New bike share program coming to Haliburton

March 24, 2022

There will be a pair of welcome additions to Head Lake Park this summer after Dysart council gave the green light to two community initiatives designed to promote public health, wellness and activity.

In a delegation to council March 22, representatives from Haliburton Rotary laid out plans to invest in an automated bikeshare system that would allow individuals aged 18 and older to rent a bicycle free of charge to use in the community.

Inspired by similar programs in Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon, the venture is intended to encourage free outdoor activity and enhance Haliburton’s reputation as a premiere tourist destination, said Rotarian Irv Handler.

Bikes will be located outside the Haliburton Welcome Centre. People will have to use a smart phone to sign a waiver and input credit card details to unlock the bikes. Cards will only be charged in the event a bike is damaged or stolen, Handler noted. The bikes are intended for daytime use only, and individuals will be able to use the bikes for up to three hours.

Handler estimates the initiative will cost approximately $13,000 to set up. That will include the purchase of six bikes, three double-bike heavy-duty docking racks, Bluetooth solar-powered locks, and the software people will use to access the bikes.

Earlier in the meeting, Craig Bowker of Adventure Haliburton Group unveiled a proposal to install a “fun” four by eight foot billboard with facial cut-outs in the park, to inspire people to take selfies and share images online showcasing Haliburton. Council liked the idea, saying it would be an inexpensive asset to Head Lake Park.

Bowker said the billboard will be situated close to the current shoreline entrance at the park, near the snowmobile parking area. It will be installed later this year.

Places for People agreement

Sixteen months after making an informal commitment to donate land along Wallings Road to support a new affordable housing development in the community, Dysart council has finalized a draft letter of intent to follow through with the project.

In the deal, Dysart is donating a 2.7 acre plot of land to local non-profit Places for People [P4P]. The two sides have been locked in negotiations for over a year but have found a middle ground to move forward with a first phase of the project. An initial proposal from P4P, which would see the build front onto Wallings Road with access to County Road 21, was rejected by the County, who had concerns over the ability of that intersection to handle increased traffic. A compromise was made in January allowing P4P to front the first part of the build onto Halbiem Crescent.

In addressing council, Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning and land information, said P4P had outlined five conditions in the letter, asking the municipality to enter into an exclusivity period with the non-profit over the land, and agree to reimbursing them for costs already paid, approximately $45,703, should future phases of the project not proceed.

Council agreed to enter into an exclusivity period up to Dec. 31 of this year, retaining an option to extend, and to refund a portion of the costs if a planned second phase, fronting onto Wallings, does not proceed.

The letter will be sent back to P4P for their approval before coming back to council for official adoption next month.

Single-tier government working in CKL

Lisa Gervais

March 24, 2022

Two decades after Harry Kitchen’s decision to scrap Victoria County, many believe the single-tier system has served the City of Kawartha Lakes (CKL) well.

“I favour one tier of local government over a two-tier system as it’s more efficient in coordinating city-wide priorities and local services,” CKL chief administrative officer Ron Taylor said.

“Services are delivered more equitably and political and administrative perspectives are city-wide and not localized,” Taylor added.

“As an amalgamated city, we can make better, larger, affordable investments to serve all the residents, whereas affordability for costly investments has been challenging in the past for lower tiers,” Taylor said. “I don’t see any problems created with amalgamation.”

Taylor said the now 20-year-old model of government “greatly streamlines decisionmaking”. He noted single-tier means one budget, and costly infrastructure, whether bridges, arenas or community centres, funded by more ratepayers.

For example, he said there were a number of community halls and administrative facilities in many of the former townships. However, no single facility was used to its maximum, yet all required city servicing. “These facilities can be improved and consolidated as we reduce the overall footprint of buildings but pool city-wide investment into fewer of them,” Taylor added.

Asked for non-anecdotal, statistical proof of how amalgamation has worked, the CAO said it’s difficult tp assess performance of an amalgamated city versus 16 townships and one county. However, he said he had observed a number of efficiencies, including fewer levels of approvals in certain processes, more specialized staff delivering one program versus several and a stronger voice provincially.

“Strength in numbers, and a single voice representing the community.”

Long-time Lindsay councillor Pat Dunn said amalgamation has worked “surprisingly well.”

“We did not see the reduction in taxes but I believe we are in a much better place both in services and the cost of providing them,” he said.

“Initially, council seemed very territorial … (but) most of those adjustment problems seem to have disappeared,” Dunn added.

“While looking out for their own wards, councillors see the bigger picture and work for the benefit of the entire city.”

David Siegel is a retired professor of political science at Brock University. He agreed with Taylor that larger municipalities can hire more staff, and more qualified and expensive staff will develop a level of expertise that can rival the province.

“Dual-tiered governments feature blame shifting and conflict between levels far too commonly,” Siegel added. “Mayors of a single-tier can speak with greater authority than the chair of an upper-tier or region. The larger the council, the greater the conflict will be at council,” Siegel said.

Coun. Tracy Richardson said she has a good understanding of amalgamation as a resident for more than 50 years.

“I clearly see how The City of Kawartha Lakes is merging into one of the strongest municipalities in Ontario,” she said.

Councillor and businessperson Kathleen Seymour-Fagan said while the province forced the amalgamation, she believes the city is moving in the right direction.

“People still are (very protective of their communities) now as every village and hamlet has its own identity and pride. We still have our challenges, although we are well on our way to working efficiently as a single-tier municipality,” she said.

A mixed bag

Coun. Doug Elmslie supports singletier but says idealized memories of the previous system have coloured some people’s views.

“Amalgamation for our citizens has been a mixed bag,” Elmslie said, “While things like emergency services, roads, parks and recreation and engineering are probably more efficient and provide a more even and economical service, the advertised cost savings never occurred.

“For our citizens who lived here (preamalgamation) they felt a sense of loss of what they knew and the charm of living in a small community that operated on a phone call and a handshake,” Elmslie added.

“Because we are now a larger and core complex organization it takes longer to get things done and this results in frustrations for some folks.”

Former Verulam, Bobcaygeon and CKL coun. Pat Warren also supports single-tier with qualifications.

“Communities were upset they would lose their identities.” Warren said, “Twenty years on, many communities have retained their identities and, in some cases, improved their sense of place through volunteerism.

“A positive part of a single-tier structure is the ability to make broad policy changes like environmental, accessibility, planning and other initiatives more easily,” Warren said. “You don’t need to go through so many layers to effect change.”

On the other hand, she doesn’t think the city gets the same in provincial grant money as the previous 17 lower-tier municipalities did.

She also thinks they have lost the ease of bringing issues to council.

“In Verulam Township, a farmer would come to council and be invited to sit around a table to voice their issue … some would say that wasn’t very sophisticated but it worked and people felt they were listened to.” That said, Warren added, “I believe the recent change to the committee of the whole structure allows people to bring their issues to council in a more relaxed format now.”

Maple Lake retreat to open this summer

Mike Baker

March 24, 2022

The owners of a new “destination retreat experience” on Maple Lake say they expect their facility to open by July 1.

Dimensions Algonquin Highlands will welcome people looking to reconnect their mind, body and spirit, according to the company’s CEO, Christopher Dawson. Speaking with The Highlander, Dawson said the retreat would be a first of its kind in Canada, bringing a wealth of specialized health and wellness services together to create a “unique, five-star experience” for guests.

“We’re really passionate about what we’re doing in Algonquin Highlands,” Dawson said. “We would describe ourselves as a luxurious wellness retreat… The majority of our guests will be people looking for self-betterment, but we’re also trying to target different communities, some of whom might be diagnosable [with mental disorders].

“If you’re coming to Dimensions Algonquin Highlands, you’re there for a wellness experience, you’re there to reflect on things. You are looking to work on yourself, and looking to take some strides as a person,” he added.

Dawson clarified they will not be doing drug and alcohol rehabilitation. When news broke last summer that Dimensions had taken ownership of the North Shore Road property, there was concern the site would be transformed into a rehab clinic.

An initial press release referred to them as a “psychedelic treatment company” that would be offering specific customized retreats designed for clinical benefit in a range of areas.

Prior to launching Dimensions in 2020, Dawson was CEO of the Edgewood Health Network, which specializes in offering addiction supports and treatments.

“That’s probably where the confusion came from, my history,” Dawson said. “We should have done a better job clarifying what we are and what we aren’t. For the record, we absolutely are not and will never be a drug rehabilitation centre.”

The 40-acre site has 17 cabins and two multi-room communal lodges. Renovations on the main lodge are underway, to be complete by 2023. Dawson said his son, Eric, has taken lead on restoring approximately two kilometres of trails.

Guests will have the option of participating in activities such as yoga, meditation and both sound and light therapy. Dawson said there would be a lot of spa-like elements incorporated into the company’s programming.

Total investment will eclipse $20 million

Details surrounding stay packages and pricing will be finalized in the coming weeks. The facility is to be a four-season operation once open.

The company is working with the township of Algonquin Highlands on a rezoning application that Dawson hopes will allow Dimensions to incorporate a medical component to their services in future. This would open the door for the firm to expand into psychotherapy and, possibly down the road, psychedelics.

“There’s a therapeutic reason for that… There is a real scientific movement behind understanding the role of the central nervous system in our overall physical and mental health. Many psychedelic substances have reset aspects to them as they connect to our brain… When you combine that with therapists walking you through that process, that can lead to really significant recoveries for people,” Dawson said.

“These hallucinogenics are not re-emerging because people want to get high, they’re re-emerging because neuroscience has demanded that they be brought to the table,” he added.

He referenced the substance psilocybin, otherwise known as magic mushrooms, which are illegal in Canada. Dawson said there is a movement amongst the medical community to legalize the substance. A study examining the effects of microdoses of the drug in people with low-grade anxiety and depression was approved by Health Canada in December, with results expected later this year.

Regardless, Dawson said he’s committed to making Dimensions Algonquin Highlands one of the premiere getaway destinations in the country. Once renovations are complete, Dawson estimates total investment in the site will eclipse $20 million.

“We want to be here for the long haul. We want to be a big part of this community. This is our first location, and Haliburton County is perfect for what Dimensions is all about,” Dawson said. “I have fantastic memories of coming here with my family on 12 Mile Lake, and we hope to give our guests the best experiences and memories possible. We’re so excited.”

Amalgamation: not about saving money

Sam Gillett

March 17, 2022

DFE0FF43-F082-4303-A0E8-B2591AC2A923 — Experts found property taxes increased in amalgamated municipalities. Source: Municipal Amalgamation in Ontario by Lydia Miljan and Zachary Spicer, May 2015, Fraser institute.org

Minden Hills mayor Brent Devolin is correct when he says amalgamation won’t save money, just as warden Liz Danielsen is justified in questioning if it will.

The majority of studies on Canadian amalgamations have not found cost savings.

Zachary Spicer is an associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at York University. He has extensively researched and written about amalgamations nationwide.

Speaking to The Highlander, Spicer said on the surface it appears cost saving arguments make sense.

For example, “do we need 32 councillors? Do we need four fire chiefs? Do we need five CAOs? And you may look at what some of these people make, especially the CAOs, and you say, ‘well, that’s a significant chunk. We can get rid of them’.”

However, he said the challenge is these people don’t necessarily go away.

“What you are creating is a larger government. You’re still providing services to the same amount of people. You’re just doing it from one centralized location. So, I think probably the likeliest outcome is that five CAOs become one CAO and four deputy CAOs because the fact of the matter is you can’t run the County from a single- tier government on the workforce of just the County.”

He added, “The County administration is probably quite lean because there are four counterparts for each position doing the heavy lifting at the local level. So, I would caution we don’t normally see mass layoffs. You’re not going to fire 200 people and expect that over time the workforce won’t creep back up to where it is right now.”

And while harmonization of services may be perceived as a good thing, Spicer said it can come at an added cost.

“Government would probably cost more under a single-tier model. And part of that is larger governments are called upon to do more things. With smaller governments there is a certain service standard that residents are used to. So, when you amalgamate you create one large government that has more capacity to do things. The service precedent in terms of residents seem to adjust accordingly and so you would likely see an increase in service costs as things go up.”

He added that smaller governments allow the tailoring of services to tax ratio better. “With larger government, some of that is lost because it has to be consistent standard across.”

Politicians not big cost item

Some in the County might argue that reducing the number of politicians to eight positions from 32 would produce substantial savings, but findings to date say it’s minimal.

In their study of Chatham-Kent, Kingston and Central Elgin, Joseph

Kushner and David Siegel said while those areas went from 158 to 42 elected officials, councillors’ wages and benefits represented less than one per cent of

total municipal expenditures, so the budget impact of fewer elected officials was “miniscule.” Siegel also prepared a policy brief for the Niagara Community Observatory that argued that not only

is little money saved, but reducing the number of councillors has the detrimental effect of reducing access to councillors.

Spicer agreed that by eliminating politicians, you also eliminate representation.

Choice does not have to be binary

Spicer said the choice in Haliburton County does not have to be binary, “between either doing exactly what we’re doing now or doing something radically different, which is consolidate lower-tier governments or create a single government.”

He said there is a middle ground “and that is a robust program of service sharing, “which can certainly happen right now.

“So, with the service delivery review, I suspect that there has been some of that where there has been some analysis of where they can share services. There is

a possibility to keep walking down that road. You can also share regulations. You can share CAOs. You can share staff. You can harmonize committees. There’s a number of different things to do in the middle between amalgamation and non- amalgamation.

“I think the big thing about amalgamation is to what end? To what end are we really doing this? What can we accomplish through amalgamation that we can’t accomplish in some other way? It is very tough to go back once you’ve done it. De-amalgamation is a very, very tough process and very rare.”

Next week – What we’ve learned from The City of Kawartha Lakes

Huskies set franchise record in big win

Mike Baker

March 17, 2022

It was a perfect weekend for the Haliburton County Huskies, recording two hugely impressive victories over divisional rivals to secure their spot in the OJHL playoffs.

In front of a packed house March 12, the Dogs put the Lindsay Muskies to the sword, romping to an 8-3 win in what was a dominant display against their bitter rivals.

A night earlier, the blue and white came from three goals down to defeat the league-leading Trenton Golden Hawks 4-3 in what head coach Ryan Ramsay called an incredible display of grit and determination.

Fans inside S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Saturday were treated to an offensive spectacle as the Huskies set new franchise records for goals scored in a single game and biggest win. Bryce Richardson got things started 4:28 into the opening period, slotting home after being set up by linemate Lucas Stevenson.

The Dogs made it two just 20 seconds later, Sam Solarino bundling home on the breakaway after a mistake from Muskies defenseman Logan Maunder. Payton Schaly added a third at 8:53, with Patrick Saini

notching a short-handed marker near the end of the period.

“We started well, probably better than any game this season,” Ramsay said. “We had time to work on some things in practice during the week, and credit to the boys for going out there and putting it all together during that first period. They came out strong, got a couple goals and didn’t give [the Muskies] an inch.”

It was largely one-way traffic again in the second, with Solarino scoring his second of the game, Isaac Sooklal grabbing his first goal of the season, and Oliver Tarr firing in his team-leading 27th tally of the campaign. The Muskies got on the board through centreman Duncan Scullion.

Richardson made it an 8-1 game early

in the third period. A late flurry from the Muskies, scoring through Boyd Stahlbaum and Nate Burelle, made the scoreline look a little more respectable.

“We were just flying out there. Playing with complete confidence,” said Solarino, who was named first star of the game. “I feel like we’re starting to click really well and get into a groove. We’re looking to go on a big run here as we head into the stretch. Show them your bark and gain some momentum heading into playoffs.”

Comeback against Trenton

Friday’s encounter on the road in Trenton looked like being a rough night for the blue and white. After a bad opening 30 minutes, the worst of the season according to Ramsay, the Huskies found themselves in a 3-0 hole.

In desperate need of a spark, Ramsay turned to his “Mr. Dependable” Patrick Saini. He dragged his team back from the brink with a remarkable hat-trick, turning the tide of the game. Just 30 seconds after Saini’s game-tying tally, fellow forward Cameron Kosurko grabbed the game- winner, sending the Huskies bench into a frenzy.

“It really doesn’t get much better than that. We didn’t do ourselves justice early in the game, but we really bought into the system during the third period and took the game to them. On our day, we know we have the quality to beat anyone in this league, but to come back the way we did gives everyone such a confidence boost,” said captain Nathan Porter.

With nine games of the regular season to play, Ramsay said he’s focusing on getting as many wins as possible to try and secure top spot in the East Division. The Huskies currently sit in third, five points behind the first-place Golden Hawks.

“There’s not a small game the rest of the year. We can’t afford to take a single night off. We still play Trenton and Wellington (Dukes, second place in East Division) another couple of times, and that can

make a big difference in where we finish, and who we play in that opening round,” Ramsay said. “We need to keep the guys sharp on systems and what they need to do, because when we’re rolling and playing our game… we’re as good as anyone in this league.”

The Huskies have a triple homestand this weekend, playing Friday against the Mississauga Chargers (7:30 p.m. puck drop), Saturday against the Golden Hawks (4:30 p.m. puck drop) and Sunday against the Caledon Admirals (3:30 p.m. puck drop)

Don’t defer the shoreline bylaw

Lisa Gervais

March 17, 2022

LG-tree cutting (5) — A shoreline in Haliburton County

County Coun. Andrea Roberts – during the latest shoreline preservation bylaw meeting – wondered aloud if the contentious document should be left to the next council since nominations are opening May 2 for this fall’s municipal elections.

Her comment was not met with enthusiasm by the majority of councillors so it would appear the bylaw is not going to be shelved pending a new County council which would not really come into effect until December 2022.

I can understand where Roberts is coming from. This bylaw has been five years in the making and it is probably the hardest one councillors have been involved with. They have dealt with the wrath of some members of the community. There have been threats they won’t be re-elected if it is passed. They have read literally hundreds of pages of reports on the file.

However, watching the process unfold – in particular the committee of the whole meetings in January and again on March 9 – progress is being made.

Councillors are raising very good questions on behalf of their constituents and it appears they are trying to find a middle ground so that they can actually pass the bylaw – and in so doing, do a better job of protecting our precious lakes.

The discussion around setbacks was telling in this regard. Councillors had been offered three choices, really. They could go with 30-metres, 20-metres or 10-metres. With a majority of councillors indicating a leaning towards 20 m it showed they are listening to the people who will be impacted by the bylaw. And those who wanted more, 30-metres, or less, 10-metres, said they would be willing to compromise to get the bylaw passed.

There will be some environmentalists in our community who will be outraged if a 20-metre buffer is passed. There will be others who will be maddened if it isn’t 10 or 15 or zero. However, the middle ground seems to be the only way this bylaw will get over the line.

There were numerous other examples of councillors having done their homework. They pressed for clear delineation between major and minor works. They pointed out there is a huge difference between a small subdivision on the water versus a couple wanting to move their fire pit. They ensured a clearer definition of minor landscaping to allay the fears of those wanting to do small works at their cottage. They also ensured that someone can still bring a hand drawing of their plans to planning and building departments, not having to hire a surveyor for these minor, small works.

They are working to clarify what this bylaw is all about – namely ensuring larger developments do not negatively impact our lakes.

They also spent a great deal of time talking about how the bylaw would be implemented since they are acutely aware that the paper is only as good as its follow-through, including policing it.

So, while I get what Roberts is saying, I would encourage the council to stay the course. This bylaw has been five years in the making and they are nearing the finish line. Will all members of the community like the completed bylaw? No. However, like all bylaws, it is not set in stone. The council, as has been discussed, can revisit it in a year after passing it to see if it is working or not and make changes then.

Don’t give up now. You are almost there.

Artists ’in limbo’ after Agnes Jamieson curator departure

Sam Gillett

March 17, 2022

Members of the arts community say they’re concerned over the departure of the Agnes Jamieson Gallery’s curator and cancellation of spring and summer programming.

Haliburton artist Rose Pearson spent more than 12 months developing an exhibit that’s now indefinitely postponed after it was confirmed curator Laurie Carmount was no longer employed by the municipality.

“It is so very awkward to communicate to people about this because there has been no real explanation for why the show cannot go on – other than I was told that there was no staff to make the show happen at this time,” Pearson said in an email.

Mary Anne Barkhouse, whose solo exhibition was postponed because of COVID restrictions in 2021, said in an email to local media her show is “now in limbo due to Laurie’s sudden departure.”

She said even if the show can happen in the future, other exhibits and commitments mean she won’t be able to reschedule until 2023.

She said Carmount put the Agnes Jamieson Gallery on the map, developing shows that were toured across Canada and nurturing the careers of developing artists.

She also showcased a collection of more than 100 paintings by renowned artist Andre Lapine.

“Through her initiatives, Laurie was able to advance critical dialogue between local and national interests,” Barkhouse said.

Both artists said they were concerned that Minden Hills has not provided any public updates about the gallery or Carmount’s departure.

Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin declined to provide any information on Carmount’s departure from the gallery due to confidentiality protocol. “We never comment on HR, ever,” he said.

Director of community services Craig Belfry did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

Carmount could not be reached for comment.

Arts community rallies

On March 12, multiple members of the arts community attended a rally at the gallery to voice concerns over the future of the space.

“We just wanted to make sure our support was known,” said Tammy Rea, director of Sticks and Stones, and Those Other Movies, both parts of the Haliburton County Community Co-operative.

The gathering emerged out of a planned artist talk from Alex Jack, who was exhibiting a collection at the gallery March 12. The talk was cancelled.

Fay Wilkinson, a registered expressive arts practitioner, said the crowd seemed “shocked” and “a bit disappointed,” by the news of Carmount’s departure and the temporary closure of the gallery.

“Something pretty big has gone down here, and everyone is in the dark at this point,” Wilkinson said.

Devolin said, “the reality of what we are or are not doing [about gallery programming] probably will be part of the discussions on the 24th of March in the context of budget.”

When asked about the long-term future of the gallery’s in-person shows and programming, Devolin said, “Do I think they are going to necessarily be 100 per cent the same as they’ve been historically? Probably not. But there’s been some important well-supported parts of what goes on there that I don’t think anybody wishes to see go away.”

Jim Mitchell, cultural centre advisory committee member and past chairperson, said he is concerned as to whether there may or may not be a budget reduction to the centre this year when council discusses its budget March 24.

Mitchell received word Carmount was no longer employed by the municipality soon after a Feb. 22 committee meeting was cancelled.

“Everybody would like to know what’s gone on. Laurie has been around for a long time. She’s been the heart and soul of the cultural centre and is highly respected in the community,” Mitchell said.

Rea said the situation seems like a slight to a valuable part of the Highlands’ identity. “I feel like they want to Zamboni over

the art gallery to pay for that hockey arena. Whereas all things need to be supported in this township. We are not just hockey, we

are not just an art gallery,” Rea said. She said she’d like to ask Minden Hills staff and council “what did happen, and what is going to happen?”

Disc golf exploding in popularity

Mike Baker

March 17, 2022

Darrell Bankes has big plans for disc golf in Haliburton County in 2022.

After helping design and construct an 18-hole course at Abbey Gardens last summer, Bankes, one of Canada’s leading disc golf professionals, has developed a full program of events and activities for this year. The first will be taking place March 19, and has been appropriately named the 2022 Ice Bowl.

“It’s definitely been a long winter. We’ve tried to keep the course accessible, but with the amount of snow we get up in Haliburton, winter disc golf is still a bit of a challenge. Still, we’re excited to put on our first event of the new year,” Bankes told The Highlander. “The Ice Bowl is going to be a formal tournament. It has been sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association [PDGA], and so is very appealing to both amateur and professional players to come out, have some fun and help improve their rankings.”

As of press time there were 48 players signed up, with six spots still available.

Donations will be taken on the day in support of Central Food Network. Bankes is hoping to raise $1,000 for the organization’s heat bank program, while non-perishable food items will also be collected.

“The main focus of an Ice Bowl is to support food-based charities. They mainly happen during this time of the year because of the lull many organizations see between Christmas and Easter, when they’re getting less donations and contributions from the community,” Bankes noted.

Participants will be travelling from as far away as Kitchener, Waterloo and Ottawa to play, bringing dozens of visitors to the area. Bankes said the tourism aspect of disc golf has been a major benefit to the Highlands since Abbey Gardens opened its course last July.

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the response. We’ve had thousands of rounds played since opening and have hosted a couple of big events. The thing we’ve heard time and again is how beautiful and unique our course is,” Bankes said. “Our trail is probably two miles long, but it traverses a large portion of Abbey Gardens. It’s an incredible hike that hits all the main features of the property.”

Looking beyond the Ice Bowl, Bankes said Abbey Gardens will be hosting a national amateur tournament May 14, which is already sold out. The winner of that event may qualify for a finals tournament to be held in Austin, Texas over the summer.

Bankes is also setting up a weekly league for local residents to enjoy. He hopes to launch in April.

Disc golf exploded in popularity during the pandemic, offering people the chance to get active and have fun while still being able to socially distance. Bankes, through his company Tin Lid Disc Golf, has helped to design several courses all over North America, including in Hawaii and Fort McMurray. He has another four courses he’ll be working on this year.

“Disc golf is the fastest growing activity in North America right now. Anyone can play,” Bankes said. “People are predicting that within five years, there will be more disc golf courses in Canada and the U.S. than regular golf courses. It’s a fun activity, it only takes about 90 minutes to play a full 18-holes, and it’s cheap. All you need is a disc, and a good pair of walking shoes.”

For more information, visit abbeygardens.ca/disc-golf.

Greens announce provincial candidate for HKLB

Lisa Gervais

March 17, 2022

The Green Party of Ontario has announced that Tom Regina has been nominated as its candidate for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock ahead of the 2022 provincial election.

“Tom is a long-time resident and member of the region and understands the key challenges facing the area,” said Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner in a news release.

“He gets it. He’s a strong community builder and will be an authentic and real voice for his neighbours at Queen’s Park.”

A resident of Haliburton for more than 30 years, Regina taught music and was the head of arts at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School.

As a teacher in a rural community, the party said he has seen the challenges faced by many families regarding equitable access to housing, transportation and jobs.

“I’m concerned about the divisive political culture that stands in the way of putting forward real solutions to improve people’s lives, green solutions like affordable housing, accessible transit and good, green jobs,” Regina said.

“We need to start collaborating more in politics and focus on building a greener, more caring and equitable Ontario.”

Regina said he is a strong advocate for arts education and community building through arts participation.

He is a founding member of two community choirs, a local music festival for students of all ages, and the Highlands Summer Festival, which provides theatre experience for community members in a semi-professional setting.

He is joined so far in the race by Conservative candidate and incumbent Laurie Scott and NDP candidate Barbara Doyle. Regina was one of the founding members of the HKLB Green Association which launched in 2021

Minden closes book on Bob Lake launch

Sam Gillett

March 17, 2022

Minden Hills council voted against funding a new Bob Lake boat launch due to estimated project costs and location constraints.

A report from Tatham Engineering estimated a new boat launch at the lake would cost the municipality $180,000.

A previous municipally-maintained boat launch was closed in 2016 after it was discovered to be located partially on private property.

Councillors Lisa Schell, Jennifer Hughey, Jean Neville, Bob Carter and Mayor Brent Devolin voted to accept staff’s recommendation to not pursue the longstanding matter any further. Coun. Pam Sayne voted against the motion.

CAO Trisha McKibbin said she discussed the price estimate, which the Bob Lake Association (BLA) has contested, with staff members who said it appeared to be accurate. Tatham Engineering is an Ontariowide engineering service.

Included in Tatham’s report is a description of location-related factors contributing to the estimate, including tree removal, topsoil stripping, granular subbase and base placement, ditch drainage improvements, earth excavation and grading, and dredging parts of the lake bottom.

Tatham estimates $150,000 in further fees not included in construction costs, including blasting fees, legal consultations and topographical surveys.

The BLA, which funded 50 per cent of the engineering report, said the estimate is “severely inflated.”

In a letter to councillors and staff, the BLA included quotes based on Tatham Engineering’s design but from local contractors, quoting lower prices. Hawk River Construction estimated the project would cost $61,401.46 and Tom Prentice and Sons estimated $53,253.46, “clearly indicating that the launch can be constructed for less than $100,000,” wrote the BLA.

The BLA points to material estimates they’ve received which show concrete estimates from alternative companies could bring the price down by $33,000, and gravel costs by $12,000.

Sayne said she’d like to see staff meet with the BLA to discuss the report and the project estimate.

“We’ve taken a lake, and we’ve turned it into a private lake where there’s no public access,” she said. “How do we then take away access people have had for a long time? I wouldn’t want to see this as a trend.”

Hughey said by commissioning the report council has “fulfilled our responsibilities to these individuals.” She said the financial impact of building this launch would hamper the fixing of others. “As the CAO said, boat launches are in dire straits.”

The staff report said “it is staff’s recommendation that repair and maintenance occur to existing infrastructure before new infrastructure is constructed. Otherwise, the existing boat launches will fall in further disrepair and either have to be decommissioned or fully rebuilt.”

Carter said, “we on council try to truly represent all our constituents. That’s our constituents who want this boat ramp and the constituents on this lake who’ve written to us that don’t want a boat ramp.”

Devolin said Minden Hills has “exhausted every opportunity and it’s unfortunate. The scale of it financially for me has made my decision.”

BLA urges ‘due diligence’

Robert Roszell, BLA vice-chairperson, said the organization will attempt to continue the conversation with council.

He said council’s discussion did not include mention of alternative funding methods for the launch, such as cost-sharing with Bob Lake residents or using reserve funds.

“It was very evident it wasn’t discussed, and other funding for this wasn’t discussed,” he said.

The BLA said local realtors say lack of public lake access lowers property values, which in turn will decrease the tax base in the area. The lack of a launch, said Roszell, turns Bob Lake into a “private lake.”

BLA board member Ross Gladwell added that the environmental impact of numerous private boat launches constructed around the lake will likely be worse than that of a professionally-built launch with plans for re-vegetation.

Roszell said council should discuss these factors, as well as the alternative cost estimates, as a matter of due diligence.”

He said the BLA will continue advocacy on the issue.

“Our group is very tenacious, we’re going after this thing and it’s not going away,” he said.

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