After three years of operation in Haliburton, the community’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre closed its doors March 31.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the site has been the primary testing location for County residents. First located in the parking lot at the Haliburton Highlands Health Centre (HHHC) on Gelert Road, and relocated indoors last March, the facility has treated 7,692 people since opening March 31, 2020.

Lauren Hunter, communications lead at Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), said the closure comes following a decreased demand for services at assessment centre sites provincewide. She said the facility in Haliburton was no longer being funded by the provincial government.

Day-to-day operations at the assessment centre were managed by the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team and Haliburton Family Medical Centre (HFMC). The Haliburton County Paramedic Service was also instrumental in providing staff coverage at the site from 2020 to 2022. HHHS provided support in way of supplies, laundry, lab services, the acquisition and maintenance of the trailer, managing financial reporting, supporting communications, setting up appointments and screening.

Hunter noted HFMC will continue to offer COVID-19 assessments, testing and treatments for eligible patients.

Anyone in the community who wishes to access a COVID-19 test, assessment, or treatment can contact their local pharmacy or primary care provider, Hunter noted. Information is also available at ontario. ca/health811. A list of assessment centres still being maintained by the province can be found at ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations.

In her report to the HHHS board March 21, hospital president and CEO Carolyn Plummer said, “the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate” locally. A COVID19 outbreak was reported at the in-patient department in Haliburton March 20, and declared over March 27. There were five confirmed patient cases and two staff cases associated with the outbreak.

Thus far in 2023, as reported by Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, there have been 86 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County – 55 in Dysart, 21 in Minden Hills, six in Highlands East and four in Algonquin Highlands. This accounts for around 10 per cent of all positive cases since March 2020. There have been ten deaths directly related to COVID since the global pandemic was declared March 11, 2020.

Dr. Nell Thomas of the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team told The Highlander the actual number of COVID-19 cases locally this year is likely much higher.

“We in the doctors’ office prescribe Paxlovid for COVID-positive patients every day, and these are not registered with the COVID Assessment Centre numbers,” Thomas said. “There are also many, many patients who do not seek medical help, but who have COVID, [after having] a positive swab test at home.”

HHHS has updated its COVID-related visiting guidelines, which came into effect April 3. All facilities, including long-term care, will shift from ‘active’ to ‘passive’ screening for COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms.

This means visitors to the emergency and in-patient departments, and both Hyland Crest and Highland Wood will be asked to self-screen before entering. Rapid tests at long-term care sites are no longer required, though will be made available to anyone who wants to take one.

Masking will remain in place across all HHHS facilities.

After cottaging in Dorset her whole life, Kate Trueland made it her mission to find stable employment in the community so she could make it her permanent home.

It took some time, decades even, but she relocated to the area full-time in April 2022. Now, she’s looking to open doors for others through the launch of Dorset’s first-ever job fair. Taking place April 22 at Trading Bay Dining Company in the village’s downtown, she says the event is an opportunity to bring would-be workers face-to-face with potential employers.

“I have been looking for work in Dorset for many, many years and have found it really difficult to use the existing platforms. Because Dorset is not a central hub, it’s hard to pinpoint on places like Indeed,” she said.

“I thought to myself ‘if I’m having these problems, I’m sure many others are too,’ so I decided to do something about it.”

She started with the launch of a new website, the Dorset Job Board, in February. That helped connect her with several local employers, including Trading Bay’s Jenny Balfour. The two spoke often about the difficulties on both ends of the spectrum – people looking to work not being able to find jobs, and employers who struggle to recruit and retain staff.

Trueland has spent time living and working across North America, mostly in Bermuda and the GTA. She spent 10 years working in hospitality and tourism management programs at George Brown and Centennial colleges in the city. There, one of her main responsibilities was assisting with the organization and execution of an annual career fair.

So far there are eight local employers registered – Community Living Huntsville, Community Living South Muskoka, John Bacher Construction, Moorelands Camp, Mountain Trout House Marina, Northern D’Lites, Trading Bay Dining Company, and Zachary’s Restaurant. Trueland hopes more will sign up in the coming weeks.

She said there are a mix of full-time and part-time opportunities available.

“We have places looking for nurses, PSWs, DSWs. There’s construction work available – that’s the point I want to make, it’s not just seasonal work. There are well-paying jobs available that will allow people to work here 12 months of the year,” she said.

Trueland will be offering free resume and cover letter prep for attendees, while many employers will be conducting on-the-spot interviews.

“The community really needs something like this – it’s been a tough go in Dorset for the past 12 months. We’ve seen all the issues with Robinson’s, the health hub is suffering, the future of the pavilion park is up in the air… if nothing else, I feel this job fair is a chance for everyone to come together,” Trueland said. “That’s going to be one of my main focuses moving forward – recreating that sense of community.”

She is in the process of establishing a new Dorset Business Improvement Area, which she hopes to officially launch later this year.

The job fair is taking place April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information, on Trueland’s endeavours visit dorsetjobboard.com

Demolition of the Wigamog Inn property on Lake Kashagawigamog commenced March 30, with some of the exterior cabins at the site being knocked down.

The resort, located on Wigamog Road, has been slated for demolition for around a year. Owner Aurora Group previously told The Highlander it sourced a contractor to complete the work last September, with initial assessments taking place in January.

Neighbours reported seeing workers on-site last Thursday, with work on some of the outbuildings taking place. An excavator was also delivered to the property. Teardown of some cabins had been completed as of April 5.

There had been some debate over demolition plans, with Dysart et al staff coming close to presenting an RFP for the project to council earlier this year. That came after a month-long consultation between township bylaw officials and Aurora Group over the condition of the site.

Bylaw officer, Robert Mascia, outlined 47 infractions of the township’s property standards bylaw last summer, with issues varying from downed power lines to smashed windows, damaged doors, and collapsed decks.

After being issued several remedial action notices to restore the property, Aurora Group ownership informed members of Dysart’s property standards commitee last August that they intended to demolish the site. They were given two months to present plans to the commitee, but failed to meet an Oct. 3 deadline. Staff have been developing an RFP ever since.

The site boasts a main lodge structure and 36 accessory buildings.

Mascia told The Highlander the township has paused on issuing an RFP after he was satisfied Aurora Group was proceeding with their own plans. He said he visited the site last week and spoke with workers.

Wigamog demolition to take six weeks

“We will hold off unless there are circumstances that require us to move forward,” Mascia said. “The RFP is ready to go to council if needed.”

In the event the township issues its own RFP to complete work, Aurora Group would be billed. Multiple attempts from The Highlander to reach Ravi Aurora, Aurora Group president, for comment on the demolition and subsequent plans for the site have been unsuccessful. In a previous email, Aurora said, “our anticipation is that this will be completed fairly soon, and we can be underway for what new and exciting is in store for future developments for Wigamog…

“Although it has been a bumpy road during rough times of COVID for hospitality, which is the hardest-hit industry, our team at Aurora Group is optimistic and resilient. Aurora Group has extensive plans for both Wigamog and Pinestone (which the group also owns). We hope to receive cooperation from council and the local community for new and exciting plans to come.”

Aurora Group purchased the Wigamog property in 2016. A post on the company’s website outlines plans to build a new residential development on over 40 acres of land at the site, featuring 180-plus units including condos, townhouses, and detached homes.

Mascia said Aurora Group has estimated a sixweek timeframe to complete demolition.

The Haliburton County Huskies have their backs against the wall, trailing the Wellington Dukes three games to none in their best of seven, second round, OJHL playoff series.

It’s a must-win situation for the Blue and White tonight (March 30) at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena or the Huskies’ second season in the OJHL will draw to a close.

Head coach Ryan Ramsay said, “our message is your backs are against the wall, how do you guys respond as a group? It’s a character check. It’s a gut check. We won a lot of hockey games this year. We’re a good team. Just go out and play.

“I think the boys got together as a group Tuesday, so there’s no quit in them.”

Dukes 8 Huskies 0

The Dukes thumped the Blue and White 8-0 March 27.

It was all Welly on a night that saw them score four first period goals, followed by another four in the second frame.

The Dukes took advantage of a Huskies parade to the sin bin, with two powerplay goals in the second.

They also notched a short-handed tally.

Goalie Aidan Spooner was chased at 9:14 of the first after surrounding three goals on three shots.

Tyler Hodges came in to face another 45 shots, turning aside 40. The Huskies managed 29 shots but could not crack Jacob Osborne in the Dukes’ net.

Dukes 4 Huskies 3

On Saturday (March 25) the Blue and White got off to a 3-1 first-period lead.

Handed a powerplay at the 6:09 mark, it took just 41 seconds for Christian Stevens to snipe one past Osborne to get the home crowd into the game early. Boyd Stahlbaum and Isaac Sooklal got the assists.

Then, just 1:10 later, Patrick Saini found the back of the net, from Sooklal and Luca Rea, to spot the Huskies a 2-0 lead and what looked to be a rout.

It was short-lived, though, as Wellington answered back a little over four minutes later, at 12:09, with Luke Strickland beating Spooner.

But the sell-out crowd was soon back on its feet, when, at 13:05, Stevens popped his second powerplay goal of the period, from Alex Cunningham and Sooklal, to send the Huskies into the dressing room up 3-1.

But it was all Wellington from there as they roared back for the win.

Dukes 4 Huskies 2

On Friday (March 24) the series opened in Wellington with the Dukes taking game one.

Wellington opened the scoring at 8:56 before Sooklal tied things, from Stahlbaum and Saini. The Huskies took the lead in the second, on a Stevens powerplay goal.

However, Wellington scored three, third-period goals, including an empty netter.

Puck drop tonight is 7 p.m. in Minden.

Locating an abundance of Northern Paper Wasp along the Minden River Walk was a “major, exciting find” for Caleb Brown, as the Trent University student worked with the Haliburton County Master Gardeners to track pollinators as part of his U-Links project this past year.

Brown’s was just one of 20 Trent University and Fleming College research projects presented at U-Links Celebration of Research March 25 in the Great Hall at Haliburton School of Art + Design. He was one of three students who presented their findings in front of the first in-person gathering in four years.

Brown added the Northern Paper Wasp’s nesting grounds have been under competition from the newer European Paper Wasp, but they are winning out in Minden. That’s a good thing, he added, since they are the native species. They’re finding food in the flower gardens along the River Walk, and, in turn, helping the gardens to thrive.

Another highlight of his research, said Brown, was finding Monarch butterflies. “I think the Monarch butterfly has kind of become the forefront of conservation. It’s definitely an icon and we recognize that its population is dwindling, but we did see them along the trail, and they really liked a lot of the flowers that were there.”

Brown said a lot of people think you need to plant milkweed to attract Monarchs, but that’s actually for the caterpillars, while adult Monarch will harvest nectar from almost any flower.” For example, he said they found Monarchs on Canadian sunflowers.

Brown added the change from turf grass to a diverse range of flowering plants has been a boon to pollinators and insects in general. He said they found at least 20 different categories of insects. He added more insects also attract birds and other wildlife.

Shelley Fellows, of the Haliburton County Master Gardeners, is the project lead for ‘stepping into nature’ – which is the result of the Trent and master gardeners’ collaboration. They’re developing a multi-media walking tour of the diverse flora and fauna along the Minden River Walk Trail.

They worked with Brown last fall to produce a detailed inventory of the insects that form part of an “incredibly rich and diverse community along this beautiful riverfront trail,” Fellows said.

She added visitors to ‘stepping into nature’ can access audio tracks, photos and detailed information on the plants and insects found along the trail via a smartphone app called PocketSights.

The tour also contains tips and descriptions on how to naturalize property, how to manage shoreline erosion and how best to deal with the Canada Geese.

Fellows said ‘stepping into nature’ also received financial support from the Haliburton County Development Corporation and community donors. It will launch in May.

Sadie Fischer, environmental program coordinator with U-Links, said, “we feel it’s important to host this event so that we can showcase all the hard work the students are putting in to produce valuable information that can actually inspire change in our communities. It’s a really good way to bring people together and educate them on some of the most pressing issues we’re seeing in the County.”

Places for People (P4P) board president Jody Curry said they were “very pleased” with the turnout, and thankful for the weather, during the March 24-25 Sleeping in Cars event this year.

“We had about 28 people (most cars had more than one person in them) and about 15 others that dropped in and brought donations.”

She said two people arrived with hot pizza, some of which was eaten cold the next morning, causing one participant to comment ‘hey, this event was just like college’.”

Curry said she also heard from another first-time participant that it was an eye-opening experience “and not a comfortable one. She felt that many people should try it for greater understanding of others. One indicated it was interesting that we view it as roughing it for the night, when we had vehicles to sleep in out of the weather, cushy foam mattresses, warm sleeping bags, a heated washroom nearby, and food provided. She did not have to get up and get herself looking presentable for work the next day or get her cold kids off to school.”

Curry said it was a success as they created awareness, and, so far, have raised more than $8,300 for P4P.

Algonquin Highlands councillors Jennifer Dailloux and Sabrina Richards slept out, and Minden Hills councillor Shirley Johannessen and Dysart et al councillor Pat Casey dropped by, organizers said.

P4P is still accepting donations on the website if someone missed pledging. Go to placesforpeople.ca.

Highlands Cinema owner Keith Stata was a boy in 1960 when the movie, The Time Machine, was released.

The Kinmount lad got a lift to Minden with a neighbouring family and went to see the American post-apocalyptic science fiction film at the Beaver Theatre.

Time is a recurring theme in the hours upon hours of interviews documentary filmmaker, Matt Finlin, has done with Stata while working on The Movie Man.

“He speaks about time a lot, not having enough time, his time is limited, mortality, he says, ‘if I just had a time machine, I could go back in time, and fix all of this stuff and really blow the socks off people’,” Finlin shared in an interview with The Highlander March 23.

A partner in Door Knocker Media, a Toronto-based video production company, Finlin and his team have been in postproduction since January on what will be a feature length film of more than an hour on the iconic Highlands Cinema and Stata, the man who built and continues to run it.

“We are very close to having a first cut of the film, which is great. Really excited and cautiously excited. It’s a funny movie,” Finlin said.

Finlin said he became friends with Stata over the four years he has been chipping away at the documentary, so he might be too close to the work to have perspective. However, he said his editor, “is enjoying himself so much. There’s a lot of humour in it and a lot of heart which really brings out the best qualities in Keith.”

He added the generations of Highlanders who have gone to the cinema are going to enjoy it, while those who have never been to the movie house on the hill will be intrigued.

Finlin said he has two goals in making the documentary, which really became an ear worm for him, when, at the age of 11, he visited Highlands Cinema for the first time.

Goal one? “Really making sure we fall in love with him (Stata) as a character who has dedicated his life to this thing. It’s incredible. When we wrapped up filming with Keith in the fall, we did this long form interview, and it was almost sad to see it end.”

Second goal? He’d love to have a gala-type screening at the theatre in Kinmount, encompassing some form of fundraising for both the business, which was closed for two-and-a-half years due to COVID, and the 50 cats that Stata takes care of.

“So, people who have enjoyed the cinema for 40 years can come and celebrate the film, and celebrate Keith. That would be a big thing for me, to show Keith what an impact he’s had on people. He knows that, but I think just to really see that and feel that in a room would be really nice.”

He’s also preparing to send a rough cut to the Toronto International Film Festival selection committee. “It’s a movie about going to the movies and why not have it at an international festival?”

He plans to have The Movie Man ready for summer.

Finlin said making the documentary has presented challenges. It’s taken four years, with Finlin picking away at the project when he had time. There was some doubt if the theatre would open post-pandemic “and then we get to see the success of the reopening and how Keith’s legacy is continuing.”

There’s been a lot of footage to sift through. Editing has been tough because there’s, “no shortage of good stuff because he’s entertaining.”

Then there is Stata, himself. Finlin admitted that sometimes, during the pandemic, he talked about the business, the plight of small business, as well as the state of cinema during interviews, and he had to “pull him back to the case at hand.”

Finlin also feels a sense of responsibility since Stata is no longer just the subject of the documentary.

“We’re friends. I care very much about him. As a documentarian, you want to capture the whole story, but it becomes difficult when you become attached to this person, and you really are rooting for him.”

To complete the documentary, Finlin is looking for still photographs of the Beaver Theatre in Minden around the time The Time Machine would have been shown in 1960. If you have any photos of the theatre from that era, please email them to matt@ doorknockermedia.com.