Hyland Crest COVID-19 outbreak declared over

By

-

September 1, 2022

LG-Hyland Crest — A sign at Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden declares a COVID outbreak at the facility

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Hyland Crest long-term facility in Minden over.

Thirteen residents tested positive during the outbreak, which was declared on August 6, 2022.

“We deeply appreciate the hard work of our staff as they maintained and strengthened our important
infection prevention and control measures, which has brought this outbreak to an end,” said Darlene
Moore, temporary acting CEO of HHHS, in an Sept. 1 media release.

“Our thanks also go out to residents and their loved ones who were impacted by the required changes to our visitor policy during the outbreak.”

Outside visits are allowed once more, with both levels of the home re-opened.

“Staff will continue to follow Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures including mandatory
masking in all resident care areas, mandatory vaccination, regular surveillance testing, and active”
screening before entry into all facilities,” stated the media release.

Wanakita marks 30 years of hemophilia camp

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

Camp Wanakita marked 30 years of offering camp experiences to children living with hemophilia this summer.

Since the 1990s, 50-60 kids attend the two-week program organized by Hemophilia Ontario, where they participate in regular camp activities and receive special instruction on hemophilia-related healthcare practices.

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder whereby blood does not clot properly, so those living with the condition must learn to self-infuse blood.

“The goal is to get kids away from their parents and learn to self-infuse, and give themselves their own medication,” said Luke Chase, a senior member of the programming team.

Chase, who lives with hemophilia, came through the program himself.

“A lot of hemophiliacs are really sheltered,” he said, mentioning how fear of accidents means lots of activities seem off-limits due to risk of internal or external bleeding.

“Through these two weeks, they get to really become independent.”

Nurse Betty Ann Paradis remembers Chase when he first attended the camp. She has helped out since the program began.

Some of the children were born HIV-positive, making it difficult to find a camp willing to host the program.

Paradis applauded Wanakita’s director at the time, Steve Hemming, for taking the leap.

“Because the nurses were there, they could have their freedom,” she said. “They learned how to interact with other children.”

Paradis said she enjoyed watching youngsters become more confident.

“It’s wonderful because we’re there, we see the children grow in their skills,” she said.

For Chase, “it was a lot to be away from my family, especially for the first time, for a week.”

Jumping on a trampoline, and playing certain sports; those were activities Chase didn’t have a chance to do before coming to the Wanakita program.

As a leader, he said he finds it rewarding to see kids gain confidence in themselves and their skills at managing their condition alongside professional nursing help.

His favourite kind of activity at the camp now is creative programming, where kids can experiment with zany activities, dramatic ideas and new games. Once the campers hosted their own version of Master Chef.

“It allows you to create so much more of a unique experience,” he said.

As he looks back at his time at the camp, Chase said, “It was amazing what the program did to me for my self-confidence.”

Huskies pre-season drawing to a close

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

The Haliburton County Huskies lost 2-1 to the Stouffville Spirit at their second hometown pre-season game in advance of 2022-23 Ontario Junior Hockey League regular play.

It followed a dramatic 4-3 away victory in Stouffville Aug 25, when Sam Solarino, Alex Cunningham and Cameron Kosurko pounced to launch a comeback win.

During the Aug. 27 loss, Stouffville pressed early in the game, slotting a shot home from Odaro Ewere five minutes into the first period.

The Huskies had no answer for the early goal and conceded another from Dylan Hendrick three minutes into the second period.

While the Dogs were behind, experienced goalie Christian Linton, returning for a second season, stopped 17 shots.

Forwards Solarino and Christian Stevens received penalties, along with new signing Theirry Lizotte.

Led by powerhouse Patrick Saini in the third period, the Dogs got on the scoresheet with a crisp shot buried by Saini off a Nicholas Dowling pass.

Saini’s first season with the Huskies in 2021 resulted in 17 goals and 29 assists in regular season play and Downing, a new player with the squad, has already provided four assists this preseason. Alex Cunningham, signed from Brantford, seems to be another player quickly acclimatizing to the Dogs with two goals slotted home during the previous Stouffville tilt.

The Huskies play two more preseason games versus Pickering at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.

Highlands Opera sings through summer

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

Last week, the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavillion was transformed into 19th-century Russia. Eugene Onegin is a tale of heartbreak, unrequited love and pistols at dawn, which thundered into Haliburton Aug. 27 to 29, delivered by a cast of early-career operatic talents under the banner of Highlands Opera Studio. Geoffrey Schellenberg and Micah Schroeder (on alternate nights) star as Eugene Onegin, the aristocrat who casts off the affections of Tatyana (Lauren Margison, and Jonelle Sills). Onegin grows to regret his decision after a series of events lead to a duel, and reversal of fortunes. A portion of all ticket sales was donated to Ukraine.

New stories on stage

Brand new opera workshops hit the stage for the first time Aug. 18 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavillion.

Inertia, by Ashley Au and Christene Browne, as well as The Museum of Lost and Found, by Olivia Shortt, are two projects in development under a new partnership between Highlands Opera Studio and Loose Tea Music Theatre, based in Toronto. The composers used their Haliburton County performances to test out original material with an audience, set, costumes and musical accompaniment.

They’re both projects from the BIPOC Composer Librettist Development Program, which provides a platform for new creators to expand the cultural scope of Opera through diverse productions.

Market to showcase local arts and crafts

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

All forms of art will be on display at the old Donald schoolhouse this weekend as local artisan April Gates hosts the third-annual Schoolhouse Pop-up Market event.

Taking over the historic building located on Gelert Road, the market will feature 14 artists showcasing a broad spectrum of mediums, including pottery, painting and woodworking. The event runs Sept. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gates, who runs her Blackbird Pottery studio out of the schoolhouse, conceptualized the event while isolating during the pandemic.

After being grounded by provincial regulations, Gates wanted to organize a gathering of likeminded artists, coming together to put on a diverse spread of arts and crafts for the public. That first event, held in summer 2020, was an overwhelming success, said Gates, so much so that she decided to make it an annual occurrence.

“Exhibiting in a smaller space, having an event that’s a little more personal really resonated with the artists, and the community seemed to like it as well,” Gates said. “Small markets are nothing new, however, in a world where events grow larger and larger, we return to a more intimate, grassroots experience for artists, makers and patrons, while weaving new life into this historic property.”

This year’s market will feature a host of new faces, with Gates saying it’s important to keep events like this fresh. The lineup includes: Noelia Marziali, a painter who also specializes in leather and wood works; fibre artist Sandi Luck; conceptual artists Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg, and Kelsey Redman, showcasing her Mending and Macrame crafts business. Gates said her event is a little different as artists are specifically sought out and invited to appear.

“It’s a curated show, and I try to keep it diverse from year to year… I would say around 80 per cent of the people involved this year are not exhibiting on a regular basis, so I think that creates a little bit of intrigue for patrons and an opportunity to experience something new,” Gates said. She added it was events like this that make her feel lucky to call Haliburton County home.

“I’ve been in the community 20 years now, and if it weren’t such an arts-geared community I’m not sure I would have stayed,” Gates said.

“There’s always been an incredible amount of support for the arts community, and that’s just growing as the community grows. Now that we’ve become more of a destination, we see all kinds of arts events, which provides a great opportunity for our artists to showcase their creations.

“This market has been such a blessing. I hope to keep it running for years to come. I’ve met so many wonderful people over the past three years, and learned about so many different artists and mediums… It only feels right to try and share that with the wider community,” Gates said.

Exploring a matter of blood and beans

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

“There’s been blood in our work for a while,” said artists Hendrika Sonnenberg and Chris Hanson.

They gaze down at a sawed-off hockey stick half submerged in a white plastic bucket of oozing murky red liquid.

The work’s inspiration is also its namesake: Bucket of Blood is a 1959 comedy horror movie about an avant-garde artist who accidentally plasters a dead cat into his art. After critical acclaim, he begins doing the same with human bodies.

“It’s the relationship with the artist, with violence,” said the artists, who prefer to be quoted together.

Places Count, which debuted Aug. 27, contains no trace of the same violence. But just like the film, their sculptures explore myriad secrets hidden in plain sight.

“They’re things on the periphery we always live with. Things we take for granted,” the creative collaborators said.

And whether it’s a rabbit splayed out across asphalt or a grid of wooden fragments foraged from detritus destined for a landfill, the pair’s work is linked to the landscape.

That rabbit’s untimely demise on a County road echoes throughout the Agnes Jamieson Gallery. A paper model of it dwarfs a miniature diorama of the gallery itself.

“The whole idea of scale is really important… seeing the model, and seeing the bunny taking up more space. All that sort of back and forth,” they said. On the wall, the bunny’s paper shape is no bigger than a crumpled piece of waste.

The artists also explore form and function.

Visitors walk past a bucket of nails and a bag of beans. Only the nails have fulfilled their function, pulled from the pallets, which are stacked in the gallery’s main room. The beans? They’re handmade, all 17,000 of them, but as lifelike as any you’d stir into chili.

“We kind of like that,” said the artists, noting that many might never know they’re manufactured. “It’s a weird kind of glitch.”

In a book on the exhibit, Sonnenberg and Hanson write that “not unlike our city interests, our eyes often drift to what’s plain, but maybe at the margins of what is before us. We miss the city too.

“But as people whose occupation is centered on getting their hands dirty, we’re pretty happy to work with what’s in our own yard and put to bed the idea of having to shop at the store for materials.

The show is an exploration of things, materials and detritus found at places we know. Places that count.

Yet Bucket of Blood, much to the relief of many visitors, is fabricated with corn syrup and a healthy dose of food colouring.

Places Count runs until Oct. 26 at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

Rotary launches free bike share program

By

Mike Baker

-

September 1, 2022

0

Haliburton Rotary is encouraging people to get outside and exercise following the launch of its new community bike share program.

Introduced Aug. 15, the initiative gives local residents and visitors aged 18 and older the chance to rent bicycles for free – providing an opportunity to further explore downtown Haliburton and nearby trails.

A passion project of Rotarians Irv Handler and Mike Landry, the bike share is intended to promote free outdoor activity and enhance Haliburton’s reputation as a premiere tourist destination. The pair were on hand at Head Lake Park Aug. 25 as the program was officially unveiled.

“I was about seven when my dad taught me how to ride a bike… I felt like I was a bird flying. I felt a sense of overwhelming freedom,” Handler said at the launch.

“Two weeks ago, when I took one of these bikes out for the first time, I felt that same freedom. I’m just happy now that everybody in Haliburton has the opportunity to experience that same sense of freedom.”

Six bikes will be stationed outside the Haliburton Welcome Centre from mid-April to the end of October. People will be able to take bikes out during daylight hours, currently between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. A smart phone is required to sign a waiver and input credit card details to unlock the bikes. This is simply a precautionary measure, Handler said, with cards only being charged if bikes are damaged or not returned.

Individuals will be able to check out a bike for up to three hours.

The program has been quite popular since soft launching earlier this month. Handler noted there had been 72 rentals between Aug. 15 and 25.

Haliburton Rotary has invested approximately $16,000 into the bike share. That’s covered the cost of the six, seven-speed bikes, six Bluetooth electronic locks, three double-bike docking racks and the development of a smartphone app.

Landry said to access the bikes, people will need to download the Canadian version of the app OnBike Share.

Algonquin Outfitters has partnered with Rotary on the project, providing ongoing maintenance of the bikes.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said this latest Rotary initiative was a big win for the community.

“Here we go again, another ribbon cutting for another great Rotary project… This is such a wonderful opportunity for tourists and people that come to town and don’t have their bikes. I absolutely love that it’s free,” Roberts said. “I’m a big cyclist and love to ride my bike around… This is a great addition to the park.”

Hot tub enforcement ‘ridiculous’: County council

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

Haliburton County council is voicing its displeasure with recent closures of Highlands hot tubs.

This summer, multiple accommodators had hot tubs, located in or next to private rooms, closed due to non-compliance with Ontario-wide regulations that require operators with more than six rooms to comply with the same rules governing hot tubs at public pools or hotels.

Buttermilk Falls Resort and Lakeview Motel claimed such rules unfairly target small resort operators who have neither the funds or space to satisfy the rules, which include having telephone landlines next to the hot tub, or requiring them to be shut down at specific times.

“I’m very sad for the motel and hotels that this is affecting in our County,” said Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts at an Aug. 24 council meeting.

She added, “I think the only move forward in this is to request a change in the regulation. A large hotel should not be treated the same as a motel unit with one (hot tub) out the door.”

Resort operators said other health units are not enforcing the regulations.

Algonquin Highlands mayor Carol Moffatt said, “inconsistent application of this is absolutely ridiculous.”

Minden Hills mayor Brent Devolin compared the issue to the enforcement of COVID-19 rules in the health unit, with certain issues enforced more strictly.

“Definitely, the director of our regions can set the priorities without explicit ‘thou shalt not’,” he said.

Council voted to send a letter to MPP Laurie Scott to ask that Ontario Regulation 565 be amended to record a distinction between commercial hot tubs and small residential hot tubs used in commercial settings. It will also be sent to members of the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District board of health.

In an emailed statement, Scott’s office said “MPP Scott is aware of the issues businesses are experiencing regarding the enforcement of the regulation on public pools and is working diligently with the Ministry of Health on a solution to help support local businesses while maintaining public health standards in appropriate settings.”

The HKPR health unit previously told The Highlander complaints led to the enforcement of the Ontario rules.

The health unit said multiple infractions led to the closures, including not notifying local health units, not having emergency telephones, having no chemistry records or safety records, circulation system being off, and having no emergency stop button.

Electric vehicle may not be feasible

Haliburton County is set to modernize its fleet with an electric car, depending on price and availability.

The current vehicle in use, shared with the library, is at the end of its life.

“It is actually challenging to get parts for that type of vehicle… we’re hoping to get it through the end of the year,” said director of public works Robert Sutton.

Warden Liz Danielsen asked if the County is ready for an electric vehicle due to difficulties charging or maintaining a charge.

Sutton said, “all options are available,” noting supply issues with electric cars.

“Right now, we’re carrying the cost for a standard electric vehicle in the budget.”

Coun. Cec Ryall asked about ways to ensure electric vehicles could remain on the road even during power loss. Sutton said he’s not aware of generator backups for chargers.

“If you went full electric, you’d want to have some sort of backup system.”

Devolin said acquiring electric vehicles could remain a challenge far into the future with long lead times on securing them.

“Those are things staff and council are going to have to talk about as part of your next budget cycle,” he said.

Kash Lake retreat centre denied rezoning

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 1, 2022

0

After more than 14 months of consideration and multiple deferrals, Minden Hills has denied a rezoning application from a retreat centre on Lake Kashagawigamog.

Haliburton Post House requested an official plan amendment to allow non-residential use on the lakefront in 2021.

While the township’s contracted planners recommended council approve the rezoning, councillors unanimously denied the request, expressing concern about the retreat centre operating before rezoning was permitted and its impact on the lake community.

The entire property is rented on a short-term basis by corporate groups, private family gatherings or others, and they provide gourmet dining and meals-to-go services.

“There is no honesty there, right from the beginning,” said Coun. Ron Nesbitt.

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said, “on paper, we have what the planner is telling us… morally, we have what has been done.”

Activities conducted at the property appear to be permitted under current zoning rules.

Post House said they’ve followed the rules set out in the township’s official plan – the same rules that currently allow property owners to operate short-term rental businesses from their properties.

“We are pleased that the municipal township’s land use planner recommended approval of our application, recognizing and acknowledging the supporting materials we filed justifying the merits of our application both at the June 9, 2022 meeting and again on August 25, 2022. Facts were mischaracterized during the meeting and had we been given the opportunity to respond, we would have been able to correct those misrepresentations,” said co-owners Joel Baker and Heather Milstein in an emailed statement after the meeting. They plan to appeal the decision at the Ontario Land Tribunal. “In the meantime, we continue to operate lawfully and respectfully under the township’s zoning bylaw and short-term rental framework…our goal remains to be positive and collaborative members of the community,” they said.

Some residents expressed concerns over the property’s commercial uses impacting lake life. A nearby resident said she was concerned about the property capacity and the hosting of events that she said included motorized watercraft.

An environmental review from Brent Parsons of Hutchinson Environmental showed the development will not negatively impact the lake’s phosphorus levels.

In addition to his previous reports, Parsons added stipulations to collect groundwater samples and monitoring of a new and improved septic system, as well as keeping an eye on the property’s vegetative buffer.

“We believe the Post House fits well into the fabric of the community,” said Baker during the council meeting. He said the Post House is “on the same side” as the community in their wish to preserve the nature of the lake.

Multiple councillors said they were uncomfortable about setting a precedent for the property’s zoning if it is sold.

“This is setting a precedent,” Coun Pam Sayne said. “This means every short-term rental we have on the lake could do the same thing. We’ve got to look at this from a broader perspective, this isn’t about one business.”

Mayor Brent Devolin said, “It’s about trust. If your actions betray the trust between us or staff or the public, it comes with consequences.”

Dysart rubber stamps new strategic plan

By

Mike Baker

-

September 1, 2022

0

Outgoing Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts said she’s proud of the “game-changing” parting gift council is leaving behind for the community’s next set of elected officials.

Council officially adopted a new strategic plan in July, developing an overarching vision and mission to help guide future municipal decision-making. The plan is years in the making and its formation was one of Roberts’ primary goals heading into this current term.

“We’ve had a lot of different documents, things like a cultural resource plan, economic development strategies and asset management plans, but we didn’t really have one document that captures the essence of what Dysart is, where we see ourselves now and where we want to go,” Roberts said.

Dysart CAO Tamara Wilbee said the strategic plan would be different in the sense that it doesn’t outline specific projects for completion. Instead, it will serve as a “living document” that will operate alongside more detailed operational plans to support the township’s objectives.

From a staff perspective, she said the plan would help to prioritize areas of focus and develop more detailed action plans to move strategies forward over time.

It could also help the municipality secure more federal and provincial grants in the future.

Outlined in the new plan, Dysart’s vision is to be a culturally rich, welcoming and diverse community that prioritizes the natural environment while promoting the local economy through sustainable growth. Its mission is to serve and engage with residents, businesses and visitors by delivering excellent services and advancing innovative solutions that promote the community’s priorities now and into the future.

Also included in the plan are five strategic pillars that Roberts says are key to fostering the growth of Dysart.

The first pillar focuses on sustainable growth and the environment, with four goals outlined: establishing a growth vision and plan for Dysart; protecting and respecting the natural environment; mitigating climate change impacts; and ensuring the township’s future housing mix supports local housing demand.

Under the infrastructure planning and investment pillar, council outlined the need to implement and fund an asset management plan; invest in infrastructural renewal and expansion; and ensure its service standard policy aligns with emerging community needs.

The third pillar focuses on economic development and prosperity, with goals to promote and renew the downtown core in Haliburton and expand access to broadband services.

A fourth pillar targets good governance and operational excellence, with a commitment to enhance customer service across municipal facilities.

The fifth pillar aims to establish Dysart as a vibrant community with great services.

The strategic plan was developed in partnership with Toronto-based consultancy firm StrategyCorp.

While Roberts and several other councillors that helped develop the plan won’t be around next term to see the fruits of their labour, she said it was worth the time to ensure the township’s next council is in a good position to succeed.

“The biggest difference with having a strategic plan is that the township can now be proactive and move towards its goals, not just simply being reactive and waiting for things to happen,” Roberts said. “It’s about finding ways to maintain our small-town feel while addressing important issues like housing and technology… This is going to be an invaluable tool for staff and future councils for years to come.