Minden’s Michele Coneybeare will keep putting one foot in front of the other on May 28 as Help a Village Effort (H.A.V.E) brings its annual Walk for Water back to Haliburton County.

Now in its 43rd year, the organization raises awareness of, and funding for, clean water in impoverished villages in India, Coneybeare said. Since 1982, H.A.V.E has built approximately 650 artesian wells in south Asia, averaging 15 to 25 per year.

The goal of the walk this year is to raise $5,000, which should support the drilling of two wells, ongoing maintenance, and educating locals on how the systems work.

According to Coneybeare, having access to clean potable water greatly reduces the risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and acute diarrheal disease – all prevalent in India.

“H.A.V.E believes clean water is a universal right, not a privilege… our mission is to empower communities with the gift of clean water, one village and one well at a time,” Coneybeare said.

Beginning at Minden Hills United Church, participants will stroll along the Minden Riverwalk, completing a two-and-a-halfkilometre journey that symbolizes the trek that women and children make daily in India to get clean drinking water for their families.

While the charity is based in Haliburton County, it has official chapters throughout Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia.

Coneybeare, board chair since 2020, said H.A.V.E has a great track record of helping people in need. In earlier years, the group funded a mobile health care program, support for needy children, and a primary reading program in the Gambia, West Africa.

She’s been a member since 2009.

“Our global world is very small and there are many places for our Canadian donation dollars. Access to clean water is more than a health necessity – it is a catalyst for change.

“By providing safe drinking water, H.A.V.E empowers communities to break the cycle of poverty, ensuring healthier families, increased school attendance, and improved livelihoods,” Coneybeare said.

To participate, contact a H.A.V.E board member (Coneybeare, Lisa Gervais, Paul Heffer, Nick Kulas, Darren Mills, Cathy Stevens, Debbie Wales) to get a pledge sheet. Money is to be turned in on the day of the walk, with tax receipts provided for amounts over $20.

For more information, visit helpavillageeffort.org.

Dysart et al fire chief Dan Chumbley says the May 3 fire that engulfed the main lodge of the abandoned Wigamog Inn property has been reported to the Haliburton Highlands OPP and the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office.

The chief said the department was notified of the fire at approximately 4:20 a.m. s o on Saturday. Thirteen firefighters from sR ’ Haliburton were involved in the response, with the assistance of four volunteers from Minden Hills. They were on-site for more than eight hours tackling the blaze.

“There were flames coming through the roof at arrival. The fire was contained to the upper floor,” Chumbley told The Highlander. He said the last truck left the site at 12:46 p.m. Handyman Services M Bathrooms / Kitchens Tiling • Plumbing • Decks • Docks

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is called to investigate fires and explosions, particularly those with fatalities, serious injuries or suspected arson.

Dating back to the early 1900s, the Wig has sat vacant for years. While current owners, Aurora Group, bought the site in 2015, promises to redevelop have fallen flat. The property has been slated for demolition since mid-2022, with workers tearing down a handful of the 36 accessory buildings between April and June 2023.

Work has been paused since, with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) following up on reports of at-risk species living at the site. Last year, the ministry confirmed the presence of endangered bats and the eastern hog-nosed snake, notifying Aurora Group of the need for further environmental studies before work can proceed.

The Ontario Fire Marshall’s office and Haliburton Highlands OPP did not respond to questions as of press time.

Jerry Stokes, who lives on Webb Circle in the neighbouring Silver Beach subdivision, found out about the fire at around 10:30 a.m. and went to see how bad things were. He said firefighters had the road closed both ways and were still peppering the building with water.

“It’s a mess… surely this is enough now. This has to be the final nail… it feels like it’s going to take somebody getting hurt or killed before something is done,” he said.

Stokes believes he’s been working to tear down the Wigamog longer than anyone he knows. He sat on Dysart’s property standards committee from the mid-2010s to early-2020s and voted in favour of the township hiring a contractor to initiate teardown in 2022.

Following that year’s municipal election, Stokes believes the Wig stopped being a priority for the township. By spring 2023, Aurora Group hired their own demolition crew and started the job.

“They’ve managed to have this tear down delayed so many times… I find it hard to believe the township keeps accepting these setbacks and delays,” Stokes said. “If Dysart moved ahead three years ago, it probably would have been done for half the price than it’ll cost now.”

In January, bylaw officer Hailey Cole estimated remaining demolition would cost approximately $800,000. Now, mayor Murray Fearrey fears it will be significantly more.

He said people have been accessing the property illegally for some time.

“You can go by one day and all the boards are up and then go back a week later and some of them are down. Who’s doing that? That place is boarded up for good reason. In this case, it’s public safety,” Fearrey said. “What would have happened if someone was asleep in there when the fire started? Then this becomes a whole other story.”

Fearrey told The Highlander council wants to take immediate action now that the structure is further damaged and will be discussing the issue later this month.

“We need to find a solution here. One where taxpayers aren’t going to be liable and left to pay. There’s a lot of complications for us to sort out. We have to make sure we’re on solid legal ground,” Fearrey said.

Stokes believes it’s time for council to “get tough” and hold Aurora Group and MECP accountable.

“It’s a death trap now, even more so than it was before. The risk to the public is at an all-time high,” he said.

Attempts to reach Aurora Group for comment were unsuccessful.

Since 2020, the time some people from Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes spend enrolled in social assistance programs, like Ontario Works, has doubled according to Janine Mitchell, the recently retired manager of human services with the City of Kawartha Lakes.

She delivered a new four-year social services service plan to the County April 23, highlighting the current demand, outlining provincial targets, and identifying some concerning trends that have emerged recently.

“Since the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in the average number of months on assistance. Couples and couples with dependents have the highest increase with average months on assistance,” Mitchell said, noting in 2017 couples with no dependents spent an average of 49 months on Ontario Works, compared to 106 months – just under nine years – in 2024.

Couples with dependents spend an average of 7.3 years on OW, with single parents averaging 3.9 years, and single people 3.2 years. Mitchell noted over half of all OW recipients locally are under 40.

As the consolidated municipal service manager, Kawartha Lakes runs all social services on behalf of the County. She noted the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services made changes to the service planning requirements in 2024, aiming for a more structured, streamlined, and consistent model over the next four years.

As of May 6, there are 1,537 receiving some form of assistance, including 268 in the County. While managing intake for Ontario Works, the department also assists people with housing and childcare needs.

Mitchell, who retired at the end of April, being replaced by Alyson Truax, said staff has no say over who is eligible for Ontario Works, how much money people receive, and how/when the money is administered – noting that’s all handled by the province.

Where the department can help, though, is in employment supports. Mitchell said staff meets regularly with those enrolled to try to improve their situation.

“We identify the barriers people may face and work with service providers as part of a team to support people to move past those barriers,” she said, noting Kawartha Lakes works with five employment agencies, eight programs and services to support financial education, five harm reduction programs and service operators, and 22 programs supporting health, mental health and wellbeing.

Some of its County-based partners include SIRCH Community Services, Haliburton County Heat Bank, the John Howard Society, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, HKPR health unit, and Community Care.

Deeper dive

Mitchell said the department’s caseload has increased 12 per cent since 2022, with County files growing at a higher rate than those located in Kawartha Lakes. Of those enrolled, 69.2 per cent are single with no dependents, 23.4 per cent are single parents, 3.9 per cent are couples with children, and 3.4 per cent are couples with no children.

While the province is predicting a 16.3 per cent increase to the OW caseload in 2025, projecting total cases reaching 1,649 in Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes, Mitchell said she doesn’t think new intake will be that high.

She noted from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2024 the department completed an average of 196 new applications for assistance each month. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, staff completed 129 applications for emergency assistance, under-18 assistance, or reactivated files.

Single people on Ontario Works receive a maximum of $733 per month, with couples eligible for up to $2,305. Mitchell said the number one complaint from people on the program was cost of housing.

“The average cost to even rent a bedroom in somebody’s house is $810 a month. Single people receiving OW, they can’t afford a place to live,” Mitchell said, noting the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the region is $1,629 a month.

“Other barriers include transportation, physical and mental health needs. We’re aware of all the barriers… but 96 per cent of the funding we have to support people is primarily being used to support them and their housing needs, which doesn’t leave us as much room as we need to support them in other ways,” she added.

Funding continues to be a challenge, Mitchell said. The social services provider received a $71,000 increase in 2025 – the first its seen in seven years. In her report, Mitchell noted full-time client services workers (CSW) should manage between 65 and 75 cases, but are currently doing between 90 and 105.

“For us to have more capacity to do the intense work that’s needed, we need an additional seven CSWs in that role,” Mitchell added, saying while the province said last year they would look at adjusting funding formulas for 2025, there has been no follow-up.

County council received the plan, which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services for approval.

County resident Pamela Marsales has been an avid cycler for most of her life. Now, she plans to spend the next few months passing that love on to the Highlands community via programming at the new Caboose Community Bike Hub.

Located in Head Lake Park, the space was unveiled April 24 by Marsales, MPP Laurie Scott, and Dysart et al coun. Pat Casey. The project was pitched by Friends of the Rail Trail (FoRT), supported by Dysart, and funded by a $30,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Marsales has been leading the charge since March 2024, feeling the need for a recognized cycling hub in Haliburton County. She said free programs will likely launch this month “as soon as the weather is good enough.” Funding is in place until Sept. 30.

“It’s all about encouraging more people to get on a bicycle, and feel comfortable doing so,” Marsales said. “There will be programs for novice cyclists, which could be very young children who are ready for their first experience on a bike, to older kids who grew up not knowing how to ride and just need a gentle push to get going.

“We want to do something that’s fun, that doesn’t feel overly instructional. It’s about gaining confidence and developing an awareness of safety techniques,” she added.

She envisioned the caboose being open several days a week through summer – “definitely Tuesdays”, Marsales said, when Head Lake Park hosts the Haliburton County farmers market and Rotary’s Music in the Park concerts. It’ll also be open on weekends.

Not just for children, Marsales said some programs will also be open for adult participation. She recalled how, upon moving to the area from Toronto, she stopped cycling for a while after a few white-knuckle rides on County roads.

“It was the hills and the logging truck traffic – there was a nervousness about where and when it was safe for me to cycle,” Marsales said, noting it took her time to figure out best routes and riding practises. “I’m sure there are many people here who would like to cycle, but don’t. We want to find ways to bring those lapsed cyclists back.”

A program manager has been hired, with additional funds to be used for equipment, ranging from portable bike repair stands, to pylons, to children’s bike helmets. Marsales said FoRT is now looking for volunteers to assist with program delivery.

Scott said this was exactly the type of project OTF likes to support.

“The Caboose Community Bike Hub is bringing new energy to active living in Haliburton by creating accessible, inclusive cycling opportunities for people of all ages and abilities,” the MPP said.

Convinced the pilot will be a success, Marsales said FoRT is already preparing to apply for another round of funding, this time for two years’ worth of programming through an OTF Grow grant. She said that will allow for a more detailed expansion of the hub.

“Riding a bike can bring joy, freedom and mobility. Sometimes all that’s needed for people to experience those feelings is getting over fear, so that’s one of the main things we’d like to achieve this summer,” Marsales said. “Hopefully people participate, tell us what they like and what they don’t, then we can use that to shape the next phase.”

Haliburton Legion president Mike Waller says he’ll be submitting a request to the Ministry of Transportation to install a crosswalk in front of the Mountain Street facility this month.

At an April 22 meeting, Waller told Dysart et al council he feels people need assistance crossing the busy highway, saying he’s seen many near-misses between pedestrians and vehicles recently .

He noted close to 500 people have signed a petition, wanting to see a crosswalk installed by the legion.

“It’s like the old frogger game seeing people trying to cross. We had lots of people out wanting to cross the road so they could vote in the advanced polls [for the federal election], but they couldn’t. It was a bit of a drastic situation,” Waller said.

Mayor Murray Fearrey said the township tried to get a crosswalk installed by the Gardens of Haliburton on the other side of Hwy. 118 going out of town towards Carnarvon a couple of years ago but were turned down. Public works director Rob Camelon told council there’s a “low probability” of obtaining MTO approval for a crosswalk by the legion.

“Staff recommend against consideration of a crosswalk [at the legion] due to likely deficient sight lines along Mountain Street looking eastward, and the proximity of emergency vehicles passing through the area,” Camelon said.

He suggested that, before considering any request, the township conduct a traffic study of the site, costing $6,500. Camelon said deferring the work to 2026 would likely increase the cost to $10,000. If approved by MTO, he estimated the crosswalk would cost $80,000 to $100,000 to install.

Coun. Pat Casey said he’d be in favour of getting a study done in front of the Legion, and on Highland Street in front of Hook, Line and Sinker, which Camelon estimated would cost $13,000.

“If town is evolving, we’ve got to find ways to get people across the road… somebody is going to get killed or hit by a car. I loathe the day when we have to deal with that as a council,” Casey said.

Coun. Barry Boice said Mountain Street is a major concern for him, noting he routinely sees people lining up and waiting to cross the street – most of them seniors.

“I don’t know what we can do, but we’ve got to do something,” Boice said.

Camelon said a study was done near Hook, Line and Sinker about 10 years ago, but a crosswalk wasn’t recommended. He told council that having something like a transportation master plan, which could address requests like this, would be helpful. He noted if council were to approve one request, they may receive others.

Council opted to fund the two studies, with the money to be drawn from reserves. The township also agreed to write a letter of support to MTO.

Other asks

Waller also complained about drivers leaving their vehicles in no-park zones along Mountain Street, often blocking the driveway into the Legion property and an accessible spot in front of the building.

The Legion president asked council to paint new lines on the road, making it clear drivers are to avoid parking in the two spots.

He also tested council’s financial resolve, requesting funding for a commercial generator. He said the building was without power for several days following the March 29 ice storm, meaning it remained closed despite being designated as an emergency shelter.

“We were unable to provide assistance to people who needed it,” Waller said, noting he’s applied for three different grants to pay for a machine, but all have been turned down.

CAO Tamara Wilbee suggested renting a generator would be cheaper than buying one. While Waller didn’t provide a cost, getting one big enough to service the Legion would be well into five figures, whereas renting would be about $4,500 per week. Council did not provide any funds for the generator.

By Susan Tromanhauser

Beth Brundage has a very specific Mothers’ Day celebration in mind – dinner out with the family.

But this isn’t Brundage’s first Mothers’ Day, so she has tempered her expectations to be a celebration of “peaceful chaos,” incorporating making car ramps out of menus to keep her four-year-old son, Thatcher, busy while tending to the needs of newborn son, Jace. Her Mothers’ Day will also be divided between the boys’ two grandmothers, ensuring they receive their kudos for the support they provide.

Brundage’s recollection of her first Mothers’ Day in 2021 is very hazy, saying now she, “is different; the boys are different.” Her first Mothers’ Day, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, felt isolated and emotional. She suffered from post-partum depression, afraid to leave her baby with anyone else and yet afraid to take him to the grocery store in case he cried and caused a scene.

Her mother was a big support, as was her medical team of Haliburton & Bancroft Midwives and her family physician. They all supported her, ensuring she received proper treatment through medication and therapy. Brundage explains treatment helped her recover to a point, but it was once she was able to return to the gym and start exercising, she really felt some relief.

This time, maternity leave is quite different than her first leave with Thatcher. With her firstborn she took time away from her position as an education assistant at an elementary school. With newborn Jace, she has yet to take time off – from her family responsibilities or her job. As a result, Jace is already well-traveled. At two days old, he attended Thatcher’s skating lesson and he accompanies his mom while she takes his big brother to speech therapy in Bracebridge.

Now office manager of the family business, The Dock Shop, there is no time for a maternity leave. She is busy keeping the staff of five, plus her husband, in line while the young mother juggles all things customer relations. She did forewarn customers she might not return calls as quickly as before, and that emails might arrive at all hours of the night. Brundage credits the flexibility of her job as being the primary reason she is able to fit everything into her day.

While she is doing a busy job of tending to a newborn, Brundage manages to connect with the outside world by going to Castle Antiques in Haliburton. There she “can just sit and people watch” or set up her laptop and work, and connect to other people. Brundage ignores advice to sleep while the baby sleeps, saying nothing would get done if she did that, but admits she sometimes uses naptimes to binge Netflix.

Watching Brundage comfortably cuddle her month-old baby Jace, it is easy to see she loves her role as mom. In a comfy café chair, she embraces her newborn, peacefully asleep in her arms. She also sips her afternoon coffee treat, acknowledging sleep can be difficult and caffeine helps.

At the café, she is able to hold an adult conversation with the only interruption a greeting from a friendly face entering the café. Brundage smiles and says now that she lives in Haliburton “she can’t go anywhere without knowing someone” and admits enjoying the smaller town to the city of Peterborough, where she grew up, which to her “seems too busy now.”

Brundage truly believes in the adage “it takes a village to raise a child” and is appreciative of all the support she receives in her community.

Advice for other mothers? Brundage is adamant the most important thing she has learned as a mother is the necessity to take time for yourself. “If a mother doesn’t take care of herself, she can’t take care of others,” she said.

She added feeling as if she is a different person now than before and every child is different. She admits there was a huge learning curve with her first child but this time she is more relaxed, more confident. And, as if on cue to prove her point, Jace stirs and immediately Brundage knows, “he’s hungry, it’s time for him to eat.”

But she is also quick to point out, as is the case with all mothers, “I’m still learning.”

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) has announced the TD Friends of the Environment has granted funding to support Land Trust Discovery Days 2025.

The Land Trust has offered discovery days for many years as part of its initiative to provide educational workshops for people of all ages to learn about nature.

Their volunteer education committee is working hard to plan and organize a series of family-oriented events, the HHLT said.

The first discovery day, Spring Wildflowers and Wild Leeks, will take place on Saturday, May 10 at Barnum Creek Nature Reserve at 10 a.m. “Michele Swyer will offer her expertise and enthusiasm for these delicate and fleeting early spring ephemerals,” the Land Trust said.

The Don Smith Memorial Bird Walk will be offered by bird expert Ed Poropat on Sunday, May 18 at 6:30 a.m. on the rail trail at Gould’s Crossing Road.

The events are offered by donation. Registration is required and can be done by visiting haliburtonlandtrust.ca, events.

Other programs to look forward to this year include Busy Beavers and more.

“HHLT will also offer three events under our funding for the Partners in Conservation (PIC) program. The first in this series of events is on exploring the basics of digital mapping with the Avenza Maps app. Later in the season, PIC’s will be offered a chance to learn about invasive species and join a hands-on trail building workshop,” the Land Trust said. It encouraged people to view their website and Facebook page for updated information and registration.

Dysart et al council has been told it’s time the township starts thinking about potential sites that could one day house a new fire hall.

Mike Vilneff of The Loomex Group presented Dysart’s new fire master plan April 22. It includes 38 recommendations for improving operations at the Dysart Fire Department.

Vilneff said the document’s primary purpose is to ensure compliance with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, provide a clear picture of the community’s current and anticipated fire protection needs, and recommend strategies to protect lives and property by enhancing public education, code enforcement, and fire suppression services – which he called “the three lines of defence” when it comes to firefighting.

Two of the top recommendations include conducting a study of the current fire hall, located behind A.J. LaRue Community Centre, to assess its current condition; and for the township to develop a new fire station replacement strategy, which would include information about site selection, land acquisition, funding strategies, construction, and disposal of the current facility.

Vilneff said the existing strategy, a decade old, is outdated due to price increases in recent years. He expressed concern, too, that the current station does not comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Fire chief Dan Chumbley said the main part of the facility is approximately 50 years old. An extension was added in the late 80s.

He noted that while a new fire hall may be on the cards one day, nothing is imminent.

“It’s not that we need to be out of here tomorrow or anything like that. The recommendation has come in because the consultant is seeing what it’s costing other departments to replace their stations,” Chumbley said.

“It’s high millions, maybe $7 million to $10 million. So, because the building is getting up there in age, they’re saying it should be something we’re focusing on.”

The first step, Chumbley said, will be bringing someone in to assess the hall’s current condition.

“We need to know are we going to get 20 years out of it? Are we going to get five years out of it? Before we move onto figuring out how much, or where, we need to know the when.”

Other key recommendations include: Dysart formalize an agreement outlining their participation in the County’s mutual aid system, where local departments can access additional resources from neighbours when required; launch a program that outlines parameters to ensure firefighters aren’t exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust; ensure a formalized water rescue program is developed; launch a driver competency program for operating trucks; and conduct a water supply study to assess the non-hydrant-protected areas of the community.

The report also says staff should investigate the feasibility of installing a dry water main that would bring water directly from Head Lake to the downtown core.

Chumbley said the document is a big help for him as he plans for the department’s future.

“These guys are retired firefighters, chiefs, deputy chiefs, training officers… they know all the rules and regulations that, because I’m in a small rural community, I’ve just never run into. It’s a good procedural plan that we can fall back on as and when needed,” the chief said.