A long vacant building beside the Haliburton Legion is being renovated, with the new owners seeking to turn the rundown spot into an office, gym, and storage facility.

Eleanor Dobbins appeared before Dysart et al council Aug. 22, saying the space would primarily serve as an office for CDH Carpentry. She and partner, Chris, bought the building earlier this year. While they were originally planning to allocate half of the space for storage, they were approached by another local interested in opening a gym at the location.

Dobbins said it would be a fitness gym for adults, with scheduled classes throughout the day. She said classes would take place in the morning, between 6 and 7 a.m., at noon and during the evenings, and can accommodate up to 12 people.

A report compiled by Kris Orsan, Dysart’s manager of planning, states the property doesn’t have the parking spaces required for the proposed use. There are four parking spots in front of the building, facing Mountain Street, and a further three at the rear end of the property. Orsan said he had trouble recognizing the rear spots given they encroach on a neighbouring property.

Orsan said that, to comply with Dysart’s bylaws, the business requires 14 parking spaces.

Dobbins requested the use of spots in the municipal parking lot at A.J. LaRue Arena. Given the property has seven parking spots, the owners would need to lease seven additional spots from the township. The cost to do so is $1,000 per spot, under Dysart’s cash-in-lieu of parking policy.

One additional parking spot could be created at the front of the building, but the space is currently used by the Legion to house a M4A2 Sherman ‘Easy 8’ tank. Dobbins said she has an agreement with the Legion to keep the tank where it is and would like to honour that. She asked if the township would consider waiving the parking fees.

While mayor Murray Fearrey said it would be “tough” for council to waive the fees outright, out of fear of setting a precedent, coun. Barry Boice suggested the township work with Dobbins to come to an agreeable solution.

“These guys shouldn’t be penalized for the spots taken up by the tank. It sounds like they’re trying to accommodate the Legion, so I think we should drop [some of the fees],” Boice said.

Council agreed to waive the fees for three of the spots, leaving Dobbins responsible for leasing four spaces at a cost of $4,000. Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning, said a formalized agreement is needed to allow the Dobbins’ to use the spaces at the arena. Another report will be brought back to council for approval later this year.

Julian Taylor is hoping for wonderful weather as he and his band make their way to Haliburton County for a Sept. 9 gig.

Taylor and his band last performed in the Highlands in 2019, at the Haliburton Legion. The Haliburton County Folk Society will place him at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion this time around.

“We come up there because I do know how pretty Haliburton is, and it’s always nice to take a stroll around town and maybe even into the woods in the fall because of the changing colours. It’s really pretty,” Taylor said Aug. 31. He added he is looking forward to the “tranquility” before getting up on stage.

Taylor has a good working knowledge of the County, having gone to Kilcoo Camp as a boy and playing the Northwood earlier in his musical career. He said they used to do three sets of cover music there. “I’ve always had a good time in Haliburton.”

Since 2019, Taylor has received his fair share of awards and recognition. “I can’t complain,” he said of the accolades.

He attributes the recent success to “perseverance. Maybe Eddie Cantor was right, it takes 20 years to make an overnight success.”

His album, The Ridge, earned him his first two Juno award nominations, along with a Canadian Folk Music Award for solo artist, and nomination for English songwriter of the year. The album was also nominated for Canada’s most prestigious music accolade, the Polaris Music Prize. In 2022, Taylor won best male artist at the International Acoustic Music Awards and scored five Native American Music Award nominations. He has just been nominated for the 2023 Folk Music Ontario awards for performing artist of the year and song of the year (for S.E.E.D.S).

Prefers playing theatres

He is looking forward to playing in a theatre this time around, versus the Legion, or a bar.

“I’ve been trying to perform at theatres ever since I started this. I ended up in bars, and certainly the Legion was the last time I was there. I do remember it was lovely. I really do like performing to people who are really attentive to the show and theatres seem to lend themselves to that a lot more than any other venue that I’ve experienced in my career. And it’s certainly where I’d like to be. So, I’m really pleased and honored that I get a chance to perform at the pavilion.”

Taylor is bringing a five-person band this time around. He said during the pandemic, he put out solo work. Some in his band circa-2019 have pivoted and found other things to do.

“It’s been an interesting couple of years trying to piece the puzzle together in terms of who wants to play, when they want to play, if they want to play, and if it’s worth it for everybody. Because, when we first got back, not everybody was really excited to jump at the opportunity to go out there and be in a crowd. Some others were very into it.”

He added it felt like he had a nucleus pre-COVID “and now I’m sort of searching for it.”

Nevertheless, he is just excited to play with people, and in front of people, again.

As for the concert, Taylor said, “I’m actually diving into my entire catalogue that’s spanned about 25 years. I don’t play too much of the heavy, heavy stuff but some of the funky stuff comes out, some of the rock and roll stuff and R&B stuff comes out, and to me the folk stuff of the latter two records comes out. So, a lot of storytelling, and hopefully some dancing,”

Tickets are available online at haliburtonfolk.com. Youth age 18 years and under can reserve a seat for free.

Highlands Opera Studio completed its 17th year in the County by donating a Heintzman upright grand piano to St. George’s Anglican church for community use all year round.

Co-artistic directors, Valerie Kuinka and Richard Margison said, “we are so very grateful to Fr. David Barker, organist William (Bill) Gliddon, churchwardens Louise Sisson and Curtis Eastmure, and the members of the parish for welcoming us into the church, and for everything they do to support us during the five-weeks of the summer opera intensive.”

They said they wanted to give back and hope the piano will encourage and support the joy of singing and music throughout the year.

Fr. Barker added, “we are always delighted to have the Highlands Opera Studio fill the building each July and August with the sound of music. The gift of this piano comes at an opportune time for us. We have begun new work among seniors in our community, creating opportunities for people to explore their own creativity in new and fun ways.

“Music will be an important part of that outreach, and this piano allows us to extend our music into other rooms in the church building. It is exciting to think of the possibilities.”

The majority of HOS activities, including nine to 10 paid concerts and free community events, take place at the church every summer. Along with the concerts and educational events open to the public, internal activities include top industry professional development for a select group of young professional singers chosen annually through competitive national and international auditions.

The 15-20 highly accomplished artists travel from across Canada and beyond to work at the church with industry leaders on-site and online seven hours a day, six days of the week, while in residence in Haliburton for five weeks.

Year-round HOS activities include the Highlands Opera Club and online paywhat-you-can singing lessons (all styles of singing). HOS is operated by Highlands Opera Theatre, a registered charity dedicated to music education through operatic training and community engagement.

The Haliburton County Huskies wrapped up their pre-season with a 3-2 win over the Stouffvillle Spirit in a dominant display Sept. 2 at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.

Around 100 fans were in attendance as the Huskies sought revenge over the Spirit, who inflicted a 4-2 defeat on the blue and white in exhibition action last month. Winger Ian Phillips, a new recruit after playing the previous two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, impressed for the Huskies, helping himself to a pair of goals, with fan favourite Lucas Stevenson also getting on the scoresheet.

After a disappointing result last time out against the Central Canadian Hockey League’s Renfrew Wolves, the hometown team started well on Saturday. Captain Patrick Saini and Stevenson led by example in the early goings, chasing down every loose puck. When in possession, the team confidently moved the biscuit across the ice. After hammering at the door and forcing Spirit goaltender Matteo Gennaro into a series of early saves, it was Stevenson who gave the Huskies the advantage halfway through the opening frame. Assisted by Aidan Yarde, Stevenson made no mistake, beating Gennaro with 9:46 on the clock.

The lead didn’t last long, with former Husky Cameron Kosurko coming back to haunt his former team. The 20-year-old, traded to Stouffville midway through last season, tied the game at 10:14, beating Huskies netminder Vlad Visan, who was making his debut on home ice.

Undeterred, the blue and white pushed back, forcing the Spirit to take a pair of penalties – Julian Demiglio was given two minutes for hooking at 12:14, with Adamo Zingaro handed a cross-checking minor at 13:39. The lengthy five-on-three opportunity paid dividends, with Phillips tickling the twine at 14:16, assisted by Stevenson and Saini. He added a second marker, unassisted, at 18:35.

“I thought we played really well during that first period. We wanted to start strong and try and get the fans into the game as they’re almost like a sixth man for us once they get going. They exert so much energy that the guys feed off,” said Huskies coach Ryan Ramsay.

He reserved special praise for Phillips’ game-winning performance in that opening frame.

“I thought he could have had two or three goals in each of our [other exhibition] games, so it was nice to see him get a couple and boost his confidence. He’s going to be a guy we lean on to provide some offence this year,” Ramsay said.

Both teams were more reserved in the second period, but it was the Huskies that went closest to scoring – Declan Bowmaster drawing a smart save from Gennaro after a breakaway at the 12 minute mark.

The Huskies took control again early in the third, creating several chances on the man advantage after Demiglio was again assessed a two-minute hooking minor. There were some unsavoury scenes a few minutes later after Lucas Marshall crashed into a Spirit forward against the boards, earning a boarding call. The teams came together and there was some pushing and shoving, but the officials quickly regained control.

The home side killed the penalty, limiting the Spirit to just a single shot on goal.

Saini came within a whisker of finishing the game with four minutes left on the clock, hitting the iron with an instinctive shot from the slot.

After pulling their goalie, the Spirit piled on the pressure in the closing moments. Nathan Twohey made it a one-goal game, notching for the road team at 18:59. The final 30 seconds were played six-on-four after Huskies defenceman Raine Nadeau was sent to the box for interference, but the team held on, thanks to three huge stops from Visan, who was named first star of the game.

Speaking post-game with The Highlander, the 17-year-old was delighted with the win.

“The boys are buzzing after that one, we feel we gave a good account of ourselves and played well,” Visan said. Asked how he felt during those final 30 seconds, when the Spirit really applied the pressure, the goaltender added, “I was just doing whatever I could to hang on… I was a little nervous, but I feel like I’m built for those sorts of situations. When my team needs me, I’m there for them.”

The Huskies will kick off the 2023/24 OJHL season on the road Sept. 8 in Lindsay, before welcoming the Pickering Panthers to Minden Sept. 9. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m.

Hundreds of participants will descend on Haliburton Forest over the next couple of weekends, looking to push the pain threshold.

They will be competing in the trail race the Sept. 9-10 weekend, followed by Hurtin in Haliburton Sept. 15-16.

General manager tourism and recreation, Tegan Legge, said they are expecting 600 people for this weekend’s running races alone.

She added 2023 will mark the 30th annual occurrence of the event, which saw its inaugural race take place in 1993.

The race has grown steadily since its inception and once again offers racers the choice of 12K, 26K, 50K, 50 mile, and of course, their signature event, the Haliburton Forest 100 Miler.

“There is a certain primal beauty found along the trails at Haliburton Forest and the absolute best way to experience it is by foot as you run on the rugged trails. Heavily forested, hilly and filled with lakes and streams, it represents nature at it’s best,” the Forest’s website says.

For this year’s Hurtin in Haliburton, they have added a fat bike category. Participants that have a bike that has tires at least 3.8 inches wide are competing in this category.

It’s also now a weekend long event. Participants are expected to arrive Sept. 15 to pre-ride the course, pick up their race kit, meet sponsors and community partners.

Legge said on Saturday, after a long day in the saddle, participants can celebrate their accomplishments over food, beer and live music.

In its fifth year, the Hurtin in Haliburton gravel relay race has become recognized for its relaxed and beginner-friendly format featuring a 27km backcountry gravel loop. There are 330m of climbing per lap and people will be racing solo or in teams of two, alternating throughout.

“We offer a safe and social environment for our growing gravel community with the philosophy that all participants start together and finish together, encouraging participants to build friendships whether on the course, in the pits or at the post race celebration,” the Forest said.

Algonquin Highlands cottager Jimmy Holmstrom was one of dozens to stop by the Stanhope Firefighters Hall Sept. 2 as the station celebrated 50 years of fire and rescue in the community.

Volunteer firefighters were on hand at the station, located on North Shore Road, for the open house and BBQ Saturday, celebrating the special milestone. Robert Sargent, who has 18 years of service, took visitors on tours of the facility, showing off old and new firefighting equipment. He said the event was a nice way to honour the department and its members for the years of service.

“This is a major milestone, and we had no intention of just letting it pass by without some sort of celebration,” Sargent said. “When this department was launched, it was run by the community for the community, and I think that still rings true today.”

Holmstrom said he was visiting to show his appreciation after firefighters saved his property from certain destruction in 2020.

“A Hydro One transponder blew on the corner of Hwy. 35 and North Shore Road. The bush on three sides of my cottage was on fire – I got a call from a neighbour telling me my place was up in flames, and that I’d lost it,” Holmstrom, who lived permanently in Toronto at the time, told The Highlander.

He immediately hopped in his truck and made a beeline up Hwy. 407. He called the Algonquin Highlands Fire Department for an official assessment of the damage, but all firefighters were out tackling the blaze. When chief Mike French returned his call a short time later, Holmstrom was fearing the worst.

“I almost didn’t want to pick up, but when I did, the chief told me ‘we’ve saved your place’. They were able to contain the fire before it reached my property. I have no idea how they did it, but there wasn’t a mark on the place. The land all around was scorched, but the building itself was untouched,” Holmstrom said.

“I’m very grateful to the wonderful firefighters we have in this community,” he added.

A brief history

The department was established in January 1973 at the direction of the old Stanhope et al township council. The first chief was Dick Kinsman, who trained and worked with an initial group of 20 volunteer firefighters. By June, the first fire truck had arrived, and the fire hall finished.

Back then there was no 911, so an emergency fire dispatch system was launched, with phone lines put in at the fire hall, the township office, and five private residences – operated by a group of women who became known as the ‘fire phone ladies’. These women were never paid yet handled all emergency calls until 2004.

Former Algonquin Highlands mayor Carol Moffatt, whose husband, Tony Aymong, has been a volunteer at Stanhope for more than 40 years, has compiled an extensive history of the department, some of which is currently on show at the Stanhope Heritage Museum.

During her research, Moffatt found the township had been budgeting for fire services since 1968, committing $1,800 between then and 1971. The department’s first fire truck was purchased for just over $28,000, with a second three-quarter ton panel truck added for $2,950 in 1975. By 1985, the annual budget had grown to approximately $38,000.

That money covered operational expenses only, with the firefighters themselves raising additional funds to pay for equipment. Potluck dinners, fundraiser dances, and popular events such as the Stanhope Triathlon were held to bring in money for things like uniforms, helmets, and breathing apparatus.

The Stanhope department was amalgamated with outposts in Dorset and Oxtongue Lake in 2000 under the umbrella of the Algonquin Highlands Fire Services.

‘Making a difference’

The fire department is a much different place today than when John Hogg joined in 1978.

“I’ve seen lots of change, but it’s all been good. This station has always been very good in terms of maintaining staffing, and making sure it’s very well equipped,” said Hogg, who was chief in Stanhope from 1998 to 2000, and then of the amalgamated Algonquin Highlands department until 2013.

While he retired from regular service a decade ago, Hogg still maintains a presence at Station 80. He volunteers at open houses and will attend the odd medical emergency.

“My promise is I will not get in the way,” Hogg says with a chuckle. “I still enjoy being involved, and doing whatever I can to make somebody’s day a little better. Almost always, you’re responding to people in their greatest hour of need.”

Sargent said one of the better changes to have been implemented in recent times was the introduction of a new mental health program.

“Years ago, people were encouraged to deal with things themselves. You weren’t supposed to talk about the things you’d seen, how it might have impacted you. Now, everything is wide open. We tell all new recruits if they have any problem at all, to talk to us and we will get them the help they need,” Sargent said.

Earlier this year the township brought in a grief counselor after a former colleague passed away, which helped several people, Sargent said.

Captain Ken Cox has been with the department for seven years. He said being a volunteer firefighter is his dream job.

“I’m fortunate that I get to work with some amazing folks here – you open yourself up to a whole new life when you become a firefighter. It broadens your social bubble and, for me at least, has enhanced so many parts of my life,” Cox said.

He was more than happy to volunteer at the weekend open house, feeling it’s important to connect with the community and show them what goes on behind the proverbial curtain. He said it was mostly young families that attended. He felt it was important, too, to recognize the work of those who came before him and celebrate 50 years of fire services in Stanhope.

“It’s a lot of years of heartaches and bad times, but the fire department is here to make folk’s bad times a little less negative. I think we do a good job of that,” he added.

The Stanhope department is looking for new volunteers. Anyone interested can learn more at algonquinhighlands.ca/ourcommunity/fire-services.