Arts extravaganza to raise money for hospital

October 3, 2024

Thirty-six years ago, Chris Bishop published a photography book entitled Haliburton Highlands.

But he could not have put that coffee table book out if not for the monetary support of local businesses.

Once the book was printed, Bishop had artist David Alexander Risk do original wildlife study sketches in some of them. These books were then given to the business people who had supported the creation and printing of the book.

Bishop still has two of these books with the sketches, and they are the inspiration for the fundraiser he is calling the Haliburton Highlands Arts Extravaganza.

He worked with the The Arts Council – Haliburton Highlands and identified 13 local artists to complete sketches and art in the 13 books he has left. These will be auctioned Oct. 19 as part of a fundraiser for diagnostic imaging equipment at Haliburton hospital.

The event will be held at Sir Sam’s and feature entertainment by Carl Dixon, highend appetizers, door prizes, silent and live auction.

It’s also where the winner of the online auction for an Ethel Curry painting will be announced. Brick House on Highlands Street, circa 1932, can be found on the HHHSF website.

Bishop said it all started as a simple idea of selling some raffle tickets over the summer when cottagers and tourists were in the Highlands. It has since morphed into a gala fundraiser. He said Dale Walker and Klara Oyler are working with him. His job is talking to the artists, collecting their work, getting door prizes and auction items.

In a room in his house, he has items piled up. He anticipates about 20 door prizes and 50 silent auction items. He pulls out one that will see Chris and Greg Bishop take four people on a fishing trip that includes overnight accommodation. “Chef Chris and sous chef Greg are going to cook your dinner and breakfast,” he says with a laugh. “So, that’s a unique item.” There are puzzles, made of memorabilia from 56 years at the ski hill, and produced by Michael Bainbridge and Brigitte Gall from The Occurrence. Greg Gillespie has carved a bird.

Bishop said the main event goes from 6-9 p.m. at the ski chalet. He said Foodland is providing the cheese and crackers, McFadden’s shrimp, and the Independent all the desserts. Sir Sam’s has donated the chalet space.

Following the silent auction, the Ethel Curry painting winning bid will be announced, then the art and books will be live auctioned by Gordon Cressy.

“This started out to be a $20,000-$30,000 fundraiser, but we’re hoping for $75,000$100,000,” Bishop said.

It’s a personal thing for him. “Especially as we get older. I know two people who have had CT scans already. if they couldn’t have done it in Haliburton, they had to get driven somewhere else. People are elderly and it’s complicated and it’s upsetting.” Even for x-rays, he said the diagnostic equipment at the hospital is outdated.

He added, “it’s going to help to attract more doctors to the County because of the specialized equipment.”

Bishop is unveiling the 13 artists on Facebook as he goes. So far, Mary Intven Wallace, Wendy Wood, Susan Hay, Sandy Slote, Harvey Walker, Lynda Moffatt, Terry Sullivan, Chuck Lewis, Robert Van Nood, Janet Trull and John Lennard have been announced.

“Everybody just realizes the value of what this equipment means to Haliburton,” Bishop said.

To get tickets, go to hhhs.ca/foundation.

Too big to succeed?

October 2, 2024

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) was formed in 1998 – with the amalgamation of the Victoria County Board of Education, the Muskoka Board of Education, and the Haliburton County Board of Education.

Today, the board covers a geographically-large and diverse region in the heart of Ontario’s cottage country.

It’s a superboard in size, alright; approximately 11,500 sq. km. There are 16,899 students at its 40 elementary schools, seven secondary schools, and six alternate education and training centres.

While the government of the day pitched the boards as ‘too big to fail’ one wonders, as the National Post touched on in a 2022 piece, if they are too big to succeed.

Case in point the prickly procedural decision to make students walk 1.6 km to elementary schools and 3.2 km to high school this year, when they were bused in the past.

Perhaps this policy works well in urban Lindsay and Bracebridge, but how about on the more rural roads coming in and out of Haliburton and Minden? The busing review done in the County’s two main towns is apparently similar to ones done in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Kirkield, Kilworthy and Fenelon Falls.

Incidentally, TLDSB doesn’t factor in things such as sidewalks in these reviews. Posted speed limits do factor in. In other words, it is up to Dysart et al and Minden Hills to put in sidewalks if they believe students are at risk. Perhaps, they could get around the speed limit issue by suddenly making all roads upwards of 40 km/hr in town, but they are not likely to do that for safety reasons.

The recent decision not to open Hal High’s cafeteria is also clearly questionable, as discussed in a recent editorial by Mike Baker. The fact the board is going with a contract for all schools – and that contractor cannot find sufficient staff – should result in TLDSB adopting a common-sense approach and finding alternatives, such as hiring a local who has offered to run the caf in Haliburton.

It appears to us that the role of elected officials – trustees – has also been watered down. In the days of the Haliburton County Board of Education, board members were allowed to freely express their opinions about issues. Today, trustees have to close ranks and speak as one board. There is no room for dissension lest they be slapped on the wrist. More and more, the message is controlled by communications hires.

It’s no wonder parents and the community feel disenfranchised by seemingly silly decisions.

We used to live in a world where communities could come up with their own solutions. Nowadays, the ship has often sailed before constituents even know about a problem or change.

It all reminds me of studying journalism at Carleton University back in the days of the dinosaur. Profs had us read Marshall McLuhan’s The Medium is the Message.

McLuhan created the phrase to mean that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived. With all due respect to the hard-working folks at TLDSB, and our duly-elected school board trustee, one wonders if TLDSB is indeed too big to succeed.

Townships to stage STR regulations

Lisa Gervais

September 26, 2024

By Mike Baker and Lisa Gervais

It’s been a long, winding road as the County of Haliburton and its four townships prepare to usher in new short-term rental regulations, with Highlands East junior planner Kim Roberts saying the first steps towards implementation “haven’t been without issues.”

New STR bylaws are set to come into effect in Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills Oct. 1. However, not all townships will commence the licensing process, or enforcement as of this coming Tuesday.

All four have partnered with Granicus Canada to carry much of the administrative load. The company is responsible for launching a platform where property owners can apply for a license. Roberts said the hope was the platform would be available to residents from all four townships on Oct. 1, but that a phased launch was now planned.

“Granicus doesn’t appear to have, I would politely call it, resourced things appropriately internally and were a little less experienced with the Canadian market than they let on, so we’ve had some delays in terms of the launch for the application portal,” Roberts told Highlands East council Sept. 10.

She said the anticipated release for Highlands East residents is Sept. 30, with the other three townships coming online “a little later.”

Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter said his township is looking at an Oct. 14 start. “The bylaw comes into effect Oct. 1 but we are just not going to enforce it until we have the systems up and running,” he said.

He added the township has no issues with Granicus. “If you were doing this as one County of Haliburton thing, great. But we have to do four implementations and just the fact each one is slightly different because of some nuance, it’s taking a bit longer than they thought.”

New STR rules to be enforced in 2025

Roberts said the phased launch wasn’t necessarily a bad thing – she recently contacted a Tiny Township bylaw enforcement officer to ask about their STR rollout in August 2022 and was told staggering things produced the best results.

Carter said, “we have people calling us up and saying ‘I have people that want to book for Thanksgiving, or Christmas,’ so we’re just telling people ‘go ahead’. This was never about trying to ruin anybody’s business. The whole idea was to try to control things, and not cost the taxpayers money.”

He added if things aren’t working in the first couple of weeks, “we’ll change things. It’s like any big system, there’s a lot of unforeseen things that come up.”

Carrot versus stick

There will be a slight delay in Dysart et al too, mayor Murray Fearrey confirmed this week. He said the township is hoping to have its licensing software online by Oct. 14.

“There’s no problem… the bylaw comes into effect Oct. 1, but we’re not quite ready for it,” Fearrey said. “We want to make sure the system is up and running and the software is ready to go [before launching]. That way we won’t have to do applications twice.”

Fearrey encouraged all STR owners within Dysart’s limits to apply for a license as soon as the software is available.

Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen echoed Carter and Fearrey, saying all four townships initially wanted to go live with licensing Oct. 1. She said AH is still hoping to start accepting and processing applications Oct. 1 but it might be a bit later. She said Granicus was challenged with new staff, and working with its Canadian branch, and rarely went live with four municipalities at the same time. She added enforcement won’t roll out until late spring or early summer 2025.

Roberts said that at her township, beginning Oct. 1, there will be an eight month “implementation process.” where the municipality will focus on educating the public about new requirements and encouraging voluntary compliance. Enforcement measures will be used solely for “really bad or dangerous” situations.

The township will start full enforcement of STR rules June 1, 2025, Roberts confirmed.

“We would first take more of a proactive approach – contact folks who are unlicensed. If we have particularly resistant operators, we would be in a position to use all the powers of the bylaw – orders, demerits, administrative penalties – to try and bring them into compliance,” Roberts added. “That doesn’t mean come Oct. 2 we’re going to go to every STR in Highlands East and stick an order on their door. The goal is to… work with people to get as much voluntary compliance as we can.”

Once implemented at all four townships, anyone wishing to rent all or part of their property out for less than 28 continuous days will need to secure a license.

For STR applications, Roberts said she hopes the process will be straightforward.

“Providing folks have information [such as] site plans, fire safety plans, affidavits – and there’s no red flags – we’ll be issuing licenses as they come in,” she said. Information advising people on what’s required for STR license applications are on all township websites.

Granicus did not respond to questions as of press time.

MAT roll out

Highlands East coun. Angela Lewis asked about the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) implementation, with that bylaw also beginning Oct. 1. Roberts explained they were two different programs and would each have their own rules and operate on separate timelines.

Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East, and Minden Hills each adopted a four per cent MAT tax, charged by property owners to renters and included on the final bill, while Dysart et al approved a two per cent rate.

“My understanding is MAT taxes are collected quarterly… everyone I’ve talked to I’ve let them know even if they aren’t licensed Oct. 1, if they’re renting and have people booking and you’re taking their money after Oct. 1, you need to charge that tax on your invoices and collect it,” Roberts said, noting the first batch of MAT tax monies are due Jan. 31, 2025.

Hundreds have supported ‘here for you’

Mike Baker

September 26, 2024

It’s been a remarkable fundraising season for the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation (HHHSF), with executive director Melanie Klodt Wong this week confirming the ‘Here for You in the Highlands’ campaign has surpassed $5 million in donations.

Launched in the spring to help pay for new CT scanner and mammography units, Klodt Wong said the campaign, which had a goal of $4.3 million, is one of the most successful she’s ever been involved in.

This year’s Radiothon, hosted in partnership with MooseFM, brought in a record $537,000, while the 2024 Matt Duchene Charity Golf Classic raised $222,000 – with that money used to buy new CPR assist devices for the Haliburton ER, bladder scanners, new ice machines for the Haliburton in-patient unit, and room upgrades at Highland Wood and Hyland Crest long-term care homes.

The effort has been back-stopped by some major individual donations – Scott and Chere Campbell donated an initial $500,000 and matched community donations up to an additional $500,000, the Cockwell family and Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve gifted another $500,000, while cottager Richard Muir matched donations on another $200,000.

This week, Kennisis Lake cottagers Christine Tutssel and Rob Holl got in on the action, offering to match all gifts made between Sept. 23 and Oct. 31 up to another $500,000.

“Haliburton has a very special place in our hearts for our family. Our kids grew up on the lake and now our grandchildren are enjoying the same privilege,” Tutssel said, challenging all lakefront property owners to donate.

“We reside in the Kitchener-Waterloo area where resources are relatively abundant to support local needs, but the need in Haliburton County is great and resources are far more limited. We are making this contribution because we know in Haliburton, it will make a real difference,” she added.

Klodt Wong said newer donations will go towards replacing x-ray equipment in the Haliburton ER, with the current suite 12 years old and past its end of life. According to the Canadian Association of Radiologists, general diagnostic devices should be replaced every 10 years.

Klodt Wong estimates needing another $1 million to pay for the x-ray replacement and relocation, with the device to be moved out of the ER closer to the new CT unit.

Given HHHS receives no funding for facility upgrades and equipment replacement, fundraisers like this are especially vital, Klodt Wong said.

“It has been an unprecedented summer… I’ve only been in the community for a few years and I continue to be blown away by the support, generosity and rallying that happens when communities come together,” she said.

Referencing the record-breaking Radiothon, Klodt Wong said it was a crazy couple of days with a surreal ending.

“As the dollars came in and more people made donations of all sizes, it truly felt that the community was pushing us towards our goal and beyond,” she said. “Rick (Lowes, MooseFM host) and I kept looking at each other, shocked that these were the real numbers.

“This isn’t an everyday thing, and I don’t expect to repeat this next year, but when it happens, and the community comes together, it is a beautiful thing.”

HHHSF board chair David Blodgett confirmed more than 600 people have donated to the campaign to date. As well as the big-ticket items, the summer fundraiser is supporting upgrades to ultrasound equipment and image archiving systems (PACS).

“Thank you to every one of you,” Blodgett said. “Every donation gets us closer to the diagnostic imaging equipment HHHS so urgently needs.” To donate, visit hhhs.ca/foundation or call 705-457-1580.

Township says there’s no ‘serious’ speeding problem on North Shore

Mike Baker

September 26, 2024

Algonquin Highlands public works manager Adam Thorn told council at a Sept. 19 meeting that data collected from electronic traffic signs along North Shore Road this summer showed most travellers in the area drive under the posted speed limit.

He was following up on a presentation made by Rae Mavor earlier this month, who, as a resident of the road, said she and many neighbours no longer feel safe walking the busy thoroughfare. Some, she claimed, have had to take evasive action to avoid oncoming traffic, with one neighbour reportedly forced to jump into a ditch earlier in the summer.

Mavor presented a petition to the township, signed by 99 people, calling for the implementation of a community safety zone. Council has stopped short of doing that, with Thorn saying all evidence suggests speeding isn’t a major issue on the road.

Signs were displayed in two locations – near the intersection with Dawson Road and by 1256 North Shore Rd. It was at Dawson Aug. 7 to 22, capturing 2,471 vehicles travelling west with 94.71 per cent driving under the limit, and 2,983 vehicles headed east with 87.79 per cent in line. It was there again Aug. 23 to 28, with 950 vehicles travelling west and 92.85 per cent driving under the limit. Thorn said 1,014 vehicles were clocked heading east with 87.47 per cent under the limit.

The signs were at 1256 North Shore Rd. Aug. 7 to 22, clocking 5,127 vehicles heading east with 72.55 per cent within the posted limit and 5,630 vehicles travelling west, 33.79 per cent under the limit. Between Aug. 23 and 28, of 2,628 vehicles travelling east, 69.72 per cent were under the limit, while only 34.09 per cent of 2,018 westbound vehicles were driving within the limit.

“Data shows the majority of traffic is going under the speed limit,” Thorn said. “If you’re standing on the road, you can think someone is doing 80 km/h, but they’re only doing 45 km/h. I’ve had three people come forward to say they were waved at to slow down despite them all doing under the speed limit.”

He said of vehicles caught speeding, most were within 10km/h of the limit.

Thorn added there’s no evidence suggesting the road has gotten busier this year following the upgrades to the Maple Lake landfill, in fact he said traffic stats from 2016 showed there are fewer cars on the road today.

“We found in our files that on one day in September 2016, there were 899 cars on the road. That’s more than I was able to track in a two-week period this summer,” Thorn said.

Mayor Liz Danielsen felt the numbers, “do not indicate we have a serious speeding problem.”

There was no appetite among council to create a community safety zone – Thorn indicated the stats don’t justify one and CAO Angie Bird said she broached the idea with Haliburton Highlands OPP recently and was told it was a bad idea.

Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux enquired about painting lines to establish a hard shoulder and give people a safe space to walk. Thorn said the road is too narrow for official lanes and that even creating a marker may have little impact. He estimated there would be 1.5 feet between the white line and the slope of the ditch.

He said widening the road could be an option in the future but would be costly.

Dailloux seemed uncomfortable doing nothing – asking Thorn what measures could be taken to alleviate “problem spots” on the road. He suggested installing signs on sharp turns warning drivers to be mindful of pedestrians. Thorn also felt installing flashing lights on existing signs could help.

No action was taken at last week’s meeting, with Thorn directed to come back with another report looking at how to improve safety in problem areas.

Educating boys and men key to tackling domestic violence

Lisa Gervais

September 26, 2024

Cathy McIlmurray is a volunteer board director for the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton as she thinks the County needs more representation with the HERS SafeSpace within its borders.

At Sept. 19’s second annual Take Back the Night march in Minden, she was pleased to see parents had brought children along. She had also put up posters at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School to raise awareness.

“You have to start with the youth to change people’s minds and change people’s attitudes,” the West Guilford resident said.

She added there is a women’s and children’s shelter in the County, so “don’t be afraid to step forward if you have a friend that needs a hand, help them, hold their hand, and guide them towards a better life.”

Director of philanthropy for the YWCA, Tyna Thornton, addressed a crowd gathered on the grass of Canadian Tire last Thursday night.

“Your presence tonight is having an impact… taking a stand against physical and sexual violence that is happening right here in our communities. I would love to stand here before you and say that intimate partner violence is slowing. I’d prefer to tell you that domestic violence is no longer a concern, but that’s simply not the case. We know that intimate partner violence is still a very serious epidemic in our communities, both urban and rural,” she said.

“We also know the challenges faced by women living in more rural regions. When they’re experiencing domestic violence, it’s certainly trickier for them to leave the situation. A woman living in a rural area is far more likely to stay in a life-threatening abusive situation over her urban sisters. They’re generally more isolated with less access to social service supports necessary for regaining personal independence. This has, and will continue to be, further impacted by the housing crisis,” she added.

Executive director of the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre in Peterborough, Brittany McMillan, said it was a really important event to create awareness. She noted their services extend to Haliburton County. She said statistically, one in three women, one half of transgender/gender diverse and one sixth of men are victims.

“This continues to be the statistic year after year, regardless of the amount of Take Back the Nights we do. I really encourage folks to start talking about this stuff. We do a lot of prevention and education, as well as the team from the Y, making sure our young kids, young boys, need to respect women. The narrative has always been women need to figure out how to protect themselves, but we do need to shift that into teaching men and boys to not harm women.”

Thornton sent marchers off with the words, “I truly believe that together we are powerful. Together, we can make a difference, and together we can make a movement of change. Together, we can make the world a safer place for future generations.”

One with nature at Lakeview’s new Dome

Mike Baker

September 26, 2024

Glamping has taken on a whole new meaning at Lakeview Motel & Resort in Haliburton, with the business recently unveiling its new geodesic dome accommodation.

The 15-foot by 22-foot structure, constructed by Geodomes Canada in Hamilton, sits high on the property with great views of nearby Grass Lake. Guests are treated to a personalized charcuterie board, a king-sized bed, full washroom, kitchenette and breakfast bar, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a unique opportunity to watch nature undisturbed. There’s also a private deck fitted with a hot tub and BBQ.

The project was about 15 months in the making, said co-owner Harsha Manani.

“Our chairman, Manmit Shrimali, had a vision to build a treehouse or something similar, he wanted to do something unique… something that places us on the map for unique accommodation experiences,” Manani said. “The Dome is not just a glamping idea, but a luxurious, tranquil, peaceful place under the night sky.

“These days, it’s not all about just having a roof over our head or a place to stay, it’s about creating unique guest experiences and enhanced stays with memorable adventures,” she added.

The space will be available to rent yearround, Manani confirmed.

Construction was managed internally, with Manani saying local businesses combined to make the build a reality. Early blueprints were compiled locally by Keith Moore, Tree Kings clear cut the area, The Pump Shop did all the trenching and servicing, Dave Carpentry completed the deck, Algonquin Highlands Plumbing fitted the bathroom, Sharp Electric did the wiring, Chaulk supplied and installed the kitchenette, breakfast bar and fireplace mantle, with ACM Designs completing much of the interior design. Big Hands Contracting completed the stonework around the fireplace. Fixtures were bought from Kohara + Co. and Riverview Furniture.

“We all live in the community together so we should all support each other. Support local all the way, this will always be our motto,” Manani said.

She’s expecting a busy winter, with the Dome already proving a hit. She said the space is ideal for couples looking for a cold-weather, nature-infused escape, or snowmobilers and skiers. There’s access to the Haliburton Nordic Trail system directly from the property.

Manani said she and the other owners, Manmit and Jagdish Shrimali, were blown away by the finished product.

“It’s what we envisioned and more… we are thrilled to expand our resort with this unique building,” she said.

Jagdish added, “as a family that has nurtured this property, we’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative effect of spending time in nature. We wanted everyone to have the opportunity to detach from the bustle of daily life and provide a sanctuary for personal growth and rejuvenation.”

Bookings for the new unit opened Sept. 5. For more information, visit lakeviewhaliburton.ca.

Huskies on three-game winning streak

Lisa Gervais

September 26, 2024

It’s been a big week for the Haliburton County Huskies – splitting weekend games before winning two at the 2024 OJHL Governors’ Showcase in Niagara Falls.

The Huskies competed Sept. 23-24 at the Gale Centre’s state-of-the-art facility with its four NHL-sized rink pads.

The main goal of the Governors’ Showcase is to give OJHL teams and players an opportunity to come together in one location and display their skills, talent and character, and ultimately have a chance to play at a higher level.

The OJHL has the highest percentage in all of the Canadian junior hockey leagues for players that have advanced to the NHL, AHL, CIS, NCAA DIII and CHL, and has the second highest percentage of players that have advanced to NCAA DI.

“The priority of the OJHL is to facilitate player growth and progress, and it is exhibited when approximately 70 per cent of graduating players from the league move on to play a higher level of hockey each year,” the OJHL said.

On Monday, the Huskies speared the Oakville Blades 5-2. A hot Sam Black opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the game. The Blades answered back at 15:40. The second saw Deandres De Jesus fire in a goal at 9:41. Oakville answered a little over a minute later, and it was 2-2 heading into the third. The Huskies busted it wide open with three, third period tallies; De Jesus at just 44 seconds; Ty Petrou on the powerplay at 12:38, and Ethan Wright, with the man-advantage, at 17:03.

On Tuesday, the Huskies beat up on the Georgetown Raiders 4-1. This afternoon tilt saw Isaac Larmard score two first period goals to put the blue and white up by a deuce. The Raiders got one in the third, at 13:13, but the Huskies shut then down with De Jesus scoring at 17:57 and Poole hitting the empty net at 18:46.

Head coach and general manager Ryan Ramsay said he thought the team played “really well” in the showcase. He said players are learning the league and learning the Huskies systems, “which is great to see. Tons of positives and nice to string three in a row together.”

Ramsay said with a lot of rookies, “some will get it and be really good players. Some won’t really get it. And some, it just takes a while longer. We’re really happy with where the progress has been.”

The roster has been in flux, with the team adding a player a week, so it’s been “a bit of a juggling act trying to get everyone on the same page, but they seem to be grasping what we are teaching them.”

Ramsay said the blue and white have picked up defenceman Ryan Fairbairn from Collingwood. He played his first game Sept. 24.

Haliburton 5 Aurora 2

On Sept. 21, the Huskies scored three unanswered goals in the second period to take the Aurora Tigers by the tail. After a scoreless first frame, Ty Petrou broke the goose egg on the powerplay at 3:52. Carson Littlejohn then found the back of the twine, at 14:55, with the Huskies enjoying the man advantage once again. Black made it a Huskies 3-0 lead when he scored at 18:47. Aurora cracked Huskies’ goalie, Corbin Votary, at 2:19 of the third on the powerplay, to make it a 3-1 game. However, Larmand answered back, at 11:16. The Tigers showed teeth just 38 seconds later, finding the back of the net to make it a 4-2 game. But Black cemented the deal, scoring his second tally at 15:15, to make it a 5-2 final.

Huskies 2 St. Mike’s 5

On Sept. 20, it was the Huskies’ turn to drop a 5-2 game, to the St. Michael’s Buzzers. The Buzzers got on the board first, at 6:51. The Huskies got a late first period marker, at 19:35, from Adam Smeeton. The blue and white took the lead in the second with a Ryder Dagenais tally. But it was all St. Mike’s from there, as they recorded four straight goals to finish off the Huskies. Next up are the Markham Royals, at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena, Sept. 28, with puck drop at 4 p.m.

Showing some Razza-dazzle on stage

Mike Baker

September 26, 2024

County resident Nicole Stewart believes the secret is out about Razzamataz Kids’ Shows.

The popular three-season event series has been a Haliburton County staple for more than 40 years, bringing high-quality, affordable, and culturally-diverse stage performances to thousands of youth, Stewart said. Shows are held at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in Haliburton.

The latest season kicked off Sept. 22, with Quebec-based musical duo Stick & Bow, featuring Juan Sebastian Delgado on cello and Krystina Marcoux on marimba, bringing their show Bavela to life on stage. It told the story of a cat in Mexico who revisits its former lives to prove that cats are not bad luck.

Stewart said Bavela was “a heartwarming animated story” that captured unique sounds from the artists, delighting the crowd of more than 100 people.

“Razzamataz Kids’ Shows offers a great, affordable opportunity for the whole family to see live theatre locally,” she said. “From dance to music, circus and puppets, there is something for everyone.”

There are three other performances planned – Nov. 3 will see French Canadian breakdancing crew Bboyizm introduce the County to street dance culture; Jamie Adkins brings his Circus Incognitus comedy show to Haliburton Feb. 16; and the season ends May 11 with Kattam and His Tam Tams, which takes the crowd on a journey of rhythm, song, and dance discovery around Africa, the Middle East, and India.

The Bboyizm and Kattam events both have workshops after the shows, giving kids an even closer look at the action. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

A new addition this year, Stewart said Razzamataz is bringing a free show to Haliburton Highlands Secondary School Nov. 3. The show is sponsored by the Haliburton Arts Council, Kennisis Lake Cottage Association, and CanoeFM. It will take place in the school gym.

Regular shows are funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the federal and provincial governments.

Stewart said it’s always a challenge finding fresh acts, noting she scouted the Ottawa Children’s Festival, Toronto’s Buskerfest, and the Almonte Puppet Festival last year. Next year, she plans to attend the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

After setting a new record for ticket sales last season, Stewart said she wants to keep the momentum rolling.

“Most shows had about 130 people in attendance. We also had our first sold-out show,” she said. “This year we are hoping to continue this trend and get the community out to enjoy all of our offerings.”

For more information, or to buy tickets, visit razzamatazz.ca.

Abbey Gardens a natural ‘rags to riches’ tale

Mike Baker

September 26, 2024

Guiding hikers through the man-made pollinator garden oasis at Abbey Gardens last week, ecologist Cara Steele said it’s incredible to see plant life flourish and thrive at the old gravel pit.

Around a dozen people participated in the ‘From Gravel to Greenspace’ event Sept. 20 – one of around 40 excursions offered through this year’s Hike Haliburton festival.

Steele has volunteered as a hike leader for years, feeling it’s important to educate and keep people updated about the work happening at Abbey Gardens. Founded in 2008 by John and Thea Patterson, the 380acre property has transitioned from a space that drew from the area’s natural resources to one that replenishes them.

There’s a two-acre vegetable garden, fully serviced food hub, pony paddock, marquee tent, indoor space for educational programs, a disc golf course, and no end of walking trails to explore, Steele said. The site is also home to three local businesses and a charity – Into the Blue food truck, ACM Designs, Haliburton Wind and Solar, and Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre.

Steele noted the two pollinator gardens are recent additions, with one established in 2021 and the other in 2023. She manages the plots daily – watering existing vegetation, weeding, and planting new shrubs and plants.

During Friday’s tour, she talked about how the pollinator garden features dozens of species, from New England astor to Culver’s root, wild bergamot, prairie dropseed, pale purple coneflower, and Virginia mountain mint.

Steele said most of the plants are native, but felt it was important to incorporate some non-natives too – pretty plants she thinks people will enjoy. Steele said she’s proud of the transformation over the past few years.

“Compared to what this place was before, it’s unrecognizable,” Steele said, noting the pollinator plants help to sustain local bee populations and ensure Abbey Gardens’ crops are fertilized.

“I’m here to protect what we have on this site and to restore the areas that were lost when it was a gravel pit. It sounds really fun, but in reality, it’s a lot of weeding and watering,” Steele added.

There will be about 1,700 new arrivals soon, Steele said, with decoratives like daffodils, tulips, and irises to be planted. She also hopes to plant about 500 new grass species next year “to fill in some blank spots.”

Happy hikers

Hike Haliburton co-lead Thom Lambert said the 21st annual event went off without a hitch, with four days of outdoor adventure for people to enjoy.

Final numbers were not available by press time, but Lambert noted most of the 40 hikes were full.

“I was very happy with this year’s festival. We had a great range of hikes, from short rambles to long, challenging backcountry hikes,” Lambert said. “The weather was amazing. Even though we had a bit of rain on Saturday, no hikes were cancelled. I personally attended parts of six different hikes, and all of the participants were very happy and appreciative.”

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