As the clock ticks closer to midnight July 31, Highlands resident Katie Woodward is counting down the minutes for the official launch of her month-long cycling fundraiser benefitting SickKids hospital in Toronto.

Now in its fourth year, Woodward’s Great Cycle Challenge has raised more than $30,000, while her journeys have seen her navigate 2,103 kilometres of the County’s roads and trails.

During her first event in 2022, Woodward rode 624 kilometres and raised $6,193. In year two she increased those totals to 783 kilometres and $7,218, before completing another 696 kilometres and raising a record $11,291 last year.

She’s making great ground already this summer, raising $5,879 as of July 31 – before doing any pedalling at all. She’s aiming to hit $7,000 and ride at least 500 kilometres.

“I’ve enjoyed cycling for a number of years. The first year I signed up, I really had no idea what I was capable of doing in a month. I targeted 200 kilometres, but quickly went past that. It’s always interesting to see how much more I can tag on for the month,” she said.

She primarily trains on the Haliburton County Rail Trail and is a frequent visitor to scenic systems around Sir Sam’s. She says that’s where the bulk of her rides will take place, though noted she pounds her fair share of pavement on roadways too.

While people can contribute on the fundraising side of things, Woodward is also encouraging the public to join her on rides. She’s organized two community events, Aug. 2 and 9, cycling from Gelert to Haliburton village and back.

The first was planned so Woodward could meet Haliburton Lions Club members, who have donated every year, with the second including members of the Haliburton ATV Association. The approximate 40 kilometre round-trip rides will begin at 10 a.m., with Woodward estimating arrival at their destination, the plane at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) around 12:30 p.m.

“Any cyclist that wants to come out is absolutely welcome – it will be more of a leisurely, fun ride,” Woodward said, with the latter event also including ATVers. “It’s such a random pairing, but it’s a perfect example of people from different interest groups coming together for one really good cause.”

Woodward said she was inspired to raise money after seeing the impact cancer has had on several friends and members of family. One day, she came across a story online about a child fighting for their life at SickKids and it struck a chord.

“Just the thought of it affecting kids really broke my heart and motivated me even more to keep pushing,” she said.

Following her second ride, she connected with Tabitha Tiley-Warring, a fellow County resident, whose young daughter, Leah, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, aggressive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, four days before Christmas 2023. She was referred to SickKids and, after some treatment, has been in remission since April 2024.

“She is one year cancer free thanks to the work SickKids does. It’s such an important organization, they do absolutely phenomenal work – it’s a no-brainer to support them,” she said. “Any donation is appreciated, even if it’s a few dollars. Every penny that goes into that organization is directed where it needs to go and stays in Canada helping those who truly need it.”

To donate, visit greatcyclechallenge.ca/ riders/katiewoodward.

There’s pretty much nowhere Greg Foster would rather be than Earl’s hole at the Minden Whitewater Preserve.

Climbing out of his kayak for a chat, Foster says, “this is my happy place; where I come to relax, be by myself, do what I love to do.”

He’s not long back from Plattling, Germany, where he competed in the 2025 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. Foster qualified in OC1 and C1, where he placed 8th and 16th respectively.

“It was an amazing experience,” Foster says while seated on a bench overlooking Earl’s hole on the Gull River.

He didn’t place as well as he wanted, but it was his first worlds. “I couldn’t really expect huge things from a first-time world event.”

His home river was much different than the one in Plattling, so it was a challenge, “going from something I know to something I have no idea what I’m dealing with.”

He chides himself for being a bit last minute. He said he had a day to watch competitors on the river and maybe only 10 minutes of practice. He spent a lot of time on his knees in a canoe waiting for his slot and “it got painful.”

He added the water levels were very low, with rocks only about eight inches below the surface. He said organizers had to end the event early for the safety of competitors and their boats.

Foster said if he were to do it again – and he is hoping to qualify for the 2027 worlds in Sort, Spain – he’ll go two or three weeks in advance to practise. “I want to get the best possible outcome.”

There’s also time between now and then. Foster said there will be team trials in 2026. He plans to try out for a bunch of events: K1, C1, OC1, and see where he gets seated “and go from there.”

He’s asked if it is rare to compete in so many events and says it is. For him, the phrase ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ is reversed as ‘jack of all trades, master of all.’

“I always get told by people, ‘I get bored on the river.’ I never get bored. There’s always something to do. There’s always improvement … miniscule skills, something as simple as efficient ferrying, I keep the river interesting.”

One thing he needs to work on is boat control, and getting in tune with the hole as it reacts to his boat. One thing he struggled with at June’s worlds was left-handed paddling for tricks. He’s used to right-handed at Earl’s. “I was trying to learn on my off side on the fly.”

He said Sort will favour left and right. And, it’s a powerful hole. He said in Minden, Earl’s flushes out boaters naturally. But not so in Sort. It means the prospect of being “washing machined or window shaded.

“You get 45 seconds to throw your best, and do your best combinations of tricks you can possibly do. If you get window shaded for 20 seconds of that, you have to try to recover within two seconds, and try to continue your run.”

He is already excited for his second worlds, mind you. “Time flies so I just make the best of the time I have this summer, I’m probably only going to have May, June and part of July 2026 and then team trials within a year from now.”

Tree monkey

By day, Foster is an arborist, or as he refers to it, a “tree monkey.” He tries to get out at least a couple of nights a week after work if not too exhausted, Most weekends, he’s on the river.

He said two of his friends got injured recently. He does not want to be on the river when his temperature is already elevated or he is dehydrated from working in hot, humid weather, since “the river is unforgiving and it favours no one.”

Foster said it can be non-stop, recalling a recent 12-hour drive to compete in Quebec. Plus, there’s the financial toll.

He’s asked about sponsors, but says he’s never really had one, and isn’t sure what that would look like. “If someone wanted to help me out financially to get overseas when the time comes, or if I need to buy new gear. But for the most part, I like to try and stay self-sufficient. I don’t really like to put my hand out, it makes me feel like a beggar. I like to stay strong and do it myself.”

After all, up to now, it’s between Foster and the river.

“I have a respect for it, but I don’t have a fear of it. I can do whatever I want, how I want, and no one can say anything …it’s just total freedom.”

County fire coordinator Michael French says a decision last year by the four townships – to put no daytime burning rules into effect – “was a really progressive move” that has led to fewer blazes and a reduced need for fire bans.

Daytime burning is not allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between April 1 and Oct. 31.

Speaking on behalf of Algonquin Highlands, French said, “we haven’t been busy at all. We’re way down in calls. We’re probably down 30 per cent.”

For the most part, the chief added the public is respecting the new regulations.

One anomaly was a July 13 fire on Beech Lake in which someone used a burn barrel during the day, with flames spreading into nearby trees. However, French said the person was in violation of the rules “so appropriate action was taken.”

People breaking the regulations can be held responsible for damage to property or people; be liable for the cost of firefighting equipment and personnel; and for any costs or expenses owed by the municipality to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for controlling or extinguishing a fire.

Otherwise, French said, “we haven’t had any issues. We have been fortunate they are following the rules in the four townships. There is zero tolerance; they will be held accountable if they are burning outside the burn bylaw.”

There have been no fire bans in the County this summer despite some hot temperatures.

“Nobody’s burning in the daytime which really limits the opportunity for bush and wildfires so it was a really progressive move on the four townships’ part, and everybody’s respecting it, so that’s very important,” French said.

The County chief said the MNR monitors conditions and updates the townships. He added they are measured at the Stanhope headquarters “so nice and close to the region.”

Once they get the conditions’ statement, the four fire chiefs and CAOs discuss whether a ban is needed, and, so far, none have been required.

Minden Hills chief Don Kruger said his department hasn’t been particularly busy this year, noting they “have not had much in the way of grass/bush fires since April,” despite the region’s fire danger rating consistently reading mid-to-high.

Chris Baughman, chief in Highlands East, said he’s had minimal calls for grass and bush fires – a welcome reprieve after a busy few years. “We are encouraging people to continue to use caution and safe burning practices [when permitted], as they should be regardless of the conditions.”

At a July 22 council meeting, Dysart chief Dan Chumbley said his department has seen an uptick in calls this year, responding to 25 per cent more incidents through the first six months of 2025 – 247 compared to 205 last year. He said firefighters responded to three grass fires and a structure fire in June.

Alison Lake, a fire information officer with the MNR, said the fire hazard value for the Haliburton Highlands is currently “moderate,” apart from one area near Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park with a high value.

French added one of the important things about having the no daytime burning is “it gives more leniency because with people not burning in the daytime, we don’t have to be as aggressive putting a fire ban on because in the evening, there is less wind and more humidity, less chance of fire spread.

“It’s been a really quiet year and hopefully it continues.”

Tips for home and cottage

French encourages residents to continue to respect the burn bylaw, have working smoke alarms in their homes, and if they are going to burn after 7 p.m. make sure the fire is out when they are done. He also recommends a garden hose or bucket of water nearby.

He added cottagers and homeowners should check out firesmartcanada. ca tips on how best to protect their building from the potential of fire spreading, such as cleaning out eavestroughs, sweeping pine needles off rooves, and keeping foliage away from structures.

Lake said there are quite a few things home and cottage owners can do to reduce the risk of wildland fires. She said people can call 911 when they see a fire, or smoke, and note the location, colour of smoke, and size of the fire or area burning.

She suggested that when doing yard work, people dispose of yard waste and woody debris by composting or at a local landfill.

She said there is a full set of outdoor burning regulations on their website at ontario.ca/outdoorburning