Haliburton County Farmers’ Association president Minna Schleifenbaum said she’s aware of at least one instance where an animal has died due to not having a large animal veterinarian stationed in Haliburton County

Farmers and homesteaders have been without a local option for their livestock and other animals since March 2022, when the previous operator, Dr. Aimee Coysh, allowed her contract with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry to lapse.

The provincial body provides financial support to rural vets servicing large animals through its Veterinary Assistance Program. Introduced in the 1940s, the initiative reimburses eligible vets for their travel costs to and from farms up to a maximum of $40,000 per year, offers up to $2,000 for vets to participate in continuing education courses, and will pay 50 per cent of the costs up to a maximum of $3,000 annually if another vet has to be brought in to assist with, or take, a call.

Godfrey Tyler, a Haliburton farmer, said that program hasn’t seen an increase in over 10 years and no longer meets industry standards.

“It’s been neglected for years,” Tyler said. “Any vet working under that contract is doing so out of pocket. They can make more by staying at their standard practice caring for small animals.”

Schleifenbaum said the lack of a large animal vet was having a significant impact on agriculture in the County. She estimates there are between 650 and 900 livestock owners in the Highlands who, when an issue arises, don’t know where to turn. The nearest clinics are over 70 kilometres away, in Bracebridge, Lindsay and Peterborough. They are all running at capacity, though, so there’s no guarantee a vet would be available in the event of an emergency.

“I personally know of one animal directly dying due to not having a vet, but there are indirect connections to animals dying too,” Schleifenbaum told The Highlander.

“This is a major concern for HCFA. We’re working hard to establish networks, further educate ourselves for emergency situations and build a community agriculture first aid kit to assist farmers and hobbyists with emergencies.”

She said many owners have already chosen to downsize their operations, with some electing to sell up altogether.

Tyler and Schleifenbaum are calling on the County’s lower-tier governments to help them lobby the province for more support. Tyler discussed the issue with Dysart council March 28. Mayor Murray Fearrey said he would bring the issue to the County level and ask for the upper-tier’s support to send a letter to the ministry supporting the HCFA’s efforts.

“Our community always embraces the arts and tourism, but we, as farmers, do not feel the same recognition and support,” Schleifenbaum said.

MPP Laurie Scott said the Ontario government was rolling out a new program this year that would help support large animal vets in rural communities.

“We recognize more must be done to attract and retain large animal veterinarians locating to underserviced areas, which is why the Veterinary Incentive Program, announced in the 2023 budget, will provide $900,000 over three years to support veterinarians locating in underserviced areas,” Scott said. “Although the program details have not yet been finalized, Haliburton County will be on the approved list of areas eligible for the program.”

She added the province was also funneling more money to the University of Guelph, which runs the only licensed doctor of veterinary medicine program in Ontario, to enhance its student intake. Currently, the university graduates around 120 new vets every year, but the province is investing $14.7 million over the next four years to increase the number of graduates by 20 per cent.

Tyler said another piece of the pie is that the County will essentially be bidding against other communities to attract new vets and questioned whether there’s enough activity to convince someone to set up shop here.

“We’re a very small player when it comes to agriculture. We’re goldfish in the ocean, so it’s difficult for us to be able to attract vets to come in,” he said. “If they’re looking at Haliburton County versus somewhere with more of a farming presence, or more money, what do you think they’re going to do?”

Haliburton County non-profit Places for People is planning to launch a new community bonds program in June, with president Jody Curry saying she expects the initiative to raise $850,000.

The announcement was made at the organization’s 2023 Haliburton County Housing Summit, held in Minden April 5. Addressing approximately 100 attendees, Curry said the money will be used to help the organization bring more affordable housing units to the County.

“We first introduced this idea in 2019, now we’re really going for it. This will give community members an opportunity to invest and keep their money right here in Haliburton County, while helping to address one of our most critical issues,” she said. “If the early buzz is any indication, we expect these bonds to sell out quickly.”

She said P4P will hold an information session outlining further plans for the program in the summer. She said the bonds would be backed against the organization’s portfolio of existing assets, which includes a five-plex in Carnarvon and seven other units sprinkled across the County.

While P4P pulled the plug on its proposed 48-unit development on Wallings Road in Haliburton in November, citing irrevocable differences with Dysart township over the sale of the land, the organization is hoping to move ahead with a similar project on property fronting Grass Lake. Paul Wilson Haliburton County council has voiced its support for a proposed 88-unit housing development slated for land fronting Grass Lake in Dysart et al.

County set to endorse Grass Lake development

The project, brought forward by developer Paul Wilson and his company, Harburn Holdings, is seeking to repurpose 2.5 hectares of land along Peninsula Road into four lots that would each house multi-storey apartment and condo buildings, with one unit also featuring a commercial component.

Dysart et al’s previous council expressed support for the build last September, and while County stopped short of formally approving an official plan amendment during a special council meeting April 12, its passing appears inevitable

Warden Liz Danielsen pushed to have the issue resolved at this week’s meeting, but County planner, Steve Stone, recommended the application go back to Dysart with one last requested modification prior to the upper-tier government issuing final approval.

That has to do with a dispute between Wilson and a neighbouring property owner, Dr. Aimee Coysh, who owns and operates Haliburton Veterinary Services. Coysh is concerned about the potential long-term impacts the development could have on her well water quality and quantity.

Stone said the two parties had agreed on a clause, which will form part of the County’s agreement, obliging Wilson and any future owner of the lands to ensure there will be no adverse impacts to neighbouring water supplies before construction can begin.

Addressing County council for the first time, Wilson clarified some points made during a previous meeting held by the uppertier in February. There, representatives from the Friends of Grass Lake advocacy group, who are opposing the project, claimed Wilson had altered the site without the necessary approvals in the late 2000s/early 2010s – allegations Danielsen said she was taking very seriously.

Wilson clarified that all work completed, such as the installation of a pond and placing of fill, was done with full knowledge and approval of representatives from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ministry of the Environment

“I have always been confident the facts [of this development] were on my side,” Wilson said.

He noted his primary focus moving forward was ensuring the land is managed properly, saying that while he won’t lead the construction phase, he’ll be picky over who he sells to and will retain final say on any development proposal.

Danielsen said while she doesn’t necessarily believe this is the best location for development, she feels the County has no other option than to support it.

“Assuming we approve this, which I believe we will, I know there will be people disappointed and unhappy about the decision… but we have all the planning reports, recommendations and peer reviews, all the support from every planner we have dealt with,” she said. “We have an urgent need for housing, so personally, I have to endorse this.”

Carolyn Langdon and Catherine Swift, representing the Friends group, expressed disappointment over council’s decision and confirmed to The Highlander that they would be submitting an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)

“This is about the creation of lots on an over-capacity lake. We’ll just see how OLT feels about this,” Langdon said. “I’m very disappointed. Many councillors were hesitant about this and had serious concerns. I thought they could have done more.”

Swift asked, “The County says the environment is their top priority, but their actions do not match their words, … as far as we’re concerned, this isn’t over.”

Dorset artist Elizabeth Johnson has made it one of her life’s missions to promote and showcase the “paradise” she calls home.

Throughout January, the painter spent approximately six hours each day outdoors recreating landscapes of some of the village’s most iconic landmarks. She submitted her collection for consideration in the 2023 Strada Challenge, which encouraged artisans from across the globe to kick off the new year by immersing themselves in nature and creating new works for each day of the month.

“I’m an outdoors person, so this program really spoke to me,” Johnson said. “The village is well-known and loved in the summer, but people don’t really know much about its beauty in the winter. I felt winter in Dorset needed to be painted and celebrated.”

Since moving to the area in 1981 with husband, Brad, Johnson has sunk deep roots in the community. After raising their four kids here, the pair has operated the seasonal Pizza on Earth restaurant on Clan MacKay Road for 14 years. Johnson also maintains a gallery at the site.

She painted her first scene overlooking Shoe Lake on New Year’s Day. For the next week, Johnson spent each day moving a kilometre closer to town, culminating in a visit to Robinson’s General Store Jan. 8.

“I ran into the store to get permission to paint the village from its roof. One hour later, the store closed its doors,” she said. “This is when painting Dorset became a serious mission for me. Over the years, Dorset has suffered from so much loss – the lands and mines office, the school, the Frost Centre, the community centre, our churches, and now, the hub of our community… I wanted to take a stand.”

Robinson’s reopened March 31, with brothers Ven Komina and Satya Jyesta taking on ownership. The pair also own and operate stores in Baysville and Kirkland Lake.

She set herself up at various spots across the downtown, completing paintings of Robinson’s, Trading Bay Dining Company, the gas station, the lumber yard, and the post office. Many in the community took to visiting Johnson, dropping off warm drinks and other treats to keep her going.

She posted her finished works online each evening, which generated a tremendous response.

“Some said the paintings made them cry from the memories they evoked. It was quite overwhelming to see how much of an impact my works were having. That’s what gave me the determination and vision to push forward – without them, I don’t know if I could have finished,” Johnson said.

An exhibit showcasing the collection, which also included pieces featuring scenes on Kawagama Lake, Paint Lake, and Rabbit’s Bay, was held at Johnson’s gallery March 18. She said it was the best art show she’s ever hosted, with people attending from as far away as Toronto and Barrie.

Most of the works have been sold, with 10 still available for purchase. All are set in handmade Canadian maple frames produced in Dorset.

Reflecting on the experience, Johnson said it was the biggest challenge of her artistic career but well worth the effort.

“It really was the best way to spend January. It gave me purpose,” she said. “And it was nice to see the community come alive and support me. There was real interest in the work. I’m quite proud of how this all turned out.”

A good time was had by all April 1 as the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association (HHOA) brought its traditional wild game dinner and auction back after an enforced four-year hiatus.

The event is a major fundraiser for the HHOA, usually bringing in around $5,000. Sold-out this year, the Haliburton Legion played host to more than 180 locals who were treated to a buffet-style dinner featuring a wide range of wild game, including bear, venison, moose, elk, boar, and buffalo. There were also salmon and rainbow trout dishes to enjoy, with lead organizer, Dan Johnson, saying there was a little bit of something for everybody’s taste.

“It was a real treat for us to bring this dinner back to the community, we’ve really missed hosting it over the past four years,” Johnson said

Johnson noted this was the 28th wild game dinner held in Haliburton.

While a final fundraising total is still being calculated, he said the event had done “very well.” On top of money generated through ticket sales, there was a 50/50 draw, silent auction, and donation bucket beside a complimentary photo booth.

Johnson said he was blown away by the public’s ongoing support. HHOA offered to honor all the tickets purchased ahead of the planned 2020 dinner, which was cancelled nine days before it was to run due to COVID-19, but many supporters paid again.

“They said to treat that money [paid for tickets in 2020] as a donation… a lot of people offered to do that, which I think says everything about this community,” he said.

The money will be used to fund ongoing HHOA operations, which includes running the Haliburton fish hatchery. Since 1998, the organization has raised and stocked more than 800,000 fish in over 50 local lakes.

HHOA president Dan Smith said he expects to stock between 25,000 and 30,000 fish this year. Due to ice conditions, he said work will likely begin later this month. He’s unsure which lakes will be targeted yet, with that typically dictated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Johnson noted Saturday’s event served a dual purpose, with HHOA recently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

“We’re calling this year our 30-plus-one. We couldn’t celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2022, but we wanted to make sure we did something to mark the occasion. It’s an important milestone for us,” Johnson said. “We’ve done a lot of great things in the community over the past three decades, so it’s nice to celebrate that.”

He and Smith noted HHOA is planning a summer-time open house and family event at the fish hatchery, located on Gelert Road.

The Sheer Luck Club wished the Minden Clam Diggers well. The Minden Mommas messaged that they too were ready to play.

According to Paul Vorvis behind the mic, so were “Peter, Pat and her sister Betty.”

Across Ontario and beyond, families, friends and neighbours sat with their bingo cards, tuned in to 100.9, Haliburton’s CanoeFM radio.

It was a Tuesday night, and with the team shout-outs over and done with, Radio Bingo was ready to start at precisely 6 p.m.

“Well good evening and welcome to Radio Bingo.”

Vorvis read the laminated script in front of him, sitting across from Michelle Leigh handling the computer and switchboard and Lillian Hall, next to the soon-to-ring phone lines.

“Proceeds from this session will be shared with CanoeFM and other not-for-profits in Haliburton County.”

With that, Vorvis turns on the bingo ball machine and the game begins.

It’s a tradition that’s ballooned in popularity over the years, particularly during the pandemic. Station manager, Roxanne Casey, said as of April 4 radio bingo had sent more than $400,000 to 42 community groups across the County.

None of it would be possible without volunteers like Vorvis and committed Bingo players such as Lisa Tompkins.

“I kept hearing about it from all sorts of people who played every week. It sounded like fun,” said Tompkins, former executive director of the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation. “So, we ended up having people visiting and we said, ‘hey, you know what? We should do this.’”

Now she plays every week.

“There’s often a martini involved,” Tompkins said.

At one point, visiting family members requested she send bingo sheets to them in other parts of Ontario.

When someone at Tompkins’ bingo night wins, it’s a big deal.

“You could win $5 a night and it’s like winning a million,” she said. “It’s lots of fun to win… but it’s really not even about that. It’s more about that experience. It’s a connection to the community.”

Community winners

Before Vorvis plucks the numbers, martinis are poured and winners are declared, a crew of volunteers spreads out around the County.

They’re led by Bev Bourne and Pat Barry, two volunteers who know the game inside and out.

“It’s a great way to keep busy to keep your head above water and to keep thinking about other things right and it’s a great way to encourage people,” Barry said.

Bourne schedules the drivers who arrive at businesses from Minden to Wilberforce to Eagle Lake with packets of bingo cards.

Barry said it’s become a smoother process over the years, even as more businesses have joined on as bingo sheet vendors. They started with eight and now distribute sheets to 14.

Initially, Barry said bingo was a “hard sell” at CanoeFM. They weren’t sure how people would respond.

“They had to be convinced, but it didn’t take very long,” Barry said.

The game now sells about 650 bingo sheets each week, with the summer months bringing the tally even higher. Some cards are even photographed, with the pictures zooming around North America or even at one time, Australia.

CanoeFM Radio Bingo has gone global.

Making a difference

Last year, multiple HHSS teens won a fullyfunded trip to the Grand River Blues Camp and tickets to the Kitchener Blues Fest through a contest hosted by the Buckslide Blues Society.

Member Rusty Rustenburg said the “generous” donation from CanoeFM helped make that possible.

You can find the traces of Radio Bingo in the financial statements of most community groups or charitable organizations in the County.

“Our board of directors were thrilled to hear that bingo proceeds were being donated to Skyline Dance Studio,” said Stef Wood, a Skyline board member and fundraising lead in an email. “We were incredibly grateful as we had one big ticket item left to finish our dance space – dance mirrors for [two] of the [three] studios. With the CanoeFM donation, we had the amount we needed to place the order. We are so very proud to have [three] studios that are fully functional dance spaces because the community we live in has supported us at every turn,” she said.

Those stories are a big reason why bingo players like Tompkins enjoy the game.

“It supports the good work CanoeFM does in the community, and it’s a small way to contribute on a regular basis,” she said.

“You get so much back for it just in that experience.”

No matter the weather, rain or shine, hundreds of Highlanders and more will tune in to 100.9 next Tuesday. Vorvis, or another of the more than 20-person crew, will slip on the headphones and the game will begin.

But those volunteers get in on the action too, when time allows. Barry and her neighbours often gather for spaghetti and bingo. She’s won a game or two, too. How did it feel?

“Amazing,” Barry said

After a difficult few years manoeuvring through the COVID-19 pandemic, operations at Minden’s Walkabout Farm have never been better, says owner Jennifer Semach.

Located on 100 acres along Spring Valley Road, the farm specializes in providing equine-based programming and learning supports to hundreds of Highlanders annually. In 2022, the site registered more than 800 visits, helping people with varying levels of developmental and physical disabilities, mental health issues, and other considerations.

Semach says she’s actively working with around 60 people full-time, with half of those enrolled in the popular therapeutic riding program. She also runs regular recreational activities, peer support for those looking to improve their confidence and learn positive leadership qualities, while also developing ‘working’ schedules for those who want to help around the farm and tend to the nine horses that live on-site.

Now that pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted, the farm has also become a favoured destination for high schoolers looking to complete their volunteer hours.

“It’s been a really amazing year for us,” Semach said, noting the farm received charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency last spring. “That opened up so many doors, the possibilities for what we can do with this program now are endless.”

After struggling to keep the program – provided to participants free of charge – running for the past five years, Semach said she now has some breathing room, which is enabling her to plan for the future. In 2022, the farm received $107,000 in donations. With operating costs stable at around $85,000 a year, there’s some leftover money to go towards a long-term project that Semach said would be game-changing for Walkabout’s programming.

“We want to establish a welcome centre – indoor accommodations that will allow us to provide accessible programming year-round,” she said, noting that, due to the weather, the farm is usually closed through January and February. “Our friends with intellectual impairments or developmental delays need the routine. When that’s disrupted, they don’t understand why the thing they love to do is being taken away… it causes a lot of stress and anxiety for them.

“If we can regulate their exposure to our programs, and make sure they can get in to work with the horses every single week no matter the conditions, that’s going to be immensely beneficial to them,” Semach added.

She’s pegged initial estimates for a build at between $150,000 and $200,000.

A cornhole tournament held in Norland March 11 raised $2,500, with an online fundraiser coming in May expected to bring the kitty up to five figures. Last year’s event brought in more than $7,500.

Minden’s Tim Hortons franchise announced last month that all proceeds raised locally through its annual smile cookie campaign would go to Walkabout.

“It really takes a whole village of people to support us and support our mission. We’re doing the best we can to make sure this program is successful and viable longterm, because it does so much for so many people,” Semach said.

To learn more, visit walkaboutfarmtra.com.

The Haliburton County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the John Howard Society (JHS) on a new community engagement program designed to reduce stigma around mental health and addiction.

Launched in January, the initiative has been well received over its first few months according to Natasha James, an outreach worker with JHS. Successful events have been held in Haliburton in January and Minden in March, with James leading seminars about what drug use really looks like in Haliburton County.

“This is a bit of a different approach for us – we’re trying to get different views and different people together from different workplaces and parts of the community to let them know the reality of our situation. Opioid use is rampant here… it’s to the point now that it’s no longer a crisis, it’s a catastrophe,” James said, noting the key difference being a crisis can end, whereas a catastrophe is much more long-term. “That’s where we’re at right now.”

Through the society’s Mapping a Plan (MAP) program, James provides harm reduction and addiction support to around 30 people in the Highlands annually.

“We are helping these people to create goals around their substance use journeys. We recognize that might not mean abstinence; it could mean keeping them safe while they are using,” she said. “That can only come with greater education.”

James said she provides training around safer substance use and the administration of naloxone – a drug that temporarily counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone can keep people alive for up to 90 minutes following an overdose. She said JHL also runs a needle exchange and disposal program.

A large part of the community training across the first two sessions has centred on the importance of naloxone, and trying to make people feel more comfortable responding to an opioid overdose. James said complimentary Narcan – the brand name of naloxone – kits were offered to participants.

Kirstley Dams, community manager at the chamber, felt it was important to partner with JHS on the training. She said many of the participants have been local entrepreneurs, who could see many benefits from taking part.

“We know that issues such as substance use disorders and mental health stigmas are directly correlated to the local economy and unemployment. To help our businesses in hiring and training, it’s critical that they have a deeper understanding of the problems facing potential employees and the community at large,” she said.

“The feedback so far has been all positive, which is encouraging. We’ve heard from almost all attendees that they were able to identify their own bias and felt much less intimidated around the topic of substance misuse.”

Dams said many businesses in the area are still struggling to find workers. She believes programs like this, and a change in mindset for some local entrepreneurs can help to alleviate the problem.

“These past couple of years have magnified a lot of the issues that were able to exist in secret before. This means we need employers who aren’t judging a potential employee by their mental health, or even their work experience,” Dams said. “Most jobs can be taught to a willing employee, but age, experience and education have long been a barrier for these eager workers.

“If employers remove some of these prerequisites, they will find a much larger pool of employees who are ready to learn, work and grow in the County’s labour market,” she added.

A third community training session will be held in Haliburton in May. For more information, contact James at njames@ jhscklh.on.ca, or visit johnhoward.on.ca/ kawartha.