Couple offers alternatives for creative kids

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September 8, 2022

Sandra and Justin Collins’ son Shawn started Junior Kindergarten shortly after the family moved to Highlands East, but they found the public school system wasn’t a good fit.

“I think some kids are able to thrive in that system, but I don’t think there’s one system that’s good for every kid or personality type,” said Sandra. “They don’t all learn the same way.”

That’s why the couple has developed Creative Minds Learning Centre, based out of their Tory Hill property.

Under the instruction of early childhood educator Amy Strathy, Shawn and his brother Josh’s education will focus on self-guided learning and hands-on experiences, with lots of time outside.

The learning centre is accepting new learners this fall and is hosting an open house Sept. 10.

“We’re excited to have people here to see that there are alternatives in Haliburton County,” said Justin.

He’s an English teacher, who’ll be consulting on the curriculum while Sandra is director of operations.

The learning centre is housed in a building adjacent to their home, equipped with kitchen facilities, whiteboards, chairs and tables. Outside, a play structure on a hillside sits in front of meadows and a sprawling forest. Nearby is a garden, along with a chicken coop.

The learning centre’s core focuses are literacy development, real-life numeracy, student-drive learning, hands-on learning, free discovery time and an outdoor focus.

“You flip over a rock and you see the bugs that crawl out,” Justin said, mentioning his family did just that recently.

“You can learn that in a classroom, but Josh got to hold a salamander this morning. That’s a pretty cool experience you might not normally get.”

Sandra added, “I think you retain the information better when you’re hands-on and engaged.”

Creative Minds Learning Centre offers three-day-a-week schooling for students in Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 3 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first is due to begin Oct. 3.

Sandra said the learning centre is aimed at inspiring her kids and others to learn.

“I want their personalities and creativity to come out and explore what comes naturally to them”, she said.

To find out more about the learning centre, visit CreativeMindLC.ca or on Facebook at @CreativeMindsL.C.

Time to remember at Head Lake Park

By

Sam Gillett

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September 8, 2022

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While hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 have been trending downward in 2022, another health crisis is worsening.

Across Canada and the Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit, opioid overdoses are on the rise, with 41 people dead between April 2020 and March 2021.

Approximately 21 people across Canada died each day in 2021 due to an increasing supply of the toxic drugs.

Community organizations gathered at Head Lake Park Aug. 17 to remember those whose lives have been lost.

“Overdose is often seen as a dirty word that comes with lots of baggage, but this is an unfortunate view that’s far from the truth,” said Natasha James, the Harm Reduction and Crisis Coordinator with the Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes John Howard Society, in a media release ahead of the event.

“People who use drugs do so for many reasons. If an overdose or death occurs due to a poisoned drug supply, as it often does, we cannot blame the victims. Overdoses are a societal scourge that we must all work to address to save lives and end the stigma.”

One person at the event described how overdoses impacted their lives.

“This day means a lot to me, I’ve been there,” they said. “My mother was dealing with prescription drugs from the hospital. It affects me. I had to watch her suffer. Losing her brought me closer to those who have lost their lives and the people who have watched those people suffer.”

The health unit launched an “Early Warning System Opioid Dashboard” in June. Updated weekly, it will give a picture of the number of suspected and confirmed overdoses in the region, including those responded to by local police and paramedic services. It also shows historical data on opioid-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the region.

According to the dashboard, there were 21 deaths in the HKPR region due to overdose from April 2019 to March 2020, with a further 41 deaths from April 2020 to March 2021.

“In the event of an overdose or death due to a poisoned drug supply, families and friends need compassion and support to grieve their loved one without blame or shame,” said Kate Hall, an HKPR health promoter. Addressing stigma within each of us and reducing the harms of drug use will save lives.”

The health unit offers the following tips to decrease the risk of overdose when consuming drugs:

• Never use alone.

• If you are alone, contact the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) virtual safe consumption at 1-888-668- NORS (6677), or practice the buddy system and call a friend.

• Call 9-1-1 in the event of an overdose.

• Keep a naloxone kit on hand. You can get a naloxone kit at most pharmacies and needle exchange sites.

• Avoid mixing drugs.

Pre-COVID summer for tourism

By

Sam Gillett

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September 8, 2022

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“We did it, baby,” said Jon Tulk of Kate’s Burger Counter in a video posted to social media on Labour Day.

“Summer of 2022, we’re done.”

He then jumps back into Lake Kashagawigamog in celebration.

Service providers and tourism businesses across Haliburton County are now looking back on the busiest months of the year.

It was the first summer season in three years without capacity restrictions, mandatory masking, and other rules that have changed the face of business in the Highlands.

Haliburton County’s manager of tourism, Tracie Bertrand, said this summer’s tourism traffic seemed to match 2021.

“What I’m hearing is summer 2022 is similar to summer 2021 for visitation,” she said.

However, interest in the Highlands as a tourism destination has been increasing year-over-year

She reports website traffic on myhaliburtonhighlands.com, the County’s tourism website, is up 34 per cent from 2021’s numbers.

She added it’s clear Haliburton County is drawing a healthy number of tourists. “There are a lot of visitors in our region. Our focus should not be on driving more visitation in the summer season, but increasing the visitor experience,” she said.

“It’s understanding what it’s like to be part of the community, so they become proud of the community they’re visiting.

Plan to get more off-season visitors

“That drives visitor loyalty… that drives visitation year-over-year.”

Tegan Legge, general manager of the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, said the forest is, “back to business of pre-COVID,” with tours and camping booked solid throughout the summer.

One unique trend she noticed was increased bookings on weekdays and a decreased amount on weekends.

“Everyone had plans during the weekend, they needed to make plans during the week,” she speculated.

Other tourism operators said they noticed an August-centric summer. “June and July seemed to be quiet. August has been very busy,” said Barrie Martin of Yours Outdoors, a company that provides adventure and cultural experiences.

“We often find August is the busiest month of the summer.”

He noticed the company’s flyfishing and rock-hounding tours seemed especially popular.

Staffing and costs rise

Tanya Smith, co-owner of Kate’s Burger Counter, said they didn’t feel the staffing pinch until the week before Labour Day, but acknowledged many restaurants across Haliburton County had to limit hours due to shortages.

Smith said a big challenge was rising costs, most notably with oil for their deep-fryer.

“Like everybody else, our prices are a little bit higher than last year to compensate,” she said.

Legge dealt with staff shortages. “We’re feeling the pinch, we don’t have enough staff on-site,” she said, adding that some senior staff members retired.

Bertrand said she’s met with other regional partners about how to combat staffing struggles.

“Tourism was hit very hard I believe,” she said.

“There were operators that were letting us know, it’s hard to provide that amazing visitor experience when you’re so short-staffed.”

Now Haliburton County faces the fall, which brings a new host of those eager to see changing leaves or check out multiple events, such as Hike Haliburton or The Studio Tour.

For Smith, chilly weather brings new possibilities. “We’re hoping with the studio tour, people come up for that, or people who weren’t necessarily up here in the summer.”

Upcoming talk explores ‘heartbeat’ of Atlantic battle

By

Sam Gillett

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September 8, 2022

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TED_SPEAKING_2019 (2) — Ted Barris delivers a talk. Submitted.

Ted Barris’ latest book, Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory spans six years of Canadian wartime history along the vital lifeline of supplies headed from Canada to England.

It begins, however, with a Haliburton connection. Barris features the letters of Alix Masheter (nee Mackay) who moved from Haliburton to England, and details the preparations for war in letters to family back home.

Through her letters, Barris said he realized the convoys that Canadians helped protect were “supplying England with the means to survive.”

The celebrated Second World War writer is coming to Haliburton to discuss his 20th book Sept. 14 at the Haliburton Fish Hatchery.

“It is overlooked, in a way because it’s almost too big to tell,” Barris said of the battle of the Atlantic.

For over five years allied convoys travelling to Britain faced German warships and submarines, which nearly “strangled” the effort. “It was distilled down to the fact the legacy of the battle isn’t so much the big picture stuff, it’s the witnesses, it’s the people whose voices are in the books,” he said.

He said getting close to “the heartbeats of people who witness” is a common thread in his work. For example, Barris digs into the story of Norville Everrett Small.

The Canadian helped the allied forces conquer U-boats by camouflaging the bottom of planes and piloting their crafts higher in the sky to evade detection. He died during an experimental flight, which was aimed at decreasing the weight in his aircraft to enhance how long it could fly, and give protection to convoys making the crossing.

“He was giving his all to essentially give boats greater protection,” Barris said.

The author and journalist has long been known for distilling Canadian history into novels focused on human stories. He was awared a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, along with a 2014 Libris Award recognizing his book The Great Escape: A Canadian Story.

“When you dig deep enough, you find Canadian stories that most people have overlooked,” he said. Barris’ talk is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 7:00 pm. Admission is $15. Reservations can be made by calling Yours Outdoors at 705-457-
0459.

Highlands East learning centre to open: couple offers alternatives for creative kids

By

Sam Gillett

-

September 7, 2022

0

Sandra and Justin Collins’ son Shawn started Junior Kindergarten shortly after the family moved to Highlands East, but they found the public school system wasn’t a good fit.

“I think some kids are able to thrive in that system, but I don’t think there’s one system that’s good for every kid or personality type,” said Sandra. “They don’t all learn the same way.”

That’s why the couple has developed Creative Minds Learning Centre, based out of their Tory Hill property.

Under the instruction of early childhood educator Amy Strathy, Shawn and his brother Josh’s education will focus on self-guided learning and hands-on experiences, with lots of time outside. The learning centre is accepting new learners this fall and is hosting an open house Sept. 10.

“We’re excited to have people here to see that there are alternatives in Haliburton County,” said Justin. He’s an English teacher, who’ll be consulting on the curriculum while Sandra is director of operations.

The learning centre is housed in a building adjacent to their home, equipped with kitchen facilities, whiteboards, chairs and tables.

Outside, a play structure on a hillside sits in front of meadows and a sprawling forest.

Nearby is a garden, along with a chicken coop. The learning centre’s core focuses are literacy development, real-life numeracy, student-drive learning, hands-on learning, free discovery time and an outdoor focus.

“You flip over a rock and you see the bugs that crawl out,” Justin said, mentioning his family did just that recently. “You can learn that in a classroom, but Josh got to hold a salamander this morning. That’s a pretty cool experience you might not normally get.” Sandra added, “I think you retain the information better when you’re hands-on and engaged.”

Creative Minds Learning Centre offers three-day-a-week schooling for students in Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 3 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The first session is due to begin Oct. 3. Sandra said the learning centre is aimed at inspiring her kids and others to learn. “I want their personalities and creativity to come out and explore what comes naturally to them,” she said. To find out more about the learning centre, visit CreativeMindsLC.ca or on Facebook at @CreativeMindsLC

Draft federal map splits Highlands East

By

Lisa Gervais

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September 1, 2022

0

Collage Maker-01-Sep-2022-04.14-PM (1) — A map of the current (left) and proposed (right) boundaries. Source: Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

Highlands East mayor Dave Burton said his municipality is lobbying hard to ensure a proposal to split the township between two new federal riding boundaries does not occur.

Burton said he got an email from Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (HKLB) MP Jamie Schmale after the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario released its suggested maps for the next election.

While Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, and Minden Hills would remain in HKLB, a portion of Highlands East would become part of a new Hastings-Lennox and AddingtonTyendinaga riding. The commission is undertaking public consultations this month and isn’t expected to finalize new boundaries until September 2023.

The next federal election will be in 2025. Burton said Schmale met with township representatives via Zoom Aug. 25 to say they, “absolutely wanted no part of that. Just even to set the tone of the meeting with Jamie, I said, ‘I want to be with Haliburton County. I don’t want to be split up the centre. It will make it extremely difficult to do business’.”

He added, “I’m happy with the way the boundaries are now, and we made it very clear to Jamie and his bunch.”

Burton said they are preparing documentation to send to the commission and are hopeful of getting letters of support from other County municipalities, as well as regional ones.

“I’ll certainly be looking for support to stay in Haliburton County and I do feel very positive that we are going to remain in Haliburton County,” Burton said.

Schmale said the first draft is showing “a number of fairly significant changes” for the riding.

The Highlands East split would see Gooderham and Tory Hill staying in HKLB, and Cardiff and Wilberforce heading towards the Hastings riding. He said after meeting with Highlands East, “It’s clear in their minds that they want to keep Haliburton County together for a whole bunch of valid reasons. I think that’s a fairly easy argument to make to the commission.”

He will make a public appearance at the committee hearings in late September. “I’m also encouraging organizations like the chamber of commerce, business organizations, anybody that would have a vested interest in this to write a submission to the commission,” he added. Overall, Schmale said the new riding would take in Trent Lakes, or the Buckhorn area, “which does add a bit more geography, a bit more complexity to doing the job.”

He said he will pitch the status quo, including keeping all of Highlands East and Cavan-Monaghan.

The commission released its proposed electoral map for public consultation Aug. 19.

They said it reflects population changes in the 2021 Census. Under the Canadian constitution, federal electoral districts must be reviewed after each 10-year Census to reflect population shifts.

The population of Central East Ontario – which includes the ridings of Peterborough-Kawartha, HKLB, Northumberland-Peterborough South, Hastings-Lennox and Addington, and Bay of Quinte – grew by nine per cent, from 535,322 in 2011 to 583,287 in 2021.

The commission is proposing shifted boundaries to balance the population of the districts across Central East Ontario.

The proposed HKLB, comprising a population of 120,241, would include the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Municipality of Dysart et al, the western portion of the Municipality of Highlands East, the Municipality of Trent Lakes (except for the islands of the Curve Lake First Nation), the townships of Algonquin Highlands, Brock, and Minden Hills, and a portion of the Cavan Monaghan Township. The commission is holding in-person and virtual public hearings this fall to gather comments and feedback on the proposed boundaries and electoral district names. The first virtual hearing for Central Ontario will take place on Monday, Sept. 26.

Those wanting to speak have to complete a public hearing participation form by Sept. 25. There will also be an Ontario open virtual hearing on Oct. 29. Find out more at redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca. A map of the current (top) and proposed (bottom) boundaries. Source: Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

Hyland Crest COVID-19 outbreak declared over

By

Sam Gillett

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September 1, 2022

0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wanakita marks 30 years of hemophilia camp

By

Sam Gillett

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September 1, 2022

0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paradis said she enjoyed watching youngsters become more confident.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huskies pre-season drawing to a close

By

Sam Gillett

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September 1, 2022

0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highlands Opera sings through summer

By

Sam Gillett

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September 1, 2022

0

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

New stories on stage

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

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

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