Study reveal to bring arts centre ‘into focus’

-

October 14, 2022

I want to run a marathon. I hear they’re a great accomplishment.
Some of my heroes run marathons, after all, and post great after-race photos to Instagram. But I’m not sure how I’d prepare for one. Most likely the first steps would be to start running 20 kilometres a week and cutting donuts from my diet. Both are much too drastic for me. But still, a marathon seems like a pretty darn cool thing to do one day.
Just like I’d need a plan to achieve my marathon dreams, our political leaders and those vying for office need to back up their political talking points with details.
While it’s easy to point fingers at Ottawa’s politicians proposing easy solutions to complex problems – firing the governor of Canada’s bank to calm inflation for instance – everyone is attracted to simple promises.
It’s much easier to call for a township’s roads to be in better condition than it is to call for higher taxes to fund the fix, or inquire about what funds can and can’t be moved around a budget.
Haliburton County is facing complex, multi-layered challenges. Simple answers simply don’t exist when talking about how we ship garbage south or permit shoreline development. Most hot-button issues require a deep dive into the history and procedural rules of an issue.
I’ve spoken to candidates about the shoreline preservation bylaw and found out they haven’t read it; I’ve heard from others who condemn the state of their township’s roads but haven’t gone through publicly available roads studies.
It’s people who have studied these topics for their entire working lives – township staff, for instance – who have the knowledge and should be listened to, especially when they’re paid many thousands of taxpayer dollars for
their help.
There are decades of municipal decisions to wade through and Google can lead to a wealth of analysis and background on the mechanisms of governance council members and mayors should be well-versed in.
Just like when you read a news story and expect examples and proof, we should expect the same from our candidates. And they shouldn’t be limited by Haliburton County’s four corners.
Sure, tiny homes sound like a great housing option to me, but what municipality has implemented bylaws allowing them, and how has that turned out? Find out.
No matter how lofty your dreams are,
you need to build a staircase to reach them. Maybe that means meeting with roads crews to learn how they decide which roads get what treatment.
Maybe it’s a deep dive into who is visiting a village’s downtown and what might make them stay
there longer. Maybe it’s reading the Provincial Policy Statement to find out if the province is aligned with how your ward’s community is growing.
Be bold, be brave, and be informed and specific. Our townships need goals paired with strategies and milestones.
Otherwise, a campaign turns into regurgitated buzzwords.
Without strategy or specifics, local politics looks a lot like my marathon preparation; weekly runs through the forest unsure where the finish line is or if it exists at all.

What are we doing about short-term rentals?

By

-

October 14, 2022

What are we doing A podcast from The Highlander (4) — What are we doing? cover art

It’s expected the County’s deep dive into regulating short-term rentals will continue during an Oct. 26 County council meeting.

The process began in 2018 with Highlands East. It was the first lower-tier municipality to come close to passing a bylaw. However, amid much community angst, they never got such a bylaw across the line.

Algonquin Highlands had a preliminary crack at it as well, in 2020, but also could not bring any bylaw to fruition.

It was eventually decided that the County of Haliburton should take up the file. They hired consultant J.L. Richards and Associates in late December 2021 and the company has been working away ever since.

The County is clearly where this issue should be since any regulations have to be consistent across the Highlands.

At the last County council meeting on the topic Aug. 10, there appeared to be council consensus for a phased-in approach. It would begin with registering short-term rentals. This will provide a snapshot of the situation in the County and what townships might have to do to implement a bylaw.

After registration would come licensing.

It’s a sensible approach. The County is saying we permit short-term rentals because we know it is good for tourism. Some jurisdictions have banned them outright. However, they have also said these owners will no longer have carte blanche, but must fit in with neighbours and not create safety or environmental concerns.

The consultants have, well, consulted; looking into what a number of other townships are doing. They talked to Airbnb, the Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Housing Corporation, Environment Haliburton and representatives of the cottage rental and maintenance industry, economic development and tourism. They also did a public survey.

A lot of councillors like what Lake of Bays is doing. It’s got a bylaw. Owners of short-term rentals there pay a licensing fee. It ranges from $250 to $750 depending on how many units a person has. Then there are annual renewal fees. Lake of Bays regulates how many people can stay, and how many vehicles they can bring. Many councillors like a demerit point system and fines for infractions.

Going forward, the County still must clearly define what a short-term rental is, as there is a big difference between renting out your cottage for two weeks a year to pay for a new roof and renting it out 365 days of the year.

Most agree that the former should not be regulated but the latter is a business and should be treated as such.

There has to be more investigation into the current widespread use of bunkies as rentals as well.

In chatting with Lake of Bays’ director of building and bylaw, Stephen Watson, he said their bylaw has been two years in the making. They hired a full-time, short-term rental coordinator in February but they’ve also contracted a third-party company, named Granicus, for monitoring, compliance and enforcement.

Watson said he’d be happy for Haliburton County to reach out for more information.

It is time to register, license and police short-term rentals in Haliburton County and County council and its lower-tier municipalities are getting closer to doing just that.

Time to vote

By

-

October 14, 2022

Internet and phone voting has begun across the County’s four municipalities.

The voting period began this past Saturday, Oct. 8 and goes right up to 8 p.m. on election day, which is Oct. 24 this year.

All of the townships, with the exception of Minden Hills, are only doing internet and phone voting. Minden Hills has in-person, paper voting. Some cast their ballots Oct. 8 while others can go to the S.G. Nesbitt Community Centre at 55 Parkside St., Minden, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

By now, people should have received a letter from their township with a unique pin. Using the pin, and your date of birth, you can log on to the specified website in your letter and vote, or call the toll-free number.

It’s a change for some townships. Last election, for example, Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, and Highlands East allowed mail-in ballots. Minden Hills had internet, phone and in-person voting..

We believe it would have been preferable to have a consistent voting method across the Highlands, but a majority of Minden Hills councillors didn’t. They voted against their clerk’s recommendation for internet and phone voting, only. This despite the clerk saying it was very labour intensive, expensive and confusing for the public.

We get that some councillors were worried about people not having good internet connections or cell phones, making the process potentially difficult for them. We also understand that not everyone is great with technology. However, it will be interesting to see how many people actually vote in-person to gauge if it was worth the time and money. It will also be notable if Minden Hills’ results are later than the other townships come election night.

Voting by internet or phone allows people to cast their ballots from anywhere with a connection. In the past, if you were going out of town, for example, you had to find a pre-polling station. Now, you can be on a beach in Florida and still vote.

It is more accessible for people with disabilities, seniors and seasonal residents. There is also a longer voting window. In theory, it should attract more young voters. We’re told the e-voting townships should have results quickly.

All of this would point towards more people voting in 2022 than 2018.

However, for that to happen, people have to be engaged in the process. They need to take an interest. Just because mayors and deputy mayors have been acclaimed in Dysart et al and Minden Hills, for example, does not mean you do not vote. Find out what ward you live in, if it is being contested, do your homework, and vote for a candidate. There are races in all four townships.

The people you vote for will help determine the kind of County that Haliburton becomes and The Highlander has already done a lot of your homework for you.

You can listen to our podcast to find out about some of the Highlands’ biggest issues. Check out our opinion pages in the paper, where we elaborate on these issues. Listen to the full interviews we’ve done with all candidates on our podcast. Read the paper for our candidate profiles. Above all, vote.

A Boomwhacker bonanza at Razzamataz show

By

-

October 13, 2022

An upcoming Razzamataz Kids Shows will mix batons, theatre, dance and song at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavillion Oct. 16.

Performed by dance company Tara Luz Danse, “Les Batons” is all about colourful “Boomwhacker” acoustic batons which the performers will use to create songs on stage, as well as using them to dance and propel a theatrical story.

“It’s quite astounding,” said new Razzamataz board member Nicole Stewart.

She said the show is a step forward after the COVID-19 pandemic for the group whose mandate is bringing low-cost family entertainment to The Highlands.

“We are basically just slowly coming out of our COVID pause. these shows are designed to re-energize the community and let them know we’re back.”

While the group has been around for 30 years, Stewart said there’s a new group of kids born during the pandemic who may not have experienced how fun a Razzamataz show can be.

“We really want to engage a whole new group of people, as well as the other people who have been following for a while,” she said.

Les Batons costs $7 for kids and $10 for adults. For advance tickets visit razzamataz.ca.

A full schedule of fall programming is also available on Razzamataz’s website.

A rock education with Camexicanus

By

-

October 13, 2022

Camexicanus’ summer was filled with camps and a focus on spreading artistic fun to rural communities. Now, the cross-cultural arts organization has its sights on a capstone theatrical project debuting in the Highlands this November.

With the help of a cast of young Highlanders, they’re producing a full musical, School of Rock, for the first time.

Young leaders who’ve helped director Greg Sadlier run arts-themed summer camps will take lead roles, and the crew has been auditioning younger community members to hop on board as well to learn acting and musical skills.

“I think it’ll be an experience that none of them really have had before, including myself,” said Darian Maddock, assistant director of the program and recent HHSS graduate.

“Being able to direct these kids will be fun for me in terms of what they’re going to pick up,” he added. “They’re going to learn how to work together, how to prepare for a show and what it takes to memorize all your lines….It’s kind of the behind-the-scenes things that you never really, especially kids, think about.”

While Camexicanus has already started auditions, they invite any interested kids to drop into their weekly practices.

The community can also help out. Camexicanus is looking for sponsors for the show.

They’re also looking for theatre lovers. “It could be anything…helping for a few days with costumes or coming in and helping and volunteering with the show,” Sadlier said. “So, most of all, the main two things are encouraging kids to be a part of it and then showing up at the end and supporting the kids by being there.”

An exact date for the performances is yet to be announced.

Many of the children who have expressed interest so far have been learning skills in Camexicanus’ music classes. This year the group is re-starting pay-what-you-can music classes for kids in Haliburton, Minden and Wilberforce.

Sadlier said it’s rewarding to see young leaders such as Maddock invest in the youngest members of Haliburton’s arts community.

“This is everything that our organization stands for,” he said. “This is the dream to have young adults who are choosing… to pour into the community.”

For more information on the musical or music lessons, contact Camexicanus at info@ camexicanus.ca.

Extendicare honours long-serving employees

By

-

October 13, 2022

Margeret Hutchinson, Susan Swinson and Kim Roberts have been helping the elderly at Extendicare Haliburton for nearly as long as the facility has existed.

The long-term care home celebrated the womens’ accomplishments at a Sept. 22 awards ceremony. “I love my job,” said Hutchinson, who has worked at the home for more than 45 years, first in the kitchens and now in the laundry department. She said the residents and other staff have made it a great place to work. Swinson, recognized for 45 years of service as a PSW, and Roberts, a PSW for 40 years, both said residents were their favourite part of the job as well. “It’s the staff too,” Swinson added. “We’re like a family.”

Retired housing lead gets County thank you

By

-

October 13, 2022

The Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation board and some current and past staff gathered in Minden recently to mark the retirement of long-time CEO Hope Lee.

Lee ended her 34-year stint with the City of Kawartha Lakes in May 2021 but COVID-19 muted celebrations.

Earlier this month, she was honoured at 57 Parkside Dr. It’s home to a 21-unit building, and an adjacent 12-unit structure, located south of the arena. They are just two of the four buildings Lee developed over the last decade, working in close cooperation with local councils, said housing advocate Fay Martin, who was in attendance.

Lee frequently addressed municipal governments and public gatherings in her role as housing manager for CKL and Haliburton County, a position she held simultaneously for 18 years. It was split into its own full-time position when Lee retired, and is now filled by Michelle Corley, who came up through the ranks.

After a brief retirement, Lee took a contractual position as interim CEO at Peterborough Community Housing, which fills a parallel role to KLH Housing Corp. in Peterborough.

Martin said, “in addition to an impressive development initiative that increased the number of KLH units by 125 per cent to its current 124 units in Haliburton County, Hope leaves the corporation with a strong organizational culture of respect and competence.”

Martin added Kirstin Maxwell, the new CEO of KLH Housing Corp, “brings extensive development and housing policy experience to support the organization in continuing its important work to serve our local communities.”

Operating with heart and a calculator

By

-

October 13, 2022

Disbursing more than $3.1 million in loans, the Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC) continues to be the most active lender of 61 community futures development corporations (CFDC) in the province, board chair Pat Kennedy told the 37th annual AGM Oct. 4.

Held at the Red Umbrella Inn, Kennedy acknowledged FedDev’s ongoing support and said HCDC remains committed to strategically implementing the priorities of the federal government.

Kennedy said they received the most funding of any CFDC in southern Ontario and claimed the largest investment fund, valued at $21.3 million, of the 267 CFDCs in Canada.

“We continue to support community economic development initiatives, the growth of new and existing businesses and the creation of sustainable jobs in Haliburton County,” Kennedy said. He added they also assist not-for-profit organizations with community strategic planning and provide funding through their “unique” and “very successful” Local Initiatives Program (LIP).

Kennedy, who is returning as board chair, added, “we remain devoted and committed to meeting the needs of our Haliburton Highlands community as we transition through the impacts of the pandemic. The basis of this focus is to make businesses, organizations and communities more nimble, effective, profitable and sustainable, creating new wealth, new jobs and contributing to community economic development.”

He noted there had been many changes for businesses and charitable organizations in the past year. He said they had to adapt and pivot quickly to meet challenges, such as COVID restrictions and labour shortages. He said HCDC had seen significant increases in service volumes and administered new funding programs.

The outgoing Dysart deputy mayor added at HCDC, they view each application, “with a heart as well as a calculator.”

During the meeting, Tim Degeer of Dawson Gray presented a clean audit.

Executive director Patti Tallman said that in addition to loans, HCDC had provided business services to 69 companies, helped create or maintain 253 jobs, provided in-depth counselling to 118 businesses or non-profits, and made 128 referrals.

Loans officer, Sara Joanu, said they presented 47 loan applications to the investment committee, of which 33 were approved, five declined and nine withdrawn by the client after approval.

She acknowledged it was a much slower year from 2021: 33 loans, versus 52 in 2021; value of dollars approved about $5.1 million, compared to $6.4 million in 2021; and value of dollars dispersed just over $3 million, compared to more than $5.1 million in 2021.

She attributed that to businesses being able to access COVID relief funding while others actually flourished during the pandemic. Joanu said to date, the bulk of loans, nearly 40 per cent, have gone into restaurants, landscaping, hair salons, accounting and auto repair.

As for community economic development, program and operations coordinator, Heather Reid, said they’d helped with six strategic plans, worked with 22 community partners in planning, and disbursed $165,000. She highlighted the mural wall of sports heroes, and the Haliburton Highlands Art Centre Foundation feasibility study. The LIP helped 25 projects and 53 partners with $86,500 disbursed. Reid said the pandemic also gave them the opportunity to “reimagine” the incubator space in downtown Haliburton. She added they are not done yet.

The AGM also saw the election of two new directors; Mark Bell and Tammy Rea. Leaving are: Dale Bull and Peter Smith.

ERs defy expectations while shortages continue

By

-

October 13, 2022