Retiring pastor sees hand of God everywhere

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June 9, 2022

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

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Sam Gillett

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June 9, 2022

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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

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Lisa Gervais

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June 9, 2022

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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

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Lisa Gervais

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June 9, 2022

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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

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Lisa Gervais

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June 9, 2022

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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

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June 9, 2022

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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

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June 9, 2022

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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.”

Parks Canada addresses Esson Lake water level fears

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Sam Gillett

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June 9, 2022

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Trent Severn Waterway staff hosted a public meeting for Esson Lake landowners June 2 to address concerns over the impact an embankment erosion has had on lake life and water levels.

As of June 5, the lake was at 2.305 metres, compared with a seasonal average of 2.99.

According to Steven Braham, an Ontario Waterways field unit director, the TSW will attempt to keep the water levels near 2.4 metres throughout the summer.

Higher water levels could result in even worse flooding since a temporary “aqua dam” is temporarily holding water back.

“Out of caution, we took the two weeks to assess the performance of the dam,” said Braham, before Parks Canada crews removed sand bags from in front of a culvert, dividing the lake, which residents use as a through-way.

“The priority is to stabilize the lake… the next step is to proceed with discussions with the municipality and the province,” he said.

The area that eroded is on land of mixed jurisdiction. While a nearby concrete dam is the responsibility of Parks Canada, it’s unclear how the province and Highlands East would complete the project. The embankment is also partially on private property.

Braham said despite not having jurisdiction over the embankment site, Parks Canada will “be working diligently… for a solution.”

Significant rainfall could mean crews must lower water levels to ensure the aqua dam’s safety via removing logs from the adjacent dam.

Park Canada’s plan has drawn criticism from local landowners.

“We are reluctant to put our boat into the water,” wrote landowner Margeret McIntyre in an email. “The lake level is already so low where our dock is located that we will most likely lose the enjoyment of our boat over the summer.”

During the virtual meeting, Braham addressed concerns over Parks Canada’s prior inspections of the embankment in 2021 after a local landowner sounded the alarm.

“At the time we saw clear cool water traversing through the earth embankment,” said Braham.

“We considered it worth monitoring but not high-risk.”

The May 3 breach, said Braham, indicated “there’s a clear underlying issue in that embankment.”

Since the breach, residents have been organizing online and in-person to discuss their concerns over the breach and ensuing low water levels.

“Hopefully we can rest a bit easier that, while not ideal, we should not see another water level drop for some time into the future,” wrote Bob Tisdale, a landowner who has communicated with Parks Canada on the issue, on Facebook.

“We encourage everyone to forward your thoughts to the Property Owners group so that we can keep a consolidated and focused approach,” he added.

Scott promises investment after sixth win

By

Mike Baker

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June 9, 2022

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Re-elected MPP Laurie Scott has promised further investments in housing, health care, skilled trades and rural broadband after securing a sixth term in office representing the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (HKLB) riding.

Amidst a backdrop of record-low voter turnout province-wide June 2, Scott recorded another sweeping victory in HKLB, garnering 52.8 per cent of the local vote (25,656 total votes). The riding was one of the first to be declared blue following the closing of polls at 9 p.m., with the result taking just 11 minutes to come through.

Scott said she was delighted to be given the opportunity to represent the community at Queen’s Park again. She will do so as a member of Doug Ford’s second Progressive Conservative majority government.

“I think it’s a pretty solid signal that [people] want us to continue moving forward in the direction that we have been going, particularly with all the investments,” Scott said. “It’s a big approval of how we handled the pandemic.”

Barbara Doyle, representing the NDP, finished a distant second, with 15.8 per cent (7,677 votes). Liberal Don McBey came third with 13.6 per cent (6,606 votes), while Dr. Kerstin Kelly, running for the Ontario Party, came fourth with 7.9 per cent (3,863 votes). Retired Haliburton school teacher Tom Regina led the Greens to a fifth-place finish, with 7.1 per cent (3,452). Ben Prentice of the New Blue Party took home 1.8 per cent of the vote (866 votes), with Libertarian Gene Balfour securing 1.1 per cent (516 votes).

In total, 48,636 ballots were cast in HKLB – down from 57,143 in 2018. While numbers are yet to be confirmed, that would suggest a voter turnout of less than 50 per cent for the first time in more than 25 years.

Despite that, Scott maintained that she was well received on the campaign trail.

“I heard at the doors that people liked what we’ve been doing… Over the past four years, we have made record investments in infrastructure, broadband, highways, transit, long-term care, hospitals, new schools. There’s been a lot of investments and those will continue on for many, many years,” Scott said.

In Haliburton County, Scott said the province would be working with senior administration at Haliburton Highlands Health Services to ensure the hospitals’ needs are met, while confirming that more money will be spent to bring even the region’s most remote areas online with high-speed broadband by 2025.

Continued investment in jobs training and post-secondary education for fields most in-need, such as nursing, PSWs and skilled trades, is another priority for the province, according to Scott.

“It’s pretty much a free ticket… We need to train more people for our health care system, and for the skilled trades so that we can keep building,” Scott said. “We’ve seen a lot of success locally in our PSW [training] programs, graduating students so that they can start working. It’s helped, but we need more. We need more people, and we need more training. That’s what we will continue to build upon for the next four years.”

Another of Scott’s big focuses over the next four years will be working with municipalities across the Highlands to address the region’s housing needs.

“We’ve already put money on the table and had lots of conversations with them… But Haliburton is a big challenge. We have the land, but we have to figure out services,” Scott said. “We know the need is there for all types of housing. We know we need more rentals… Those are the types of things we’re working with municipalities on, but there has to be a cooperation. We want to do this in unison. The world’s moving fast and we need to keep up with it.”

Athletes set for Sports Hall of Fame debut

By

Mike Baker

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June 9, 2022

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Eleven athletes, three community builders and three historic teams will soon have their names and accomplishments emblazoned among bright lights at A.J. LaRue Arena, as the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame gets ready for its grand unveiling.

More than four years in the making, the Sports Hall of Fame will open June 18. A special celebration has been planned to mark the occasion, with all living members of the inaugural class set to be in attendance.

As one of the driving forces behind the initiative, Roger Trull said he’s looking forward to what he believes will be a momentous day honouring some of the Highlands’ most renowned and accomplished sporting stars.

“I think it’s easy for us to forget how many amazing people contributed to sporting life in the Highlands, and so to have this opportunity to recognize these folks is really special,” Trull said. “This is a meaningful moment for the inductees and their families. They all have proud memories of their time in Haliburton, and to be recognized in this way is a real thrill for them.”

The inaugural class is headlined by a host of individuals that made it to the very top of their profession. Among them are hockey stars Cody Hodgson, Ron Stackhouse, Bernie Nicholls, Donald Beverley ‘Joe’ Iles, Glen Dart and Marla MacNaull, former pro-footballers Michael Bradley and Taly Williams, Olympic runner Lesley Tashlin, curler Jake Walker and university track star Anna Tomlinson.

Those honoured in the builders’ category, supporting culture in the area, include Linda Brandon, Albert John ‘Ab’ LaRue and Lenny Salvatori.

Of the many successful hockey outfits to have represented the Highlands, three of the very best stand above the rest as part of this first class, including the 1934 Haliburton Huskies, 1956-58 Minden Monarchs and the 1971 Haliburton Jr. D Huskies.

“We’ve got 19 members of the ’71 Huskies team coming out… Haliburton has a long and rich history of great athletes, volunteers and teams. Everyone is excited to have this opportunity to celebrate them,” Trull said.

Festivities will kick-off at the arena shortly after 1:30 p.m. There will be presentations made to each of the inductees, while videos highlighting some of their greatest moments will be played to the crowd. Trull said there would be some local youth speaking at the event too. He expects there to be at least 250 people in attendance, saying anyone from the Highlands community and beyond is welcome to attend.

Tashlin and Williams join the wall

The day takes on an even bigger meaning for two inductees, siblings Tashlin and Williams, who will have their likeness added to the athlete mural wall on the side of the building.

The duo are being recognized after a group of Grade 7/8 students at J.D. Hodgson Elementary School last year lobbied for their inclusion. Williams was the Highlands’ first pro-footballer, having played two seasons in the CFL during the mid 1990s, while Tashlin represented Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics, participating in the women’s 4×100 metre relay.

They will be the first people of colour to be featured on the wall, which also showcases Bradley, Nicholls, Stackhouse, Hodgson and current NHLer Matt Duchene.

“This has demonstrated what young people are capable of doing when they want to push for actions and changes that reflect the world they live in,” the students’ teacher Marina Thomazo told The Highlander.

“This heartwarming, feel-good journey has made us all question ourselves on what our present and future world should look like… I couldn’t be any prouder of my students.”