Minden Rotary celebrates 75 years

By

-

June 9, 2022

With dozens of pivotal community contributions under its belt over the past three quarters of a century, Minden Rotary is the embodiment of its mantra “service above self”.

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a dinner gala fundraiser at the Minden Community Centre June 4, inviting past and present members for a trip down memory lane to remember the connections, friendships and projects the group has fostered and supported since its inauguration.

Legacy members and past presidents such as Dick Schell, Bill Obee and Paul Sisson were on hand, much to the delight of outgoing president Lynda Litwin.

“This was a wonderful event to recognize and acknowledge the contributions our club has made to the community over the past 75 years, and it was great to have so many long-standing members in attendance,” Litwin said. “We had a lot of people saying they were close to tears when they walked in, saying it was the first time they had been anywhere or seen anybody in more than two years.”

A member since 2013, Litwin has helped to steady the ship during the COVID-19 pandemic. She played a key role in Rotary’s efforts to staff the vaccination clinics that took place in the community in 2021-22.

“That was one of our biggest success stories. We got the call from the regional health unit saying they were looking for help, and one of our members, Sally Moore, took it over and led the whole effort,” Litwin said.

“We ended up with over 200 volunteers, which is a testament to what a wonderful community we live in.”

When Jeanne Anthon thinks about the many contributions Minden Rotary has made to the community, there was one project that stood above all others.

“I really feel strongly that Minden Rotary ensured the development of our local hospital and provided financial stability to it for a lot of years,” Anthon said, noting the club’s contributions to the original build were around $150,000. “Then you look at things like Rotary Park, the tennis courts, the village green, even the original arena… They might not have happened without Minden Rotary.”

Anthon has been a proud member of the club for 31 years and was one of the first women permitted to join, alongside Shirley Kuni in 1991.

While she admits it took a little while for her to get up to speed with the inner workings of the club, now she couldn’t imagine life without it.

“I consider Rotary like my other family… It has become a very important part of my life,” Anthon said. “I look forward to our weekly meetings. I cherish the friendships I have made over the years. It’s been a pleasure, truly, to put service above self.”

Rotary around the world

Minden Rotary is hosting a ‘Rotary Around the World Meet and Greet’ via Zoom June 13 at 7 p.m.

The event is being described as a sharing of information on the work that Rotary accomplishes around the world and in Haliburton County.

“Our plan is to help folks living locally to know that there is a host of people around the world who are peacekeepers and who find their way to the areas of need… flooding, earthquakes and war,” said Rotarian Sally Moore. “Our Rotarians at home are these kinds of people and we wish to tell the world that it is a family of people who follow the mantra ‘service above self’.”

To access a link to the meeting, contact Moore at info@sunnyrockbb.ca, or by calling 705-286-4922.

The search for Grace is on

By

Sam Gillett

-

June 9, 2022

0

The Land Between charity is urging Highlanders to keep an eye out for Grace.

The snapping turtle, likely more than 125 years old and known for her missing eye, hibernates in a wetland near the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School on Gelert Road.

Leora Berman, The Land Between chief operating officer, said it’s important Grace is found so she can be fixed with a geotracker device. Aside from an unconfirmed sighting in mid-May, she hasn’t been spotted since 2021 when she was recorded emerging from the wetland on Gelert. The Land Between previously raised concerns over the infilling of an environmentally protected wetland zone on private property within the area Grace likely hibernates.

“We are hopeful because if she’s alive and well, she will be found again,” said Berman. She said turtles are creatures of habit, following regular routes as they move around their habitats.

For example, Grace has arrived at a local family’s dock for 40 years at the same time each year.

Berman urged anyone who spots the large snapping turtle to text or call The Land Between charity (home of the Turtle Guardians program) and provide its location.

“We are located in her neighbourhood and have many staff and volunteers on hand so if we are alerted right away, we should have plenty of time to meet up with her,” Berman said.

Since it’s turtle nesting season, Berman also encouraged people to report sightings of turtle nests too.

All turtles, including painted turtles, are at risk of becoming extinct. To enhance turtle hatchlings’ chances of survival, the Land Between can extract nests in precarious locations by roads or driveways, and they will be hatched in the charity’s climate-controlled facility each summer before being released back into their nesting habitat.

To report a sighting of Grace, nesting turtle or turtle nest, call or text 705-854- 2888. There is a $125 Foodland gift card for helping to locate Grace

Haliburton High school enrollment expected to fall next year

By

Mike Baker

-

June 9, 2022

0

Enrollment across Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is expected to drop for the 2022/23 school year.

In a May 24 report, superintendent Tim Ellis said the board is projecting 11,203 elementary students – a slight increase from this year – and 4,773 secondary students in September. According to stats from the Ministry of Education, the board had 10,849 elementary students this school year and 5,645 secondary students.

He indicated this year’s totals were higher than the board had anticipated, attributing that to people relocating from the GTA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now we’re seeing a trend of folks that lived in Toronto getting recalled back to the city for work… Because of that, our estimated enrollment for this year is going to be lower,” Ellis said.

He noted these were just projections, and the final totals in September could be higher. He indicated, though, that it was better for the board to project low so as to not get caught out with budget forecasts.

Diving into the numbers, Ellis calculated TLDSB would receive around $218 million in revenues next school year. From that, he’s projecting $94.2 million for pupil foundation, which supports classroom and teacher costs; $14.1 million for school foundation, which covers the salaries of principals, viceprincipals and secretaries; $19.6 million in qualifications and experience funding, which Ellis said can differ depending on the number of teacher retirements; $27.6 million in special education funding; $16.1 million for transportation; and $20.5 million for school operational costs.

Trustee John Byrne asked if the projected costs for transportation accounted for the recent increase in fuel costs. Ellis said the ministry uses a fuel escalator and de-escalator algorithm to determine how much money a school board receives to offset the cost of fuel. He noted that amount can change month-to-month, but the board is usually covered.

Ellis said he would be tabling a full budget for trustee consideration in June.

BIRT program making a difference for students

One of the success stories of the current school year, according to superintendent Jennifer Johnston, has been the success of the board’s Behaviour Intervention Resource Team (BIRT).

TLDSB employs three teachers and seven educational assistants to operate the program, which provides in-class supports to youth with behavioural issues.

“These educators are advocates for equity and inclusion… They are able to figure out the underlying issues for the behaviour and put some strategies in place to rectify them,” Johnston said.

During the 2021/22 school year, there have been 157 BIRT referrals board-wide. According to Johnston, the average length of BIRT involvement with a student has been 32 days.

In most cases, a single stint working alongside BIRT educators has resulted in positive behaviour from the student.

“We’re very proud of the work our BIRT team has been able to do this year,” Johnston said.

Measuring success

Director of education Wes Hahn said he will be using two key indicators to measure the board’s success over the next 12 months.

“One of the things we have talked about as a team is professional learning… The pandemic had a big impact, and we couldn’t do a lot of the training we would have liked, but we’re starting to do that and catch up now,” Hahn said. “It’s important we provide our staff the opportunity to develop. I’ve always said you can’t ask people to do things they’re not trained or supported to do.

“Then equity of inclusion is huge too. We want our students to feel like they belong. That includes students with special ed needs, to LGBTQ needs. We have a lot of work to do to continue on that path so they feel connected, reach their potential and achieve success,” he added.

Retiring pastor sees hand of God everywhere

By

Lisa Gervais

-

June 9, 2022

0

Pastor Brian Plouffe has baptized more than 350 people in his 32-year-career in Haliburton County – in lakes, rivers, streams, and even swimming pools and hot tubs.

The water source doesn’t matter. He refers to the Book of Acts where a believer asks why he can’t be baptized in a puddle of water. While that wouldn’t be Plouffe’s first choice, he said any baptism is exciting.

“Because all the baptisms in a Baptist Church take place after they’ve made a declaration of their faith. To see the beginning of wanting to declare their faith and to continue in that faith has been very rewarding,” he said.

He’s even baptized a 91-year-old man, adding, “it’s never too late.”

Plouffe will be doing perhaps his last two baptisms June 19 when his replacement pastoral couple at West Guilford Baptist Church – Shaun and Amy Turner – take the faithful plunge. They will then baptize their four children as the congregation gathers to celebrate Plouffe’s retirement.

Plouffe spent his first two years pastoring Lakeside Baptist Church, Eagle Lake Community Church, and West Guilford Baptist Church. Over the next 20 years, he led just Lakeside, and for the last 10 years, just West Guilford.

In addition to the baptisms, he said it has been rewarding working with families who are grieving and helping them through their pain and shock with presence, tears and hugs.

He will miss the challenge of “having something fresh from the word of God to share every week” in his sermon but is relieved the deadline will no longer be there. He will also miss being contacted by people when they are in need.

However, after a summer off, some travelling and connecting with family – his first summer off since he was 15 – Plouffe and wife Diane will be back as part of the congregation in the fall.

Reflecting on his lengthy career, Plouffe said, “God has truly been faithful to myself and my family and to the congregations I’ve served.”

That’s not to say there haven’t been hard times. He recently lost his middle daughter, Laura, known around town as “Buddy” to leukemia, at 34. One way he has coped is journaling. Revisiting those pages, he said, “I see the hand of God even in the hard times.”

“I’ve been stuck many times. I’ve fallen in the mud many times and He’s helped me up, and cleaned me up.”

He said COVID has been a challenge and the last two of his 32 years, “the strangest, and yet in some ways, very rewarding” of his career.

He is thankful for many things: that he can pass the baton on to the Turners, for Diane and children, Leanne, Laura and Lindsay, for his congregations, and assistant Dee Wruth.

One day he plans to write his memoir. He’s not sure of the title, something such as A Country Preacher with a theme of “forever faithful.”

When he first came to the community, he remembers praying, “Lord, if you’re in this, if I stay five years in this community with these three churches, if I can see one of them ever grow to three quarters full, I’d be so happy. The Bible says, ‘God wants to do more than you can ever hope or imagine’ and he certainly has done that. Thirty-two years. I can’t believe it.”

Rocking teens punch tickets to Blues Fest

By

Sam Gillett

-

June 9, 2022

0

Five Haliburton teens are on their way to a world-class blues camp this summer thanks to the Haliburton Buckslide Blues Society (HBBS).

The society’s “Road to the Kitchener Blues Fest Youth Camp” contest saw Haliburton Highlands Secondary School students audition in front of a live panel of judges May 25.

Guitarist Keenan Ryan said he was “very surprised” to win first place. He improvised his performance on a borrowed guitar because he didn’t know there would be live auditions until that very morning.

“It was super scary, I went in blind,” he said.

Louise Ewing, of the HBBS, said “his guitar skills were amazing and he showed great confidence when playing. He was comfortable on stage when playing to an audience.”

Ryan said he is influenced by bands such as Metallica, connecting with the band’s hard-rocking guitar licks.

“I never liked music,” Ryan recalls. “One day I accidentally stumbled across Metallica and I was like ‘I have to play guitar’.”

Now he plays all the time, and he’ll get a chance to try out the blues at the prestigious Grand River Blues camp this summer thanks to his quick thinking on stage.

He said he eventually would like to record some of his own tunes and master guitar parts for other songs he loves.

Ryan and second-place William Craftchick both won HBBS trophies along with money to buy instruments provided by sponsors Long & McQuade and HaliUkes, and they also have the chance to go to the blues camp this summer.

The HBBS said it was so impressed by the other auditions that Grace Judge, Laren Main and Myles Sharp also received sponsorships to the music camp.

In a media release, the HBBS thanked “the high school, the judges, our prize sponsors, Long & McQuade – Peterborough and HaliUkes/Yorkville – Algonquin Highlands, the Grand River Blues Camp and all those who dropped in to watch the event and especially the contestants for putting their talents on stage for all to see and hear.”

Haliburton Dance Academy to end 10 year Highlands run

By

Lisa Gervais

-

June 9, 2022

0

When Haliburton Dance Academy (HDA) students take to the stage of the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion June 17-19 for their year-end recital, it will mark an end of an era for dance in the Highlands.

The academy, started 25 years ago by Terri Mathews-Carl under a different name – and owned by Chyna Schell as HDA the last 10 years – is closing.

The effect of COVID-19 on the Industrial Park Road studio, as well as health challenges facing the birth of Schell’s third child, Mabel, contributed to the difficult decision.

The businesswoman is maintaining ownership of HDA but planning to sell the building.

Schell cited, “those two major factors and everything that comes with those two major factors” for her decision.

She purchased the new studio in December 2019, having to work with Dysart et al council on rezoning and organizing contracted work on the building. She had big plans but could never have foreseen a worldwide pandemic shutting them down for lengthy periods of time.

Schell also fell pregnant with Mabel in 2021. She was born with HIE, a brain injury that prevented adequate blood flow from reaching her brain. It has meant working with doctors and researchers at Sick Kids in Toronto.

“In a way, I’m feeling too tired to do it anymore but I’m feeling too tired to do it anymore because of the condition COVID put me in and because of the birth of my third child, and having three kids at home who miss me in the evening,” she said.

“Would I be this burnt out and tired if I didn’t have those two things factoring in? Probably not. I would probably do this until I’m 100 years old. It’s not a matter of not being passionate about it anymore. It’s not a matter of not enjoying it anymore. It’s just a matter of not being able to be so spread thin in so many areas of my life anymore. It’s not fair to everybody around me, it’s not fair to my dancers, to my own children, to my husband and myself.”

Schell added she has a high standard for the way that HDA is run, when it comes to quality of service, instruction, environment and organization. She said she felt she was unable to maintain those standards for herself, her dancers and her customers with the way her life has been so rapidly changing.

That being said, Schell said Mabel is doing well and impressing the doctors and physiotherapists at Sick Kids. She will be part of a research study for HIE babies.

“When you’re focused on something that is in a way a silver lining to a traumatic experience, it’s very helpful in order to recover emotionally,” Schell said.

Throughout it all, the community has stood steadfast in its support of HDA, she added.

“It was a big couple of years but the biggest part of that was how supported we felt. There wasn’t a day that went by that I felt alone. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t feel like everyone had our backs. I fully understand that this is a commercial project and while it is a small business, it is treated with so much support and gratitude and willingness and I just wouldn’t have been able to get through 10 years without all of that behind me.”

She said she has had discussions with people about selling the business but it hasn’t worked out as of yet. She is open to it though. “Fingers crossed.”

As the recital wraps up June 19, she added, “It is going to be an emotional time. When you’re sad because something so good is ending let it be sad because that’s a good thing. It means it was worth something. And it certainly was worth something to lots of people in this community. And I know that I certainly wouldn’t be who I am today without HDA and it breaks my heart that I’m not able to continue offering that for future generations.”

Christmas for dancers

HDA students will take to the stage June 17-19 for their spring recital, which Schell refers to as the “Christmas of the year for dancers.”

“They really work so hard all year long and it comes down to this final moment in the spring when they get to show off everything they’ve put their hearts into on stage and they just deserve it wholeheartedly.”

She said they’d been working for 35 weeks, since mid-September. She noted some of the routines have been in the works since 2020. She expects about 100 dancers to take part.

Go to onstagedirect.com (search HDA) for more information.

County financial consultant offers his two cents

By

Lisa Gervais

-

June 9, 2022

0

The County’s hired bean counter has found the municipality’s reserves are the lowest when compared to 10 other similar municipalities.

At just $322.44 per household, it ranked well below top-runner Dufferin, with $1,248.74 and even quite a bit below number 10, Middlesex, at $425.84.

Oscar Poloni of KPMG told councillors and staff at their May 25 meeting they should consider a policy for reserves along with an appropriate funding strategy.

He also advised the County to continue to pursue operating and capital grants since it has the lowest percentage of the comparators, however he offered the proviso it may reflect the nature of its services compared to other municipalities.

Haliburton County’s operating grants as a percentage of total revenue were just 20.8 per cent, compared to leader Hastings, at 56.9 per cent. Capital grants as a percentage of capital additions were last at 6.1 per cent, compared to top gun, Frontenac, at 96.9 per cent.

The County also has debt in the mid-range of the comparator municipalities. Its longterm debt per household is $206.03, ranking fifth. By contrast, Hastings had $1,201.15 and Huron no debt.

When it comes to taxes, the County is at the lower end of the range but the figures do reflect upper-tier taxation only. Residential taxes per household in the County are $746.41, putting it in ninth place. At the upper end is Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry at $2,105.94 while the lowest was Frontenac at $390.15. Haliburton County’s residential tax rate of 0.26 per cent was second last.

When it comes to affordability, Poloni suggested the County consider developing a long-term financial plan that appropriately balances taxation, grants, user fees and debt financing, as well as measures to address concerns over affordability, “particularly given the potential divide between seasonal and year-round residents.”

Poloni said another challenge is the books show “a higher degree of aging and potentially significant infrastructure deficit” going forward, requiring incorporating the results of an upcoming asset management plan into long-term financial planning and strategy development.

During the meeting, Poloni also offered a clean audit opinion for the books as of Dec. 31, 2021

Burton running for mayor in Highlands East

By

Lisa Gervais

-

June 9, 2022

0

The only incumbent mayor seeking re-election, Highlands East’s Dave Burton, has filed his nomination papers.

Burton made it official May 26. Algonquin Highlands mayor Carol Moffatt, Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts and Minden Hills mayor Brent Devolin have all announced they are stepping away from public office.

Burton said he put a lot of thought into the decision, consulted with his family, and talked to ratepayers.

“My health is good so I decided that I would seek another term,” he said.

Burton is finishing his fourth term, or 16 years with the township. If elected and serving to 2026, it will be 20 years of public service.

Burton said the changeover at County council, since Dysart deputy mayor Pat Kennedy is also not running, factored into his thinking.

“We need the continuity there. We need the experience there,” he said.

Burton is now deputy warden and is also on the board of the Ontario Good Roads Association. In the past, he has been a warden, and served on the Ontario Eastern Regional Network and Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus boards. Burton added he had established relationships with members of other levels of government and believes he is a proven leader.

Burton noted he served for six years on another council before Highlands East and County Council.

“It’s been a lot of my life and it’s been dedicated to municipal service and working with the people and enjoying what I do,” he said.

Burton said another reason he decided to run is he feels COVID “cheated” Highlands East out of some projects and opportunities “and I want to see some of this stuff come to fruition that is sitting out there possibly half done because of our setback we had.”

He is looking forward to being part of the recovery, now that the worst of COVID is behind the township, “and moving forward in a gentle, creative manner.”

For example, he would like to see the new Herlihey Park completed and better and quicker high-speed internet.

He said the lower-tier council has shown it thinks Centre Lake is a gem in voting against the province selling the Crown land reserve around the lake for private development.

At the County level, he said he honestly does not know where councillors are going to land with the shoreline preservation bylaw. He said a decision on short-term rentals is looming. As for amalgamation, “it’s going to take somebody pretty strong to convince me that amalgamation is suitable for Haliburton County.”

Burton said he is excited about running again.

“I’m revved up to go and looking forward to it

County awards contract for economic development strategy

By

Lisa Gervais

-

June 9, 2022

0

The County of Haliburton has awarded the contract for an economic development strategy.

Scott Ovell, director of economic development and tourism, recommended Sexton Harrop Consulting Group get the work during a June 8 committee of the whole meeting.

The cost is $42,300 plus HST and will come from Safe Restart Funds.

In January, Ovell suggested a strategy and council directed him to find a third party to do it.

The County received two qualified responses. Ovell, manager of tourism Tracie Bertrand, and climate change coordinator Korey McKay reviewed them. He said Sexton Harrop Consulting’s proposal, “best met the requirements of the deliverables outlined in the RFP and were ranked the highest amongst all evaluators.”

He added, “In particular SHCG has a strong background working with small rural townships and with organizations within Haliburton County,” such as the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Ovell said staff now plan to begin working immediately with Sexton Harrop Consulting.

“The project will be broken down into three phases and the goal is to have it completed by the end of October 2022,” Ovell said.

Steps will include a look at current realities and a County profile as well as a situational analysis using strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results (SOAR). There will be a public survey and talks with stakeholders followed by a report to council for feedback. They’ll then develop a strategy.

In his initial pitch Jan. 12, Ovell said he’d been hired to develop a more diverse and resilient economy, while still recognizing the importance tourism plays in the Highlands’ continued growth.

He said while there is an overarching tourism plan, the Destination Management Plan that stalled during COVID-19, there isn’t a strategy for the broader economy.

“An economic development strategy is essentially a road map for economic transformation, growth, and yields longterm prosperity for a community,” he said in a report. “It includes action steps that will require the participation of the business community, institutions and citizens.

“While the County has had tremendous success developing and marketing tourism, the challenging realities of today’s economy call for new directions, ideas and approaches to enhance economic growth, attract investment and ensure that opportunity continues to be a significant part of the County’s quality of life.”

Ovell said in an interview it’s about creating a vision and how to get there with a five-year departmental budget and business plan

AH council talks future of septic program

By

Mike Baker

-

June 9, 2022

0

With Algonquin Highlands’ initial five-year septic reinspection program to conclude this summer, council has discussed implementing a new program to ensure systems are properly maintained in the future.

The reinspection program, launched in 2018, has seen 3,173 properties tested across the municipality, with a further 966 to be examined this year. Most systems found in Algonquin Highlands are characterized as Class 4, featuring a septic tank and absorption system such as a leaching bed.

Inspections have been carried out by Montreal-based engineering firm WSP Global. Speaking to council last December, the firm said that, of the systems tested to date, around 40 per cent are deemed to be “inadequately maintained”. Property owners were given official remedial action notices outlining the work that needed to be done to bring their systems up to par. It was noted that less than one per cent were found to be in a state of disrepair and ordered to be replaced.

Greg Moore, the township’s bylaw enforcement officer, said he will be following up with households that had yet to complete the remedial action. He asked what plans council had following the conclusion of this year’s tests and follow-ups.

“I feel really strongly that we need to continue this program. I think we can do it a little bit differently than we have been doing it. We have tackled a big portion of the work that needs to be done… I don’t think it would be well received if we stopped,” deputy mayor Liz Danielsen said.

It was pointed out that, five years ago when the process began, it was determined that newer builds, constructed after 2013, would not need to be inspected. Danielsen said, under a new maintenance-first program, this would give the municipality a mandate to check up on those systems.

Mayor Carol Moffatt agreed, saying she’d like to see a modified version of the program be permanently adopted by the township to ensure septic systems are regularly inspected.

“It’s sort of like painting the bridge in Sydney, Australia. As soon as you finish painting one end, you have to start right back at the beginning again,” Moffatt said.

“I don’t think we’re in a huge rush. There’s still some work to be done… We have time to figure out what this thing is going to be. I don’t think, in 2023, we’re going to start in on section one and do the whole exact same program over again, we’re looking for a modified, progressive program moving forward.”