Saini lighting up OJHL, sets sights on NCAA

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February 10, 2022

Haliburton County Huskies vs North York Rangers — NORTH YORK, ON - OCTOBER 10: Patrick Saini #75 of the Haliburton County Huskies follows the play during the third period at the Herbert Carnegie Centennial Arena on October 10, 2021 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images)

Haliburton County Huskies forward Patrick Saini is focused and keeping his skates firmly on the ground after impressive play this season put him on the radar of several top-tier NCAA hockey programs.

The 18-year-old Toronto native is enjoying a breakout season in the OJHL, putting up 24 points in 20 games for the blue and white. He’s earned a spot on the Huskies’ top line, and is often rolled out in powerplay and penalty kill situations.

He has been referred to as “Mr. Dependable” by coach Ryan Ramsay, who said he can always rely on Saini to make a difference.

Saini admitted he’s come a long way since playing AA in the city. After developing with the Ted Reeve Thunder during his early years, he made the jump to AAA with the North York Rangers as a 15-year-old, suiting up in 33 games in 2018/19 and registering 33 points. His play earned him a spot with the Rangers at that year’s OHL Cup.

Heading into that competition, he was excited to share the ice with top NHL prospects Shane Wright, Brandt Clarke and Zachary Dean. He was named as one of ‘50 Players to Watch’ at the tournament by Prospect Pipeline.

“That was definitely an eye-opener to what hockey is like at the highest level. It was really cool to be a part of that. It was a big deal. There were lots of fans there, and scouts. I really enjoyed it,” Saini said.

Shortly after, following the 2019 OHL Priority Draft, Saini received a surprise call from Barclay Branch, then general manager of the Flint Firebirds.

“They selected me in the ninth round, which was pretty cool. I had never been drafted into anything before that, so there was definitely some emotion there. A proud moment, for sure,” Saini said.

While the prospect of playing at the OHL level was tantalizing, Saini has always dreamed of playing NCAA hockey. With his father, a university professor, instilling in him from a young age the importance of education, Saini has his sights set on achieving his goal. He has talked to several schools, but is yet to make a firm commitment. Saini said he plans to study law wherever he ends up.

There’s much he hopes to accomplish before then, though. With the Huskies currently sitting second in the East Division, Saini said the team is focused on making the playoffs and being competitive once there.

“Rest of the season, I just want to lead by example. I always try to be the hardest working kid on the ice … and it really resonates when you see a guy giving everything he has. We have a great team, but we just need to take things one game at a time and keep our focus,” Saini said. “If we do all the little things right, I think it can be a really good year for us.”

Huskies win in big return, drop next two

By

Mike Baker

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February 10, 2022

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The Haliburton County Huskies returned to winning ways Feb. 4, recording a late 3-2 victory over the Lindsay Muskies as the OJHL returned to action.

Making the trip down Hwy. 35, the Huskies looked like a team with something to prove during the opening period, running a high-pace, physical game that the Muskies struggled to match.

The team’s top line of Oliver Tarr, Patrick Saini and Christian Stevens saw lots of minutes as they kept the Muskies penned in their own end. Jack Staniland went close to giving the Huskies a deserved lead at the mid-point of the first, with a drive from the point striking the post.

As the period drew to a close, Muskies defenceman Logan Maunder threw a hit on Huskies forward Nicholas Athanasakos. The pair exchanged words and dropped the gloves, with Maunder getting the better of the exchange. With Athanasakos prone on the ice, his helmet having come off, Maunder threw another haymaker to the back of his head. Rushing to the aid of his downed teammate, Sam Solarino received a game misconduct for third man in, a rule designed to prevent other players from interfering in a fight. All three players were ejected from the game, while Solarino was handed an additional three-game suspension.

Feeling aggrieved, the Huskies roared out of the gate in the second. Bryce Richardson gave the team the lead at 4:55, a scruffy powerplay marker after a scramble around the Muskies net. Oliver Tarr doubled the blue and white’s advantage at 16:37, tipping a Payton Schaly shot five-hole past the impressive Ethan Fraser.

A moment of madness from Christian Stevens to start the third, blatantly slashing Muskies forward Jack Falkner gave the home team a path back into the game. Boyd Stahlbaum scored on the powerplay just three minutes into the period, bringing the Muskies back within one.

Two minutes later and Stevens found himself back in the box, this time for tripping. Almost a carbon copy of his first goal, Stahlbaum fired the game-tying tally past a helpless Christian Cicigoi at 6:36 of the period.

The Huskies looked tired as the home side took control. Stahlbaum went close to completing his hat-trick before dogs’ defenceman Jonah Cochrane took centre stage. With less than three minutes on the clock, he picked up a puck from fellow blueliner Isaac Sooklal, steadied himself and fired past an unsighted Fraser, giving the Huskies an important two points.

“It’s a pretty big moment. Being a new organization this year, I think most people thought we were going to be a bottom end team, but we’re shocking a lot of people with the way we’re coming out and playing. We have skill, and we’re getting results,” Cochrane said. “I think we showed again tonight that we’re a team that can’t be taken easily.”

Dogs drop pair of games

The Huskies suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Wellington Dukes on their return to S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Feb. 5, despite outshooting their opponents 36 to 15.

Goals from Graham Dickerson, who scored twice, and Corbin Roach were enough to give the third-place Dukes a win over their East Division rivals.

Travelling to Toronto Feb. 7 for a tilt with the Jr. Canadiens, the Huskies found themselves on the wrong side of a 4-2 score line.

After falling behind to a pair of quickfire goals at the beginning of the second period, recent acquisition Simon Rose and Stevens dug the Huskies out of a hole with goals six minutes apart across the second and third frame.

While the dogs threatened to bite again, it was the Canadiens that got the all-important third goal, four minutes from the end of the game, before adding an empty-netter late on.

The team remains in second place in the East Division, with 40 points in 32 games. They welcome the Toronto Patriots to town Feb. 11, with puck drop in Minden at 7:30 p.m.

County convoy about ‘hope’

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 10, 2022

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The leader of a Haliburton County convoy said his decision to start an online group that attracted 125 vehicles to a rally Feb. 5 was more about hope than science.

Scott Danilko and his wife Penny went to Ottawa Jan. 29 to see for themselves what was going on with the convoy there. They took their children, aged nine and 11, and a four-year-old grandchild, and Danilko said “I felt as safe as anywhere.”

Walking through the crowd gathered around Parliament Hill, he added, “it gave me reassurance that there’s hope. It was exhilarating.” That prompted him to start a local Facebook page to see if anyone was interested in a convoy from Minden to Haliburton.

It attracted more than 125 vehicles and they are planning to do it again this Saturday, Feb. 12.

“To show support for the convoys in Ottawa and Toronto and other cities around Canada,” Danilko said of his motivation in an interview.

Asked about his beliefs, he added, “I believe everybody should have freedom of choice and not be mandated to be vaccinated.”

It was pointed out that people can choose whether or not to be vaccinated but that choice comes with consequences such as vaccine passports.

“I’m against that,” he responded.

He was then asked about agencies such as Health Canada and the Centre for Disease Control in the U.S. saying vaccines, masks and other COVID-19 regulations are working.

He said it was “bull crap … because the numbers went higher this winter than they were even at the start of the pandemic. We were into the thousands and thousands and people were vaccinated and wearing masks.”

The Highlander asked what science he had to the contrary of Health Canada and the CDC. He did not have any.

He then went on to say he did not support children having to be masked, saying he did not have to wear a mask when he was in school. He added it is counterproductive since they remove their masks to eat their lunches. He doesn’t agree with children having to be vaccinated against COVID19 either. When Danilko was in school there was not a pandemic. Asked whether his children were vaccinated against other childhood illnesses, such as chicken pox, he said they were. However, Penny noted it was one vaccine, not two and a booster with the possibility of more to come.

Danilko said while he did not have scientific facts, he simply was able to get a group going online, a group that could probably be labelled “a fringe minority,” he conceded.

“It makes some people feel good about everything that has gone on in the last two years. It’s been all doom and gloom. It gives them some hope. It brings a small fringe of people a little bit of happiness. I feel good about it. And it is to support the ones in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park, to just let them know they are not the only ones being a part of this.”

Maple Lake United Church slated for closure

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 10, 2022

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Maple Lake United Church (MLUC) will be closing after members voted on Jan. 30 to disband the congregation effective Feb. 28.

Rev. Max Ward and the church’s trustees, in a letter to members, adherents and friends, dated Feb. 7, shared the news “with regret.”

Ward said all church matters after Feb. 28 would be administered by the trustees with the support of the East Central Ontario Regional Council.

He added there would be a final closing church service “perhaps in July 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions permit, and will be held indoors and/or outdoors on the church lawn.”

Ward said Highland Hills United Church (HHUC) has invited anyone to be part of their worshiping community and welcomes all to transfer their membership. A new members and adherents service will be held Sunday, Feb. 27 via Zoom. Memberships will be transferred automatically unless people advise otherwise by Feb. 20. “Many other area churches would welcome your presence in addition to HHUC,” he said.

Items in the church are being catalogued and a new home, or homes are being considered.

Ward said they also need to decide what to do with the land and building at the corner of Hwy. 118 and Stanhope Airport Road.

“The MLUC Trustees are currently exploring options and working with the East Central Ontario Regional Council to finalize matters,” he said.

The closure comes after the church put out an SOS in November.

At that time, Rev. Ward said they were hopeful that with a bit of awareness, the church might be able to continue for many years to come “but the current outlook isn’t good without an infusion of more people to help with the volunteer work and financial support needed to operate the church.”

A few years ago, Zion United Church, Minden United Church and MLUC were in talks to amalgamate. Maple Lake opted out at that time, but Minden and Zion did amalgamate. The Zion church and property were sold. The Maple Lake United Church was erected in 1901.

Council defers decision on firefighter pay

By

Mike Baker

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February 10, 2022

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Algonquin Highlands fire chief Mike French proposed new firefighter renumeration rates to council Feb. 3, calling for an increase in pay for experienced members and a decrease for new recruits.

Currently, all volunteer firefighters in Algonquin Highlands make $20.51 per hour. This is the highest rate in Haliburton County, French noted. In his report to council, he proposed increases to members holding down the positions of acting captain (up to $22.01), captain ($23.51) and district chief ($25.01), while recommending untrained new recruits be bumped down to $16 per hour.

French also asked that firefighters be paid a minimum of two hours’ pay for each callout.

The changes would represent an increase of $9,294.50 in the fire department’s budget in 2022.

Deputy Mayor Liz Danielsen wasn’t a fan of the proposal. She said she wouldn’t support a pay decrease for new recruits, and called on Algonquin Highlands to be “local leaders” in establishing fair pay for volunteer firefighters.

“I’ve suffered two house fires in my life and have firsthand experience of how much our firefighters do for us. At risk of upsetting the budget applecart, I have an issue with a reduction here,” Danielsen said. “In the city, firefighters get paid almost $50 per hour. I understand all firefighters have to maintain the same level of training, that’s a big spread for me.

“I’d like to see us be leaders and do more beyond what is being recommended here,” she added.

CAO Angie Bird noted firefighters have typically received a cost-of-living increase from the municipality, after being asked by Danielsen. French’s proposal would see that annual review maintained.

Given the request to change the minimum callout pay, Bird asked that council defer making a final decision until she’s able to calculate how much that would cost, and how big of an implication it would have on the 2022 budget. The issue will be coming back later next month.

Legion and rinks get provincial money

By

Mike Baker

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February 10, 2022

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MPP Laurie Scott was in Haliburton Feb. 3 to announce more than $260,000 in provincial funding for two local organizations.

The Haliburton Legion will be receiving $104,100 to help cover several facility upgrades, while Dysart et al township is getting $162,000 to renovate two outdoor rinks into multi-purpose courts for hockey, pickleball and basketball.

The money is being filtered into Haliburton through Ontario’s Community Building Fund. In total, the program is supporting 186 municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations experiencing significant pressures due to COVID-19. Scott noted around $105 million is to be invested through the fund this year.

“This funding will help address much-needed upgrades and repairs so community members can continue to enjoy outdoor sports facilities and the services our local Legion offers,” Scott said.

Legion president Don Pitman said the money would be used to replace windows ($17,000), purchase a new outdoor digital sign ($17,000), upgrade the building’s water filtration system ($2,000) and its heating and air conditioning system ($65,000).

The big-ticket heating and A/C item was “an absolute must” according to Pitman, who received a $6,000 hydro bill in December due to the current system failing and the back-up, electric powered system kicking in.

Dysart CAO Tamara Wilbee said the money Dysart is receiving will be used at the Harcourt and West Guilford outdoor rinks to upgrade the surface, fencing, and lighting at the pads.

Minden, County receive money too

Scott said two projects brought forward by the County of Haliburton and Minden Hills township would receive approximately $180,000 in funding through the Municipal Modernization Program.

The County will receive $101,760 for its paramedic service master plan, while Minden Hills is getting $81,357 for HR information system modernization.

“For some time now, Haliburton has been experiencing substantially increased call volumes, pressures associated with transfers for diagnostics, as well as managing the new community paramedicine program. Given the changing atmosphere we have found the need to carefully study our management structure, assess our existing bases and determine where additional resources will be required,” said County warden Liz Danielsen. “Haliburton has seen considerable growth, and we need to carve out the best path to move forward and continue to offer exemplary service to our residents.”

The Ontario government is distributing $28 million to 322 small and rural municipalities through the first batch of 2022 MMP funding.

Funding for agriculture

Around $1 million will be made available to various agricultural and horticultural societies across Ontario in the coming weeks, as the province looks to assist organizations still impacted by the pandemic.

Base support funding of $1,000 will be issued to all eligible societies to support their continued incorporation and upcoming activities, with new “hardship funding” available to those that have been most impacted. Applications will be assessed based on gate revenues for 2019. Successful applicants will be able to use the money to offset operating losses, liabilities and fixed overhead costs related to land and buildings.

Money will be distributed to eligible societies before March 31, according to Lisa Thompson, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.

Dysart waste study results ‘encouraging’

By

Mike Baker

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February 10, 2022

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The first of a four-part waste composition study in Dysart et al found that each municipal household averages 641 kilograms of garbage and recycling per year, and that 29.16 per cent of all waste is successfully diverted from landfills and recycled.

Environmental manager John Watson provided his report to council Feb. 8. The municipality contracted AET Group to carry out the study, with the first stage taking place at the Haliburton landfill Jan. 12 to 14. There, staff collected garbage and recycling from 65 residences, representing 609 waste generation days.

Looking at the data, Watson said 69.36 per cent of all plastic recycling collected was considered acceptable, with 25.98 per cent classified as garbage, 9.75 per cent being non-acceptable plastics such as film and large pails, and 5.16 per cent deemed to be “other waste,” namely clothes hangers, wood and meat pads.

More encouraging, 85.42 per cent of all paper recycling collected was deemed acceptable. “Most people are recycling their papers correctly,” Watson noted. Around 9.35 per cent of items placed in paper recycling was classed as garbage and 5.22 per cent as recycling that should have been placed in with plastics.

Watson said that 90 per cent of all garbage collected ended up in the right place, with 5.85 per cent of items belonging in plastic recycling and 4.13 per cent in paper recycling.

Misplaced garbage and recycling costs Dysart thousands of dollars annually, Watson said. While he was encouraged by the numbers reported through this first event, he told council it was important the township continues to promote proper recycling and sorting habits.

“When you look at this report, I think we’re doing a heck of a good job,” said deputy mayor Pat Kennedy.

Ministry investigating

Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning and land information, said several provincial and federal ministries are actively investigating wetlands along Gelert Road after a local property owner’s desire to develop the land caused uproar in the community last month.

Several environmental activists sounded the alarm, as reported in the Jan. 27 edition of The Highlander, after a piece of the wetland was filled early in the new year. The issue came to council Jan. 25, with officials directing staff to get further information on what was going on at the site.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada reported they intend to assess the site in the spring, when water levels are high, to determine if there has been any evidence of loss of fish habitat due to the filling. Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks say they have consulted with the landowner, who has voluntarily agreed to stop filling at the site until a habitat assessment is completed and reviewed.

While the township does not currently have any bylaws in place preventing this kind of thing from happening again in the future, Iles said it’s always a good idea to first reach out to municipal officials to receive a second opinion before proceeding with any significant project on your property.

“We are a good starting point and can provide direction to the appropriate approval authority,” Iles said.

Highlands East morphing into Muskoka: CBO

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 10, 2022

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Highlands East chief building official Laurie Devolin said what happened in Muskoka a decade ago now appears to be happening in Highlands East when it comes to building activity.

She made the comment when presenting a 10-year building activity report to a Feb. 8 council meeting.

Her annual comparisons and statistics indicated that while there were not substantial jumps in the number of permits issued from 2012-2021, the construction values increased considerably.

For example, 174 permits were issued in 2012, worth a little over $10.4 million. In 2021, there were 216 permits, with a construction value of just under $43 million.

Coun. Cec Ryall noticed the nuance. “The actual number of permits that are being issued, although it’s higher, it’s not that much higher so I’m going to assume for the sake of argument that the value of the properties is what’s driving the numbers,” he asked Devolin.

She said there were a lot more dwellings, including permanent dwellings and cottages, as well as some significant additions.

“It seems that what happened in Muskoka a decade ago, everything is moving in this direction,” she said.

“So, there’s a lot of planning for people taking down old cottages and building new ones, people wanting to move here for retirement, making cottages into their permanent dwellings, so lots of work required to do that.”

She noted COVID-19 had driven up material costs but it was also a case of higher-end construction.

“The little 700 sq. ft. house and 400 sq. ft. cottage just isn’t the norm anymore. We have significantly increased the value of what’s being constructed in Highlands East, so that drives the construction value up.”

Ryall then asked Devolin if she foresaw any challenges with service delivery.

Record-breaking building activity around County

She said in 2021, her department was taxed around the volume of work that came in, but they have good systems in place.

“I don’t foresee there being any issues with service delivery at this point, we’ll see how it goes along, as it gets busier in summer,” she said.

In the report, Devolin also indicated that building inspections were fairly even over the 10-year period. It was about the same for zoning compliance letters and total building infractions and files resolved.

When it comes to septic permits, between 2014-2021, there was a marked increase. In 2014, there were 68 permits issued, while in 2021 it was 123. The number of inspections climbed to 255 last year, from 71 in 2015.

So far in 2022, she said there’s been lots of permit applications for building and septics. They’ve already issued two building permits and “have a few in the wings.”

She noted the construction value is also considerably higher, already at just under $2 million for the new year, compared to just over $27,000 this time last year.

“It looks like it’s going to be another busy year for us.”

A bit of a boom

Meanwhile, Dysart’s chief building official also provided an update to his council at a Feb. 8 meeting.

Karl Korpela said 2021 was a record-breaking year for development in the township, with 607 building permits being issued throughout the year and new construction values soaring to more than $98 million.

Korpela said those numbers had much to do with the number of new seasonal residences being built on area lakes in the past 12 months.

“People are building substantially larger cottages. Before, we would usually see one or two monster cottages go up in a year, this year there’s been a lot of them,” Korpela said. “People are spending money here in Dysart, and that’s not a bad thing.”

Volunteers needed to bring memories to life

By

Sam Gillett

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February 3, 2022

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A new SIRCH program is pairing local listeners with storytelling seniors living with dementia.

The Memories to Life program aims to collect the experiences of those who have early-stage dementia and package them in a scrapbook. Once the disease progresses, it can be a point of connection with loved ones.

“It’s really about listening to people’s stories of their lives,” said SIRCH executive director Gena Robertson.

Volunteers train for a few days with SIRCH and are equipped with scrapbooking know-how as well as training on dementia and SIRCH best practices.

Then, they’ll visit seniors to gather memories. They’ll help collect newspaper clippings, photos and more based on the person’s experiences.

“In one person’s book: he was a pilot in a war, the volunteer had done research on the plane,” Robertson said. “There can be pictures of families and friends and pets and whatever.”

Jan Saugh, an activation coordinator hired by SIRCH to run the program, said volunteers must only “have a love of seniors, be able to listen and engage, and want to tell their story.”

Compiling memories and experiences into a physical collection of items often unearths recollections in those with dementia.

“It’s to spark recognition for the client, help them remember their accomplishments,” she said.

It’s also for loved ones.

“Families can use the book for conversation pieces for family and friends, and it’s a treasured memory they’ll have forever.”

The upcoming Memories to Life program is funded by a donor who wished to remain anonymous, however Robertson said past experience shows how impactful it can be.

Over a decade ago, volunteers were able to come together with the people who told their stories and share what they created.

Robertson saw how much it meant to elderly residents to have their lives celebrated.

“I remember one man tearing up, saying before he’d done this project, he really didn’t feel like he’d done anything of value in his life,” Robertson said. “This made him realize how much he had.”

To register as a volunteer or sign up as a participant to have your story told, contact SIRCH before the middle of February at 705-457-1742.

Ice drivers slide back into Minden

By

Sam Gillett

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February 3, 2022

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After a two-year hiatus, racers will soon be sliding around an icy Minden Fairgrounds.

The annual Canadian Automobile Sport Club Ice Racing series was recently green-flagged by the Township of Minden Hills, who voted to allow the use of the fairgrounds.

They’re aiming to begin racing Feb. 5 and 6, with five weekends of racing planned.

“I got the impression everybody on council was eager for us to go forward with this,” said CASC ice racing director Brad Elkins.

During ice races, competitors drive cars outfitted with snow tires or spiked tires around a closed circuit. It requires precise handling and speed control.

Elkins has raced on ice on and off since 1978. He said he enjoys the camaraderie between competitors.

“It’s a chance to get outside and do stuff in the winter time,” he said.

Andy Rickard, president of the Kin Club of Minden, said racers are “extremely keen to go racing.”

Rickard and other Kin Club members create the racetrack. It’s built on layers of ice lined by tall snowbanks, twisting and turning much like an asphalt race track.

Last year the race was cancelled in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions, and Rickard said the return to racing also means a tourism boost for Minden. Drivers often eat at local restaurants and some stay overnight. “It brings a lot of money into the community,” he said.

The race is one of two annual Kin Club events. During COVID, Rickard said both events have been a “complete loss.” The Kin Club is already prepping this year’s track and building up the snowbanks that line the course.

“It’s very welcome, both for the financial good of the club and for the health of the ice race series,” he said.

Driving school returns

The IRL Car Control driving school will resume its training programs at the fairgrounds with COVID safety measures in place.

Council voted to allow the school to resume using the fairgrounds for its training courses. As of press time, the school will be limited to corporate training programs. The majority of current clients, said president and chief instructor Ian Law, are provincial or federal public servants.