Highlands East mayor: Cheryl Ellis

September 15, 2022

Listen to the full interview on The Highlander’s new podcast: click here.

Qualifications

The Highlander asked Ellis why she was running for mayor, not councillor. “I thought maybe I could make more of a difference.” She said her background is in human resource management, including finance, payroll, compensation, and dealing with people. She spent 13 years working in the County roads department. She recently helped conduct the 2021 Census and took a casual job at a longterm care home in Bancroft to get out during COVID. She’s also travelled.

Amalgamation

“I don’t think amalgamation is going to solve any problems. The smaller municipalities would lose our voice and service levels and have a tax increase. In the more rural areas, we’d be paying for services that we don’t use, such as water, sewer, garbage pickup. If it wasn’t implemented perfectly and thought through very carefully, I think it could end up being a costly endeavour. I don’t think that’s something we should be moving forward with yet.”

Health

Ellis acknowledges health care personnel shortages. However, she said the County is trying to recruit family physicians and emergency room doctors. She said the province provides incentives, too. She said people can go to regional hospitals to see specialists and avail themselves of telemedicine. Asked whether there should be just one larger hospital in the Highlands, instead of two smaller ones, Ellis said, “I don’t like closing down any kind of health care thing. They should stay open if we possibly can do it.”

Housing

“Homes for People [Places for People] have approached Highlands East in the past. I think that definitely should be revisited. A condominium company met with Highlands East about building condominiums in Cardiff. I would certainly be interested in inviting more interested builders like that. The Ontario government is talking about expediting the process for building permits etc. I think the rental review people should look at some of their policies and give back some more control to the homeowners. I think that would open up a lot more homes.”

Poverty

“We have the food bank. We have the outreach in Highland Grove. So, if you need something, for example, a sofa, it’s close. If you can’t afford to pay, you don’t have to pay. So, as a community, as a whole, they are pitching in to help. But as far as the municipality goes, the only thing I can think of is to encourage people to fill the vacant job positions that are available right now.” Shoreline preservation bylaw “We’re not the first place to bring that in. I think it’s a good idea. Maybe the 30 metres is a little bit much [The County actually passed the bylaw at 20 metres] but they did the studies and proved it’s the best way to go about the shoreline preservation because of the erosion.”

Short-term rentals

“The County is looking for feedback from the community and listening. They have not moved forward yet. They’re wanting to monitor septic capacities and noise, which is a problem, as is parking. But we do have people monitoring the septic systems, and the cottage associations keep an eye on stuff like that.” She added, “Council and cottage associations should be able to find something that works for both of them.” Asked if she does not think they should be registered and licenced, Ellis said, “my fears about licensing and regulating is how much legality is that going to put on each one of the municipalities? So, we can say it’s safe for you to rent that cottage and then something happens in that cottage. What are the legalities that are going to come back on Highlands East?”

Transportation

“I’d look to other municipalities with similar demographics and see what they’ve attempted. Do the research to see which direction we should go instead of just jumping in blindly. There’s gas tax funding. I’ve read up on this on-demand service. It sounds like Uber, but it’s not Uber.”

Vision for the future

“I’d like to see the businesses we have stay because I think they’re actually meeting all of our needs. So, as far as bringing any new businesses, we don’t need to. I don’t believe in moving forward that way. I believe in supporting what we have.” As for the population surge, and dealing with it, she said in part, “tell the cities, you’re not gonna’ fix your problem by sending people to rural communities.” She added, “I think if we can sustain what we do have right now it will make everything more prosperous.” Asked for her plan for prosperity, she said, “I cannot because that’s a problem that starts at the federal level and trickles right down to our level.”

Highlands East

“There needs to be a considerable amount of change in the way council thinks.” Asked what she meant, she said, “how they’re looking at things. Instead of basically sitting there, policies and everything, start listening to the people and bringing more of that stuff into the council meetings. I just figured there needs to be more conversations between the community members and the council.” Asked how she would bring that about, Ellis said, “I would encourage all the councillors to listen to everybody and don’t brush them off. If it sounds like something that the rest of us on council need to hear, bring it forward. Everybody’s open to new ideas and let’s all explore everything.” She said the biggest challenge is post-COVID recovery.

Cheryl Ellis the candidate

“With human resource management, it’s all trained skills that would really be an asset to this position. I know what goes into road maintenance. I was also a volunteer firefighter. I have a feel for how municipalities are run. I have lot of ideas. I would like to see some way to keep our young families in the area. If we keep our young families, we keep our schools, we keep our stores, we keep our towns alive.” Asked how she would do that, she said, “we need more jobs.” How would she help create them? “I think we should go back to the old days. Whenever you could, you only hired within the municipality in which you lived. I know it sounds like discrimination, but there’s still countries that do it. If you’re not a resident there, they’re not giving you a job.” She would also like to see more incentives for training and transportation. “I don’t have experience sitting there and listening and approving and all that, but whenever they start talking finances or grants or legislation, road improvements any of that stuff, I understand a lot. My areas of expertise are more hands-on.”

https://open.spotify.com/show3zzVIMkDkDuCAFtjSyudtc?si=aacc82669751440c

Respect on the water

Lisa Gervais

September 15, 2022

Some folks on Lake Kash reached out recently, concerned about wakes from commercial watercraft, particularly those involving wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

They said it was great the County had passed a shoreline preservation bylaw, however the focus was on land-based activities and had nothing to do with environmental impacts stemming from the water.

In short, they said the boats are driving fast, blaring music, and sending “tsunami” like wakes ashore. They claim it’s eroding the shoreline, stirring up goose poop sediment, and damaging fish and other waterfowl and their habitats. They say boulders are being washed up, sand and soil eroded, and trees leaning into the lake as their root systems are being swept away.

There is also wear and tear on docks. They also say they have to time their lake enjoyment around commercial hours.

I went on a little jurisdictional fishing expedition. Dysart et al? Nope, not their responsibility. The County? Sorry, not theirs, either. Various provincial ministries? Can’t help you there. Transport Canada? Pay dirt. And while they regulate boat speeds within 30 metres of shorelines, they do not regulate wakes. Dead end.

With no apparent hard and fast rules in place, it all comes down to respect.

In chatting with Craig Bowker, who owns Ski-Mazing Watersports School, he said he gets about one complaint every two years. However, he said his operation does very little wakeboarding or wake surfing. They mostly just teach kids to waterski and wakeboard. He said he follows the rules the industry has put in place and has been able to live amicably enough with people on the lake the past 20 years or so.

Haliburton Hockey Haven started a new wakeboarding program this year but we’ve been unable to connect with owner Troy Binnie to get his take on what’s been happening.

Living in a County of more than 600 lakes means we all have to get along.

I personally like non-motorized watercraft. I prefer a kayak and canoe. However, I respect that some of my neighbours like to take a tinnie out fishing, while others prefer pontoon boats. Others still like boats with a bit more grunt, or water skiing, wakeboarding or wake surfing. For others, a jet ski is their choice of ride.

For the most part, I find other boaters are respectful when they see my little blue kayak bobbing in the water. They generally slow down, or at least give me time to steer my ride so I face the wake and have a better chance of not being capsized. I can be a bit judgmental when I see wakes affecting the loons, geese and ducks around me.

As Bowker says, no one has a right to monopolize a shared water space. There is nothing stopping a lake association, for example, from reaching out to its commercial and non-commercial operators to try to establish sound ground rules so everybody gets a chance to enjoy our waterways.

Tips and suggestions aren’t hard to find. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associaton (FOCA) has been raising awareness about the issue for a couple of years. Along with the Muskoka Lakes Association, and Safe Quiet Likes, they collaborated on a short video about being #WakeAware.

With more and more people coming to the County and building on lakes, rivers and streams, we have to ensure mutual respect going forward. And it isn’t just for humans. We need to protect our aqualife and wildlife, and overall environment.

Highlanders mourn passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

On Sept. 7, members of the Minden Legion sang God Save The Queen as legions across Canada have for 70 years.

They didn’t know it would be the last time they sang that song. On Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth II died at the royal family’s Balmoral Estate.

She was the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch. County residents and local organizations are now marking the passing of Canada’s former head of state. “It will be different for us, and it has affected us,” said Wendy Bolt, president of Minden’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 636.

Legions, and everyone else who sings the British anthem, will now sing God Save the King.

“She represents history for me, royalty and history for Canada,” Bolt said. “The Queen represents stability for all of the British Commonwealth.” The legion placed a black shroud with poppies below a picture of the queen. Flags at all legions will fly at half-mast until the day after Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

“I never met the woman but I’m personally feeling a loss, which is interesting,” said Haliburton branch president Don Pitman.

“She always seemed to look for the common ground, from what I can see.”

Hope Thompson, a County resident, recently found out her grandfather helped out on the train that carried the Queen across Canada during her 1959 tour.

“It was interesting to see how a little piece of our family history intersected with a larger moment in Canadian History,” she said, adding that the Queen’s death felt like it “closes a door” on an era.

Hope Thompson found a letter to her grandfather, thanking him for his service as a brakeman on the Queen’s train during the 1959 tour of Canada.

“She was a person who had a connection with the past century.” County residents Sharon Foster and Dan Sullivan were in England visiting family when the Queen died. “… It felt like I had been called home to say goodbye,” Foster said in a message. “Strong emotions for me and so many UK citizens as we say farewell to the Mother of our great nation.”

Glimpses of Elizabeth

Peter Walford-Davis might not have seen the Queen if not for an Edinburgh stoplight. While located in Liverpool through much of the war, he was living in Edinburgh with his family when the German army surrendered.

“Instead of hearing air raid sirens screaming at us… or the strange throbbing sounds of the Luftwaffe, we heard birds… the laughter of children,” Walford-Davis said.

He and his family took part in nationwide celebrations in the city. They were at a stoplight that day, waiting to cross the road. It was then the royal limousine passed by carrying King George and his family.

Princess Elizabeth looked out the window and met Walford-Davis’ eyes. She smiled. The traffic light changed, and she moved on. “From that particular evening when we met to the time she passed on, she was always a part of my life,” Walford-Davis said. “She was my Queen. To hear she had passed on, I was sad … at the same time she deserves the peace for all her years of service to the people. Not only the Commonwealth, but the world.”

Haliburton resident Roxanne Casey has kept an invitation her mother received to a 1965 garden part at Buckingham Palace.

Dozens of other Highlanders, such as Roxanne Casey, have memories of the monarch. Her grandmother was invited to the Queen’s garden party, and Casey still has the invite. “I keep it safe and in my china cabinet, my grandmother was so honoured to have been a guest…” she said. Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott also has a first-hand connection to Queen Elizabeth II.

Scott met the Queen with her father, long-serving MPP William Scott, in 1982 at the proclamation of Canada’s constitution. “It was kind of overwhelming. I was kind of nervous,” Scott said.

Ever since, the experience has remained crystal clear.

She still has the gloves she wore to the event. Scott was in Ontario’s Legislature, Queen’s Park, when news of the Queen’s death became public on Sept. 8. “It was like nobody knew exactly what to do, it hasn’t happened in 70 years,” she said. “You could see officials checking about protocol… question period was continuing.”

Legislature was adjourned after the Queen’s death and will resume next week.

Scott said she feels “heartbroken” about the news. “It was very emotional; it was like a member of your family has passed.” She said Ontario’s governmental centre was also a poignant place to receive the news. “It’s a moment in time you’re never going to forget, [we were] in a place of democracy, which she was a big defender of,” Scott said.

Federal MP Jamie Schmale also released a statement Sept. 8. “On behalf of the constituency of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the members of the royal family, and people of the Commonwealth,” he said.

King Charles III will now serve as the United Kingdom’s monarch and Canada’s head of state.

Not all gas and oil at this year’s Corduroy Enduro

September 15, 2022

The 68th Corduroy Enduro returns to Gooderham Sept. 22-25 with a new electric enduro race and an eMountain bike race.

Michele Bell of Bellistic Films said, “we have a record number of riders this year.”

Some of the highlights include the demo rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with six major motorcycle manufacturers taking part, vintage day on Friday with a race and show and shine for the older motorcycles, the final MX test on Sunday afternoon at the community centre, and, new for this year, an electric mountain bike race and an electric enduro bike race on Friday.

Considered by some to be Canada’s toughest national motorcycle enduro race, the four-day event is about more than just racing.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday are “super demo days” where licensed riders are welcome to try out the latest 2023 manufacturer models of off-road motorcycles on a closed course loop. Bell said there would be more than 10 manufacturers of offroad motorcycles, as well as electric off-road bikes.

Friday is vintage day, featuring a vintage GP race, “where riders bring out their old treasures to race in one of five categories.” Bell said. There’ll also be the vintage bike show and shine where bikes are displayed and compete for prizes.

“New for 2022 are the eMountain bike races (pedal assist mountain bikes) and the electric motorcycle enduro races, both taking place Thursday morning,” Bell said.

The actual enduro goes Saturday and Sunday “where riders face a number of timed sections each day designed to challenge both themselves and their machines,” Bell added. It’s a staged rally event with time test sections using off-road trails connected by transit sections where riders will make their way to the next test section. The loops will start and end at the Robert McCausland Memorial Community Centre in Gooderham.

The 2022 prize purse is $11,500. Daily start times are 10 a.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information go to corduroyenduro.ca

Listening sessions meet need to be heard

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

When talking about suffering, language matters, said Tom Regehr.

“If you say substance abuse, we’re going to make fun of you.”

Regehr’s job, backed by a group of social service providers in Haliburton County, is all about talking.

He’s starting up casual listening sessions across the County, where anyone who’s felt “othered” by social services can meet to chat.

“Everything we do is about ‘come and sit together.’ It’s about human contact.”

Regehr said many who are dealing with mental health issues, addiction or homelessness, often feel like traditional methods of getting help aren’t for them.

Regehr himself grew dependent on alcohol and experienced homelessness in his 30s after a childhood exposed to mental health issues. “It felt that whatever I emotionally invested in was taken from me. That went through relationships and future jobs and friends. I ended up pushing everybody away,” he said.

When suffering in that way, he said, he felt like doctors and social workers “don’t listen to people like me.”

Whenever Regehr talks about the people he’s trying to meet, and trying to chat with, he uses the word “we,” and never “them”. He counts himself amongst those let down by systems, or made to feel like his voice didn’t matter.

“That literally feels like a kick in the gut,” he said.

Throughout the years since, Regehr got help. He went to rehab, therapy and then started turning the focus back on helping others.

He’s consulted municipalities, and hosted panels and listening sessions with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

“One of things we’re missing,” he said, talking about the role of social services, “is listening to the people we’re trying to serve.”

He said groups such as Point in Time or the Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Pine Ridge, District Health Unit have hired him to listen.

“What they want to do is learn what’s going on in the hearts and minds of the folks to help serve them and help them heal. They want to do a better job with taxpayer money to reduce suffering,” he said.

Marg Cox, with Point in Time Family Services, said she met with a collection of other people who work in Haliburton county’s social services in 2021 after noticing an uptick in issues surrounding addiction, or overdoses related to toxic supplies of opioids.

“We approached it through the mindset of ‘nothing about us without us,’” Cox said, meaning that they wanted people who were going through the challenges to determine what help would be offered.

That’s why Regehr was a good fit, she said.

“He’s really effective in getting the living experts, and supporting them,” she said.

“I’m looking for a collaboration to be established between some people who are living experts and service providers to work together to improve the lives of people with substance use and mental health issues and their families.”

Regehr’s work is funded by the group of service providers, which includes the local health unit.

Regehr said “what’s happening in Haliburton County with a lack of services within four townships is unique… what’s happening with income disparity is unique. What else is unique is there’s a critical cluster of good people who care about humans and is doing good work,” he said.

Regehr will be in Haliburton every two weeks hosting listening sessions at various locations to offer “that deep human need to feel heard.” He can be reached at regehr@cast-canada. ca or by phone or text at 705-749-6145

Highlands athletes bring hardware home

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

Frank and Sharon Ferris didn’t expect to get on the podium when they competed in Peterborough’s Ontario 55+ Summer Games.

But after the couple qualified and competed in the Canada 55+ games in Kamloops last week, they’re amongst the crew bringing national hardware back to the Highlands.

Frank Ferris won gold in the 1,000m walk and silver in the 400m walk. Sharon Ferris won bronze in the 1,000m walk and 400m walk. Jane Symons was fifth in the 1,000m walk and 11th in the 400m walk. In pickleball, Mike Johnson placed fourth and won silver in mixed 70+. In golf, Robert Pearce won bronze in the 70+ low gross flight category and Harold McInerney placed fourth.

“It’s about meeting new people, just the experience of it. We’re trying to stay active,” Frank said.

Each year, around 2,500 participants compete in 26 different events.

“The games offer opportunities for enrichment, fulfillment and improved quality of life provided by participation in a broad variety of athletic, recreational and social events,” states the games’ website. “Although the very nature of the games is to declare a winner, or winners, the aspect of winning is secondary to the social side related to reuniting with friends from games’ past.”

District 11 spokesperson Mary Johnson said in an email, “I do believe that District 11 participants represented us well. So proud of them.”

Peterborough results

Before the Kamloops tournament, District 11 received seven medals at the 2022 Peterborough Ontario Summer Games Aug. 9-11.

Frank Ferris won gold in the walking 75+ age group, Sharon Ferris won silver in the nordic pole walking 55+ group, Jane Symons won silver in the walking 55+ age group, Robert Pearce won gold in the golf 75+ age group, Larry Baadsvik won silver in bowling and Phil Harknett picked up bronze in pickleball with partner Stephen Phinney.

The District 11 association of athletes is in need of new executive board members. Email maryejohnson42@ gmail.com to get involved.

Health unit encourages bivalent vaccines

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

A new vaccine targeting the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is available for at-risk people in Haliburton County.

The Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Pine Ridge District Health Unit announced Sept. 12 that people aged 18 and older can book a dose of the bivalent COVID-19 booster through the provincial booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900.

A bivalent COVID-19 booster targets both the original strain of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant, which has become the dominant kind of COVID-19 spreading around the world.

As of Sept. 14, only the following populations can book a shot, with more availability incoming:

• Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services.

• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over.

• Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and over.

• Pregnant individuals aged 18 and over.

• Health care workers aged 18 and over.

• Individuals aged 70 and over.

“I would like to encourage all residents aged 18 and over to receive the bivalent booster dose as recommended by the Ministry of Health,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the HKPR district health unit.

“We know that vaccine protection decreases over time, and now is the time to better protect yourself for the upcoming fall season with the bivalent booster.”

The health unit currently doesn’t have vaccine clinics located in Haliburton County.

Clinic dates and locations include: Sept 13, 15, 21, 23: Lindsay office (108 Angeline St. S., Lindsay), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.

Sept 19, 20, 26, 27: Knights of Columbus Community Centre (232 Spencer St. E, Cobourg), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.

Sept 28 and 29: Lindsay Exhibition Centre (354 Angeline St. N., Lindsay), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.

The HKPR said the bivalent booster dose will also be available through pharmacies beginning Sept. 19, 2022.

“Individuals are recommended to receive the bivalent booster at an interval of at least six months from their previous dose (and are eligible to receive the bivalent booster at a minimum interval of three months), regardless of how many boosters they have already received,” the health unit said.

Huskies top conference after perfect start to season

Mike Baker

September 15, 2022

The Haliburton County Huskies made a huge statement during the opening weekend of the 2022/23 OJHL season, putting two rival teams to the sword and climbing to the top of the South/East Conference standings.

The Dogs got off to the perfect start Sept. 10 with a dominant 5-2 home win over the Cobourg Cougars, following up with a 5-3 road victory over the St. Michael’s Buzzers Sept. 11. Coach Ryan Ramsay was delighted to get four points on the board early and commended his new-look team for the way they approached the games.

“I’m happy to see things come together the way they did. We started a little slow [against the Cougars] but the guys managed to turn it around, played hard on the forecheck, moved the puck quickly and started to play Huskies hockey,” Ramsay said. “We knew we had a strong core coming into this season, but it was still great to see a lot of the new guys stepping up and playing well. The returning guys led by example. There were a lot of positives to take away.”

It was a packed house at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena for Saturday’s tilt with the Cougars – a rematch from last season’s second-round playoff series. The Huskies quickly put the ghosts of that defeat behind them, taking the game to the visiting team in the early goings of the first. The top line of Patrick Saini, former OHLer Ty Collins and captain Christian Stevens saw lots of time, helping the hometown team take control.

It was a new face that opened the scoring, Alex Cunningham slotting home at 18:13, assisted by Lucas Stevenson and Myles Perry. The Cougars responded well to falling behind and, with the clock ticking down, tied the game with 14 seconds remaining in the period, through Tyler Hunt.

The Huskies picked things up in the second frame. They peppered Matthew Sbrocca in the Cougars’ goal, notching three quick goals late in the period through rookie Leo Serlin, Collins and Stevens.

They kept things going in the third but struggled to find an answer for a game Sbrocca. Hunt gave the Cougars a glimmer of hope, notching his second at 15:57 on a two-man advantage, but the Huskies held on. Stevens added a late empty-netter, giving him a three-point night.

“Couldn’t have asked for a better night. I think we showed how dangerous we can be with our speed, and we have scoring right through the roster – it was a big night for Leo, he’s only 16 so to get his first goal on his debut was really special,” Stevens said.

Winning in the big city

Saini made a statement in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Buzzers, notching his second career OJHL hat-trick.

Two quickfire goals from Perry and Collins gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission, with Saini adding a third at the midway point of the second period. The Buzzers immediately hit back through Brandon Cohen, before Saini potted his second. Matthew Milic and Bryce Sutherland got on the scoresheet to make it a one-goal game, with Saini completing his hat-trick with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Stevens felt it was important to make a strong impression over the opening weekend, with the Huskies among this year’s favourites for the Dudley Hewitt Cup. The hometown side was ranked in the top five teams nationwide by the Canadian Junior Hockey League last week.

The Huskies will return to action Sept. 16 on the road against the Lindsay Muskies before hosting the Buzzers in Minden Sept. 17. Puck drop at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is 4 p.m.

Famous red doors open to creative futures

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

“I came to Fleming because I decided to be a professional potter,” said Ursula Miller-Gareri, standing outside the Haliburton School of Art + Design’s pottery workshop.

“This was the best and safest way I could figure out how to run a ceramic studio without having to take a four-year degree,” she said.

Miller-Gareri was one of dozens of students who dropped by the college’s student services fair Sept. 13 as they settled into life in Haliburton.

Classes officially began after Labour Day. Students are enrolled in creative disciplines such as glassblowing, fibre arts and blacksmithing.

Miller-Gareri decided to pursue her dream of ceramic arts after the passing of a close friend.

“He was an amazing human being who was always striving to better himself. He was always very positive,” she said. “I figured out when he passed away that the best way I could honour him would be to do something amazing for myself. So, I decided to follow my dream of becoming a potter and come here.”

Returning student Zenon Bigg also dropped by the fair. He said he’s enjoyed living in Haliburton so far. Last semester, he said finding housing in the area was “a bit stressful… but I had it set up for this semester.”

Scott Michael Walling, who works at HSAD, was on hand to greet students and hand out swag.

“It’s really nice to watch the star-struck faces of everyone walking in and looking up to see the ceilings and the beautiful architecture… just realizing this is a small nice campus they can feel comfortable in.”

For the first time since 2019, the school is kicking off a semester without social distancing protocols, mandatory masking, or vaccination policies.

“We are excited to welcome new and returning students back in-person at all of our Fleming College campuses for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began,” said executive vice president of academic and student experience Sandra Dupret in an email. “The Haliburton School of Art + Design is returning to its creative and spirited environment and we are very pleased to feel the energy and excitement students bring while they are on campus and in the community.”

Illegal camping complaints spiking in HE

Sam Gillett

September 15, 2022

Highlands East is seeking solutions after a “dramatic” rise in complaints about illegal camping on municipal boat launches and beaches adjacent to Crown land.

At a Sept. 13 meeting, council voted to request a meeting with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to discuss camping on Crown land, which the township cannot control.

Bylaw officer Wayne Galloway said, “the biggest issue with dealing with these complaints is there are no definitive boundaries for what is and what isn’t Crown land.”

Camping is permitted up to 21 days on Crown land, but not on municipally-owned land. Often there aren’t boundaries to mark the difference.

Galloway suggested council meet with the MNRF to discuss the issue and consider having the lands surveyed, to determine municipal boundaries.

“If it’s not municipal property, it’s Crown land, that’s up to the MNRF to police,” Galloway said. “It’s probably time we bit the bullet and had these places surveyed. What’s Crown land and what’s shoreline?”

Highlands East shoreline ownership extends 66 feet from the high-water mark in these areas, such as a boat launch on North Bay beach and an area on Telephone Bay Road.

Galloway said he found campsites that were on Crown land, but had chairs and tables located on municipal land.

Coun. Suzanne Partridge said she found previous discussions with the MNRF “very disappointing.”

She said they suggested residents keep track of whether campers were there for more than 21 days.

“I don’t think it’s fair they ask private citizens to do their job,” Partridge said.

Deputy mayor Cec Ryall said he’s received numerous complaints about the use of Crown land in the area, including fire pits, garbage left behind and human waste.

“Is there anything at all we can do? Or are we strictly in the hands of the MNRF in those particular issues?” he asked.

Galloway said the recreational use bylaw only permits enforcement on municipal property, not Crown land.

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