HHHSF announces new online 50/50 draw

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June 29, 2021

The HHHS Foundation has announced a new monthly online 50/50 lottery draw, with 50 per cent of the funds raised going to a monthly winner, and 50 per cent to support local hospital and health care facility equipment needs.

Executive director, Lisa Tompkins, said that through a digital technology platform, tickets will be available for purchase online at the Foundation lottery site hhhsf5050.ca beginning June 30 at 11:30 a.m.

She said tickets can be purchased for $20 for 100 ticket numbers, $10 for 20 ticket numbers, or $5 for five ticket numbers.

After buying their tickets, purchasers will receive a confirmation e-mailed with their 50/50 registered numbers from a random selection system. The amount of the 50/50 estimated take-home prize for the month will be displayed in real time on the site and will continue to grow as more people participate.

“Following nine successful years of our Cash for Care Lottery, we look forward to engaging with the community in this electronic format to continue to raise much-needed funds for priority capital equipment for Haliburton Highlands Health Services”, Tompkins said.

Purchasers must be in Ontario at the time of purchase, and must be 18 years of age or older to participate. For the first draw, tickets will be available for purchase until 11:59 p.m. July 29, and the first monthly draw will take place on July 30 at 9 a.m., with the winner information posted on the hhhsf5050.ca website, as well as the Foundation’s social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

County welcomes Huskies with open arms

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Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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The County’s new Junior A hockey team is beginning to take shape with rookie camp at the refurbished S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena scheduled for a little over two months from now.

Huskies head coach and general manager, Ryan Ramsay, provided an update in a recent interview with The Highlander.

“The support in the County has been excellent. People are excited,” Ramsay said.

For example, as of mid-June, they had already sold 98 season tickets for the 2021- 2022 year, out of about 300 arena seats, and the start of the season is still three months away.

He said staff recruitment is going well and they have “pretty much filled every role.”

“A lot of people reached out,” he said of their efforts to find full and part-time paid staff as well as volunteers.

However, he said they are still looking for more volunteers for game days.

In addition, Ramsay said they are also seeking about a dozen more billet families.

He said billet families get paid $475 a month to help defer costs, such as food, as well as two season tickets per household for regular season and playoff games. He said billet families are not responsible for driving kids. Transportation is the team’s responsibility.

Ramsay said it’s also about “helping the kids reach their goals of making the NHL or getting a division one scholarship in the United States.”

Residents might have also noticed Huskies’ merchandise has appeared at Foodland in Minden and Haliburton. Items can also be purchased through the team’s website.

The club is also eager to get into the former Scouts Hall at the arena and turn it into team space. The Huskies will be spending about $100,000 to create a dressing room, lounge, training rooms, office and showers.

As for the hockey squad itself, Ramsay said they had signed 13 of last year’s 23 Whitby Fury players. They were hoping to have another four players inked as of the week ending June 18. Two of the players, Ryan Hall and Joe Boice, are from Haliburton County.

The inaugural rookie camp is set to begin Aug. 27 and the team will leave some spots for that. Players are to report to their billet families Sept. 5 for training camp. They have tentatively booked four exhibition games for September, including two at home and two on the road. And the season is expected to kick off Oct. 1.

“Everything’s going really great,” Ramsay said. “We can’t wait to get into the rink.”

The club has signed a seven-year agreement with the Township of Minden Hills to use the recreation complex.

The new team will compete in 54 regular season games, including 27 home games plus playoffs. Most of the Huskies home games will take place Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. The Huskies are one of 22 teams in the league.

See more at huskieshockey.ca

Dart a ‘powerhouse’ in hockey

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Sam Gillett

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June 24, 2021

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According to the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame committee, hockey star Glen Dart was a “powerhouse player” whose 17-year career cemented his place in sporting lore.

Dart is being inducted into the Hall in the athlete category.

While Dart passed away at age 31 in 1951, his son Roger Dart often heard about his father’s legacy growing up.

“He was highly regarded in the community,” Dart said. Even though he doesn’t remember his father – he was two when he passed away – Dart said he grew up with a “sense of pride” in his legacy.

After joining the Haliburton Huskies at 15, Dart quickly made a name for himself on and off the ice. He was part of the famous 1934 team that captured seven trophies. According to the committee, the team were the “rockstars of their generation.”

He also played for the Lindsay Midgets, and even made a Junior A hockey team in Toronto. His son recalls his character off the ice matched his prowess with a hockey stick.

“He was a smooth player: a gentleman on and off the ice. He was sincere. He meant what he said,” Dart said.

After moving back to Haliburton, Dart joined Canada’s Second World War effort. After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he played for the Air Force’s team in Belleville and the Moncton Maroons, a Maritime Senior team in the AMS League.

Apart from his own playing career, Dart was immersed in the County’s minor hockey system. He coached minor and junior teams – developing a crop of players who fondly remember their time on the ice under his guidance. His son often heard tales about his father’s impact on youth players and in a small community such as Haliburton, a coach like Dart was widely known.

Once when Roger Dart was working at a Haliburton grocery store, a customer heard his last name and asked him if he was connected to Glen Dart.

“He was my father,” Dart responded. Dart recalls that with a sense of pride the man exclaimed “He was my hockey coach.”

Dart eventually became Haliburton’s recreation director. In the role, he was known for his enthusiasm for hockey and eagerness to find equipment for anyone wanting to try the sport.

Since his passing, the Glen Dart Memorial Tournament sees teams from Durham to Wilberforce clash on the ice.

The tournament’s seven-decade history in itself is a nod to the local legend’s life and service to Haliburton’s sporting heritage.

Artisans new and old return to Minden market

By

Sam Gillett

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June 24, 2021

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Creative makers displayed their goods for the first time this year at the Minden artisan market on June 19.

Returning and new vendors said they were excited to meet customers face-to-face once more: last year’s season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“It’s very nice to see people,” said Elvina Kaplun, who’s sold wire and leather jewelry for three years at the market. “And to see my clients who’ve already come; my regular customers.”

For Andrea Draker, of Highlands Soy Candle Co., the first artisan market since 2019 was also the first time she’s been able to show off her selection of candles. She started her business in January, and until now, “everything has been online,” she said.

“I was bored, I wanted to do something, and when everything opened up, I was looking forward to markets.”

Despite the chance to chat with customers, the market looks different this year, with a capacity of 10 spaced-out vendors.

There are COVID protocols in place, such as mask wearing and hand sanitizing, a defined entrance and exit, one-way travel through the market and social distancing.

This year, artisans are located beside the farmers market as opposed to the previous downtown location.

Up and down the row of stalls, people chatted with vendors – many expressed excitement to be back at the market.

For vendors such as Katie Raftis and her daughter Olivia Rickard, the market was a chance to chase longstanding dreams.

“I kind of funneled my creative energy into making stuff for the market,” Raftis said, explaining how COVID-19 meant a pause on her event planning career.

She developed her skill in creating resin art while her daughter crafted painted wooden decorations and ornaments including paddle-shaped coat racks. They displayed their creations for the first time.

“For years, I’ve attended and bought from the market, and kind of hoped and dreamed of doing it,” Raftis said. “With all the extra time on my hands, I had to do something.”

The market will run Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Thanksgiving weekend.

Derek Little: an educator, coach and father

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Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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Derek Little had a knack for finding students who didn’t necessarily excel in traditional learning but thrived in the outdoors.

He changed the lives of hundreds through his specialized outdoor leadership program at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS).

Little, affectionately known as “D,” passed away June 11 from cancer. He is being remembered as a teacher, football coach and father.

Sister-in-law and friend, Marina Thomazo, said Little was a fantastic guy with a huge heart.

“As a true down-to-earth Blairhampton boy, he carried the Little traits of always being generous, caring, hard-working, inclusive, and ready to help anyone that needed help and he passed on those traits to his five boys that he loved so much,” Thomazo said.

She added, “He was an educator at heart and because of his caring nature, he was able to connect with so many kids.

“As a true storyteller, he could captivate an audience. He was so charismatic and passionate, loving and funny, eloquent and knowledgeable, and such an avid learner. He made an impact on every single person he came across.”

She said her brother-in-law valued the partnership between the school and the community.

Little is remembered for building a cabin at the high school with his outdoor leadership program students – all donated by a community partner.

“And that classroom is the legacy for the outdoor program he loved and created at HHSS,” Thomazo said.

He also valued extracurricular activities, according to Thomazo, pouring countless hours into the football program, where for him, “character mattered the most, more than winning. “

“He valued people for who they were and what they achieved without any discrimination.”

Engaged students

Trillium Lakelands District School Board trustee, Gary Brohman, taught many of the Little clan before going on to be a school administrator to them as well. He hired Derek Little as a science teacher. He would go on to teach math, phys. ed, and oversee the co-op program.

He said one of Little’s greatest attributes was his ability to engage students and “he had that natural ability.”

Brohman said Little came to him in 1997 to pitch the outdoor leadership program, which went on to become “one of the best programs in Ontario.”

He said the students did it all, from cutting trees to making trails, cleaning lakes, camping and overnight survival trips.

The trustee said the secret to the program’s success was Derek. “Without Derek, this doesn’t happen. He was an outstanding teacher and became the students’ mentor, friend, and father. Derek had the ability to lead by example. There was no job he would expect any of his students to do without him getting his hands dirty.”

He noted Little was inclusive, as many female students took part as well. He said Little was admired and sought out by students and parents to get into the class. “He found a niche of a group of kids in the school that wanted hands-on tactile learning.”

In “a nice ending to the story,” Little’s brother, Sam, has taken over the program at the high school. “Sam is very capable and will continue this program with his stamp. He’s a Little,” Brohman said.

As a football coach for 20 years, Brohman laughs, “His shouting across the field with instructions could be heard in Minden, I’m sure.”

As a colleague and friend, Brohman added, “If you wanted a job done, get a Little. I’d say, ‘Coach, I need this done.’ He’d say, ‘I’ll be right over’.”

Former colleague Chris Duchene said Little’s passion was the outdoors and sharing his love of the outdoors. He taught kids to be in it and appreciate it. She said he could spot the kids who needed something different and many went on to careers in related fields.

She said he was also a great co-op teacher, thanks to his connections in the community.

“He just took off and he was amazing.”

She recalled all the fundraisers and fishing derbys he helped to organize as well.

“As far as a person to work with, it was water off a duck’s back. It didn’t seem like anything ruffled him. He was super positive, willing to be flexible, never confrontational, eager to look at what you were discussing, presented ideas he wanted to do that were different and creative, he loved to laugh, and he loved to make connections with students.”

Health unit looks towards life after COVID

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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By Kirk Winter

For the last 16 months, more than 80 per cent of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, District Health Unit’s resources have been dedicated to responding to COVID19, a few essential services, and contact management of other reportable diseases.

At their June meeting, the health unit reported that over the last month, environmental health services have scaledup in order to support responding to loosening public health restrictions and upcoming summer programming.

The health unit will be resuming regularly scheduled summer services that include:

• Inspection of year-round and seasonal food services facilities,

• Pre-opening inspections of public outdoor pools, whirlpools and splash pads,

• Beach samplings,

• Pre-opening inspections of recreational camps,

• Small drinking water system inspections for seasonal water systems coming back on-line,

• Tracking vector borne diseases such as West Nile virus and tick surveillance, and migrant farm inspections.

“In addition, planning is underway to bring other health protection services back online closer to fall,” medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, said.

These services will include school-based immunization programs, enforcement of the School Pupils Act, which requires immunization for school and daycare attendance, ‘no family doctor’ clinics for immunization of children five or younger beginning with one clinic a month in July, and annual fridge inspections at all pharmacies and physician offices for vaccine storage and handling for the universal influenza immunization program and the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

Epidemiology report

Bocking said health unit staff continue to coordinate the ongoing roll-out of COVID19 vaccinations across all three geographic regions of the health unit.

She said many municipal, community and health sector partners are supporting the roll-out through multiple avenues.

As of June 10, Bocking reported that the health unit had engaged in 98 different mass immunization clinics, 56 mobile clinics directed towards vulnerable populations and other congregate care settings, delivered first and second dose clinics for 20 longterm care homes and first and second dose clinics for 21 retirement homes.

Bocking also shared that the health unit is attempting to maximize the amount of vaccine distributed to each health unit clinic through efficient administration, maximizing vaccine uptake in priority populations by reducing barriers to clinic participation and maximizing vaccine uptake by addressing vaccine confidence and by engaging community leaders and partners in clinic planning and implementation.

“The objectives (of our clinics) are to help achieve the desired vaccine coverage rate and minimize the mortality and morbidity associated with COVID-19.”

Wilberforce celebrates tight bond of small school

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Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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By Kirk Winter

Wilberforce Elementary School kicked off the first of five local public school graduations June 16, culminating in the graduation at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School June 29.

Wilberforce hosted a virtual service for its seven graduates, featuring words from principal Elaine Fournier, vice-principal Barb Davies, trustee Gary Brohman, home room teacher Jacob Findeis, educational assistant Tracey Nottage, valedictorian Zakary Pastor, each of the other graduating students and messages of support from younger schoolmates.

Fournier reminded students she has known them since they entered junior kindergarten 10 years ago.

“I know that all of you have great potential,” Fournier said. “It has been an honour and a privilege to have been part of your educational journey.”

In his valedictory address, Pastor talked about the many advantages of attending a small school, focusing on the tight bonds he has built with classmates.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” Pastor said. “I think the village of Wilberforce ES proves this. I would like to thank Mrs. Pergolas, Mr. Jessup, Ms. Nottage, Mr. Findeis, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Fournier, Mrs. Higgins and Mr. Plumb and our families who are always there for us.” Pastor concluded his address by reminding classmates of their classes’ motto saying, “It’s okay to not know but it’s not okay not to try,” and while he initially thought it was simply a motivational tool used by Mr. Findeis to get them to complete work, the more Pastor heard it the more he internalized it and understood what it meant.

Pastor suggested that while elementary school has taken a long time to complete, they are now off to bigger and better things next year at HHSS in what will hopefully be “a better 2021-2022 school year.”

Brohman offered the students “heartfelt congratulations. It wasn’t easy with 15 months of pandemic. There were many red lights before them but (the Wilberforce graduates) stepped up to the plate and achieved great things.”

Sculpting Haliburton’s summer streetscape

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Sam Gillett

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June 24, 2021

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Statues are back on Highland Street in Haliburton Village during Haliburton’s Downtown Sculpture exhibition.

The exhibition was put on pause last year. But the joint venture of the Haliburton BIA and Haliburton Sculpture Forest has again brought sculptors from around Ontario to show their work on the village’s main street.

“Haliburton is so much known for art, but you don’t necessarily see it on the main street,” said Jim Blake, curator of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest.

“It also is a way to connect the downtown with the sculpture forest,” Blake said. “[We] have thousands of visitors coming to the sculpture forest, and this is a connection of the two things as well.”

Each of six unique sculptures is for sale – in the past, some have been bought and donated to the sculpture forest. They’ll be in place on Highland Street until October 26.

Sculptures from around Ontario are represented this year. Mark Puigmarti, a blacksmith from Port Perry, is exhibiting an interactive sculpture called Art of Noise.

He forged the sculpture from an I-beam of metal.

“I wanted to create a custom piece that allows for interactive sound – just a fun piece,” Puigmarti said.

Viewers can hit a hanging shape similar to an xylophone to create music.

In front of Highland Street’s Rexall, Don Frost installed his sculpture, Depth. His creation, a twisted bronze shape with swoops and cut-outs used carbon fibre to shape Mylar film over fibre glass.

“It’s a spiritual experience,” Frost said. “It was built and analyzed as I went.”

Frost is an internationally-celebrated sculptor who has developed his practice since the age of six.

Four other artists, out of 29 entries, have work displayed on Highland Street.

Jennifer Kelly displays Take Flight in front of the Wind in the Willows; Eric Tardiff’s Parallel Composition is outside Glecoff’s Family Store; Robert Wehkamp’s Black Reflection is in front of Capturing Eden and Brett David is showing Athena on the corner of Highland and York Street.

For each artist, Blake is shooting a short video introduction of the sculpture and their creation instead of the usual launch celebration.

Each video will be available on the Haliburton Sculpture Forest website.

Blake said he was excited to gather sculptors in Haliburton once more.

“It’s so wonderful to see them – what’s even better for me is to get to meet the artist,” Blake said. “The fact that they have chosen to show their work here, that’s a real privilege.”

Land Trust clears way for advocacy work

By

Sam Gillett

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June 24, 2021

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The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) has developed an advocacy policy that they say will help guide the organization in environmental protection efforts.

At the HHLT’s virtual AGM on June 15, board members explained the new document which outlines how and when the Trust will get involved with issues, whether through media campaigns, public speaking, publishing research and more.

“The question had been raised: do we see a role for our organization, to take what we know about the importance of protecting wetlands and say something – bring that forward?” asked board member Jennifer Dailloux.

“Any sort of policy that could foreseeably have a detrimental impact, the board has agreed that we could explore getting involved,” Dailloux added.

Board member Joan Duhaime told HHLT members that with no official policy, it was difficult for the Land Trust to put advocacy to work.

“We kind of almost had to say ‘no’ until we had the policy,” Duhaime said.

While the board did not give specific details of any upcoming advocacy work, members of the HHLT and the public will be informed of projects, and only advocacy efforts endorsed by the board can be conducted under the HHLT.

Besides community interest, the policy is prompted by a change in Canadian Revenue Agency guidelines for registered charities.

Last November, CRA released revised regulations which allows charities to engage in lobbying, public policy dialogue and more, only if it is in line with the organization’s charitable purpose.

HHLT chairperson Shelley Hunt said while protection of local habitats is a foundational principle for the trust, the permission to formally advocate for or against policies “is just another tool in the toolkit.”

“Anything we decide as an organization that we’re going to get involved with, will be a board decision,” Hunt said.

Board members voiced enthusiasm for how the new policy could help shape protection efforts in the Highlands. “It will be an adventure but a good one for sure,” Dailloux said.

A pandemic review

HHLT has had a busy 2020: they opened Barnum Creek Nature Reserve and its seven kilometres of trails and received multiple grants and bursaries to assist with ongoing costs and capital projects.

While COVID-19 cancelled many in-person events, funds from grants totalling over $100,000 have been used to further the organization’s goal of preservation and education of the County’s ecosystems.

An RBC Foundation grant of $25,000 funded the mapping and evaluation of the Lochlin Wetland Complex. TD Friends of the Environment Foundation also provided money to run the HHLT’s Discovery Days virtual education programs.

The HHLT also was key in new protections for the ‘Highlands Corridor,’ consisting of wetlands between Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, Kawartha Highlands and Silent Lake Provincial Park.

An Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund grant will go towards redesigning the HHLT’s website and improving capacity for virtual programs.

Much of the trust’s fundraising went online this year.

“We had to adjust our plans to pandemic restrictions but managed to run successful fundraisers in 2020,” Hunt said.

She explained how sales of Barnum Creek and the Burnt River jigsaw puzzles, a new virtual “Rock our World” fundraiser and a near doubling in membership fees contributed to that success.

The HHLT also received support from local businesses and community organizations.

HCDC donated $6,700 for new gates at Barnum Creek Nature Reserve, Haliburton’s Rotary Club contributed $3,500 in donations in 2020 and Canoe FM bingo proceeds equalled $5,000.

“We’re very lucky to have strong support in the community,” Hunt said.

For a full report of the Land Trust’s activities, visit their website: haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Council votes down Crown land sale at Centre Lake

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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At its June 22 meeting, Highlands East council voted 3-1 against supporting a planning amendment to allow the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to consider the disposition of Crown land along the shoreline of Centre Lake.

Two landowners have submitted applications to the MNRF requesting the disposition of a 200-foot Crown reserve, one for the proposed Granite Shores resort and wellness spa.

The decision-making on Crown land will ultimately fall to the MNRF, though the municipality can provide feedback and would have a role in subsequent planning approvals if the land is disposed of.

In a recorded vote at Tuesday’s meeting, Councillors Cam McKenzie, Ruth Strong and Suzanne Partridge voted against, while deputy mayor Cec Ryall was the lone supporter. Mayor Dave Burton did not have to vote because it was not a tie.

Planner Chris Jones had recommended support, “on condition that any future disposition by the Ministry require municipal consideration and input with respect to options aimed at preserving the shoreline to the most reasonable extent possible as well as public access to Centre Lake.”

McKenzie foreshadowed the vote result when he told council, “I’ve had numerous inputs from residents both in person and by phone and only one has been pro so I will be asking for a recorded vote.”

Partridge concurred, saying “I have great concerns about the ministry disposing of the Crown land around Centre Lake. It’s a unique and really valuable resource to our local residents, both seasonal and permanent residents. It’s very well used by kayakers, and canoers and fisher people and I can’t support us supporting the sale of this land.”

Ryall asked numerous questions about the disposition, including the township’s role in ensuring environmental protections.

He said he understood council’s struggles with the file since there were residents in favour and against. He said his main concern was the environment.

“If these people were crazy enough to go through this process, which looks to me is going to cost more than a dollar and a half and it’s going to take a block of time, I have no problem with a registered vote and I will be voting in favour of it.”

During a township-led public consultation April 27, IBI Group planner, Julia Redfearn, representing Granite Shores, said they had prepared studies and assessments. She said the resort and spa could bring $450,000 annually to the municipality in property taxes alone and is willing to work with council and the public to refine the conceptual plan. She also said the development will go ahead with or without Crown land.