Farewell to ‘man of the people’

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December 9, 2019

Community and family are remembering former County warden and Dysart reeve William “Bill” Davis.

He passed away Nov. 30 in Hyland Crest. His visitation and celebration of life and reception will be held this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Murray Fearrey, himself a long-time former County warden and Dysart reeve, will deliver Wednesday’s eulogy.

He told The Highlander he “had the distinct pleasure” of spending many hours with Bill in their nearly 29 years on Dysart and County council, including when Bill served as warden.

Fearrey said he always found Bill’s interests to be consistent over that period.

“He loved Haliburton and Haliburton County and was dedicated to doing everything he could to make life better for its residents.

“Bill was an excellent communicator, he knew nearly everyone, and if he didn’t know you, he would after he met you the first time.”

Fearrey said Bill was not afraid of controversy. “In fact, I think he reveled sometimes with the challenge, always with the intent of caring for people. His strength was advocating for the underdog, an admirable trait.”

Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt said she was sorry to learn of Bill’s passing.

“Bill’s entire life was entrenched in community service and I was honoured to watch and learn from him in my early days at the County table,” she said.

She added that Bill had a long and dedicated history of community involvement and decision-making.

She said Bill “knew everyone, seemed to have ‘been there’ for everything we ever discussed, had a joke for almost any occasion and was just a really nice guy. There aren’t many left like Bill.”

Former Minden Times publisher and editor Jack Brezina said he will always remember Bill as a man of the people.

“Often, I would see him at the coffee shop, moving from table to table, greeting everyone and listening to their comments and suggestions. He didn’t always agree with what they had to say, but he always made a point of letting people have their say.”

Bill was also a paramedic for Dysart et al and dispatcher for the Ministry of Health.

The 78-year-old leaves behind his wife, Freda, three children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

There’ll be a reception at the Haliburton Community Funeral Home Dec. 10 from 2-6 p.m. The Celebration of Life is Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the community room.

Housing impacts drug problem

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 7, 2019

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JQ - Drug talk - 2 - cover — A mat placed at the centre of a discussion about Haliburton County substance abuse Nov. 28.

Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee of Haliburton County co-chair Andrew Hodson said he sees problems with what is available to vulnerable people.

The committee hosted a public discussion at the Lakeside Baptist Church Nov. 28 about substance abuse and how it can be addressed in Haliburton.

As people described their personal experiences and struggles getting help, Hodson said he understands that difficulty.

“When they do reach out and don’t get it, it’s just an absolute travesty,” Hodson, a worker with Four County Crisis, said. “We don’t have a homelessness shelter up here. We can do all the stuff in addictions but people don’t have a place to live.

“I’m incredibly worried about our county.”

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Traumatic grief specialist Yvette Perreault facilitated the event. She described the severity of deaths in the opioid crisis, with more than 12,000 since 2016 according to the Government of Canada.

“Society’s response is still hostile,” Perreault said. “It’s a crazy amount of numbers but you wouldn’t necessarily know that, because people aren’t necessarily up in arms about it.”

The Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Drug Strategy said there were 145 confirmed opioidrelated emergency department visits in 2018, but the tri-county data could not be broken down further.

Minden’s Dr. Nell Thomas attended and said local data on overdoses has issues, as emergency departments may not log them if a patient reports a different issue. But she said based on her caseloads, she has “a lot of people who are suffering” from a variety of addictions.

She added although there are prescriptions to address opioid abuse, options are lacking for stimulant-type drugs such as cocaine. She said there are not many options, although efforts are being made to find solutions.

“We’re working to find safe alternatives for people,” Thomas said.

But people showed solidarity throughout the discussion and talked about ways to improve the situation.

“We’re in this together,” Perreault said. “There’s a vulnerability here but these conversations matter about how we’re going to take care of each other.”

“It has to be flipping over of our culture,” attendee Jean Schlicklin Tyler said. “It has to be a wake-up call.”

Hodson also identified waiting lists and transportation as issues. But he re-affirmed that housing is a bedrock needed to address substance abuse.

“It’s just fundamental in people’s basic support system,” Hodson said. “Offer them a home with dignity, somewhere they feel safe. I just don’t think any of the other stuff, the higher levels of needs can be addressed (without that).”

Speaker: ‘May the horse be with you’

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Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2019

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LG-ladies lunch 1_Easy-Resize.com — Sharon Campbell Rayment was the guest speaker at the first annual Inspiring Women's Luncheon.

People left the Inspiring Women’s Luncheon Nov. 28 with some strategies to gain inner balance and mental strength to get them through setbacks and distractions.

Sharon Campbell Rayment was the guest speaker at the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce event at the Haliburton Legion last Thursday.

She shared the story of how a fall from her beloved horse, Malachi, led to an acquired brain injury that rendered her one of only 60 people in the world to have Foreign Accent Syndrome. She now speaks with a Scottish brogue.

At one point, she was diagnosed as being “completely disabled.”

She said that after the accident about 10 years ago, she struggled to speak and stuttered. She was no longer a busy, thriving entrepreneur, wife and mother. Instead, she was anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, frustrated, and pining for her old life.

She said she erupted one day, from tiredness and anger, while working in the barn. She then went out to the horses and Malachi came right up to her.

“He put his chin on my shoulder, slowly and gently lifted it over my head to the other side. He pressed his neck to my ear and I could hear his heart beat. And it was strong. And it was true. And I swear I heard … ‘I know you’re lonely. I know you’re angry. And I know you’re frustrated but I’m right here. I’m as close to you as that heartbeat, as that breath, and in that moment I knew that if I had not fallen I would have missed the very rhythm of life,” Campbell Rayment told a hushed audience.

“And what is the rhythm of life? To me it’s being present. Present to where you are. Present to whom you’re with and what you’re doing.”

She said that prior to her accident, she filled her life with busyness, spending a lot of time physically in one place, but always thinking about another.

She has worked ever since on rewiring her brain and designed something called the NeuroMindSHIFT process.

“After three years of struggle and research, I have confirmed that we can change our brains to help the mind overcome the anxiety and common traps that distract, disrupt, and lock us into ineffectiveness” her website says.

She walked the audience through a guided mediation, got them to get up and move to deal with their anxious “fight or flight” response, to yawn to release tension and taught them to use a pressure point in their hand.

“Because we all experience stress, don’t we?” She said the only time there is no stress is “when the undertaker undertakes to take you under.” The woman, who continues to work with horses, ended her talk by wishing the audience, “may the horse be with you.”

Successful town hall to be repeated

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2019

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JQ - council photo_Easy-Resize.com — Pat Kennedy and Andrea Roberts.

With 50 people attending their firstever town hall meeting this past Saturday in Haliburton, Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts and Deputy Mayor Pat Kennedy said they hope to have another in the spring – and twoa-year going forward in their terms of office.

The public packed the 2-4 p.m. session Nov. 28, asking about a range of issues including: landfills; the County’s shared services review; the need for electric vehicle recharging stations; heavy traffic on the County Road 21 corridor just outside of the village; road deterioration at snowmobile crossings; the future of Head Lake Park; housing; the prospect of municipal water and roads in general.

Businessman Jerry Walker asked about the possibility of a single-tier government for the County.

Roberts said County staff and councillors were keeping an open mind, and by hiring a professional consultant, would make decisions based on facts, not emotion.

With landfills, Roberts said challenges, such as landfills reaching end of life, and decisions about where waste will go in future, are Countywide. She said they need the help of the province. She noted Coun. Walt McKechnie has for years lobbied for incinerating of garbage. Dysart et al has requested the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) look into researching the idea on behalf of all townships across the province. Kennedy added that they are big items and with 6,500 Dysart residents, “we can’t afford what needs to be done.”

One resident said with electric vehicles becoming more prevalent due to concerns about climate change, Dysart could make itself a tourism destination by putting in car charging stations. Kennedy said it’s definitely “on the radar” and would be discussed, including around the Head Lake Park master plan. Roberts added the units are not cheap and would have to be operated at cost recovery.

As for traffic along County Rd. 21, Roberts said Dysart et al, and the County, are looking into ways to calm the traffic, including a future pedestrian crosswalk.

Kennedy added that townships are now looking into the possibility of development charges, which would give municipalities more money from developers to do work. The two councillors said they’d also like to look at traffic in the downtown and Roberts said she would bring concerns to the next meeting mayors have with the OPP.

As for the park, Roberts reiterated they are working on a master plan as the park “is like a 40-year-old house in need of renovations”. She said they are already holding talks with stakeholders.

With housing, Kennedy said he thought it was prudent to identify properties owned by the township and approach developers “to find out what they can do to get things rolling.” He noted that Dysart had 296 properties of various sizes. Roberts said the County had committed to 750 units over the next 10 years. She said its achievable “if we all work together.”

Both Roberts and Kennedy said they were happy with the outcome of the town hall.

“This has been great,” Kennedy said. Roberts added they were hoping to have a positive conversation and felt that was achieved.

“We’re here to get ideas from you, and let you know what we’re working on.”

Securing day care a good move

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2019

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This week’s news – that the County has purchased the Haliburton Wee Care daycare for $770,000 – brings the local daycare story full circle.

The purchase comes about a year after Minden, and the County, got a real scare in June 2018 when The Children’s Learning Centre gave parents just one week’s notice that they were shutting their doors.

Some 52 families received a letter saying the only licensed daycare in the town was closing. They cited ongoing concerns over funding, coupled with a growing administrative burden.

It was one of the hardest weeks for not only those families, but municipal staff and councillors, who scrambled to find a solution.

Peterborough-based company, Compass Early Learning and Care, stepped in with a new agreement to continue daycare at the Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) in Minden without service disruption. The deal allowed them to use the existing child care space on Prentice Street effective the very day the former centre was slated to close.

In August of this past year, there was another development on the daycare front. The OEYC board transferred ownership of the daycare facility to the County of Haliburton for $2.

At the time, Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin said the municipal control should prevent a similar situation from happening again.

It gave parents some sense of security after going through that tumultuous week of scrambling to find alternative day care, when there was really none to be found.

While the purchase did not change the day-to-day operations of the facility, since Compass Early Learning and Care manages the daycare under the oversight of the City of Kawartha Lakes, the asset itself came into possession locally. It can be argued that it guarantees in perpetuity that it can’t go away.

Since then, the facility has gotten 23 new childcare spaces, and up to $750,000 in capital funding from the province.

Now, the County is doing the same thing for Dysart et al. In buying the only licensed daycare there, the hope is to protect the future of that facility as well.

County Council agreed Nov. 27 to have bylaws presented for the purchase of the County Road 21 property in Dysart et al. The municipality is buying it from the Hodgson family, who started and managed the non-profit Wee Care but want to retire. The daycare currently leases the property from the Hodgsons and will continue to under County ownership.

“This ensures that both day cares in the County remain in public ownership and stable ownership,” CAO Mike Rutter said.

Again, it won’t change the day-to-day operations. However, it is an indication of greater municipal support and involvement, indeed bringing some assurance to Haliburton families.

The daycare’s managers are hoping the municipality can help secure provincial funding so the facility can expand and take on more children.

Parents across the county can now breathe a sigh of relief, and the moves demonstrate forward-thinking on behalf of the County.

Having secure day care further sends a message that Haliburton County is a good place to work, live and play for potential newcomers, including the medical professionals we so desperately need.

Community grieves for one of its own

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2019

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Justin Daniels was remembered for his love of family and carpentry during a Celebration of Life and Reception at the Haliburton Legion.

Family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances are grieving the loss of the 37-year-old tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident Nov. 20 in Algonquin Highlands.

A GoFundMe page started by his mother, Valerie, a former owner of the Oakview Lodge and Marina, has garnered more than $30,000 for Daniels’ wife Michelle and children, Peyton, Cameryn, and Addison.

Images of Daniels played on a projector on the wall, accompanied by county and western music. A table gave some insight into the type of man he was. It featured pictures of him and his family, work boots and other tools of his carpentry trade, a guitar, and a photo of him on a dirt bike.

Irene Gerber, the wife of Justin’s boss, John, was the emcee. She said people had gathered in sadness and love.

“Today, our souls honour his soul,” she said.

She added that when a tragedy such as Justin’s death occurs, “the first reaction is disbelief and an outpouring of emotion.” However, “something amazing takes its place,” in describing how people had rallied around the family, including starting a MealTrain to provide daily meals to the family.

John said Justin had worked for him for about five years, and “I very quickly came to realize that he was highly dependable, a leader, and a skilled craftsmen.” He said the young man’s positive attitude and upbeat nature made the job site a fun place to be.

He added that Justin, “garnered respect through his high standards and work ethic” and stood out amongst his peers.

He said their team had built many homes and cottages over the years and Justin often befriended clients and would tailor the workmanship to their needs, particularly the female clients. “They would share their vision and idea and Justin would make them all come true.”

He further described him as a “sincere, honest, hardworking family man. Providing for his family was in the core of who he was. His presence will be deeply missed by his coworkers and myself. His absence will be large but his shadow will watch over us on all future projects and we will strive to pursue the excellence he pursued every day as a legacy to him.”

Justin’s uncle Ian spoke to Daniels’ love of family.

He told the story of how after his first date with Michelle, he declared that he was going to marry her and he did, and the two went on to have three beautiful children together. He recalled that on the night before he died, Daniels’ was teaching Peyton the guitar.

“Speaking for everyone: We love you and we miss you,” Ian said.

Biggest cast ever for Nutcracker’s 16th staging

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2019

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LG-nutcrackers what's on for Dec. 5_Easy-Resize.com — Dancers rehearse with Julie Barban at Heritage Ballet in Haliburton this past Saturday.

In many ways, Haliburton County and Heritage Ballet’s The Nutcracker are synonymous with the Christmas season.

The iconic ballet comes to the stage of the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion for the 16th time this weekend.

Heritage Ballet’s Julie Barban said it is the biggest cast ever – with 82 children – and about 10 adults, performing Friday and Saturday.

“We’re up 10 kids,” Barban said during rehearsal last Saturday. “We now have 82 kids. We had 72 last year. So, that’s kind of new.”

She added that Ania Smolen will play The Sugar Plum Fairy this year. She’ll also play The Peacock.

“She was also The Peacock last year and she wanted to do it again,” Barban said.

She added that with all of the new, young dancers, she has added a few extra things, which she always does.

Asked how she can keep the momentum going year after year, Barban said, “it has become a tradition and sometimes I wonder, oh my gosh, it would be nice to take a break but I don’t know. I still love it just as much as the kids do. I don’t see it ending for a while.”

She said the other endearing thing for her about The Nutcracker is the music.

“I never seem to tire of the music. That’s not totally true. After the Nutcracker, I don’t want to listen to it for a while, but then as soon as I hear it, I have the dances in my head.”

She said Dani Smolen is again busy working on costumes. She said she’s been redoing all of The Snowflake costumes.

“I haven’t even seen them, so it’s going to be a surprise to me. And then there’s a new Spanish. We did get a new Chinese costume this year because the other one was showing its age.” She added there are new poinsettias and flowers as well.

They all began work on the ballet in late September, so with this weekend’s performances finally upon them, Barban said, “I’m feeling excited.” She is also looking forward to a nice long break afterwards.

Charlotte Moynes, 13, has four characters to play, including the Raven Queen, Snowflake Three and a Big Soldier. This is her seventh Nutcracker.

“It’s kind of nerve wracking because it’s very stressful to get everything done for the fast changes,” she said of the upcoming shows. She added that “in the big dances, it’s harder, because with Snowflake Three, there’s so many kids.”

Despite the challenges, she is really looking forward to it.

“I think it’s kind of cool. Professional dancers are doing it and then Julie puts together choreography for our own ages and she makes everyone feel included and like they have their own personal role.”

Shows are Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 and 7 p.m. See: onstagedirect.com or contact Barban directly: julie.barban@gmail.com 705-457-1990

Land donated for future Dysart rec centre

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 6, 2019

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IMG_7606-web — Dysart et al was gifted a piece of land to build a new community centre. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Dysart et al has been gifted a piece of land that could someday hold a new recreation centre.

The municipality made the gift public at a council meeting Nov. 26. The 15.75-acre block is at the corner of County Road 21 and Soyer’s Lake Road, across from the Pinestone Resort. A condition of the transfer is that it can only be used for a new rec centre.

Marnnie Blair made the donation to honour her parents, Lee and Marie Blair.

“The community meant a lot to both of my parents and, as such, I am delighted to make this contribution to the health and well-being of all,” she said in a message to the township.

She declined an interview but added she is glad “to support the community in this way.”

Mayor Andrea Roberts said it is an area she has considered for years and she is excited by its possibilities.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” Roberts said. “It’s flat, it’s on County Road 21, it’s the last property that’s actually on sewers.”

However, Roberts said although this is a good first step, she emphasized the municipality is a long way from starting any development.

“This is fairly far off in the future. I don’t even think anything will happen in this term of council,” Roberts said.

It is no certainty that the piece of land will be the site of Dysart’s next recreation centre, with no feasibility study yet done. But Roberts said the municipality did not own any excess land which would be a good fit.

“The reality is there’s very little land that we have to build anything like that on,” Roberts said.

She said there are issues with A.J. LaRue Arena as a community centre, such as accessibility. Though she does not expect to start advancing a new rec centre in 2020, she said council might strike a committee later in its term.

“It’s an asset for the community,” Roberts said. “This isn’t something that’s going to be done just with council.”

County secures daycare future

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 3, 2019

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JQ - Wee Care - 2-web — Haliburton Wee Care supervisor Denise Wolm said she is happy to see the county purchasing the property. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The County of Haliburton hopes to protect the future of Haliburton Wee Care daycare after purchasing its facility for $770,000.

Council agreed Nov. 27 to have bylaws presented for the purchase of the County Road 21 property in Dysart et al. The municipality is buying it from the Hodgson family, who started and managed the non-profit Wee Care but want to retire. The daycare currently leases the property from the Hodgsons and will continue to under county ownership.

Chief administrative officer Mike Rutter said the City of Kawartha Lakes, which manages child care on behalf of the county, noticed the Wee Care property up for sale in 2018. He said the family is committed to Wee Care and did not want to leave it in the lurch. The municipality stepped in to buy it.

“This ensures that both day cares in the County remain in public ownership and stable ownership,” Rutter said.

The municipality also purchased the Ontario Early Years Centre daycare facility in Minden in August for $2, to ensure that daycare could continue running.

Wee Care supervisor Denise Wolm said it is a positive development.

“It’s been a great thing for us because the county is working on our behalf. They’re looking to support us in whatever way possible. It’s not going to change much for the day-to-day operation,” she said.

Wolm added she hopes the municipality can help secure provincial funding so the facility can expand and take on more children. She said they are licenced for 24 pre-schoolers and 10 toddlers but have a waiting list of approximately 30.

Wolm said management briefly explored a new location in light of the Hodgsons selling the property, but it was not a serious threat. She added the board of directors also examined purchasing the property themselves as a non-profit but found it was not feasible.

“This is definitely the best arrangement we could possibly hope for,” she said.

The annual rental revenue for the property is $36,000, which will pay off the county’s purchase in 21 years. With interest, the county expects the annual taxpayer-funded investment will be no more than $15,000.

Rutter said the property is large enough to be the site of future development near the daycare, suggesting housing or community gardens.

Coun. Andrea Roberts commended the purchase.

“Really good day for young families in Haliburton County. I can’t image not knowing where my child is going to go to,” Roberts said. “This is sort of a forever and I think this is really forward thinking … just as much as we need doctors in our community, we need daycares.”

Minden tells residents water lead-free

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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December 3, 2019

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IMG_7612-web — Minden Hills is assuring residents its drinking water is safe.

The Township of Minden Hills is assuring residents that its drinking water system is safe from the high lead levels being uncovered elsewhere in the country.

The municipality responded Nov. 13 to an investigation which highlighted high lead levels in drinking water across the nation. The township said its latest lead tests are well below the safety thresholds set by both provincial and federal governments.

In 2018, the Minden system tested between 0.01 and 0.43 μg/L (micrograms per litre) of lead, well below Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration of 5 μg/L or Ontario’s 10 μg/L. The latest test for Minden’s Lutterworth Pines drinking water system in 2016 tested between 0.14-0.58 μg/L.

“The main source of lead in water is from lead pipes in ageing infrastructure,” the township and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) told The Highlander. “Water systems constructed prior to the 1960s typically were constructed using lead components.”

Minden built its systems post-1960 and thus they lack lead, the organizations said.

A year-long investigation from nine universities and 10 media organizations collected test samples for lead exposure in 11 Canadian cities. One in three of the 12,000 samples collected since 2014 exceed the national guidelines, according to The Toronto Star.

Minden is the only County of Haliburton township with municipally-run water systems. Residences elsewhere are either serviced by individualized well systems or non-municipal year-round residential systems for places such as apartments.

The year-round residential systems are bound by similar rules to municipally owned ones and must test for lead regularly. Designated facilities such as schools and health care must also conduct regular testing.

Jacob Wood owns and operates Halliburton Artesian Well Drillers. He said most of the county’s well systems do not risk lead contamination. That might only come from plumbing joints from systems before the 1980s.

Wells are not built like that anymore, Wood said. The composition of Haliburton’s groundwater also makes lead contamination unlikely.

“Acidic water will actually eat away at those joints more,” Wood said. “Typically around Haliburton, we don’t get any acidic water in the granite. It’s very rare.”

The Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Pine Ridge District Health Unit offers well testing for bacteria, though testing for other substances must be done at private labs.

The unit’s manager of environmental health Bernie Mayer said people should inspect their wells once a year and test them three times per year.

“Surface water can enter through the sides of the wells if the well was not properly constructed or maintained,” Mayer said.

Wood said groundwater wells remain a safe way to get clean water.

“We are fortunate in Haliburton, we don’t really have to worry about that (lead contamination) too much.”