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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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?”
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
More than a dozen signs asking drivers to slow down have been taken from North Shore Road, leaving residents puzzled and distressed over local traffic speeds.
“I was bitterly disappointed and a little angry,” said Paul MacInnes, who helped secure “Slow Down Please” lawn signs from CAA in Peterborough.
After installing 16 up and down the road Sept. 15, MacInnes heard from multiple residents they seemed to be having an effect. However, they were all taken some time during late Sept. 17 or early Sept. 18.
MacInnes said he reported the issue to the OPP, who released a statement on Sept. 20 about sign tampering and theft.
“The Haliburton Highlands OPP recently received reports of the theft of election and community safety signage and would like to remind residents to be vigilant and make a report if you witness any such incidents to the police immediately,” said the OPP.
“Anyone removing signage without authority to do so could result in persons being charged with theft under $5,000.”
The MacInneses and 16 other families erected signs on the road after meeting to discuss municipal election issues at the beginning of September.
People ignoring posted speed limit: Moffatt
“The big issue that just kept coming up was the traffic and speeding on North Shore Road,” he said.
They’ve since asked the County of Haliburton for temporary use of digital speed alert signs, and have approached Algonquin Highlands about the issue.
MacInnes said one resident counted more than 200 cars driving by in an hour during the summer.
“The traffic volume is one thing, but the speed they’re going is another. A lot of cars are travelling at a very unsafe speed,” he said.
It’s an issue Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt, who drives the road most days, knows well.
“I’m extremely familiar with every bump on that road,” she said.
Council recently denied a request to seek a change in the speed limit from 50 kilometres an hour to 40 on the road.
“The issue isn’t about a posted speed limit, the issue is about people ignoring the posted speed limit,” she said.
The fact CAA’s slow down signs are so widespread shows how speeding is a Canada-wide issue, she added.
“People think ‘reduce the speed limit and the problem will fade away.’ That’s not how it works.”
Moffatt said she’s requested the OPP conduct regular patrols on the road to deter speeders. She also encouraged walkers, cyclists and other road users to exercise caution and pay attention to their surroundings.
“People need to stop speeding on North Shore Road. What’s the rush? …and people need to stop treating North Shore Road like it’s a paved path somewhere,” she said.
As for MacInnes and his neighbours, they’re considering other options to help decrease speed.
“We don’t want to go back to the CAA and ask them for more signs if they’re just going to be stolen again.”
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.
In that regard, Haliburton County receives a failing grade.
For decades, the Highlands has been recognized as one of the poorest in Ontario, sharing that unenviable title with Manitoulin Island.
Poverty has been left unchecked far too long, being allowed to fester to such a point that, today, more than 17 per cent of people in Haliburton County are lacking the resources required to provide the basic necessities of life.
Really think about that for a moment. Almost one in five people here are struggling to get by.
It’s even worse for kids – around 25 per cent of our youth are living in poverty.
While the pandemic may have exacerbated the issue, this is something people like Tina Jackson, executive director of the Haliburton County Heat Bank and Central Food Network, have been dealing with for quite some time.
Since 2014, the heat bank has seen its clientele more than double. Our food banks are finding it difficult to keep up with demand. A report put to County council in 2019 pegged the region’s living wage at $19.42.
Now, this was pre-pandemic so we can almost guarantee that number has increased over the past three years, but still… That’s a lot of money when you consider a major part of the County’s economy is centred around tourism, which isn’t generally a high-paying field.
Fay Martin, an academic that has spent 30-plus years studying poverty in Haliburton County, suggests we are where we are by design.
Because our economy is based on tourism, a vast majority of jobs are seasonal and low paying. It’s hard to turn that around.
If our restaurants began paying employees a living wage, they would have to increase prices, likely pushing more people to eat at home. The same can be said for almost any service; eventually, the consumer is the one that pays.
In a nutshell, tourists will find somewhere else to go if Haliburton County becomes an expensive place for them to play.
We must look at other avenues to bring about change.
Perhaps our local leaders can take an active role in trying to bring more small to medium-sized businesses to Haliburton County. Alliston has Honda, and, more recently, Smith Falls attracted Canopy.
Another idea is to entice an organization like Fleming College to establish a trades school here. The arts community has flourished in the years since the Haliburton School of Art + Design opened. Is it that unthinkable to imagine a trades school leading to an influx of muchneeded jobs, and workers, in fields such as plumbing, carpentry, welding and electrical?
It’s not enough anymore to just sit by and acknowledge that we have a problem. We need to push our local leaders to be more proactive in coming up with strategies to tackle poverty.
As the last 20-plus years have shown, this isn’t an issue that’s going to fix itself.
Trevor Chaulk moved to the County 17 years ago and opened Chaulk Woodworking 15 years ago. As a businessperson, he said, “we have to understand people, how to motivate them, and financials. My strengths are in problem-solving … but most important, good leadership and humility.” He added, “The business is at a point now where it’s working, pretty steady and consistent. I don’t work as many hours as I used to. I do want to see other people grow within the community and, in the aftermath of COVID, people are looking for leadership, accountability, and hope.”
Amalgamation
“In some ways, I’m for it. In some ways, I’m not for it right now. In Haliburton County, there’s still very distinct us versus them mindsets between townships, cottagers versus locals. We have to get on the same page. The amount of work that needs to be done now in individual townships, we’re not ready for it. Do I believe amalgamation will save costs? Yes.” However, “It’s no different than when a larger company swallows up a smaller company. The staff that have been there 30 years are saying, ‘this isn’t the way it works’. And the upper management is saying ‘this is the way it’s going to work’ so there is going to be a lot of conflict in the early stages. Eventually we will be in a position where it will be supported, but we are not there yet.”
Health
“Staffing is a critical thing, housing is a critical thing, because we can attract all the doctors, nurses and administration staff but if they have nowhere to live, no entertainment or night life aside from recreation, we might not attract and retain these skilled professionals.” He said they have to find creative ways to get and keep staff since they are competing with the rest of the province. Asked for his ideas, he said, “it’s business growth and development.”
Labour
“We have to fix a labour shortage before we can fix a business shortage. You’re not going to attract more business here if there are no workers. If we want to have light to medium industry, which is year-round, steady, good-paying, how do we attract that when there’s no workers or industrial area in Minden?” Asked for a solution, he said it is something he wants to investigate. “In the Official Plan they do not talk about any industrial areas. I want to find out what municipal lands are owned and what the municipality can do to develop and promote it. If we can get more light to medium industry, then we also provide better-paying jobs.” He emphasized that tradespeople are needed.
Poverty
“The living wage in Haliburton County is $19.42 an hour.” He said other factors come into play but, “we all know that is still not enough. Ten years ago, you could do that but we cannot do that anymore. We cannot have a majority of the workforce in the minimum wage sectors.” He said he knows people willing and able to work but one problem is a lack of affordable daycare, with long waitlists.
Housing
“We have to talk about people’s perception on what is affordable…because you are going to have different tiers of affordability. We do need low-income rental housing. We also need market rate affordable housing for the workforce, and for seniors downsizing. We can look at our bylaws and allow multi-residential on a smaller scale. We can allow homeowners to create apartments in their homes. We can allow duplex and triplex construction. Smaller-scale units, which can go up faster. We can’t wait three years for decisions and then investors walk away because they’re tired. We need to find faster solutions. We only have a three to-five-year window to get this balanced or you’re going to have more and more people leave the area.”
Transportation
“How do we solve transportation issues when you work on a lower-tier pay scale? You cannot afford the high rent, heat, grocery prices and have a vehicle and insurance. It’s not doable. How can we encourage people to come out of poverty if we can’t get them trained. If we can’t provide schooling?
Shoreline preservation bylaw
He said the intent of the bylaw is “just”, but he thinks there are gaps. For example, he said there is a lot of wording giving discretion to the director. “It seems onesided where it’s protecting the County.” He added if the County or township has to do work on land within 20 metres of the high-water mark, they do not have to go through any permit approvals and there is nothing to ensure inspections after the work is done.
Short-term rentals
“I’m for and I’m against.” He said they have to be identified as casual or a business. If businesses, he said they have to follow certain guidelines according to environmental and local laws. He said they should be registered and licensed if operating solely as businesses. He said it will protect neighbours and the environment.
Vision for the future
He would like more industry to bolster the taxation base. “We want to redirect wasted money to priority projects.” He added, “I have no intention of disrupting heritage. But as society is changing, mindsets are changing, new people are coming into the area that have different wishes. We have to balance everything as much as possible because we’re going to be serving many different cultures now, many mindsets. So, we have to integrate and monitor the growth.” He added the County has done a good job of attracting retirees and tourists. It has led to booming summers but bust winters. He added, “we have to find creative ways to create a year-round stable economy and need to attract and retain younger families.” He said their spending drives the economy.
Minden Hills
“There are a lot of issues from big to small.” For example, he said people want public washrooms unlocked. He said roads and waste management are a concern. Chaulk added the downtown core needs improvement, and to be more vibrant. He cited other issues such as safety and wellbeing, a lack of policing, drug issues, and homelessness.
Trevor Chaulk the candidate
“I’m a forward thinker. We cannot just look right in front of us and deal day-today … we have to have a vision… What can I do for the community? I thought I could run for council … My biggest fear, in the next five to 10 years, if we don’t get on top of some of these topics right now, and aggressively get on top of them, this area can be in severe trouble.”
