Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Klara Oyler told Haliburton Curling Club members that its application for money to renovate the facility’s kitchen “had all the right ingredients.”

Speaking at an unveiling for the new space June 25, Oyler said she was pleased to see the $141,600 gifted by OTF last year had been put to good use.

“This is close to home for me… I always like to say I’m from Haliburton and we can make things happen, so give us the money,” said Oyler, who joined the OTF board in 2015. “I’m really impressed by the transformation… and all you were able to do with the money.”

Club president Wanda Stephen said the upgrade was all about improving accessibility. The kitchen’s footprint has been expanded, with new dishwasher, convection oven, warming oven, fridge and stainless-steel counters. The money also paid for a new freezer in the basement.

She paid tribute to past president Chester Howse, who successfully lobbied for a kitchen and lounge space in the mid-1990s, paving the way for this latest upgrade.

“Chester dared to dream of a kitchen and lounge that could host the masses. He thought the club could entice more people [to join] … and it worked,” Stephen said.

“The last 10 years have been a struggle to adequately plan meals for large groups, we were also held hostage by aging appliances, often holding our breath that the dishwasher and oven would make it through another event.

“Curling clubs in rural Ontario are major hubs for gatherings and community events. We hope the addition… will attract more people to join us in the future,” Stephen said.

The new space and equipment were utilized during the recent Haliburton Home and Cottage Show, with Stephen saying it was a “game-changer.”

In 2024, OTF funded 730 projects across the province to the tune of $105 million, Oyler said. The organization is an agency of and funded by the Ontario government.

MPP Laurie Scott attended the unveiling, thanking OTF for continuing to invest in the Highlands community. She highlighted previous supports for Highlands Opera Studio’s ‘Let’s Make an Opera’ project and legion buildings across the County.

“These things make a big difference to our community… OTF helps many organizations, a lot of places wouldn’t still be in existence, or would be a lot worse off if it wasn’t for Trillium [money],” Scott said.

After bringing in another $55,264 and counting, Roxanne Casey said the recent CanoeFM Radiothon fundraiser was another reminder of how much people value Haliburton County’s community radio station.

The 15th annual event ran July 4-6, with more than 400 individual donors putting their hands into their pocket to support the station. Casey said the dollar amount raised during the three-day on-air celebration was almost identical to last year – no small feat given the ongoing economic uncertainty.

“Truly, we were a little bit worried this year. With all the tariffs and worry those have caused, I thought there was no chance we were going to do this well,” Casey said. “It’s absolutely phenomenal… and tells us that we’re doing something right.”

About 25 volunteers assisted, helping to take in-person and over-the-phone donations and keep listeners entertained.

Casey said her biggest takeaway was how much people appreciated Canoe’s coverage in the days following the March 28 ice storm, which knocked out power to approximately 85 per cent of County residents. The station was able to utilize generators to stay on-air.

“Internet was down for almost everyone, cell reception was offline too, so for a lot of people the radio station was the only way they were keeping on top of things in the initial aftermath,” Casey said. “It was so humbling hearing some of the stories. Sometimes you wonder if you’re just spinning your wheels, are people really listening, but this told me loud and clear people appreciate what we do.”

This year’s live auction featured Toronto Blue Jays tickets, donated by Janis Parker, personalized concerts from County acts Carl Dixon, Drew Allen, and Craig and Maggie Thompson, a kayak donated by Canadian Tire, and a record player donated by Redman Records, raising more than $13,000.

Money was still trickling in July 7 – Casey said one long-time listener stopped by the station and donated up $200, wanting to do his part after being away for the weekend.

While there were a few sizable donations, notably a $5,000 gift from the estate of Patrick Monaghan, host of the station’s popular Buckslide Blues Cruise show from 2016 to 2023, most of the money came in smaller increments.

“It was $5 here, $20 there – it’s not like everyone came in and gave $100 minimum every time. People gave what they could, and we so, so appreciate whatever they could manage,” Casey said.

The money will go into a pot to help sustain ongoing operations, which Casey pegged at about $400,000 this year. She said the station has about 65 active on-air hosts.

“We don’t get money from anybody, no government support, so we have to raise our own funds. We do that through advertising, but it’s events like this that really make a difference,” she said. “We couldn’t do this without our listeners, our businesses who support us every year, all the volunteers who are always more than happy to help.”

In many ways, Highlands resident Karen Koehler believes her life truly began as she approached her forties.

Now 52, the four-time Canadian dryland dog racing champion is living her best life; one jam-packed with continuous learning, movement and outdoor activity inspired by the unlikeliest of rebirths two decades ago.

Koehler was an outdoor educator turned school teacher in 2004 when she and her partner, Rob Sargent, went in search of a four-legged companion. Having recently bought a home in the area, they wanted to expand their family and settled on a retired sled dog.

Even at 10 years old, Robbie was an active dog – Koehler recalls taking him on daily outings immediately after bringing him home. After adding 11-year-old Arctic a year later, she dabbled in competitive racing. Her first event was a skijor race at the Pinestone in 2004.

She built momentum from there, becoming a more competitive racer towards the end of the 2000s. By then, Robbie and Arctic had retired, with Koehler adding Tease and Finney to the family. Together, they dominated local circuits. Wanting to test herself against the best, Koehler cast her gaze up the ladder, competing in her first world championship event in Norway in 2011.

It was an eye-opening experience. Lining up with her powerhouse Alaskan sled dogs, Koehler said she struggled to keep up with the competition. It forced her to look within. The answer, she felt, was taking every aspect within her control to the next level while keeping it fun – focusing on nutrition and physical training, while acquiring more puppies from Norway.

Fast forward to 2025 and Koehler is a celebrated competitor, still turning heads on the track. Away from competition, she’s developed her skills further, becoming a personal trainer and certified health and life coach, while also running activities at Haliburton Forest through Yours Outdoors. She uses her own personal experiences to show people it’s never too late to turn their lives around – providing they put in the work.

“When we get close to 40, people will say things like ‘oh, I can’t do that, I’m too old now’. I’m proof that’s not the case, I’ve had my best years in my 40s and 50s,” Koehler said, noting she’s got two upcoming talks – one at the Dysart et al branch of the Haliburton County Public Library July 30, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and another at the Minden Cultural Centre Aug. 20, from 2-3:30 p.m.

“We were built to move – we have legs, not a mushroom stem… yet 70 per cent of the population is considered sedentary, they make no effort to put activity into their lives,” she said. “For most people, the biggest obstacle they have to overcome is the one in their mind.”

The talks will centre on what Koehler sees as the three keys to unleashing strength, joy and fulfillment in life. Key focuses include finding happiness through movement, adjusting everyday thinking from what she calls fixed mindsets, believing you are stuck where you are, to a growth mindset, where you active move towards your dreams, and strengthening body and character to get there.

She started hosting talks virtually in October, working with several County-based clients to inspire positive developments in everyday life.

“Almost everything in our lives – our relationships, health, fitness, career, spirituality, money, they all go together and what we’re doing in one area influences everything in terms of our habits… but there are ways we can build small confident steps to be the best that we can be.

“Once positive energy starts flowing and people feel stronger, it can be easy to stagnate. So ongoing support is vital – most of us don’t make it past six weeks when trying to make a big change. A lot of times, it can take months to make real change,” Koehler said.

The sessions cost $15 to attend, with proceeds being donated to the Minden Community Food Centre and 4CS Food Bank in Haliburton.

Her message is a simple one – if you want to improve your life and heal, just move.

“The pain you’re feeling in your body, we can learn from. My hands are fine after years of suffering, that’s because I learned what worked for me, how to take care of myself. You just have to figure out what your body needs – it wants to heal and it wants to move, the two together are power,” Koehler said.

For more talk and ticket information, visit bunchomomentum.com. Snacks will be provided by Country Bakery and Minden and Haliburton Foodland.

Calla Jones and Carter Mitchell were named SIRCH’s ‘opportunity looks like hard work’ award winners this year.

The honour recognizes students who not only dedicate themselves to their studies, but also seize the chance to work at a local business while attending school full-time.

“These remarkable individuals have shown that opportunity often comes disguised as hard work – and that the rewards are well worth the effort,” SIRCH’s Laurie McCaig said.

“Through their commitment, our winners have gained real-world experience, developed essential life skills, and built relationships with people from all walks of life. Their journeys have taught them the value of problem-solving, achievement, communication, and helping others. They have learned what it means to expand their horizons, discover their strengths, and contribute to their families and communities.”

The awards were handed out June 25.

Jones, who teaches skiing at Sir Sam’s Skid/Ride said, “I always give lots of praise, especially to kids, and get down on one knee, take off my goggles, and make sure they can see my face – so they feel comfortable and know I’m really there for them. I also try to connect with customers about where they’re from and recommend local businesses.”

Mitchell added, “I love being able to help people. I know that it involves a lot of hard work and dedication to it and I always strive to be there on time, help as many customers as I can, and just all around be a good person while I work.”

The history of the award is that when Stacy McLean, finance manager at SIRCH, married Steve Todd of Todd’s Your Independent, the senior staff and board wanted to do something special.

“Both Stacy and Steve have an incredible work ethic that started young. Both worked while attending school and see it as a valuable way to increase one’s opportunities and options as a high school student,” McCaig said. SIRCH raised $500 and the Todds matched that amount. Jones and Mitchell received $500 each for their positive, can-do attitudes, great customer service, reliability, and excellent communication and problem-solving skills. The awards are for Grade 9-11 students in the County who work a part-time job in customer service and maintain at least a 70 per cent average.

Cori Burden said she and brother, Chad, are still learning about the impact their father, Bill Burden, had on the West Guilford community.

The long-time owner of the West Guilford Shopping Centre will be remembered July 16 at the community centre.

Cori, in an interview with The Highlander, relayed some of the stories she and Chad had heard over the years.

“Your dad gave us free diapers so we could get through the winter when we were going through hard times; your dad fed us until my dad got a job; my dad was an alcoholic, so your dad made sure our family was okay. I even had someone say your dad paid my hydro bill until I got back on my feet. Unbelievable stories,” Cori said.

She added Bill wouldn’t want anybody to know he was helping someone out. “He was very genuine and very private.” The stories have rounded out her understanding of not just her dad, but the man as a store owner and human being.

Sawyer: ‘you couldn’t get a nicer guy’

It all made sense though since Bill had a “love thy neighbour” approach, his daughter added.

Bill was also “all about family; loyalty to family; stick together no matter what, right or wrong, you support and love in any obstacle we come across…we do it together.”

She said the man at home was very much the man in the store; calm, caring, quiet, and not easily angered. She said she and Chad would seek his advice. He would play devil’s advocate but always leave them to make their own decisions.

Cori said Bill also loved family trips, remembering him taking her daughter to Disneyland. “His back was bad but he never complained. He walked around that park with a sore back, holding my daughter’s hand, making sure she had a princess dress.

“What a great life and legacy. He was generous, loved his customers and staff like family and loved my mom (Edna, who passed away in May 2024).”

She added she and Chad will carry on that legacy out of respect for their dad; raising their children to work hard, and love their neighbours.

Burden was named West Guilford citizen of the year in 2017, saying at the time, “I’m proud to be a resident of West Guilford.” Bill and Edna became the fourth proprietors of the iconic store in 1983.

Chris Chumbley started working with Bill in 2002. “If you were a local person that was the place to go to work in the summer,” Chumbley said.

He added Bill would also sell products from local artists and entrepreneurs to help them out. He also assisted with community events.

Reflecting on 23 years at the store, Chumbley said, “working that close with him and having him trust me to do certain things … it’s an honour. I basically learned everything from him. I have done everything in that store at one point or another, all learning from him how to do things.”

He described Bill as “very friendly. He loved a good laugh. It was very rare to see him get cross. He was always happy. Everything was focused on the store, then the kids, and the grandkids, and hockey – everyone stopped in to talk to him about hockey. And he was so happy to see the cottagers come back every year.”

Dysart et al coun. Carm Sawyer said Bill, “was a great friend and he was an absolute gentleman to our community. He did everything he could for anybody. He treated everybody just unbelievably well. For anything at the community centre, he supported. He supported everybody. He’s irreplaceable, that man. He knew every cottager, he knew every local. You couldn’t get a nicer guy.”

A memorial visitation will be held at the West Guilford Community Centre, 1061 Kennisis Lake Rd., West Guilford, on Wednesday, July 16, from noon until the time of tributes at 2 p.m.

Nathan Lowe is asked about the highlight of his recent Make-A-Wish trip to Costa Rica, but the 11-year-old Haliburton boy cannot single out one thing.

“All of it,” he says, while seated at the dining-room table of his home, with older brother Zach, mom Desiree, and dad, Brad.

Nathan was diagnosed with congenital heart disease before he was even born, and has faced more medical challenges than most people do in a lifetime, including undergoing multiple surgeries, and living under constant care.

Nathan’s family applied and were accepted for Make-A-Wish. He got to choose the destination, but the family agreed with his pick. Desiree and Brad had been to Costa Rica before, so Nathan had heard about their adventures. His folks had told him about ziplining and visiting volcanoes.

He was attracted to the rainforest and the wildlife.

“I just thought that would be a cool place to go,” he said.

Desiree said Nathan has wanted to go ziplining for a long time, was keen to see a volcano, and sink into the natural hot springs, as he loves to be in warm water.

It wasn’t Nathan’s first rodeo. He’s been on airplanes before, to Saint Martin, Texas, the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana. However, it was his first time in the cockpit of a WestJet plane, and he and his family’s presence was announced on the flight.

They stayed at Montana De Fuego Hotel and Spa, in La Fortuna village, overlooking the Arenal volcano.

They took a gondola above the rainforest to start a zipline at 70 km/hr for a kilometre.

Family now giving back

They visited sloths. “One, they’re slow,” Nathan said. “Two, they’re cute.” The river hot springs were also a splash. Zach said going with his younger brother and mom and dad on the trip “was a lot of fun, the food was good, too.” Desiree and Brad said Nathan commented many times on the trip, “I can’t believe my wish is coming true.”

Meets hockey heroes

Nathan said his heart condition slows him down, but he doesn’t think about it much. He makes regular visits to clinics at Sick Kids, not just cardiology. He’s on Warfarin.

Brad said, “we have to tell him to pump the brakes for some things. It’s hard for him to understand and hard for us to do, but sometimes the risk isn’t worth the reward.”

He loves hockey but can’t play, though does tai kwon do and jiu-jitsu. He’s a blue belt.

He has also had an opportunity, though MLSE, to visit the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room a couple of times. He has a custom jersey, magnetic stall name tag, and all kinds of memorabilia in his room. On one visit, he handed out signed Nathan Lowe hockey cards to the amusement of the blue and white, and appeared on Leafs Blueprint.

This trip was special, though. Desiree said, “just seeing him walk through all the steps; just getting to do things that he had wanted to do, that he had been wishing for, and it was all coming true. That was amazing.

“He kept saying, ‘I can’t believe this, I’m so happy to be doing this with my family. I can’t believe my dream came true’… all these sentimental, beautiful things. Just knowing it was really impacting him, that meant a lot. He carries it, we all carry it with us … it was really meaningful.”

And, now, the family is giving back. They’ve signed up for some volunteer shifts for Make-a-Wish at the July 18-20 Toronto Honda Indy.

“The fact they have enough money and they’re a nonprofit organization blows my mind,” Nathan says.

Brad adds, “it’s an honour to give back to such an amazing organization. That’s something we’ll never stop; we’ll do it all the time.”

As an independently-operating affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, Make-A-Wish Canada is part of the network of the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization. They serve children in every community in Canada, and in 50 countries worldwide. Make-A-Wish Canada has granted more than 40,000 wishes over the past 40 years with 2,011 of them last year alone. Learn more at makeawish.ca

Greg Bishop, a County-based Ontario land surveyor, has warned Dysart et al council against making changes to the township’s official plan (OP) and zoning bylaw to allow certain structures on private property three metres from the water.

Speaking at a July 8 public meeting, Bishop said he’s studied every shoreline on every lake in the municipality during his 30-plus year career, noticing one consistent problem across all waterbodies – erosion.

“I’ve seen shorelines taken away by 20-30 metres… Loon Lake used to have a halfacre island in it. It’s gone,” he said, noting dams installed in the early 1900s as part of the Trent-Severn Waterway have taken a toll, “changing our whole environment.”

The township is seeking feedback on plans to adapt its OP and zoning bylaw, which would open the door for lakefront residents to install any one of a gazebo, shed or sauna overlooking the water providing it’s at least three metres away from shore. Current setbacks are 20-30 metres.

The proposal outlines structures should be restricted to a maximum floor area of 15 sq. metres and three-and-a-half metres tall.

While some members of council have spoken about wanting to lift restrictions on what people are allowed to do with their property, Jim Prince, a member of the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association, said he believed the proposal was akin to using “a sledgehammer, trying to fix a small problem.”

Bishop added, “I guarantee you 30 years from now the buildings, should you choose to approve them and if the setback is [three] metres, they’ll be on the water’s edge. They’ll all be non-conforming within five or six years.”

Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning, said amendments would also see decks and patios allowed within the setback providing they’re not attached to the primary residence. Development approvals will be required before any structure can be built, with owners also having to earn a perfect shoreline report score through the municipality’s lake health assessment program. Iles said applications will only be considered for private property.

A public survey available on the municipal website May 15 to June 15 garnered 735 responses, with 56 per cent in favour of the changes, 40 per cent opposed, and four per cent unsure.

“Given how close [those numbers] are, it indicates a need for carefully balanced policy decisions that address both environmental concerns and property flexibility,” Iles said.

The planner said 85 per cent of respondents rate natural shorelines as very or extremely important, while noting opinions were split on whether the proposed changes would impact local waterbodies. “This suggests any change should be backed by environmental science and public education.”

With the mixed response, Iles said staff question whether a change to policies established two decades ago is warranted.

Figureheads from lake and cottage associations on Redstone, Kashagawigamog, Kennisis, Miskwabi, Grace and Percy lakes each submitted comments opposing the amendments. Dale Hawkins, president of the Lake Kashagawigamog Organization (LKO), said she felt the changes would negatively impact water quality and the feel of her lake.

“My family has been here since 1829, one of the things we do appreciate is lake health. The economy is based on that. When I look across the lake, I like… seeing trees. That’s important to me and a lot of people,” Hawkins said, noting 95 per cent of LKO members are very concerned about water quality. “We’re recommending council maintains the status quo.”

Anna Tillman, from the Percy Lake Ratepayers’ Association, said the proposal goes against the primary objective of Dysart’s OP, which is to enhance and preserve the environmental qualities that contribute to the attractiveness of the municipality.

“We do not want our lake to become Lake Muskoka, where boathouses and other structures line the shorelines,” Tillman said.

Only one of 18 people to speak or have comments read at the meeting supported the plan. Council made no comments during the public hearing, with mayor Murray Fearrey saying officials will respond at its July 22 meeting.

Standing beside one of the near centuryold pews inside Lochlin United Church, longtime minister Rev. Harry Morgan wonders where his mother would have sat while attending her first service at the parish more than eight decades earlier

Congregation leader for the past 33 years, Morgan’s ties with the facility run deep. His mother, Edna Hadley, was a regular during the church’s formative years, travelling from nearby Snowdon, where she was a schoolteacher.

“This was the hub of the whole community, that’s one thing my mom would always say,” Morgan told The Highlander in a recent interview. “She had a real connection with this place… it’s fitting that, all these years later, I find myself here.”

Celebrating its centennial this year, the parish has been a Lochlin lynchpin since its dedication on Nov. 22, 1925. The building cost $3,800, about $63,000 in today’s money, though the camaraderie and sense of community created within its walls has been priceless, said Helen Burk, who has been attending for more than 70 years.

She remembers all the pancake breakfasts, strawberry suppers, pig roasts and book sales; the life-lessons learned via the old Canadian Girls in Training group, an alternative to Girl Guides; and what it was like trying to find a seat in the nave for the usual Sunday morning service.

Burk flashes a smile as she recalls how Cecilia Brown would march students from the old schoolhouse on the corner of Lochlin and Gelert roads – now the community centre – to the church to practice Christmas concerts. It was years before she learned that her father, Cecil, served as the church’s Santa Claus for much of her childhood.

“For a long time, this was the place to be in Lochlin. It was the beating heart of the community… but it’s gotten harder over the years. There are no young people [coming here] anymore,” she said.

Today, the congregation is around 15-20 people most weeks, a far cry from the 50-plus who attended services religiously for the first half of the church’s life. Morgan said it’s been a slippery slope for the United Church Canada-wide since about 1967.

He joined the church in 1992, returning to his roots in the Highlands after several years in Quebec. Morgan remembers his first service well.

“The place was full, there were balloons everywhere and I remember looking out into the crowd before speaking and seeing three of my former teachers – Yvonne Newell, Betty Hicks and Gerry Feltham – smiling up at me,” he said. “A special moment, for sure.”

Janice Carr, a parishioner since 1984, was in the crowd that day. She said Morgan has been a “wonderful” leader over the past three decades, guiding the church through some dark days. Forced closures through the COVID-19 pandemic were difficult, she said, though the three years since have been even harder.

While reopening for the usual 10 a.m. in-person Sunday services in 2022, all the extras that once brought the church community so close have fallen by the wayside. There hasn’t been a Sunday school service for youth since 2018, while public events have been a no-go after the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit (HKPR) condemned the water supply in 2021.

That could be about to change after the congregation chipped in to pay for a new ultraviolet purification system and fridge, both installed this year.

“We would like to start hosting things again… we hope to have people back here for carolling during Christmas,” Morgan said.

A 100th anniversary celebration will be held on the grounds of the community centre, by the baseball diamond, on July 13. The day will begin with an outdoor service, followed by a community picnic, games, childrens’ crafts and live music by Jody Tilgrim. A gospel singalong begins at 9:45 a.m., with festivities running into the afternoon.

Morgan said the event is an opportunity for the church to re-connect with old friends and, hopefully, make some new ones.

“We’re proud to hit 100 years, because churches are closing left, right and centre now. This is a chance for us to remember what this place has meant to the people of Lochlin,” he said. “Everyone is welcome to attend.

“We’re not sure what’s going to happen next. Finances are always a concern, but the Lord doth provide so far, so we keep carrying on… hopefully for another [100 years].”

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada, sparking celebrations across the County. Highland Hills United Church in Minden held a commemorative service June 15, with the parish marking its centennial in January 2026. Haliburton United Church has been active since 1918, when the local Presbyterian and First Methodist churches merged to form the Union Church. It took its current name in 1925.

Knox United Church in Dorset is celebrating its 131st year – it was a Presbyterian parish upon its opening in 1894; while Cardiff & St. Marks – Paudash United Church maintains a Sunday service in Highlands East, following the closure of churches in Gooderham and South Wilberforce in recent years.

Zion United Church in Carnarvon closed in 2019, merging with Highland Hills in Minden, Maple Lake United Church in Stanhope closed in 2022, with Ingoldsby United Church closing in 2023.

Some members of Dysart et al council want to see the township amend its procurement policy, moving away from a digital-only system that manages project bids in one place to one that also accepts paper proposals from County-based companies.

At its June 24 meeting, while discussing results from a tender put out for winter sand screening at Carroll Pit, which drew only one bid, deputy mayor Walt McKechnie said he felt the township’s existing process was “not really fair to local contractors who could put bids in.”

The job was to have someone come into the township-owned Carroll Pit and use municipal materials to prepare sand for winter road maintenance. Public works director Rob Camelon said eight interested parties attended a site meeting earlier this year, but only one company, Francis Thomas Contracting based in Algonquin Highlands, submitted a bid, totalling $344,637 plus HST.

McKechnie flagged the township requiring a bid bond – a financial guarantee from a contractor ensuring they follow through with a project – as one reason for the lack of local interest.

CAO Tamara Wilbee pointed out the lone bidder was a local business, while Camelon said he didn’t hear any comments or concerns from any would-be bidder while the project was open.

Wilbee noted staff are reviewing its procurement policies to look at new ways of attracting interest in municipal projects. Mayor Murray Fearrey suggested allowing certified checks, money orders, or lines of credit as an alternative to bid bonds.

Coun. Barry Boice, who owns Blair Sand & Gravel, said he knows many local companies don’t bother bidding on projects that require bonds.

“Full disclosure, it deterred my company,” he said. “There are a lot of companies in the area more than capable of doing that work, but when we hear the word ‘bond’ it takes things to another level, and we’re not prepared for that.”

Coun. Pat Casey, who owns construction firm Total Site Services, said his company “didn’t bother with it either” because of the bond requirement. He added another layer to the discussion by asking why the township doesn’t allow both electronic and physical bids on tenders.

Wilbee said Dysart has been using its virtual ‘bids and tenders’ software for the past five years, opining it’s the only way to run an open and transparent process. Casey felt that was excluding people who aren’t as computer literate as others.

“If [we’re using] community tax dollars, we should be doing what we can to ensure the money stays in the community and there’s accountability for that,” he said. “If we have to massage those systems, to me, that’s our job.”

Casey pitched turning down the Francis Thomas bid and re-tendering the work, allowing a mix of virtual and physical bids and other modes of security.

Camelon said if the township put out the same tender just because it didn’t like the price, they could be challenged in court. Clerk Mallory Bishop also warned about some councillors potentially being in a conflict of interest.

“I’m not the integrity commissioner, but I would caution council of turning down a bid, re-tendering and then awarding a contract to a company of someone who is on council,” Bishop said.

Camelon was concerned re-tendering wouldn’t leave enough time to complete the work. Under the current bid, sand will be ready for hauling in mid-September.

Through this deal, Casey said he felt the township “could be paying $100,000 in excess of what the job’s really worth.”

Council opted to award the contract to Francis Thomas Contracting.

Boice, Casey and coun. Carm Sawyer circled back on adopting a hybrid system for bidding.

“Go through bids and tenders, but also do it with paper. What is wrong with opening an envelope that says the bid, like it used to be done 15 or 20 years ago? What’s the problem with that?” Boice asked. Wilbee rebutted, “accountability and transparency.”

She said staff are available to assist anyone having issues with the virtual process, while pointing to help guides on the municipal website. Wilbee said staff put out a couple of projects last term that didn’t require bid bonds, saying it didn’t increase interest.

“We got single bids still. We promoted through the Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association, and it didn’t change the outcome,” she said.

Despite that, Dysart will now accept other security options for projects under $500,000, though anything over $500,000 still requires a bid bond, pending legal review.