Saving Grace event a ‘funeral’ for turtle

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September 29, 2022

It was a sombre morning on the playing fields at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) Sept. 24 as more than 100 people commemorated the life of Grace, a 125-year-old Snapping turtle who hasn’t been seen in almost a year.

Organized by The Land Between and Turtle Guardians charities, the Saving Grace event was designed to shine a light on perceived shortfalls in municipal policy in Dysart et al, which, according to Leora Berman, last year led to the filling of wetlands near the school where she believes several turtles, including Grace, were hibernating, likely burying them alive.

Berman has spent months calling on council to strengthen protections for wetlands designated as environmentally protected (EP) zones. While Dysart does have a policy in place recognizing EP zones, there is currently no enforcement.

“They just seem to ignore us,” Berman said. “The Grace story has gotten over 100,000 signatures [on a petition], but this municipality still has not passed the correct provisions under their EP zones… There is no protection.”

At a meeting in May, council indicated they see this as a County-wide issue and could even fall under the parameters of the new shoreline preservation bylaw. Director of planning and land information, Jeff Iles, was directed to review the bylaw and report back on how it could protect Dysart wetlands and EP areas.

In a follow-up email with The Highlander, Iles said “I think every[one] agrees that council, along with all councils in the County, have recognized the need for legislation and are currently working on a County-wide site alteration bylaw to address these issues.”

Berman doesn’t believe piggybacking off the shoreline preservation bylaw is the answer. “It does protect shorelines of wetlands, but it doesn’t cover EP zone sites,” she said.

Amy Semple made the trip from Peterborough to attend. A volunteer with the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, she said Grace’s story struck a chord with her when she learned about her disappearance earlier this year.

“I think it’s important that people come out and show their support for causes like this. There are a lot of people here today. This isn’t just about one turtle, it’s about the whole environment that we’re bulldozing through and changing forever,” Semple said. “Grace is a symbol of what’s happening everywhere. We need to have better regulations to ensure our wetlands, our animals, are better protected.”

Representatives from the Turtle Island Conservation program at the Toronto Zoo were also on hand to show their support.

For Berman, the fight continues. She vowed to continue lobbying for better protection of EP zones and announced plans for a commemorative statue of Grace, which she hopes will one day be installed on the shores of Head Lake, “so that people always remember what we’ve lost.”

“Today’s ceremony, some people have called it a funeral, and it could be. If Grace is lost, and we really fear she is… we don’t ever want to see this happen ever again,” Berman said.

Dysart defers delegating authority on shoreline preservation bylaw

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Mike Baker

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September 29, 2022

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Dysart council has deferred a decision over whether to delegate authority to the County to enforce the recently passed shoreline preservation bylaw in the community to the township’s next set of elected officials.

After a short presentation Sept. 27 by Steve Stone, the County’s director of planning, on the regulations included in the bylaw, many councillors said they felt uncomfortable making a decision given they still have questions over the final document.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said she’d received several emails calling on her to vote against delegating authority, but wasn’t sure what legal implications, if any, that may have.

“I think we should seek our own legal counsel to find out what it means if we do opt out. Can we even do that?” Roberts said. The outgoing mayor was one of two County officials to vote against the bylaw last month, alongside Dysart deputy Pat Kennedy.

Coun. John Smith said there were a few inconsistencies within the bylaw that concerned him.

“Schedule A outlines a shortlist of common shoreline alteration activities that are exempt from requiring a permit, but these do not apply to municipally-owned shore road allowances,” Smith said. “Am I right in thinking if I don’t own my shore road allowance, I won’t be allowed to do something as simple as weed my walkway in the future? That would be problematic.”

Stone said despite the wording in the bylaw, Smith would be permitted to weed his walkway.

Coun. Walt McKechnie said he wasn’t a fan of the bylaw, calling it confusing. “We’re just creating something here that’s bigger government and we don’t need it.”

Council directed staff to seek a legal opinion and bring the issue back once the community’s next council is in place.

Schmale speaks to boundary commission

By

Sam Gillett

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September 29, 2022

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Jamie Schmale stands up to speak during Question Period / se leve en Chambre durant la Période des questions Ottawa, ONTARIO, on May 3, 2022 © HOC-CDC Credit: Bernard Thibodeau, House of Commons Photo Services

Jamie Schmale asked Ontario’s federal electoral boundaries commission Sept. 26 to keep the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (HKLB) riding whole.

An independent commission has been tasked with re-drawing the electoral map of Ontario since a new member of Parliament is set to be added to keep up with population growth.

If changes proceed as proposed, a chunk of Highlands East would no longer be part of the HKLB riding. Instead, it would become part of the Hastings-Lennox and Addington-Tyendinaga riding.

Appearing virtually, Schmale encouraged the commission to, “maintain the status quo”.

“For a number of reasons, including the fact that right now a major municipal election issue in Haliburton County is the amalgamation of all the municipalities into one kind of upper-tier municipality…by carving off a very small population in the northwestern Highlands East would be problematic and confusing to a lot of people.”

Highlands East unanimously voted to send a letter to the commission outlining similar concerns.

Schmale also lobbied for other areas in the riding outside Haliburton County that would be split up, such as Cavan-Monaghan near Peterborough, which is home to Peterborough’s airport.

“If it does go into Peterborough, the city will get the priority rather than the residents in the rural areas,” he said.

More than 40 people spoke from ridings in central and eastern Ontario as well as the northern GTA. Multiple other hearings are scheduled before the commission brings forward a final proposal for new electoral boundaries in December.

Decoration Day about respecting fallen veterans

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Mike Baker

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September 22, 2022

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While Remembrance Day is still a couple of months away, members of the Haliburton Legion partnered with a leadership class from HHSS this week to commemorate the community’s fallen veterans.

The legion held its annual Decoration Day at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic cemetery and Evergreen cemetery Sept. 19, with around 50 people, including 23 high schoolers, braving the elements to attend.

Now into its fifth year, the event has become a staple of the local legion’s fall program, said president Don Pitman.

“It’s important for our legion to recognize those that have served over the years. This is a great opportunity to leave a visual marker so that when people come through the cemetery, they will realize that these people served with distinction and, in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Pitman said.

Teacher Paul Longo said it was “an honour” for HHSS to be involved in the event. Grade 11 and 12 students have been taking part since 2018. They attend the opening ceremonies and then take crosses provided by the legion and place them beside grave sites.

This year, students placed 146 crosses honouring veterans who served in the First and Second World Wars and in the years since.

Kamryn Holden said she learned a lot about respect by participating in this year’s event.

“It’s very enlightening. It adds a whole other element to remembrance for me,” Holden said.

Jesse Bascevan, in Grade 12, helped to lay 14 crosses during a wet morning at Evergreen. He said he appreciated learning about the veterans, many of whom gave their lives so future generations may prosper.

“Some people may not see this event as important at all – like, why would we go to graves and put some little crosses down? It’s about giving respect to people who did things that I don’t think many would [be prepared to] do today,” Bascevan said. “We need to remember these people and the sacrifices they made for our freedom,” said Landon Chaulk. “If we don’t, then history is going to repeat itself and their sacrifices will have been for nothing.”

Sledders celebrate volunteer efforts

By

Sam Gillett

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September 22, 2022

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The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) recapped its season and honoured those who made it possible at its Sept. 17 annual general meeting at the A.J. LaRue arena.

“We’re powered by volunteers and I talk about that a lot. No volunteers, no trails,” said association president John Enright after the meeting.

“That’s the main message: be a volunteer and you’ll help contribute to Haliburton’s winter economy.”

Groomer Noah Black won “The Elmo” award, named after a famous HCSA groomer operator.

Enright described Black as a “marathon” groomer.

“Sometimes he’ll be out there for hours and hours, he doesn’t quit,” Enright said.

Sherri and Scott Patterson were awarded the “family of the year” award. Margo Ross, HCSA volunteers in action coordinator, said the family “works tirelessly year after year.”

Brad Griffin was awarded the volunteer of the year plaque for his work as co-grooming operations coordinator and his commitment to helping clean up and maintain the association’s property.

Enright said he’s a “hands-on and ‘get er’ done’ guy.”

The association battled tough snow conditions during the 2021/2022 season with inconsistent temperatures and snowfall.

It was named the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club’s (OFSC) club of the year, and secured a new groomer.

Trail to rejoin regions

A trail linking Haliburton and Muskoka’s snowmobile networks could be restored this winter.

For the past three years, a multi-use trail linking the Muskoka region to Haliburton has been closed due to a washout. Enright said the trail’s re-opening will be big for local business. “We have two huge adjoining areas that have been severed for three and a half years without a proper connection,” he said.

The Bancroft and Minden forestry corporation, the OFSC, Haliburton ATV association, the Ontario Four-wheel Drive Club, and the HCSA have partnered to repair the trail. Fixing the washout, which Enright estimates is 160 feet long and 12 feet deep, will cost about $180,000.

Enright told the AGM that the trail’s re-opening will be “nothing short of amazing…this is the biggest trail opening in five years.”

Huskies impress scouts at Cobourg showcase

By

Mike Baker

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September 22, 2022

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It’s been a mixed week for the Haliburton County Huskies, who maintained their place atop the OJHL South/East Conference standings despite falling to a pair of shock defeats.

An intense ‘Battle of Hwy. 35’ match-up with the Lindsay Muskies Sept. 16 resulted in the Dogs’ first loss of the season, falling 4-3 in overtime. The hometown team followed that up with a 3-1 win over the St. Michael’s Buzzers Sept. 17 at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.

The team traveled south to Cobourg Sept. 19 to participate in the OJHL Governors’ Showcase, where they kicked off proceedings early on day one with a 6-2 routing of the North York Rangers. A tilt with the Toronto Patriots Sept. 20 ended badly for the Huskies, dropping a 3-1 decision against the previously winless side.

“We played a lot of hockey over the past week, four games across five nights and I think that caught up with some of the guys,” said head coach and general manager Ryan Ramsay.

Friday’s contest with the Muskies was a back-and-forth rollercoaster with both teams going hard for the win. Young forward Taylor Barnett fired the Muskies into an early lead nine minutes into the opening period. Huskies blueliners Will Gourgouvelis and Isaac Sooklal then took centre stage – Gourgouvelis tying the game with a ripper from the point at 14:23 after being teed up by Sooklal, and then Sooklal blasting in the go-ahead goal at 15:42, assisted by Gourgouvelis.

Boyd Stahlbaum and William Everson hit back for the Muskies during the second, with Sooklal scoring again in the final frame to send the game to overtime. Tempers flared during the extra frame, with Myles Perry receiving a five-minute major after he appeared to kick a downed Muskies player after the whistle. He subsequently received a four-game suspension.

Stahlbaum was the eventual hero, giving the Muskies the win 3:42 into the overtime period.

The Huskies were relentless the next night in Minden, racing out to an early 2-0 lead against the Buzzers courtesy of goals by Alex Cunningham and Ty Collins. Bryce Sutherland provided the away side with some late hope, potting at 18:34 during the third before Christian Stevens added an empty netter for the Dogs.

Governors’ Showcase recap

A slow start to Monday’s tilt with the Rangers landed the Huskies in hot water, with the hometown team finding themselves two goals behind early in the second period. Six straight goals powered the Dogs through, with Cunningham, Collins, Patrick Saini, Sam Solarino, Jack Staniland and Josh Sordo all getting on the scoresheet in a 6-2 win.

The Huskies made a promising start to Tuesday’s early morning game with the Patriots, Gourgouvelis scoring at 4:57 of the opening period. That was as good as it got for the Dogs, who gave up three straight goals en route to their first regulation defeat of the season.

“I think we just got outworked. It doesn’t matter how much skill and talent you have; hard work will beat talent if talent doesn’t show up,” Ramsay said. “That game [with the Patriots] is one all of the boys I’m sure would like to have back.”

The showcase was well attended by pro scouts, with Ramsay having conversations about several of his players.

“It’s not all about wins and losses, while we were disappointed with the result [against Toronto], there were spurts and periods were the players played really well,” Ramsay said. “For our guys to get recognized at an NCAA level and NHL level, that’s great for our program.”

The Huskies will be back at it this weekend with a road game against the Trenton Golden Hawks Sept. 23. The team returns to Minden Oct. 1 for a home tilt with the Wellington Dukes. Puck drop at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is 3 p.m.

Health services welcomes new board chairman

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Lisa Gervais

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September 22, 2022

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David O’Brien will be taking the reigns of the Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) board of directors.

The executive committee made the announcement Sept. 8.

It said O’Brien, who had been vice-chair, had been promoted following the resignation of Dr. Jan Walker.

“I am disappointed to be leaving the board at this critical time in HHHS’ journey,” Dr. Walker said in a media release. “My family requires more support to address some health challenges, and I must step away to focus on them. I know HHHS will be in good hands with this strong board team in place.”

O’Brien has been a board member since June 2018. Prior to becoming chair, he served as chair of the finance committee and then vice-chair of the board, and, according to the release, “has been a key member of the executive committee of the board that helped to steer HHHS through some difficult years.”

Prior to retirement, O’Brien’s career included extensive executive leadership roles including city manager for the City of Mississauga, the City of Ottawa, and the City of Gloucester, various positions for the City of Sudbury, president and CEO of Toronto Hydro, and other corporate roles.

“He has broad governance experience, serving as director on many boards throughout his career including for hospitals,” the release said.

It added the resident of Dysart et al, “is committed to giving back to the community through his involvement on multiple boards, including at the Haliburton County Development Corporation and the Haliburton County Public Library.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Jan Walker for her dedicated service to the board of directors and HHHS since 2015,” O’Brien said. “Under her leadership over the past year, HHHS has continued to deliver the high-quality health care services our community relies on, despite significant challenges including the health human resource crisis being experienced across the province. We will miss Dr. Walker, and will continue to work hard to guide HHHS forward for our community.”

Board discusses ‘defeatist attitude’ towards COVID shots

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Lisa Gervais

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September 22, 2022

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HKPR district health unit board member Bill Cane asked the Sept. 15 board meeting what they should be doing about a “defeatist attitude” regarding the effectiveness of further COVID-19 vaccines.

Cane, from Northumberland County, asked if anyone else was noticing a trend whereby, “all kinds of people are saying, ‘I was triple vaxxed and got it anyway, we’re all going to get it anyway, what’s the sense?” He asked his colleagues what their response should be.

Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, said the number of people getting immunized against the virus has dramatically declined. She said while the first two shots and a booster provide “very good protection” from her perspective, data indicates people can still get severely ill without subsequent shots.

“Protecting yourself against severe illness by getting the bivalent dose this fall makes sense to me and is an easy thing to do.” She added it will help protect the health care system overall. “The fundamental message is look after yourself, your family and your community, but I agree we are struggling with our messaging because we know people are tired.”

Cane asked if it was a question of getting slightly ill or really sick. Bocking said getting subsequent doses could prevent people from going to hospital, which frees up more hospital beds for other things, including elective surgeries. “If it protects other members of the community, it’s a step worth taking.”

Haliburton County board member, Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts, likened it to “roulette.”

“It’s not fair to have a laissez faire attitude,” she said. She added they were “ambassadors” of public health who should be promoting vaccines. She said no one could predict the future and “heaven forbid” there could be a new variant this fall.

In her report to the board, Bocking said “at the health unit, the pandemic still has an ever-present presence … and still a lot of work and effort that we need to be putting in to address COVID-19 locally. We don’t expect COVID to be leaving us any time soon.”

She said this summer’s seventh wave is only now receding, with the number of outbreaks at long-term care homes and retirement residences down at the end of the first week of September and positivity rates also declining.

She said they got up to 14-15 outbreaks at the peak, down to five as of the meeting. The positivity rate had gone from 16.9 per cent to 9.7 per cent. She said wastewater trends had also stabilized, including in Minden.

“As much as we see COVID-19 becoming less of a presence in our overall lives, it’s still impacting certainly those most vulnerable in our community. We know we have good immunization coverage in long-term care homes so thankfully we’re not seeing the same levels of illness, hospital admissions and deaths than we did in the first waves of the pandemic, but we are still seeing some.”

She added some people are saying Omicron is like a cold, but there have been more hospitalizations and deaths from it, than influenza in any given year.

As for the fall, she suggests people keep up with COVID-19 as well as flu shots since they are anticipating “a challenging fall respiratory season.”

She urged board members to take the message home, “if you’re sick this fall, that you stay home.” She said the vaccine landscape is more complicated and people should ask their primary health care provider or the health unit if they have questions.

Questions begin to pour in for candidates

By

Lisa Gervais

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September 22, 2022

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As the 2022 municipal election race heats up across Haliburton County, two candidates’ meetings have been announced. The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is finalizing questions for candidates, and the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow (CEWF) does not want to be left out of the process.

The Minden Rotary Club is holding an all-candidates meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, starting at 7 p.m. in the Minden Community Centre.

“All eight candidates and three acclaimed have indicated they will be in attendance,” Rotarian Jeanne Anthon said. She added that Jack Brezina will moderate.

Mayor Bob Carter and deputy mayor Lisa Schell have been acclaimed as has Bob Sisson in ward 3. Trevor Chaulk and Tammy McKelvey are vying for councillor-at-large; Pam Sayne and Stephen Hertel for ward 2 and Ivan Ingram, Shirley Johannessen, Mike Grozelle and Richard Bradley for the two seats in ward 1.

Meanwhile, the Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners Association, Lake Kashagawigamog Organization and Miskwabi Area Community Association have asked Dysart et al ward 2 candidates to join an all-candidates meeting Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom, the three association presidents said.

Candidates include Nancy Wood-Roberts, Jennifer Korpela and Dan Roberts.

Organizers said the candidates will have five minutes each to introduce themselves, explain why they are running and outline their priorities. There will then be a questionand-answer session. “The expectation is that your responses will focus on yourself and not the positions of your opposition,” the presidents said.

Chamber executive director Bob Gaudette said they surveyed members, who responded their top issue is affordable and attainable housing. He said via newsletter that 50 per cent of respondents said that was their number one issue followed by the labour shortage. He said several questions were submitted by members and will be incorporated into a finalized version of a questionnaire that will be sent to candidates. The chamber will be looking for video responses to those questions.

CEWF said it also wanted candidates to consider a few questions. Board member Carol Moffatt said they included: “In relation to the County’s flood-line mapping project, what regulatory or other changes would you support, such as building development or setbacks, in order to protect all of our communities from what happened in 2013 and 2017?”

She followed up with, “(your municipality) supported the CEWF submission to TSW’s management plan. In your view, why was this important for your constituents and what needs to happen next? And finally, CEWF wants to ask, “fluctuating water levels are a significant issue for property owners on the reservoir lakes. How will you ensure the working relationship between CEWF and TSW continues to inform municipal governance?”

Heads-in-beds tax may go with rentals bylaw

By

Lisa Gervais

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September 22, 2022

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County council has had a look at how a municipal accommodation tax (MAT) program could benefit the area but has deferred taking any action at this point in time.

Director of economic development and tourism, Scott Ovell, prepared a report that goes hand-in-hand with plans to have a short-term rental (STR) bylaw in future.

While next stages of a possible STR bylaw will not be discussed until an Oct. 26 County council meeting, Ovell delivered a written report on the MAT at a Sept. 14 meeting.

STR consultants, J.L. Richards & Associates, discussed the MAT as it applies to STRs at an August meeting and council wanted to hear more from Ovell on the subject.

“It’s becoming more common,” Ovell told council. “I think the province predominately implemented this as a revenue generation tool to allow municipalities to generate more revenue and obviously invest in tourism and economic development.”

He added most municipalities have set the MAT at two to four per cent, with four per cent the most common. Some are phasing it in. It applies to the room portion of costs only. Ovell cited Barrie, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Prince Edward County and Peterborough as neighbours all having MATs.

He said there are rules, such as a minimum of 50 per cent has to go to an “eligible tourism entity”.

Townships can collect the tax themselves or contract it out to a third party. Ovell said the County’s solicitor says it’s possible for the townships to designate the County as the collection agency on their behalf and return their portion.

When it comes to getting the money from STRs, as opposed to hotels and motels, for example, Ovell said it has proven more challenging. “In the fall of 2019, most third-party online hosts, AirBnB, Vrbo, indicated to municipalities they would no longer collect and remit this tax on behalf of their guests, citing inconsistencies in taxation rates, licensing programs etc.,” he said.

He said the County would have to decide if it would apply the tax to its small number of hotels, motels and resorts, or just to STRs. Anticipating there could be 250-plus short-term rentals in the County, he said administering the MAT would be a challenge. In other areas, he said STRs are being registered and licensed and the MAT tacked on to the licensing process.

As for revenue, Ovell provided some concrete examples for his department’s 2022 budget, including just over $153,000 for marketing and Hike Haliburton. He said the savings could be redirected towards economic development programs or other services provided by the County.

Coun. Pat Kennedy said he’s in favour. “We’re going to be asking people who visit here, who have no vested interest in the properties, to pay a little portion to help with things such as landfills that they have a big impact on,” he said. “I have no qualms about implementing this. There’s no negative impact I can see to our property owners. In fact, we may see enhanced hours at our landfills, for example”.

Coun. Andrea Roberts said it could help pay for key infrastructure, whether a new playground in Head Lake Park or a future splash pad.

Coun. Carol Moffatt said she’s worried they’ll spend more time and money on the program than revenue received, especially with STRs not contributing. She added she had an email from someone saying it should be named a “County sustainability tax.” She agrees, saying “it’s not a tax, it’s a revolving revenue source” that should be directed to tourism infrastructure. “I think this conversation needs to keep moving. I would hate to see it fall off the radar because it feels like too much work.”

Coun. Cec Ryall said talk of the MAT should come at the tail end of the short-term rental file. Council received the report for information only