A former director of the Haliburton County EMS told Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) consultants Tuesday (June 23) they could find municipal government efficiencies by consolidating roads, and fire, departments in the Highlands.

Bob English was one of about 20 people who attended an open house for an affordability and governance study that EORN is doing on behalf of the County of Haliburton.

His comments came after consultant, Maureen Adams, said one example of making local government more efficient could be centralizing planning services at the County level. Now, each municipality has at least one planner and some have junior planners.

English said it’s been done for paramedics and is not about losing personnel, but rather “wanting to provide seamless service,” with things such as standardized firefighting equipment, dispatch, and response times. He noted that now, some fire departments in the County can do water rescues, while some can only do shore rescues.

He said this could also be done with plow routes and parole yards.

Former County warden Chris Hodgson said because the County is small, the consultants must come up with a unique plan and then seek changed funding formulas from the province for things such as OPP billing.

Talk of consolidating services

Farmer Godfrey Tyler said one of the study’s challenges is that there are two distinct societies in Haliburton County: those who were born and grew up there; and newcomers in the form of retirees, migrants, and refugees from urban areas. “Their interests are different.”

Adams said they are also hearing from people that youth are looking to move elsewhere because there is nothing to keep them in the County.

Fellow resident Pamela Marsales wanted to know where the study was headed. Adams told her they are gathering feedback in June, then hoping to provide modeling options to the County at the end of July. It will be up to the County of Haliburton whether those models are taken back out to public meetings.

She noted nothing is predetermined; it could be status quo; amalgamation from two to single-tier or a modified approach, including talk of perhaps consolidating a couple of townships. She said they would come up with models, including costs, and service delivery levels.

EORN has been meeting with Highlands’ residents all week as part of the study. Last week, they held engagement sessions with the County, Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills.

Jim Pine, of Jim Pine Consulting, Adams and Lisa Severson of EORN have been making the rounds.

“We really want to make sure people can participate as fully as they possibly can because we do want that individual reflection from people and we want to take advantage of group discussions …” Pine told councillors.

He said the study is underway now because of growing fiscal pressures and challenging 2026 budgets.

EORN added the study will clarify each municipality’s financial state and future pressures; analyze governance models; look at good examples from other areas; and set things up better for the 2026-2030 councils.

Adams said one of the greatest challenges for this area is the tax base is 98 per cent residential, which limits how much money municipalities can bring in. She noted the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has not done a property reassessment since 2016. Further, the average household income is 17 per cent below the provincial average.

Adams added Haliburton County relies heavily on a tourism-based economy with seasonal service demands. There are some high-cost services, such as OPP, that are beyond local control and federal and provincial infrastructure funding is unpredictable and insufficient.

Dysart et al council learned this week that it will be another two years before the proposed expansion of the Haliburton Wastewater Treatment Plant is complete, should it be approved by the Ontario government.

John Levie, vice president of engineering with Clearford Water Solutions – the firm that manages the plant for Dysart and was retained in January 2025 to oversee upgrades – told council June 23 that the project was still in the first of three planned phases, focusing on design and regulatory approval.

The project will increase capacity at the site, located between Grass and Head lakes in Haliburton village, by about 50 per cent. Levie said it will allow the township to provide sewer services to 800 additional properties. It’s expected to cost about $14 million.

The plant is now running at 89 per cent capacity, about seven per cent more than when the process began two years ago. Levie said reservations for a proposed long-term care build on the township’s 92-acre property on County Road 21 and some residential units in the downtown had almost maxed out available allocations at the plant.

He noted once a plant hits 80 per cent capacity, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) require townships to start planning for expansion.

Over the past year, Levie said Clearford has completed all conceptual design work for the expansion. Equipment has been reviewed, with a wishlist of new materials established.

An application to increase the amount of treated water put back into the Lake Kashagawigamog chain will soon be submitted to the MECP for approval. Levie said he had hoped to get that in earlier, but he was delayed after a local group raised concerns over the project with the province.

John Puffer from the Lake Kashagawigamog Organization (LKO) said his group has worked with the Canning Lake Property Owners Association for the past few months to better understand the township’s plans. He said the two associations are opposed to the expansion as initially proposed in 1989.

Levie noted that, when the plant was upgraded in the 90s, it was done with future expansions in mind. He said he expects MECP to support the project based on that early approval, as well as recent regulatory changes at the provincial level.

Puffer said the groups’ primary aim is to prevent more phosphorous loading into the lake chain.

“We want to work with Dysart to ensure there is an overall plan to prevent more loading. This may require offering offsets including hooking up more lakefront properties to the plant,” Puffer said, noting the sewage plant is more effective at keeping phosphorous at bay than individual septic systems.

Levie contends the Haliburton plant is already one of the top performing, environmentally-sound plants in the province. He noted the treatment process removes 98 per cent of carbon, 98-99 per cent of nitrogen/ammonia, and 97-98 per cent of phosphorous from the water.

Staff tests water quality weekly, with Levie telling The Highlander last fall he hasn’t seen any major issues in his 21 years working at the site. Per the MECP, the environmental compliance approval for nitrogen/ammonia is 5 milligrams per litre, with phosphorous at 0.2 milligrams per litre.

Looking at annual data stretching back to 2021, Levie said the highest level of nitrogen/ammonia was recorded from January to August of 2024, at 0.06 mg/l, and the highest level of phosphorous in 2022 at 0.05 mg/l.

With the 50 per cent capacity increase, Levie said they’ll be able to drop the concentration limit of phosphorous to twothirds of what it is right now. Prod:

“This will provide additional assurances that lake water quality will be protected,” Levie said.

He hopes to have that pre-consultation with MECP this summer or fall. Once that’s completed, the formal application can be submitted. That will kickstart the technical review process, which can take up to a year. The second phase focuses on detailed engineering, another year-long process. Levie said he’s hoping to complete that work while the technical review is underway.

The third phase is constructing and commissioning of the new system, which Levie estimates will take another year.

The township will be seeking government grants to help with the final bill, Levie confirmed.

County Road 21

Plans are progressing at the 92-acre property on County Road 21, with council learning at a June 16 special meeting that the township can extend sewer lines to the entire property, potentially increasing the number of units that can be developed.

“By extending municipal sanitary services, we could fit up to 90 (single family home) lots here with sewage connections. The only constraints then would be water capacity, whether there’s enough water underground to service that many private wells,” said consultant Evan Sugden.

There was some talk last week about whether council wanted to leave space for a public park. There’s a requirement within the Municipal Act that says five per cent of a developable property needs to be reserved as parkland.

Currently, the 11.3 acres allocated as parkland equates to 12.2 per cent of the property. Coun. Pat Casey felt that was too much, wanting to see some of that land, fronting CR21, to be used for highway commercial development.

“I’m all about bringing in new businesses. We already have a big park in town. If we’re trying to maximize density and looking at dollars spent versus dollars earned, then that highway commercial component is important,” Casey said.

The township has committed to servicing the first phase of development at the site before selling to prospective builders. There will be more discussion on the project at a July 7 special meeting of council.

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) has a new executive director.

The not-for-profit charitable organization said last week that Dave Newnham starts July 6.

Chair Todd Hall, on behalf of the board of directors, said, “Dave brings a strong commitment to Haliburton County, where he has lived intermittently since the late 1980s.”

Hall added Newnham has extensive leadership experience from his previous roles as vice president, camping and outdoor education with the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario and president and executive director of the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.

Earlier in his career, Newnham worked at Kinark for several years as a supervisor and also at YMCA Camp Wanakita.

“Through all of his roles, Dave’s approach has been characterized by the development of strong new partnerships and community support, the creation of successful nonprofit fundraising strategies, the inspiration of strong staff and volunteer teams, and the connection of Ontarians with nature,” Hall said.

He added Newnham was “comfortable in the boardroom and in the bush. Dave brings a wealth of experience to HHLT at an important moment. A proven and dynamic leader, Dave has long demonstrated both a commitment to the natural world, and a great talent in connecting people – especially children – to its wonder.”

As the land trust embarks on an ambitious phase of growth and service to the Haliburton community, Hall said he can’t wait to work with Newnham to maximize its positive impact. “As a full-time resident of Algonquin Highlands, Dave’s familiarity with the County ensures he can hit the ground running.”

Newnham said he was delighted to step into the executive director position with the land trust.

“It’s an inspiring opportunity to bring together my deep commitment to environmental stewardship, my background in leading not-for-profit organizations looking to make a real impact, and my love for the incredible natural diversity and the great sense of community here in the Haliburton Highlands.

“I look forward to meeting with our dedicated volunteers, supporters and members of the community to build on our success over the last two decades and work together to deepen our legacy of protected lands and waters for generations to come.”

HHLT is a not-for-profit charitable organization focused on the conservation of the natural heritage of Haliburton County, currently owning and managing seven nature reserves, comprising more than 1,500 acres, of ecologically-diverse lands and waters. Two of the properties have well developed trail systems that are free and open to the public for hiking and nature appreciation.

HHLT is presently working with other partners, including the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, to conserve more ecologicallysensitive land in the County with a 2026-27 goal of doubling land holdings, opening more public trails, and increasing the number of its partners in conservation.

HHLT’s board of directors and committees are made up of volunteers.

Hall said, “we welcome your support. Please consider joining our Friends of HHLT group, volunteering on a committee or at an event, becoming an HHLT property monitor and/or making a financial contribution. Help protect the land and water you love.”

For more information, contact: admin@ haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Municipal election races are starting to heat up in the Highlands.

As a result, the public will have choices when it comes to mayor of three of the four townships.

Incumbent Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter has filed his nomination papers. He will try to maintain his seat while three others: current councillor-at-large Tammy McKelvey, current coun. Pam Sayne, and Minden businessman Pat Kitcheman try to replace him.

Incumbent deputy-mayor Lisa Schell now has opposition, with Ivan Ingram switching to council’s second in command, from Ward 1.

The councillor-at-large job will see a race between incumbent Bob Sisson and former coun. Ron Nesbitt.

Ward one is represented by two councillors, and sitting member Shirley Johannessen is running again. She is being challenged by Dan Garbutt.

Ward 2 has a new contender in Brad Griffin squaring off against Stephen Hertel, who has unsuccessfully run in the past. And Ward 3 currently has one contender: Jeff Hancock from Irondale.

Dysart et al has a mayor’s race, with current coun. Pat Casey seeking the top job, opposed by Greg Bishop and Andrew Nowell.

Walt McKechnie is so far the only contender for deputy mayor. Ward 1 sees Danny Roberts so far squaring off against Rob McCaig; Mike Waller is the only candidate as of now for Ward 2; Tammy Donaldson gets a run for her money in Ward 3 with Geoff Webber and Marianne Schlottke seeking that seat; Carm Sawyer is so far alone for Ward 4; and ward five sees a challenge for Barry Boice from Kirby Bagg. Nancy Wood-Roberts is not running.

In Highlands East, it’s so far a two-person race for mayor with incumbent Dave Burton being challenged by Steven Kauffeldt.

There are no races yet in the other wards. Bill Easton has filed for Ward 1; Angela Lewis for Ward 2; Cecil Ryall for Ward 3 and Ruth Strong for Ward 4. Cam McKenzie is not seeking re-election.

In Algonquin Highlands, it’s a slow start to the election. So far, only incumbent mayor Liz Danielsen and Ward 2 coun. Lisa Barry have filed. Deputy major Jennifer Dailloux is not running. Results are as of noon June 24. The last day to file a nomination is Friday, Aug. 21, by 2 p.m.

By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For longtime Haliburton cottager Andrew Dunsmore, making a pitstop on a lengthy road trip is a part of the journey. But when he decided to take a break and stretch his legs during a trip out west, it turned into a mind-bending brush with home.

While on an RV trip from Calgary to Vancouver with his friend Robert Barnes in May, the pair decided to take a break at Three Valley Gap Lake Chateau and Ghost Town, just outside of Revelstoke, B.C. The guys were just finishing up their walking tour of the historic, open-air museum when they came across a small collection of vintage vehicles, including fire trucks.

Dunsmore told The Highlander that he had walked right past the first truck on display without taking a second look. But Barnes, who had visited Dunsmore’s family cottage many times, noticed a familiar word on the faded paint.

“Dysart,” Dunsmore recalled his friend saying. “Isn’t Dysart where Haliburton is?”

The Toronto resident turned back to the truck and went in for a closer look.

“I looked at it, and I was just dumbfounded,” Dunsmore said with a chuckle. “I was like, ‘yes, absolutely. There can only be one Dysart.’ And we went around and looked at the front of the truck, and there we could see the words Haliburton, which confirmed it. It absolutely blew my mind. You just don’t expect to see anything to do with Haliburton in the middle of B.C.”

Dunsmore said the discovery brought a wave of nostalgia over him and explained that while his family has lived all over Canada, Haliburton has always been their anchor. It’s a place his mother still calls home.

“It didn’t matter if we lived in Toronto or Montreal or wherever, we would always come back to the cottage for the summer. So it is sort of a second home for me,” he said. “I know lots of local people just from having had summer jobs at the Pinestone and different places over the years.”

While the truck’s existence out west might surprise many ex-pats; its history is no secret to former Haliburton fire chief Miles Maughan, as he was the one who decommissioned the vehicle.

Purchased by Dysart et al in 1972, the truck served as a front-line pumper for about two decades before being retired in 1992. Maughan, who drove and operated the engine for 15 years, explained what happened to the truck after retiring it from calls.

“It was still operating, so a fellow in the County bought it because he thought he was going to set up a mobile washing centre with it,” Maughan explained. “But he got a full-time job and didn’t have time, so it kind of sat around for a couple of years there.”

From there, the man sold the vehicle to a collector out west who operated a tow truck company. The B.C. collector brought a truck across the country to Ontario, picked up the retired Dysart pumper, and towed it all the way back to the province, Maughan explained.

Then, museum owner George Bell acquired the truck through some good old-fashioned bartering.

“I had a buddy back east, who got it out here,” Bell told The Highlander. “I had some storage, he stored some stuff here, and then he threw the fire truck at me.”

The 1972 pumper represented a specific era of firefighting technology with one feature that modern trucks no longer use, such as the quick-attack hose reel.

“In the picture you can see, they had a hose reel on them at that time,” Maughan noted. “You could grab one of them hose reels, pull it out, and spray a fire down within minutes.”

Today, the climate and natural elements have taken a toll on the old truck.

“The footwell, like where you would put your foot to hoist yourself up into the truck, it was nothing but rust,” Dunsmore said.

Bell echoed Dunsmore’s observations, noting that the mountain moisture has had its way with the former workhorse.

“Especially out here, we’re in quite a moist area, so things deteriorate,” Bell noted. The truck still features the original hoses it retired with.

“It’s so good to get it right from the fire department because you get all the goodies,” he said.

As for Dunsmore, he said that he was just thrilled to share the somewhat bizarre discovery with the County and to sort of surprise his mother when she opens the newspaper.