Student, beekeeper celebrated as enviro-heroes

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 17, 2019

JQ - Enviro Heroes - 2-web — Haliburton Highlands Land Trust chair Mary Lou Gerstl hands an enviro hero award to student Jürgen Shantz. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust recognized a student protestor and a beekeeper as this year’s enviro-heroes Dec. 5.

The community celebrated high schooler Jürgen Shantz and apiarist Ron Lofthouse at the organization’s annual holiday open house.

The awards recognize people who have made a major contribution to the protection and sustainability of natural resources and the environment.

Shantz lead a strike from high school for several weeks to spur action on climate change, in the vein of famed protestor Greta Thunberg.

“It’s nice to be recognized for something you worked hard for,” Shantz said. “I felt crappy about the state the planet was in and how everyone was reacting to it.”

“We need citizens, especially young people, to participate in making this world a better place,” Mayor Andrea Roberts said in a letter about Shantz read during the ceremony. “I have no doubt that he will go on to great things in his career and personal life.”

Ron Lofthouse has kept bees for more than 50 years and promoted the practice through workshops. He said the last beekeeper on record in the County of Haliburton before he moved here 10 years ago was in 1841.

Now, approximately 50 have registered. He said with the bee population struggling, he wanted to help make whatever difference he could.

“It’s important to have more beekeepers,” Lofthouse said. “Our county requires better pollination than what it has had from wild bees and other pollinators.”

“We know the dire consequences we will face if they do not survive,” chair Mary Lou Gerstl said. “The work that Ron Lofthouse does has greatly helped at bringing attention to the wonderful and fascinating things.”

Lofthouse is still promoting beekeeping, with his next workshop planned for Feb. 29.

“We have to create more crops from more arable land to feed our planet. That requires the help of the bee,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shantz said he is taking a step back from climate change protests to focus more on his schoolwork in his graduating year. But he added he hopes to be part of the protests in the future, once he gets into university.

“It’s just something you can’t ignore,” Shantz said. “You have to acknowledge it and do something about it.”

Highlands East raises landfill fees

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 16, 2019

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JQ - He Landfill Tipping - 1-web — Highlands East Mayor Dave Burton at the Dec. 10 council meeting. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Highlands East council narrowly approved an increase to landfill tipping fees by a 3-2 vote Dec. 10.

They approved the hikes as part of a new fee bylaw. The increases include bulk garbage going from $20 to $25 per cubic yard (yd3), sorted construction materials going from $30 to $40/yd3 and unsorted construction materials going from $50 to $80/yd3. Fees were also added for brush at $20/ yd3 and $10 per bundled shrink wrap.

Mayor Dave Burton, Coun. Suzanne Partridge and Coun. Cam McKenzie voted in favour while Deputy Mayor Cec Ryall and Coun. Ruth Strong opposed it.

“Current landfill tipping fees have been in place for several years,” environmental supervisor Stewart Hurd said in a report. “Due for review and possible increases in order to promote better sorting of waste material and minimize contamination and extend the life expectancy of our landfills.”

Other fee adjustments include an added $5 for mattress and box springs, from $10 to $15. A $10 fee per unit on non-CFC appliances has also been waived and they are now accepted free of charge. Household garbage, scrap metal, recycled material and tires are also still free.

Ryall said he understood contamination is an issue but he expressed concern people would bypass landfills and dump elsewhere if fees increased.

“The cost of getting this out of the ditches is not good, considering most of the time it’s on municipal property,” Ryall said, later adding the people he represents do not support higher fees.

Strong agreed.

“On side roads, I have seen that,” she said.

Hurd reported that Highlands East tipping fees are lower than its neighbours. For example, Dysart et al charge $25/yd3 for bulk waste in packer trucks, $50/yd3 for brush, $50/ yd3 for sorted construction material and $100/yd3 for unsorted.

The new fees bylaw also adds a $1,350 deposit fee for the purchase of a shore road allowance.

Firefighters push back on state of fire halls

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 13, 2019

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JQ - Highland Grove fire hall meeting - 1 - web — Highland Grove fire captain Gary Burroughs explains a diagram of the local fire hall at a meeting Dec. 7. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Highlands East firefighters are pushing back against reports their halls are in poor condition.

The Highland Grove fire department held a community meeting Dec. 7. More than 20 people attended to discuss recent consultant reports, including an organizational review that recommended closing fire halls and facility conditions assessments on the halls.
Highland Grove fire captain Tom Burroughs said he would not deny repairs are needed at his station. But he added a facility assessment – which suggests there are $567,500 in repairs in 2019/20 – is exaggerated.

“Their numbers are way, way too high,” Burroughs said. “It’s functional, it’s servicing the community. As life safety goes, that’s what’s mainly important to us.”

The facility assessments from consultant WalterFedy examined all municipal buildings. They highlighted Highland Grove as one of the poorest condition buildings in the municipality and recommended consideration to decommission it.

“It is clear that the building is no longer able to meet its intended function, and that a larger space is needed,” WalterFedy said in a summary report.

Recommended repairs included replacing doors, windows and roofing. It also said the hall is too small, with two bay doors for three vehicles.

The report also said the station has no floor drain and recommended $50,000 to install one. But Burroughs stated there is a floor drain there.

“It cost this township to have someone tell us this drain doesn’t exist,” captain Gary Burroughs said. “If we end up losing a fire hall because of all the talk about this, that’s what our concern is.”

The recommended costs included in the reports, and their dates for replacement, are based on typical life-cycles.

Highlands East chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter said on behalf of WalterFedy that it is possible the drain was under a truck and could not be seen. But she added the current drain would need an inspection for issues.

“Further review would be required to see the effectiveness of the current drain,” Hunter said.

Tom Burroughs discussed the history of Highlands East exploring fire services. The municipal fire committee is reviewing five different options, including the status quo, reducing from five halls to three, shifting equipment and building a new, central hall.

Highland Grove firefighters were not the only ones to take issue with the report. WalterFedy assessed the Highway 28 fire station is in bad shape and needs $150,720 in repairs. But the recommendations drew criticism, such as $12,000 for kitchen refurbishment.

“The numbers that are posted are to replace things that are wanted. The things that are needed are very minor,” station captain Adam Szelei said. “It’s a fraction of what they’re asking.”

Firefighters also critiqued the maintenance the municipality has done at the halls over the years.

“Building’s don’t go bad overnight,” Burroughs said. “They haven’t been doing their job up till now.”

Chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter said for recent maintenance at Highland Grove’s hall, the municipality spent $18,080 for thermal wall barriers in 2018 and $3,107 for lights in 2019.

Burroughs asked the community to act as a watchdog going forward.

The WalterFedy report suggests a new hall at Highland Grove would cost between $1 and $1.3 million. Hunter said that price is based on the size of the existing structure, approximately 3,800 square feet, with 20 per cent additional capacity and on $200-$250 per square foot price for construction costs. She added the price could be less if something smaller was built.

Firefighter Stephane Stern told the meeting spending that much is not necessary.

“None of us care if we’re in a tin shed,” Stern said. “As long as we put the key in the ignition and it rolls out and we can get to you in a hurry, that’s all we care about.”

The Breakfast Club comes to Haliburton

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 13, 2019

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The cast of Haliburton Highlands Secondary School’s drama class production of The Breakfast Club sees their school reflected in the teenage dramedy.

Students will perform a school-made stage adaption of the famed 1985 film Dec. 15-17. The cast spoke to how the narrative’s story about troubled youth in different cliques coming together during one Saturday detention remains relevant.

“It was extremely similar to the way our school functions,” Abigail Kauffeldt, who will be playing a gender-swapped version of the geek Brian Johnson, said. “(Haliburton) seems like this average high school, but there’s so much more than what the public might see.”

Kauffeldt describes a stressful preparation as the class is also readying for another production in January. They will perform The Rocky Horror Picture Show Jan. 12-14.

“It’s been sort of a challenge to struggle between who gets on stage each day,” Dakota Sawyer, who is performing as teenage rebel John Bender, said. But the students said they relish in being part of the dramatic arts.

“You end up connecting with the people,” Trista Greer, playing the popular girl Claire Standish, said. “You can be yourself and it’s a relaxed environment.”

“It’s a lot different than say, Math or English. You just sit there and just stare and
be this person you’re not,” Sawyer said. “In drama, you can be yourself and everyone knows it’s just you. There’s no judgement.”

The show is rated M and will contain some coarse language. It is not recommended for children.

The Breakfast Club will play at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion at 7 p.m. Dec. 15-17, with an extra 2 p.m. matinée Dec. 15. The Rocky Horror Picture Show will run at the same time Jan. 12-14, with a Jan. 12 matinée. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or the school’s main office.

“Come and support the youth who enjoy the arts, because it’s what this community is about,” Greer said.

Not time for lower-tier to talk governance

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 13, 2019

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I find it odd that Highlands East recently debated the composition of its council. As reported in last week’s Highlander, council discussed whether to upend its ward system to make the deputy mayor an elected position. While the intent is good – after all, the public would get its say versus a political appointment – there are problems. As pointed out by CAO Shannon Hunter, it would result in a six-person council because of the current ward structure. That can be problematic when it comes to tie votes. Some suggestions included: electing all councillors at-large and realigning boundaries. This prompted at least one councillor to say he’s worried his ward would be scrapped altogether.

In Algonquin Highlands Monday, during a projects and priorities meeting, Deputy Mayor Liz Danielsen – who doubles as warden of Haliburton County – raised the issue of electing the deputy-mayor at-large there. Only Highlands East and Algonquin Highlands appoint their deputy mayors. In Dysart et al and Minden Hills, they are elected. Again, there was talk about how it would affect wards, since there are two councillors in ward two in AH. Would they, too, have to go to a larger council? Again, I tend to agree with Danielsen that electing, as opposed to appointing, the town’s deputy mayor is the right thing to do.

The problem I am having is with timing. Why now?

The County of Haliburton is about to put out a request for proposals for a contractor to do a services delivery review. It’s hoped that RFP will be filled by mid-January with a report due by June of 2020. The County ethos is that they need to figure out who will deliver services first before moving onto a governance review. CAO Mike Rutter and Danielsen have made the rounds of lower-tier municipalities to update them on the process. Rutter has told all four that Michael Fenn, who recently led the regional reviews for the province and has a distinguished career as a civil servant and consultant, is lending them a hand.

Rutter said Fenn, who’s also a Dysart et al property owner, was the one who observed that best practice in good governance is summarized as ‘form follows function.’ That means once decisions are made about the best way to organize and deliver individual services, or to make policy in specific areas, then it will be clearer who should be responsible and how they should go about managing, governing and financing them.

Once the service delivery review is complete, County Council will be in a much better position to decide on an appropriate governance model, Rutter has said all along. So, why in the world would Highlands East or Algonquin Highlands council be discussing internal organization reviews? Following the release of the services delivery review report next summer, County Council will have to decide if they will do their own organizational review in-house, or tender for a governance review. We would hope they would select an outsider. In the meantime, there is no point in Highlands East, Algonquin Highlands, or any other local council discussing governance.

Time to Wrap It Up for the semester

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 13, 2019

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A flurry of activity is happening in the studios of Haliburton School of Art and Design as students are busy preparing for Wrap it Up, the end of semester art exhibition hosted by current students in full-time certificate programs.

The one-day show will take place Dec. 14 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Wrap it Up provides an opportunity for emerging artists to gain exhibition experience and showcase their many talents,” said organizer Erin Lynch.

She added the culminating exhibition will feature a variety of media from fall semester students, including painting and drawing, artist blacksmithing, ceramics and photography.

Artists will be available to discuss their works and answer questions.

Select works will be available for purchase.

The exhibition is free and open to all.

“Join inspiring students for light refreshments as well as the opportunity to explore the unique and stimulating space that is the Haliburton School of Art & Design,” Lynch said.

Ice-rescue training coming for firefighters

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 12, 2019

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JQIcerescue1web.jpg.c4248f3e — Highlands East firefighters watch from the shore as people help an injured person on the ice of Benoir Lake Jan. 12. The department is shore-only but could soon get training from an official course they have awaited. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Highlands East firefighters will soon have a long-awaited opportunity to use community fundraised dollars to get ice-rescue training.

The Ontario Fire College will offer an ice-rescue course starting in February for the first time since 2014. The Highlands East fire department has awaited a fire marshall-approved course to utilize $18,562 raised via a GoFundMe campaign in 2017 after a cottager fell through the ice of Dark Lake.

Acting fire chief Chris Baughman said the fire department is municipally regulated as shore-based only but he would bring the matter to council once the course is in place.

“The money is still there for that purpose,” Baughman said. “It would cover us to buy a basic kit to do the in-water rescue and the training for five to six firefighters. My intention year-after-year is to add a couple more firefighters to that list.

“It wouldn’t cover the whole fire department but it would certainly give us a good start.”

Ice-rescue training in the province was complicated by a 2017 inquest into the deaths of Adam Brunt and Gerry Kendall, who died during such training. At inquest recommendation, the Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management put ice and cold water rescue programs on hold.

But now the Ontario Fire College will offer a revised course, according to Ministry of the Solicitor General spokesperson Brent Ross. He said the course will be open to all firefighters across the province and will also take place at regional training centres.

Other local fire departments are also examining the course. Algonquin Highlands fire chief Mike Cavanagh said they will try to get the program approved to be available locally.

“As with our other training programs all County Fire Departments will be working together to deliver the required training to meet each department’s needs,” he said.

In the meantime, there is some inconsistency in which local fire departments can do ice rescues. Highlands East and Dysart et al are shore-based but Algonquin Highlands can do ice rescues, per respective municipal policies.

Cavanaugh said AH firefighters have trained using the old ice rescue standard for many years, which has let them maintain that training. But departments looking to get into ice water rescue have had to wait for a new program.

There are private courses around the province that have offered ice-rescue training while the Ontario Fire College lacked a program. Baughman said there are liability concerns with ice rescue and he wanted to wait.

“Without an approved training program, how can I guarantee they’re getting the proper training if there’s not a program to follow?” Baughman said. “I would rather wait for an approved course.”

Couple fitting pieces together for new business

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 10, 2019

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JQ - Puzzle makers - 1-web — Brigette Gall and Michael Bainbridge opened their new puzzle shop and factory in Haliburton Nov. 30. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Brigette Gall and Michael Bainbridge said getting trapped at home by a 2018 cold snap inspired the unique business they are starting in Haliburton County.

Locked in with a group of friends, a large jigsaw puzzle became the centre of attention. The two had searched for another business model for Bainbridge, a professional mineral photographer.

The idea struck to turn his photos into puzzles, which led to their new business “The Occurrence.” After months working from their home and online, they soft-launched a new jigsaw puzzle shop and factory Nov. 30.

“There is increasingly a need for people to disconnect and have a real, physical, tactile experience,” Gall said. “It’s reminiscent of all those rain or snow days at the cottage or hanging out with the family.”

The two kickstarted the business on Industrial Park Road in Haliburton with the help of the Haliburton County Development Corporation, which helped secure more than $40,000 in matching grants through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario and Business Expansion and Innovation Program.

Their property features a factory-floor with all the tools needed to print puzzles in the back and a space to sell them at the front.

The two decided to print for themselves upon discovering how few places do. They said they could not find any printers based in Ontario and few in Canada. Most large printers who could work in bulk would not do the limited runs they were interested in.

“You got an artist, ‘I want to do a limited edition number, my artwork in a puzzle.” You have to order in large quantities to make it financially worthwhile,” Gall said. “Printing in house, we can do small batches and high-quality puzzles.”

One of the pieces they use is mural art owned by the County. It is a depiction of a map of the County, featured at the land registry office.

The two presented to County council Nov. 27 and got permission to use the image, with a portion of sales going toward the Arts Council Haliburton Highlands artists in the school program.

“This is great stuff and it will help promote the area,” Coun. Brent Devolin said. “Let it happen.”

Bainbridge said their new business has gotten a positive reception so far.

“I don’t think there’s been a single sense of anyone who has said ‘that’s a stupid idea, you’re crazy,’” Bainbridge said. “Almost invariably people say, ‘that’s really cool.’”

The two are not completely up and running yet, anticipating regular store hours to start in January.

“Really enthusiastic about the opportunity to do this and it couldn’t happen without the help of HCDC,” Gall said. “That’s what’s so great about this area, is people really are supportive of each other in a small community.”

Support growing for green burial society

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 10, 2019

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JQ - Green burials - 2-web — Green Burial Society of Canada board member Mark Richardson presented at Haliburton United Church Nov. 28. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Haliburton Highlands Green Burial Society (HHGBS) formally launched Nov. 28 with 27 people now committed to bringing the environmentally-friendly practice to local cemeteries.

More than 30 people attended the society’s inaugural meeting at the Haliburton United Church to discuss the idea that involves burying the dead using green practices which aim to have bodies degrade as quickly as possible in specialized graveyards or plots. Society founder Terry Moore and Green Burial Society of Canada board member Mark Richardson answered questions and discussed implementation.

Moore said he is pleased about the positive response. He credited it to the efforts of community organizations to raise a sense of environmental stewardship in Haliburton over the past decade.

“People are ready to have a conversation about this and I think people are now prepared to listen,” Moore said.

Environment Haliburton! has developed the idea over the past few months with a working group. Green burials avoid body preservatives and utilize biodegradable caskets and shrouds to make the process more environmentally-friendly. Moore brought the concept forward after his family’s struggles with burying his son, Kyle Moore, in an ecofriendly way during the winter. He presented to local councils earlier this year and they responded supportively.

But Moore identified barriers at the municipal level, such as their worries about cost and winter burials. There are now plans for a workshop in January with an external operator showing municipal staff and policymakers how a green burial could happen in the winter.

“Demonstrate how it’s done in order to address some of the practical considerations that some of the townships have,” Moore said.

Compared to cremation, green burials are more expensive, Richardson said. But he added they are still greener, given the carbon dioxide released into the air when burning bodies.

But the appetite for burials has plummeted. The Cremation Association of North America said the cremation rate in Canada was 72 per cent in 2018.

Moore said convincing lawmakers will take more public awareness.

“There is an interest in this and it’s not just a niche group of people who are in the tree hugger community,” Moore said. “The more conversations we have, I think it helps to build a different cultural norm.”

Sharon Ireland attended and said it was a strong presentation.

“This is an absolutely great alternative to conventional burials,” Ireland said. “We have an awful lot of environmental consciousness in the community towards our wild spaces.”

Moore said green burials can happen if the community shows support.

“I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to remove the remaining barriers,” he said.

Highlands East ponders ward structure change

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 9, 2019

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JQ - Highlands East organizational review - 1 -web — Highlands East municipal office. File photo.

Highlands East council considered whether it would upend its ward system to make the deputy mayor an elected position.

Council discussed an organizational review Nov. 26 made by consultant Savino Human Resources Partners. The report recommended changes including more staff team meetings, the closure of fire halls and making the deputy mayor elected instead of appointed by council.

But chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter said that would not be simple, as that would create an undesirable six-person council under the current ward structure.

Council discussed changing the structure or letting councillors be elected at-large. Deputy Mayor Cec Ryall said he had no issues with making his position elected.

“Would not bother me at all,” Ryall said. “There are advantages and disadvantages of having the ward system … I would not believe in having our council members at large.”

Coun. Suzanne Partridge said she supports an elected deputy mayor and wants the wards to be more equitable.

“We need to realign our boundaries,” Partridge said. “I don’t think we should be voting for all council at large.”

But Coun. Cam McKenzie said though he is okay with the position getting elected, he does not want to see his ward, as the smallest, get removed.

“I can see where this is going. Ward 1, which I represent, is going to disappear,” McKenzie said. “I know we have limited numbers, but it’s kind of a unique place.”

Mayor Dave Burton said he would prefer wards be done away with.

“We still are not amalgamating. We are still territorial with each of the wards,” Burton said. “We are here to represent all the people in Highlands East, not just our wards.”

Council also discussed the consultant’s recommendation to close one or two fire halls. McKenzie said it caused a “firestorm” of concern but Hunter emphasized that the municipality does not need to follow the review’s recommendations.

They also touched on customer service. The review said the municipality should invest in more online and remote options, as well as educate residents about municipal rules.

Hunter said there was some disagreement in the interviews that informed the report. Staff said customer service is excellent while council said improvement is needed.

McKenzie said he hears from people that they get left in “limbo” waiting for replies from staff and there needs to be more done to get back to people quickly.

“Answering a complaint, may not be able to do anything about it, but at least they know we got the message and we’re dealing with it,” McKenzie said.

Council voted to accept the report as information.