Haliburton County Folk Society’s Barrie Martin says churches have ideal acoustics and are great venues for live music.

Highlands’ churches often host concerts presented by organizations such as the Highlands Opera Studio, HCFS, choir groups, and the churches themselves.

Martin added there have been memorable concerts in the Maple Lake United Church, Lakeside Baptist, St. George’s and Irondale churches.

The Highland Hills United Church in Minden is no exception, he added, as the folk society has presented many concerts there over the years.

“The wonderful sound qualities, wood and stained-glass beauty, the spirit of place, and soft seats make it the perfect venue,” Martin said.

The church will again be full of harmonies April 20 with a performance by Leverage for Mountains. They are a trio from Gatineau, Quebec, who will be opened by special guests, The Salt Cellars.

Leverage For Mountains is Nick Loyer, Jay Trépanier and Jay Flynn. The indie/ folk trio is quickly gaining popularity with their rich acoustic sound and powerful vocal harmonies.

Flynn said the show was initially planned to be part of their tour last February but they had to postpone it to April for him to be able to be present for the birth of his baby girl. “Sue Shikaze from the Haliburton County Folk Society has been a real sport to accommodate the postponement and we couldn’t be more thrilled to perform Saturday,” Flynn said.

Loyer added it’s their first visit to Minden but they hope it won’t be their last.

“We feel pretty excited to meet new people. We know the Haliburton County Folk Society has been working really hard to push this show and want to give them a great night of live music.”

He said he thinks the audience will love the story-telling, harmonies and deep and thoughtful lyrics.

“This is a show for the people to feel at home with us in their living-room. A nice, cozy, evening with the LFM family.”

Martin said Elly Tose of the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society said, “Leverage for Mountains were a delight to host as part of our concert series. Finely crafted threepart harmony, seamlessly blended with instrumental skills, superb songwriting, and witty banter, had our audience laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. Their music can absolutely leverage mountains.”

Just before the pandemic, Don Bird, former artistic director of the Summerfolk Music and Dance Festival (Owen Sound) said, “these guys stunned the Folk Music Ontario conference. A ‘must-see’ Gatineau band that should be at every festival next year.”

Martin said several members of the HCFS attended that conference and “wholeheartedly agree with Don Bird.” He said artistic director, Sue Shikaze, has worked hard to get them to come to the Highlands.

The Salt Cellars are an independent duo from the south side of Algonquin Park. They are a product of their many influences and blend the sounds of Folk, Americana, Blues, Jazz and Pop to create a sound uniquely their own. “People love their tight harmonies, writing styles, skilled musicianship and energy,” Martin said.

Tickets are available at haliburtonfolk.com The show is presented by the HCFS, a them to come to the Highlands. The Salt Cellars are an independent duo from the south side of Algonquin Park. They are a product of their many influences and blend the sounds of Folk, Americana, Blues, Jazz and Pop to create a sound uniquely their own. “People love their tight harmonies, writing styles, skilled musicianship and energy,” Martin said.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. start. Tickets are $40, $35 for folk society members and students, $45 at the door. Children and youth 18 & under are free.

Children 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets must be obtained online to reserve a ticket for children and youth.

An estimated 1,000 properties on Boshkung, Little Boshkung and Twelve Mile lakes could be affected if the new owners of Wedgewood Marina get out of the marina and boat launch business, Boshkung Lake Property Owners Association (BLPOA) president Tom Steele says.

RPM Marinas general manager Cheryl Downs recently shared the news on social media that Wedgewood RPM had been sold and “the new owners will not be operating the property as a marina. The transition will take place early this summer.”

The property, on Hwy. 35 between Carnarvon and Minden Hills, was put up for sale in January.

In the Facebook post, Downs said those who use Wedgewood for boat storage would soon receive their annual correspondence from manager, Kerry Reid, outlining the out-of-storage process for boat retrieval. As per usual, they’ll need to request their out-date, providing three weeks’ notice, she added.

Downs said, “we want to assure our customers and partners that we are committed to providing the service you’ve come to expect and that it is business as usual.”

The Balsam location is also up for sale, but the Haliburton and Kennisis Lake locations are not for sale and Down said they will continue to offer their services from those locations.

‘Hwy. 118 launch too shallow’

Steele told association members and The Highlander, “we are extremely concerned, as is Twelve Mile Lake and Little Boshkung (TMLB), that the ramp at the foot of Twelve Mile is to be removed as part of the sale.”

The Highlander did not get independent confirmation of this removal. However, Steele said the tentative date is May 22.

“The property will no longer be operated as a marina and now we are all concerned. How do we get our boats out in the fall? For some people, it is also, where do I get service, fuel and store my boat? And for kids, where do I get my ice cream and snacks?

Steele said a group of people from all three lakes met April 8 and are working with Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen and Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter.

Steele and Carter said Algonquin Highlands operates a boat launch at 8748 Hwy. 118 into Little Boshkung Lake. However, Carter said he believes the only challenge is the close proximity to the highway. Steele said the issue for them is the water is shallow at the launch and may not accommodate larger boats.

Steele said, “the ramp is the responsibility of Algonquin Highlands. And the issue is simple – not enough water depth to take the majority of the boats out in the fall at the current Hwy. 118 location.”

Danielsen said Algonquin Highlands had only just found out about the issue and were investigating.

“But there are some challenges because we would need to have a survey done and it doesn’t fit into this year’s work schedule or budget,” she said.

“Obviously, there’s going to have to be some more discussion. And it is my hope that through co-operative efforts, we can convince the buyers to leave the launch there, at least until the end of the season, and give us some time to plan something for our boat launch.”

Steele told members, “we just wanted to give you a heads-up that it is something that will affect over 1,000 properties on the three lakes. It will affect resorts, restaurants and other Haliburton activities.”

The potential future of landfilling in the Highlands came before County council April 10 with a presentation on single-tier waste management.

Dysart’s John Watson, Algonquin Highlands’ Melissa Murray, Highlands East’s Perry Kelly and Minden Hills’ Chelsea Cosh delivered a staff report emanating from the 2020 service delivery review – accompanying a final report by Dillon Consulting Ltd.

The staff landfill leads said waste management is “an increasingly complex, and expensive, component of municipal services.” They added each township collects, processes and disposes [material]… with large geographic boundaries and small populations.”

They spoke of duplication, noting contracts are issued individually by each township, for waste hauling and processing, site attendants, environmental monitoring and reporting, extended producer responsibility agreements, and administrative reporting. “Often the same for each municipality, and each municipality completes the same report.

“Waste management services vary throughout the four municipalities. These variations include disposal fees, garbage bag limits, policies, and procedures. Residents and businesses can be confused by these variations. Promotion and education efforts are challenged by conflicting practices,” they added.

Watson, Murray, Kelly and Cosh said they do not totally operate in silos, having recently collaborated on the Haliburton County Waste Wizard app and household hazardous waste days, which allow the public to go to any landfill.

However, they added, “a single-tier waste management system has the potential to streamline policies, administrative functions, contracting, and customer service.”

In the service delivery review, waste management services were one of six key customer areas identified for improvement. Key recommendations included: establishing a waste inter-municipal committee; standardization of waste policies across Haliburton County; and a County-wide review of waste facilities.

Referencing the Dillon Consulting Ltd. report, staff said the consultants visited all landfills and transfer stations, interviewed staff, and researched and analyzed data. The final report includes a detailed review of the current state of waste management amongst the four lower-tier municipalities, a jurisdictional review, and proposed service delivery model for the future.

“The final report analyzes the concept of providing waste management services under a single administration at the County level. A coordinated service delivery model would provide dedicated staffing and expertise to plan and operate waste management services,” the staff report says.

It goes on to say, “in a coordinated approach, all waste management functions currently managed individually by each lower-tier municipality would be centralized. Common services would be recovered through user fees and the County rate tax levy.” Scotiabank Lighthouse, 100 Yonge St., 5th Floor, Toronto ON, M5C 2W1 File: 3266608 SWM Ads – Le Roy Financial Group, print ready ads R4 Workfront#: 3266608 Trim: 10.375 in” x 3” Colours: CMYK

Dillon has suggested three options for transitioning. Option one would see the County administering. Option two is administration by a non-profit municipallyowned corporation. And, option three is administration by a co-ordinating committee. Dillon Consulting’s report recommends Insertion: -Bleed: .125” Safety: n/a Deadline: Nov 2023 Designer: JK the preferred service delivery model begin with a coordinating committee and transition into County administration. It’s suggested the change could happen in one to two years “with the harmonization of service levels occurring over a longer time.”

As for next steps, staff said if councillors agreed with the recommendation, they should designate and fund a County staff resource to work on a transition plan, and seek approval from each of the four lower-tier municipal councils.

Conversely, the staff report said if the County disagrees, it could choose to establish a waste management collaborating committee… “to govern its operations and scope of work, for example, with focus on streamlining service and reducing duplicate efforts.”

Dillon Consulting said there are 18 sites in the County, 10 landfills and eight transfer stations, with environmental monitoring of 20 closed sites. The net operating cost is $4.37 million annually.

Dillon referenced “rationalizing the number of locations based on travel distances.”

Report off to townships

Commenting on Wednesday’s report, coun. Walt McKechnie said, “I cannot believe we’re not talking about incinerating garbage.” However, the consultant said that was not in the scope of their current project.

Coun. Murray Fearrey indicated there was nothing in the report on cost savings, with the consultant saying it was difficult to quantify without going to procurement. The Dysart mayor commented that sometimes there were advantages in “going together, and sometimes not.” He recalled three reports in his time on council, including recommending a centralized landfill, that would cost substantially more, not less.

Coun. Jennifer Dailloux said they would have to see the “trifecta” in recommending the service go to the County: cost savings, improved user experience, and efficiencies to operate.

Coun. Bob Carter added, “I’m not seeing a compelling argument,” since the townships are collaborating.

Council received the report for information only, deferred it to the lower-tier governments, and the discussion will come back to the County at the end of May.

A group of County-based health care advocates are again urging Ontario’s auditor general to launch a full-scale investigation into Haliburton Highlands Health Services’ (HHHS) closure of the Minden ER.

Jeff Nicholls, Adria Scarano, Aurora McGinn, and Tracy Klompmaker have been leading the charge behind Minden Paper, a group of working professionals who have spent the past 12 months analyzing HHHS’ reasoning for the shuttering.

Last November, the group wrote to Shelley Spence, Ontario’s auditor general, and the office of the integrity commissioner, to request a thorough investigation. Nicholls said the team, which also includes an advisory group of 10 to 15 other people located across Canada, had spent more than 9,000 hours compiling data from HHHS and every hospital in Ontario from the 2022-23 fiscal years.

“We believe the closure of the Minden emergency department serves as a microcosm for what’s happening to hospitals, and health care services, across Ontario,” Nicholls said.

The decision to close the Minden site was made by the HHHS board last spring. It shuttered six weeks later. Board chair David O’Brien stated repeatedly over the following weeks that the decision had more to do with a local health care worker shortage than money, but Nicholls and the rest of the Minden Paper team disagree.

They have questioned how the organization’s deficit grew from $220,000 in June 2022 to approximately $4.1 million in March 2023.

Spence replied to Minden Paper March 19, stating much of the requested information was included in a 2023 report the auditor general’s office compiled looking at emergency department issues provincewide. Spence said several recommendations have been submitted to the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, and dozens of hospitals, though she did not state whether HHHS was on that list.

The auditor general’s office will follow-up on the status of those recommendations this year, with a public report to be published in 2025.

Nicholls contends the Minden Paper team has uncovered a major oversight in the auditor general’s report, which claims HHHS extensively utilized the Health Force Ontario Locum program – to fill physician ER shifts – at its Haliburton and Minden sites between 2020 and 2023, logging more than 4,000 hours. Nicholls claims the program was rarely used in Minden, as corroborated by former Minden ER doctor Dennis Fiddler in a 2023 letter.

“Minden did not use the locum program for physicians until April 2023… the AG’s audit oversights regarding usage – incorrectly suggesting Haliburton and Minden used the locum program in equal amounts – raise serious concerns,” Nicholls said.

The team called on the auditor general’s office to re-evaluate data regarding Minden’s use of the locum program and amend its 2023 report.

Spokesperson Becky Fong said the auditor general’s office “carefully considers” all information when selecting and planning audits, including information submitted by the public, but noted, “we do not comment on specific details of information received by our office, or with respect to any planned or ongoing audit work.”

When audits are complete, they are tabled in the Legislature and then made public, she said.

Lauren Ernst, communications lead at HHHS, told The Highlander that HHHS did not distinguish separate numbers for locum program usage for Haliburton and Minden, instead grouping the two hospitals together in its reporting. She noted the sites utilized “almost” 4,000 physician hours between April 2022 and March 2023.

McGinn said she, and the community, are still waiting on answers.

“People still don’t really understand why this happened… we need to address the lack of accountability and transparency before we can move on,” she said.

Slippery slope

Klompmaker said she inspected year-end financial reports from hundreds of hospitals in Ontario, to see if the problems plaguing HHHS were happening elsewhere. The results, she said, were alarming.

Klompmaker found that 102 hospitals ended the 2023 fiscal year with a deficit – an increase from 33 at the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The average deficit rose by 992 per cent, from $545,000 to $5.9 million, with the total deficit climbing 3,300 per cent – from $17.9 million to $610 million.

Five hospitals have released projections for the 2024 fiscal year – Niagara Health System, Brant Community Healthcare in Brantford, Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, and Hamilton Health Sciences. Collectively they are anticipating their deficit to grow 280 per cent, to $145.8 million from $38.3 million in 2023.

A months-long Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) investigation of the Wigamog Inn site in Dysart et al has found species at-risk could be present at the site – further delaying demolition efforts.

Gary Wheeler, MECP spokesperson, told The Highlander last week that ministry officials had been in contact with property owner, Aurora Group, to request they address “several” regulatory requirements for on-site operations and pending demolition activities before proceeding.

“The owner is required to undertake assessments on the property, including a species at-risk assessment, should demolition plans continue,” Wheeler said.

He noted species at-risk observed, or known to frequent the area, include the chimney swift, eastern whip-poor-will, Blanding’s turtle, at-risk bats, and the eastern hog-nosed snake.

Hailey Cole, a Dysart bylaw officer, said “there is a reasonable likelihood” that species at-risk may be present at the site. She has been in touch with Aurora Group, and confirmed an assessment is underway and expected to be complete in about six months.

“That timeframe is to allow for observation during multiple seasons,” Cole said.

It’s the latest in a long line of setbacks since the township started looking into the property in 2019. While Aurora Group touted major investment for the site after buying it in March 2016 – posting plans to its website for the reopening of the inn and the Moose Bar and Grill, as well building 180 new residential units – little has been done, and the property today sits empty, in a state of disrepair.

Dysart’s previous bylaw officer, Robert Mascia, reported carrying out multiple inspections between 2019 and May 2022, when he issued a remedial action notice to Aurora Group outlining 47 infractions of the township’s property standards bylaw. Issues varied from downed power lines to smashed windows, damaged doors, and collapsed decks.

At a property standards committee meeting in the fall of 2022, Aurora Group said they intended to demolish the 37 buildings that make up the Wigamog site. They then missed a deadline to submit a demolition permit, which led the committee, in October 2022, to direct Dysart’s chief building official, Karl Korpela, to issue an RFP to have the site torn down.

Staff were still working on the RFP in March 2023 when Aurora Group started the demolition process. To date, around a dozen buildings have been taken down.

Cole noted staff assessed the property again in November, working with Aurora Group to ensure fencing was put up around an empty in-ground pool and that access points to all remaining buildings were sealed.

On top of the issues surrounding at-risk species, Dysart mayor Murray Fearrey said he was aware of a complaint being made to the ministry about active chemicals at the site. Wheeler said the ministry has not confirmed the presence of asbestos, or any other chemical on the site, but is mandating that Aurora Group take inventory of, and appropriately store, any on-site waste before proceeding with demolition.

Wheeler noted all waste “must” be disposed of at an approved waste management facility. Rubble from several buildings torn down last spring remain in place at the Wigamog site.

Fearrey expressed his frustration over the situation stretching into the summer.

“It’s disappointing news for the community, but also for council. This has gone on way too long. It’s more disappointing the way the owners have delayed it, time after time with promises they don’t keep,” Fearrey said. “With the ministry involved now, it’s really out of our control [what happens next].”

Aurora Group did not respond to a request for an interview.

Rick Wood couldn’t believe his luck this year when he was able to forego his snowshoes while tapping trees on his Carnarvon acreage.

Working alongside wife, Wendy, the Woods have been producing maple syrup on their Peterson Road property since 2014. What started as a small hobby-like operation, using buckets to collect sap from 80 trees in their first year, has grown to a professional system that draws from more than 850 trees and encompasses around seven kilometres of pipelines.

The Woods were one of many local makers to open their doors to the public April 6 and 7 for the County’s annual Maple Fest. They welcomed around 15 people to their property on Saturday, providing tours of their sugar shack and samples of their Colour of Wood syrup.

“It’s always nice to give people a peek behind the curtain, to show them what we do. And it’s a nice way to meet people we don’t know,” Wendy said.

Rick noted this was their best-ever year production-wise. Despite dropping from 1,000 taps to 850 this season, Rick collected 970 litres of syrup – a big increase from the previous high of 797 litres a few years ago.

He credited the season’s mild weather – saying he was fully tapped by the end of January. The Woods had their first boil Feb. 4

It’s a strenuous process getting things started – Rick said he usually spends about 10 days in the bush tapping trees. He must prepare the system, too. Rick said there’s a one-inch mainline traversing his property, which has 46 lateral runs connected. Each of those runs has 20 to 25 taps on it.

“It makes a natural vacuum coming downhill to the shack, which helps with production,” he said.

Once the sap makes it to the shack, it’s stored in a tank out back. Rick then feeds from there into an interior tank, which can hold up to 1,000 litres. He has a reverse osmosis system that separates the water, which usually leaves around 300 litres of sap to boil. He’ll work at least 12 hours a day during maple season.

“It keeps me busy,” he said.

Bob Snider, of Neil Brown’s Farm in Gooderham, said it was business as usual for him this year. He decided to forego the early rush and stick to his usual schedule that sees him tap in early March. He pulls from 300 trees, usually producing around 300 litres annually.

“I don’t try to capture every last bucket… for me, this is a fun family activity come winter. We didn’t see much of a difference,” Brown said.

John Williams, executive director of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association, said “I’ve been hearing generally good things – every year there are people who do well, and people who do not so well. That can be related to the microclimate of the bush, or maybe they missed a weather window early or late in the season.”

County council has backed a request from director of economic development and tourism, Scott Ovell, to enter into partnership with the Haliburton County Homebuilders Association (HCHBA), which is working with Haliburton Highlands Secondary School to boost the trades.

Ovell said that last May, the County and HCHBA hosted their first skilled trades bus tour. They took 30 students to five different locations, highlighting skilled trades job opportunities. They went to Sunbelt Rentals, Holden Truss, a construction site at 75 per cent completion, a finished timber frame home, and a large landscaping site.

“At each site, the employers were provided an opportunity to address the students and discuss the employment options within their sector and the stability of the jobs,” Ovell said. “The program was well received and will be run again in the spring of 2024.”

HCHBA members have also been going to tech, math and science classrooms at the high school. But Ovell said it was noted the association was donating not only time but about $3,000 in materials as well. So, the partners came up with the idea for the County to provide financial support to the HCHBA, to allow them to purchase additional materials, tools, and safety equipment, to enhance the school-based program.

The economic director said the program is covering the fundamentals of framing and drywall installation, and providing an introduction to electrical work.

The County, during its March 27 meeting, committed to the nearly $8,000 in costs.

Coun. Cec Ryall commented, “that’s exciting… university is a great option, but trades are what we need the most.”

Coun. Murray Fearrey added, “in my day, that was called shop, everybody took the course, that was a long time ago. It’s the right thing to do… we need to do more of this sort of thing.”

Ovell said if successful, the partners will look to continue this year, and potentially expand the program in 2025.

HCHBA president Kevin Hodgkinson said the County “stepping up to the plate like they did is huge.” He said it’s important to get more tools and materials into the hands of high school students. Equally, it’s key to get association members into the classroom.

He said as an association, they are aware that a lack of affordable housing is a deterrent to out-of-town tradespeople moving to the Highlands. So, having a presence within the high school lets students know they have an option to stay and work in the County.

“We’re going to have a serious shortage of tradespeople in the coming years as people start to retire. There’s work here.”