Community support keeps centre alive

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July 28, 2022

Julie Goodwin knows what she’s talking about when she says Haliburton County is a generous community.

For the past 16 years, Goodwin has been at the helm of the Pregnancy Care and Family Support Centre in Haliburton. The organization provides a wide array of services and supports to pregnant women and families struggling to get by, whether financially or emotionally, offering a helping hand at a time of great need.

And while those supports are carried out by staff and volunteers from the centre, they are paid for by the local community.

“The really neat thing about our centre is that we are completely 100 per cent donor supported,” Goodwin said. “That has allowed us to craft and formulate programs that work for us, and work for our clients without having to answer to an overarching funder or government body.”

Since May 2006, the centre has seen 456 individuals pass through its doors seeking assistance. While some only visited once, many others made a regular habit of stopping by. Goodwin said the centre adopts a no questions asked policy, and clients are welcome any time during operating hours.

The facility, located on the lower level of Glecoff’s Family Store, is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“When a client comes through the centre’s door, they will find a safe, compassionate environment, where they can ask questions and receive meaningful help and support. Their circumstances may be difficult, but we are here to help and convey the message that they do not have to face their situation alone,” Goodwin said.

The centre also does what it can to assist clients financially. While they do not simply give out money, Goodwin said they often donate children’s clothing, toys and items such as cribs and car seats to those in need.

Demand has only increased since the onset of the pandemic, Goodwin said. In 2021, the organization saw 61 clients – 14 firsttimers – across 388 visits. While pivoting to ensure this increased demand has been met, Goodwin said the centre has introduced a new ‘moms fellowship group’ to help those who have felt isolated due to lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions.

“COVID has been crazy. People have withdrawn, and so we’ve been really concerned about the mental health of our clients. So, now in our centre, we have a space where clients are encouraged to come in, bring their kids to play and meet up with one another, because we all need friends and a community during times like this,” Goodwin said.

The centre held its spring fundraiser at Lakeside Church June 4, raising $1,000. Goodwin said they are also running their annual baby bottle fundraiser, where they challenge community members to fill up a baby bottle or two with money and drop it off at the centre. Bottles are available for pick up during regular hours, and at 14 churches across the County.

With a budget of $74,000 this year, Goodwin said the centre will need every dollar it can muster if it is to continue meeting the demands of its clients.

“MP Jamie Schmale visited us recently, and he asked ‘if you didn’t exist, who would do this?’ and while there might be bits of help here and there from different organizations, we are truly unique in what we do. If we disappeared tomorrow, there would be a lot of people in need,” Goodwin said.

For more information, visit haliburtonpregnancycentre.ca..

LaRue chats hockey history at Haliburton museum

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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Few things have united communities in Haliburton County as much as hockey.

At a July 21 meeting of the Haliburton County Historical Society, Scott LaRue charted Haliburton County’s progression from a fiercely competitive collection of remote teams to Ontario championshipwinning squads that laid the groundwork for local stars of the modern game such as Cody Hodgson and Matt Duchene to shine.

LaRue is an expert on Haliburton hockey, playing professionally in Europe before returning to the Highlands. He managed the famous 1971 Haliburton Huskies to their Ontario Hockey Association D title. His father Albert John (A.J.) LaRue fundraised for the Haliburton arena they won the cup in, which elevated the local game through access to artificial ice.

“My father realized that none of these players were going to have an opportunity to upgrade their hockey to another level,” LaRue said, standing in front of a crowd at the Haliburton Highlands Museum.

Before that arena was built, hockey in Haliburton looked very different but the shinny was no less competitive.

LaRue explained how the County’s towns took the game seriously during the first half of the 20th century.

The rivalries between communities such as Haliburton, Eagle Lake, Minden, and Wilberforce all burned piping hot. Young men who worked in the lumber yards or in other remote jobs made up the teams.

When playing against farther-flung teams, towns would charter trains to the game, which became destinations of their own.

“And they partied,” LaRue said. “I think there were sandwiches being sold and other stronger beverages too.”

Communities didn’t just get on board trains: they joined the hockey bandwagon.

“The community spirit increased. People got more interested in the opportunities hockey provided.”

He said people often told companies operating in Haliburton County that, “If you’re going to hire people, make sure they’re good hockey players.”

In 1965, the arena opened after A.J. spent months lobbying businesses for donations. LaRue said many of the largest employers in the County, such as lumber yards, weren’t big donators.

But whether with 50 cents or a $5 bill, the community backed the project. The arena became a reality.

LaRue himself took advantage of that new ice surface, which was more level due to its sand base.

“All the ice time I got improved me,” LaRue said. He soon left to play professional hockey in Europe.

After he returned to Haliburton, he took over operation of the arena, and soon became coach of the Haliburton Huskies squad his father was instrumental in bringing to the County.

“The team we came up with were little guys but they were really hard-working kids.”

LaRue recounted how the team, captained by Bob Woodcock, beat Exeter 6-5 in front of 1,500 fans jam-packed into the Haliburton Arena. Some stood on tables, others jostled for space in the sound booth.

Ron Stackhouse played in that arena, and so did Hodgson who played in Vancouver, as well as a stint with the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators.

Current forward for the Predators, Matt Duchene, also took to the ice in Haliburton.

LaRue reflected that his father’s hard work, and the whole hockey family formed Haliburton’s hockey community today. “I think that it eventually all paid off,” LaRue said

Cyclist rolls towards world championship dreams

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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According to Nick Emsley, the key to surviving 24 hours of mountain biking is to look at the goal, not the time.

“When I’m halfway into a race, I’m not looking at that 12 hours left. I’m looking at being closer to that 24,” he said.

Based in Haliburton, Emsley has found a home within a tiny niche of the multimillion-member world cycling community. He races ultra-endurance mountain bike events.

With COVID-19 restrictions likely in the rearview mirror, Emsley is aiming to take his career to new heights in 2022.

He’s armed with a new sponsorship deal and a goal of lining up for the start of the World Endurance Mountain Bike Organization’s (WEMBO) championships in New South Wales, Australia in 2023, the pinnacle of ultra-endurance mountain biking.

“That’s going to be an amazing feeling,” Emsley said.

That race would mark a capstone on his career dotted with wins and top-three finishes.

First, he’s spending the summer competing in regional races such as the Three-hour Sea Otter Canada marathon at Blue Mountain and a three-day “Crank the Shield” staged race in Sault Ste. Marie at the end of July.

Then he wants to do a 24-hour race in Canmore, Alberta this fall. It’s WEMBO’s biggest race in the Americas.

That continental championship is key for landing sponsorships and gauging whether he’s fast enough to compete with the best of the best in Australia.

“Getting a specific position out there on this race would really, really help,” he said.

After an impressive performance at 2021’s infamous “8 Hours of Hurtin’ in Haliburton” race at the Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Preserve, he also landed a bike deal with Montu bikes. In the past few years, he has become a regular top-three finisher in nearly every event he pedals.

He spends the entire winter training for races, tracking his heart rate and other fitness metrics, which determine how hard he’s able to work on the bike and keep his energy up.

Many people watching Emsley might have the same question: who would willingly spend 24 hours in the saddle? “I get that all the time,” he said with a laugh.

“I like to challenge myself. There’s a reason why there’s only a handful of us who compete hard in these events.”

After racing short mountain bike circuits for a few years, Emsley tried out an endurance race and fell in love with the strategy, mental demands and physical training required to keep your body in motion for extended periods of time.

“It brings you a lot of satisfaction,” he said.

Sometimes success can hang on a knife’s edge. “If I worked really late the night before or had a hard week leading into the race, maybe the first few hours will be great, but all of a sudden you have nothing left in your body,” he said. “The mental part of it all is huge.”

Just like each individual race, he said his long-term plan for racing next year’s WEMBO world championship requires planning and patience.

“You have to look at the long-term. It’s a lot of dedication,” he said.

Power boat racing returning to Head Lake

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 28, 2022

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The Toronto Outboard Racing Club (TORC) is bringing powerboat racing back to Haliburton the Aug. 20-21 weekend.

Event organizer Barb Hammond said she was “so happy to say” the TORC racing weekend was returning to Head Lake after being cancelled throughout COVID-19.

She said the general public can come to the town docks on Friday, Aug. 19 to “meet the racers and see their set-up of boats.”

The racing begins Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and goes until approximately 5 p.m. Hammond said times are “dictated by the number of breakdowns, accidents and unexpected interruptions of pleasure boat traffic.”

On Sunday, they’ll start at 11 a.m. “respecting the church services” and plan to end at 5 p.m.

Hammond said their two main sponsors are RPM and MacEwen Fuels along with “many more local businesses again supporting.”

The event is free to all spectators and organizers are again partnering with the Haliburton Hospital Auxiliary to raise money for the hospital. Spectators buy tickets for various prizes, there’s a 50/50 draw at the racers’ dinner and TORC makes a donation, historically $1,000, Hammond said.

There will be a Saturday night dinner and dance for 120 at the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre.

Hammond noted the local racers’ roster has expanded to four Haliburton County participants. They include Wes Hammond, Andrea Hammond, Brandon Sutton and Tammy Everitt.

Wes Hammond, who lives in Eagle Lake, said it was exciting to be coming back.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to race so it’s nice to get back to it.”

Being a hometown boy, he loves the Head Lake stage of the races.

“It’s close to home. There’s lots of friends that come to see it. it’s easy to watch. There’s nothing better than racing in front of your family and friends.”

There’s been races in Tweed June 11-12, Gravenhurst June 25-26, and upcoming is Erinsville July 23-24.

Competing in two classes, Hammond is near the top of the leaderboard in both. He normally races a few more classes but added, “it’s been going well considering it’s been busy with COVID and I didn’t have much time to use my boats over the last couple of years.”

Barb Hammond said the TORC family is looking forward to its return to the Highlands.

“Sponsors have stepped up generously, racers booked rooms back in February and everyone is positively pumped. “It’s good for the town, the hospital, and gives our community a free event during financial hard times.”

Skyline Dance Studio to open doors in the fall

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 28, 2022

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The night that Allison Cox found out her daughter’s local dance studio was closing, she told her husband, “I either need to buy a bus, or open a dance studio here in Haliburton County. Either way, these kids needed to stay together.”

Cox said she instinctively knew she could lead a project to create a new dance studio – dubbed Skyline Dance Studio – and was pretty sure there would be “immense” support to keep dance local.

“So far, the support has far exceeded my greatest hope,” she said.

Haliburton Dance Academy closed its doors in June after 10 years in Haliburton County.

Cox said Skyline Dance Studio is not affiliated with any dance studios but is an independent not-for-profit organization, “with a huge vision to create an inclusive safe space for all dancers in Haliburton County.”

She said she worked very closely with the Haliburton County Development Corporation to review the business options and ultimately decided on a not-for-profit for two reasons. “We want everything we pour into this studio to be reinvested in the studio and we want to be sure this is a legacy that can be carried on for years to come. It will evolve and grow as the board of directors transitions throughout the years. It will truly be a community-run operation.”

Right now, they have a working board of eight local women. They include: Cox, Sarah Garbutt, Dawn Hurd, Courtney Bishop, Victoria Bullock, Stacey Parish, Stef Wood and Melissa Valentini.

Some own and run businesses, some work in non-profits, some are employed by local businesses, and many have experience sitting on other not-for-profit boards in the Highlands, Cox said.

“It is a great blend of experience coming together with passion and dedication to accomplish this goal. Beyond this group, we have dozens of community members, individuals, and businesses, that have offered support with time, money and materials.”

Skyline Dance Studio will be located at 229 Highland St., between Castle Antiques and Pet Valu.

They move in on Aug. 1 and construction crews expect the renovations to take six to eight weeks. Their classes will start in October 2022.

“It is a fantastic space and will have three large studios and a variety of common spaces for dancers and their families,” Cox said.

“We are doing this for our community, and the families of Haliburton County. Dance is so important for kids, not only is it good for physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing, but it also creates amazing friendships and instills a sense of community that will last a lifetime.”

Pre-registration is open. Email info@ skylinedancestudio.ca to be added to the list. Audition dates will be released soon and registration will open in August.

Moulton rock flows on hot new album

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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For years, Jeff Moulton has been playing covers and original tunes across Haliburton County, but never released an LP. With Labour of Love, out July 22, Moulton cranks up the volume on 10 songs about love, betrayal and even playing darts in the rain.

“I’m excited about it,” Moulton said. ‘It felt like the time was right.”

“A lot of the songs have been on the shelf for a long time. A lot have been around since the 90s,” he said.

Richard Joudrey of the Salt Cellars engineered the album and performed drums, bass, as well as some of the keyboard and guitar parts.

“Kudos to him for a great job on the production of the album,” Moulton said.

Some songs were written by his brother-in-law, who has passed away, for a band back in the 80s.

“I thought he had great songs but they never saw the light of day,” Moulton said.

So, the meaning behind songs such as “Maxine,” about a woman who is cheating on her partner, remain a mystery.

“I don’t know who she is,” Moulton said.

While he usually plays on stage alone, Moulton’s album provides him the backing of a full band.

That means his original tunes such as Girl Like You are supercharged with arena-rock hooks coupled with chugging electric guitar riffs.

He said some songs, such as Give us a Peaceful World are inspired by current events including COVID-19 and political unrest.

Other songs like Chilling Out hit home in cottage country, Moulton said.

“It’s a very laid-back summer good time kind of song. It’s really closest to this area. It’s talking about chilling out on your dock and enjoying life.”

Moulton continued practicing and working on his music throughout pandemic lockdowns.

“That’s where the refining of the songs came from. Even though the songs were written a long time ago, I re-recorded them on my computer to see what I could do with them.”

Once the final tracks were ready, Elyse Perry, Moulton’s niece, drew the picture of him for the cover, and local artist, Scott Walling, finished the design and added the title font.

Moulton will have CDs for sale at upcoming concerts, and the album is available to stream on all major streaming platforms. Bundled with the new CD is a previously-released selftitled EP.

He’ll be playing next at the Gooderham Music Festival July 30.

Creativity in the trees: art tour returns

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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Artists throughout the County are opening their doors July 30 & 31 for the 16th annual Tour de Forest.

Twenty-six studios are taking part, including painters, sculptors, mixed media creators and more, set to showcase their work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We really value and appreciate our guests and look forward to seeing returning faces and meeting some new attendees,” said organizer Charlene McConnell, who is also a ceramic artist.

“The tour is free and at this beautiful time of year it’s a pleasant way to see the countryside, meet the artists in their studio setting and see what interesting creative new work has evolved over the past couple of years,” McConnell said.

Collective joins tour

The Limbic Collective, a group of emerging multi-disciplinary artists from Haliburton, are new to the tour this year.

They’ll be showing work alongside Biljana Web at the Whirling Wisdom Art Creations studio near Tory Hill.

Founded in 2021, the collective has been hosting shows and participating in art events such as Art in the Garden in June.

“That’s been a lot of fun: having multiple artists from different styles, from different genres and then finding a way to pleasantly display their work together,” said Poet Ever, a curator and organizer with the collective.

Most of the artists who will be exhibiting work during the show are visual artists crafting drawings or paintings, but there will be sculptors too, interactive art and music.

“I like to do performance and installation kind of stuff,” Ever said. “Just having so many things going on at the same time is really inspiring. When someone thinks of an idea and you might have had an idea last week that goes together with that, it’s really nice to put the two ideas together.”

Co-curator and organizer Scott Duggan will be crafting music during the weekend too.

Duggan said he enjoys reflecting on the environment around him in what he plays.

“I like to improvise in music… I don’t usually have backing tracks,” Duggan said, mentioning how playing music with other Limbic Collective members allows for spontaneity and creative freedom.

“Doing it at Limbic, I kind of have this idea of ‘let’s bring in a visual artist, someone bring in their paintings or something’,” he said. “The environment is essential in how I create.”

Both artists said they’re inspired by the temporary aspect of performance or improvised art.

“I find it a little more fun when it’s ephemeral and fleeting, instead of feeling like I have to archive every moment,” Ever said.

The Limbic Collective regularly hosts creative gatherings at their Highland Street studio, beneath Glecoff’s Family Store, where artists come together to make art, collaborate and hang out.

Alongside Ever and Duggan, illustrator and painter Mo Christiano and Bob Frxst, an illustrator, 3D artist, muralist and sculptor, are curators and organizers of the collective and will be exhibiting work at the tour.

For a full list of artists and their locations across Haliburton County visit haliburtontourdeforest.com.

Korean food served with a side of smiles

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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Doona Kim is frying up fragrant South Korean food in West Guilford, a community that feels like her hometown in Gangwon-do, South Korea, which was also near water.

“I thought, why do I feel so comfortable here?” Kim asked.

She and her son, Kenny Kee, operate K Pub Chicken, in the building which used to be the home of West G Pizza and Grill.

The family closed their former business in Keswick, due to COVID-19. They bought the popular restaurant in the winter and opened it alongside a Taekwondo and jiu-jitsu studio at the community centre.

While her son was originally supposed to run the restaurant, he opened another K Pub Chicken restaurant in Innisfil. That meant Doona had to quickly learn the ropes.

Their food is already making a splash, with fried chicken, pork, dumplings, bulgogi (marinated beef) and more all crafted with care.

“I want to make people something different. Not a burger, not pizza, but something else everybody will love,” she said.

Her son’s sauce is a key ingredient in their most popular dish, “Yangnyeom Chicken.”

It’s sweet and tangy with just a little bit of heat, covering chicken enveloped in a crunchy breaded coating.

The recipe is a secret and drew in a big crowd at her son’s former restaurant in Niagara.

“Even I don’t know all the ingredients,” she said. “People say to me ‘it’s addicting!’”

Kim said she has loved meeting regular customers and cottagers throughout the spring and summer, and feeling like a part of the community.

“These people are teaching me how to live. I am learning about life now, not just business.”

She even got help from the community learning how to operate the restaurant’s pizza ovens. Korean food is stir-fried or deep-fried, and she only uses the ovens for pizzas which aren’t served during the summer.

Kim said she has relied on her faith to help her get through and learn the ropes of operating a busy restaurant.

“I always pray. I cannot do it myself.” She said she loves making food, but her goal in West Guilford is a bit more peoplefocused.

“I want to make people happy, that’s it,” she said.

K Pub Chicken is located at 1008 St Andrew Ct in West Guilford.

Chamber of Commerce rolls out fresh strategy

By

Sam Gillett

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July 28, 2022

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The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) is implementing a new strategic plan with a fresh team in 2022.

During the organization’s July 26 annual general meeting, president Mark Bell said the plan was an “opportunity to step back and say ‘what do we need to do differently?”

He said 2021 was a “challenging and interesting year. I’m pleased to see the work the chamber did in delivering value to members.”

The strategic plan lays out five goals for the organization, which has 270 Highlands businesses. They include: member experience, prospering and growing membership, partnering and advocating on behalf of members and pursuing governance excellence.

Bell said the chamber has acted on these priorities already. They submitted feedback on the County of Haliburton’s draft shoreline preservation bylaw, for instance.

Executive director Bob Gaudette said he was impressed by the chamber’s clear direction and plan when he took over from Amanda Conn in April 2022.

“When I started, I was a little concerned with how the pandemic would have affected the chamber. The more I dug in… I was really impressed. I think that goes to great leadership and great staff,” he said.

He pointed to the success of recent chamber initiatives such as providing rapid testing kits to partner businesses. They’ve distributed 20,000 so far.

Kirstley Dams, who joined as office administrator this summer, has helped develop new ways of showcasing Highlands’ businesses. Dams has been creating short videos that explain services and products available at local shops and posting them to the popular social network TikTok, for example.

“You want to get the most appealing information you can in a short amount of time,” she said.

“Most of the small businesses that are participating have been really good at re-sharing on their own social media pages.”

The HHCC board also voted to approve new directors for 2022: Francis Pilon, Dr. Kassie Wright, Aaron Hill, and Ryan Merritt.

Dysart council says ‘no’ to cell tower for Minnicock Lake Road

By

Mike Baker

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July 28, 2022

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Dysart council has turned down an application from Rogers to install a new 90-metre cell tower on Minnicock Lake Road, though the project may not be completely dead.

Following a debate July 26 over the proposed location of the tower, councillors split a 3-3 vote in a move that saw the project – the first to come to the municipality through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s (EORN) cell gap initiative – defeated. Deputy mayor Pat Kennedy was absent from Tuesday’s meeting. Tie votes result in defeated motions.

Mayor Andrea Roberts labelled council’s decision an embarrassment.

“I’m not sure what the next steps are. I’m very disheartened,” Roberts said. “We will be left behind in the dust. If this is the legacy this council wants to leave, that’s what it is.”

Roberts and councillors Walt McKechnie and Nancy Wood-Roberts voted in favour of the proposal, while Tammy Donaldson, Larry Clarke and John Smith shot it down.

Clarke said he was concerned the project appeared to fly in the face of Dysart’s policy 38 – legislation introduced in 2014 regulating the use and installation of cell towers. That policy stipulates any proposed towers should be located a minimum of one-kilometre from the nearest residence; be camouflaged or designed to blend with the surroundings, with the natural-looking Mono-pine structures preferred; be set back a minimum of 60 metres from the nearest road, and feature the minimum required lighting to meet Transport Canada safety standards.

Earlier that day, council heard from Michael Butz, who lives in one of 40 residences within a one-kilometre radius of the proposed site. He called on council to uphold the requirements outlined in policy 38. He noted a petition organized by his neighbours, opposing the project, had garnered over 100 signatures.

He identified a potential site 4.5 kilometres south of the Minnicock Lake Road location, which he said would be a “perfect fit” for a tower, with the nearest residence over a kilometre away.

Rogers spokesperson Eric Belchamber told council that location wouldn’t be viable.

“Having a tower one kilometre away from where people live isn’t practical… It wouldn’t have a meaningful impact on improving service and achieving the EORN goals,” he said. “Policy 38 is one of the most onerous policies I’ve come across. It was written with what seems to be a sentiment of not wanting cell towers [in Dysart].”

Smith said if Rogers had issues with the policy, they should have been raised when the process began 18 months ago.

Donaldson said her belief is that 5G technology is unsafe for human health.

“There is no health risk whatsoever to humans through this technology,” Belchamber said.

Christian Lee, a site acquisition specialist with Rogers, expressed confusion over Donaldson’s comments given that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) outlined in its information for municipal councils that these type of concerns were unfounded and unwarranted and should not be part of the decision-making process.

Belchamber noted this was only the second out of around 85 EORN projects he’s worked on in the past year to have been rejected. He mentioned Rogers was working on five other cell tower location sites in Dysart.

Roberts asked Clarke, Smith and Donaldson what would have to happen to change their minds. Clarke said he would be willing to revisit the issue should council revise policy 38. CAO Tamara Wilbee said it would be brought forward at next month’s committee of the whole meeting.

“We have policies in place for a reason. Our residents are looking at us to uphold policy 38… and I think we have to do that in this case,” Clarke said. “If it can be revised and the site can still work within the policy, then I’ll support it.”