Despite four people voicing objections to a proposed cell tower near Brady Lake in Minden Hills, council agreed to a letter of concurrence for the project.

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) said the tower would result in improved coverage and capacity to more than 1,000 households.

EORN’s Lisa Severson and Paula Preston said it would provide improved mobile service along Hwy. 118, currently served by two sites more than 20 kilometres apart.

They further said it would provide service for approximately 148 unserved households and 187 unserved parcels, and “overall provides improved coverage and capacity to approximately 1,091 households and 1,238 parcels.” They added it would address gaps in the northern quadrant of Minden Hills.

They pointed out this was the third location considered for the site, and “there is no time left in the project to find an alternative and complete the regulatory requirements.”

Spectra-Point Inc., on behalf of Rogers, said they’d done public consultation in the form of notifying people within the required setbacks; advertising in local newspapers; and a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting. They said 16 residents commented, with 11 in support of the tower “citing public safety, access to connectivity, and tourism as reasons why it should proceed.”

They said five residents don’t support the tower “due to concerns with possible property devaluation and health issues related to electromagnetic radiation from the tower. Several of these requested the tower be moved.” However, Spectra said the issues are deemed non-relevant concerns by the ISED (Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada).

Spectra said they did a natural heritage assessment and an environmental impact study, with some mitigation requirements they plan to adhere to. They asked for a council letter of concurrence.

However, Donna and James Conn told council, “as residents of Brady Lake, we have substantial concerns regarding the process, location, consultation, environmental impact, and land use compatibility associated with this proposal.”

Among their many concerns was that the tower “would have profound and irreversible impacts on: the visual landscape of Brady Lake; migratory bird habitat and adjacent wetlands and community cohesion and enjoyment of shoreline properties.”

Brady Lake property owner Heather Conn told council, “the Brady Lake community supports improved connectivity — but not through misrepresentation, lack of transparency, or avoidance of accountability. This project, as presently managed, fails to meet both the letter and the spirit of ISED’s public consultation framework and the ethical expectations of publicly-funded infrastructure.”

Emillie Jones also lodged opposition to the proposed tower, citing a flawed public consultation process, environmental concerns, inaccurate photo simulations, scaring people by saying this is the last attempt at the site, lack of information and community involvement.

Minden Hills director of planning, Amanda Dougherty, told council she felt the public consultation was completed in accordance with ISED protocol and the tower complies with land use requirements of the township official plan and zoning bylaw. She asked council to sign the statement of concurrence.

Coun. Shirley Johannessn peppered the EORN and Spectra delegates with questions, prefacing her comments with, “I can’t go personal with this because this is where I reside.” She said she had concerns, but wanted to look at the whole picture.

Council agreed to the letter of concurrence via a recorded vote, with Coun. Bob Sisson the only one voting against.

Minden Hills firefighters will be busy over the holidays educating the public about important fire safety guidelines they should be following through the festive season.

Chief Don Kruger said the department recently launched a ’12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety’ campaign, with staff covering several safety topics in a series of social media releases and in-person demonstrations from Dec. 12 to 23.

“This is a campaign the Ontario Fire Marshal has been running for several years and I have always participated everywhere else I have been chief, as I think public education should be a priority,” said Kruger, who joined the Minden department in summer 2024. “Any time of year is devastating for families to have a fire, but Christmas time is especially sad.”

Already covered so far, Kruger said, are tips and advice around installing holiday lights, tree watering, using candles and decorations, and the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed.

Still to come Dec. 18 are pointers on kitchen safety for children; home fire escape plans Dec. 19; cooking Dec. 20; heating sources Dec. 21; smoking Dec. 22; and lithium-ion batteries Dec. 23. Kruger said volunteers have provided personal testimonials for each daily theme, grounding the safety advice in real-life, frontline experience

With OFM data indicating the highest number of residential fire deaths occur between November and January, Kruger feels it’s important that people take notice and keep safety top of mind over the holidays. During the 2024 holiday season, there were 24 fatal residential fires in Ontario, resulting in 26 deaths.

“There are a number of things happening during the holidays that can lead to fires that the campaign touches on – the increased use of extension cords, having the tree inside and forgetting to water them, strings of lights everywhere, and increased consumption of alcohol while cooking,” Kruger said.

“The campaign also includes topics we promote all the time, such as working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, having a home escape plan, and having two ways out always,” he added.

Kruger said all alarms should be tested monthly, batteries replaced annually and the alarms themselves replaced after 10 years of service.

For more than a century, Haliburton’s Cec Bailey lived life to the fullest.

The Second World War veteran passed away Dec. 4 aged 101. His daughter, Pearl Wood, said Bailey suffered a fall at a care home in Gananoque on Nov. 18, injuring his hip. He was rushed for emergency surgery, which Wood said was successful, though Bailey never recovered his strength.

He had moved to Gananoque from the Gardens of Haliburton in August. Wood said it was one of the few times in his life that Bailey resided outside of Haliburton County.

“He was starting to need a little more care, coming into his 101st year, so we looked into where he could go. There were nine options, but thankfully he ended up in Gananoque, which is where I live,” Wood said. “I got to see him every day after he moved here.”

She said her dad was suffering with a chest infection in the days leading up to his death.

He moved to Haliburton as a teenager in the 1930s, relocating from the city with his family. His father, W.O. Bailey, operated the sawmill in town throughout Cec’s formative years.

Mike Waller, president of the Haliburton Legion, said he met Bailey about 15 years ago.

“He had some great stories, especially about growing up in Haliburton. When he was younger, Cec used to take his dad’s car all the time,” Waller said. Driving a luxury 1939 Chrysler Royal, word always got back to Bailey’s father.

“He’d tell me about how frustrated his dad would get – he didn’t know what to do, so, one day, he decided to take the distributor cap off every night so that it wouldn’t drive,” Waller said. “So, Cec would go down the street to a neighbour’s car, borrow that distributor cap and put it on his dad’s car so he could take it out.”

Bailey, who served in Europe from 1942 to 1945, was a staple at the Legion for years. Waller said he was a fixture at the Friday night meat draw every week well into his 90s.

Only 15 when the Second World War began, Bailey watched as his older brother, Merrill, and several of-age friends enlisted. He wrote them regularly and, four years later, followed in his brother’s footsteps when signing up for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Bailey was a crash tender, driving an ambulance during missions in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. He participated in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, part of the forces who took Juno Beach.

Wood said her dad didn’t share many of his war stories – he never considered himself a hero, saving that distinction for his brother who flew in 19 missions before his plane was shot down and he became a Prisoner of War (PoW). The pair were reunited in 1945, once the war ended.

After returning to Canada, Bailey returned to the family home in Eagle Lake and went to work for his father. He met his wife, Irene, at the old Golden Slipper dance hall. The pair were married in 1949 and had two children – Wood and Clark Bailey, who died in 1990.

After the sawmill closed, Bailey took lots of odd jobs around the County. He got into construction, working with Don McFadden, and also spent time as a custodian at Hal High. While Bailey liked people, Wood said, he was happiest working alone. He specialized in home construction – building every house he ever lived in.

“He liked to call himself a jack of all trades, master of none. He did a lot of stonework – he built the wall that still stands today by [Halco Plaza],” Wood said. “He liked it best when he was his own boss and could work to his own schedule.”

He was lively right until the end – Wood said staff at his new care home told her how he’d dance with them daily, using only his arms, and was always quick to crack a joke. While he was in the hospital for his hip surgery, he constantly had the nurses and doctors chuckling, she said.

“He was my last parent, my dad. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but I’ll really miss him.”

Wood said her father has been cremated. She plans to bury him at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, beside her mother, in Algonquin Highlands next spring. There will also be a celebration of life at the Haliburton Legion.

Haliburton County’s non-profit affordable housing advocate is turning to the community this holiday season, asking for donations to help keep a warm, dry roof over the heads of low-income locals.

Places for People (P4P) launched its ‘Shingle All the Way’ campaign in early December, asking County residents to dip into their pockets to purchase symbolic shingles, priced at $25 each. The non-profit’s president, Susan Tromanhauser, said this is a great way to give back to the community, noting a donation could be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list.

Each shingle purchased will directly support ongoing and future roof maintenance at P4P’s 21 rental units, Tromanhauser said.

The non-profit has housed more than 100 people since its launch in 2005 and is preparing for expansion. This past fall, the group announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough-Haliburton, committing to purchasing 15 units in a new 35-unit complex slated for Peninsula Road in Haliburton village.

“Through the generous contributions of our donors we have been able to continue providing housing for our current tenants. And, moving forward, we have the opportunity to grow our inventory of non-market rental units,” Tromanhauser said. “We can’t do it without the continued support of this amazing community.

She said the need for under-market rental housing in the Highlands continues to grow, with rising real estate prices over the past five years pushing many towards housing insecurity.

“Many local residents – individuals, families, single parents and seniors – are finding it harder than ever to afford market rents, or aspire to home ownership, as prices rise beyond reach,” Tromanhauser said.

Last year’s holiday campaign brought in nearly $20,000 and was used to repair/replace windows and ensure units are heated appropriately. This year, P4P is hoping to raise $30,000. Purchases can be made online at www. placesforpeople.ca.

“Help us reach our goal and give a gift of conscience. By purchasing a $25 shingle, you directly help maintain essential, safe shelters for our tenants – a gift that goes far beyond the holidays and delivers tangible change year-round,” Tromanhauser said.