Algonquin Highlands council has delayed implementing a new license of occupation policy – outlining rules for dock registration on municipal land – until staff have had an opportunity to address questions posed by property owners who say they would be negatively impacted.

The proposal, tabled at a July 20 meeting, would require residents who own property across a municipal road from a waterbody – that has a dock or other infrastructure installed on nearby township land – to register them.

Planner, Sean O’Callaghan, suggested the policy would protect the township from any liability in the event of an accident, while also enabling staff to keep accurate records of the structures.

The original proposal called for residents to pay a $750 application fee up front when applying for a license and provide a $2,500 deposit to cover any potential legal fees. It also required a site plan identifying the location and size of the docks, and proof of insurance – set at $5 million by the township. O’Callaghan recommended licenses be renewed annually for $500.

Local residents James Cooper and Logan Percy addressed council Aug. 17, saying they represent a group of around 230 property owners who are against the policy.

“I would say we’re angry, we’re frustrated, and we’re confused. The anger is stemming from the fact we were not aware of the incoming bylaw. Nobody we’ve talked to had any understanding this was going to happen. Many people were blindsided by this,” Cooper said, noting he learned about it in an article in the July 27 edition of The Highlander.

Policy back in October

“In today’s environment, after finally getting through a pandemic and now being hit by higher costs of living, rising interest rates and higher costs of food, is it really prudent for council to thrust yet another expense on its constituents and make life even more difficult?” Cooper asked.

Policy in works for 10 years

Mayor Liz Danielsen noted the policy has been in the works since 2013 and discussed numerous times by council in the years since. She said the primary intent is to create a level playing field between waterfront properties immediately adjacent to the shoreline and properties across the road from a shoreline.

“While both are zoned shoreline residential by the township, the assessment and resulting taxation is less for properties across the road from the shoreline. Those properties immediately adjacent pay higher taxes and substantial fees to purchase their shoreline and for permits to build structures on that same shoreline,” Danielsen said.

“For many years, property owners [across the road from the water] have developed structures and used them without permit and at no cost, something which is not fair for those immediately adjacent… who follow the required process,” she added.

The license was set to come into effect as of Aug. 17, but has been pushed back.

Questions remain

Percy, who owns property on North Shore Road, said the policy “does not feel right at all.” He feels the fees outlined are too high, and has questioned the need for liability insurance. He also called on O’Callaghan to address whether the public would be permitted to use these docks. He also questioned how disputes over lot lines, and where docks can be located, will be resolved.

He submitted 42 questions to Danielsen, seeking answers before the township proceeds.

“We need time to understand fully what this is,” Percy said.

Cooper feels the fees proposed by Algonquin Highlands are “significantly higher” than those charged in nearby townships, such as Gravenhurst and Muskoka. Gravenhurst charges $853 for all new license of occupation applications, with 10-year licenses costing $1,337. The District of Muskoka charges a $626 application fee and annual renewal fee of $626, while requiring a $219 payment to cover legal fees.

Two of the other townships in Haliburton County all have license of occupation policies. Dysart et al’s is the most expensive, with applicants required to pay a $1,200 deposit on submission and a $500 annual renewal fee, while Minden Hills charges $500 for applications. Highlands East doesn’t have license of occupation fees.

Council makes changes

Danielsen suggested council reduce the required insurance coverage from $5 million to $2 million as a “sign of good faith,” while also scrapping the need to renew the license each year.

Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux said she wanted to take a “sober second look” at the policy and list of questions submitted by Percy to see what can be amended to make it more agreeable for locals. Coun. Lisa Barry said public education was important, noting council should take its time and ensure all issues are appropriately addressed before proceeding.

O’Callaghan said he would compile answers and bring a report back to council in October. Asked by CAO Angie Bird if council wanted to wait until next year to bring a revised policy back, Danielsen gave a firm ‘no’.

“We have been putting this off for a long time,” Danielsen said. “We’ve all agreed it’s a step we need to take. There’s a great percentage of our population who believe it’s the right step for us to take… as soon as we have answers to these questions, we need to decide where we’re going to land.”

When loon aficionado Kevin K. Pepper was on the south end of Salerno Lake recently, he noticed a loon in a place they don’t normally frequent this time of year.

He said he knew something was wrong. Paying closer attention, the prolific loon photographer noticed the bird was having mobility issues.

The next day, a couple of kayakers made a similar observation and took some photos of what appeared to be fishing line wrapped around the loon’s wing and foot.

Pepper boated back down and took some images of his own. A daytime rescue was attempted, where you get the loon in a boat, cover it, and remove the line. However, “an injured loon will not allow you to get that close,” he said.

He tapped into loon resources he has in the U.S. He sent an email to them and within 20 minutes got a call from one of them. His contact said it sounded like he had to do a night rescue.

“My contact walked me through the whole procedure, where you shine the light on its eyes and it freezes the loon and you go through the process of capturing it and getting the line off it.

“I thought OK, I’m going to need help with this because it sounds like a big task. I threw out a posting on the Salerno Facebook page, and I listed that I needed a small boat, a trailer and a Musky net and lights.

“All of a sudden, the lake people jumped on this thing, which was awesome.”

Pepper said he pulled together two teams of three people in two small boats. They met Friday night, Aug. 11, at 10 p.m.

He said after about 40 minutes on the water, they located the loon on shore.

“Loons will beach themselves when injured. Like surgeons, the team began to remove the fishing line. We then discovered a fourinch lure up under the wing. Carefully, with delicate hands and tools, the lure was removed. Removing the remainder of the net and lifting the blanket, the loon made its way to the water. It began to swim, dive and actually went up with extended wings. I believe the loon will make a full recovery. There didn’t seem to be any apparent wing damage,” Pepper said.

He said the loon team consisted of Douglas A. Rodger, Larry Wren, Kim Stuart, Robert Landry, Kenneth Clark, McMann Marnie and Robert Stuart. He added they had shore line support from Chris Gillespie and Tom Clarke. “This incredible team worked so well together and the result was a loon was saved.”

Pepper, who loves to photograph the loons of Salerno Lake, said he was “just over the moon. It was just crazy unbelievable.”

He’s been sharing the story and has sent information back to the U.S. teams.

“This is just a good story and it just promotes loon awareness, which we desperately need.”

Fencing was installed and a gravel pathway laid at Head Lake Park earlier this month as workers prepared the site for the arrival of new playground equipment.

Dysart recreation coordinator, Andrea Mueller, said installers arrived in Haliburton Aug. 15 to begin piecing things together. She said work should be complete within two to three weeks.

The new 9,000 sq. ft. facility will feature a jungle gym, log climbing structure, 100-foot zip line, and several standalone play features such as seesaws, a merry-go-round and animal rockers.

There will also be an accessible play area for people with wheelchairs. The existing swing sets will remain in place.

The total cost of the project is almost $589,000, Mueller said, with Dysart township contributing $300,000, Ontario Trillium Foundation providing a $150,000 grant, Haliburton Rotary chipping in $50,000, and the remaining $89,000 coming via community donations.

Mueller said the playground should be finished and open to the public by early September.

Much of the pre-installation work required at the site, such as setting up fencing, preparing the grounds and excavating, was provided at no charge by Haliburton firm Total Site Services Inc.

Two men from southwestern Ontario have been convicted in connection with the illegal hunt of a deer on private property along Duck Lake Road in Minden in the fall of 2018.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said on Aug. 11 that Luigi Centurami of Stoney Creek pleaded guilty to trespassing and possessing unlawfully killed wildlife. He was fined $6,000.

Steve Tsiliganos, also of Stoney Creek, pleaded guilty to trespassing, possessing a loaded firearm within eight metres of a roadway, and possessing illegally killed wildlife. He was fined $4,000.

The court heard that on Nov. 14, 2018, conservation officers investigated information of a deer that had been shot on private property along Duck Lake Road near the town of Minden.

“It was determined that Centurami and Tsiliganos were travelling together in a pickup truck along the road when Tsiliganos exited the vehicle and shot a white-tailed deer on land that was posted as private property. Both individuals accessed the property to retrieve the deer,” the MNRF said.

The investigation involved a conservation officer canine unit, the OPP Forensic Identification Services, and the Trent University Wildlife DNA Forensics Lab.

Justice of the Peace, Mark Donohue, heard Centurami’s case remotely on May 24, 2023 and Justice of the Peace Herbert Radtke heard the Tsiliganos case remotely on October 17, 2022, both in the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay.

The MNRF said that to report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.

County council stamped its approval on a proposed 18-unit apartment complex for downtown Haliburton Aug. 16.

Dysart et al has already given Hot Pond Enterprises Inc. the go-ahead to build at the corner of Maple Avenue and Victoria Street, across the highway from SIRCH Community Services.

The project has been on the books for some time now, with The Highlander last writing about it on July 30, 2021.

This week, County council was dealing with an official plan (OP) amendment, from commercial areas to urban residential areas. Dysart passed its OP amendment at an April 25, 2023 meeting.

In his report, director of planning Steve Stone said, “each building will contain two, one-bedroom suites, two, two-bedroom suites, and two, three-bedroom suites. Two of the suites in each building will be offered as affordable units, while the remaining will be offered at market value.”

He added the development is to be constructed in three phases, with each building being considered a phase. The northernmost building will be constructed first as phase one, and the middle and southernmost buildings will comprise phase two and phase three.

Hot Pond Enterprises corporation president Richard Carson appeared on Zoom during the meeting and said, “I think this project … is an example of how we have an opportunity to lift up the services in Haliburton, in the town itself, for our residents.” 

He added the four lots had been vacant for at least 15 years and their proposal was a solution for a “huge” need for rental housing in the town. “Not condominiums, but housing for families, seniors, professionals working in our community.” 

Stone noted the apartments will be hooked up to town sewer and the developer will have to sink three new wells for water. There will be a new entrance from Victoria Street.

Stone said all technical studies had gone to Dysart et al, and been peer reviewed. The only outstanding piece is Dysart must still do a zoning bylaw amendment. It will address thing such as setbacks, parking spaces, and building height. A holding provision will also be added for other planning approvals, such as site plan control and a drinking water agreement.

In circulating the plan to agencies and the public, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit commented the location, “will enable residents to use active transportation to access essential services, recreation and participate in the community.”

The health unit added it hopes the municipality will collect cash in lieu of park land to pay for improved active transportation infrastructure in this area.

The health unit further noted the apartments will see more walkers in the area, with some key destinations across the road, such as a Chinese restaurant, the SIRCH Bistro, Fleming CREW, County Social Services and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

“A pedestrian crossover is strongly recommended at this location to facilitate safer crossing for residents… a crosswalk was requested at this location several years ago after an individual was struck and killed by a driver,” the health unit said. They want to ensure accessibility and want the developer to consider bike racks for the apartments.

Stone said the build fits nicely with municipal housing policies, as one-third will be affordable housing.

“The development will be located within Haliburton village, which is a service centre containing medical, professional, personal and social services, education, retail commercial and employment opportunities. The central location within the village and proximity to the retail core will also afford occupants of the buildings with opportunities for walking and biking.”

Planning and preparation for a 47-unit student residence in Haliburton’s Glebe Park is almost complete, with a member of Fleming College’s senior administration saying he expects to break ground on the project this fall.

Drew Van Parys, executive vice president of corporate services and marketing at Fleming, which operates the Haliburton School of Art + Design, said the $16 million build has been supported by the college’s board of governors and is pending provincial approval.

“We’re ready to go. Once we get the go-ahead to invest the funds, we’ll have a formal groundbreaking. We expect the approval will be straightforward and are hoping to hear back in the next 60 to 90 days,” Van Parys said. “In the meantime, there will be some activity on campus starting within the next month as we begin some of the staging work.”

The project has been in the works for years and was brought to the public in 2021, when college staff approached Dysart et al township about building on a 3.7-acre plot in the park. The project was supported by the municipality in March 2022, with Dysart donating the land.

Phase one will feature two, three-storey buildings, containing 47 units, Van Parys said. There will be one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, with each unit fitted with a bathroom and small kitchenette. Van Parys said some of the ground level suites will be accessible for people with disabilities.

Residences ready for 2025

Fleming is anticipating a one-year construction window, with occupancy January 2025.

“It’s great news for students, it’s great news for Fleming College, and it’s great news for Haliburton. While 47 beds doesn’t sound like much, it’s going to have a definite impact on the total inventory of spaces available in the County,” Van Parys said.

Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey agreed, saying this news was a “big win” for the community.

“Having these units here, it’ll create a lot of rental space in the community that was being taken up by students. It’s going to have a positive impact on housing in Haliburton, no question about it,” Fearrey said. “With this investment, Fleming College is going to be a long-term player in Haliburton, and I’m grateful for that.”

The mayor said he’d like to see the college supplement its arts programming with offerings in other areas, such as the trades. He said he’s talked to Fleming College staff, including new dean Xavier Massé, about expanding the school’s portfolio.

“I think you’re going to see a change. The arts are wonderful, and the college brings a lot of people to our community, but if we can have a mix that benefits our community… and opens more career opportunities for people, I think that would be a good thing,” Fearrey said.

Van Parys was non-committal when asked about specific programs, but noted Fleming is working on a revitalization strategy for the Haliburton campus, which he said includes the possibility of new programming. Once the new student residence is online, he said the campus would also be offering corporate retreats and arts-based conferences.

Phase 2 and 3 delayed

Van Parys said a second and third phase, which would bring two further buildings and 47 additional units, has been shelved.

“We’re not considering that at this time. We’ll see how this project goes, but that is not in our immediate planning window,” he said. “Hopefully, demand and growth will drive the need for that phase sooner rather than later.” Fleming president, Maureen Adamson, told Dysart council last year the three-phase development, totalling more than 90 units, was a major part of the institution’s longterm plans in Haliburton.

Fearrey said he wasn’t worried about Fleming backtracking on phases two and three.

“The cost of building has gone through the roof since they committed to this. There are projected costs the college had and I’m sure they had to look at it and figure out what to do,” Fearrey said. “The demand also needs to be there. So, build the first phase, see how it goes, and go from there. That’s a reasonable business approach.”

Walking through the hallway of the Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost, volunteer Linda Cameron can almost feel 101 years of history reverberating around the building’s interior walls.

A member of the Wilberforce Heritage Guild, Cameron and the rest of the small team have made it their mission in recent years to maintain and promote the historic site, which is located along Loop Road, a short walk from the hamlet’s downtown. The facility lays claim to a unique piece of provincial history, being the first designated Red Cross outpost in Ontario.

It was established in February 1922 following the efforts of Alfred Schofield, an inspector for the Children’s Aid Society. The situation was quite desperate at the time, Cameron said.

“This was a poor area, and the community was hit hard this one year – a mother died, and four or five children. It was devastating, so Schofield approached the Red Cross in Toronto to see what could be done to improve health care in the region. They agreed to send a nurse and some equipment on the provision the locals come up with a space, keep the nurses and look after them.”

That sparked the formation of the Monmouth Charitable Association. They first rented the building, which had served as a private residence since its construction in 1916, and furnished it. The first nurse, Josephine Jackson, arrived in February 1922.

Cameron said Jackson and the dozens of other nurses who worked in the area until the Red Cross suspended operations in 1959 maintained meticulous records, which helps paint a picture of what life was like for a primary health care worker in the first half of the century.

“When the girls first arrived, there was no running water, no electricity, very few running cars. They serviced an area of 20 sq. kilometres, so any time they went out and made a home visit, or had to bring someone back to the outpost, it was a long haul,” Cameron said. “They used snowshoes, travelled on horseback, dogsleds, and did an awful lot of walking. They did whatever it took.”

Journals kept by Jackson and others, such as Gertrude LeRoy Miller, means there’s record of cases dating back almost 100 years. Holding an invoice, Cameron said patients were usually charged for service. In 1932, following the birth of a child, the mother and baby spent 10 days at the outpost. The mother was charged $1.75 per day, with the baby charged 90 cents per day. The total bill for delivery was $26.50, which was paid in installments over six months by the father.

“We are so fortunate all this stuff was maintained. And it’s available for anybody to look through,” Cameron said.

On top of providing emergency care, the nurses also conducted routine school checkups. They also taught first aid, effective child care techniques, and Red Cross courses to locals.

The building

The outpost has seen a lot of work over the past 20 years, with the guild eager to ensure it’s in good enough condition to support visitors. The volunteer group assumed responsibility of the space in 1991, fought off plans to demolish it and restored it as a museum. The building was designated as a national historic site of Canada in 2003.

Off the main entrance, to the left, is the nurse’s office, which has been retrofitted to resemble what the space looked like in its heyday. There’s a vintage desk, bed, and various tools and items, many of which Cameron said have been donated to the guild over the years. On the right side of the building is a patient room, kitted with more historic memorabilia.

Down the hall is a display room, with timelines and photos recognizing every nurse on record who served the Wilberforce community. Among the many items showcased is a handmade quilt, made by the mother of the first baby born in the outpost. There are old surgical instruments, outdated equipment such as a violet ray generator that Cameron said was believed to cure issues such as dandruff, hair loss, and obesity but have since been debunked, and other things the guild is still working to identify.

The kitchen is to receive a facelift this year and will serve as a revolving display, Cameron said, featuring old cookbooks, aprons and oil lamps.

The three upstairs rooms will feature displays and timelines looking at the history of Wilberforce township, the various organizations that have existed over the years, and a commemoration of Dr. Jacob Neelands, credited as being one of the first dentists for introducing laughing gas during procedures to reduce pain.

A celebration

The guild is hosting a 101st anniversary celebration at the outpost Aug. 15. Locals are invited to take in a tour of the building, and enjoy complimentary hot dogs, corn roast and homemade cakes. Cameron said there will also be a draw, with the winner receiving a handmade quilt.

Jill Lee, whose mother, Sylvia Battersby, served as a nurse at the outpost, said the guild was looking for new members to help keep the historic site going. The group currently has 38 lifetime members, with around half of those active contributors. A lifetime membership costs $25.

“It’s our intent to acknowledge the women who worked here and the things they went through, how they survived, and how important they were to the community. Without them, there was no health care in Wilberforce,” Cameron said. “We do our best to commemorate this space and the women who utilized it. This space has a rich history, and the only way to maintain that is to keep the doors open.”

The outpost is currently open six days a week, Wednesday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 101st anniversary celebration Aug. 15 will begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit redcrossoutpost.org.

Rotaract Haliburton Highlands hosted the 50th Highland Yard at the River Cone in Minden Aug. 6 with the bulk of funds going to Places for People. This year, more than 180 participants showed up to run/walk either the 2k, 5k or 10k.

The Highland Yard started in 1971 and has currently raised more than $200,000, with more than 5,000 participants.

P4P provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for families and individuals at risk of homelessness in the HIghlands. All of the money raised at this year’s event goes towards supporting the community of Haliburton, with 90 per cent helping P4P in lowering mortgage and maintenance costs and purchasing additional properties. The remaining 10 per cent is for supporting Rotaract Haliburton Highlands in community service initiatives.

This year saw some talented runners and very close races. The overall top male ages 1-98 for the 2k walk/run was Taine Buckmaster with a time of 8:35. The overall top female ages 1-98 for the 2k walk/run was Angela Vahamaki with a time of 8:40. In the 5k run, the overall top male ages 1-98 was William Dowling with a time of 27:51, the top female for the 5k was Kelly Doyle with a time of 20:06. For the 10k run, the top overall male for this race was Duncan Andrews with a time of 35:40 and the top overall female was Emily Walter with a time of 44:41. Winners for each category were awarded a medal and a handcrafted mug.

For more information on the Highland Yard, Rotaract, and Places for People: highlandyard.ca/abouthighlandyard

The 17th annual Tour De Forest took place this past weekend, Aug. 5-6, with 25 artists at 12 studios.

Locations ranged all over Haliburton County, easily accessible via the map located on the Tour De Forest website.

This year, there were many new artists along with some veterans who have been participating in the tour for more than 15 years.

The Artbyhart Studio along Hwy. 21 showcased Barbara Hart, Heather Salzman and Lorne Hamilton. “Some of my paintings resemble ponds and lakes and I also have an art collection of ice huts and winter themes,” said Hart, who has been with the tour 11 years.

Glass Eagle Studios along Blairhampton Road, featured artwork by Tom Green, Fernando Diaz de Leon Rendon, James Goodliff and Donna Both. Goodliff said, “I focus on oil paintings mostly and my artwork is inspired by the area surrounding us (Haliburton County).” Goodliff has been with the tour 17 years.

At BGArtworks studio along Bethel Road, Benjamin Gerrooir said, “my art is inspired by colour and travelling. Whenever I travel anywhere, I take a ton of photos for reference. Recently, I’ve been very interested in the Arizona type of artwork.”

This was his first year with the tour and he talked about how he has been doing art for a very long time but has never shown it until now. A lot of his artwork is inspired by different landscapes out west, along with landscapes in and around the Highlands.

For more information on the 2023 Tour De Forest and all 25 artists: haliburtontourdeforest.com/

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) has announced that Rick Whitteker will be its new Partners in Conservation (PIC) coordinator.

Whitteker’s role will support private landowners who have joined the PIC program, and raise the program’s profile in hopes of recruiting more conservation partners, the HHLT said in a recent media release.

Whitteker has lived in Haliburton County since 1997, originally working for Haliburton Forest as an outdoor educator. He followed that with 15 years at Fleming College as a faculty and coordinator of the Outdoor and Adventure Education program.

Whitteker said, “for many years, I have enjoyed the outdoors recreationally and as a guide, interpreter, writer, and educator. The PIC coordinator position is a great opportunity to give back to nature by supporting private landowner conservation efforts. I am especially excited to be involved in HHLT’s local conservation effort called the Highlands Corridor.”

Shelley Hunt, chair of HHLT, added, “we’re delighted to have Rick fulfill this important role. His experience and enthusiasm for the Highlands Corridor project will help attract further partners in conservation.”

The position will be funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Schad Foundation.

The corridor covers approximately 100,000 hectares and connects three provincial parks in Ontario: Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands, just south of Minden, Kawartha Highlands in northern Peterborough County, and Silent Lake in Highlands East.

The Land Trust says biodiversity is rich in the corridor, with 40 species at risk, 25 provincially-significant species and 43 regionally-rare species. Wetland representation is high at 17.9 per cent, including 4,800 hectares of provinciallysignificant wetlands.

The HHLT is seeking protection of the unceded Crown land within the corridor (60,000 ha.) as a conservation reserve, with the goal of protecting species at risk, providing a natural wildlife corridor, protecting wetland habitats, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening climate change resiliency.

The Land Trust added the PIC program targets landowners committed to landscape conservation with properties that strategically bridge gaps between fragmented Crown land within the corridor. The program provides a property tax incentive for a 10-year term through enrollment in Ontario’s Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, assisting landowners in developing management plans with objectives of enhancing environmental protection and wildlife habitat.

“The PIC program has been very successful with a current portfolio of 1,740 ha of private land supporting the conservation effort,” the Land Trust said.

For more information on the Land Trust and the PIC program, go to haliburtonlandtrust.ca or email info@ haliburtonlandtrust.ca.