Two Haliburton County anglers have won the 2026 Competitive Sport Fishing League National Classic.

Cam Neville and Brian Johnston won the championship, held Sept. 12 and 13 on Lake Couchiching, with a two-day total weigh-in of 41.2 lbs.

The locals received $10,000 for beating out 85 other competitors, including some professionals.

Neville told The Highlander Tuesday (Sept. 15) he was excited about the win, while acknowledging it hadn’t really sunk in yet.

“I don’t know if the stars just aligned or what…it was a very good weekend.”

He said he’s competed in the classic – which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year – “for a long time, trying to win it.”

He and Johnston started fishing together competitively in 2018. Neville took Johnston on his first tournament, which they won, “and it just snowballed from there.”

Neville said this past weekend started off slow. However, they changed location and, “right away, (Brian) hooked a fourand-a-quarter pound large bass, maybe five minutes later, he caught a five-and-a-quarter pound smallmouth.” The catches kept coming, “and we weren’t even going to go that way.”

Johnston said on day two, Sunday, they hunkered down in one big area with six feet of water. “We just spent the whole day finessing the area to get the fish to bite.” Neville said Johnston’s mastery of the live scope definitely came in handy.

Neville further attributed “persistence” for the win. ” Having the confidence in that spot…knowing that there were fish around there. You just have to find them and catch them.”

Over the weekend, they used Jarrod Dean’s Punisher jigs. They had used them in a tournament on Lake Simcoe earlier this summer and finished second. They caught all their fish on the jig that looks like a crayfish.

Neville doesn’t know why, speculating “the fish might not have seen them before… they certainly like to eat them.”

As the two headed back to shore Sept. 13, Neville said he knew they had a chance at victory, since he had competed so many times in the classic. Johnston added talking to top teams in the parking lot, he was told they hadn’t had great days.

“I had a feeling we were going to win, but I just didn’t want to get my hopes up,” Johnston said.

Finding out they’d done it, Johnston said it hadn’t sunk in for him either, until Tuesday, as people began sending congratulatory messages.

He said the win was partial luck, but the team had also made the right moves.

Neville said he’d been fishing for as long as he can remember, always finding the hobby to be relaxing. Growing up in Lochlin, he and a buddy used to bike or walk to Scott’s Dam to put a line in. Now, he’ll “go anywhere I can here.” He wanted to thank his family for all of their support.

Johnston was born and raised in Haliburton County, ice fishing with his dad. He considers Boshkung his home lake, but fishes every lake in the Highlands.

He recalled the first time he got into a 12-foot tinny, getting into bass fishing. He never imagined he’d be a classic winner. He admitted he had shed a tear, commenting, “the young me would be pretty proud, especially going against some people who have known Lake Couchiching for over 20 years.”

A Haliburton reverend said he wasn’t surprised by recent changes introduced by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to limit religious references at some official military ceremonies, while the area’s MP, Jamie Schmale, believes the move is an unnecessary break from tradition.

Rolled out July 31, the new rules strip active CAF members, volunteers, students, casual workers and contractors from using religious-specific language – including references to God – at sanctioned military events such as graduation parades, change of command ceremonies, ship commissioning, dedications for infrastructure projects, honours and awards ceremonies, seasonal mess dinners and CAF-led Remembrance Day services.

Instead, those references are to be replaced by “spiritual reflections” that focus on lessons learned, beliefs, values and experiences to inspire gratitude, remembrance, hope and integrity, a directive on the Government of Canada website reads.

Schmale said the changes were being driven by the Liberal government and had been in the works since October 2023, after a directive was issued to military chaplains to “carefully choose words that are inclusive” when speaking to people, including atheists, at public events

“I don’t think you need to erase tradition. Military prayers and religious observances have provided comfort and meaning to generations of Canadians that have served,” Schmale said. “When I speak to veterans today, many say there are no atheists in a foxhole.”

The Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes member of parliament said he wasn’t a fan of handcuffing chaplains.

“When you have a chaplain of whatever denomination doing a service, defining appropriate language, to me, doesn’t mean inclusion. It means exclusion,” Schmale said. “I just don’t think this honours the traditions of those who came before.”

While the rules won’t impact local-level Remembrance Day observances, Schmale said it could be a noticeable change for those who tune into the nationally-broadcast services from Ottawa.

CAF acting chaplain general, Shaun Yaskiw, told the National Post last month that the goal of the new guidance is to ensure everyone attending military-led events feel their beliefs are being valued.

“As a chaplain, it is my professional responsibility to be able to see and respect the full expression of spiritual and religious beliefs of those who come to me,” Yaskiw said.

The change does not restrict chaplains from offering spiritual or religious care in private settings, including counselling, faithspecific gatherings, worship services and requested religious rites.

There’s also an allowance for Indigenous practices to be used in military settings for cultural, historical and educational purposes – though they must be relevant to the occasion or framed explicitly within an educational or cultural context.

Mixed opinion

Harry Morgan, minister for the Haliburton Pastoral Charge, said he hadn’t heard about the changes before The Highlander contacted him in mid-August. While he said he “gets it,” believing the government wants to be seen as neutral and secular without showing preference to any particular belief, he’s not sure what the amendment accomplishes.

“I don’t believe this benefits anyone. Instead of including the rich history of faith traditions in our beloved Canada, our ceremonies will feature bland, generic ‘spiritual reflections’,” Morgan said.

“A better and more inclusive solution would be to use expressions or prayers of different faith traditions in proportion to their numbers in the military – or in the nation,” he added.

After witnessing firsthand, the everdecreasing influence of religion on society, Morgan felt a move like this was inevitable.

“No longer is the Lord’s Prayer said in public schools. Some have advocated for the use of ‘Happy Holidays’ in place of ‘Merry Christmas’, and in our national anthem the words have been changed from ‘all Thy Son’s command’ to ‘in all of us command’. I’m surprised we still have ‘God keep our land’,” Morgan added.

Glenn Woods, the Royal Canadian Legion’s veterans’ service officer for the zone, said the change doesn’t impact him personally but that he has heard concerns from local members.

“I’ve talked to a few veterans about this – one of them went through boot camp and into battle, their sense is they would like things kept as they are. They want to stick with tradition,” Woods said.

A member of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry seeing active service, Woods said there used to be a mandatory church services held in fields that all members had to attend.

“They’d make a big deal of it with the drums and then someone would deliver the sermon,” Woods said. “Things change though, religion doesn’t have as much of a grip on life today as it did 50-100 years ago, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Schmale is calling on the government to reconsider parts of the directive.

“Consult with chaplains, veterans, faith communities and try to come up with an approach that protects both inclusion and religious freedom. I think that’s probably the best path forward,” Schmale said.

The voices of nearly 4,000 parents and guardians, along with hundreds of students, are helping shape how the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) responds to some of the biggest challenges facing its schools – from classroom behaviour and homework to bullying, mental health and the impact of social media.

Chief education officer, Wes Hahn, provided an update in August on the ‘TLDSB Voices’ initiative, which he said is becoming increasingly embedded in the board’s strategic and operational planning.

The program encourages engagement with parents, guardians and students on key issues, ensuring communities play a meaningful role in identifying future priorities board-wide and for individual sites, Hahn said.

“The more we’ve built our operational plans throughout our system on Voices, the more it comes alive,” Hahn said.

Over the past five years, the board has conducted twice-yearly parent and guardian check-ins, school climate surveys for students and staff, hosted advisory group meetings, student forums and community breakfasts with local agencies.

Nearly 2,400 families responded to a fall 2025 survey, followed by another 1,550 respondents in spring 2026. The board also posted 33 policies to its virtual ‘Engage TLDSB’ platform, which families can use to participate in surveys and provide input on new or changing board policies.

Hahn said 139 responses were considered by TLDSB staff last year, with the feedback producing some clear priorities for the board.

“We heard loud and clear… that we can do a better job transitioning work between our community agencies and TLDSB. That’s something we will do better,” Hahn said, specifically mentioning daycare providers and mental health agencies.

Violent behaviour in the classroom, and the board’s policy on handling those situations, also came up.

“Parents expressed concerns regarding classroom dysregulation and behaviour issues, noting the need to vacate classrooms due to incidents that disrupt student learning. TLDSB is working with staff to provide training and support to navigate behavioural challenges in the classroom,” he said.

Balancing screen time and the utilization of artificial intelligence in instruction is also constantly evolving, though Hahn said TLDSB wants to put more of a focus on traditional hands-on learning. He specifically mentioned encouraging students to read physical books, write with a pen and paper, or have conversations with classmates rather than texting or instant messaging.

TLDSB is also going back to the drawing board when it comes to homework. “What is the purpose of homework?

What is the research and evidence behind issuing it? Yes, there’s purpose when it helps build stamina, good routine and things kids will need in the future, but often parents say it becomes a very frustrating evening for their kids. So, we need to find a balance,” Hahn said.

Student feedback

TLDSB hosted three forums for students in Grades 7-10 last year, with Hahn saying he and other senior staff wanted to hear directly from teenagers on what’s working at schools and what isn’t. Around 90 students attended the three events.

“The feedback indicated that marginalized and racialized students often feel unsafe or unrecognized in schools… one of the key areas within the forum is the whole idea of students wanting to know when something is done – whether they experience discrimination or bullying – that something will be done about it,” Hahn said.

In response, TLDSB had developed an ‘anti-racism’ resource guide for teachers and administrators. Hahn said it’s filled with actionable items on how teachers can follow through with issues and how principals can support them.

“We can’t have students feeling afraid or unsafe because of this type of behaviour,” Hahn said.

Anxiety and depression levels remain a concern, while Hahn said students also want more individualized support and real-life guidance from teachers.

“They want to be more prepared. They talked about being afraid for the future, not feeling equipped yet. We do great work with kids through our post-secondary pathways program, but we can probably do more,” Hahn said.

By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Property owners in Highlands East now have more clarity on how the municipality plans to enforce its short-term rental rules, following changes approved by council.

Council signed off on a revised shortterm rental (STR) licensing bylaw during the Sept 8 regular meeting of council. The updated file removes administrative steps and provides further details about how operators who deliberately break the rules could face serious penalties.

The tweaks follow months of internal review after councillors requested further clarification during an August meeting. Presenting the finalized report, STR licensing clerk and enforcement officer, Stacey Brown, explained the amendments address gaps in the bylaw and remove procedures that staff considered unnecessary.

“The proposed amendments are intended to address identified gaps and improve the overall clarity, completeness, and effectiveness of the bylaw,” Brown told council.

Council had spent much of the discussion on revised wording in Sections 13.1 and 13.2. Drafted in consultation with municipal bylaw enforcement, the sections outline potential liability for fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

While the financial penalties can be steep, Brown assured council they aren’t meant to be handed out routinely. Instead, they would be used only in exceptional cases after other compliance and enforcement measures have been exhausted.

According to the staff document, operators can face fines of up to $50,000 on first offence, and no more than $100,000 on a second offence and each subsequent offence thereafter.

“Any fine pursuant to this provision would be at the discretion of the provincial court and would only be considered in exponential circumstances where all available compliance and enforcement measures have been exhausted,” Brown said.

She said that such circumstances would likely involve “significant safety concerns or prolonged and deliberate noncompliance.”

Council supported the enforcement measures, though deputy mayor Cecil Ryall asked that staff make it clear in the bylaw about how and when penalties can escalate. If the township decides to take a STR operator who is non-compliant to court, Ryall said, having the enforcement process clearly explained in plain language would give residents fair warning.

“Is it possible to give a little more clarity on what would trigger something like that?” the deputy mayor asked. “The way you explained it here, makes absolute sense, but I would like to see it in the document somewhere that lets people know if you’re not going to pursue this… we’re going to have to take it to court and they’re going to decide.”

Brown agreed to check in with the enforcement team about drafting publicfacing guidance explaining how the escalation process works.

The township is also streamlining the licence application process by eliminating Section 8.1(b). Previously, the clause required municipal staff to hold up an application until they could physically verify that any outstanding property repairs or modifications had been completed.

Staff recommended removing the rule after deeming it redundant. Brown explained staff already work directly with property owners to address issues as they arise.

“In practice, if an issue is brought to staff’s attention regarding a particular property, staff will work collaboratively with the property owner to address and resolve the matter,” Brown said. “If the property owner refuses to take corrective action or is unwilling to address the issue within a reasonable time frame, staff already have the authority to revoke the licence.”

The recommendation to adopt the report and formally enact the amended bylaw passed unanimously, moved by Coun. Cam McKenzie and seconded by Coun. Ruth Strong.

Another busy summer garden season is drawing to a close, but celebrations are continuing at Pine Reflections Gift and Garden Centre as the business marks its 15th year.

“For me, Pine Reflections has always been about more than what’s on the shelves,” owner Sue King said. “It’s about how people feel when they walk through the doors. So many customers tell us they come here to decompress, to take a break, wander through the garden centre, and just be surrounded by greenery and calm. Creating that kind of space, especially here in Carnarvon, is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she added.

Since opening in 2011, King said she had steadily grown Pine Reflections, building strong relationships with local businesses, and supporting charitable organizations throughout the region.

The owner said she carefully sources some of the region’s best flowers, perennials, and shrubs, to elevate the garden centre experience. The entrepreneur further credits customer service for the businesses’ success.

She said she takes the time to chat with folks, offering advice based on her experience with the County’s growing seasons. “We’re getting hotter, and we want people to think outside of the box, and remind them that they’re in cottage country.

You’re not going to get the same lawn, the same perfect garden bed, so embrace that.”

King added, “we’re in an interesting County. Our demographic goes from the ultra rich, to the ultra poor. I treat people the same, whether they are buying a pot of pansies or a $700 fountain. People appreciate that.”

Customers also like that staff load their purchases, especially heavy soil and mulches, into their vehicles or trailers.

While many know the garden centre intimately, King said she is still surprised that some folks do not know about The Gathering Spot. The store operates seasonally from May through December. King said it offers a thoughtfully-curated selection of home décor, gifts, and garden items. It is also known for its year-round Christmas Corner for unique gift giving.

King noted she’s created a fairy house at the corner of Hwy. 35 and East Road, and invites visitors to explore it, make a wish, or take part in hands-on experiences such as the Nature Spirits workshop, where guests can create their own fairy gardens.

New this year is the addition of Petals and Roots’ cut flowers to King’s unused herb tent. It is being run by Angela Fearrey.

“This anniversary feels like both a celebration and a fresh start,” King said. “We’ve grown alongside this community over the past 15 years, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”

King is having a 15th anniversary customer appreciation event/celebration on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “I do have amazing customers,” she said. Visit pinereflections.ca or follow along on social media at @pinereflections

For Jocelyn Donaldson, there’s no greater thrill or honour than representing her country on the global stage.

The Harcourt-based equestrian competed for Team Canada at the 2026 International Mounted Games Association (IMGA) 2026 World Team Championships, in France Aug. 10-16. She was one of five Canadian riders, which Donaldson said is the pinnacle of the mounted games circuit – an extreme form of horse racing.

“The mounted games is a series of military-based tactical relay races played on horseback,” Donaldson said. “Riders have to be comfortable racing at a canter or a gallop and be prepared to lean or even jump off the horses to retrieve different items in motion. It’s very competitive.”

Mounted games were originally inspired by Prince Philip, with the first event in London in 1957. He introduced the games via the Canadian Pony Club, which runs competition in dressage, showjumping, eventing and mounted games.

Tryouts for the national team were held in Newmarket last October, with Donaldson making the squad alongside one of her best friends, Karen Foell. That made the experience even better, Donaldson said.

The first two days were spent learning the course and developing relationships with the ponies they’d be riding.

Because it was overseas, Donaldson said it would have cost more than $10,000 to ship each rider’s personal horse. After that, it was four days of racing.

Donaldson had a far-from-ideal start, saying she wasn’t a match for her first pony and had to quickly bond with a second.

“We’re really relying on them to keep us safe, so there has to be a lot of trust built up very quickly,” she said.

The Canadians were one of 13 countries competing. Team Canada finished fourth in the ‘B’ finals, or consolation bracket.

With a second worlds appearance under her belt, Donaldson said she’s not sure she’ll pursue a third – wanting to focus on training the next generation of riders. She said she’s working with three young equestrians looking to get involved in the mounted games.

“Mounted games exist in Canada right now, but at a very small level. It’s a bigger thing in the U.S. and definitely Europe, so it’d be great to get this out there more, because I feel like people have no idea,” Donaldson said.

Next up for her is an appearance at a national event in Ocala, Florida in October, where she’ll be taking her 14-year-old Arabian horse, Darsha. She’s doing some fundraising to help get there, including raffles.

It was exactly a decade ago when Otter Lake cottager, Lisa Lauter, started to suffer from immense fatigue, brain fog and sudden bouts of nausea that she believed were symptoms of living a busy life as a full-time nurse and mom to three preteen boys.

Not thinking or knowing there was anything seriously wrong, Lauter soldiered on until, one day in the summer of 2017, she suffered a rare tonic-clonic seizure on the dock of her Dorset property.

“That changed everything,” Lauter said, noting she became obsessed with finding out what was going on. Testing was done in Huntsville and Barrie before Lauter returned to her then-home in Houston, Texas searching for more answers. She got a formal diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis in February 2018.

The Mayo Clinic describes the affliction as a group of conditions that causes swelling in the brain. This usually happens because the immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells. Other symptoms include memory loss and changes in thinking and behaviour.

The scary thing about autoimmune encephalitis, Lauter said, is that experts don’t know what causes it. For some, it can be triggered by certain cancers or infections, or medicines for others. People with an existing autoimmune disease or a family history of them may be more likely to contract it.

Such was the information overload Lauter put herself through following her diagnosis, she now considers herself a rare patient-expert hybrid. She has written a book, Songbirgs Keep Singing: A Memoir of Healing from Autoimmune Brain Inflammation, outlining her journey through diagnosis and recovery. It was published in July.

“It was very hard for me to navigate the system and find out what I needed in terms of treatment and what I could do. That was a big motivator for me to write the book – to raise awareness,” Lauter said. “I think there’s a lot in my book and my story that could be helpful to other people facing chronic illness.”

The book took her about four years to write and isn’t like your typical guide, Lauter said.

“I’m very careful not to be prescriptive, because every case is so individual. What I tried to do was write it in a way that gives people ideas of what they can ask for, advocate for, different strategies they could consider adopting for their overall health, things they could ask their doctor. I’m also just very real about my story and the obstacles I faced,” she said.

For example, feeling a strange numbness and tingling sensation around her forehead and under her eyes, sleeping up to 20 hours on her bad days, and losing cognitive function.

It was a long road to recover for Lauter – one that continues now. Since her 2018 diagnosis, Lauter said she’s completed rehabilitative, physical, occupational, aquatic, vision and vestibular therapies, while also changing her diet and adopting a more positive mindset. It was a strenuous first 18 months, but the results, she said, have been spectacular.

“As I write about in the book, I never thought I wouldn’t get better. Just having a strong determination to do everything you can to recover, I think, is half the battle,” Lauter said.

Now living in Nelson, British Columbia for most of the year, Lauter said she still spends summers in the Highlands – only recently returning home. She launched the book in an event at the Dwight Public Library Aug. 25.

Learn more about Lauter’s story at www.lisalauter.com. Her book can be ordered online at Indigo.ca or in-person at Cedar Canoe Books in Huntsville and Bracebridge.

After spending two hours outfitting youth with hockey equipment at A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton Aug. 28, Manny Lawson said the most satisfying thing, aside from seeing the smiles on kids’ faces, was being able to tell parents all items were free.

“Some of them couldn’t believe it. They were saying, ‘wait, I don’t have to pay for any of this?” Lawson said, noting some got quite emotional. “That makes all the work worthwhile and makes us want to do this every year.”

Now in its third year, the offering is meant to remove barriers for County kids wanting to play hockey. Lawson collected all types of equipment, including sticks, helmets, gloves, pads, shorts and skates, for youth aged three to 17. Sets were laid out on tables for people to choose from.

Lawson, her son Lucas and his friend, Carter McCord, were at the arena between 10 a.m. and noon, matching 35-40 kids with complimentary gear. Lawson said a few moms looking to lace up the skates for the first time in years also took some items home.

While she didn’t charge anyone a penny, Lawson did ask for donations to support area food banks, with all items dropped off in the donation bin at Haliburton Foodland over the weekend.

Since launching, Lawson said the equipment swap has supported around 165 youth.

With lots of sticks, pads and skates left over, Lawson is planning to run another event in January.

“Kids grow so quickly, and we’d love to continue helping families keep their children on the ice without the expense of constantly replacing equipment,” Lawson said. “It is wonderful to see our community come together to make hockey more accessible to local families… if you have youth gear you would like to donate, please keep it and bring it to either the January swap, or next August.”

To contact Lawson, email mannyfergie@ hotmail.com.