Terra Lightfoot says she had such a great time playing in Haliburton in January 2023 that she wants to do it all over again.

The Haliburton County Folk Society is bringing Lightfoot and her band to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129 in Haliburton on Jan. 27.

Lightfoot, now a resident of the County, says she is feeling very much at home these days.

“Since we did this last year, I have gotten to know many more folks in the community, so I am excited to see some friends,” she said.

A recent campaign by the County’s tourism department, claiming the Highlands is ‘where the stars hang out’ appears to ring true for musicians who perform in the community, folk society spokesman Barrie Martin said.

He said Lightfoot is one of those stars. “CBC Music describes her as, ‘one of Canada’s best all around musicians… an amazing tour de force, the complete package. Her new album Healing Power is creating a buzz’.” Martin added Spill Magazine says, “‘you can actually feel that release of personal energy that makes this album Lightfoot’s most accomplished yet’.”

With four studio albums to her credit, along with Polaris Prize and Juno Award nominations, Lightfoot is, according to Martin, “a singer/songwriter with a huge voice, big heart, and gutsy guitar that is full of reverb, short, repetitive hooks, and bouncy rhythms. Even if you attended her concert last year, this one offers a whole new set of songs, an abundance of talent, and love of community.”

The concert will start with a performance by Christina Hutt from the Huntsville area. Martin said, “she can fill a room with her rich, resonant, out-of-this era voice and move you with her honest, charismatic delivery. You can expect a little blues and soul and a lot of country.”

Tickets can be purchased at haliburtonfolk. com. To find out more about Lightfoot, visit terralightfoot.com

The show is presented by the Haliburton County Folk Society, a part of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative. For more information about the Co-op see haliburtoncooperative.on.ca.

Summer 2024 may seem a long way off, but the Highlands Summer Festival (HSF) recently announced its July and August offerings.

HSF president Brian Kipping said, “we have an exciting line-up of live theatre and concert offerings for this summer. I know our patrons will find it an enjoyable list with lots of variety.”

Up first will be the musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Spokesman Jack Brezina said the awardwinning musical will test those who suffer from ortographobia (the fear of spelling a word incorrectly).

“The tale follows an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents as they vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of words. The show will have audience participation and upbeat music,” Brezina said. It opens July 2 for nine performances.

Second up, the festival revisits a favourite of theatre patrons worldwide, William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker. “Twelveyear-old Helen Keller lived in a prison of silence and darkness. Deaf, blind, and mute from an illness as a baby, with no way to express herself or comprehend those around her, she flew into primal rages against anyone who tried to help her, fighting with a strength born of furious desperation. Then Annie Sullivan came. Half-blind herself, but possessing an almost fanatical determination, she would begin a frightening and incredibly moving struggle to tame the wild girl no one could reach,” Brezina said. The Tony award-winning play opens July 15 for eighth performances.

The Canadian folk trio, and award-winners, The Good Lovelies bring their country/folk repertoire, with tinges of pop, roots, jazz and sometimes hip-hop, July 24-26, for three performances.

Then, Gail, a beekeeper, and Earl, both recently estranged from their spouses, and living across from each other on a country road, find their lives turned upside down in the Mark Crawford comedy, The Birds & The Bees. “Gail’s daughter, Sarah, running away from an unhappy marriage, returns home unexpectedly. Add the arrival of Ben, an over-eager graduate student there to determine the cause of the collapse of Gail’s bee population, and it presents an engaging mix of people with lots to teach about the birds & the bees.” This show for 13 and ups opens July 28 for six performances.

The season ends with the return of Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band’s Opry Gold. Their latest concert features popular country songs from the last few decades. The show opens Aug. 4 for five performances.

“With a line-up like that, patrons will want to see all five shows,” artistic producer Scot Denton said.

For more information, see highlandssummerfestival.on.ca; call 705-4579933 or 855-457-9933 or mail Highlands Summer Festival, Box 938, Haliburton, Ontario, K0M 1S0.

In a quest for redemption against the Kawartha Coyotes from Omemee, the U11 Rep team unleashed a determined and electrifying performance at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Jan. 6 that resonated throughout the game.

The team came out strong in the first period outplaying their opponents and keeping most of the play in their end. With only three minutes remaining in the period, Carter McCord capitalized on an opportune moment securing the first goal with help from Maddex Reynolds and Rowan Little.

The second period saw tension rising between the two teams with a penalty kill and a powerplay for the Storm. A solid hustle from defencemen Blake Little and R. Little helped top scorer Austin Cunningham take the lead to 2-0. A few minutes later, winger Reynolds, assisted by Lucas Lawson, closed the period at 3-0.

The final period had copious amounts of penalties from both sides but goalkeeper Liam Scheffee kept his composure and showed off his skills in spectacular fashion by only conceding one goal, while his teammates added four more to make it a 7-1 win.

Cunningham got two more goals to get a well-deserved hat trick, while McCord and Reynolds each found the back of the net for a second time. Defenceman Wyatt Braun’s slap shots from the blueline almost found the back of the net, while wingers Will Brown, Ethan Draker, Chase Casey and Reynolds applied continuous pressure, forcing the other team to cough up the puck.

The game concluded with the U11 Rep team emerging victorious, exhibiting not only redemption but also a remarkable display of teamwork, skill and unwavering determination on the ice. Thank you to all the local fans who came out and looking forward to the second half of the season.

The Haliburton County Huskies go into the OJHL All-Star break this weekend with a five-game winning streak since returning from Christmas holidays.

The blue and white racked up a 4-1 win over the Toronto Patriots Dec. 29. Lucas Stevenson led the way with two goals, while Patrick Saini and Charlie Fink chipped in the others.

They backed that up with a New Year’s Eve victory over rival Wellington Dukes. The 4-2 decision saw tallies from Saini, Alex Bradshaw with two, and Ty Petrou.

The squad rang in the new year with a 5-4 win over the Stouffville Spirit Jan. 4. Goal scorers were Lucas Marshall, Stevenson, Saini, Hunter Martell, and Fink.

January 6 saw the Huskies beat their Hwy. 35 rivals, the Lindsay Muskies, 4-1. Bradshaw tallied in this one as did Stevenson, Petrou and Saini.

And on Jan. 7, the Huskies squeaked out a 3-2 decision over the Pickering Panthers. Stevenson, Saini and Petrou all found the back of the net.

Commenting on the streak – that has seen the team climb to fourth place in the East Conference with a record of 23 wins, 14 losses, and two ties for 48 points – team captain Saini said, “everyone’s really starting to figure out what we have to do to win.”

He added, “it’s not easy to win day in and day out. It takes work but I think we’re starting to figure out winning habits. It starts with practice. I think we have a lot of confidence because when you win games, you find your confidence. So, we’re able to come back in games we’re down and hold teams off. It’s good.”

While Saini, Petrou, Stevenson and Fink are no strangers to the tally sheet, Bradshaw has been chipping in as well as Marshall and D-man Martell. The captain said that’s important.

“It’s always nice to see the other guys put some in because when everyone’s scoring, everyone’s having fun.”

All-Star celebration

Saini will be representing the Huskies at the All-Star celebration in Collingwood this coming weekend.

The event features games, a skills competition and gala community activities. The all-star game is 5 p.m. Jan. 13.

Saini said, “those things are a huge honour and they’re a lot of fun so I’m hoping to go represent Halliburton County the best way I can and enjoy my time.” Lucas Vacca has been named an alternate for the East team.

Meanwhile, Husky head coach and general manager, Ryan Ramsay, is coaching the prospects team and goalie Logan Kennedy has been named to that squad. Saini said the goalie deserved the pick as he has played well for the Huskies.

After the All-Star Celebration, the Huskies return to action on the road. They are scheduled to play in Toronto versus the Junior Canadiens Jan. 14

“That’s a huge game for us,” Saini said. The Huskies have just eight home games remaining on the 2023-24 regular season schedule. They are next at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Jan. 20.

“We had a lot of home games before the break so we’re on the road a little bit more coming up,” Saini said. “That’s alright. I know that when we come home, the fans are going to be pumping and it’s going to be a great atmosphere to play in. So, we’ll be ready to play when we get the chance to play at home and we’ll take care of business on the road.”

An online version of SIRCH Community Service’s popular School’s Cool program is starting up this month, with coordinator, Brittany Rance, saying there’s space for up to 15 children.

The initiative has been running periodically since 1999, serving as an academic taster for kids preparing to enter the public school system. Rance noted the upcoming program is for children going into kindergarten in 2024.

“We like to say School’s Cool levels the playing field for every child. The program is dedicated to boosting your child’s confidence, getting them used to socializing with other kids, listening and responding to instruction, and learning new skills,” Rance said. “We work on mastering the alphabet, numbers, problem-solving, language, and math.”

The six-week program launches Jan. 15, running until Feb. 22, with four days of instruction – Monday to Thursday – for two hours each day.

The program is delivered by two instructors virtually via Google Classroom. Kits will be distributed to all participants, containing materials needed to complete activities. Rance said parents are required to accompany their child and assist with activities.

Participation is free, Rance noted.

This will be the second time the program has been offered virtually, following a pilot in October 2022. Rance believes there’s lots of positives to online learning.

“It’s a great opportunity for kids who can’t get out to still have access to learning and see other kids,” she said. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about online… but with School’s Cool, the instructors are really good about setting kids up for success. If we notice they’re getting restless, we’ll give them moving breaks, teach them ways to calm their body.

“Setting kids up for success is the primary goal. It’s important for them to start learning things on their own, getting used to being in a learning environment so that when they go into school it’s not so much of a shock. There’s a lot of anxiety around a child taking that next step and going to school. We work to ease that stress and build confidence as much as possible,” she added.

To learn more, or see if spots are still available email info@sirch.on.ca or call 705-457-1742.

Eighteen months after launching a new theatre production company aiming to get more Highlands youth interested in acting, co-founders Amy Leis and Tim Nicholson feel like they’ve hit the jackpot.

Last year was a busy one for the Ctrl-ARTDel team. After bringing its debut production, Cherubs, to life on-stage at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion last spring, Leis and Nicholson have been hard at work preparing for the troupe’s 2024 season.

There will be three shows – A Valentine’s Cabaret, a one-night show at the pavilion Feb. 16; Mustard, their premiere production, will run for four shows May 2 to 4, also at the pavilion; and The Wolves, featuring an ensemble cast, plays five show at the Haliburton Legion Aug. 15 to 17.

We’re really excited about this upcoming season… We have a lot of young performers who have gotten involved and will be making their stage debut, which was the whole reason [for forming] Ctrl-ART-Del,” Leis said.

The duo worked with four youth at a series of workshops late in the summer, with three of them cast in this year’s productions and the other apprenticing as stage manager.

Auditions held at the Haliburton Legion late last year were a huge success, Leis noted, with most roles for all three shows now filled.

It was two, full, 12-hour days. There were some wonderful surprise moments – we had several young kids that had never been on stage before come in and absolutely blow us away,” Leis said.

Nicholson said the recent response, particularly to the open casting call, was overwhelming.

“The response we’ve had from the community has been incredible. After the success of Cherubs, we knew the demand was there. It’s been a heartwarming ride. It’s been validating. It feels like the ideas we had a year-and-a-half ago when we decided to do this – we were right. There is a place in the County for young contemporary theatre,” Nicholson said.

The new season debuts with A Valentine’s Cabaret, a collection of nine, 10-minute productions headlined by Jerelyn Craden, bringing her Maybelle Morton character, known to listeners of CanoeFM, to life on-stage for the very first time. The show boasts a 30-member cast, most of them teenagers, Leis notes.

The cabaret, promoted as a “wild romp of one act plays, improv and music for both the romantics and the cynics,” will serve as a fundraiser for Ctrl-ART-Del’s two feature productions.

Mustard is a Canadian dark comedy written by Kat Sandler, focusing on a 16-year-old girl having trouble shaking her childhood imaginary best friend. “It’s a real coming-ofage story about having to accept change and the things we go through as we grow up,” Leis said, noting the cast is made up of six performers – all locals.

The 2024 season will end with The Wolves, which follows the trials and tribulations of a girls’ indoor soccer team. Seven of the 10 characters included have been cast, with Leis and Nicholson still looking to round out the team.

“The roles are for three teenage girls – anyone who might be interested, get in touch and we’d be happy to set up an audition,” Leis said.

For more information, or to schedule an audition, contact info@ctrlartdel.ca.

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.