County moves on service delivery

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June 3, 2021

County of Haliburton staff will assemble a working group to undertake a review of waste management practices.

They’ll also research options aimed at greater efficiencies.

It was just one of several suggestions in a service delivery review follow-up report by CAO Mike Rutter to a May 26 council meeting.

Rutter said the waste management working group will report back to council before the end of the year.

The future of landfills and transfer stations was just one item in a comprehensive report tabled by Rutter addressing next steps in the review.

Consultant StrategyCorp identified waste services as one of 12 highpriority initiatives for efficiencies in its final report released in November 2020. It said there were opportunities “to meet the needs of residents at a lower cost for communities.”

It suggested coordinating approaches to large waste policy and operational challenges with potential direct savings of $25,000. It also said Dysart and Highlands East could trim $25,000 each via a shared services agreement for Mumford Road and Harcourt landfills.

StrategyCorp also called for standardized waste policies.

“I’d really like to take waste management up to the County,” Coun. Pat Kennedy said. “If we had a little more volume with our neighbours, we might be able to get a better contracted price.”

“It’s an issue that urgently needs to be addressed,” said Coun. Cecil Ryall. “Eventually we can only shove so much stuff under the rug.”

Multiple councillors were enthusiastic about waste management streamlining – and exploring new technology that could allow incineration.

Warden Liz Danielsen said a goal of any work on waste management systems should aim to reduce confusion about where and how to get rid of waste.

“I see this as one of the more complicated issues we’re looking at,” Danielsen said.

Rutter also tackled fire, coordinated building, septic, and bylaw service efficiencies in his report.

While fire services across the County already collaborate extensively, Rutter said County staff will coordinate with fire chiefs to better understand possible needs for fire training and equipment sharing.

Haliburton’s CAOs suggested that building, septic and bylaw services are a top priority as a growing population means a flurry of building activity in the Highlands.

“This is one area where we hear a level of urgency, because of how busy our community has become,” Rutter said.

The StrategyCorp report outlines multiple ideas to tackle planning and bylaw: integrating municipal operations or centralizing them.

Rutter said County staff will consult with lower-tier municipal departments and come back with recommendations.

Many suggestions from the report, Rutter said, rely on the County integrating the way all four lowertier municipalities get materials and services, or centralized procurement.

For example, road construction, engineering and maintenance would require a collaborative budgetmaking process across the County’s municipalities.

“The goal would be to determine which projects are key to start on before 2022 budgeting begins,” Rutter said.

Many other processes which the report outlined, such as shared IT services, are already underway, Rutter said.

StrategyCorp also suggested hiring an economic development officer and County council has already approved that position and a job posting is currently in circulation.

Since the report’s suggestions cover nearly all areas of County operations, making changes and streamlining services across all four municipalities means a lot of work.

Danielsen said council should focus on completing the steps outlined by Rutter and StrategyCorp in a sustainable and measured way.

“Some of this work will take longer than others,” said Danielsen. “We just want to be making slow and steady progress.”

StrategyCorp estimated the County could save $900,000 in annual operating costs and $200,000 if staffing procedures were centralized and streamlined. After receiving the report, County council directed Rutter to report on timelines for each suggestion.

For the report from the county’s CAOs, visit haliburtoncounty.ca/ council

Camps prepare for uncertain summer

By

Sam Gillett

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June 3, 2021

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Camp Medeba is getting ready for summer camp. Though camp this year – like last year – will look quite different.

Instead of groups of kids, families will be renting out the West Guilford camp’s cabins and lodges. And any registered campers will be exploring Medeba’s adventure activities as part of outdoor-only day camp groups.

While Premier Doug Ford announced on May 16 that summer camps across the province could open this summer, Medeba said business as usual wasn’t a realistic option.

“If overnight camp was not going to be allowed – or even if it was – we determined that we better be safe than sorry,” said Steve Archibald, executive director of Camp Medeba. “We decided that we better do something for certain that we’ll be able to do, rather than wait to be able to do something that might be able to happen.”

Besides a 21-page draft document, there are currently no finalized health protocols and procedures for overnight camps in Ontario.

Since Medeba hosts about 225 kids each week during the summer, as well as many school and church retreats during the year, the camp needs time to plan and prepare programs and registration. Archibald said that his team decided re-hiring staff, training, and firming up COVID-19 protocols would be too much to do before camp begins.

Challenging year for Medeba, Wanakita

Not to mention that Medeba’s summer programs are usually full by the beginning of May.

“We were sad, and it was a difficult decision,” said Archibald. “There’s nothing else like overnight camp – the things you experience. It’s an incredible experience in their lives.”

But family camp, and an extended day camp program, will take centre stage.

Families will have the chance to do activities like archery, swimming and mountain biking. There will be a takeout food service from the dining hall and Medeba’s staff are working to prepare picnic tables and barbecues for each cabin.

So far, Archibald says the summer is looking promising: their day camp is booking fast and one-third of the cabins are booked for the summer.

“We’re just thrilled we can do something,” said Archibald. “This has been great from that perspective.”

Camp Wanakita, on Koshlong Lake, also decided to cancel overnight camp.

“We need quite a bit of runway time,” said Andy Gruppe, Wanakita’s general manager. “There’s a lot of things we need to start planning for much early in the year.”

He said Wanakita was in the process of onboarding summer staff for this season – they usually hire about 200 seasonal workers – but uncertainty about COVID restrictions made that impossible.

“The staff needed to know if they had jobs or if they needed to make the call if we were going to be able to operate,” said Gruppe.

Both Archibald and Gruppe said that the draft guidance protocols for summer camps look effective. Those include cohorting, masking, and a safety plan each camp must submit to their health authorities.

But to put those rules in place last minute, “wasn’t something that we could necessarily do,” said Gruppe.

Now, families can come for a physically distanced “Wanakita Family Lodge” where families stay and play in their own groups.

It’s been a difficult year financially for both Wanakita and Medeba. Archibald said that without school groups and other year around guests, as well as no overnight camp, they’ve lost an average of $100,000 a month in revenue.

But the camp’s extended community has pitched in: he says a community fundraiser has raised over $400,000 to bridge the “COVID divide.”

Hockey camp a go

While most large camps have made the choice to halt overnight camp this summer, certain smaller camps like Camp Hockey Haven, on Kashagawigamog Lake, are able to pivot quicker to new health guidance if it arises.

“We’re smaller, it’s easily adaptable for us,” said Troy Binnie, owner of the sports development camp.

While he said not knowing what would be allowed for so long was frustrating, he understands how the spike in COVID cases in April caused indecision.

“Things were getting out of control,” he said.

Camp Hockey Haven will enforce cohorting – grouping campers together for their whole stay – as well as masking and distancing.

“I think the kids have had a lousy year: physically, mentally,” said Binnie. “All they’ve been told is ‘you can’t do this; you can’t do that.’

“The benefit outweighs the risk,” he said. Nation-wide, experts are sounding the alarm over the impact COVID-19 has had on children’s mental health. In a recent Study by SickKids, 70 per cent of children surveyed reported a drastic dip in mental health over the past year.

Just like Archibald and Gruppe, Binnie said doing camp – even if it will look different this year – gives kids a shot at some sort of normalcy.

“It’s getting away from your parents, getting away from video screens, getting away from the news and just being a kid,” said Binnie.

In an emailed statement, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, outlined how camps will be permitted to reopen in stages: step 1 would see day camps opening on June 14. Step 2 would allow overnight camps to reopen in early July.

“Upon opening, day camps and overnight camps would have to follow certain rules and requirements to prevent COVID-19,” wrote Bernie Mayer, the unit’s health protection manager. “The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is currently working with local recreational camps to outline what is required.”

HHHS takes ‘cautious approach’ to recovery

By

Lisa Gervais

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June 3, 2021

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The hospital board’s top doctor said while the County is not completely out of the woods yet when it comes to the pandemic, “everyone is breathing slightly easier.”

Dr. Steve Ferracuti, interim co-chief of staff for the Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), spoke at the May 28 board meeting.

Discussing a drop in COVID-19 positive cases across the province, combined with increasing vaccination rates, Dr. Ferracuti said, “we are going to be continuing our cautious approach, retaining precautions in patient-facing activities but I think we’re hoping that we can lighten up some of the barriers to a certain extent.”

The doctor said they were relieved that the two County hospitals in Haliburton and Minden avoided having to take in critically-ill patients from other, larger, Ontario hospitals whose intensive care units were overwhelmed with COVID patients.

HHHS CEO Carolyn Plummer said there were only two transfers to a County hospital and both patients had now returned to their home communities.

Dr. Ferracuti said it was something they had “feared.”

“The provincial modeling had predicted that this was almost a certainty to come to pass at every hospital with respect to ICU admissions and every hospital with respect to transfers to hospitals,” he said.

Residents say they’re doing their part

“Very thankfully that has not occurred yet and hopefully the current numbers and the increasing vaccination rate will help us avoid that scenario for this pandemic completely.”

Plummer said HHHS remains ready to assist and are prepared to receive patient transfers as needed to help their health system partners, while keeping a close eye on local numbers.

Speaking to County statistics, Dr. Ferracuti referenced assessment centre reports, saying although numbers are dropping locally, virtually all the positive cases in the County have been the UK variant.

During her board report, Plummer said HHHS is planning for reduced COVID-19 restrictions as the province recovers from the third pandemic wave – while remaining cautious. She outlined the province’s roadmap to reopening expected to commence midJune.

“Here at HHHS, we are taking a very cautious approach to restrictions. At the moment, we’re maintaining all of the restrictions that we’ve had in place over the past many months but we are starting to look at some triggers for when me may start to move some of those at least,” she said.

For example, she referenced the separation between the hospitals and long-term care homes. She said they are monitoring staff vaccination rates to determine timing to remove restrictions. She said staff are looking forward to working with each other again.

However, she added, “There is still a lot of concern out there regarding where this pandemic has the potential to go.” She said while trends are positive and they are starting to feel a bit of relief, they are aware of the new variants of concern, including the one that has emerged out of India, and its effect worldwide including a fourth wave in Japan.

Meanwhile, at the Minden COVID clinic June 1, Kyrsten Dove said she felt better after getting her first shot. “I feel like I have protection,” she said.

Steven Gilbert added he got a vaccine as his mother is immunocompromised and works in long term care. As a young child, he said he also dealt with lung issues. “I feel a bit better that I am helping in some way.”

Stay-at-home order lifted, so now what?

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Lisa Gervais

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June 1, 2021

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According to the province, all other existing measures will remain in place provincewide, including restrictions on gatherings, businesses, services and activities.

This includes limiting indoor gatherings to households only and outdoor gatherings to up to five people, subject to limited exceptions, maintaining a cap of 25 per cent capacity for essential retail where only certain goods are permitted to be sold, restricting non-essential retail to curbside pickup and delivery only, as well as limiting short-term rentals to individuals in need of housing and allowing Ontario Parks and campgrounds on public lands to be used for day-use only, subject to limited exceptions.

Ontarians will be able to leave home to travel within the province to a secondary residence for any reason, however, they are not be permitted to host members of another household indoors except for a person from another household who lives alone or a caregiver.

Man charged with impaired driving of commercial vehicle

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 29, 2021

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Haliburton Highlands OPP say they arrested and charged the driver of a commercial vehicle after a May 28 accident on Highway 35, near Clear Lake Road.

Police said today (May 29) they were called to the site about 3:10 p.m. Friday.

They said the initial investigation revealed that a northbound commercial motor vehicle crossed over into the southbound lane and entered the ditch, striking a rock wall.

The driver, and lone occupant, was transported to hospital with minor injuries.

As a result of the investigation, a 52-year-old Minden Hills man was arrested and charged with: operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) and careless driving.

The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden, on July 7, 2021. His driver’s licence was also suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven days.

OPP said, “educating the public about safe driving practices with our community safety partners is a priority. If you see a suspected impaired driver, please “Make the Call” and dial 9-1-1 to save a life.

Haliburton Sports Hall of Fame’s big reveal

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Sam Gillett

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May 27, 2021

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After years of preparation, the Haliburton Sports Hall of Fame will reveal which local sporting heroes it will feature first on June 7.

“We’re really proud of the group that’s going to be announced,” Hall of Fame committee chairperson Scotty LaRue told Dysart et al council May 25.

The roster of 15 athletes, teams, and members of the sporting community will then receive recognition at a planned banquet on October 23.

Plaques, photos and memorabilia are set to cement each inductee’s place in the County’s sporting history at a planned temporary exhibit at the A.J. LaRue Arena. A small team of committed volunteers have been developing the project since 2018.

“We’ve been working on this for going on three years – we’re happy to say things are progressing very well,” said LaRue, a long-time member of Haliburton’s sporting community.

The Hall of Fame management committee has started to build a board of directors, developed a budget, secured sponsors, and fundraised throughout the community. They’ve also partnered with Dysart et al staff to plan the exhibit and secure charitable receipts for donations.

Deputy Mayor Pat Kennedy, a member of the Hall of Fame management committee, applauded the Hall’s commitment to local sporting heritage.

“I’ve just been astounded by the amount of effort this group has put into this project,” Kennedy said.

Board member Roger Trull told council members that the Haliburton community has been supportive of the project.

“The reception has been extremely positive,” Trull said, explaining how donations aid the construction of exhibits, future video projects and other costs related to outfitting the Hall of Fame’s temporary arena home.

Alongside a grant from the Haliburton County Community Co-operative, Minden Subaru and Curry Chevrolet GMC Buick have joined on as community sponsors.

As the Hall of Fame announces its first round of inductees, Trull said diversity will be a key priority.

“We spent a lot of time ensuring the inductees will be reflective of the entire County, and multiple sports,” said Trull.

A decade of smiles at Volunteer Dental Outreach

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 27, 2021

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With more than 1,000 patients getting more than $3 million in free dentistry, the Volunteer Dental Outreach (VDO) for Haliburton County marked 10 years in service May 19.

It was on that date in 2011 that VDO opened its doors to fill a need in the Highlands, said Lisa Kerr.

She said that from those humble beginnings, it has come a long way thanks to the enduring support of the community, a team of devoted volunteers and dental professionals, and many generous financial contributions.

Operating out of 739 Mountain St. in Haliburton, the VDO provides free, urgent dental care for low-income residents in the area. Kerr said that for many, the transformations have been life-changing, giving them the confidence to pursue employment opportunities and live without crippling pain.

She and Bill Kerr founded the VDO.

“We are so very proud of what everyone has accomplished through VDO,” they said.

“It never occurred to us that it would be as successful as it is. What started as an idea to see a few patients in our off-time quickly turned into operating a stand-alone dental office that runs several days per week.”

The Kerrs said none of it would be possible without dedicated dental professionals who volunteer their time, the board of directors and the people who show up annually to sponsor or play in the annual golf tournament fundraiser. They also highlighted a mentorship program with fourth year dental students from the University of Toronto, which has been beneficial for both soon-to-be graduates and the clinic’s patients.

“The greatest achievements of VDO would be consistently having caring and compassionate volunteers who not only agree to come look after patients but love coming to help people in need,” Lisa Kerr said.

She added the pandemic has thrown a curveball at the VDO. To adhere to updated protocols from the province, the clinic had to be retrofitted and safety devices purchased. This was all made possible with funding from the Haliburton County Development Corporation. Another big change was a partnership with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit to launch the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program for Haliburton County. It has enabled the team to double the number of patients they treat.

VDO board chair Janis Parker, who has also been involved from day one, said she’s very happy to be part of the cause.

“I consider the VDO the most impactful charity that I have been lucky enough to be part of,” Parker said. “I am so proud of what we have created for our community.”

She praised the Kerrs “Although it takes a community, it also takes visionaries,” she said.

Then HCDC vice-chair Peter Fredricks and assistant director Patti Tallman presented an
award to VDO board president Bill Kerr (seated) and other directors, from left, Lisa Kerr,
Mark Arike, Betty Mills, clinic manager Alana Bannister, Kathy Purc and Melanie Aldom in
this 2016 photo

COVID-19 taking toll on health unit staff

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 27, 2021

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by Kirk Winter

The pandemic’s impact on health unit staff is becoming a “real concern,” medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, told the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s May 20 meeting.

“Over 80 per cent of staff have been redeployed to support the COVID-19 response, many while also continuing to support other essential/critical services (mandated by) the Ontario Public Health Standards,” Bocking said.

Since March 2021, she said the human resource department has worked with a staffing agency to hire 50 additional temporary staff to support the COVID-19 response.

This represents a 35 per cent increase to the staff complement to support call centre, contact tracing, administration, and mass immunization clinics.

However, “despite the ongoing attempts to bring on additional supports, workloads for health unit staff remain high,” Bocking said.

She added the mass immunization clinics are the most taxing activity, since they require significant human resource support.

Each clinic runs with 12-15 health unit/community partner staff and 15-20 volunteers, depending on the size of the clinic. Based on vaccine supply, one to three clinics are operated each day in addition to a mobile team that offers clinics in vulnerable settings.

Bocking discussed other COVID-19- driven activities that are taxing staff to their limits including contact tracing and responsibility for all aspects of the vaccine roll-out.

“Preventing the ongoing transmission of the COVID-19 virus continues to require significant health unit focus and resources,” Bocking said. “HKPRDHU has divided this virus containment work between four teams. In the past month, the number of newly-reported cases per day have ranged from three to 36 (all of which require tracing). The number of outbreaks occurring at any given time has ranged from one to nine. Staff members are being cross-trained to support multiple teams.”

Bocking reminded board members that staff continue to coordinate the ongoing roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination across all three geographic regions the unit services.

“Demand and uptake of the vaccine has been high, and supply of vaccine has slowly begun to increase,”

Bocking said. “Many municipal, community, and health sector partners are supporting the roll-out through multiple avenues.

“The health unit is currently responsible for managing inventory of all vaccine coming to the region (except for vaccine for pharmacies), supervising cold-chain compliance for vaccine distribution, managing five mass immunization clinics in collaboration with partners, implementing mobile clinics in other congregate care settings and responding to reports of adverse events following immunization.”

Bocking said that the unit was beginning to turn it mind post-pandemic recovery and a gradual, staged transition to regular business.

“Recovery efforts will require dedicated resources.”

Statement of operations presented

The health unit reported on its spending for the first four months of 2021.

It has spent $3.964 million of its’ $11.892 million budget with pandemic response, the Ontario

County down to one vaccination centre

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 27, 2021

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The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has decided that Haliburton County will not receive a replacement for the A.J. LaRue Arena mass vaccination centre after June.

Dysart et al and the health unit opted back in March to limit the time the arena would be used as a centre out of consideration for summer and fall recreation, including hockey. The health unit originally scheduled the clinic to last until at least the end of September but changed that to the end in June in response to public outcry.

Health unit director of health protection Anne Marie Holt said people will have other avenues to get the vaccine, including the mass vaccination centre in Minden at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.

“The number of opportunities to be vaccinated will remain the same for Haliburton but will just flow through many potential vaccine locations including the Minden clinic site, hospital, pharmacy and primary care providers,” Holt said. “Where needed, the health unit may also plan ‘popup clinics’ in Haliburton to provide second dose vaccines to people who are eligible for them.”

The last clinics at the A.J. LaRue Arena are scheduled for May 27 and June 5.

The news comes as the province opened vaccine appointments for all people 18 and older May 18. But medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said there are still issues with local supply, which is not meeting the demand brought by the increased eligibility.

“There is lots of demand for COVID19 appointments across our region and some frustration with not being able to get an appointment right now,”

Bocking said. “Our supply has increased a little bit, and it is slowly increasing. At the same time, eligibility expanded quite significantly. So, we still have a mismatch.” Bocking said more than half of the eligible population has received their first dose within the health unit region, amounting to more than 925,000 people.

When asked why the health unit is not making a replacement mass vaccination centre, Holt said “Haliburton County residents will continue to be well-served and supported.”

“There will also be other ways for people in Haliburton County to get vaccines,” the health unit said. “We are confident this shift will not reduce access to COVID-19 vaccines in Haliburton County.”

Holt also said the provincial government should be rolling out more vaccinations at pharmacies in Haliburton and across Ontario.

People can book vaccination appointments through the system at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine. People are also allowed to book vaccines outside of their geographic area where available.

Minden Home Hardware owners buying Walkers

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 27, 2021

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The owners of the Minden Home Hardware have confirmed that they have purchased the Haliburton Home Hardware from Jerry and Dale Walker.

Dan Moulton said he and wife, Emily, will make Haliburton their eighth store effective May 31.

“We’re so excited to be buying Haliburton Home Hardware,” Moulton told The Highlander on May 25.

He said they have known the Walkers for a long time, adding the well-known Haliburtonians had “built a great new store, but are now at the end of their careers and wanting to move on.”

The Walkers could not be immediately reached for comment.

Moulton added he and Emily feel “very fortunate” to be expanding into the Haliburton community.

He said they’ve built one store, and renovated others, so to walk into a new store is a new experience.

“The Walkers have built such a beautiful store which really has exceeded the expectations of the community.”

He acknowledged that taking over a store during a lockdown in a pandemic in June in cottage country is a challenge.

Already, he said retailers are being taxed by curbside service since it’s not like they have an Amazon warehouse full of staff. Existing staff have had to take, fill and deliver orders. They’ll continue to do so until June 2 at the earliest.

“Our store in Minden, just like their store, has been so busy with curbside. It’s a pretty challenging way to do business. But we’re working hard to keep our community going, with everyone’s home and cottage building and renovation needs.”

However, he added, “we are looking forward to seeing everyone again.”

They are also eagerly anticipating adding Haliburton’s team to theirs.

“We’re so excited and we’re just going to work hard at serving the community.”

The Moultons purchased the Minden Home Hardware in 2017.