Haliburton Highlands Nordic Trails Association (HHNTA) president Thom Lambert said Glebe Park has never looked better, amid a backdrop of over 100 skiing enthusiasts enjoying the site’s five-kilometre system Feb. 28.

The association was celebrating a $105,700 capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), with the money used to climate proof trails in the park.

Lambert said the work – supporting water flow management and allowing for proper drainage – will make it possible to ski earlier and later in the season, while also preserving the integrity of the trails through severe climate events. The money was received last summer, allowing the club to complete work ahead of this winter season.

“The trail work has already made a big difference to our members and the hundreds of winter tourists that travel to ski our trails,” Lambert said. “The quality of skiing on the renovated trails was excellent in the early season. Many of our members commented on the improved skiing conditions.”

MPP Laurie Scott was at Saturday’s celebration, saying the “Nordic trails are a treasured destination for residents and visitors” to the Haliburton region.

County resident Klara Oyler sits on the OTF grant review team. She said the Nordic club grant was one of 730 awarded to nonprofit groups across Ontario in 2025.

“We saw this as a good investment for the community,” Oyler said. “I think this has been a pretty good skiing season and now, with the work you’re doing with the grant, I hope you have many more to come.”

The unveiling coincided with the Highlands ski club’s annual Jack Rabbit parade. The HHNTA runs a two-month program every winter for children aged four to 12 to encourage them to get into skiing. Lessons run every Saturday in January and February at Glebe Park. The initiative has six levels, with local instructors – all volunteers – following national skill development programming.

Joleen Thomas, HHNTA membership coordinator, said about 80 kids participated in this year’s program. Registration opens in November.

“We are going on nearly 40 years of hosting this program locally in Haliburton,” Thomas said. “Cross-country skiing is one of the few activities families of all ages can do together… we are creating skiers for life.”

Lauren Adelsen, chair of the Stuart Baker Elementary School (SBES) parent council, said community spirit was on full display at Hal High last week, with 200 people supporting a foodie fundraiser designed to bring new playground equipment to SBES and J.D. Hodgson.

A ‘pasta for playground’ benefit was held in the high school cafeteria Feb. 26, adding approximately $10,000 to the kitty. Adelsen said that brings the total to $55,000 in just a few weeks, following a similarly successful poinsettia fundraiser over the holidays.

“I’m really floored by how generous the community has already been,” Adelsen said. “This is not just a school project, it’s something that benefits the entire community because the playground will be open to people after school hours and during the holidays… if everybody pitched in even a little amount, we would reach our goals that much faster.”

Adelsen said the group is hoping to raise $300,000 for the playground replacement. She noted the current pirate ship structure is nearing end-of-life and will likely “only last another year or two.”

There was support from all over the community last week, Adelsen said. As well as people pitching in money, the high school’s hospitality and tourism class prepared the meal, Haliburton Lions Club volunteers donated their time to serve the food, while Drew Allen offered his musical talents.

Several businesses donated gifts for a live auction, which runs until March 12. There are 15 items featured, available at: www.facebook.com/media/ set/?set=a.122095897880462327&type=3.

Starting out with the SBES parent council in 2023, Adelsen said a new playground has been on both school’s wishlists for some time. After two successful launch events, she said there will be more to come later this year.

“We’re looking at doing a garage sale in conjunction with the school’s annual track and field event. We’re also going to have a spring carnival at the end of the school year,” Adelsen said. “We’re really hoping to have the money to put up a replacement as soon as the current structure is torn down, otherwise the playground will be empty.”

The Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs (CASC) closed the book on its 2026 ice racing season in Minden March 1.

Director Elaine Willis said it was one of the most successful racing years in recent memory.

“We got all six weekends in and had a good turnout of drivers and volunteers.

As usual, the Kin Club did a great job creating and maintaining the track for us. It’s pretty amazing how quickly it goes by.”

The season ran Jan. 24 to March 1. As is tradition, CASC made a $1,000 donation to the Minden Community Food Centre, with Willis saying, “we are thrilled that we have been able to raise funds for the local food bank again.”

The money was generated by CASC offering rides to community members in its ice taxi, with longtime racers and volunteers also chipping in, Willis said.

The Minden Skating Club presented its annual spring gala at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena March 1, with over a dozen acts taking to the ice to showcase their skills.

The skating club, led by coach Jane Symons, is celebrating its 78th year in the Highlands, having formed in March 1948.

Symons has been teaching skating techniques to County youth for 45 years, having joined in 1981.

Former dean of Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD), Barb Bolin, and Dysart et al mayor, Murray Fearrey, say they are both concerned about the future of the college after the termination of dean Xavier Masse.

Peterborough-based Fleming College, of which HSAD, Peterborough and Lindsay campuses are a part, confirmed last week that Masse was no longer with the college.

Masse declined to comment and the college said “out of respect for employee privacy, the college will not be sharing additional personal details.”

The Highlander this week requested an interview with interim college president, Dr. Theresa Knott, and board of governors’ chair, Don Gillespie. However, the college told us, “unfortunately, Dr. Knott and Mr. Gillespie are not available for interviews at the moment.”

They issued a statement instead that said: “Fleming College remains committed to the long-term sustainability of its campuses, including the Haliburton School of Art + Design, and the delivery of quality education. The college has made the difficult decision to eliminate the senior executive lead at the campus and invest in programming that is student-focused and community-centred. The operations of the campus will not be disrupted, and HSAD is planning for exciting spring and summer sessions.

“HSAD will continue to offer unique and flexible programs taught by creative professionals in a one-of-a-kind studio environment, and the Haliburton campus remains an important part of Fleming College’s academic and community presence.”

Highlander questions, such as how Fleming plans to ensure the long-term stability of HSAD; or how operations would not be disrupted with a key position eliminated, remain unanswered.

According to the Sunshine list, Masse was paid $164,163 in 2024.

Public has yet to see inside new residence

Surprise announcement

It appears the decision to eliminate the dean position came as a surprise to the college and community.

Bolin said it’s well-known Ontario colleges have been struggling financially since the federal government capped the number of foreign students starting January 2024.

The Haliburton campus was the only Fleming-operated site to escape widespread program cuts after the limits were imposed. Twenty-nine programs in Peterborough and Lindsay were scrapped, with then Fleming president Maureen Adamson estimating the cap would mean a $40 million annual revenue loss for the college. At its peak, the institution reported 4,000 of a total 7,200 students were international. Last March, a college spokesperson said the impact in Haliburton has been negligible but warned changes could be on the horizon.

Bolin understands that but wishes the Peterborough head office would have talked to the community. She said the Haliburton campus exists because of support from community organizations, politicians, and individuals.

“So, I’m surprised and disappointed that the leadership at the college has not reached out to any of them to talk about ways of making the campus here more viable. The community here is interested in what’s going on with the campus leadership, and programming, but there has, to my knowledge, been no effort by the college leadership to reach out to us.”

Fearrey said he’s had little success meeting with college leadership to discuss its longterm future, other than advising Masse “you’ve got to diversify here. You can’t just do art. If you do other things … get some revenue in.” He said Bolin were successful at doing that during her tenure.

The mayor said it’s discouraging “because I want to know what the future is. What are we doing here? They’re closing colleges around us.”

No one on board

Bolin said there is no board of governors representative in Haliburton that she knows of. She said she recommended a local for a board position years ago; the person applied but received no response.

“I’m very concerned that there’s not a board of governor rep up here. But we have had lots of past board members who are very active in the County and could give feedback to the board, and leadership of the college, about concerns.”

As for no longer having a dean, Bolin added, “long-term leadership is so important so that the person can deal with campus issues, and community issues. That’s part of the whole thing with community colleges.”

Commenting on the college’s stance that operations will not be disrupted, Bolin said “I don’t know how existing staff would have time to do all of that (work).

“I’m very concerned about what the direction of the campus is, and how the campus is going to be promoted, and specifically how the campus is going to be led in any direction.”

Further speaking to a disconnect between the college and community, she said Fleming had not even offered tours of its new student residence in Haliburton. There was never a grand opening either. Dysart et al donated land for the build.

“It does feel disrespectful to me…to the community…to not be in touch with the community to tell us the direction, ask for input, talk to us about where they see the campus going,” Bolin reiterated.

Provincial funding

On Feb. 12, the province announced changes for post-secondary education in the fall, including $6.4 billion in new funding for the sector over four years, touted as a 30 per cent increase, including to help meet the needs of rural institutes.

There is an updated tuition framework. Ontario will allow publicly-assisted colleges and universities to raise tuition by up to two per cent per year for three years, then up to two per cent or the three-year average rate of inflation, whichever is less, after that.

There will also be alterations to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) system. Ontario students will be eligible to receive a maximum of 25 per cent of their OSAP funding as grants and a minimum of 75 per cent of their funding as loans. OSAP will no longer offer grants to students at private career colleges, in alignment with changes made by the federal government to its own student support funding.

It is not known what impact any of this will have on HSAD.

Bolin said “once you divide it among all the colleges and all the universities, I don’t know that it’s a huge impact, and does it have strings attached to it? I don’t know.” There are 56 post-secondary schools in Ontario.

The college said Feb. 12 it welcomed the news. “This generational investment is exciting news for Fleming College and the students and communities we serve. The college is grateful for the province’s commitment and looks forward to reviewing its allocation details.”