Tashlin and Williams: ‘people we ought to look up to’

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June 24, 2021

Dysart et al will begin fundraising for two new murals on the A.J. LaRue Rrena which celebrate the achievements of Haliburton athletic heroes.

It’s the conclusion of a student-led fight for inclusion of Lesley Tashlin and Taly Williams, two athletes from Haliburton who achieved success at the national level.

Students from J.D. Hodgson Elementary School wrote a letter to Mayor Andrea Roberts in March 2021, explaining how the accomplishments of the siblings, who are Black, merited a spot on the arena’s wall of murals.

“I feel a lot of pride, in terms of our school and in terms of our community,” said Mike van den Hengel, a teacher at J.D.H. and member of the sub-committee which developed the guidelines through the cultural resources committee.

On June 22, council accepted a report from the committee, which included two students. The finalized report seeks to “remove any barriers to inclusion” on the mural wall. That includes formalized criteria for athlete selection and their connection to the community.

Marina Thomazo, the teacher whose class began the effort to recognize the two athletes, said the resolution also was a recognition of the students’ hard work.

“It’s because there were hurdles – that’s when the resilience kicked in,” Thomazo said. “It’s the hurdles that led the class to something more rewarding at the end.”

Principal David Waito said he was proud of the way students pushed for change, but the focus is on the future: two athletic heroes will be properly recognized.

“It’s important to remember this is about Taly [Williams] and Lesley [Tashlin], to remind us of what role models they are,” Waito said. “Beyond the athletic achievements that they have, they’re people that we all ought to look up to.”

In a video presented to council, students explained how they were inspired by the achievements of Williams and Tashlin.

Tashlin is the first Haliburton resident to compete for Canada, entering the 100-metre hurdles and 4 x 100 metre relay race at the 1996 Olympics. Williams played defense for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamiliton Tiger Cats from 1994-1996. They both broke multiple sporting records at HHSS.

Jim Blake, chair of the cultural resources committee, explained how both athletes met “all of the criteria” that the committee established for inclusion on the arena’s wall.

“Given that these individuals are and were eminently qualified to be honoured as sports heroes on the mural wall,” Blake said, “it was recommended that they be immediately approved for recognition on the mural wall.”

Roberts said she was impressed with the speed at which the committee returned to council with a full report and recommendations.

“This has been well thought out, well talked about and taken extremely seriously,” Roberts said. She also thanked the Grade 7 and 8 students who jumpstarted the process.

“We are righting a wrong that was overlooked,” Roberts said.

Across Canada, the story made waves with athletes and athletic news outlets. Former CFL star Pinball Clemons wrote a letter in support of the students’ campaign, and in May, Athletics Canada published an article about the effort.

Currently, all athletes depicted on the arena are white males: NHLers Bernie Nicholls, Ron Stackhouse, Matt Duchene, Cody Hodgson and CFLer Mike Bradley.

According to council, information about donations for the murals will be available to the public in the coming weeks.

Councillor questions future of Haliburton arena

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Lisa Gervais

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June 24, 2021

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Dysart Coun. John Smith’s suggestion that Haliburton might not need an arena in future drew immediate retaliation from fellow councillor and former NHL hockey player, Walt McKechnie.

During a recent council meeting, there was a discussion about raising ice rental fees by three per cent in September 2021, and possibly three per cent in the fall of 2022.

Dysart’s recreation co-ordinator, Andrea Mueller, said the Highland Storm Minor Hockey Association, which had seen registrations decline and taken “a hit” during COVID, told council with a larger than three per cent increase, the Storm “might have to fold the organization.”

But Smith said he’d be reluctant to set a three per cent expectation for 2022.

“Maybe it will need to be more. The reality is that this arena costs a lot of money. And there’s very few people in our community that actually make use of it.”

He said one council objective is the assessment of a recreation complex after a private donation of land across from the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre.

“But maybe our future has a rec complex across the parking lot [from the township of Dysart offices] where the arena is currently located,”

Smith said “Maybe there won’t always be an arena.” Smith said Dysart et al is spending more than half-a-million dollars on the arena annually.

‘Outrageous’ to consider closing arena

“It is probably the only facility in town that costs that much money. And when you look at it on a per user basis, because again, registration is down, most of our community is never inside the hockey arena on the ice surface.”

Smith said it’s council’s responsibility to determine how taxpayers’ dollars are allocated and, “whether we’re putting it in the right place.”

He said ice rental fees had not increased since 2018 and if minor hockey and other users can only afford three per cent “our costs are going up more than that. That’s why the facility is costing us over half-a-million.” McKechnie instantly responded.

“To me, that statement is just the kiss of death to a community, if you get rid of the arena.”

He said young families are having a tough time during the pandemic and registering for hockey might not be a priority.

“They’re worried about putting food on the table. We’re going through a really tough time here with this pandemic.” He said to even be thinking about closing the arena is “outrageous. I definitely would 100 per cent not be in favour of that.”

Storm ‘not at risk of folding’

Highland Storm president, Amanda Manning, said the organization thought a three per cent increase was “fair.” However, larger increases would have a direct impact on the association’s bottom line and the cost of registrations, which could affect families’ abilities to sign up.

However, she said “I don’t think we’re at risk of folding.”

She conceded there had been a decrease in registrations over the years, but said it was “slight.” She added that COVID had impacted numbers since the winter of 2020. During COVID, she said they had about 200 players, down from about 250.

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association, of which the Storm is part, announced a first of its kind registration drive June 14, aimed at bringing kids back post-COVID.

“Hockey is as Canadian as maple syrup. It’s in our blood. We never had to market the game before to kids in Ontario. But we recognize it is no longer a given kids are going to play hockey,” OMHA executive director Ian Taylor said.

McKechnie said it might require a community effort to put the spark back into hockey, with himself and other former NHLers helping to market the sport.

“Whether they’re boys and girls, men’s leagues, ladies’ leagues, hockey is a great game. Haliburton’s got a great history here. It just breaks my heart to think that someone would even think about closing our arena.”

He said not many communities make money or break even on arenas. “It’s part of a service that brings people here.

“And that arena has had a lot of great times. Right now, it’s kind of in a bad state. I think a lot has to do with COVID. Hockey has gone down a bit in the last few years. I think that the great hockey players that have been here, Bernie (Nicholls) and Ron (Stackhouse) and Matt (Duchene) and Cody (Hodgson) and an old guy like me, we could do more to try to promote it, get people out playing again. It breaks my heart to think about even closing that arena.”

Haliburton County, with a permanent population of 18,000 people, has three arenas. In addition to the A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton, there is the newly-refurbished S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden. It will be home to the new Haliburton County Huskies. There is also the Keith Tallman Memorial Arena in Wilberforce.

Family loses home in June 22 fire

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Lisa Gervais

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June 23, 2021

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A family has lost its home in West Guilford following an early morning, June 22, fire.

Dysart et al fire chief, Mike Iles, said his department was paged out for the structure fire on Kennisis Lake Road at 7:28 am. Twenty firefighters and six fire trucks responded.

“Upon arrival, there was flame and smoke coming from the roof of a single storey house.” Iles said.

He said firefighters contained the fire and returned to the fire hall at 11:04 am.

Although the fire was quickly contained, the house and contents were extensively damaged, and there was smoke and water damage.

The occupants were alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm and safely exited the building. There were no injuries to the occupants or firefighters.

The house will be a total loss of $300,000.

The fire is still under investigation.

“Once again. this is proof that smoke alarms save lives, please ensure that all smoke alarms are tested regularly and replaced once they expire,” Iles said.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been established to help the family.

It is under Help Gayle’s personal emergency fundraiser, and hopes to raise $25,000.

“My daughter’s family home burned this morning,” it reads. “The seven-year-old saved the four-year-old be escorting him quickly away from the fire area out the front door. My littlest hero … They also need a new place to live in Haliburton Highlands.”

Weekly artisans market returns to Minden

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Sam Gillett

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June 19, 2021

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By Sam Gillett

On Saturday June 19, creative makers displayed their goods for the first time this year at the Minden artisan’s market.

Returning and new vendors alike 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 and stuff like this.”

Despite the chance to chat with customers, the market looks different this year, with a capacity of 10 spaced-out vendors. “There will be COVID protocols in place like a defined entrance and exit, one-way travel through the market, social distancing etc.,” said Township of Minden Hills community development coordinator, Elisha Weiss, in a prior interview with The Highlander.

This year, artisans are located beside the farmer’s 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. On Saturday, 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 each Saturday until Thanksgiving weekend, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

With files from Lisa Gervais

Bradley brought the Grey Cup home

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Lisa Gervais

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June 18, 2021

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Former Canadian Football League (CFL) player Mike Bradley said it’s “a big honour” to be named to the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame.

In an interview, he said Haliburton is special to him.

“The people and the community as a whole have played such a big part in my success athletically and who I am today,” the sergeant with the Durham Regional Police added.

The Hall of Fame committee said Bradley’s road to becoming a two-time Grey Cup Champion is inspirational.

“He overcame the perception that he was too small (at 5’8) for football with strength, speed, dedication and a big heart,” they said.

He played for the Red Hawks where he set virtually every school record, including a 379-yard rushing game and a 110-yard punt return in 1995.

At the University of Waterloo, Bradley was starting tailback, earned league MVP, was a finalist for the Hec Creighton Award, and led the Warriors to the Yates Cup. His university football career included school records of 3,773 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns. He won First Team All Canadian twice and was inducted into the university’s hall of fame.

In 2002, he was signed as a free-agent by the then Edmonton Eskimos (the team has been renamed the Edmonton Elks), and given a last-minute invitation to their training camp. He became a fan favourite in Edmonton. In six years with the CFL, Bradley played in two victorious Grey Cup games, 2003 and 2005. He was especially proud to bring the Grey Cup home to Haliburton County, sharing it with friends, family and fans, the hall committee said.

He retired in 2008.

“Initially, I don’t think I even realized how fortunate I was to play in two Grey Cups in my first two seasons, and then return to another Grey Cup later in my career,” Bradley said. “Our Grey Cup win in 2003 was the first championship I’d ever won at any level, in any sport, so it will always be the one I cherish the most and have the fondest memories of.

“Returning to Haliburton with the Grey Cup for a few days was a must for me. It gave me a chance to celebrate the victory with so many of the people that helped get me there, and have them be a part of it.”

Bradley and his family now live in the Oshawa area but have a cottage on Koshlong Lake.

The police officer said there are many similarities between football and policing.

“In policing, we work 12-hour-plus shifts most days, so sometimes it seems like we spend more time with our co-workers than we do our family. The same can be said for football or any high-level sport really. During the season, the time constraints are enormous and not overly family-oriented. So, both in sport and policing, you need an extremely understanding and supportive family to be successful.”

He added there are also highs and lows.

“Both are careers that until you actually play the game or do the job you will never fully understand. In both careers, you do things that most people are not willing to do. You rely heavily on your teammates/ platoon mates for support.

“You quickly realize that the more effectively you work with your teammates / platoon mates the more successful as a whole you will be. We may measure success differently in football such as in wins and losses, where in policing we measure success based on community safety and coming home safely to our families. Regardless, in both venues you tend to be only as good as the person next to you. But both have a sense of camaraderie that unless you are a part of it, you won’t understand it.”

Report hopes to advance shoreline debate

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Lisa Gervais

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June 18, 2021

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Watersheds Canada has released a report addressing barriers municipal officials and cottage associations cite in addressing shoreline sustainability.

The environmental organization released “The Future of Our Shores” last month. The report outlines responses from three different stakeholder surveys involving more than 160 people, including planners, lake associations and municipal representatives. Interview subjects – including those from Haliburton County – answered questions on what they saw as the largest issues in implementing environmental protections of shorelines.

The study found a lack of education, effective policies, and development pressures as problems. Haliburton’s The Land Between founder Leora Berman – who worked on the report’s steering committee – said the information applies locally, including to the heated debate around a proposed shoreline bylaw.

“I see what happened in Haliburton as a major breakdown in communication, and I’m hoping that this information could actually quell some of the fires,” Berman said. “The relationships in this municipality need to be healed.”

Haliburton County’s proposed shoreline bylaw, which would restrict development within 30 metres of shorelines, has been hotly contested. The County opted to delay it and has a consulting firm take over the process.

The report included interviews with more than 50 lake associations, 23 planners and 44 politicians. The lake associations identified “a lack of education, understanding, or awareness” and “unsustainable attitudes and practices” most often as the biggest hurdles towards lake stewardship. Seventy-four per cent identified property owners as having insufficient understanding, while 57 per cent said they had unsustainable attitudes.

Municipal officials identified a lack of financial resources and competing interests as the largest barriers to shoreline stewardship. Whereas many municipal officials felt economic and environmental interests were equal in land-use decisions (42 per cent), 56 per cent of planners felt municipalities were favouring economic interests.

Watersheds Canada executive director Barbara King said she hopes the information might advance the conversation.

“Everybody cares about the health of our lakes,” King said. “What we’re finding is a huge disconnect between people’s values and their actions.”

The survey offered some ideas such as a “shoreland network” where stakeholders share ideas and experience, with 83 per cent of municipal representatives indicating that would be “very useful” or “somewhat useful.”

King said the organization hopes to create a web portal to facilitate such a concept. She added seasonal residents are sold a vision of cottage life that needs adjusting.

“That pristine kind of environment, where they have grass to the water’s edge … without a weed in sight,” King said. “We need imagery around natural is beautiful.”

Berman said there can be a compromise between creating naturalized shorelines and carefully landscaped ones.

“There are subtle nuances in this municipality now that need to be ironed out,” Berman said. “What we’re doing is providing the science and the skills. But healing the relationships is still going to be up to the people in the community.”

Youth encouraged to get vaccinated

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 18, 2021

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The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is encouraging people aged 12 to 17 to get vaccinated against COVID-19 during June.

Based on the province’s schedule for second doses, youth vaccinated this month will be eligible to receive their second dose in August, ensuring they are fully vaccinated when school resumes in September, the health unit said on June 11.

“While it’s important for people of all ages to be vaccinated against COVID-19, we want to ensure that our young people are fully protected before heading back to class in the fall,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the HKPR District Health Unit.

Youth are encouraged to book an appointment at any of the health unit’s immunization clinics. Appointments must be booked through the provincial booking system. Some local pharmacies may also provide youth vaccinations and should be contacted directly to book appointments. As well, primary health care providers may also offer vaccinations to their younger patients and their families.

Assessment centre COVID update

The positive rate for COVID-19 continues to trend downwards in Haliburton County, however 100 per cent of positive cases are now for variants of concern (VOC).

The latest report, issued June 9, found the positivity rate for the period May 17-28 was 1.29 per cent. That is down from the May 3-14 rate of 5.31 per cent. The number of average tests completed each week was also down to just 78.

“Although the overall number of COVID19 positive cases are declining, it is critical that public health measures continue to be followed in order to help prevent further spread of the virus and the VOCs, particularly as the province moves ahead with its roadmap to reopen plan. These measures include frequent handwashing, wearing a face mask in public spaces, and maintaining physical distancing,” the report said.

They also stressed the need for people in the community to get vaccinated.

Patient records improved

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), along with six other hospital organizations representing 14 hospitals in Ontario’s central east region, are partnering to deliver a new, digital clinical information system (CIS), HHHS said in a news release.

“For the first time in central east Ontario, patients and their entire care team will have real-time access to each patient’s health information in one place,” said Carolyn Plummer, HHHS President and CEO.

She added the CIS “will dramatically improve the ways patients and health professionals communicate with each other, supporting them to make the best possible decisions about each individual’s treatment and care.”

The seven partner hospital organizations participating in this major health care initiative are: Campbellford Memorial Hospital, HHHS, Lakeridge Health, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Ross Memorial Hospital and Scarborough Health Network.

“This unprecedented partnership will substantially improve the patient experience by supporting patients throughout their transitions between organizations and services,” added Plummer. “This is of tremendous value for a small rural health care provider such as HHHS with so many patients receiving care provided by our regional partners.”

She said another feature is patient access to a user-friendly and secure portal called MyChart to view their health information and upcoming appointments

PSW program coming to secondary school in the fall

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 18, 2021

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By Kirk Winter

Plans are underway for Haliburton Highlands Secondary School to offer a self-contained personal support worker program starting in September 2021.

Interested individuals have until July 2 to apply for one of the 15 positions available in the first intake of potential PSWs this fall.

The PSW program involves 12 weeks of classes where students have the opportunity to earn three high school credits. Classes offer experiential learning, providing the students with a better understanding of the requirements for a PSW career. Students then move to a workplace placement of eight weeks where three additional cooperative education high school credits may be earned.

The program began in Lindsay in February 2020. It placed 20 students at two long-term care homes in Kawartha Lakes. A number of the students have offers of fulltime work once they successfully write their exam June 28.

Lisa Uuldricks, principal of the Adult and Alternative Education center in Haliburton, shared with the school board at its meeting June 8 the success of the pilot program in Lindsay and plans for Haliburton.

“We hope to have two intakes for the program next year, one in September and one in February,” Uuldricks said.

She said they plan to have 20 students a semester in Lindsay and 15 in Haliburton. They are in the process of hiring an instructor for the Haliburton location and will be placing students at three local care homes in Haliburton County.

“We hope to provide students with the skills to offer compassionate care,” she said.

The program won’t be expanded to Muskoka yet, since, “We don’t want to saturate the market with graduates, and we realize we have a niche market in Lindsay and Haliburton where there is no college currently offering the program,” Uuldricks said.

Trustee John Byrne said, “This is an excellent and much-needed program. What we offer to students is as good as anything the colleges provide.”

Trustee Don Alton wondered specifically about the window for sign ups, and was told that they began June 14 and end July 2 for the HHSS one. Students will be selected after interviews are completed and reference checks done.

Two subjects per day new norm at high school

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 18, 2021

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By Kirk Winter

High school students in Haliburton County will see a significant change in their school day when they return in the fall.

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) has opted to move from octomesters, where students take one class a day, all day, for 22 days, to quadmesters, where they will take one class in the morning and one class in the afternoon every day for 44 days.

Director of Education, Wes Hahn, shared the September return to school plan with trustees at the June 8 regular board meeting.

“Quadmestering of this kind has been recommended by the ministry,” Hahn said, “Cohorting has been relaxed by both the ministry and the board of health, making this move possible.”

Hahn told trustees registration for 2021- 2022 is complete. The board is going ahead with setting up classes, finalizing course selections, and staffing for the new school year, realizing budget restraints will slow the process and it, “will take time to match students and teachers together,” Hahn said.

The board expects approximately 16,300 students, with 15,600 in brick-and-mortar schools and 688 in some kind of virtual instruction. That virtual number includes 293 secondary and 391 elementary students.

Hahn expects the virtual numbers to decrease between now and August. “We expect the rollout of vaccines over the summer to impact those virtual numbers. As more staff and students get vaccinated it will have a dramatic effect on what September looks like.”

Hahn told trustees he had been asked when schools would be back “to normal.”

“That will be subject to the number of cases of COVID the system is facing,” Hahn said.

Hahn added the board’s priority from the beginning of the outbreak has been to keep students and staff safe. With that in mind, September 2021 will look very much like September 2020, with masking and enhanced cleaning protocols still the order of the day at all board sites.

“We continue to upgrade ventilation systems in our buildings,” Hahn said, “increasing airflow while at the same time decreasing heating and electrical costs.”

Trustee John Byrne sought specifics about how varied on-line learning options could be, particularly at the secondary panel, with so few students opting for virtual learning.

Superintendent of Learning, Katherine MacIver, said, “All courses will not be available. If enough students do not sign up for a specific course, they won’t run. There will be limitations in the virtual world.”

Byrne wondered if high school level technology or hospitality courses would be available virtually, something that appears unlikely.

MacIver added, “Students will not have the option for blended programming (a hybrid of both in-school and virtual learning).”

Creatives team up for new art event

By

Sam Gillett

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June 17, 2021

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This weekend, June 19-20, Glass Eagle Studios and Creative Garden Centre is hosting its first ever “Art in the Garden” event.

Six local artisans will be showcasing pottery, acrylic painting, stained glass – even leatherwork – in a lush garden near Haliburton.

Studio owner Tom Green said he hopes the event can be a bright spot in a difficult year for artisans.

“It’s just a way for us to let people know we’re still alive,” Green said.

“Art doesn’t stop because of the pandemic.”

After COVID-19 forced art show, festival and studio tour cancellations, Green himself was forced to find creative ways to stay in business.

Now, as well as running a renowned stained-glass workshop, he operates a small garden centre out of his studio.

Without the added business, Green said, “we’d be sitting here dead.”

He then invited five other artisans from across the County and beyond to join him for the upcoming showcase – his garden is large enough to easily space people and booths out.

Charlene McConnell who runs Purple Door Pottery Studio, will be selling everything from serving platters to garden ornaments – all crafted by hand.

Other than two studio partnerships, she hasn’t had a chance to share her work with others in person since before March 2020.

“It’s really nice to be able to talk to people – to find out the kinds of things people enjoy,” McConnell said. “It’s really pleasant to feel [COVID-19] lifting – to be able to get out again.”

Whether it’s the vibrant landscape paintings of Jane Selbie, or the intricate glass creations of Green, he said the event is more than just a chance to purchase handmade goods: it’s a statement about the health of the arts in Haliburton County.

“We are here, we’re not going anywhere,” Green said. “We’re artists who are going to keep making our product.”

After a year creating, often in solitude, many artists will be selling new work. McConnell explained how she had the chance to experiment with different coloured glazes this past year: a normal calendar year is filled with shows, tours and bustling summer tourism traffic.

“Perhaps that’s the silver lining,” she said.

Alongside Art in the Garden, artists and artisans will have more chances to show work as restrictions ease.

On June 19, Minden Hills is running its first artisan market, and the Haliburton County Tour de Forest studio tour is set to kick off later this summer.

For artists such as Green and McConnell, that is encouraging news.

“You keep creating, you keep making new product and you want to show it, you got to show it to people,” Green said.

“Art in the Garden” runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 19 and 20, at Glass Eagle Studios and Creative Garden Centre. The gallery is located at 2801 Blairhampton Rd.