Injuries take toll as Huskies split games

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October 21, 2021

Haliburton-area trustee Gary Brohman asked if the board has enough supply staff to meet demand during the Oct. 12 Trillium Lakelands District School Board meeting.

Superintendent of human resources, Traci Hubbert, replied, “We do not have enough occasional staff available. We have shortages on a daily basis. We are advertising aggressively on many different platforms to try to recruit.”

She said it’s a struggle and challenge to find occasional staff when the board pays some employee groups only marginally more than fast food chains.

She added, “We have teachers on paper, but the reality is a very different thing right now.”

Hubbert said there are 285 teachers on the occasional teachers’ lists across the board. On a typical day, the board has “high double-digit absences” but classes still can’t be filled.

“Many occasional staff have taken leaves,” Hubbert said. “They don’t want to work at multiple locations during a pandemic and they don’t want to work with unvaccinated students. We also have retired teachers on the list who can only work 50 days and teachers who have taken long-term occasional contracts (to cover a teacher’s class for an extended time period) who still are counted on the list even though they are working.”

Hubbert praised the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation for working cooperatively with the board to contact teachers on the list to see if they want to continue working as an occasional teacher.

Hubbert said she hopes to add an additional 45 teachers to the secondary list soon. She said right now, secondary schools are getting by with teachers covering other teachers’ absences as defined in their collective agreement, but those days are dwindling.

“We will have a problem at elementary covering teachers once board professional development begins,” Hubbert said. “We have a much worse time covering absences for educational assistants.”

Trustee Judy Saunders wanted clarification as to whether a teacher could just take up a spot on the supply list and not work.

“They can stay on the list and book a year of unpaid leave off,” Hubbert said. “To remain on the list (when not on a leave) they do need to work a minimum number (30) of days.”

Driver shortages still an issue

The board is “in much better shape” than some others when it comes to bus drivers, Supt. Tim Ellis said, thanks to drivers doubling up, or running two routes in both the morning and afternoon.

Ellis said the board is servicing its contracted routes.

He added that in conversation with local operators, they were hopeful to see a steadier stream of job applicants in early October.

“Very few applicants came through the doors of operators in September,” Ellis said. “So far in October there appear to be more folks looking for employment. This is not a typical year locally for drivers.”

In Haliburton, Ellis said “We have had issues in getting single routes operational and have had to double run buses. This requires students to wait at school up to an hour after dismissal to be picked up, creating additional supervision for principals. The issues in Haliburton are because of the region’s geographic diversity.”

Extracurriculars available

Elementary school students are participating in inter-school athletics, Supt. Jay MacJanet told the meeting.

He said with the help of the local health units they have put safety protocols in place and cross-country and soccer have happened or are going to happen by the end of the month. Chess and reading clubs are also up and running.

Archie Stouffer Elementary School will be hosting a countywide soccer tournament Nov. 3.

Supt. Kim Williams, who oversees high schools, said band, choir, chess, Gay-Straight Alliance, comedy-improv, intramurals, Outer’s Club, Reach for the Top, robotics, student council and truth and reconciliation groups are all meeting.

Williams added girls’ basketball, crosscountry, field hockey, football, golf, girls’ rugby, tennis and boys’ volleyball are up and operating with badminton and swimming already gearing up for their seasons.

Board chair Bruce Reain wanted to know if district championships would be hosted by the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association and the Central Ontario Secondary School Association at the completion of regular season schedules. Williams did not have any information that would indicate that was not the case.

Trustee John Byrne asked if interested fans could watch outdoor sporting events from property adjoining schools and was told there was nothing the board could do to prevent that. The board is still not budging on allowing fans onto school property or into the building to watch friends and family compete, citing COVID-19 concerns.

HHSS enrolment up seven per cent

Enrolment is up seven per cent at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School.

It’s impacted class sizes, teacher hiring and bus route capacities, the board was told.

As of Oct. 4 across the board, there were 11,611 students, 550 more than predicted last June. Secondary numbers were 4,664, up 100 from June estimates.

Director of education, Wes Hahn, said, “We believe a number of these kids are from outside the area and they have either decided to stay with grandparents or they are remaining at the family cottage as their parents are working remotely.”

Hahn added that he “definitely knows” that some of the elementary numbers are very late registrations for kindergarten as parents waited for the last moment to commit because of COVID-19 and what school programming might look like.

Public gets first look at Minden Hills budget

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October 21, 2021

Minden Hills has gotten an early jump on its 2022 budget, holding its first meeting Oct. 14 versus an historical December first round of deliberations.

As usual, the initial needs and wants of various departments is inflated – at a 14.47 per cent levy increase (or $1,333,065) – with a plan to whittle that number down over the coming months.

“It’s good to get the budget process going early,” Mayor Brent Devolin said.

CAO Trisha McKibbin said the game plan is to pass the budget in January to allow the township “to hit the ground running” with tender and procurement documents so work can start in the first financial quarter of 2022.

She acknowledged budget changes, including the continuing impact of COVID-19 on municipal services, such as several staff vacancies and service demands.

“The management team is aware of the challenges and pressures facing the municipality and the need to be fiscally responsible in our budget deliberations,” McKibbin said.

Referring to departmental needs and wants, she added, “We’re looking forward to working with council to prioritize these needs and to deliver a responsible budget. Staff is certainly aware this [14.47 per cent] is not an acceptable number.”

Last year, the township ended up with a 3.75 per cent tax levy increase.

McKibbin said the most significant increase is wages and benefits, showing a combined cost increase of $478,085. She attributed that to a 1.7 per cent Cost of Living Adjustment, progression of staff on the salary grid, the full cost of staff to operationalize the new community centre and additional staff in the building, bylaw and planning department.

Roads are traditionally a big-ticket item and that is no different this year. Acting director of public works, Tara Stephen, is seeking nearly $3.5 million to reconstruct sections of Scotch Line and Bobcaygeon roads and about $1.2 million for the Sedgewick Road bridge.

There was also preliminary discussion of converting hard top to gravel on parts of Henderson, Bobcaygeon, Swinson, and Queen’s Line roads.

Coun. Bob Carter expressed some concern about potentially borrowing for roadworks when the township has reserves. It’s like “going out and borrowing money and paying interest even though there’s a bunch of money in your savings accounts,” he said.

He also said he was “so disappointed” the municipality has still not produced a roads plan. “We’re looking at borrowing $5 million or something like that this year. We really should know what’s coming next. in 2023, do we have to borrow another $10 million? We need to have some kind of idea what’s going on here.”

The community services department is looking at an initial 14.7 per cent increase. Director Craig Belfry said that has to do with continuing to get the new recreation complex up and running, including paying off the loan and staff. He noted his budget now includes the cultural centre. They hope to fix up the boardwalk and village green as well.

The first draft of the building and bylaw department has a $242,565 jump, including more staff. The fire chief is looking for an additional $156,000, including new self-contained breathing apparatus and related equipment and fit training. Leasing or an internal loan were suggested by councillors.

Stephen, who also manages waste services, proposed a $183,000 increase for landfills.

She added one issue is the need for new trigger mechanisms to better alert the township of when contaminants move offsite. She said people are also dumping waste out of hours at Little Gull and they need to beef up security.

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell asked if it wasn’t a good time to consider weigh scales at Scotch Line. Stephen said ideally within the year they hope to have a scale up and running.

Coun. Pam Sayne repeated a theme she has discussed numerous times at council. She said they have to push the provincial government to increase the HST by one per cent and direct that money to Ontario’s 444 municipalities to help them with infrastructure costs. She said they can’t keep going to ratepayers.

“We need to take a stand on that.” McKibbin added it is her intention that the township work on a strategic plan for the 2023 budget.

The next meeting is Oct. 28.

Bad news bears plaguing Scotch Line landfill

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October 21, 2021

Minden Hills council will have to consider bear-proofing the Scotch Line landfill, manager of waste services, Tara Stephen, told council Oct. 14.

“I think everybody is aware we’ve had ongoing issues with bears accessing public areas at the Scotch Line landfill,” Stephen said. “The ministry has been raising red flags with me over the course of the last year and have directed us to take some action.”

Stephen said landfill attendants have been doing everything they can in the interim, including employing scaring devices and practicing proper waste cover, “but we have a few very stubborn bears that just won’t go away.”

She said, in talking to other municipalities with similar problems, it’s been recommended Minden Hills put up an electric fence. She included $50,000 for that in the first draft of her department’s proposed capital budget.

Mayor Brent Devolin said he had noticed a difference with better cover. “I don’t have bears up at my vehicle helping me unload my garbage.”

However, the mayor added he was “going to ask my redneck question. The reality is $50,000 versus selective culling of the problematic bears … am I living in an alternate reality, or is that not even a consideration of what we may or may not do around our landfills?”

Stephen said it is an option, “but I don’t know how effective it is long-term. The populations turn over every year and this is something that we have to find a permanent solution for. If we want to get into culling bears every year that is an option.”

Coun. Jean Neville asked if the bears are coming when the public is on-site or just at night.

Stephen said the bears are present during operating hours “and they are no longer afraid of humans, so we’re now concerned about people’s safety.”

Coun. Bob Carter asked about the size of the site and Stephen said eight hectares. Carter said he was having some problems with the proposal to erect an electric fence around the perimeter.

“If a farmer puts up 20 acres of electric fence to protect their sheep from wolves, they would go bankrupt paying this amount,” he said. Carter suggested the estimated cost was inflated. “Electric fences are not that expensive. It is one of the reasons people use them. I am just a little shocked by that [$50,000].” He said the township could go to a feed store and get an estimate.

Stephen said the price includes the cost of bringing hydro to Scotch Line and she had not gone out to the market to test the estimate.

Neville said an electric fence to deter bears would have to be stronger and taller, as opposed to fencing for cows or horses. She said the ones she has seen around honey operations in the County “are massive and much more voltage or amp.”

She and Coun. Ron Nesbitt added there were solar and battery-operated fences on the market.

Devolin asked Stephen if she thought the ministry was going to compel the township to do something. She replied, “I think we’re getting to that point. It [electric fencing] may not necessarily be the exact solution but we’re very close to receiving an order from them to manage these bears.”

She said staff had built a very good working relationship with the district office and “we just want to show them that we are trying to address the issues that they raise.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said, “I think we need to do something here.” However, she said she’s hopeful Stephen can come up with less expensive options for the next council budget meeting.

Health unit fears unfunded service backlog

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October 21, 2021

After 18 months of COVID-19 program delays and cancellations, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit said it’s unable to meet demands due to provincial government underfunding.

While Doug Ford’s government has committed to reimbursing health units for COVID-19-related costs, that won’t cover the price of restarting programs cancelled by the pandemic, the health unit said.

HKPR reports that 2,400 students have missed school-based immunizations, more than 70 drinking water systems are overdue for inspections and 5,300 children have not received regular oral health screening.

“We are reaching a point locally that if we don’t start to catch up on these services the backlog will become too large of a hurdle to overcome,” wrote HKPR board chairperson Doug Elmslie in a Sept. 16 letter to Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Since then, said HKPR chief medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, in an Oct. 13 press conference, the health unit hasn’t “had communication from the province or an acknowledgment of the number of other additional expenses health units are accruing in regards to catch-up activities and recovery activities.”

Current base funding levels, which have only been increased once in five years, can’t cover the costs of restarting all these programs, she said.

“To do those catchup activities within our budgets, I don’t believe that’s a reasonable expectation.”

Additional required programs such as vision screening, infection prevention and control complaints, swimming pool inspections, as well as inflation and rising salary costs, also stretch the budget, Elmslie noted.

“This means that we were already under-resourced to respond to an infectious disease emergency, as well as implement routine public health priorities prior to the pandemic,” Elmslie wrote.

The health unit, responsible for enforcement, education and programs related to mental health, addiction, family services, and more, says its work might not be as easy to see as emergency services.

“We hear a lot about things like surgical backlogs and the gaps in other things like cancer screening in the acute health care system,” Bocking said. “We hear very little about the backlog in public health. We’re not as visible and people are not as familiar with the work we do.”

MPP Laurie Scott did not directly address the health unit’s question of additional funding, but said she’s confident the province’s new chief medical officer, Keiran Moore, will work for positive change.

“He’s going to be leading, [talking about] what happened, what can we do better. Word will come on that,” she said.

Scott said the difficulties incurred by public health units during COVID offer opportunities to “modernize.”

Previously, the Ontario government reduced its funding of public health units by five per cent, meaning municipalities are responsible for 30 per cent of public health costs, as opposed to 25 per cent. The County of Haliburton contributed $463,508 in 2020.

Province announces $484K for LTC homes

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October 21, 2021

Hyland Crest, Highland Wood and Extendicare Haliburton will get a combined $484,451 from provincial government taxpayers to increase staffing, MPP Laurie Scott announced Oct. 15.

She said Hyland Crest in Minden will get up to $220,852; Highland Wood in Haliburton $106,861 and Extendicare Haliburton $156,738 to increase hours of daily direct care for residents.

Further, she said they’ll share in nearly $3 million more by 2024-2025, with Hyland Crest to be handed $1,352,700 a year more than current funding; Highland Wood, $654,528, and Extendicare Haliburton $959,976.

“This funding will allow long-term care homes in our community to hire additional staff so they can provide a better quality of care to local residents,” Scott said. “This is part of our government’s plan to train, hire, and retain thousands of new staff over the next four years.”

Haliburton Highlands Health Services CAO Carolynn Plummer said as of Oct. 19, they had not yet received their specific funding letters for either LTC home they manage so they could not confirm the amounts they will receive.

“We do indeed appreciate the additional funding to support care for our residents; until we know for certain how much we will receive, it is difficult to know whether it will be enough to reach the target number of hours per day,” Plummer added.

Currently, residents province-wide receive an average of two hours and 45 minutes of direct care from nurses and personal support workers. This funding will increase the daily average to three hours, per resident per day by the end of this fiscal year, Minister of Health Rod Phillips said. The Ontario government said it wants to provide four hours of direct care by 2024- 2025. Overall provincial funding also includes $42.8M to homes to increase care by allied health care professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers, by 10 per cent this year.

Plummer added that recruiting staff will be a challenge, not just for HHHS but across the province due to “a general shortage of human resources across all sectors of healthcare. It takes time to attract people to healthcare and have them trained in the various needed roles.”

She said they did have an opportunity during the pandemic, when temporary funding was available, to create a caregiver support aide role, which helped to assist residents and staff during some difficult times – while at the same time creating opportunities for people to learn about LTC and potentially enroll in training programs such as a PSW program.

Bonnie Roe is one of the founding members of the Haliburton-City of Kawartha Lakes Long-Term Care Coalition.

“He (Phillips) is coming forward with money, it is not enough money, that is a definite, but it certainly shows the intention of the government,” she said. “Because over the last year and a half of the pandemic, any promises they have made they have not come forward with any money or any changes to inspections, or quality of working conditions for people. There’s always a lot of rhetoric and talk but until you see the money, you always question is this going to be the same as in the past?”

Phillips said the Ontario government will provide up to $270 million this year to homes across the province and is investing $4.9 billion over four years by adding 27,000 staff.

Plummer said, “I am thrilled that there is an opportunity ahead not only to improve care for our residents, but also to help improve the work experience for our staff giving them the supports they need to continue to do such amazing work.”

Vaccine certificate scanning arrives in the Highlands

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October 21, 2021

SG- vaxx cert-1- — Haliburton Huskies' staff check gameday attendee's vaccine status before entry on Oct. 2.

Since Sept. 22, Highlands restaurants, gyms, arenas and many community spaces have been asking guests for proof of vaccination. Now, a new App-based identification system can be used to confirm whether diners, hockey fans, gym-goers or coffee-sippers are vaccinated.

In an Oct. 15 press conference, Premier Doug Ford said the rules “mean we have the best chance to avoid being forced back into lockdowns nobody wants.” County residents can access the new QR code via covid-19.ontario.ca/ and establishments can download a scanning app through the App Store or Google Play Store.

Multiple business owners and community groups contacted by The Highlander reported a generally positive reception to the new rules. Maple Avenue Tap and Grill owner Andy Oh said he supports the certificate program, however it’s meant some guests have walked away after being asked to show receipts. “It’s affected business,” said Oh.

He added since Haliburton’s population is, on average, older, people may have more difficulty obtaining app-based certificates. “I understand what the government wants, to increase vaccination to a certain point. But here is a small town, compared to a big city,” said Oh. Diners have the option of using a QR code, considered quicker than showing a printed version. Oh said methods so far had slowed service.

Craig Belfry, director of community services for Minden Hills, said the rules have been fairly easy to enforce. The township has hired a COVID screener to assist with checks. “There’s a little bit of waiting, but people are understanding,” Belfry said.

“We’ve had good feedback from community groups who use our space.” In an Oct. 13 press conference, HKPR chief medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, reported only one establishment in the region has been fined in an incident related to vaccine certificate inspection. HKPR declined to confirm if the establishment was located in the Highlands.

The Haliburton Highlands OPP reported one incident of a customer refusing to show proof of vaccination so far, however, the incident was resolved before officers arrived on the scene.

Capacity limits lifted for some

On Oct. 9, the provincial government removed capacity restrictions for outdoor events and indoor venues with less than 20,000 capacity. That includes sports venues such as the Minden arena.

“I think it allows us to really provide the community with the type of experience we want to be able to provide,” said Jess Jackson, Huskies’ game day operations manager. “It provides a social atmosphere I think is beneficial to the community itself.” Jackson said all fans attending games have been compliant with COVID-19 safety measures, such as masking and showing vaccine certificates.

Many in the restaurant and fitness industries say capacity limits set a doublestandard as arena seating is often more confined than tables at a restaurant, for example.

It’s expected restaurant capacity limits will be lifted in late October, however Ford urged a slower approach to easing restrictions. “We’ve seen what happens in provinces that move too quickly, and the results can be horrifying,” he said.

There are no active cases of COVID-19 in Haliburton County, and 10 unresolved cases in the HKPR region. Most are occurring in people between 20-39 years of age. Since July 1, 63 per cent of cases were unvaccinated, 20 per cent partially vaccinated and 17 per cent fully vaccinated.

Throwing disc for a cause at Abbey Gardens

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October 20, 2021

Since opening in July, disc golf fans from across Ontario have been playing Abbey Gardens’ expansive 18-hole course.

Now, beginners, those fresh to the sport and any disc golfer looking for a good time have the chance to showcase their skills in the Leaf Drop Doubles Disc Golf Tournament Oct. 23.

“I wanted it to be family-friendly and anyone who’s heard of it but hasn’t thought to come out and play,” said Victoria Fenninger of FR Bike – E-Bike Tours. She’s organizing the tournament along with fellow disc golf enthusiast James McKenna.

Competitors can choose from three categories based on their skill level. Beginners and novices will play from the short tees, while more experienced players will throw from the further tees.

Included in the cost of entry is a full-day disc golf pass so players can practice before or after the tournament. Experienced players will be on hand to assist those fresh to the sport.

Disc golf is much like golf: players tee-off at set locations and try and land their disc in a metal basket. At Abbey Gardens, the course takes players from a gravel pit to forests to ponds all over the property. It’s also a growing sport.

“We’ve had a pretty good turnout every time I’ve been out there, there are multiple groups of people,” she said. “Especially this time of year as the colours begin to change; it’s a beautiful walk in the woods.”

Proceeds of the tournament and a raffle will go towards the Abbey Retreat Centre, a cancer care centre on Abbey Gardens property. “‘Because of COVID-19 there’s been a more of a focus on online retreats,” Fenninger said. “Now they are looking at hosting in-person retreats now that people are getting vaccinated.”

Funds from disc golfers will help with those retreats and help the center continue to develop new services throughout the pandemic.

To register, visit: discgolfscene.com/tournaments/The_Leaf_Drop_Doubles_Disc_Golf_Tournament_2021

SIRCH coat drive warms the Highlands

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October 19, 2021

SG-share the warmth-1- — Vounteers at last year's Share the Warmth event

As the weather gets colder, SIRCH Community Services is on a mission to provide warm clothes to Highlanders in need and they want your help.

The organization is kicking off its sixth annual Share the Warmth fundraiser.

Each year, Highlands community members in need are given donated coats, boots, hats, gloves, and more.

Oct. 18, drop-off locations around the County will begin accepting donations, and SIRCH will be at Lakeside Baptist Church in Haliburton and St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Minden to distribute winter gear Nov. 6.

Last year, Share the Warmth brought in 1,450 pieces of used Winter clothing, which is all checked and sorted.

The HKPR District Health Unit estimates that approximately 25 per cent of Highlands children live in poverty, which can mean good quality winter gear is out of reach. “It is more important than ever to help those who are vulnerable stay warm,” writes SIRCH in a press release.

SIRCH Executive Director Gena Robertson said in a press release that the initiative is a way for Highlanders to help their neighbours.

“We have seen so much generosity in the past when it comes to Share the Warmth and we are hopeful this year will be no different,” she said.

Included in the statement is the story of Haliburton resident Thomas Smith, who received a coat from Share the Warmth just after moving to the County.

At that point in time I didn’t have a job. I had just moved up here and only had a fall jacket and I didn’t have any money to spend on a new coat,” he told SIRCH. “It got me through and I still have it.”

All donated gear must be in good working order without stains, rips or tears.

For more information about Share the Warmth call 705-457-1742 or email info@sirch.on.ca.

(Sam Gillett)

Witches gather for high-flying Abbey Gardens fire show by NorthFIRE Circus

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October 19, 2021