Bill Kulas is just one Highlander with ties to Ukraine now reeling from the Russian invasion of the European country. Kulas’ ancestors came to Canada in the early 1900s but he still has extended family in the war-ravaged country, including a cousin who is married with a son. He’s been in touch with the cousin, Ivan Fratsovir, since Russia began its invasion Feb. 24.
The family lives in western Ukraine about 60km from the Polish border.
Kulas shared a text from Fratsovir with The Highlander. In it, he expresses fear and disbelief. “People are panicking, hiding in the subway, some have already left their homes, rockets are falling all over our country. But we will not hand over our Ukraine to the occupiers. [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin wants to seize the capital. Belarus has supported Russia.”
However, Fratsovir also expresses hope, telling Kulas, “I think that everything will pass, everything will be fine. Thank you for your support.”
For his part, Kulas said, “who would believe that in 2022 we would face the threat and potential of another world war?”
He said Putin is not only attacking Ukraine, its language, culture and traditions, but democracy, freedom and the entire world.
Kulas said Ukraine and its people have suffered greatly in the past with the mass starvation in the 1930s of millions of Ukrainian men, women and children in what is known as the Holodomor under Stalin.
There was also the Crimean invasion in 2014. Now, he is again watching television news coverage and indiscriminate bombings.
“My hope is that the Russian people have the will and courage to stop this insane situation and withdraw their war efforts in Ukraine,” he said.
He is hopeful worldwide retribution will convince Putin’s colleagues to bring an end to the invasion. It’s been an emotional few days, Kulas said. “Devastating to hear that people are sitting in an apartment or home and facing bombings and missiles. For what? It’s awful. The Russian bear has tried to swallow a Ukrainian porcupine.” He said Putin’s legacy will be one of “pariah, rogue leader, tyrant, oppressor, killer …”
He said he and wife Ginger are praying the invasion will come to a quick resolution with a peaceful ending. If that does not happen, the Kulases will be “more than happy” to sponsor his cousin’s family to come to Canada.
Meanwhile, Leona Carter’s ancestors are Ukrainian, settling in Dauphin, MB in 1897.
She visited Ukraine in 2001, spending three weeks touring villages and graveyards.
She said the locals even cleared the cemetery of weeds so they could find their departed family members.
She said they were met with hospitality at every turn, including dancers, musicians and feasts even though the people were poor.
She said the invasion has made her “absolutely sick. There is no reason for it except one person thinks he should take back everything lost when the Soviet Union was shut down.” Valerie Kuinka was born in Canada, as were her parents, but she is also of Ukrainian heritage. She said she feels the connection through her upbringing. “The situation in the Ukraine is beyond all our worst nightmares,” she said.
“As a Canadian, I feel the sharp horror and deep sympathy for the Ukrainian people as we watch this unbelievable situation develop and worsen.”
County Ukrainians hope for peaceful end to invasion
Haliburton’s job market bounces back as worker shortages continue
Haliburton County’s fastest-growing employment sectors in the past four years include healthcare, applied sciences and finance-related occupations.
That’s according to data in the newlyreleased Workforce Development Board’s (WBD) 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Planning Report.
Between 2017 and 2021, the WDB said Haliburton County lost 86 jobs in the sales and service sector, but gained 43 jobs back in 2021. The WDB, which provides workplace development services in Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough and Lindsay, said Haliburton’s job market indicates a “modest recovery.”
Staff shortages topped the list of worries for most County employers the WDB surveyed.
Out of 24 businesses, nearly all reported they’re actively hiring. “We tend to hear a lot from employers that they struggle to find the right workers,” WDB analyst Sean Dooley said.
Those surveyed said possible reasons for the shortage include abuse of federal or provincial income supports, fear of getting COVID-19, resignations, retirements, affordability of housing, and lack of public transportation in the County.
Employers indicated the top skills lacking in job applicants in the area were customer service, communication, financial literacy, problem-solving, time management, work ethic, basic trades and organizational skills.
Besides a lack of employees, the local accommodation and food service industry saw a 238 person decline in its workforce between 2017 and 2021 the retail industry lost 46 people.
That’s despite population growth that was recently recorded as one of the highest in Canada in the same time period.
The WBD said some businesses suggested, “secondary schools in the area could expand their career planning courses to include the developmental services field, local government opportunities, more co-op and hands-on training, especially in the trades and paths to local employment.”
Overall, however, the report estimates a 3.2 per cent growth rate for Haliburton County jobs, with an estimated 151 new positions added year over year. Ontario recorded a 5.7 per cent employment growth rate in 2021.
Certain sectors flourish
Nicole Baumgartner of RE/MAX said the past few years have “been like nothing [she’s] ever experienced.” The explosion of interest in Haliburton County houses is reflected in the growth of the real estate sector.
Since 2017, real estate, along with construction-related firms, has been the fastest-growing business type in the County.
Fourteen new firms have sprung up since June 2017.
Baumgartner said she relishes the chance to showcase the community she loves to newcomers, and the job means she “has her finger on the pulse” of the community. A red-hot housing market means there are opportunities for new realtors, she said. “I think there’s a need for more skilled professionals but understand that it’s a lifestyle. You don’t get to turn off your phone, turn off your computer, at night,” Baumgartner said.
The WDB estimates the real estate industry will grow by 9.3 per cent by 2024, the highest growth projection of any industry in the Highlands. However, as far as individual jobs available, Haliburton’s healthcare sector topped the list. Since 2017, the WDB estimates there were 98 new healthcare-related jobs created in the County.
Previously, this article mistakenly said Nicole Baumgartner was a realtor with Century21 real estate. She is an agent with RE/MAX. The Highlander regrets the error.
Police lay charges in Minden vehicle theft investigations
Two men from Minden Hills face charges after the theft of multiple vehicles.
At 6 a.m. on Feb. 26, officers found a stolen vehicle that had collided with a snowbank on Scotch Line Road outside of Minden.
A 43-year-old from Minden Hills Township has been charged with the theft along with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Another vehicle was reported stolen in the area the same morning. The owner of the vehicle later located the stolen car at a commercial parking lot in Minden through an onboard GPS.
Officers located the vehicle and made an arrest without incident. A 32-year-old man from Minden Hills is charged with theft of a Motor Vehicle, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, operation while prohibited and driving while under suspension.
Both will appear in court in Minden April 6.
A March 1 press release said that Police are investigating further reports of stolen vehicles in Minden’s downtown within the past week.
“Those investigations are still ongoing and it is unknown if they are related at this time,” said the press release. “Local residents are reminded to always lock their vehicles and take keys with them. Residents are also asked to check their security cameras and report any suspicious persons or activity to police.”
Minor injuries reported after car collides with bus on Gelert Road
A vehicle collided with a bus on at the intersection of Gelert Road and Koshlong Lake Road Feb. 25 shortly after 10 a.m.
Haliburton Highlands OPP reported that the car struck the rear of the bus as it slowed to make a turn. The bus was carrying adult passengers and minor injuries were reported.
As of 1 p.m, the road was open in both directions.
Police are invesitgating the accident and request anyone with information call 1-888-310-1122 or (705) 286-1431.
“Drivers are reminded with deteriorating driving conditions to reconsider unnecessary travel and stay home. If you do need to drive, please adjust your driving accordingly. Slow down and leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you,” said the OPP in a press release.
It’s OK to grow
Haliburton County is officially the fastest growing geographical region in Ontario, beating out the likes of Muskoka, Simcoe and Waterloo for the proverbial gold medal. With stats from the 2021 census rolling out, we learned the Highlands’ population has increased by 13.9 per cent over the past five years.
That’s a whole 2.7 points higher than anywhere else in the province. In fact, Haliburton is fourth out of 294 upper-tier communities Canada-wide when comparing population percentage change since 2016, lagging behind only Squamish-Lillooet and Central Okanagan in B.C. and Mirabel in Quebec.
Hands up if you’re honestly shocked by that revelation?
If you haven’t noticed there’s more people than ever before frequenting our downtown centres, lakes and walking trails then, simply put, you haven’t been paying attention. This is a trend that began long before the onset of the pandemic. COVID-19 just expedited the process.
With borders locked down and international travel out of the equation, a significant portion of our province’s ‘haves’ turned their gaze to Haliburton County as they sought a temporary refuge away from the city.
Many of them never left. That in itself has cultivated dozens of challenges, some of them small, others not so small, that municipal leaders and local residents alike have had to contend with. The obvious one right off the bat is the dramatic increase we’ve seen in property values.
Anyone that bought a home or a cottage, say five years ago, has likely seen their investment doubled, in some cases even more than that.
It’s safe to say the word is out about Haliburton County. While each of the four lower-tier municipalities have reported recordbreaking numbers in terms of building permits issued and new construction values, they really haven’t been able to profit too much from development. Some will see this as a good thing, keeping some of their hardearned dollars safe and secure in their back pockets.
But the reality is, an increase in service level means increased costs. At the end of the day, somebody has to pay. That’s why I think talks of the County potentially introducing development charges for new builds is a good move.
I was surprised to learn that such a bylaw didn’t exist already. In speaking with representatives from the lower-tier municipalities and the upper-tier County recently, it was clear that all were excited by the news that Haliburton County is growing.
That are certainly benefits to having more people with more money in our community, but the onus is going to fall on our municipal leaders to ensure this growth is managed appropriately. That all the things that make Haliburton County what it is are maintained. That things don’t take a change for the worse.
I asked all that I interviewed what their thoughts were on Haliburton County being viewed as a mini-Muskoka.
Some didn’t mind the comparison, while others said that’s something they would actively fight against. County CAO Mike Rutter had the best soundbite, saying he’d like to see us become the first Haliburton County, rather than replicating what already exists elsewhere. What that truly means remains to be seen. What we do know is the Highlands is a beautiful place with a strong community.
We should cherish and be prepared to fight for everything that makes it so. Our little corner of the world isn’t much of a secret anymore, and that’s OK. Just so long as our growth is handled with careful planning and respect
Win over Muskies sends fans home happy
The Haliburton County Huskies snapped a four-game losing skid on Family Day with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over bitter rival Lindsay Muskies.
A pair of goals from Patrick Saini and tallies from Payton Schaly, Kolby Poulin and Cameron Kosurko were enough to secure a much-needed win for the Dogs, lifting them back into 2nd place in the OJHL’s East Division.
There was a jovial atmosphere in the stands pre-game, with the hometown crowd excited to catch some afternoon action.
That didn’t quite resonate on the ice, however, with the two teams at each other’s throat right from the first whistle.
Muskies defenceman Gunnar Van Damme got things started 40 seconds in, taking a minor penalty for tripping. Saini capitalized on the opportunity, notching a powerplay marker at the 56 second mark after being found wide open by line mate Oliver Tarr. Saini repeated the trick a minute later, adding his second at 1:56 to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
Schaly bagged a third at 7:55, assisted by Lucas Stevenson and Christian Stevens. As good as the Huskies were in the opening period, some sloppy play in the second gave the away side a path back into the game. Muskies top-scorer Boyd Stahlbaum ripped one past a helpless Christian Cicigoi at 6:19, with defenceman Duncan Scullion notching a second at 11:52.
Nate Burelle completed the Muskies’ comeback midway through the third period, scoring on a breakaway just seconds after coming out of the penalty box.
With the tide turning, the Huskies dug in. Head coach Ryan Ramsay sent out a forward line of Saini, Poulin and Schaly in an effort to wrestle back control of the game. The move worked, with the trio combining for the go-ahead goal, scored at 14:31 by Poulin.
It was his first goal of the season. “It was a fantastic feeling, honestly it was about time I got the first one,” Poulin said. “Coach wanted us to make sure we were playing high, and working hard and we managed to force a turnover, Schaly walked out with the puck, fired a perfect pass over to me. I had the easy job of putting it in.”
Kosurko made sure of the win with an empty-netter 15 seconds from time. After a tough week, which had seen the Huskies lose four close one-goal games, including three in overtime, Ramsay was pleased to see his team get back to winning ways.
“We got the start we wanted tonight, let off a bit in the second period and took some bad penalties. But the response from the team in the third was great, they didn’t get down about themselves, they worked and turned it back around,” Ramsay said. “These guys are pretty relentless… You can conquer the world with confidence, and it was nice to see some of the guys holding their sticks a little tight and playing with some swagger.”
Three straight losses
The Huskies dropped three games to their closest divisional rivals last week, losing twice to the Wellington Dukes and once to the table-topping Trenton Golden Hawks.
A road game against Wellington Feb. 16 ended with a 2-1 defeat for the Huskies, who went 0-5 on the powerplay and outshot their opponents 34-25, but couldn’t make their dominance count. Stevens scored the team’s only goal in the final minute of the second period.
Another road tussle, this time against the Golden Hawks Feb. 18, saw the Huskies fall to a 3-2 overtime defeat. The Dogs led twice, first through Schaly and then through Bryce Richardson, but couldn’t hold on as the Golden Hawks tied the game in the final minute of the third period, and secured the points two minutes into the extra frame.
There was further heartache Feb. 19 as the Huskies again succumbed to a 3-2 overtime loss, this time at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena. After the Dukes roared out to an early 2-0 lead, goals from Richardson and Oliver Tarr – scoring with one second left on the clock in the third period – gave the Dogs a chance to pull out the two points, but it wasn’t to be.
The Dukes would win it 90 seconds into the overtime period. The team has a double homestand this weekend, welcoming the Toronto Patriots on Friday (7:30 p.m. puck drop) and the Golden Hawks on Saturday (4:30 p.m. puck drop).
Chainsaw, LED lights stolen from snow groomer in Highlands East
The OPP is requesting the public’s help after a theft from a snow groomer on West Eels Lake Road in Highlands East, east of Gooderham.
On February 24, 2022 around 12:00 p.m. Bancroft OPP officers responded to a report of an overnight theft of a chainsaw and LED lights from a snow groomer.
Police have not named any suspects and in a Feb. 25 press release urged anyone with information regarding the theft contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Ice poses challenge for roads crews and drivers
Rain and warm temperatures combined with an overnight freeze resulted in a blanket of ice covering some County roads and many backroads across all four municipalities Feb. 23 and Feb. 24
The County of Haliburton’s public works department reported most County-maintained roads were bare as of the afternoon of Feb. 23.
Manager of operations Sylvin Cloutier said in an email that sanding was “conducted according to the conditions and at times [was] challenging for staff.
Multiple Highlanders residents from all four townships posted about icy roads, specifically back roads and driveways, on Facebook Feb. 23 and Feb. 24. There were multiple accounts of cars that appeared to have slid off roadways.
Dysart’s manager of public works Rob Camelon said roads crews were out for more than 12 hours to address the slippery roads.
“We had several trucks stuck throughout the day, it certainly added to the time required to get around to all roads, there were no injuries or damage to equipment,” he wrote in an email.
Dysart’s public works office reported a “very high” call volume throughout the day. The department said many residents asked when sanding trucks would visit their roads. While the department is unable to pinpoint the exact times sanding trucks will address roads, the office added it can be valuable to alert the township when a vehicle is stuck or off the road, so municipal equipment operators are aware.
Constable Mike Melnychuk of the Haliburton Highlands OPP offered the following tips for drivers during icy weather:
– Check road conditions by visiting Ontario 511 (https://511on.ca).
– Carry a fully charged cell phone to contact emergency services if you experience trouble.
– In bad weather, reconsider unnecessary travel and stay home. If you do need to drive, please adjust your driving accordingly.
– Slow down and leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
– If you experience trouble, park your vehicle well off the roadway, if safe to do so, and stay in your vehicle until help arrives.
– Make sure your heater, defroster and all lights on your vehicle are working.
– Clear your vehicle of all snow and ice, fill up the windshield washer fluid, and keep your fuel tank at least half full.
County population up 13.9 per cent: 2021 census
Nick Folco is one of approximately 2,500 new Highlanders over the past five years, according to the recently-released 2021 census.
The County’s new official population is 20,571 – up from 18,062 in 2016.
There’s no doubt the pandemic of the last two years has led to a noticeable flow of new residents to the area.
Growing up in Burlington and later moving to Peterborough, Folco said it had always been a dream of his to move to the County.
While the timing never seemed right, in September 2020, with life changing on a daily basis, Folco took the plunge. He and wife, Kirstley, had an offer on a home in downtown Minden accepted.
Almost 18 months on, the couple are loving life as full-time Highlanders.
“It’s just the pace of life and the qualityof life. I find when you’re in the city, you can kind of get lost in the motions.
A lot of bigger places have this sort of rat race mentality, and I didn’t want my girls growing up in a place like that. I want them to grow up around nature, and lakes and all the beauty that this place has to offer,” Folco said.
“Even my drive in to work. I opened The Noble Barber in Haliburton village, and while it’s technically a highway, driving in on [County Road 21], you wouldn’t know it. There’s lakes and forests everywhere you look. It’s just beautiful,” he said.
Olya Ianovskaia is another to have traded the hustle and bustle of the big city for peace and tranquility in the Highlands. She moved on to a property just outside
of Minden in July 2020 after several years in the GTA. Reflecting on the move, she said her only regret is that she waited so long to do it.
“I should have moved sooner. The primary thing I wanted was more space, more nature for my daughter and less concrete. It’s been a wonderful decision. The people up here are super friendly, and our neighbours have been extremely helpful,” Ianovskaia said.
She’s been able to maintain her job working for an international tech company, and said she can see herself remaining in the Highlands for the rest of her life.
Haliburton County CAO Mike Rutter wasn’t surprised to learn the Highlands’ population had increased 13.9 per cent since 2016; in fact, the only thing that shocked him is the number isn’t higher.
“Pretty well every indicator we keep has told us that this increase was coming. I mean, it’s here already. We’ve seen it in the number of ambulance calls we’ve received, land severance applications. We’re seeing record numbers across the board,” Rutter said. “I actually thought the final number would be higher.”
Dysart mayor Andrea Roberts said the increase could have been spotted a mile away.
She suggested the “actual” rise could be higher, given that many seasonal residents who frequent the Highlands several months of the year likely don’t list their cottage as a primary residence.
One thing that did surprise her is the total number of private dwellings in Haliburton County had decreased, down from 21,113 in 2016 to 21,072 in 2021.
“I just don’t see how that’s possible. When you look across the whole County, each municipality is reporting record numbers in construction values, permits being issued. We know more dwellings have been built in Dysart,” Roberts said. “Just looking at new builds such as the Gardens [of Haliburton] and the condos on Wallings Way. That’s around 100 units right there that weren’t here in 2016.”
How to pay for it?
Rutter said a concern facing all four lower-tier municipalities and the upper-tier County is how they go about financing
the increased service costs brought on by having more people residing in the area full-time.
“Growth in Haliburton looks very different than growth in other communities. In Toronto, when they grow, you see new office buildings, and new condo towers. Here, it’s often a transition of a building from seasonal use to permanent use. That doesn’t come with any increase in taxation, but it certainly comes with increased service demand,” Rutter said.
“So, we have more people using our roads, recreation services, emergency services. Our costs are going up, but our revenues aren’t.”
Elected officials are considering the possibility of implementing development charges on new builds as a way of bringing much-needed funds through the door.
A report came to County council Feb. 23 highlighting the potential benefits, and a consultant may be brought in to help direct a policy. The lower-tier townships must first sign off on it.
Rutter admitted there’s a fear among some locals that Haliburton County is positioning itself, deliberately or not, to be “the next Muskoka”.
While he doesn’t hate the comparison, he feels the community is growing whether people like it or not and that instead of trying to become “the next somewhere”, local leaders should be focusing on becoming “the first Haliburton County”.
“I grew up in the Highlands. When I was growing up, we would have loved to have the types of challenges we’re seeing today. We wanted people to come here. We knew Haliburton County was a gem, but we needed to find a way to get others to come and experience it,” Rutter said. “Now we’re there, I think we need to focus on improving our service levels, filling the gaps and making Haliburton County the best community it can be.
“I think it’s inevitable that our community will change. It’s our job to make sure the change is facilitated in a productive, appropriate way that makes for a good experience for both existing residents, and our newcomers,” Rutter said.
HCSA pleading for riders to help preserve trails
The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) said it’s been a “mad scramble” to maintain snowmobile trails as temperatures and snow conditions fluctuate.
“Any kind of traffic in these conditions will damage the trail surface and create ruts when the refreeze occurs. While the forecasted snow is encouraging, it will take several hours for the HCSA to assess when trail grooming can resume,” wrote the HCSA in a Feb. 16 press release.
Conditions improved over Family Day weekend, with snow squalls covering the County. Temperatures rose Feb. 21 and on Feb. 22 the County faced freezing rain.
“We are asking (pleading) you not to ride during the second warm-up in as many weeks. If trail surfaces are undisturbed, when the refreeze hits we should stay reasonably level,” said the HCSA in a Feb. 22 Facebook post.
Trail conditions are updated regularly on hcsa.ca. As of Feb. 22, nearly all trails in Haliburton County were closed.