Celebrating their tenth anniversary as owners of Heather Lodge resort, James and Maria Jennings received the perfect gift, with their restaurant recognized as one of the best rural eateries in the country by OpenTable.

An international online restaurant reservation service, OpenTable works with thousands of subscriber restaurants across Canada. The company released its Top 100 Restaurants of 2023 late last year, with Heather Lodge making the list. It was the only restaurant in Haliburton County recognized. The list featured 41 Ontario restaurants – with only 12 of those outside the GTA, 20 from British Columbia, 19 in Alberta, 16 from Quebec, three from Nova Scotia, and one from Newfoundland and Labrador.

“This is not something that was on our radar or that we were even pursuing. Our reviews are mostly positive, but to be recognized in this way, we’re kind of humbled,” Maria said. “We see this as a testament that we’re providing value and a good experience to our guests.”

Heather Lodge overlooks Twelve Mile Lake in Minden. The resort features 12 rooms and is adult-only. With the busy summer season now over, it has transitioned to a weekendonly operation. The restaurant is open for dinner Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with breakfast options available on Saturday and Sunday.

While hotel guests are given priority, the Jennings’ say their restaurant is also open to the public. The kitchen is operated by three chefs, who cook everything to order, James said.

“We strive to do as fresh and local as possible. It’s a different menu every night, and we do lots of seasonally themed foods,” he said. “It is fine dining – we do three and four course options, with five entrees daily. We do fresh soup, a choice of three salads, three appetizers, and some desserts. We have options for vegetarians and vegans and can accommodate a lot of dietary concerns.”

James noted the restaurant is Feast On certified, which recognizes businesses that source their menu options locally. Heather Lodge brings in produce from Abbey Gardens, meat from local farmers, and maple products from Wintergreen.

Maria said her team strives to provide an “exemplary culinary experience” to all guests.

This is a two-and-a-half-hour meal where people can sit and enjoy one another’s company. Nobody is being rushed out the door, nobody’s table is getting flipped for the next guest. Once you’re seated, that’s your table for the night,” Maria said.

The method is clearly working – of 235 reviews submitted through OpenTable, Heather Lodge has maintained a 4.9 out of five star rating.

“The lowest we’ve ever received is a three out of five. The main complaint we have is that it’s so hard to get in. In the summer, we make reservations about a month in advance, during the winter, it’s better, usually only a couple days,” Maria said.

She added, “we could squeeze more tables in, but we manage our business based on the quality of experience we want to provide. We know where our perfect window is. We take what we know we can handle and give everything to make sure they have the best experience.”

For more information, visit heatherlodge. com.

Haliburton County Farmers Market (HCFM) executives say they may be forced to cancel the Haliburton market this year after labelling terms outlined by Dysart et al council for the event’s return to Head Lake Park “unreasonable and unrealistic.”

Volunteer board members Mike Townsend and Brian Nash met with The Highlander this week to respond to a list of demands made by Dysart officials at a Dec. 12 council meeting, chiefly the introduction of a monthly fee to use the park on Tuesdays during the spring and summer.

It was suggested by mayor Murray Fearrey, and supported by the rest of council, that a $1,000 monthly fee be applied to the market covering events in July, August and September, with a $700 fee applied for any other month.

“Very simply, it’s a no – we just don’t have the money to be able to do that,” Townsend said.

He shared a ledger showing the market’s financials from the past year. The group recorded revenues of $15,700 and expenses totalling $14,182 – with a leftover cash balance of $1,518.

Townsend said the market would have to increase its vendor fees by 32.5 per cent to accommodate the monthly fee – something the board isn’t willing to do, Nash said.

“Most of our vendors are small vendors. Coming to the market, for them, is an opportunity to make a little bit of extra money. Maybe they do well enough that they start a small business, maybe it turns into something. But for most, this is a side hustle – they have [other] jobs,” Nash said.

“The only people who could accommodate such a rate increase are the big vendors, which isn’t what we, or this council want,” he added.

HCFM currently charges vendors $300 per season to appear at the Haliburton market.

Fearrey told The Highlander the idea of implementing a monthly fee was to cover the cost of any damages at the park after a market.

“A free ride is not going to happen in the park anymore. If you’re causing extra expenses, you should pay for that,” Fearrey said. “This is a high impact day on the washrooms. We’ve got to check them regularly. With four washrooms open, it’s extra supplies, extra cleaning – that’s a cost that shouldn’t be borne by other taxpayers. Then there’s the damage that’s done to the grass [when it’s wet].

“This is a high-profile property. Where else are you going to find a location like that, with parking and washrooms, for $1,000 a month? I don’t think [paying that] will kill them,” the mayor added.

Fearrey explained how he arrived at that $1,000 number – with the market boasting between 40 and 50 vendors, the mayor believes each of those can afford to pay an extra $20 per month. He also noted council will “assess” implementing fees on other events and programs that take place in the park on a case-by-case basis.

The Haliburton market was held at Head Lake Park for 11 years before being moved to nearby Rotary Beach Park last season. Nash said the relocation was not well received – by vendors, or the public. Attendance was down approximately 30 per cent from the prior year, an anomaly, Nash said, considering HCFM’s other events in Minden and at Abbey Gardens saw significant growth.

“We want to have a market in Haliburton, but I don’t think we would get very many vendors signing up to go back to Rotary Beach. Although we may want to run a market, my sense is we wouldn’t have the vendors to do it,” Nash said, confirming Head Lake Park is the only viable location from the board’s perspective.

Townsend feels it would be inappropriate for the board to direct market volunteers to police parking at Head Lake Park and along Highland Street on market days – another Dysart council request.

Next steps

Townsend said applications for the coming season typically go out to would-be vendors Jan. 1, with a final decision over who’s in made by the end of January. While applications have gone out, there hasn’t been much uptick thus far.

“We’re asking people to apply, but we don’t know 100 per cent yet where we’re going to be. Most people are hoping we’re going back to Head Lake Park and will apply based on that,” Townsend said.

The board is willing to adjust the market’s hours to try and mitigate traffic issues on market days, which has been another stumbling block for Dysart, particularly coun. Pat Casey. The ward 1 councillor has repeatedly spoken of his concern with vehicles parking along Highland Street, creating what he believes is a dangerous logjam heading into and out of town.

Townsend said the board would also be willing to provide a damage deposit to the township. Nash said the board has no record of any damage claims from the township in the 11 years the market was held at Head Lake Park.

For us, we feel the community has spoken. People want the market back at Head Lake Park. It’s a big attraction for Haliburton, it helps the downtown businesses. Head Lake Park is much more accessible than Rotary Beach – basically, people with mobility issues and moms with strollers stopped coming last year because they couldn’t move around as freely,” Townsend said. “This is about supporting local farmers, growers, producers and artisans.”

Fearrey said he would be disappointed to lose the Haliburton market, noting council is open to meeting with HCFM executives to find a resolution that works for everyone.

“Nobody is trying to discourage things from happening in the park… but if you’re holding an event where you’re making money… then you’ll have to pay something,” Fearrey said.

Dysart et al council has committed its taxpayers to paying off a $1.45 million mortgage on a 91.5-acre parcel of land it purchased on County Road 21.

Mayor Murray Fearrey said the township intends to pay off the mortgage – either via reserves or a loan – by March 1, 2024.

Fearrey said the decision was made following a closed council discussion Nov. 28. He said the mortgage, held by developer Paul Wilson through his company Harburn Holdings, has to be settled to ensure the township isn’t in breach of the Ontario Municipal Act. Treasurer, Barb Swannell, said the motion approved by council was to pay out $1.45 million.

Fearrey said, “we have to pay that out because we can’t take on private mortgages. The law says a municipality can’t borrow money from anything but a bank.”

Council wants ground broken within two years

Clerk, Mallory Bishop, said provincial regulation 276/02 of the Act outlines rules around long-term borrowing, with municipalities only permitted to enter into agreements with a bank or other recognized financial institution.

The deal, completed in late July, saw the township pay $1.725 million for the property, which was owned by Andrew Hodgson through his holding company Ontario Vantage Consulting (OVC). Hodgson had owned the land for roughly a year, buying it from Wilson for $1.5 million in 2022.

The purchase agreement between Dysart and OVC stipulated Dysart would assume a $1.45 million mortgage at five per cent interest. It is to run to 2028. Fearrey said the township has earmarked reserve funds to pay off the lump sum, but with interest rates expected to drop over the next couple of months, taking out a loan to cover it – and replenishing reserves – is an option.

Fearrey admitted settling the mortgage early also removes any possible conflict of interest, given Wilson’s involvement in the proposed development of land overlooking Grass Lake. That project, which would repurpose 2.5 hectares of vacant land along Peninsula Road into four lots that would each house multi-storey apartment and condo buildings, has already been supported by Dysart and County councils, but been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A three-week hearing is scheduled for November 2024.

How the deal came together

Wilson said he bought the 91.5-acre parcel for $300,000 in 2018. He was interested in developing the land fronting County Road 21 for commercial use.

In 2019, Wilson said he was contacted by former County planner, Charlsey White, asking if he’d consider selling. By then, he said he’d invested approximately $600,000 correcting drainage issues on a 3.75-acre plot fronting County Road 21, and building an access road, which stretched around 1.5 kilometres into the property.

He said he was told the former Dysart et al council was interested in the land. Wilson said he made a formal presentation to council, offering the land for $1 million – provided he could retain the two lots fronting County Road 21. No deal was struck. Former Dysart mayor, Andrea Roberts, said her council never seriously considered buying the lot.

“We did not want to be developers,” Roberts said. “Being a developer has considerable risk, and when you’re in the municipal world you have to be risk averse. If you’re going to make a bet, it has to be on a sure thing… our goal was more to set the stage as best we could for development.”

When the potential deal fell apart, Wilson connected with Hodgson and agreed to sell to him.

Late to the party

Immediately following the 2022 municipal election, Fearrey said he reached out to Wilson about the land, but was too late. Wilson said he pitched to Hodgson that Dysart was again interested in the property. By this time, Hodgson said he had invested around $225,000 adding to the access road.

Fearrey said, “we were told the price was the price. I negotiated a bit, but Andrew wanted his money back plus whatever he’d invested into it… either you do the deal, or you don’t. And we wanted to make a deal,” Fearrey said.

Hodgson also retained the 3.75-acre plot fronting County Road 21, with the township agreeing to cover any survey costs associated with the site.

The mayor said the township didn’t seek an appraisal of the property and opted to use Hodgson as their real estate representative in the deal. Fearrey said that saved the township in the region of $90,000, with Hodgson not taking any commission.

Asked if the township had considered any other property – notably a 780-acre site on nearby Moon Road listed at just under $2 million, Fearrey said they didn’t shop around.

“We felt this was a one-of-a-kind opportunity. In my eyes, it’s the last chance for Dysart to meaningfully grow. There is no other property like that, no other acreage around that is as developable as this land. If I didn’t think this was a good deal for the municipality, I would have never made it. I don’t think this is a risk at all.

“The other benefit is that it backs onto municipal property on Industrial Park Road. So, there could be two access points, which is a big deal. That was a big reason why we bought it, too.”

Fearrey said once he settled on terms with Hodgson he took the proposal to council where, in-camera, the other six members unanimously supported the purchase.

A County-based real estate agent, speaking to The Highlander anonymously, said they were surprised by this deal. They noted the cost of vacant land had dropped, on average, by 20 to 25 per cent over the past year. They also said 100 acres of vacant, non-waterfront land in the County typically costs between $300,000 and $500,000 – or $3,000 to $5,000 per acre. The township paid approximately $19,000 per acre for this land.

Fearrey felt the parcel is well-worth what the township paid given its proximity to Haliburton village and the work that’s already been done to it; a sentiment shared by Wilson.

“I know that property like the back of my hand… this is a tremendous deal for the township. It’s worth way more than what they paid,” Wilson said. “The only reason I sold for what I did was because I wanted to see it developed… and I didn’t want to do it anymore.”

Hodgson refrained from commenting on specifics of the deal, saying only that he “believes this is a very exciting opportunity for Dysart.”

Authorities weigh in

The Highlander reached out to several provincial authorities and agencies for comment on the deal. With Fearrey previously going on record to state the township would not develop the land themselves – instead looking to sell, potentially for profit, there were concerns this could be seen as speculating on real estate, therefore an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

Sherine Williams, spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said there were no concerns given the land is earmarked for development. “Municipalities have the tools to make decisions regarding local matters, including related to the acquisition and disposal of real estate by the municipality,” Williams said.

Ashley Bursey, from the Ontario Ombudsman’s office, said there hadn’t been any official complaints over the deal. “We don’t comment or speculate on matters we haven’t reviewed.”

The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) administers the rules real estate agents, brokers and brokerages must follow provincewide. Commenting on Hodgson representing both sides, RECO said, “multiple representation is prohibited in Ontario unless necessary disclosures are made and the parties consent.” Hodgson did disclose his interest in OVC and Dysart did consent.

Next steps

Fearrey said council intends to move quickly, wanting to see ground broken within two years.

The mayor said at least three developers had already reached out about partnering with the township. However, he said a thorough assessment of the site is needed before any decision is made. He wants the township to hire a consultant to provide a roadmap for the best path forward.

Fearrey said the bulk of any project will centre on residential development, but feels the site could be the perfect home for a new arena and curling club. He said he’d like to see the current facilities, on Mountain Street behind town hall, transformed into high-density housing. He feels there’s enough space at the CR 21 property to accommodate another long-term care home, too, noting the township has been in contact with Extendicare.

He noted council is negotiating a deal to expand the sewage treatment plant to accommodate any development at the site.

“It’s going to take us some time to get our ducks in a row. I think we need a consultant if we’re to do this right. We need a development strategy. This is bigger than just a one-off housing project. This is like building another community. I think, once done, this can be a real model in Haliburton County,” Fearrey said.

Haliburton Curling Club president, Wanda Ruddy, said she’s been hearing rumours of a new curling rink being built in Haliburton for years, though noted chatter has increased tenfold since Dysart et al closed on a 91.5-acre property on the outskirts of Haliburton village last summer.

Mayor Murray Fearrey has repeatedly stated the land, which Dysart acquired for $1.725 million, would be an ideal home for a new arena and curling rink. Ruddy said the membership would be interested in a new location.

“The one here in town is 82 years old. It’s been renovated and refurbished over time, but it’s an old building. So, of course we’d all be excited to have a new curling club… but I think we need to have a seat at the table to make sure it gets designed the right way,” Ruddy said.

She isn’t concerned about losing a prime spot in the centre of town, noting most members commute from outlying areas such as Percy and Haliburton lakes.

Ruddy said the idea of a new curling rink was first floated about five years ago – after local resident Marnnie Blair donated a 15.75-acre parcel of land across from the Pinestone Resort on County Road 21 to Dysart. The gift was made public at a council meeting in November 2019, on condition the land be used for recreational purposes.

Then, there was nothing. While Ruddy said she had preliminary talks with both Blair and Andrea Roberts, Dysart’s mayor at the time, in late 2019, things went quiet as soon as the pandemic hit.

The land transfer never went through, which was news to Roberts.

“It stalled for several reasons – but when I left council my understanding was [it was going to get done]. Then I found out Dysart bought [the 91.5-acre parcel] up the road, so I followed up and asked what happened to the gift from the Blair family and was told it was dead in the water,” Roberts said.

Dysart declines private land gift

She noted staff had spent considerable time on the file – going as far as to rough sketch what any development could look like.

“The land was a bit of a triangle – there was some wetland to the west, there was road access off Soyers Lake Road. We mapped it out using the township office, arena and curling club as a footprint – that area is five acres downtown. We thought we could fit an updated arena and curling rink on five acres, put in parking, and meet the required setbacks, so from that perspective the project seemed feasible,” Roberts added.

Fearrey said the deal collapsed because Blair wanted a tax receipt for the donation based on the land being valued at $300,000.

“We didn’t accept that appraisal and weren’t willing to issue a tax receipt based on that valuation. The land there is a bog, filled with rocks. It would have taken so much money to be able to develop it,” Fearrey said.

The mayor also questioned whether it would be appropriate for the municipality to issue a tax receipt for the land, since it was presented to the previous council as a gift.

“A gift is just that – a gift. They must be given for free,” Fearrey said, referencing the Ontario Municipal Act.

Blair declined to comment when approached by The Highlander.

Looking to the future

Ruddy said she has no idea what a new curling rink would cost, but noted the Haliburton club would be able to transfer infrastructure from the current facility.

The club installed a new ice plant in 2016, at a cost of $175,000, with Ruddy saying it still has 30 years of life left. A new double oven, dishwasher and cupboards for the kitchen – to be installed this April courtesy of a $141,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant – could also be moved over.

In a new rink, Ruddy said she’d like separate spaces for a lounge and eating area, with a bar and kitchen grouped together. She feels four sheets of ice “is plenty for Haliburton.”

There’s still life left in the current facility – which she feels is important, as she believes it’ll be years before a new build comes to fruition.

“We are at the very early stages – is this going to be a five-year project? A 10-year project? We just don’t know at this point. We’re clearly an interested party and want to be part of this process. We need to be mindful this could be a possibility down the line and adjust our long-term planning appropriately,” Ruddy said.

Active living and the importance of maintaining a mobile lifestyle were on the menu as Aging Together as Community – Haliburton Highlands hosted its holiday social Dec. 2.

Around 50 people attended the event, held at Haliburton United Church. One of the organizers, Brigitte Gebauer, said it was a great way to end what has been a productive year for the group. With four guest presenters on-hand, sharing information about health and wellness programs and services available in the County, and leading live demonstrations, Gebauer said it was a great learning opportunity for anyone, young or old.

“Events like this are all about promoting some of the incredible things we have available to us here in Haliburton County, that help people to age in-place,” Gebauer said. “We try to get as much information as possible out to support seniors, and help caregivers, family and friends establish plans around active living.”

The Aging Together group held its inaugural meeting in January. Co-lead Bonnie Roe said the grassroots project is designed to bring community members of all ages together to build a shared vision of care for the Highlands’ older population.

“Through a series of community conversations, we have a collective desire to expand the current options of what aging looks like in Haliburton County,” Roe said, noting the group’s vision is to ensure “members of the local community can age with dignity and [with] the supports we would want for ourselves and our loved ones.”

Wilma Thompson, of Haliburton FLK Taoist Tai Chi, was the first presenter. She said tai chi is a moving meditation that reduces stress and helps people feel more energetic, balanced, strong and supple.

She led some volunteers through a quick demonstration, noting tai chi is accessible to anyone. Sessions are held Thursdays at the Haliburton United Church from 10 a.m. to noon.

Georgia Shank is a Seniors’ Fitness Instructor Course (SFIC) certified instructor. She runs balance and fitness programs through Sit to Fit Bodies in the County every week.

“It’s really important to integrate movement into every day of your life. Routine is important, consistency is key and it’s never, ever too late to get started with fitness,” Shank said.

She shared a story of a 70-year-old local who started attending her programs, with life-changing results.

“The key is finding something that speaks to you – whether that’s dancing, boxing, seated fitness, walking with a friend. As long as you integrate some form of activity into your life, you will be better off,” Shank said. “Our aim is to prevent early admission to long-term care and keep people as independent as they can be.”

Emily Clarke, a registered kinesiologist and certified matrix repatterning practitioner, told attendees movement can sometimes be the best medicine for a range of ailments. She specializes in working with people with Parkinson’s, but also offers functional fitness training, therapeutic exercise instruction, and assists people rehabilitating from injury and recovering from surgery.

Jennifer Stubbert and Melissa-anne Foster, from the Alzheimer Society Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, run weekly Minds in Motion programming in Haliburton. It’s designed for people suffering with dementia or memory loss, and their caregivers.

“It’s all about having fun and making connections, we want people to come in, leave their issues at the door, and have a good time,” Stubbert said. “We do things like axe throwing, trivia, games. We’ve done pumpkin carving and different themed things around holidays.”

The program runs on Tuesday afternoons, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Haliburton United Church. It will restart in March, on an eight-week loop. Registration is required.

The Aging Together group has organized another gathering, taking place at Pinestone Resort Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. Gebauer said there will be more guest speakers, promoting ways for people to get active.

“We want to keep the momentum going,” Gebauer said. To learn more about the group, search ‘Aging Together as Community – Haliburton Highlands’ on Facebook.

The U18LL Highland Storm made an impression at the Silver Stick regional tournament held in Haliburton Dec. 16. For some players, it was the final Silver Stick appearance of their minor hockey career.

The team took to the ice early Saturday, taking on the Apsley Flames. The dressing room was abuzz with positive vibes as the players geared up for their first game of the tournament. The Storm were at it right from puck drop, putting in lots of effort. While it was one of the team’s best games of the season, with 100 per cent effort given by all players from buzzer to buzzer, they came up just short.

As the day went on all players maintained a positive attitude. Game two was a match-up with the Lakefield Chiefs. The home side came out buzzing, scoring two quickfire goals in the first period through Haiden Bird and Austin Latanville. The gameplay was fast and furious, with Storm goalie, Carson Simms, keeping his team in the game.

The Storm went into the third period down by one, but found a way back into the game early through Latanville – a slapshot from the point finding its way past the Chiefs goalie to tie the game at three. Despite an intense effort in the final frame, the Storm found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard at the final buzzer.

The team played in one final game, a 4 p.m. tilt against the Collingwood Jr. Blues.

Even though the tournament may not have gone the way the team hoped, head coach Dallas Latanville said he was extremely proud of his players for their effort and never give up attitude.

The U18LL squad has two more tournaments coming up and will be pushing for a playoff spot in the new year. Go Storm go.

The Haliburton County Huskies head into the Christmas break on a high after polishing off five wins in six games in December to re-establish themselves as contenders in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s tough eastern conference.

The blue and white were dominant on the ice, if not the scorecard, in a 3-2 come-frombehind win over the North York Rangers in Minden Dec. 16. Goals from Charlie Fink, captain Patrick Saini, and Jack Staniland earned the team its fifth-straight win at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.

It was a bright start for the Huskies, who showed their ability to control the puck in the early goings. Fink thought he’d given his team a deserved lead four minutes in, his shot looping over Amir Valiullin in the Rangers net, only for the officials to wave it off – with the frame coming off its spikes.

The Huskies were busy throughout the first, firing off 24 shots.

They maintained that pressure heading into the second. Saini spurned a great opportunity four minutes in, going eye-toeye with Valiullin but seeing his shot saved. The Huskies were relentless as they sought an opener – they registered 12 shots on the man advantage five minutes in after Saini was tripped but couldn’t find a way past the impressive Valiullin.

They were hit with a sucker punch at 17:02 – Jacob Strizzi scoring on a breakaway on only the Rangers’ fourth shot of the period.

It looked like being a day to forget for the Huskies when, six minutes into the final frame, Cian Noble doubled the visitors’ lead, scoring just one second after a Lucas Vacca cross-checking penalty had lapsed.

There was a roar from the crowd as the game restarted, with chants of ‘let’s go Huskies’ reverberating around the arena. The home side used that energy to keep pushing and finally got their reward – Fink lifting the puck over Valiullin’s pad on the rebound at 8:31 after Izayah Luddington and Antonio Cerqua had been denied.

Saini sniped the leveller at 12:21, assisted by Lucas Stevenson and Lucas Vacca, sparking mass celebrations on the ice.

Huskies netminder Brett Fullerton made a huge save a minute later, robbing Hudson Weger in close to keep the scores level.

With the home side pushing, Saini drew another penalty – high sticking from former teammate Josh Rumolo. The Huskies were patient, recycling the puck while searching for an opening. Defenceman Jack Staniland was the hero at 18:48 – taking control of the biscuit at the blueline, he walked along the wall, saw he had some space and ripped one on net. Valiullin got something on it, but not enough to keep it out, with the puck trickling over the line to the delight of the crowd.

Staniland earned first star honours for his late contribution. Speaking to The Highlander after the game, he said he feels the win could be a huge turning point in the Huskies season.

“I think the performances have been there, but you’ve got to turn that into results. I think we’ve done a good job of that heading into the break,” Staniland said. “We’ve found some lines that are connecting now, some guys are playing really well with one another, and it’s helping us move forward.”

Loss on the road

A tight game in Markham Dec. 17 saw the Huskies on the wrong side of a 3-1 decision.

Despite outshooting their hosts eight to four in the opening frame, the Huskies found themselves behind after the first buzzer – Ashton Miwa scoring just five minutes in. Shane Bondy made it a two-goal game 10:16 into the second.

Nicholas Lamont gave the Huskies some hope with his 12th of the season 11:54 into the third. The blue and white dominated during the final frame, firing 12 shots to the Royals’ six, but couldn’t find the equalizer. Bondy scored his second, an empty netter, with nine seconds left on the clock.

The Huskies sit in 7th place with 38 points from 34 games – 18 wins, 14 losses and two ties. They have two more games left in 2023 – home tilts with the Toronto Patriots Dec. 29 (7 p.m. puck drop) and Wellington Dukes Dec. 31 (2 p.m. puck drop).

When Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene took to the ice Dec. 7 at Capital One Arena in Washington, he did so with an extra spring in his step.

The date had been circled on the superstar forward’s calendar for months, with the game representing an extraordinary milestone: 1,000 games played in the National Hockey League.

The Haliburton product became the 387th player to hit four figures, joining fellow Highlands native Bernie Nicholls – who featured in 1,127 games – in the millennium club. Duchene marked the occasion with an assist, three shots on goal, a hit, and a block in just under 18 minutes of ice time in a 5-4 shootout win over the Capitals.

Speaking to The Highlander, the 32-yearold centre said he’s thankful to have enjoyed a long career at the top level, with this his 15th pro season.

“It’s funny, I don’t really look at it like a success, even though it is. I honestly look at it more as a moment in time when you can reflect on your life and career and just be grateful,” Duchene said. “For me, that game is just a product of those who have been with me from day one of hockey, when I was four [playing in Haliburton] up to NHL game 1,000.”

Duchene was able to share the moment with his family – mom Chris, dad Vince, wife Ashley, and two of his children: Beau and Jaymes, which made it all the sweeter.

“It wouldn’t have been the same if they weren’t there,” he said.

Vince said he and Chris flew into Washington D.C. Dec. 6, catching up with Matt briefly at the hotel the next day. After arriving at the rink, the Duchenes were brought down to the bench during warm-ups to surprise Matt.

While there, Vince bumped into Ray Ferraro – TV broadcaster for ESPN and veteran of 1,258 NHL games over a near 20-year career.

“He said it’s one of the hardest things to do. Matt is only the fourth from his 2009 draft year to do it [after John Tavares, Victor Hedman, and Ryan O’Reilly] so it is quite an accomplishment, and one we as a family are so proud of,” Vince said.

While Duchene has competed in NHL AllStar games, played meaningful hockey in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and won Olympic gold with his country, Vince said the standout moment, for him, of his son’s career came just prior to puck drop against the Capitals.

“The Stars asked if Beau would read the starting line-up in the dressing room… it was an amazing moment,” Vince said. “Seeing the joy and love in Matt’s eyes for his family – that moment is at the top, for sure.”

The Stars have planned a special ceremony Jan. 27, before a home game against the Capitals in Dallas, where Duchene will be presented with a silver stick commemorating his 1,000 games played.

Making the most of an opportunity

Duchene said he’s enjoying his time in Dallas. He signed a one-year deal with the organization in the summer after being bought out of the final three years of his $8 million a season deal in Nashville.

“I can’t say enough good things about my teammates, my coaches, the organization, and the city. We are at the top of our division, and I feel like we still haven’t hit our top gear, so that’s exciting,” Duchene said. “We have a great chance to make a deep run at the cup.”

The forward has 10 goals and 17 assists in 29 games with his new team as of press time.

While he’s only on a one-year deal, Duchene said he’d love to stick with the Stars long-term.

“My family and I really like it here… I’m hoping we start to talk in the new year about an extension. The idea around a one-year deal [was] to try something out and see if it fit. So far, it’s been great.”

Having passed the 1,000-game threshold, Duchene is already chasing down his next target – a first Stanley Cup.

“I’ve been lucky enough to win everything possible at the international level with Team Canada, but the ultimate prize is the cup,” he said. “I still am hoping my biggest games are in front of me.”

Students and staff at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) embraced the spirit of giving this festive season, collecting goodies for the Interact club’s annual Christmas gift drive.

Held every year in the lead up to the holidays, the initiative has become a staple of the school’s pre-Christmas festivities, says club member, Hazel Jones. Students are encouraged to bring in toys, games, gift cards, school supplies, hats, mitts, scarves, and hygiene products, which are divided into gift bags and donated to the 4Cs Food Bank in Haliburton and the Minden Community Food Centre.

“The bags are handed out to families in-need, or who might be struggling… the idea is to make sure everyone can enjoy Christmas,” Jones said.

Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 5, the school community rallied to put together 51 gift bags, which were dropped off at the food banks last week.

There was a competitive component introduced this year – the 20 participating classrooms were split into two teams, captained by principal, Jenn Mills, and vice principal, Andrea Borysiuk. Donations were tracked, with the team that collected the most gifts getting the chance to come up with challenges for teachers to do at the school’s holiday assembly.

Mills’ team was declared the winner, with her and 10 other teachers facing the forfeit.

“We haven’t decided what it’s going to be yet, but it’ll be something silly and fun,” Jones said. “Last year some of the teachers had students do their makeup, we’ve also done things like shaving hair.”

This is Jones’ second year on the Interact club – the high school equivalent of Rotary. The Grade 10 student said it’s a great way to engage with the school community and make new friends. The club has 25 members.

This is Interact’s second major event of the school year, following a successful food drive over Halloween. Jones said she always looks forward to these initiatives, as the wider school community usually buys in.

“These things sort of take over school for about a week – kids are always talking about it in the halls, friends try to one-up each other, the teachers find creative ways to encourage donations. People really get into it,” Jones said.

She added the club is hoping to do something to raise awareness about homelessness in the new year. Plans are also underway for the annual international fundraising campaign, where Interact collects money for the Mahatma Gandhi Sishu Sisksha Sadan School in northern India. Proceeds support the infrastructure of the school and purchase of much-needed supplies, Jones said.

The Morton Family Foundation has continued a tradition of generosity by donating $50,000 to support the YWCA’s services for women and children experiencing gender-based violence in Haliburton County.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued leadership shown by the Morton Family Foundation in the Haliburton County community,” said Kim Dolan, executive director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton this week.

She added, “Patricia and David’s ongoing generosity is a testament to their commitment to supporting the YWCA’s efforts to serve the rural women and children in Haliburton County, providing them with the resources and support they need to feel safe again.”

Access to safe and reliable resources in rural communities is an ongoing problem, Dolan said. The Women’s Centre in Haliburton County offers resources women need in order to escape gender-based violence and find safer ways to move forward with their life. The centre provides access to transition supports, such as safe transportation, individual counselling, a family law lawyer, court support and guidance.

YWCA’s Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS) provides safe and supportive temporary accommodations for women with and without children fleeing abuse in Haliburton County. The service is designed to be available on an as-needed basis and offers space for two families at a time, so that women can move away from the abusive situation in their home without leaving their support systems, jobs and schools, families and friends behind.

Dolan said rural women in Haliburton County have reported far more serious and complex abuse since 2020. Like women’s organizations across the province, the YWCA faces heightened demand and increasing costs.

Patricia Morton said, “David and I feel very fortunate to be able to continue to support the wonderful work of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, because this work continues to be so essential to so many area women and children.

“And it is important to remember that both under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under the United Nations Charter, violence against women and children is a major and criminal violation of human rights. However, shockingly, this violence is actually on the increase throughout Canada, especially against rural women, just as it is here and now against isolated rural women in Haliburton County, and likely in neighbouring rural counties as well.”

David Morton added, “thank goodness the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is here to provide these women and their children with safe shelter at HERS and with vital services, to help these victims of violence move forward past the trauma and suffering, to strive to rebuild their lives and become brave survivors.

“As a man, I find femicide and all forms of violence against women and children appalling. I will never understand why some – too many – men take out their anger, frustration, or whatever by inflicting physical and/or psychological violence on women and children. However, we are grateful at least to be able to support the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to provide essential help to the rural women of Haliburton County who are suffering from such appalling male violence, hopefully to be able to empower themselves.”

Community members who wish to donate or find ways of supporting YWCA services in Haliburton County are encouraged to visit ywcapeterborough.org or contact the YWCA directly at 705-743-3526.