What started as a practical joke between two buddies on Esson Lake has morphed into a new tradition that Norm DeMelo and Billy McKenzie say will support worthy causes across Haliburton County.

The pair joined forces back in March for an impromptu ice out contest, inviting other lakefront residents to guess what day the last shard of ice dissolved into the water.

Initially, the competition was to be for bragging rights, until DeMelo upped the ante.

“Billy is a guy on our lake who is always posting on [social media] about smoking briskets and pulled porks – so I volunteered him, saying Billy can cook something for the winner,” DeMelo said.

That piqued people’s interest, with more than 40 cottagers participating. Each of them donated at least $10 per guess, raising $500, with the funds to be donated to Central Food Network in Highlands East.

DeMelo said his wife, Allison, volunteers at the Wilberforce food bank and pitched doing something to help the organization in its time of need.

CFN’s executive director, Tina Jackson, recently told The Highlander that her operation is recording approximately 100 extra monthly visits now compared to prepandemic levels. Last year, CFN saw 4,128 visits to its food banks in Wilberforce and Cardiff, averaging 343 stops per month.

“Alison knows all about the demand and how demand has increased so much over the past couple of years,” DeMelo said. “She did her own swim marathon last year, where she asked people to donate and she’d add some distance to her swim. She did 10 kilometres open water swimming – people donated canned goods and other food. We were able to donate two big boxes of food last summer.”

McKenzie said he’s not one to shy away from a challenge, so, after being put on the spot by DeMelo, gladly obliged. He already has an action plan for a 20-pound brisket he’ll cook for the contest’s winner, Chrissy Mackintosh, who was one of three people to guess April 22.

“It will take about 17 hours. It will be seasoned with Billy’s secret rub, AKA ‘Billy’s Love’ and it will be smoked at 225 degrees Fahrenheit over charcoal and applewood,” said Sara Presson, McKenzie’s partner.

DeMelo has agreed to kick in a case of beer, while Mackintosh has invited the two men and their families to enjoy the brisket with them when it’s cooked this summer.

McKenzie, a cottager on the lake who lives full-time in Oshawa, said the contest has helped bring the Esson Lake community closer together. He’s never met DeMelo or Mackintosh in-person but is excited about forming new connections.

Presson said she hopes this will be the first year of many for the ice out competition.

“We think it would be a great tradition – it doesn’t take much time or energy, and it helps our community,” she said.

DeMelo added, “it’s just something fun to get people talking and excited about summer. It’s also about bringing awareness to CFN, our food banks, and the great work they do.”

About this time every spring, Larry Tompkins takes his boat onto Twelve Mile Lake and tests the water; for things such as temperature and dissolved oxygen.

It’s a volunteer gig using equipment purchased by Boshkung, Mountain and Twelve Mile Lake associations in 2019.

He’ll be back on the lake in the fall to take another set of 2025 measurements.

Demonstrating from his pontoon boat, Tompkins explains, “certain fish, primarily lake trout, can only survive at a certain oxygen level. It also gives you an idea of how much bacteria and algae is in your lake because algae eat the oxygen.”

He records his findings with pencil on paper and sends them to the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, as well as U-Links, which partners with 10 lake associations to monitor 24 lakes.

Tompkins is part of the province’s Lake Partner Program (LPP), which the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA), and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) say could be at risk.

FOCA says the five-year agreement for the LPP ended in March, “amid turmoil due to a snap provincial election and the appointing of a new minister of environment, conservation and parks.

“Despite repeated reassurances that a new agreement was on its way to FOCA, we have now reached a critical point in the sampling annual cycle, and the 2025 data is at risk unless an agreement with MECP is confirmed now,” FOCA added.

Continuous, long-term data key for scientists

Gary Wheeler, a spokesman for Environment, Conservation and Parks told The Highlander May 12, “the program has not been cancelled and we intend to work with our partners to implement renewed agreements for the 2025 season.”

Jim Prince is with the U-Links program. He said he does not think the LPP will be cancelled, but that this is a preemptive strike by FOCA, similar to one done five years ago, to ensure the program continues. “The value for the cost is enormous and it gives the province the opportunity to say they’re doing something good about the environment.”

FOCA said, “the LPP provides immense value to the public and to Ontario as a whole. It is one of the largest long-term databases on water quality for freshwater lakes … essential for research and analysis conducted by universities, government, community groups, and scientists.”

The water sampling is done by 629 FOCA lake steward volunteers who monitored 546 lakes at 917 sites across the province in 2024. FOCA added although the sampling is done by volunteers, the LPP is not possible without the ministry’s involvement to conduct the lab analysis of the samples, and through financial support of a FOCA employee in Dorset who manages the hundreds of volunteers and coordinates requests for information and outreach about the program.

‘It’s a critical program’

Chair of the CHA, Paul MacInnes said he had sent emails to the MECP and MNR, as “most of the organized lakes in Haliburton County, as with everywhere in Ontario, use the Lake Partner Program, and have been using it for 15-plus years.”

MacInnes said consistency is key. “You need one lab doing all the lakes, 400 and some odd that are in the program in Ontario. It’s a critical program, and it can’t be done any other way.”

He added the timing could not be worse, as “you’re getting very close to the time where the test kits are sent out for the summer.”

He would hate to see the data disrupted, saying scientists need continuous long-term records. “That gives the scientists what they need, and we need those scientists to be coming up with some solutions.”

He said the CHA correspondence to government “focuses on the impact that unhealthy lakes would have on our economy in Muskoka, Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes etc. Our economies are based on healthy lakes.”

Back on Twelve Mile Lake, and Tompkins said he will still test the water this spring and fall, and send the results to U-Links and whomever else wants it.

“It’s still terribly important because without the data – being in business all my years – if you can’t track it, you can’t control it. Basically, it’s the same principle here. If we’re not tracking it, we can’t control it.

“It’s going to affect us as lakefront property owners. You’re sitting here looking at that beautiful lake, and you can’t use it. How frustrating is that going to be? And nobody is going to want to own something that they can’t use.”

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust’s (HHLT) Joan Duhaime says there’s no guarantee the Dahl Forest will reopen to the public this summer.

The 500-acre site was “badly damaged” during the late-March ice storm, with hundreds of trees and two hydro poles felled, Duhaime said. While not live, she noted wires connecting 10 hydro poles on the property are still lying on the ground.

Because Dahl Forest is privately owned – donated to HHLT by Peter Dahl, his wife Jan, and Nana McKernan in 2009 – responsibility for getting power re-established falls on the property owner. The non-profit has insurance, so costs are covered, but Duhaime said it’s been a challenging few weeks assessing the damages.

“It’s quite a mess. All of the seven trails are impassable – there are literally hundreds of trees down,” Duhaime said. “My husband and I tried to walk in through one trail shortly afterwards. We climbed over two piles of trees, but the path ahead was covered as far as our eyes could see.

“There are quite a few dangerous situations where tree limbs have snapped off but are stuck on other branches 20-feet in the air. With power lines still down, we can’t reopen until we feel the area is safe. We’re estimating for later in the summer, but it’s a big, big question mark. A lot depends on getting hydro workers in.”

Not all of the approximate five-kilometre trail system has been inspected yet, with Duhaime saying HHLT members still can’t get to some of the deeper pathways.

Clean-up started May 3, with about 15 people helping to clear debris from around the Dahls’ home, which they still use part-time. Duhaime said Peter and Jan were home when the storm hit and were trapped for two days. Neighbours pooled together to clear their driveway, which also allowed Duhaime and other HHLT members to access the wider property.

The land trust isn’t responsible for financing repairs to structures and hydro, with insurance taking care of that, but will have to find the money to restore the trails. Duhaime said HHLT is aiming to raise $30,000 for the work.

“We have a lot of work that we need to hire an arborist for,” she said, noting the forest’s red pine population “took a pretty big beating.”

All of those trees were planted by Dahl and his father, William, over 60 years ago. Duhaime said the makeup of Dahl Forest has been forever changed.

“It will be emotional for a lot of people, because it will look different. It’s not necessarily a bad thing – it’s nature. The forest will regenerate, and we’ll get some new growth in there, but it’s such a quick switch from what it was to what it will look like from now on,” Duhaime said.

Given the destruction County-wide, Duhaime said HHLT hopes to partner with U-Links Centre for Community Based Research and Trent University for a post-storm analysis of the Highlands’ red pine plantations.

“It will be really interesting to see over the next 10 years what’s going to happen in some of these areas that used to be densely forested, but now they’re not,” she said.

HHLT’s other sites, like Barnum Creek Nature Reserve, were minimally impacted and are open, Duhaime said.

Donations can be made online via haliburtonlandtrust. ca. Anyone wanting to assist with clean-up can contact admin@haliburtonlandtrust.ca.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s (OFM) office has confirmed there will be no further investigation into the May 3 fire at the Wigamog Inn site in Haliburton.

Sean Driscoll, OFM spokesperson, told The Highlander in a May 7 email that the provincial watchdog was notified of the fire but will not be following up.

“The Fire Protection and Prevention Act mandates that the OFM conduct an investigation to determine cause, origin and, circumstances of any fire or explosion as deemed necessary,” Driscoll said, indicating the blaze didn’t meet the fire marshal’s criteria for further inspection.

On its website, the OFM states it investigates fires that result in fatality or serious injury; where the loss is significant to the community, at either $1 million in damages or twice the residential average sale price for the area; that involve illegal drug operations; or result in widespread public concern, with environmental hazards listed.

In a recent interview, Jerry Stokes, who resides in the neighbouring Silver Beach subdivision, said he and many neighbours are worried about the impact possible contaminants, such as asbestos and lead-based paints, could have on the atmosphere.

Driscoll did not respond to a follow-up asking if Stokes’ concerns constituted an environmental hazard, though noted in his initial response that police agencies take the lead in criminal investigations and have the power to make the determination of criminality, suspicious or otherwise.

Haliburton Highlands OPP cadet Victoria Preddy said, “police canvassed the area to see if anyone saw suspicious activity around the time of the fire. Police came back with negative results on canvassing… looks like the fire marshal declined to investigate due to no evidence of potential arson being present.”

Meanwhile, Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP), said nobody has contacted the ministry to notify them of the fire. Demolition of the property has been paused since June 2023 after MECP confirmed the presence of two at-risk species, bats and the eastern hognosed snake.

Site owner, Aurora Group, has been told it needs to complete more environmental testing to determine whether any of the species, or their habitat, exist at or near the proposed demolition activity before teardown can resume.

In a May 7 email, Wheeler confirmed that requirement is still in place.

“If demolition activities are still required, Aurora Group or whomever is conducting the demolition is responsible for determining whether the activities require authorization under the Endangered Species Act and take appropriate next steps,” he said.

Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey said the township is seeking legal opinion as council considers its next steps. He wants to see the remainder of the site torn down as soon as possible.

“It’s frustrating – council or staff, we’ve either fumbled the ball, or didn’t get the ball in the right position for this to have gone on as long as it has. We’ve got to be nearing the end here now. With this fire, I don’t know what we can do, but council is committed to finding a way to finish this job legally. We’re working on it,” Fearrey said.

With the roof of the main lodge caving in during the fire, the mayor expressed concern over the building’s structural integrity. He suggested any species that were living within the Wig’s confines likely aren’t anymore, questioning the MECP’s decision to uphold study requirements before demolition can proceed.

“Common sense has to prevail here sooner rather than later,” Fearrey said.

It’s been seven months since Haliburton Rotary unveiled a four-year beautification plan for Skyline Park, with long-time member Ursula Devolin saying volunteers have made major strides since work began last fall.

Approximately 20 Rotarians were on-site May 10 as the group kick-started its efforts for the year. Devolin said workers used an excavator to reshape and level the picnic area, removed hazardous tree roots protruding out of the ground, laid topsoil and grass seed, and installed picnic tables.

This followed work done last year to restore the viewing platform that overlooks Haliburton village. Devolin said several dead trees have been removed, with branches impeding views of the village landscape also taken down.

“We’ve put in gravel pathways that make things a little more accessible for people and will be laying some recycled asphalt so that those with strollers and wheelchairs can safely visit the park,” Devolin said.

The group has also improved the parking area, creating space for larger vehicles to maneuver safely.

Later this year, there will be a new picnic shelter installed – with Rotary partnering with Glenn Diezel and students from Fleming College’s timber framing program for the build. The club will pay for the construction materials, while students, guided by Diezel, complete the work.

Devolin said that will be the first major installation, with a second picnic shelter and washrooms also planned. She confirmed the project will run through 2027, with Rotary now estimating costs around $200,000.

That’s down from the $300,000 to $400,000 they forecast last year, with the decrease attributed to several in-kind donations. Devolin said Haliburton County Development Corporation has kicked in $3,000, Emmerson Lumber has donated some supplies, Randy’s Landscaping gifted some topsoil, and Derek Beachli Construction is letting workers use machinery free of charge.

There have been plenty of community donations, too – including $5,000 from one generous donor who read about the project in the paper.

“This has been a total community effort so far,” Devolin said.

The park is owned by the Ministry of Transportation and a designated rest stop on Hwy. 118 heading east out of Haliburton village. It was dedicated by Leslie M. Frost on June 20, 1958. The MTO maintains the park through a contract with a local company, but Devolin feels the site “has not been a priority” for the ministry, with few upgrades over the past 65 years.

She said Rotary will continue advocating for MTO investment at the site, hoping the province will help pay for some of the planned upgrades.

One of the last to leave the park on Saturday, Devolin said she was able to see an immediate return on the Rotary club’s investment.

“As I was cleaning up, two families drove in, got out of their car with a picnic, and sat down at the tables we’d installed 20 minutes earlier. That was the highlight of the day for me, seeing people enjoying the park together.

“That’s exactly what we’re trying to promote by doing this – recreating a place where people feel comfortable and can enjoy how beautiful Haliburton is,” she said.

There has been a major celebrity sighting in Minden village – and it’s one that will rock you.

The likeness of iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury rests proudly on the Minden River Cone. Mercury is captured in his signature pose, with his right arm pointing straight up. Only, rather than holding a microphone, the mural shows Mercury with an ice cream cone in hand.

The work was completed by Teddy Griffith, an aspiring artist who graduated from Haliburton Highlands Secondary School before moving to Montreal. He got the job after his mother, Renee Griffith and her company As Good As New Painting, was hired to refinish the exterior of the River Cone last fall.

“It was all very serendipitous,” said Monica Bolton-Scott, who owns River Cone with her partner Ben Bolton-Scott. “We’d always had a long-term goal to have a mural installed on the building. During one of our consults, I told Renee, she called Teddy and we started collaborating over speakerphone.”

A few hours later, Bolton-Scott had three drafts to choose from – the Mercury piece, and two others that predominantly featured the Gull River, which runs through downtown Minden.

Teddy spent a week last October installing his design. Alongside Mercury are several abstract trees to represent the natural landscape of Haliburton County, with a thin stream of blue embodying the Gull.

The piece was covered up over the winter, with people getting a first glimpse when the River Cone reopened for its 30th season May 2. Bolton-Scott said the public response thus far has been similar to her own.

“It’s blown everyone away – Teddy’s technique and work methods, while interesting to watch, has also created a stunning piece of art,” she said. “Some don’t know who it is and have to ask, but most can tell right away it’s Freddie.”

Teddy said he used premium outdoor paint to make the massive mural pop – his creamcoloured body jumping out against the bluegreen backdrop. Previously considering himself a hobbyist, with no formal training or experience working in the arts, Teddy said he’s now contemplating a career change.

“This is a first-time thing having my art displayed publicly – it’s made me think that maybe I can do something with this,” he said. “I’m super stoked to have this mural in my home community that I can keep coming back to.”

With one bucket list item down, BoltonScott said she’s turning her attentions to another.

“There’s a dead-end road down here that, someday, I’d like to see turned into a splash pad, or a public space that promotes events in the downtown,” she said, noting she plans to approach Minden Hills over a possible collaboration.

It’s been a busy off-season for the owners, who installed a wooden deck at the rear of the property, added some new picnic tables and a basketball court – donated by Canadian Tire and Home Hardware in Minden – and are installing a dock by the water.

The dock will be named ‘Michael’s Landing’, in honour of Monica’s brother who passed away in 2021, shortly after they took over the Cone.

“He was a big kayaker, so he really wanted to build a dock here – it’s his birthday May 19, so we’re building this platform in his honour. It’s a little something for the community, giving them another spot to safely get in and out of the water,” Monica said, adding the Cone will host a 30th anniversary celebration in the summer.