COVID outbreak declared at J.D. Hodgson

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December 9, 2021

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at J.D. Hodgson Elementary School after three cases of the virus were identified among students last week.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit says two cases were detected on Dec 4, with another identified over the weekend. Letters were sent to parents Dec. 6.

“Provincial guidance requires a school outbreak be declared when two or more linked confirmed cases occur within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school,” Bill Eekhof, HKPR spokesperson, told The Highlander.

Eekhof said one classroom at J.D. Hodgson has been affected by this outbreak.

The situation is linked to an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak declared on school bus No. 32 in Haliburton County. As reported in last week’s edition of the paper, that bus was used to transport students to multiple schools in the area, including J.D. Hodgson, Stuart Baker Elementary School and Haliburton Highlands Secondary School. All individuals who rode the bus and were identified as possible high-risk contacts were instructed to isolate and get tested.

Two positive cases from that outbreak have been confirmed to be students from Stuart Baker.

The positive cases interrupted the Highland Storm schedule this past weekend.

While 13 cases of the new Omicron variant have been identified in Ontario since its emergence last month, Eekhof was keen to contain any worry, saying “at this time, the health unit has not been notified of any local cases of Omicron variant in its region. The Delta variant remains the dominant stream of COVID-19 locally and across Ontario.”

Anyone with questions or concerned are encouraged to contact HKPR at 1-866-888- 4577 ext. 1508.

Builders say tough to meet housing ask

By

Mike Baker

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December 9, 2021

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A new provincial report estimates about 1,200 new homes will have to be built in the County over the next decade to keep up with projected population changes. But officials from the Haliburton County Home Builders Association (HCHBA) say they’re not sure the target is realistic.

Canadian economist Mike Moffatt held a virtual webinar Nov. 25. He outlined a “desperate need” for more housing. He predicted by 2031 more than one million new homes will be required in Ontario.

In the Highlands, experts say the population is expected to grow by more than 10 per cent over the next decade, and with housing already in demand, it’s going to place enormous pressure on the market. Moffatt said there needs to be 1,190 new single-family homes built locally by 2031.

Aggie Tose, HCHBA executive officer, said a lack of buildable space, convoluted municipal planning and application processes, and resistance from existing property owners means the target will likely be difficult to reach.

“Like we’ve seen already [with existing proposals], nobody wants to see development in their backyard, and there’s really not a whole lot of space for us to build. Planning takes a long time to move forward. I think that’s a big number to hit over the next 10 years,” Tose said.

Local options

While the Highlands is home to some of the most expansive green spaces anywhere in the province, most of that land is untouchable, Tose says, either protected by provincial or federal authorities, privately owned, or within close enough proximity to a water source that it is already at maximum capacity.

Space for considerable developments, such as a new multi-home subdivision, is at a premium. Tose says there’s no indication that such a build is on the horizon anywhere in Haliburton County. Options within Minden and Haliburton villages are almost non-existent, too, she says.

Complex problem requires government buy-in

The responsibility, she believes, falls on the County and the four lower-tier municipalities to come up with a plan to tackle housing shortages.

“Something has to change, otherwise we’re going to be left behind,” she added.

CAO ‘shocked’ by stats

Haliburton County CAO Mike Rutter admitted he was shocked by some of the numbers presented in Moffatt’s report.

He said housing is a “complex problem” that requires buy-in from all tiers of government if it is to be addressed properly. He pointed to the County’s work with the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation as proof the municipality is taking issues surrounding homelessness and housing affordability seriously

Many of the development proposals he has seen focus on multi-unit residential builds such as apartments and condos, which may not appeal to young families looking to enter the market.

Rutter says more needs to be done to encourage developers to invest in the Highlands.

“There are a lot of things we’re doing, either through the service delivery review or other avenues, that may result in people wanting to develop in the County,” Rutter said.

In a 2014 growth management strategy report adopted by County council, it was noted population increases would create a demand for 1,910 new residential units in the Highlands by 2036

Moffatt warns the projections outlined in his report Baby Needs a New Home are likely lower than the actual demand in some communities. He added many will be forced to look beyond the GTA if they want to buy a home of their own.

It’s happening in the County already, with many people relocating to the area since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A housing shortage in Toronto is a problem for everyone in Ontario,” Moffatt said. “We’re starting to see population growth happening in smaller communities that hadn’t really experienced much population growth since the 1960s, and you’re getting higher housing prices that begin in the GTA and start to transmit all over the province.”

Housing numbers

While the County has the 2014 report, there’s real plan to bring a large supply of new units to the Highlands to sustain growth targets, Tose said.

Over the past 10 years, based on statistics provided by each of the four lower tier municipalities, there have been 1,360 new dwellings built in Haliburton County. A significant number of those involved demolition of an existing home.

While slightly different given their mandate is to support the development of affordable housing, the KLH Housing Corporation says it projects 750 new units will be needed across the County to support population growth over the next 10 years.

Manager Michelle Corley said statistics suggest if there are more apartment-type builds in the future, that could free up enough single-family homes to help offset some of the excess demand for that type of property.

“Our existing households are very small in nature. One and two person households in the County make up 77.2 per cent of the household population … however, in the County 92.8 per cent of the current dwelling type is single-detached homes,” Corley said. “This suggests that a lot of our households are ‘over housed’.”

People are leaving

Karen Morgan moved to the County with her husband and young child in 2019. At the time rental properties were already scarce, but they were able to get a place in Wilberforce.

Months later, after a separation, Morgan found herself in the unenviable position of trying to find another apartment on a fixed income. She had $800 per month for accommodation through ODSP, but that wasn’t enough. She eventually found a place in Highland Grove, where her landlord accepted significantly less than market value for a two-bedroom house.

“Things were great, then our landlord decided to sell,” Morgan said. She was given until Nov. 1 to find a new home for herself and her five-year-old daughter.

“I must have viewed more than 40 apartments, but they would go before I even had chance to get an application in,” she said.

In the end, Morgan was forced to leave the County. She is now in Orillia, though hopes to be able to move back to the community so that her daughter can be closer to her father.

What’s next?

Tose reiterated there’s a need for almost all types of development in the Highlands. She said the recent influx of new residents to the County, and an increase in the number of locals being forced away, suggests a change in approach may be required.

“Our college wants to expand, our businesses want to grow, and people are moving here, so we really don’t have any option other than to build. Where we’re going to build though, I don’t know. Looking between [Haliburton] and Minden, there’s not a lot of good land. And wherever we do build, it can’t be too far outside of the centres because of infrastructure and transportation,” Tose said. “I don’t love the idea of apartments, and I know the word subdivision is almost a foofoo here in Haliburton County … but as has been pointed out, the growth is here today. It’s very clear. It’s not going away, so we have to make a plan for the future.”

49 Greek letters and chewing gum

By

Dr Nell Thomas

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December 2, 2021

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What does RNA live to do? Make copies of itself. The coronavirus genome (the genes that make up the virus), is a twisted strand of nearly 30,000 letters of RNA. (The human genome is over three billion.)

When the virus finds a cell it likes, it injects it with a strand of RNA containing its entire genome. It uses the machinery inside the host cell to replicate its 30,000 sequenced letters, copying and copying and copying. With each new infection, in each new cell, inevitable copying errors occur (mix-ups in the letter sequences).

Most of these make SARS-CoV-2 a less effective virus. But some have the opposite effect, shaping the virus to more efficiently do the only thing that RNA really wants to do – make more copies of itself.

We call this evolution. It is how variants like Omicron (B.1.1.529) – the most recent variant of concern – are born.

On Nov. 9 in Botswana a sample of the Omicron letter sequence was collected, sequenced by South African researchers, and uploaded to a central site on Nov. 23. On Nov. 24, South Africa reported to the WHO. Omicron cases have now been identified in more than a dozen countries including Germany, the UK, China, Australia, Canada, the list growing as you read this.

Omicron is scary because it has a large number of mutations in its sequence for the spike protein, which is the major target of our vaccines and is the entry point for SARS-CoV-2 to access our cells.

Omicron appears to be highly transmissible. Data from South Africa show test positive rates from Gauteng province jumped from around one per cent to 30 pe cent last week. (About 25 per cent of the population is vaccinated.)

A traveler from South Africa to Hong Kong who tested negative before his flight Nov. 11 then tested positive while quarantining in a Hong Kong hotel on Nov. 13. Someone across the hallway then tested positive for the new variant. Both individuals had high viral loads. Of 539 travelers from South Africa to the Netherlands last Friday, they identified 61 cases.

Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to become sick when exposed, have a much higher viral load, and are far more likely to transmit to others. In this way, unvaccinated people pave the way for the virus to achieve its mission: making copies of itself, leading to more mutations.

Ponder this: There are countries in Africa with two per cent vaccination rates.

How effective are vaccines against Omicron variant? Tracing the RNA sequences of the variants of concern shows Omicron to be more similar to the original Alpha than to the Delta lineage. So far, among vaccinated people, there have been no serious cases.

Viruses don’t want to become so deadly they kill off their hosts. They mutate to increase the amount of their genetic code circulating.

Mild diseases like the common cold keep hosts alive to spread more virus. But the number of spike protein mutations in Omicron is significantly more than in the other variants, including mutations that allow more efficient cell entry (increasing transmissibility), show resistance to neutralizing antibodies and evasion of innate immunity (making previous infections and vaccines less effective protection).

And then there’s gum. A new experimental chewing gum could reduce the amount of coronavirus particles in saliva and help slow transmission, according to a study in the journal Molecular Therapy.

The gum contains a protein that “traps” virus particles, reducing the spread of virus-laden droplets when infected people are talking, breathing, or coughing. The viral load in the samples fell by more than 95 per cent, the researchers said. The gum feels and tastes like conventional gum and meets FDA requirements.

Downtown tree ripe for decoration

By

Mike Baker

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December 2, 2021

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Residents are once again being invited to bring a personal touch to Christmas in Haliburton this festive season, by helping to decorate the downtown tree.

Put up Nov. 21 by volunteers from the Dysart Fire Department, it’s the biggest tree the community has ever had, according to Haliburton & District Lions Club member Jim Frost, measuring in at more than 30 feet.

This is always a special time of the year for Frost, and his wife Marilyn, who often take the lead in organizing festive events across the community, most notably the annual Santa Claus parade. Last year though, with COVID-19 causing many popular events to be cancelled, the couple came up with a creative way to spread Christmas cheer around the community, asking residents to help spruce up the downtown tree. Now, they’re hoping to do it again.

“We had so much fun with this last year, and I know lots of kids did too. By Christmas we had a lot of decorations on there – the tree looked great,” Frost said. “So, even though things are getting back to normal now, we thought ‘why not make this part of what we do [in the lead up to Christmas]’.”

The Lions are partnering with the Haliburton BIA on the initiative, and BIA administrator Angelica Ingram was on hand with her two children, four-year-old Evangeline and two-year-old Abigail, to apply the tree’s first ornaments – a pair of blue reindeer.

“This is a good, nice way for us to kick off Christmas, and for the community to feel like they’re a part of the downtown celebrations,” Ingram said.

Residents can stop by the tree, located outside the Village Barn on Highland Street, anytime between now and Dec. 25 to hang a decoration. Ingram says the tree will remain in place until the first week of the new year. Residents will be required to pick up their decorations if they want them back.

12.

Give the gift of food this Christmas

Haliburton Highlands OPP is encouraging residents to get into the spirit of giving this festive season.

The local police force is hosting its annual Fill-A-Cruiser event again this year, with officers scheduled to be at several locations across the region over the next few weekends to collect food, toys and monetary donations for three area food banks.

On Dec. 4, officers will be at Foodland in Haliburton from 10 a.m. to noon, and at Todd’s Independent Grocer from 1 to 3 p.m. On the same day, police will also be at Easton’s Valu-Mart from 10 a.m. to noon and the Minden Foodland from 1 to 3 p.m. On Dec. 18, officers will be at the Wilberforce Foodland from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All donations will support the Minden Community Food Centre, Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank and the Central Food Network, which offers food and supplies to residents across Highlands East.

“The Christmas season can be a really hard time for some families financially; to be able to afford to put food on the table for their family on top of [buying] toys and taking care of all the other things they’re responsible for at this time of the year, so this event is really about our community coming together to help people out during a time of real need,” said OPP Constable Michelle Scanlan.

Officers will be accepting non-perishable food items such as canned meats, soups and vegetables; cereals; meat alternatives such as peanut butter, soy and assorted nuts; sanitary items such as toilet paper and diapers; and personal hygiene products. Most participating locations, Scanlan said, have put together pre-packaged bags that residents can purchase and drop off with officers on their way out of the store.

As it has done for several years, the local force will also be collecting toys. Scanlan said they would be passed on to families that are most in-need to ensure all children across the county have something to open up on Christmas day.

All money raised will also go directly to area food banks to help purchase in-demand items such as eggs, milk and meat.

“I was a part of the event last year, and even then, during a pandemic, it was amazing to see how quickly the cruisers were filling up,” Scanlan said. “Every single person was walking out of the store with a bag in hand to give to us. We’re fortunate to live in a very giving, very generous community. I’m sure this year’s event is going to be [a] huge [success].

CanoeFM paddles through pandemic year

By

Sam Gillett

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December 2, 2021

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In the months after Canada went into lockdown, CanoeFM developed a new slogan.

“Remember that in good times and difficult times, community radio brings us together.”

Paul Vorvis, the station’s new board chair, said the saying rings true.

“People have always responded to CanoeFM,” he said. “During the pandemic, we went from concern over what the future would bring to being so grateful for what the community has given to let us continue to do what we do.”

The annual radiothon raised a record high in 2021, and the station’s radio bingo became a Highlands tradition.

It raised an unprecedented $106,000, half of which is being gifted to 23 community groups.

Vorvis, who calls the bingo numbers, said he heard countless stories of cottagers bringing bingo cards back home with them, making the game a Canada-wide affair.

While the lottery, which raised $54,000, and bingo proceeds can’t go to salaries at the station, it can fund production expenses and purchases.

“It’s allowed us to really expand what we want to do to give back to the community,” Vorvis said after the station’s Nov. 23 annual general meeting.

A three-year voyage

“In my crystal ball I see that CanoeFM will make many changes in the coming few years,” station manager Roxanne Casey wrote in her AGM letter.

Many of those changes hinge on the station’s new three-year plan.

That includes focusing on financial stability, staff succession plans, volunteer recruitment, honing in on local content, and building the station’s tech infrastructure.

Vorvis said he’s particularly enthusiastic about cultivating local talent.

“We have a really rich musical community,” he said. The station will apply for funding to hire a production coordinator and mentor to help artists professionally record their work in the station’s Malcolm MacLean radio hall. “We want to make this an incubator,” Vorvis said.

CanoeFM is also working on increasing its listenership in remote areas of the Highlands.

“We want to represent Haliburton County but geographically there are places that don’t receive our signal as well as others.”

2021 fundraisers have helped reimburse volunteers who’ve spent hours driving Haliburton roads to map out signal strength from Dorset to Kinmount.

“We’re going to be able to analyze those results and find out what we’ll need to do to increase the signal,” he said. “We say we want to be the voice of Haliburton County… but people need to be able to hear us.”

Vorvis said CanoeFM is unique because of how board members often volunteer under the supervision of hired staff.

“You can see the impact of what you’re doing,” said Vorvis. “It allows us to see and then modify the policies and what CanoeFM does.

The station is built on the work of three staff members and 119 volunteers just like Vorvis, who spends about 20 hours a week hosting shows, bingo and now fulfilling the duties of board chair.

He said he encourages anyone looking to expand their skills or meet new people to get involved: no prior experience is necessary.

“I heard an ad they were looking for volunteers,” said Vorvis. “I never had any experience in the industry but I thought ‘ok I’ll give it a shot.’ I’ve never looked back, I enjoy every aspect of it.”

Board appointments

Ron Evans, John Ewing, Gabrielle Holmes and Simon Payn joined the station’s board of directors in November.

Past-president Tim Hagarty, Linda Heeps and Dan Sullivan finished their time on the board.

“Every one of you should be proud of our accomplishments this year and you, our volunteers, continue to make the magic happen,” wrote Hagarty in a letter to CanoeFM members. “We are the true voice of Haliburton County and a welcoming caring setting to volunteer.”

Community ‘go-getter’ touched lives

By

Sam Gillett

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December 2, 2021

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Margaret “Jane” van Nood (nee Mailloux) always made time to help people.

Whether volunteering with the Haliburton Lions Club, Friends of the Library, Abbey Retreat Centre, or the County’s Community Kitchen, Jane’s passion for her family, friends and the Highlands community shone through say many who knew her.

She passed away Nov. 22 at the age of 61. Her sister-in-law Shelley van Nood said Jane’s personality “sparkled” wherever she went.

“She was really engaged in life,” said Shelley.

“If you needed help, Jane was there,” said friend Linda Heeps, who also served with van Nood on the Friends of the Haliburton Public Library board.

“She would be the one driving people to doctors appointments in Lindsay,” said Heeps, mentioning fond memories of the “Six Super Sisters,” a group of friends who started out as a book club.

Jane was renowned for her love of Christmas and her decorations. The super sisters plan on taking down her Christmas decorations after the holidays.

She loved creating elaborate greeting cards and colourful jewelry; replacing customer’s lost earrings for free.

Shelley van Nood said her family loved getting Holiday cards from Jane. “When you got a Christmas card from Auntie Jane, you knew it was made special, just for you,” she said.

Heeps and many others also found solace in Jane’s company through a breast cancer support group she helped start. Jane also volunteered at the Abbey Retreat Centre as a retreat facilitator.

“She touched everybody’s lives,” said Heeps.

She was also a dedicated member of the Haliburton County Lions Club. A tribute page on the club’s website shows Jane helping out at a variety of Lions functions; never without a beaming smile.

“She was the most giving person there is in the world,” said Lion Marilyn Frost. During a Lions’ lady club retreat, Frost remembers Jane bringing “half the kitchen:” supplying all the kitchen equipment for delicious meals she helped cook for her friends. “That was Jane,” said Frost.

John Teljeur, Jane’s cousin through marriage, remembers her as a devoted friend with a dedication to friends, family and community projects.

“She dove into things,” said Teljeur. At Teljeur’s Canadian National Pond Hockey tournament. Jane was one of the first to volunteer. “I’m not going to let you fail,” Teljeur remembers her telling him.

“You look back in time and piece it all together: the way that she was. She was just a go-getter, and she would take things on probably when she didn’t even have the time,” he said.

Teljeur said he hopes to host the tournament again this year, in Jane’s honour.

“Her family should be so proud,” Teljeur said. “She was only on the earth for 61 years but she impacted so many.”

Principal outlines plan to improve student reading levels

By

Mike Baker

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December 2, 2021

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Archie Stouffer Elementary School (ASES) principal Dawn Sudsbury admitted reading levels among her students are “a bit alarming” in a presentation to TLDSB board trustees Nov. 23.

Since beginning her new role in September, Sudsbury has been working hard to create a new School Improvement Equity Plan (SIEP) at ASES after being surprised by some of the reports coming in from teachers regarding individual student reading levels.

“Currently, 15 per cent of our students in Grades 2 to 8 are reading at a grade equity level. Our goal, by June, is we want 100 per cent of our students to demonstrate growth in reading, which includes accuracy, fluency and comprehension. We have a goal to have 51 per cent of students reading at a grade level by June,” Sudsbury informed trustees.

“I can’t say I was shocked, but I found that 15 per cent was a bit alarming,” she added, after being asked to reflect on the numbers by trustee John Byrne.

Through her analysis, Sudsbury noted that some of the problems are different throughout the various age groups. Students from Grade 2 to 4, for example, are having a hard time looking at words and being able to properly sound them out, while some of the more junior and intermediate students are struggling with comprehension.

Improvement begins and ends in the classroom, Sudsbury said, and she’s been leaning on her teachers to implement individualized plans to try to get the best out of each of their students.

“Guided instruction is a great tool, and what that means is having instruction that is very specific for each student,” Sudsbury said. “All students can achieve … we just need to think a little differently to tap into their potential.”

Return to regular semesters

Director of education Wes Hahn said secondary schools have been given the go ahead to return to regular semesters starting in February.

“There are definitely benefits to moving back to a regular semester. Over the next week or so, we will be working with staff to iron a few things out and then hope to have an announcement about what we’re going to do,” Hahn said. “We’ll be making the best decision possible for students.”

He said there were a number of factors to consider before making the jump back, most notably how staff would deal with transitioning to a regular schedule from the quadmester system the board has been using since September.

While those conversations are at an early stage, Hahn believes teachers have shown how versatile they can be throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every time we’ve gone to a different model we’ve been successful to the best of our abilities. Even when we were working in octomesters, which weren’t ideal, staff and administrators made that work,” Hahn said. “Staff have done an extraordinary job under extraordinary circumstances.”

Outbreak at Stuart Baker

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Stuart Baker Elementary School last week after two students were found to have contracted the virus.

TLDSB spokesperson Sinead Fegan says a positive case was identified at the school on Nov. 24 and a number of students were sent home to isolate. Then, on Nov. 26, the board was notified of a second positive case. Fegan said the two cases are linked, with bus No. 32, which transports students from SBES, J.D. Hodgson Elementary School and Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, identified as the source of the outbreak.

As of press time, no further cases had been confirmed. Fegan noted that some students were still isolating at home.

Director award

It was a busy meeting for Sudsbury, who was also presented with a director’s recognition award for her early work as principal at ASES. She was nominated for the award by vice principal Mike Gervais.

“Dawn is a highly passionate leader who prioritizes the need of all learners at her school, and makes plans to support their learning and enhance their educational experience. When staff and students walk into ASES, it’s clear they’re stepping into a community focused on student achievement and equity,” Hahn said.

Since her arrival, Sudsbury has worked with staff to streamline and enhance their teaching practices, and placed an increased focus on individualized learning for students.

Hahn noted her efforts have “created a strong team environment” at ASES, making it a great place for staff to teach and students to learn.

Providing a platform for young artists

By

Mike Baker

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December 2, 2021

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A group of young, Haliburton-based artists are inviting residents to “step into their mind” and experience a pop-up art show debuting this weekend.

The Limbic Collective is made up of 10 artists who, through a variety of media, have expressed their take on personal identity, emotions and the nuances of human existence for the series, opening Dec. 4 in unit four downstairs in the Stedman’s Mall on Highland Street. There’ll be an official opening at 6 p.m.

Joey Varga is the heart and soul of the movement. An aspiring painter, Varga said they’ve often found it difficult to find avenues to showcase their pieces – something they believe is common among those looking to break into the industry.

“I first conceptualized this some time ago, while I was a student at Haliburton School of Art + Design. Another student and I started talking and thought it would be really great to have something in town that wasn’t elitist, ultra-competitive or difficult to get into,” Varga said. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for young artists to exhibit their work, but more than that to make them feel like they really belonged.”

The ‘Step Into Our Mind’ art show will run until Dec. 11 featuring installation, video, performance, painting, 3D printing, wearable, sculpture, and poetry.

Speaking to their medium, Varga said, “Installation art is unique – rather than inviting people to look at a painting, a video or a sculpture, it’s like you turn a specific space into a piece of art. So that means putting things on the ceiling, on walls and on the floor. My goal is to have something that people can walk through to experience as more of an atmosphere rather than simply something to look at.”

The event is being part sponsored by the Ethel Curry Gallery and Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre.

Plans are in place for the Limbic Collective to host more events in the community.

“The idea for this collective is not to just have one event and for it to be over … Maybe there’s opportunities for some artists to rent studio space together, to hold individual events, or do big seasonal shows at different times of the year,” Varga said.

“We’re just starting out, and we’re growing, which is really exciting.”

The opening ceremony will run from 6 to 8 p.m., with the show open daily from Dec. 5 to 10 from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A closing ceremony will take place on Dec. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. The show is free to all residents, though they will be accepting donations at the door to help cover running costs.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Haliburton-based artist Tiffany Howe would be serving as curator of this event, with Varga as curatorial assistant. Instead, Varga will be serving as lead curator, with assistance with all artists involved.

Rhubarb on the Hill to open this weekend

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 2, 2021

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Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride and event centre will welcome patrons to the new Rhubarb on the Hill this Friday, Dec. 3 as the Wilkinson family begins to implement some of their changes to the newlyacquired property.

Doug Wilkinson and his family purchased the Eagle Lake ski hill from the Bishop family earlier this fall.

“Our family is excited to continue the wonderful legacy the Bishop family began back in 1965,” Doug Wilkinson said.

He said the Bishops and the current team had been extremely welcoming and helpful through the transition, and they were looking forward to working with them throughout the upcoming ski season.

Doug Wilkinson said his family has been cottaging in the region, currently on Boshkung Lake, for the last 15 years and their kids learned to ski at Sir Sam’s.

“We are looking forward to continuing to make great memories for our family here. We have a number of exciting plans for Sir Sam’s designed to improve the guest experience while maintaining our familyfriendly environment,” he added.

This season, guests will be welcomed into their renovated upper chalet, redone in a more contemporary fashion that will make it attractive for all types of events, including winter and summer weddings, Wilkinson said. The new space will hold up to 250 people inside.

In addition, “Working with Terri and Chris at Rhubarb, we are bringing the concept of ‘Rhubarb on the Hill’ back to Eagle Lake. We will be serving all the traditional favourites (including the Caesars) while adding delicious healthy and vegetarian choices as well.

“We will start welcoming guests at the restaurant on Dec. 3 and be open for breakfast, lunch and après ski/dinner from Thursday to Monday,” Wilkinson said.

Rhubarb co-owner Terri Mathews-Carl said they had a restaurant at the former Silver Eagle Resort in Eagle Lake before moving to Carnarvon about eight years ago. She said the Wilkinsons are regular customers and Doug approached them about collaborating to provide food services at the ski hill.

After selling Boshkung Brewing a year and a half ago, Mathews-Carl said there was room for such a venture although they knew it would mean more work at a time when it is difficult to staff restaurants. They were able to use existing staff and some new hires to pull it off.

She said Kayla Gardiner is largely heading the venture for Rhubarb.

She said some people think the menu is going to be fine dining, similar to the Carnarvon eatery, but that isn’t the case. She said it will be “a little more elevated with healthy food options.” The new apres ski, between 5 and 8 p.m., for example, will offer things such as homemade burgers and charcuterie. During the day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., she said lunch will include barbecue, poutine, burgers, hotdogs, soups and salads. The restaurant will also be open Mondays for breakfast, lunch and dinner when not many County eateries are open that day.

“We definitely are excited. It’s great,” Mathews-Carl said, noting it wouldn’t have happened without Gardiner’s hard work.

The Wilkinsons have also installed a new bar (topped with a 100-year-old barn beam) facing the hill with a take-out window for the spacious deck.

On the slopes this year, they are going to continue the ski/boarding experience patrons are accustomed to. The ski hill will continue to operate five days a week, from Thursday through Monday, with morning and afternoon half-day options available throughout.

“We are also making exciting changes to the terrain park for our more adventurous guests,” Wilkinson said.

He added they’re looking forward to re-introducing a number of fun and exciting events throughout the season starting with a tree lighting at around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 in support of SIRCH. Nick and Benton will be performing some kids favourite Christmas tunes on the deck followed by a full concert inside afterwards.

See more at sirsams.com

Global scam hits local gnome artists

By

Sam Gillett

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December 2, 2021

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A pair of Highlands East artists are raising the alarm about an online shopping scam that’s stolen their shop’s identity and wasted countless hours of their time.

Sadie and Casper Revenant run RevenantFX from their home near Gooderham. They create hand-painted, horror-themed gnomes and other small statues.

In April 2021, they started receiving messages from fans asking about product listings on Amazon claiming to sell their products.

“We’d never seen anything like it before,” Casper said.

They tried to report the fake product listing, but nothing happened. They shared it with their online following of more than 26,000 fans on Facebook and Instagram. “People tried to report the ads and nothing came of it,” he said.

The fake ads multiplied.

“I spent about three weeks reporting listings, just Amazon alone,” said Sadie. Often Amazon would take the listing down, just as another popped up.

They’ve joined an online “scambusters” group that helped them report hundreds of copyright infringements on listings.

Customers who purchased the fake products showed images of smaller, lighter and mass-produced gnomes and statues, poor plastic replicas of Casper’s painting and Sadie’s moulding skill. While RevenantFX has posted multiple blogs and social media posts cautioning buyers, many shops get angry customers who believe the original maker is to blame.

A quick search for “zombie gnome” on Amazon shows how widespread the scam is: even with constant reporting, multiple vendors on Amazon currently advertise Casper and Sadie’s work, even using their product images and stealing hundreds of Etsy reviews.

Amazon wrote that “Our efforts have ensured more than 99.9 per cent of all Amazon page views by our customers landed on pages that did not receive a notice of potential counterfeit infringement and more than 99 per cent of the reviews read by customers are authentic.”

Despite those claims, RevenantFX said they’ve suffered massive sale losses due to fake reviews helping siphon customers away from their legitimate Etsy page and website.

“They’re sucking our income out,” said Casper.

Those who buy the fake gnomes, or any fake product online, often must return the product before being eligible for a refund when purchasing through sites such as Amazon or Paypal. However, returning a package from Canada to a country such as Hong Kong can cost more than $60, more than the price of many goods ripped off of RevenantFX.

Previously, PayPal has declined to comment on the matter, which has become known as a “bait and switch” tactic.

Buyer beware

Casper said he’s learned that the shops often target holidays such as Christmas.

“Whatever the season is coming up, you’re going to see the ads for that a little bit ahead of time,” said Casper.

The Canadian government’s anti-fraud centre warns buyers that the holidays, for scammers, “is a time of taking.” They caution buyers to research a seller before purchasing, or inputting the name into a web browser to see if warnings pop up.

“Just do your research,” said Sadie.

Often sellers such as RevenantFX have a robust social media presence with engaged audiences and their names visible.

Besides making sure buyers get their gnomes from the source, a long-term solution seems a long way off.

“You’d think there are things in place that would stop that, or somehow fight it, but no, it seems like nobody seems to care,” said Casper. For them, publicity is the first step in fighting the scam.

“The thing is to get the word out as much as we can. What we’ve seen is most of the stuff that’s going on is illegal in the first place but nothing can be done about it. Who do you call? Who goes after it?”