Amazing world of dragonflies and damselflies

July 25, 2024

The public went for a walk in the Dahl Forest July 20 as Ed Poropat, a local field naturalist, taught them about dragonflies and damselflies.

It was part of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust’s discovery days series. The tour and walk started on Geeza Road, where the entrance to the forest is located, and went into the forest for a discussion on conservation, protection and the life of dragonflies and damselflies.

People got up close and personal with the insects in the forest. Their contribution to the ecological landscape was discussed, as there are over 100 different species in Haliburton County.

Poropat said, “we think of them as creatures of the air, but they spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs in larval form, and they’re voracious predators.

They’ll eat anything that they can catch, up to tadpoles and even small fish.” He added, “they’re incredible predators.

When you think of the flies that are buzzing right now, and all the mosquitoes and blackflies, they are incredible, 95 per cent efficiency in predatory kill, as compared to some other animals, like falcons and lions, they may only have 20 to 30 per cent efficiency in hunting. So, they’re really amazing.”

My shoreline ‘helped me through Covid’

Simon Payn

July 25, 2024

Plants fix what ails us.

That’s one of the mottoes of Simon Payn, owner of Haliburton-based ecological landscaping company Grounded.

He says more plants don’t just fix our landscaping, they make us feel better too.

“With our lakes, a vegetated shoreline is better at reducing erosion and keeping our lake clean than one with human-made landscaping.” says Payn.

He says in the past we made a mistake by thinking that all problems could be solved by removing plants and installing engineered solutions. But now we’re learning that nature was right all along.

“It makes sense that a shoreline full of plants is better at softening the effect of waves,” he says. “It also makes sense that plants help clean water before it reaches the lake.”

Payn points to studies that show a 30-metre shoreline buffer can remove up to 85% of pesticides, nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment from runoff. This filtering keeps water oxygen levels high, maintaining the water quality of the lake.

“Environment Canada recommends at least 75% of a lake’s shoreline should be in a natural state,” says Payn. “But a survey by Love Your Lake found only 22% of properties met the minimum standards for lake health.”

Water quality of life

The Grounded owner says there’s a mismatch between what homeowners want and what’s happening on the ground.

“Love Your Lake found 85% of property owners ranked water quality as their most valued lake characteristic. So why aren’t more of our shorelines in a natural state?”

Payn says people enjoy having lawns down the lake. “They give children and dogs a place to play, and they make sure the lake can be clearly seen from the cottage,” he says.

“But a natural shoreline doesn’t have to remove the lawn entirely – this is about doing what’s right for us and right for nature too.”

Payn says reducing the amount of lawn can help a problem may cottagers face: geese.

“I’ve visited several properties recently with a goose problem. Cottagers don’t love the gifts these birds leave behind.” he says.

The landscaper says the solution is simple: don’t give the geese such a giant airstrip to land on. “Canada Geese like wide open spaces. So all we have to do is break up the vast expanse of grass.”

Payn points to a successful project in Haliburton, where strips of vegetation solved a goose problem.

A friend in nature

Finally, the Grounded owner says a vegetated shoreline can make us happier. He says in summer 2020, during the Covid epidemic, he had to self-isolate in a bunkie by the lake after a visit to the United States.

“I got really familiar with nature during my two weeks alone,” he says. “There was this one song sparrow that spent all day along the shoreline. It had a beautiful, recognizable song. I listened out for it and was glad when it was around. I felt like I had a friend.

“I don’t think the song sparrow would have been there without all the habitat along the shoreline. I truly believe having that healthy shoreline and the nature it hosted helped me get through my Covid isolation.”

Payn says sometimes we focus on dangers of unhealthy lakes but fail to think about how a healthy ecosystem makes us feel.

“There’s so much joy to be had in Haliburton County, where it’s quiet and we’re surrounded by nature,” he says. “I think that is something to encourage and celebrate.”

“Plants solve more problems that we ever realized.”

Find out more about Grounded at groundedgardens.ca.

Gooderham music festival to raise the roof

Lillie Qiu

July 25, 2024

The Gooderham Music Festival is a go for the Robert McCausland Memorial Arena July 27. This year’s lineup of star performances includes local bands, Gary and the Rough Ideas, and Ragged Company.

Organizer Valerie Dugale said, “what’s exciting is it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve got a lot more sponsorship this year, and we’re bringing in some really fabulous talent, including Genevieve Fisher and local bands here in the County.”

New this year is an open mic for local musicians to perform and sing.

Dugale added, “we really want to showcase emerging talent in Haliburton County and the open mic session is meant to do that.”

The music festival is free, though organizers are asking attendees to bring in a donation for the Central Food Network.

The headlining act is Fisher, who’s been named a star on the rise by country music radio stations. Fisher will be performing her set at 7 p.m.

The festival started in 2018 and took a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. “Obviously, we’ve been looking for ways to put on events that draw the Haliburton community together. It [the festival] is a major music event in the County. It’s really just to give people, our residents, our cottagers, a great, great experience,” Dugale said.

Gary Baumgartner, the lead vocalist and keyboard player of Gary and the Rough Ideas, is looking forward to Saturday’s event. “It’s been said to me that [my music] sounds a little like Jackson Browne, sounds a little bit like the Eagles, because of those influences,” he said.

In terms of what Baumgartner and his band will be playing at the festival, he added, “there will be some Billy Joel, and likely some Elton John.

“I think it’s going to be well-received. Plus, you’ve got us, and we’re kind of on the rock n’ roll side of things, so I think it’s going to be a good fit,” Baumgartner said.

Karen Frybort, of Ragged Company, is looking forward to playing at the venue again. “We played there once before and it was a great venue. It’s a great stage; outdoor stages, I find, the big sky is your roof,” Frybort said.

“When we have original music or we do a cover, we sort of want to give it our own twist. And it doesn’t have to be note for note. We just interpret. We don’t follow the music as we go; we go, we learn it. We feel that’s quite ragged. Obviously, I have the bones of the song, but our version is, we say we raggedize it,” Frybort said.

Dugale said of the growing event, “the other great thing this year is we have a big barbecue sale and a beer tent. It’s just another sign that we’re growing.” There will also be a silent auction on site.

Rec centre celebration years in the making

Mike Baker

July 25, 2024

With just a few days to go until the grand unveiling of the renovated Dorset Recreation Centre, Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen said she’s excited to finally reopen one of the community’s “beloved” assets.

The facility has been closed since March 2020 after staff found extensive mold and moisture damage while renovating a downstairs bathroom. Further investigation showed the issue was prevalent throughout the building.

Work to restore the facility began in 2022. It featured the installation of a new HVAC system, external foundation waterproofing, off-site content storage, creation of an AODO-compliant front entrance and accessible bathroom, new exterior façade, and a total remodelling of the indoor space.

There is a reconfigured fitness room, upgraded lobby area, and new space for the Haliburton County Public Library. The renovation came in at around $1.6 million and was led by Muskoka-based Gonneau Building Group.

Danielsen said next weekend’s celebration will be one for the ages.

“We are so pleased to welcome everyone to what is going to be a great community celebration and a big day for Dorset,” she said. “We know what a beloved community asset the Dorset Recreation Centre is… folks will be excited to get back into the building and use the facilities that have always meant so much to us all.”

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a catered lunch, speeches from local dignitaries, children’s activities, and live music by Adverse Conditions.

The official opening of the renamed Tapscott-Lopes Park, previously known as the Dorset Pavilion and Community Park, will also take place. The township assumed ownership of the space last year after it was donated by local residents Don Tapscott and Ana Lopes.

Vandals target Haliburton’s Head Lake Park

Mike Baker

July 18, 2024

Dysart et al deputy mayor Walt McKechnie said the township intends to press charges against the culprits who caused thousands of dollars of damage at Head Lake Park last week.

The vandals struck sometime between the late afternoon July 10 and early morning July 11, destroying six solar lights and several no smoking and camera warning signs, trashing the recently-installed privies, damaging gates, spray painting graffiti on the roof of the new playground structure, damaging part of the jungle gym, and breaking a four-person teeter-totter.

Andrew Wilbee, Dysart’s director of parks and recreation, said staff are currently going through security camera footage to try and identify the culprits.

He said a new teeter-totter would likely cost more than $5,000 if it needed to be replaced. Staff are still determining the total cost of all damages.

McKechnie said he’s “deeply disappointed” by the act, which comes less than a year from the opening of the new $600,000 playground.

“It’s frustrating because our township and people in this community invested a lot of money to make that playground happen. It’s hard-earned taxpayer money that’s being destroyed,” McKechnie said. “Why someone would want to do this, I don’t know. That playground has been well-used since it opened. Kids love it.” Despite the damages, the playground will remain open. Nicole Baumgartner-Spooner was there with her three children July 17. Having played a key role in making the playground a reality, leading community fundraising efforts alongside fellow realtor Brandon Nimigon, Baumgartner-Spooner said she was upset to see the facility senselessly damaged.

She said the teeter-totter was one of the few pieces of accessible equipment in the park, and she regularly sees people of all ages, including seniors and children with mobility issues, using it.

Reward for information leading to arrests

“That’s the biggest shame here, is those people won’t have anything to use for a while when they come to the park,” Baumgartner-Spooner said.

McKechnie said the township has been in contact with Haliburton Highlands OPP.

“Whoever committed this, if you’re on video, we’ll be pursuing charges. It might not seem like a lot of money to some people, but to me it is. With all our costs going up, we can’t afford to keep fixing and replacing things people have taken upon themselves to break,” McKechnie said.

The Highlander received a call from a woman who claimed to have witnessed “a group of teenagers” damaging signs and the privies. Asking not to be named, the source claimed she approached the group to ask them why they were doing this, only to be met with a flurry of insults. She said they ran away once she took her phone out and started taking pictures. She has since been in touch with police.

It’s the second major act of vandalism at the park in as many years. Damage to the gate and fencing at the dog park in July 2022 saw the facility closed.

Anyone charged could find themselves in hot water – mischief causing more than $5,000 in property damage often carries a hefty fine, community service, and can lead to up to 10 years of jail time. Damages less than $5,000 carry a maximum six month jail sentence.

Dysart coun. Pat Casey, the representative for Haliburton village, visited the park July 16, saying he was surprised by the extent of the damage. He’s offering a $500 reward to anyone with information leading to a conviction.

“We need to make sure this doesn’t become a regular event, otherwise we won’t have any equipment left. There was a lot of people who donated money, time, resources to this. It’s a great park – when you see the amount of money that went into making it happen, for someone to so blatantly abuse that, it’s disheartening,” Casey said.

Patient: CT services ‘a really big deal’

Mike Baker

July 18, 2024

Minden resident Les Wilson says the addition of computed tomography (CT) services at the Haliburton hospital is “life-changing” for many Highlanders.

He was one of the first patients to receive a scan in the recently-remodeled space housing CT – down the hall from the Haliburton emergency department. Tests began July 9, with Gail Kennedy, integrated director of diagnostics at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay – who is assisting with CT start-up at HHHS – estimating there will be about 20 pre-booked procedures daily, with the machine also available for emergencies.

Wilson was there July 15 for a scan on his abdomen and said it was one of the best experiences he’s had at a hospital.

“It was amazing – I was in and out in 20 minutes,” Wilson said. “I have a hernia that needs fixing, they took great care with me, explained what they were going to do. I wasn’t sitting in a waiting room forever. I’ve been to lots of hospitals over the years for lots of different things, but this was the first time I thought ‘wow’ when leaving.”

No stranger to injury, Wilson estimates he’s had about a dozen CT scans over the years. All of them involved lengthy road trips to hospitals in Lindsay or Peterborough.

Usually, he’d have to take a full day off work, with travel and waiting time. “I was always losing money before. Now, it’s just getting off work an hour early, which is much nicer,” he said.

Wilson said he’d typically spend about $100 when traveling for scans, for gas, parking, and food. He said it will be nice to not have to pay out-of-pocket anymore.

With many County families living on strict budgets and fixed incomes, Wilson believes having local access to CT – and, soon, mammography – is a really big deal.

This could be life-changing for people who can’t afford to drive all over. There’s a lot of people struggling in this community, which makes long trips difficult, especially if you’re the one paying,” Wilson said. “Having a machine like this available in our community makes a huge difference for everybody up here.”

‘Momentous day’

MPP Laurie Scott said the unveiling of CT was an historic moment for HHHS. She, along with Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones, attended a grand opening July 10.

“This is a momentous day for the County – this addition symbolizes our commitment to advancing healthcare in our region,” Scott said. “This is the sort of addition that galvanizes a community.”

The 1,000 sq. ft. space features a waiting area, changeroom, and two washrooms. The CT suite includes scan and control rooms, ultrasound room, and storage area. It can accommodate between six to eight patients at a time.

HHHS president and CEO, Veronica Nelson, said the addition means doctors will be able to diagnose more than 6,000 patients per year.

The total cost of CT and mammography expansion – with the latter coming in the fall – has been touted at between $3 and $3.5 million. The HHHS Foundation has committed to raising $4.3 million, with executive director Melanie Klodt Wong saying they’re just over 80 per cent towards the goal.

Jones said one of the major benefits is keeping County ambulances in the area. In 2023, Haliburton County EMS completed more than 350 patient transfers, the bulk of those for CT scans. EMS Chief Tim Waite said there would likely be some cost savings. In 2022, he told The Highlander the average transfer for CT costs $720, meaning savings could be around $252,000 annually.

“This has been a challenging time, but when I look at what you’ve been able to accomplish as a community, focusing on things that are going to have a positive impact on patient care, you can be proud,” Jones said.

“Yesterday, five people who came into your emergency department didn’t have to travel somewhere else to be diagnosed. If you start multiplying that over a full year, the wow factor increases exponentially,” she added.

The health minister promised there are “more good things to come in Haliburton.” She said the addition of mammography is timely given the province, in September, is changing the rules for scans. Now, women between the age of 50 and 74 are eligible through the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Jones said the province is lowering the minimum age for self-enrollment from 50 to 40.

Company had a blast with historic road project

Lisa Gervais

July 18, 2024

A Haliburton County-based contractor has taken part in a pilot project that could now be used across the province.

The work involved a culvert replacement 1.3 kilometres north of Hwy. 35 on Hwy. 118.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) hired Braithwaite Drilling Services for the roadworks and they were assisted by Francis Thomas Contracting (FTC) of Carnarvon.

Britt Thomas of FTC said, “it’s been cool to be a part of this, and it is a historic thing for both Carnarvon and our company.”

Matt Braithwaite, of Braithwaite Drilling Services, Peterborough, said they used equipment that has been employed in Europe, but is new to the province. Rather than having to dig up the highway above the culvert, they were able to bore through the side. Braithwaite said it is faster and cheaper.

“We used the Geonex (drill) to hammer in a 40-inch culvert through blast rock. We were able to avoid any auguring techniques – where you wouldn’t be able to do that in blast rock because it would fall in and you couldn’t hold the hole open.”

He said the special drill allows the casing to go in with the hammer. “You only have three quarters of an inch of open space at any given time while you’re drilling, and when you’re done, the casing becomes the product pipe. And in this case, it was a culvert.”

He noted the drill is worth about $2-3 million.

“It’s been used in Europe for the last 15 or so years, and certain parts of the United States where it’s applicable, like right now in New York, there’s numerous projects going on.” He said the technology has been used in western Canada, too.

“But Ontario’s never had one, so we’re a little bit behind, but we’re getting there. So, it was a pilot for Ontario, but not necessarily the technology itself.”

Braithwaite said his company had been working with the MTO for the past seven years on culvert replacements. He said there had been a bit of trial and error with other methods.

He said there is no doubt using the Geonex saved time and money, “because we learned after the fact that a temporary bridge would have had to have been created and installed in order to do that because of the volume of traffic on the road. So, we’re talking like 10 and 20-50 times the savings.”

An MTO spokesperson confirmed the pilot project was initiated to try out trenchless culvert installations in deep rock fills. She said the trial site consisted of a 12-metrehigh rock fill, and consisted of the trenchless installation of a culvert with a diameter of 1.2 metres and a length of 40 metres.

“Following the success of this pilot project, trenchless installation can now be considered as a culvert replacement option in rock fills,” she added. “The ministry will look for future suitable locations to utilize this specialized technology in an effort to reduce construction costs and impacts to the travelling public.”

Braithwaite said they could not have done it without FTC.

“They were fantastic. They brought in all the excavation and earth-moving equipment for us. They constructed a temporary road that allowed us to bring our equipment down. They provided all the support during the drilling, so all of the cuttings that were brought out of the hole, they were able to remove, either bringing them to their pit or just remove them on-site. And then they helped us load and unload, mobilize, demobilize, just provided fantastic support through the whole project.”

Braithwaite added, “it is exciting, and I know it’s exciting for the people up there to be part of.”

Thomas added it was a proud moment for the local company. “We’ve never been a part of anything of that sort before, so it’s been a learning experience in so many ways.”

Initiative sprouts award for Master Gardeners

Lisa Gervais

July 18, 2024

The Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) selected the Haliburton County Master Gardeners (HCMG) as recipients of its 2024 Environment Award.

The Master Gardeners have been recognized for their contribution in the advancement of horticulture with the development and launch of the Stepping into Nature multimedia walking tour along the Minden Riverwalk trail. The award was announced at the OHA annual general meeting convention in Guelph July 13.

Carolyn Langdon, coordinator for the HCMG, said, “the Stepping into Nature self-guided tour extolls the benefits of a natural landscape along a previously degraded section of river in the village of Minden and is a valuable addition to this popular walking trail. It was a very ambitious project for a small group of volunteers so we are particularly honoured by the attention and the award from the OHA.”

Master Gardeners Merryn Camphausen and Langdon travelled to Guelph to accept the award.

“Stepping into Nature is a free, self-guided walking tour of the remarkable flora and fauna along the Minden Riverwalk trail,” said project lead, Shelley Fellows. “It was an ambitious project including 21 site signs, photos, detailed descriptions of plants, insect information and gardening tips, along with audio stories.” Everything is accessible via a smartphone app called PocketSights and through QR codes on signage throughout the walking tour.

A combination of practical recommendations to address common landscape problems and field research to understand the flowering plants, shrubs, trees and grasses growing along the riverwalk, the Stepping into Nature walking tour was supported by a Local Initiatives Program grant from the Haliburton County Development Corporation. Insect research, including field collections, were performed by a U-Links team, headed by Caleb Brown from Trent University.

The HCMG is a community service organization. Members are certified Master Gardeners, with expertise in horticulture, botany and gardening in harmony with nature. They are celebrating 22 years in the Haliburton Highlands. They have visited more than 60 properties throughout Haliburton County in the last three years to advise property owners on how best to naturalize their properties. Their website contains helpful resources, and they recently published a “Guidebook to Ecological Landscaping in the Highlands”.

Youth hub looking for new Haliburton home

Mike Baker

July 18, 2024

Demand for service has increased so much at the Haliburton County Youth Wellness Hub over the past 18 months that Marg Cox, executive director of parent organization Point in Time, is looking for a new, upgraded space to house its expanding range of services.

The current facility, located on Dysart Avenue in Haliburton village, provides a “safe, welcoming space” to County-based youth between the ages of 12 and 25 looking for a place to unwind, make new friends, and connect with an array of mental health, substance use, and careers supports.

It’s been open since 2019 – one of six locations across Ontario selected for a pilot project supported by the provincial government, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, and the Graham Boeckh Foundation.

It’s been a tough few years for youth in the County, with many feeling isolated and alone – fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but continuing since, Cox said. Many have found solace through the youth hub.

“We have been bursting at the seams – it’s been difficult operating because of the number of services we’ve introduced and the people we’re serving,” Cox said, noting the youth hub registered approximately 2,000 visits for drop-in and other skills and wellbeing activities between April 2023 and March 2024, with over 230 unique youth accessing formal or clinical services.

Cox said the most popular service has been health-related. The youth hub has a full-time nurse practitioner, who assists with referrals and prescriptions and offers advice for issues around mental, physical, and sexual health. There’s also virtual access to a psychiatrist.

“Because so many people don’t have access to primary care in Haliburton County, the demand is high,” Cox said, noting appointments can typically be booked a few days in advance.

Counselling is available for youth dealing with mental health and substance use issues, while two full-time employees juggle roles in peer support, programming, and transportation.

The hub’s ‘Lift’ service, launched in 2021, allows youth a chance to investigate possible career paths. Cox said there’s evidence to suggest working often has positive effects on mental health.

“Getting a good job that fits someone’s interests and their skills can really change the trajectory of their life,” Cox said.

Following the return to normal post-pandemic, Cox said many youth were presenting to the hub feeling “lost, helpless… someone said it to me recently, but it’s as if we forgot how to socialize during COVID. We need to re-learn how to make friends and interact, which can be a hard thing for people to overcome, especially if they’re introverted or dealing with other issues like anxiety.”

She wants to see the youth hub expanded to ensure nobody falls through the cracks.

Point in Time has secured COS Consulting to assist with the project – finding a site and getting a new facility built. Cox said it needs to be in Haliburton village, within walking distance of the high school. All Point in Time and youth hub services would be consolidated at the new location, with Cox estimating a cost between $6-8 million.

“Our big goal is to be able to provide the space that’s required to be able to support youth in keeping with the increased demand we’re seeing in the community,” she said. “It’ll be nice to be able to say we service all youth and cater to all demands – currently, we’ve got some youth who can’t handle the loud noise volume. Because we don’t have a quiet space or any alternative, these people sometimes choose not to come. We want to avoid that.”

While most of the project will be covered by government and foundation grants, Cox said Point in Time will likely have to fundraise around $500,000. To contribute, visit pointintime.ca.

Once a site is secure, there will be extensive engagement with the community.

“Our youth designed the last hub, we’ll be consulting with them again,” Cox said. “Since this space will be for the community, we feel it’s important they have a say in what it will do and what it will look like.”

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