With a group 16-bicyclists strong, the Haliburton Real Easy Ryders Cycling Club kicked off from the West Guilford Community Centre April 30.  

The ride was the first of the season for the club, which has traveled along the many roads and trails in the county since 1998. The club rides together every Tuesday and Friday from May until October.  

Recent retiree Russ Duhaime joined the club just before its first ride this year and said it is cool to travel with a group of people who share his passion for the sport.  

“I love the way it de-stresses me,” Duhaime said of cycling. “Whatever problems you have in the world, they go away 20 minutes into a bike ride. People talk about meditation and mindfulness and that all comes naturally through biking.”  

President Robin Bell said the club’s membership is very strong. With more than 70 people registered, the club expects to expand to more than 100 people come the summer.  

The club welcomes all adults but its average age is in the mid-60s, Bell said. He added cycling is a good way for seniors to keep active.  

“It does exercise the big muscles for the legs, it exercises the lungs, the heart. You can go at your own speed,” Bell said.  

But the club is more than about riding bikes. Bell said it is a social experience, with members stopping at the same places to talk, eat and enjoy good company.  

Carolyn Langdon said there are always people you can find to go at your speed.  

“You make friends in the club,” she said. “You can either go for endurance, you can go for speed or you can just choose any type of group that you like within the spectrum.”  

“Some people just go on their bike and go hell-bent,” rider Joan Stoner said. “Some of us just wander around and look at the scenery and love it. It’s a camaraderie.”  

With the season getting started, Langdon said she is glad to hit the trails on her bike again. 

 “The icy snow is off the roads,” she said. “After a long winter, it’s really great to get out.” 

 Information on joining the club is available at haliburtonrealeasyryders.com

When the Abbey Retreat Centre (ARC) board was working towards holding their first cancer retreat in March of 2017, they recognized they needed some front office help.  

Chair Joy Davey wanted someone to do a little bit of paperwork. Member Barb Bolin suggested Donna McCallum, a former CAO of Dysart et al, who was retired.  

“So, I met with Joy and we just clicked,” McCallum said just before officially stepping down from her role as executive director of ARC at a reception on April 14.

New executive director, Doug Norris was formally introduced.  

McCallum, who started the last week of January 2017, said the one thing she told Davey was, “I don’t want to do meetings and I don’t want to do minutes. Guess what?” 

 She did both, and so much more in her more than two years with ARC, taking her part-time paperwork role to a full-fledged executive-director position.  

In an interview with The Highlander, McCallum said she was pleased Norris had been hired.  

“The job outgrew me. I didn’t want to spend 40 hours or more, and that’s what it was taking. In order for the centre to grow, it needed somebody full-time to take on all the extras.”  She said just taking care of the day-to-day operations of the centre did not afford time to get out into the community and that is something Norris can now do.  

The centre offers free cancer retreats for up to 10 people approximately every  two months. To help support that mission, it has added programming, including a speaker series, yoga, and other events aimed at bringing people to the back of the property, as well as revenue to support the cancer retreats.

They cost about $10,000 a weekend.  McCallum said the vision continues to be around making ARC a wellness hub.

They have also recently applied for charitable status and gotten a New Horizons for Seniors grant for their volunteer program. 

 Norris said he wants to educate people that ARC and Abbey Gardens and its food hub are two separate entities, although they both share the grounds with Haliburton Solar and Wind and Haliburton Highlands Brewing. 

He said another thing he would like to do over the next year or two is boost the profile of the retreat centre.  

“The core work is the cancer retreat. Everything else we do drives towards that. But we have to keep enough traffic in the centre, and revenue-generating traffic,” he said. “So, that’s the key mandate for me in year one and two, just to be out there in the community and helping people to understand more about who we are, even as we’re evolving and figuring out exactly what our work is going to be.”  

He said he thinks it’s great that people are associating Haliburton County with a unique program that promotes how people can thrive with cancer.

He added developing a wellness hub that supports a healthy local community also epitomizes the fight against cancer. 

Norris, a United Church minister, has been a Maple Lake cottager for about 14 years and is finishing up a house here. His wife will join him soon.

McCallum, meanwhile, heads back to retirement.  Norris commented on how McCallum’s flexibility has been part of the success story.

“To step in and respond when the need was ‘just to do a little paperwork.’ To carry it through to where the position was an emerging executive director role with that layer of responsibility. And to carry it that far and her willingness to go from that point A to that point B. And what a privilege for me to step in and pick it up on that platform.” 

 McCallum, who’s parting gift was a bursary for retreat participants, said, “I will always feel this was a special time in my life as part of the team that helped to start the Abbey Retreat Centre;   the board, the retreat team, the support staff, the volunteers … all an important part of the team that have given so generously of their time and made the work I did so much easier.”

As rain continues to fall over Minden, Kirsten Monk and Barry Cray remain confident they’ll stay dry and weather the flood of 2019. 

Following flooding two springs ago, the owners of Gordon A. Monk Funeral Home spent more than $50,000 flood-proofing their home on Bobcaygeon Road, adjacent to the Gull River. 

They hoped it would protect the property in the event of another one-in-a-hundred-year flood. However, they’ve now seen three of those in six years. 

“It’s amazing,” says Monk of the work they did with an engineer and builder. They have two concrete reservoirs that the water is drawn into via O pipes. 

The system means the couple has only had to lay a few hundred sandbags this year, compared to 12,000 in 2017. 

“It’s amazing to actually see it work. I feel very secure in what we’ve done,” Monk said. 

Not everyone in the town of Minden Hills has been so fortunate.

So far, there has been only one self-evacuation that the township knows of, but water has crept into homes and numerous roads remain closed. The latest water level management update, issued Tuesday, called for a five-day weather forecast predicting another heavy and widespread rain event with totals as high as 55 mm of precipitation.

“Water levels and flows remain high in northern areas. Most lake levels on the Gull River system are above full and expected to increase as a result of the forecasted rain amounts,” the statement said. Mayor Brent Devolin told The Highlander Tuesday, “We need to watch the 35-55 mm of rain in the next three days.”

He said the levels in Minden may rise again, but probably not to the 271.6 peak levels of last week. Nonetheless, he advises, “Leave sand bagging in place till the declaration is ended.”

More could be done

But Monk and Cray aren’t convinced everything’s been done that could be done. They spent the money to put value back into their business but also because, “We can’t keep living our lives the way we’ve been living every time this happens.”

They weren’t covered by insurance in 2013, and while covered in 2017 paid a $10,000 deductible. Another flood such as this one would have brought a $50,000 deductible. They remortgaged to do the flood-proofing.

“Until the powers that be do the right thing, no one is safe,” Monk said, pointing a finger at Trent-Severn Waterway management. Cray added, “nothing’s been done from 2013 to change the infrastructure of this town, to prevent what’s happening.”

Monk said they’d prefer $12.5 million not be spent on the arena renewal.

“They could still upgrade the arena at a reasonable cost and there would be an awful lot of money to protect people on Invergordon Avenue, Anson, Prince etc.,” she said.

Four years in the making, the new Home Hardware store in Haliburton is nearly ready to open its doors.  

Walker’s Home Hardware is hosting a preview night May 6, with the store open for shoppers the next morning.

The new location on County Road 21 is 16,000 square feet on a four-and-a-half acre property, with increased parking, more floor space and a garden and outdoor centre. 

 Co-owner Dale Walker said the community support for the development has been overwhelming.  

“We get 50 questions a day but it’s all good,” Walker said. “They’re looking forward to an improved shopping experience, better parking. We’re looking for better efficiencies in our work, more products to offer the customers.”  

The development had its challenges, Walker said.

The first phase of the project began in 2017 but hit a year-long snag with the county over a requirement to build a left-turn lane, which the two sides ultimately settled by splitting the costs.  

“With any commercial building, there’s challenges, so we’ve worked through them,” Walker said. “We like to think we’re on the home stretch.”  

New store manager Brian Nelson says it has been hectic getting the new store ready for customers.  

“It’s a big transition. The team is going from an older building with a lot of challenges to a big, bright, modern building,” Nelson said. “It’s very exciting and we want to satisfy the customer. Ultimately, that’s the goal.”  

To help do that, Home Hardware is hosting a preview night, which will offer the public a chance to wine-and-dine inside the new building.

Tickets are $20 for the non-shopping event, with all funds raised going toward the Haliburton Highlands Heath Services Foundation.  

“We wanted to do that to support the hospital,” Walker said. “Without asking for them to buy something. We hope there will be a great crowd and they’ll come out and enjoy the evening.”  

The preview night begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Walker’s Home Hardware and the Haliburton Highlands Health Services office.

Grade 8 students at Archie Stouffer Elementary School got a taste of how to cook meals for others with the help of the Minden Food Bank.  

Students capped off a seven-week cooking class by preparing a full meal for their parents April 17.

The course, part of the student’s health curriculum, taught students about meal preparation, kitchen safety and healthy eating.  

Teacher Shannon Blanchard said the program also teaches lessons that go beyond the kitchen.  “It’s been amazing,” Blanchard said. “They’ve made appetizers, main meals, side dishes, desserts. It’s building on those leadership skills (and) team building.”  

Student Ava Allaire said the course has been beneficial.  

“I find I don’t really cook at home and I feel like this course has just given me the opportunity to cook and learn new things,” she said. 

 The Minden Food Bank has been involved in putting on the course with a grant from Feed Ontario for the past three years, according to former community kitchen manager Marilynne Lesperance.

The food bank has used its industrial kitchen to teach students.  

“They’re good. I think they’ve learned a lot and I think most of them have been killing it,” Lesperance said.  

Students did their own shopping to prepare a full meal for their parents, which featured lasagna, Caesar salad, garlic bread, broccoli with cheese sauce and cakes.  

Talus Fox said it would be his first time cooking for his family.  

“It’s exciting for me. It’s like a milestone in my life,” he said.  

Food bank volunteer Betty Mark said she used to teach a home economics class at Archie Stouffer, which is no longer offered. 

 “Since they got rid of the home-ec program, it’s kind of nice to be able to work with kids, teaching them basic life skills,” she said. “Sooner or later, they’re going to have to fend for themselves and a lot of them don’t know how to do that … what we’re hoping to do is provide them with healthy eating options.”  “Everybody needs to eat,” Blanchard said. “We need to know where our food comes from.” 

As Devonte Casey-Palmer played with foam building blocks during the Haliburton County Home Builders Association (HCHBA) trades day in the high school gym, the Grade 7 student was thinking about his future. 

“I’ve seen mostly family with some of this stuff … my uncle owns a business that does this,” he commented Tuesday (April 23) as Andrew Brown of Brown and Company showed him and fellow student Lucas Graham some building plans.  

He’s asked if he would consider a career in building and says “yeah. Because there’s been a long history for me. I’ve been able to build things, especially with Lego. And, I’d like to own my own business one day.” 

On the other sides of the tables were booth holders, such as Jason Redner, a dietary manager at Extendicare.  

He said it’s good for students to learn about the variety of career options they have and to start thinking about what they want to do.

He said they were telling students their line of work “makes you feel good because you are helping residents and seniors.”

He added there are a number of jobs at Extendicare with varying requirements and qualifications.  

The HCHBA organized the second annual career day.  

Executive director Aggie Tose said they were very happy with the turnout and had great support from the teaching staff at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School and principal Chris Boulay.

Students from Grades 7-12 were invited. 

 “What I’d like them [students] to see, which we’re gong to promote a little more next year, is there are a number of people here working booths who are graduates of this high school and who have gone away to school and come back and now they’re living and working in Haliburton County very successfully,” she said.  “And I think that’s what these young people need to know. There are jobs here in Haliburton County. They don’t have to go away. They may have to go away for some schooling but there are places for them when they come back.”  

Tose said as early as elementary school, students need to learn in advance about the number of options that are available to them. 

The Haliburton County Public Library is grappling with the “huge loss” of the interlibrary loan service due to provincial budget cut.  

The Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) announced April 18 that due to the “enormity of the cut” to its operating budget by the province, interlibrary loan delivery will end April 26. T

he system enabled libraries across the province to order material from other locations, allowing people remote access to bigger collections.  

Library CEO Bessie Sullivan said it made a big difference for Haliburton, whose approximately 52,000-item collection is dwarfed by libraries in big cities.  

“It was supposed to level the playing field between different-sized communities,” Sullivan said. “It’s a huge loss. That’s no economic impact on us, that’s a service cut.”  

In a statement posted by the Ontario Federation of Public Libraries, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Tibollo said the government is maintaining base funding for libraries and described the SOLS and its northern counterpart as “arms-length” agencies. 

 “(They) have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of Ontario public libraries,” Tibollo said. “This government will continue to maintain strong partnerships with municipal and Indigenous libraries and assist them in providing quality public services for everyone.” 

Sullivan questioned that characterization of the SOLS cut.  

“I’m going to be kind and say they didn’t understand what they’re cutting,” Sullivan said. “‘It doesn’t affect the day-to-day operations,’ that’s obviously not the case.”  

The SOLS’s provincial operating grant was $3.3 million in 2018. The Haliburton County Public Library borrowed 1,493 items through the interlibrary service in 2018, while sending out 1,659 items to other libraries.

It represents a small fraction of the county’s total circulation, which was over 160,000 in 2018.  

However, collection development coordinator Sherill Sherwood said the information people seek from other libraries can be vital, such as updated building codes or health books.  

“If there are people in our community who are having health issues and the titles are out of print, we’ve been able to get them,” Sherwood said. “It’s important for their quality of life.”  

The SOLS is also ending its courier service. Sullivan said that will have an impact on the library budget, as they will now be responsible for paying to ship in new material, costs previously covered by the SOLS. 

 “When you’re shipping giant boxes of books, it’s a very expensive proposition,” Sullivan said. “Something will have to give in order to pay for that shipping.”  

Sullivan said the library board has yet to meet to discuss the news but the changes are challenging to plan for.  

“A part of why people go to the library to work is they believe in equity of access and this seriously undermines equity of access,” she said.

The county is keeping the transportation file parked in hopes of better opportunities down the road.  

County council voted unanimously April 24 to continue to monitor transportation options and that they continue to be discussed as part of the 2020 budget process.

The $50,000 budgeted to continue work on transportation is also to remain unallocated.  

The motion comes after the county transportation taskforce reached the end of its mandate in April and the transportation advocacy group Rural Transportation Options opted to go on hiatus.  

Coun. Patrick Kennedy said although the county does not want to move forward with a transportation system now due to unknown costs, he does not want to see the efforts of the people who have pushed for transportation go to waste.  

“Those people gave up their lives for this,” Kennedy said. “There is really a need for the county to move forward with a system. Maybe today is not the right time.”  

He said the province and federal government are talking about rural transportation but the funding for it has not been forthcoming. 

 County received a final report on a transportation implementation plan from consulted IBI Group Jan. 23.

The group recommended a booked, shared ride-service and proposed a way to implement it starting this year.

However,  council expressed a number of concerns about the proposal, including the cost of more than $162,000 annually. 

Coun. Andrea Roberts said the proposal also proposed to use Dysart et al’s DYMO bus for the new service but the committee has indicated it wants to keep it given the success of the program.  

“I’ve said from the outset, a door-to-door service is the only way to go,” Roberts said. “I don’t mind a transportation system costing the county money, … but it’s got to be viable.” 

Roberts said there has to be a match-up system in the vein of Uber. 

“We should park the money and hope the technology catches up,” she said. 

Coun. Cec Ryall expressed concern about keeping the $50,000 parked. But CAO Mike Rutter argued that could be advantageous if the county sets aside money for transportation each year. 

“That helps start-up costs, maybe it buys a bus, maybe it buys a contract for a bus,” he said.