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine help protect against severe illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. As COVID-19 cases increase again, staying up-to-date on our vaccination is still the best defence against the virus.”

She said there are thousands of residents in the region who have not yet received a third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

She advised people to continue to use public health tools, such as wearing proper-fitting, high-quality masks

“At this time, it’s strongly recommended you wear a mask inside public places, especially if the space is crowded and if you are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. You may also want to wear a mask outdoors if you are in crowded locations or venues,” she said.

She further advised people to: stay home if sick, even with mild symptoms; wash hands often with soap and water; sneeze and cough into a sleeve or arm; stay two metres from people you don’t live with; assess your risk before visiting others; open a window or door inside to increase ventilation or gather outside when visiting.

“COVID-19 is still present in our communities, and the arrival of the BA.5 subvariant is a good reminder of that. Let’s follow prevention measures like masking and staying up-to-date on our vaccines to help reduce our risk, while also being sure to enjoy the summer.”

Dr. Nell Thomas said data gathering and public health measures are slow to take off with the seventh wave as noted by the Science Table which said, “Cases cannot be estimated accurately because testing capacity in Ontario is insufficient to deal with the number of infections caused by Omicron, and the testing strategy has changed.”

She thinks the wave began as early as June 19. In addition to being perhaps the mostly highly contagious to date, she added it has come at a time when health care workplaces are depleted of staff.

“The healthcare system is exhausted and depleted. We are facing an unprecedented loss of health care workers from the front lines. This is not unique to Haliburton County, nor to Ontario.

“The hope was this coronavirus would evolve itself into a weakened version, fading into the background of cold viruses. It has proved itself to be doing quite the opposite, in fact revving up its mutations. Wishing it away is proving to be a poor strategy for humans,” Dr. Thomas said.

Property owners make noise for quiet boats

By

Sam Gillett

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July 14, 2022

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The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations (CHA) has joined a nationwide group of cottage associations, municipalities and environmental groups calling for decibel limits on motorized boats.

The Decibel Coalition claims Canadian legislation on boat noise is weak compared to other countries such as the U.S.A.

“The noise issue is an issue in quite a few of our lakes, even a number of our smaller lakes,” said CHA chair Paul MacInnes.

“You get these boats with the supercharged exhaust where they’re just designed to be noisy. It detracts from the peace and quiet and it detracts from people’s ability to relax.”

He said he regularly hears from cottage associations and individuals around the Highlands concerned over excess boat noise.

Rob Bosomworth, the Decibel Coalition’s project lead and a lakeside property owner in Muskoka, said racing boats are an increasing issue for him and many other residents.

He said a boater on his lake is so loud the glasses in his cupboards rattle if it’s too close.

The coalition recently published a 2021 survey in which more than 67 per cent of 6,000 respondents indicated decibel limits should be enforced.

He claimed that “people that are exposed to these kinds of problems aren’t enjoying their cottages as much as they used to.”

Boats on Haliburton’s lakes must have mufflers that limit sound due to federal legislation. However, according to the Decibel Coalition, enforcing decibel limits would be easier for enforcement officers. They claim performance standards on mufflers would also be a more efficient way to control boats coming onto the market.

Bosomworth said he understands some boaters may perceive the initiative as discriminating against high-performance recreational boaters, but said that’s not the case.

“We’re not against high-performance boats, what we are against is excessively loud ones,” said Bosomworth. “I respect their rights to buy performance boats, but there are limits. It’s not an unreasonable ask to limit their noise because it spoils it for many people.”

In May, Transport Canada closed a series of consultations on small vessels noise emissions. It’s unclear what may happen next, or if new legislation may arise.

Bosomworth said public pressure is needed to keep the issue on the political radar.

“It will continue to go unchecked the way it is now,” he said.

Dysart launching community yard sale

By

Mike Baker

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July 14, 2022

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MB-NewToYouYardSale — Dysart et al New to you community yard sale

One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and Dysart et al is offering area residents an opportunity to make some sweet finds at a new and improved community event debuting next month.

The ‘New to You’ community yard sale will take place in the parking lot of the A.J. LaRue Arena July 16. Organized by Dysart staffers John Watson and Andrea Mueller, the event will replace the once popular Trash and Treasure marketplace, which fell casualty to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This really supports Dysart’s reuse activities, and coming out of COVID, it will be nice to be able to gather again and hold a good celebration for our community,” Watson said.

The event will host up to 35 stalls, with Mueller saying this is the perfect opportunity for area residents to have a spring clean and look to repurpose neglected and long forgotten about items. So far there are more than 20 vendors registered.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Our thinking was people have so many things, and often items can get stored away and gather dust. This is an opportunity to repurpose some of those items,” Mueller said.

“One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, right? We’ve heard that saying so many times. So, it’s just about offering people a space and a platform where they can find a new home for some of their things, while also allowing people to come out and find some really cool items.” Watson noted several other businesses and organizations, such as the Lily Anne Thrift Store, SIRCH Community Services, the Haliburton County Public Library and the Haliburton Highlands Museum will be holding extended events on the same day, as a way to attract more people to the downtown core. “Everyone is kinda getting in on this thing,” Watson said.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and is something we hope to do again in the future.”

Book sales will take place at the Haliburton Highlands Museum from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the Dysart branch of the Haliburton County Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lily Ann will hold in-store sales from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the Thrift Warehouse hosting a similar event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit dysartetal.ca.