By Lisa Gervais

While ‘the show must go on’ has been a rallying cry for theatre companies for centuries, COVID-19 has thrown a curveball when it comes to the local arts and entertainment scene.

Highlands Little Theatre had been practicing for its upcoming show, Vintage Hitchcock Production, when the Trillium Lakelands District School Board announced it was closing schools for the two weeks after March break.

With Highlands Little Theatre planning to use the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion for shows starting March 31, they were suddenly out of a venue. They were also worried that no one would come anyway due to fears of the coronavirus spreading.

Last week, they decided to postpone the show.

“Due to ongoing health concerns around the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic and following the announcement March 12 by the provincial government that all schools in Ontario will be closed from March 13 – April 5, Highlands Little Theatre has decided to put our production of Vintage Hitchcock on pause,” they said.

The play was originally scheduled to run from March 31 through April 4 at the NLPAP.

“Our cast and crew have been working very hard on this production and we are terribly sad and disappointed to postpone; however, the health of our patrons, cast, crew and community is of utmost concern,” they said.

Anyone who’s purchased tickets can return to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Greg and Hannah Sadlier of Camexicanus said they’d had to postpone their cross-cultural trip to Mexico this week.

“We had to make the difficult but necessary decision to postpone our Camexicanus Trip to Mexico due to the current level of restrictions and advisories on COVID-19. The students on our team have worked so hard, and given so much of themselves for this opportunity, and we will make it happen, just not this week,” they said.

They thanked their supporters and said they’d be sorting out rescheduling. Meanwhile, proceeds will be saved until the trip.

A number of other arts, entertainment and cultural activities were cancelled this week, including March break at Abbey Gardens; The Dominion Hotel’s Jane Siberry concert scheduled for May 10; HHHS’ adult day and social recreation drop-in programs and diner’s club; and libraries. Highlands East has cancelled its sign making fundraiser on April 4 in Cardiff and line dancing starting on March 16 in Cardiff and Dysart et al cancelled public skating and shinny at A.J. LaRue Arena on March 15 and 16. See thehighlander.ca for an updated list of cancellations.

By Joseph Quigley

Haliburton School of Art and Design students are concerned about their education after Fleming College announced it would shift to online learning for the semester due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The college announced the change March 13 as a measure for public safety. Classes at all Fleming campuses are suspended until March 17, after which they will switch to online and alternative learning for the remaining five weeks of the winter term. Campuses and schools will remain open but Fleming is encouraging students to study from home if possible.

What exactly that means for hands-on courses in Haliburton is not yet clear. Blacksmithing student Josiah Fletcher said his class was disappointed and frustrated by the announcement.

“It sucks. A lot,” he said, adding having time in the classroom is important. “I really just hope we’re able to get back in it, even if they just compress the school schedule. As long as we’re just able to keep working.”

Dean Angela Stukator addressed students after classes were suspended at noon March 13. She said staff are planning for how courses will continue March 18 and will communicate regularly.

“It’s really important that you get through the next five weeks and you get your diploma. So please don’t stop working,” Stukator told students. “You will be well taken care of by your teachers and the staff here.”

Several students expressed skepticism about how well online learning would work going forward.

“Online doesn’t do it for me at all. I just can’t do it. My brain doesn’t work that way,” integrated design student Liam McCloud said.

“Especially for hands-on courses, it makes no sense. It’s just wasting people’s time and money,” digital image design student Jacob Butler said. “You can’t do glass blowing online, you can’t do jewelry online. I’ts pointless.”

Stukator said staff are working to accommodate students while maintaining precautions. She listed possible measures including phone conversations, one-on-one meetings, or having smaller groups of students cycle through the workshop space at the school.

“All of these things are possibilities,” she said. “What’s so difficult right now is we don’t have answers to everybody’s questions.”

Fletcher said he is encouraged by the communication of Haliburton’s school staff.

“Some of the stuff, they don’t know, that’s kind of nice, too, because that means we’re all in this together,” he said.

Stukator noted Haliburton is a small and relatively isolated campus – “its own little world” – which could affect what happens going forward compared to larger schools.

“You will not be lost in the shuffle,” she said. “This place is small; we all know each other. You will not get lost, I promise you.”

By Joseph Quigley

Algonquin Highlands announced it was shutting down its community centres and council committee meetings as of March 13 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

All programming and events at the community centres in Stanhope, Dorset and Oxtongue Lake are also cancelled until further notice. Mayor Carol Moffatt said the Algonquin Highlands Emergency Operations Centre met Friday to discuss the pandemic and appropriate response.

Moffatt said in a Facebook post the measures would “protect the broadest range of people within our community.”

“With only five councillors and just over 30 employees, Algonquin Highlands doesn’t have an over-abundance of staff to manage municipal functions should the virus come calling,” Moffatt said. “There is a tremendous influx of people into our community over March break.”

Moffatt specified that the closure included the Dorset Recreation Centre and the municipality will contact any person or group who uses or plans to use the facilities. Municipal committee meetings are also suspended, except for the committee of adjustment due to legislated timelines. Staff and firefighters will also take enhanced protocols for hygiene, personal space, and cleaning.

“The Township of Algonquin Highlands encourages the public to be attentive to hygiene, respiratory etiquette and to be vigilant around vulnerable citizens,” Moffatt said.

The decision is not immediately being matched by Algonquin’s neighbouring municipalities.

Highlands East Mayor Dave Burton said it is not taking similar measures to Algonquin Highlands yet.

“Highlands East is fully aware of the seriousness of the pandemic and is monitoring the situation closely. At this time, Highlands East will not be closing our centers or halting programming over the weekend,” Burton told The Highlander. “If things should change or concerns arise, we will be sure to pass along any updates as we receive them.”

Neither Dysart et al or Minden Hills had announced the closure of public facilities over the weekend, though Dysart did cancel public skating and shinny at A.J. LaRue Arena March 15 and 16. Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts and Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin said their respective municipal emergency control groups would meet March 16 to discuss next steps.

County of Haliburton CAO Mike Rutter said the County Emergency Control Group, the group of officials that oversees emergency management operations, is meeting March 16 to discuss the Coronavirus. A public release is expected to follow.

Moffatt said Algonquin Highlands will provide an update every Friday until normal operations resume.

“We thank the public for their understanding of our obligation toward safety regarding public spaces and the general well-being of the community,” she said.

The County of Haliburton issued a media release today advising people across the region about the handling of Covid-19.

They said health partners in Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Peterborough are collaborating to protect patients, visitors, healthcare professionals, staff and volunteers.

“As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, hospitals, paramedics, primary care and public health units are working together to ensure safe practices in our communities,” they said.

They added the health partners and the County are working together proactively to encourage safe practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If you have a fever and/or cough, and have travelled to one of the affected countries in the past 14 days, or have had close or confirmed contact with a probable case, you are asked to self-isolate at home, not go to an Emergency Department. 

You should then contact your local public health unit or Telehealth Ontario for additional direction:

• HKPR District Health Unit – 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5020

• Peterborough Public Health – 705-743-1000 ext. 401

• Telehealth Ontario – 1-866-797-0000

Further, residents are asked to:

• Avoid going to hospital or other healthcare settings for non-essential reasons. This includes visitors as well as patients with elective (non-urgent) appointments or procedures. Some hospitals have started screening visitors for illness and travel history at all public entrances; others have plans to begin this practice soon. If you need to go to a healthcare environment for investigation of respiratory symptoms, wear a disposable face mask as prompted.

• Follow the recommended rules of social distancing to avoid close contact with others who may be sick. Avoid crowds, gatherings and events and maintain a two-metre distance between people in public environments. Today, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health recommended an immediate suspension of gatherings of more than 250 people. The Canadian government has also advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.

• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol- based hand rub, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Hands should be cleaned for at least 15-20 seconds. Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow, and throw used tissues in the garbage.

• Clean frequently-touched areas in your home environment, including toilets, bedside tables, light switches, door handles and personal devices such as phones and tablets.