Pride group seeks to rescue LGBTQI refugee

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September 23, 2021

Minden Pride is aiming to raise $10,000 to help bring an LGBTQ refugee into Canada, giving them an opportunity to start a new life.

The local group is partnering with Rainbow Railroad, a global non-profit that helps individuals facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics escape dangerous, sometimes even fatal, situations.

“It’s hard to believe there’s [almost] 70 countries in the world where just being who you are is considered illegal,” Allan Guinan, chair of Minden Pride, informed The Highlander. “Being gay is not OK in a lot of countries still in the world. Afghanistan is just one example. You can be tortured, you can be murdered in Afghanistan for being gay.”

Guinan and a collection of volunteers have banded together in recent weeks in an attempt to raise enough money to sponsor an individual through Rainbow Railroad. As of press time, they have raised approximately $7,797 of their $10,000 goal – the costs associated, Guinan says, with helping one person escape state sponsored violence.

Since being founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped over 1,600 LGBTQ individuals find safety through emergency relocation and other forms of assistance.

Due to political instability in some parts of the world, most notably in Africa and the Middle East, there has been a huge surge in demand for support and assistance in recent months. Since Jan. 1 of this year, there has been 2,987 individual requests for help received by Rainbow Railroad.

Kimahli Powell, Rainbow Railroad executive director, recently told CBC that his organization has fielded hundreds of requests for assistance from LGBTQ individuals in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in the war-torn country in mid-August.

“Conditions for LGBTQ folks was precarious even before Taliban rule … Our fear with the Taliban is that members of the community will be targets. We’re already seeing disturbing reports from people who reached out to us that the Taliban is seeking out members of the LGBTQ community, and there have been reports of someone allegedly being killed,” Powell said. “We’re really concerned, and the people who have reached out to us are extremely concerned, which is why we have to do everything we can to help people who are at imminent risk escape.”

Guinan echoed those sentiments, saying the current situation in Afghanistan is really driving home the point to members of Minden Pride how fortunate they are.

“The luxuries that we have in Canada, and here in Minden as a community are not necessarily the same for everyone else around the world,” Guinan said. “We’re seeing some truly horrific things happen right now – not only in Afghanistan, but in other places too … Our goal with this is to get somebody out of an area where homosexuality is illegal, or they’ve faced, or are facing some sort of persecution.”

For more information on Rainbow Railroad, visit www.rainbowrailroad.org. To donate to the local fundraising effort, visit www.mindenpride.ca.

Outdoors Association washes for walleye

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Sam Gillett

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September 23, 2021

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The Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association (HHOA) brought hip waders and fire hoses into the Drag River Sept. 14 in an attempt to boost the waterway’s Walleye population.

Volunteers washed away sediment from between the rocks under the Highway 118 bridge, a busy spawning site for the fish.

HHOA Director Tim Bahr explained how Walleye eggs won’t stick to rocks when sand and silt get in the way. That could be a reason why Bahr and so many other local anglers have noticed a decline in the tasty fish which is popular for sport fishing.

“Ten years ago, walleye were plentiful and now they’re nearly nonexistent,” Bahr said.

The HHOA will clean the spawning ground yearly, power washing sediment downstream until it’s caught in a filtration net just before the river flows into Head Lake. Dysart’s fire Chief Mike Iles volunteered his time to help, bringing along two fire hoses and pumps.

“It’s one thing that people like us can do to help the fishing,” Bahr said.

The HHOA also polled anglers along the Kashagawigamog chain of lakes and rivers about the health of the area’s fisheries. So far, 138 people who live on the lakes and rivers along the chain or have fished it responded.

Eighty-two per cent said they’ve noticed a Walleye decline throughout the years, and 33 per cent report poor fishing conditions.

“We have heard from many anglers that the Walleye fishing in the Kash Chain has declined significantly,” said Dan Smith, HHOA President, in a press release. “We plan to work with the MNRF to do all we can to improve the fishery.”

Fifty-one per cent of people who responded to the survey said they fish for sport, only keeping the odd fish. Respondent’s concerns included big boat traffic, shoreline development and inadequate fishing regulations that might be causing a decline in fishing conditions. Besides a survey polling those with the bait and reels, the HHOA is also keeping an eye on the fish themselves.

They restarted their Walleye Watch Program this spring to monitor the Drag River spawning site. Retired Fleming College Fisheries and Limnology Professor Denis McGee helped 14 HHOA members stake out the site for 25 nights, measuring the quantities of Walleye eggs in the spawn site. They counted 1,334 Walleye.

The fish were first introduced to the Kashagawigamog chain in the 1950s. It is now one of the most popular fish to catch in Ontario, however shortages have been reported on multiple lakes and water systems. If populations continue to decline, Bahr predicts the sport fishing industry could suffer, or other species could be overfished.

Health Unit plans post-COVID recovery

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Sam Gillett

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September 23, 2021

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COVID-19 caused seismic shifts in day to day operations for the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit. Whether implementing protective measures, coordinating online meeting schedules, or determining which programs could safely be run, the unit was forced to pivot in nearly all departments. Now, they’re charting a path back to normalizing service delivery.

At a virtual Board of Health meeting Sept. 16, chief medical of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said while COVID-19 protective measures aren’t going away, now is the time to determine how they can restart services halted during the pandemic and reorient current programs to suit postpandemic health needs.

She said the path forward for the region’s health services means “learning to live with COVID-19” after the fourth wave. Core programs, such as health inspections, immunizations and work with vulnerable communities, have been running throughout the pandemic. Other programs are restarting this fall, like dental and sexual health clinics.

Some services remain offline or are running at reduced levels. These include school immunizations, in-person food handler training, oral and vision screening, as well as a broad suite of awareness campaigns around sexual health, climate change and health promotion.“These programs can’t remain offline indefinitely,” Bocking said.

The health unit’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan Framework is a master plan outlining how the health unit will recover from the pandemic. It’s guided by a board of multiple members of the district’s health services team, who have been meeting regularly since June.

The plan seeks to “identify the lessons learned, and incorporate them into [the health unit’s] normal going forward,” explained Lorna McCleary, a health promotion manager and co-chair of the recovery planning team. That includes changing how health unit programs are planned and implemented in light of COVID-19 concerns.

Much of what the plan will look like, and when it will be implemented, is still unknown, pending guidance on COVID-19 concerns. There’s still uncertainty regarding COVID-19 immunization plans for 1-5 year-olds, booster shots, new variants and the extent of the predicted fourth wave.

“All of this is going to impact our capacity to move forward,” McCleary said.

Requests five per cent municipal funding bump

The board voted in favour of a 2022 budget totalling $22,005,474, partially funded by a $15,554,500 allotment from the Ministry of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. The HKPR’s budget factors in a reduction in personnel costs, which will be covered through reserve funds. It’s $281,082 less than the health unit’s 2021 budget, largely due to a projected decrease in COVID-19 costs.

The pandemic cost the HKPR health unit $1,941,187 between April and June, 2020. That includes staffing costs, equipment and PPE purchases and more. $920,910 was spent on COVID-19 vaccination efforts alone.

Ontario’s Ministry of Health has granted the health unit $1,618,300 in one-time funding for the 2021-22 fiscal year, and up to $264,000 in one-time funding for 2022-23. Those funds will help make up the deficit caused by COVID-19 costs, said Angela Vickery, HKPR’s manager of corporate services. With vaccination rates up, the health unit is planning for fewer COVID-19 related costs in 2022, even though Ontario currently faces a fourth wave.

“We will not require the same amount of resources in 2022 as we did in 2021,” Vickery said. The board also voted for a five per cent increase in municipal funding from the County of Northumberland, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The County of Haliburton contributed $463,508 in 2020.

Nurse pivots from ER to aesthetics

By

Lisa Gervais

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September 23, 2021

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Looking for a lift in life? Registered nurse Jenn Emmerson has a solution. In fact, the former emergency room nurse turned entrepreneur can offer several solutions.

Emmerson owns B.A.O. Beauty Clinic, formerly JE Medical Cosmetics, established a year ago and now located on Maple Avenue in Haliburton. She is certified for cosmetic injectables and multiple advanced procedures including the applications of Platelet-Rich Plasma for skin and hair rejuvenation, fat dissolving injections, and non-surgical facelift techniques using dissolvable sutures called PDO Threads.

The switch from ER to aesthetics was a natural one for Emmerson.

“The most rewarding and fulfilling part of being a nurse is the opportunity to change someone’s day for the better,” said Emmerson. “I wanted to take that feeling and skillset and apply it in a new avenue of nursing, aesthetic nurse, the chance to provide this in my own clinic setting, an uplifting and positive environment that feels safe for everyone and is open to all.

“The ability to give someone a new sense of confidence is so rewarding, keeps me wanting to learn more and always striving to provide the best and safest services to the community.”

Emmerson works with nurse practitioner Christine Wickson and Wickson’s team of fellow NPs at Boost Clinics as the medical directorship for B.A.O. The team members ensure that each potential B.A.O. client is a candidate for treatment and they oversee the treatments.

“With over 14 years of experience, Christine has so much knowledge, keeping [clients] safe and informed every step of the way.”

The new company name B.A.O. began with Emmerson’s children’s initials and then extended to a statement.

“It’s simple, three names – Brooks, Ashton and Olivia, these three inspire and challenge me daily, making me a better person. They teach me to slow down and appreciate the smallest things. Keeping this reminder in my business was important to me. Beautiful, Authentic and Original.”

Emmerson’s family and close friends encouraged her to take a chance and believe in herself in becoming an entrepreneur.

“They still encourage me to this day and I am so grateful for them every step of the way … My passion for making people feel good, appreciated and understood paired with my attention to detail was a perfect match for a career in aesthetic medicine.”

The area resident said the community has also been supportive so far and she feels “extremely grateful” to have made it through the pandemic. She took care to accommodate the community in her choice of new location, finding a convenient and accessible environment filled with light that has an elevator and parking areas in front of the clinic and directly across the street.

The B.A.O. approach to aesthetic treatments is not to change how the client looks but to emphasize and create harmony with their features, said Emmerson, adding she is proud to provide quality medical aesthetics services using industry-leading products. B.A.O. also carries AlumierMD skincare products for purchase.

“As we enter into fall and the cooler months it’s a great time to evaluate your skin. Come in for a medical grade facial and enter the holiday season glowing!” B.A.O. Beauty Clinic is located at 49 Maple Avenue, Unit 6 in Haliburton. Call 705-455-0744, email jenn@baobeauty.ca or visit baobeauty.ca.

Principal hopes to build ‘family atmosphere’

By

Mike Baker

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September 23, 2021

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While the position of principal is brand new to her, Barb Davies is in familiar surroundings as she begins her position with Cardiff and Wilberforce elementary schools.

The long-time educator transitioned into the role at the beginning of the new school year, replacing the recently retired Elaine Fournier. Davies said she couldn’t be happier as she begins her dream position.

“I’ve been here basically all my life,” said Davies, who grew up in Wilberforce.

“I went to Cardiff for kindergarten, did Grade 1 to Grade 4 in Wilberforce, and then upper elementary and high school in Haliburton … Aside from my time at Western University in London, I have lived my whole life in the Highlands. My heart and soul are here in Wilberforce, and in Cardiff.”

Davies most recently spent five years as vice-principal in Wilberforce, following a similar stint at J.D. Hodgson elementary school in Haliburton. She has taught every grade at the elementary level over a distinguished career that has spanned more than two decades.

Interacting with students and playing a key role in their development is central to all that Davies does in her new day-to-day role as principal. While she enjoyed her experience in the classroom as a teacher, Davies feels she can make more of a difference in the overall school community as an administrator.

A big part of that, she says, is helping to foster a family-like atmosphere at the two sites.

“We really are like one big family, which I feel makes kids feel accepted and cared for and secure. You really can’t expect success in academics if your kids don’t feel those things first, so that’s particularly important to me,” Davies said. “We look at different needs, and do whatever we can to meet those needs. I believe that all students can learn, be successful … and have happy, positive memories all at the same time.”

To help build that level of community spirit in the classroom, Davies has encouraged teachers to lead “student circles” during morning instruction, giving students the ability to talk, share stories and express their feelings in a caring and accepting environment.

“This helps to create a culture of empathy and equity in our schools, and really strengthens the bonds between students in our classrooms,” Davies said.

That particular exercise has been one of the major benefits of having students back on-site and inside the classroom, Davies says. As well, she’s just enjoyed seeing all the smiling faces, and listening to the buzz generated on the playground during recess.

“I love being back. Kids do better, I feel, in the school. They’re with their friends, and that, I think, makes them happier. It helps their wellbeing and their mental health just being able to connect with their classmates,” Davies said. “There’s a quote that I really like – to reach students’ minds, we must pass through their hearts first. It’s been difficult over the past [18 months] in a mostly online environment. In person is where we, as teachers, as educators are able to make the most impact.”

As Davies looks to the future, she’s excited to relaunch some extracurriculars at the schools, such as youth group and the Grade 8 cooking program.

“This is the start of a whole new year, that is filled with new possibilities,” Davies said.

Pandemic pushes school board into deficit

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Lisa Gervais

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September 23, 2021

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COVID and its additional costs are largely responsible for the $3.9 million deficit expected by the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

On September 14, Superintendent of Finance Tim Ellis shared with trustees the third quarter financial report which ended May 31, 2021.

“This is the first opportunity that I have had to break the numbers to you as we don’t meet in the summer,” Ellis said. “Our actual revenue was lower than our estimates.”

Ellis also detailed that budgets for classroom technology, staff sick leave, maintenance, supply coverage and support for special education students learning at distance were in some cases well above what was budgeted for last year.

“The expected deficit of $3.9 million is just below the 2 percent provision. We can use 2 percent of our accumulated surplus to a maximum of $4 million to cover additional COVID related costs,” Ellis said.

Report confirms driver shortage

Every day more than 13,000 Trillium Lakelands District School Board students are transported to area schools by the 321 buses that are contracted by the board.

This year there are real issues regarding the availability of drivers and buses to cover all the available routes before and after school.

Superintendent of Finance Tim Ellis told trustees on September 14 that, “Bus drivers are at a premium right now. Our operators are working to get as many drivers as possible behind the wheel. This is presenting a real challenge right across the province this year.”

Trustee Judy Saunders wanted to know what the board is doing to make sure all students are being picked up and transported to school on board contracted buses.

“New students may need to wait upwards of a week to be added to driver’s manifests,” Ellis said. “All students will be given transportation, but it will take a little time.”

When queried about the cause of the shortages, Ellis said “Some drivers have chosen not to get vaccinated and some have chosen not to drive this year.”

Saunders continued her questioning, wanting to know whose responsibility it is to communicate with families about students not yet getting on the transport manifest.

Ellis said, “It is up to the schools to communicate with the parents unless a whole bus doesn’t run, and then communication with parents is on the operator.”

Saunders asked if buses that are currently arriving late for school because of doing two runs in the morning can be better coordinated.

Ellis is hoping that routes without drivers will be staffed over the next few weeks as the operators interview for potential drivers.

Student trustee Ryder Lytle asked about the status of late buses that transport students who stay after school for help or to participate in afterschool activities.

“If late buses don’t run,” Lytle said, “students can’t join sports.”

“This has been discussed,” Ellis replied. “We are engaging in dialogues with various parties looking for solutions. This is a significant challenge with the existing buses that we have access to. How do we get students home from practices and transport them to their games? We are looking at many options.”

Enrollment numbers creating problems

Superintendent of Finance Tim Ellis told trustees on September 14 that enrollment is up across both panels, but that until more provincial funding is made available there may be issues with crowded classrooms and not enough spaces on board contracted buses.

Ellis reported that last year the board estimated they would have approximately 11,000 elementary students when doors opened for business on September 7. In reality the board has found themselves with approximately 11,500 to 11,700 students enrolled at the elementary panel depending upon the day.

At secondary, numbers are also up approximately 100 students with the bulk of the increase found at I.E. Weldon in Lindsay and Huntsville High School.

Trustee Stephen Binstock wanted a breakdown on which areas of the board are growing, “because 500 kids are a lot of new kids.”

Firefighters call for volunteers

By

Lisa Gervais

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September 23, 2021

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While the Algonquin Highlands fire department is in the midst of an annual recruitment drive for volunteers, Highlands East and Dysart et al fire chiefs say the door is always open to interested candidates.

AH fire Chief Michael French, Highlands East fire Chief Chris Baughman and Dysart fire Chief Mike Iles joined a recent Zoom interview with The Highlander. Minden Hills fire Chief Nelson Johnson was invited but did not attend.

French said their drive is until Sept. 30. Baughman said HE accepts resumes all year round.

“We do have banners out saying that we are accepting recruits but it’s generally allyear round.” He said they don’t have the luxury of many businesses in the area that keep people local “so we need whatever we can when we can.” He said the challenge is people leave the area for work so are generally not around, even if they do want to volunteer, at critical times such as the daytime hours.

Iles said they typically have a drive every fall although they didn’t last year and they’re just about finished for this year. Iles said he should have a full department of 30 firefighters. He was finalizing the hiring process as of Sept. 16. French said they had a dozen applicants but still need candidates for the north of the riding up in the Oxtongue Lake area because, like Baughman, he said there aren’t the businesses up there. “We don’t get a lot of people applying for the area so it is ongoing there.”

Asked what some of the challenges to recruitment are, French said, “A lot of people. Their lives are so busy. They’re very dedicated to their families. Being a volunteer firefighter does require commitment, your weekly training along with other specialized events, and going to your emergency responses … it’s not like older days where you didn’t have as many sports or activities for your kids. It’s a sign of the times.”

Iles said COVID may be having an impact but he does not think it’s a substantial one. And Baugham said with the increase in the County population due to the pandemic, it may lead to more volunteers.

Volunteer firefighters are paid in Haliburton County, most at just under $20-an-hour but the chiefs don’t think that’s an impediment. Baughman said the pay matches the rest of the province. They added they don’t think volunteers join for the money.

Iles said their call volumes continue to increase. “At one time it was a very minimal number of calls and every year it goes up so it becomes more and more of a commitment every year that goes by so it’s a huge commitment.”

French said one key is local employers being willing to release volunteer firefighters to respond to emergencies.

Iles said he is looking for people who are open-minded and team players. Baughman said “it is very fulfilling when you do get to help someone. I think you just have to have an appreciation for that. For me, a thank you is all I need.”

French added, “And they’re serving their community just like if you were going out to be a hockey coach. It’s the same thing. They’re just trying to help out and be part of their community.”

Baughman said it is good for people to know that the departments supply the training and education so they don’t have to be fully trained coming in to what is a highly trained job. He added employers aren’t expected to pay their employees when they go out to a call since the fire departments pay them. Baughman said they provide training and it’s a good way to get out and meet people and their community.

Iles said there are a lot of female volunteers, too. “It’s not a stereotypical job. It’s a job that’s available to everybody.”

French came from a full-time department.

“it’s so refreshing to see the attitude of the volunteers. They’re here because they want to be. Some people will do it for a short time, and a short time becomes 25-30 years.” He noted they have three volunteers around the 50-year-mark and “that shows how much they enjoy doing what they’re doing.”

Students lay crosses for local heroes

By

Sam Gillett

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September 23, 2021

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This week at Haliburton’s Evergreen and St. Anthony’s Cemeteries, small white crosses adorned with poppies pay tribute to those who served in the Canadian Armed Forces. On Sept. 20, the crosses were laid as part of the Haliburton Legion’s second annual Veterans Decoration Day.

HHHS students helped find the graves of Canadian forces veterans at both cemeteries, and spent time planting a cross in front of each one.

“They can’t be here to do it, so it’s important we help remember them,” said high school student Gerrit Kooistra, one of 20 students who took part.

“Anything we can do to help the legion, we’re there, said HHHS teacher Paul Longo who organized the students’ involvement.“We try to do as much as we can within the community as well as the school.”

After the Legion Colour Party led the march to the cemetery, Local musician Gord Kidd strummed songs on the guitar. Songs like Leonard Cohen’s Hallejujah echoed across the cemetery while the students paid tribute to the soldiers. The project was organized and aided by the Haliburton Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary and the Haliburton & District Lions Club.

Legion members like Sir Harold Rowden, who served in the battle of Normandy, and President Don Pitman, watched as the students distributed crosses.

“It was quite emotional for me,” Pitman said. “ You just go right back and remember the people who gave their life in service to their country or they spent time overseas so it’s just a great reminder, never to forget.”

Pitman said the presence of high school students is an important part of the day. To him, it means they’re learning valuable lessons about Canada’s past and present.

“It’s an addition to Remembrance Day but it has a more local tone, it’s almost like an additional recognition to everyone here that served.”

Mould keeps Dorset Rec Centre closed

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Lisa Gervais

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September 23, 2021

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Dorset and area residents will have to wait a little longer to use the town’s recreation centre.

In addition to continuing COVID-19 challenges, mould has been discovered at the complex and Algonquin Highlands councillors decided Sept. 16 to have interior waterproofing done. The township will also apply for an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant in hopes of getting $500,000 to put towards the unbudgeted expenditure.

Operations manager, Lyell Bergstrome, said Cambium Inc. had been hired to have a look at the building. One of their recommendations was inside waterproofing at a cost of $350,000 to $400,000 which should last 40 to 50 years.

If the OTF grant request is unsuccessful, the item is expected to come back to council for more discussion.

Bergstome said the contractor had a look on Aug. 19.

“Within their report they outline the main issues being: inadequate attic insulation and venting, exterior walls do not contain moisture barrier, duct work not adequately insulated causing heat loss in the attic space, washroom vent fans not properly discharging,” Bergstrome wrote.

Recommendations ranged from exterior waterproofing to demolishing and reconstructing the building at a cost of $4-5 million.

Bergstrome recommended the interior waterproofing to maintain the look of the building while still addressing internal issues of wet insulation and mould. However, he said it could close the centre until next spring at the earliest.

Mayor Carol Moffat said in a perfect world, they could knock the 32-yearold building down and build something addressing all of the community’s wants however it would cost many millions of dollars at a time when the township has other capital demands.

Deputy mayor Liz Danielsen said they could look at the entire footprint, including the public works garage, incorporating housing.

However, in the end, councillors went with the interior waterproofing and applying for an OTF grant.

Coun. Julia Shortreed said while she’d love to have something bigger and better, residents ask her every day, “when’s it going to open? When is the gym going to open? They want to use the squash courts. It’s hard to justify telling them we’re going to be closed for three years. That’s really hard for the community.”

CAO Angie Bird said although 32 years old, it is a “solid building.” She noted council has done extensive recent renovations including a new fitness room and a community hub upstairs where the library used to be.

“I’d hate to see those go by the wayside. There’s lots of potential with the building as it now stands.

Over 450,000 snails removed from area lakes

By

Mike Baker

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September 23, 2021

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A group of almost 300 local volunteers have teamed up with specialists from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFA) to remove more than 450,000 invasive snails from dozens of area lakes.

The project, being lauded as the first of its kind in Ontario, kicked off earlier this summer after representatives from the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA) identified two types of invasive snails that its members say are overly prevalent in a collection of popular lakes.

Paul MacInnes, chair of CHA, contacted Brook Schryer, an invasive species specialist with OFA back in April for advice on how to go about removing the snails.

“I was told pretty quickly that this sort of thing is heavily regulated. Snails, even invasive snails, are protected under the federal fisheries act, so we had to get a license,” MacInnes said.

Schryer took care of most of the heavy leg work in that regard, which included training all of the volunteers who wished to participate in the clean-up.

In an interview, Schryer noted the two species in question – the Chinese Mystery Snail and the Banded Mystery Snail – can disrupt a lake’s eco-system.

“These kind of snails have been linked to largemouth bass eggs being predated upon, which obviously impacts the population of largemouth bass in lakes where these snails are prevalent,” Schryer said. “They’ve also been linked to various parasites that can be passed on to fish, waterfowl, and even humans. There’s science out there that supports links between these snails and Swimmer’s Itch (a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites).”

History on the Chinese Mystery Snail dates back to the late 1800s, Schryer says. Native to eastern Asia, the snail found its way to North America via boat, first landing on the shores of San Francisco around 1892. Since then, they have quickly spread across the continent. The Banded Mystery Snail is different in that it’s actually native to North America, originating in southern U.S states such as Florida and Georgia. Schryer says there’s evidence to suggest the Banded Mystery Snail was first introduced to the Great Lakes around 1931.

Mark Roszell owns a lakeside property on Mountain Lake. He says he first encountered these types of invasive snails around 15 years ago. He was one of three volunteers on his lake to be trained to collect the snails. Together, he estimates they collected around 6,000 over the course of the summer.

“This program is desperately needed. These snails have been getting worse and worse now for several years,” Roszell said.

“They’re not good for the lake, and, at certain times, they seem to have these dieoff events, where hundreds and hundreds of empty shells float right to the surface, and all this organic matter gets into the water. It creates a horrible smell.”

Michael Jankowski and his mother, Beatrice collectively gathered up around 17,000 snails on the weekends they spent at their cottage on South Lake. He hopes the attention generated through the success of this year’s program will inspire more people to get involved in the future should it return.

“I think this sort of thing is really important for the longevity of the lake … I fear that, unless we do something about this, in the future our lake could turn be taken over by these mystery snails, and the impacts on the water quality could be terrible,” Jankowski said.

Schryer noted these two types of snails are particularly dangerous due to the rate in which they reproduce. A single Chinese Mystery Snail, Schryer says, could reproduce up to 100 times.

Reflecting on the success of this first program, Schryer says he was impressed by the many volunteers who went above and beyond to help clean up approximately 45 lakes across the Highlands. He reserved special praise for one individual in particular, who preferred to remain anonymous, who collected around 257,000 snails by herself on Grass Lake.

He hopes to bring the program back in future years, though warned anyone looking to participate would need to be retrained before being allowed to go out and collect.

“When it comes to the goals of this program, I would really like to optimistically say it’s about reducing the populations of these invasive snails in these lakes … We want to give shoreline owners the ability to do something about this problem,” Schryer said. “Maybe over time, with enough dedication, we can start to see some results. These snails are not supposed to be in our waters, and they can have real negative impacts.”

For more information on invasive snails, visit www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/ invertebrates/invasive-snails. For more information on the CHA invasive snail project, contact Schryer at brook_schryer@ ofah.org.