County draft budget floats four per cent hike

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October 21, 2019

LG-county budget.jpg web — Warden Liz Danielsen and CAO Mike Rutter.

The first draft of the County of Haliburton budget for 2020 sits at a 3.97 per cent levy increase.

CAO/clerk Mike Rutter said at an Oct. 11 all-day meeting that the budget “is very much a work in progress,” but he’s confident it will come in at a 3.5 to four per cent hike.

The first draft is seeking an additional $908,177 from 2019.

Rutter emphasized the county goal of sustainability, or “having the funds available to replace or repair the asset at the optimal time … this really has become part of our culture.”

During his presentation, he also commented that there were still a lot of unknowns, such as the extent of provincial government cuts, the results of grant applications and allocations, service review study recommendations, staff suggestions for cutting costs and relying on assessment growth assumptions of one per cent.

He said they had achieved sustainability in a number of areas, such as: physician financial incentives and recruitment; IT hardware; emergency medical services fleet and equipment; public access defibrillators, new housing units, LiDar and GIS; roads fleet; pavement preservation and broadband, resurfacing, bridges and culverts, hiring a climate change coordinator and tourism marketing.

There is still work to be done in the area of shoreline protection and reserve balances, he told county councillors. He also said staff were looking for direction on transit, since they have $50,000 put away but have not made any decisions. While they have hired a climate change staff person, there’ll need to be future direction on any plans. In the area of paramedic resources, he said they’ll likely need another car or shift as call volumes increase. He suspects there will be more needed in the broadband portfolio and decisions about economic development made.

Treasurer Elaine Taylor said staff goals and objectives include keeping tax increases as low as possible while providing efficient service delivery. She is also keen to enhance financial sustainability by focusing on long-term financial planning with an emphasis on zero-based budgeting. Taylor said they’d spent about 56 per cent of the levy as of Aug. 31, with about two-thirds on operating costs and one-third on capital.

“We expect to end the year on budget.” She noted Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) funding has been decreasing, they’ve got over $1M from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Fund for the Hawk Lake Road Bridge. They received $548,000 in gas tax money. Reserves are sitting at about $4.5 million. There’s also been talk of borrowing $3 million to put towards road works. In Taylor’s opinion, the 2020 budget pressures will come from the unknowns around OMPF; MPAC assessments; health unit costs; winter maintenance and social services and housing. Budget talks are continuing.

Expensive September for Minden arena renewal

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Lisa Gervais

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October 21, 2019

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LG-arena update.jpg web — Work is continuing on the Minden arena

The $12.5 million Minden arena project saw its contingency fund plummet from the end of August to the end of September. Meanwhile, early details were released around a fundraising campaign for the building’s renewal at an Oct. 10 meeting.

Director of community services Mark Coleman said month-to-month, the contingency fund went from $298,811.15 to $137,024.04 – a drop of $161,787.11. A contingency fund is a reserve of money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses.

He told council this largely stemmed from awarding some major contracts that will cost more than were anticipated. He said four to five key tenders had gone overbudget, such as for drywalling, light fixtures, window glazing, and flooring and tiling.

However, he added the project was “still on the good side of the ledger. September has been a big month for the project. Everything is progressing quite well.” He added there were no “alarm bells” on the part of the architect or builder.

McDonald Brothers (MBD) and Parkin Architects will be providing council with a look-ahead for the remainder of the project at a November committee of the whole meeting. Coleman said they were very close to finalizing most of the tenders.

Asked by Coun. Bob Carter for more specifics, Coleman said 90 per cent of tenders had been awarded in terms of dollars for the project.

Mayor Brent Devolin noted “earthworks almost buried us out of the gate” – $140,000 over-budget last April, but there are some anticipated savings as well, such as for landscaping.

Sneak peek in November

The arena fund raising committee has set a goal of $750,000 to put towards extras, or to offset costs. Coleman said they’ve come up with a hierarchy of donors with community founders at the top, then leaders, builders, sponsors and donors.

He said people could purchase a metre of the walking track; a square metre of ice; name rooms, donate cash, or specify cash towards identified items. He said the committee is also proposing events, such as dances, rides, charity hockey games and bringing in celebrities.

Coleman said all donors will be acknowledged on a wall of recognition and invited to official campaign ceremonies as well as the grand opening. “The wall of recognition will take the shape of a wall section centrally located within the main lobby of the new facility following the model hierarchy,” his written report to council said. “Other donor signage and plaque locations would be located appropriately throughout the facility.”

He estimated it would cost upwards of $40,000 to finance the fundraising campaign and for the donor wall, signage and plaques. Carter was uncomfortable with the concept of borrowing $40,000 from the township to offset the fundraising costs. He has always maintained that any costs related to the arena project should be accounted for within that project. He also suggested that any fundraising above the $750,000 should be used to offset project costs.

Coleman said the committee will launch the campaign on Nov. 26 at the Minden Community Centre, coinciding with a public sneak-peek and controlled walk through of the project site in partnership with MBC and Parkin Architects.

A ballot with my breakfast special

By

Lisa Gervais

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October 21, 2019

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My voter information card arrived in the mail recently and is attached by magnet to the fridge. It’s a reminder to make sure I get out to vote today.

I get to cast my vote at the Mill Pond Restaurant in Carnarvon. I usually go to Zion United Church but because it’s up for sale, the owners couldn’t guarantee they would have a polling station on election day. I think it’s pretty cool I get to vote at my hunger hang-out.

Location aside, voting is never an easy prospect for me. First of all, I am a journalist. Since journalists are supposed to be non-partisan in their reporting, I always have an internal debate as to whether or not I should vote at all. By choosing a party, or candidate, am I showing a bias? Will it affect my coverage? Then, I feel guilty. People have died fighting for the privilege of voting around the world and so I feel I should exercise my democratic right.

Growing up in Sudbury, the daughter of a steelworker, my early voting patterns were modelled on that of my parents, so without a great deal of thought I habitually marked down the NDP on my ballot.

Since then, I have opted for other parties over the years – at both the federal and provincial level – generally basing my decision on what the party stands for, asking if their values match my own. It’s the same with candidates. Do they reflect the values I hold near and dear to my heart?

This weekend, I took one of those online quizzes to see how things were looking this time around. I went with I Side With … since it had an extensive 2019 political quiz tackling everything from housing, to foreign policy, healthcare, crime, the economy, immigration, the environment, education, social issues, science, domestic policy, transportation, electoral and local issues. I won’t share my results, for obvious reasons, but I wasn’t overly surprised at the outcome.

The federal election also naturally came up at a social function or two over the weekend. We talked about the nuance between local candidates and national parties. For example, the people we were visiting with were impressed by Green Party leader Elizabeth May but were fairly confident her local candidate, Elizabeth Fraser, would not be elected.

Others said they liked incumbent Conservative Jamie Schmale, but they were not convinced by the Conservative platform this time around.

The age-old question of voting for candidate or party was bandied about. Others said none of it mattered since they thought Schmale would get in anyway, regardless of who else is running.

That was countered with a vote for Fraser, which would show support for the Greens and their environmental stance.

At the end of the day, voting is a very personal thing. Your choice does reflect who you are and what you believe in and sometimes it does involve factoring in how to make that vote strategic.

All that really matters is that you do vote. I’ll be heading to the Mill Pond Restaurant Monday and instead of ordering my usual breakfast special, I’ll be exercising my democratic right to choose who I want to see lead Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock and Canada through the next four years. I encourage you to do so, too.

Local teachers participate in strike vote

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Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 18, 2019

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LG-CUPE-update.jpg-WEB — Elementary teachers across the province are holding strike votes as their central bargaining unit negotiates with the province.. File photo.

Local elementary teachers held a strike vote Oct. 16 in the wake of stalled negotiations between their central bargaining unit and the province.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which represents teachers, occasional teachers and designated early childhood educators, has called on its locals to hold strike votes across the province amid collective agreement negotiations with the provincial government, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Council of Trustees’ Associations. The ETFO also filed for a conciliation officer to help the process Oct. 16 and said negotiations have come to a “virtual standstill.”

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) teacher local president Karen Bratina said more than 650 people attended the local strike vote, where they were provided information about the bargaining process. The results will not be disclosed until November after all the ETFO locals have voted.

“I’m very confident that teachers at Trillium Lakelands will have given a strong mandate,” Bratina said.

The ETFO collective agreements expired Aug. 31. ETFO said in an Oct. 16 press release that the province seeks up to 2.5 per cent spending reduction in the education sector. As part of that, ETFO said the province wants teachers and occasional teachers to agree to up to $150 million in collective agreement strips.

“I would say that is the greatest threat to our world-class education in Ontario, the cuts,” Bratina said.

Another issue Bratina identified is increasing violence against teachers. A University of Ottawa study found 54 per cent of elementary educators reported they experienced physical violence in the 2017-18 school year.

“The violence in our schools continues to grow because there’s a lack of supports,” Bratina said.

The Ministry of Education could not be reached before press time.

Local bargaining between TLDSB and its teachers will also soon take place and will not await central bargaining, Bratina said. She added teachers are circulating a survey to create a preliminary submission, which will be presented to TLDSB in November.

Bratina said she could not predict how local bargaining will play out.

“It’s my hope that locally, we will be able to come to a fair agreement,” she said. “Like central bargaining, locally we just want what’s best for our members.”

School vaping becoming “epidemic,” officer says

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Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 18, 2019

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JQ - Vaping epidemic - 1-web — Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit tobacco control officer Lorne Jordan called vaping in schools an “epidemic” during a board of health meeting Oct. 17.. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Vaping within the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge area has become an “epidemic” according to the health unit’s tobacco control officer.

In a presentation to the unit’s board of health Oct. 17, control officer Lorne Jordan said vaping has become “pretty much an epidemic” in schools and he has doled out 40 charges in recent months. He said provincial laws need to change to address it.

“We’re seeing it not only on school property but inside schools. Not just inside schools but inside classrooms. Students are vaping whenever the teacher turns their back,” Jordan said. “It’s a very inconspicuous device.”

Vaping is disallowed in the same places smoking is in Ontario, including enclosed public spaces. But Jordan said laying charges, including an approximately $300 fine, is not having the same impact on vaping as it has historically with cigarettes.

“Normally, I charge a kid in high school, everyone in that high school hears about that charge within an hour and we get really good compliance for six months,” Jordan said. “Not seen that same effect with vaping.”

Education campaigns and warnings about the short-term health risks and uncertain long-term risks have also proved ineffective so far, Jordan said. He added he thinks the solution is with provincial legislation to curtail advertising and flavoured vaping, used by a tobacco company-controlled vaping industry.

“We really need stricter laws,” Jordan said. “This is like a godsend for the tobacco industry because they can get a whole new generation of young people addicted to nicotine through vaping.”

Another issue Jordan identified was courts reducing fines, with people subjected to them pleading financial hardship.

Minden Hills OPP Const. Christopher Henshall suggested the province be lobbied to impose bigger minimum fines for vaping in disallowed spaces.

“There are multiple avenues you can pursue to protect kids,” Henshall said. “Everyone in the high school age thinks you’re invincible.”

Board member and Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts proposed the health unit draft a motion for a future board meeting to ask the provincial government to toughen vaping legislation.

Vaping is making news due to recent cases of severe pulmonary illnesses and death associated with the use of vaping products in the United States.

“It is important for Canadians to know that vaping does have health risks and that the potential short and long-term effects of vaping remain unknown. Non-smokers, people who are pregnant and young people should not vape,” Health Canada said in a September information release.

Jordan said he is aware of one or two students in Northumberland County who have been hospitalized due to vaping.

Championing inclusion from Canberra to the county

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Lisa Gervais

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October 18, 2019

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LG-nat gallery of oz.jpg web — Adriane Boag leads a workshop at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden Thursday.

The program producer of the National Gallery of Australia crouches down in front of a sculpture of a reassembled tree that has been hinged together with steel brackets and has a wooden crutch leaning against it.

She’s surrounded by members of the Art-Making for the Health of It! group.

Together, they discuss what Jocelyn Purdie’s art installation at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden means to them.

This week, Adriane Boag was a guest of Fay Wilkinson, a registered expressive arts consultant, educator, storyteller and artist who resides in Haliburton.

The Canberra resident also did a lunch and learn at the college; a talk at the Abbey Retreat Centre and a workshop at the Rails End Gallery during her stay.

She talked a lot during her visit about the Art and Dementia programs her gallery does; the supporting research around how it is helping people; programs for people in palliative care; those living with mental health challenges; children in hospital, and the NGA ArtMed program, a partnership with the Australian National University for medical students.

The theme of the week also leant itself to discussions about how similar programs could be developed in Haliburton County.

“She understands the rural context,” explained Wilkinson at the speakers’ series at the Abbey Retreat Centre Oct. 15. “There will be discussion about ‘how do we do this in our community’?”

“Take whatever you want and make it yours,” Boag added. “I’m very keen to work with Fay in this area.”

Boag has been sharing the gallery’s work around the world, at conferences in South Korea, New York, Italy, Japan and this fall in Montreal. She has also been the subject of a Tedtalk.

Wilkinson and Boag met last year when the Haliburton artist was invited to speak at a conference in Australia.

Boag said a dementia diagnosis can come with a lot of grief. She added there is a focus on what people can no longer do, versus what they can still do. She said the art and dementia program is about “going forward in an optimistic way.”

People with dementia come to the gallery with their carers to look at art, discuss and create. In some cases, the gallery comes to them via outreach.

Boag talked about a man named Chris, who had visited the gallery every two weeks for four years and told them, “I am leading the best life I ever have.”

She said test results have shown that over time the visits lower cortisol levels to more normal levels.

Commenting on the palliative program, in which they have brought people at end of life to the gallery to look at pieces, such as by Monet, she said it provides distraction and respite.

Griffins, Hurricanes blow out Red Hawks football

By

Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 17, 2019

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JQ - Football - 4-web — Senior football players Desi Davies (#46) rushes forward with the ball Oct. 11 during a game at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) senior football team is staying positive after a pair of 31-0 losses Oct. 11 and 16.

The Red Hawks could not muster any offence against the top-seeded Thomas A. Stewart Griffins Oct. 16 and the second-place Holy Cross Hurricanes Oct. 11. The losses dropped HHSS to 0-5 and well out of the playoff picture.

But coach Tim Davies kept positive after the losses. In an interview after the Holy Cross game, he said his team competed well. They held the team to only seven points in the first half.

“We had a few injuries in the second and probably ran out of a little bit of gas,” Davies said. “Although there are 12 guys on the field, it’s still man-on-man. As soon as you start replacing guys that aren’t playing their normal positions, then it becomes difficult, but the kids played well.”

The Griffins controlled the game throughout, up 17-0 at the half and then adding two touchdowns in the third quarter.

But the Red Hawks kept the game closer against the Hurricanes. Though the Red Hawks did not make much headway offensively, their defense held, keeping Holy Cross to one touchdown in the first half.

“We did very good,” linebacker and fullback Desi Davies said. “We did more than we expected to do in the first half.”

But Holy Cross struck quickly in the third. After scoring a touchdown, they picked up a Red Hawks pass and made another successful scoring drive to make it 21-0.

Holy Cross stymied the Red Hawks’ next offensive drive. After the Red Hawks punted, the Hurricanes came back with another touchdown. They later finished the game’s scoring with a field goal.

“It was a little bit frustrating but we just know we have to regroup and try and rally back together as a team,” Desi Davies said.

The team’s next game is on the road against Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute Oct. 22, before the season wraps up against St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School at home Nov. 1.

The Red Hawks senior football team is the only single-A school in the Kawarthas. Although coach Davies said they are probably not playoff-bound, he thinks the team can be more competitive in their final games.

“We’re a young team,” he said. “We’re on the outside looking in. We’re still going to come out and have some fun.”

“It’s been fun,” Desi Davies said about the season so far. “I’m just proud of the guys, every single person on this team that has stuck in there.”

Red Hawks volleyball pursues quick rise

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Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 16, 2019

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JQ - Volleyball - 1-web — Haliburton Highlands Secondary School senior boys volleyball players Jacob Dobson (#5) and Brian Kim (#2) attempt to block a shot during a game Oct. 8. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Haliburton Highlands Secondary School Red Hawks seniors boys volleyball team is in its first-year and building for the future – but believes success can come before season’s end.

The single-A team had its first home games Oct. 8, losing two best-of-three matches in straight sets to higher-ranked AAA I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEW) and single-A St. Thomas Aquinas (STA).

But the games do not count toward any standings until the end of the season when HHSS will attempt to battle for a spot at the Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) championships. Head coach Brett Caputo said he believes the team can make it.

“We’re young, so we’re a year behind everybody age-wise,” Caputo said. “Within the single-A schools, we’re competitive and just the little things are going to make a difference”

The team kept things close in its home games, losing sets 25-22 and 25-17 to St. Thomas. STA is one of the schools HHSS will be competing against to reach COSSA and Caputo said he liked how his team played them.

“We’re right there,” Caputo said. “St. Thomas has a leg up right now but we played with them.”

The team fell into a 15-1 hole against IEW in its first set against them before battling back to lose 25-15. They ended the match with a closer 25-18 loss.

“To make that big comeback in the first game … it was impressive,” Caputo said.

The team will work to limit its errors in the games ahead, as well as increasing its aggressiveness, the coach said.

But he added the group, which has been together for three years, is fun to work with.

“It’s nice to see them progress and improve as we go through.”

Liam Little is a fifth-year student playing competitively for the first time after it was unavailable for his senior years.

Despite the team’s inexperience, Little said he thinks the team can make it to COSSA.

“There’s definitely room for improvement,” Little said. “But we’re definitely looking good so far.”

To reach COSSA, they will have to finish top-2 in a three-team bracket against St. Thomas and Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute, who they defeated earlier this season. Their seeding tournament is Oct. 22, with the Kawartha Championships Oct. 29.

“A lot of schools don’t expect us to be competitive,” Caputo said. “We are competitive and we’re getting better and we’re coming after them.”

mes Oct. 8, losing two best-of-three matches in straight sets to higher-ranked AAA I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEW) and single-A St. Thomas Aquinas (STA).

But the games do not count toward any standings until the end of the season when HHSS will battle for a spot at the Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) championships. Head coach Brett Caputo said he believes the team can make it.

“We’re young, so we’re a year behind everybody age-wise,” Caputo said. “Within the single-A schools, we’re competitive and just the little things are going to make a difference.”

Group aims to build new multi-million arts centre

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Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 16, 2019

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AC-orchestra 5-web — Daniel Manley (centre), pictured with the Highlands Chamber Orchestra, is part of a group which wants to build a new multimillion dollar arts centre in Haliburton. File photo.

Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation chair Daniel Manley and his board have a big idea for the county.

The group has set out to bring a massive arts centre to better meet the needs of its art groups. The organization formally began in 2018 and achieved charitable status Aug. 1.

The centre would have more seats than the 210 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion (NLPAP), where many arts groups currently perform in Haliburton. The proposed facility would feature administration space, a dedicated rehearsal space, a complete lobby area and a kitchen.

The price tag is uncertain, but Manley speculated it could cost more than $20 million. Despite the price tag, Manley believes the project can work.

“This can succeed because of the love of performance but also for all the arts up here. If we were able to build a branch for Sir Sandford Fleming (College) here, I think we can support and sustain an arts centre this size,” Manley said. “I think the county will fill it.”

Manley said he has experienced the need for a new facility as the music director for the Highlands Chamber Orchestra and the co-director of the Highlands Wind Symphony. Although the group envisions a new facility as complementary to the NLPAP, Manley said more is necessary.

“It came out of a lot of talks for a number of years. There were people wanting an arts centre, something that would have more options,” Manley said.

Those conversations led to the creation of the foundation, which also features Brent Wootton as director and Wil Andrea as secretary. Manley said they have consulted with other arts groups and there is a lot of interest.

Marci Mandel of Those Other Movies, which organizes the Haliburton International Film Festival, said although the NLPAP is wonderful, it has its limitations.

“Sound quality, screen size, concessions and the inability to stage galas,” Mandel said. “We look forward to the opportunity to work with the new theatre foundation to create another performance space that can take the movie goer’s experience to the next level.”

Highlands Opera Studio general director Valeria Kuinka said her organization supports a new theatre. But she added it will be hard to build and a less expensive, open-air theatre is worth exploring. “

It’s an expensive proposition no matter how you look at it,” she said, adding cottagers would need to be engaged to support the initiative. “I think anything’s possible in Haliburton County and I’m all for dreaming and getting behind a realistic dream.”

Manley said the team plans to utilize grant funding and private donations to pay for it. The group is not relying on municipal funding, though Manley said any help they could offer would be welcome. The process will take time. Manley said the group is aiming to complete feasibility studies.

“We have to determine, what all the requirements would be for the building, what kind of cost that could translate into,” Manley said. “Certainly, going to be a multi-year project.”

But Manley said having charitable status will help get larger donations. He further said the group is planning to expand to include more board members and will begin applying for grants in early 2020.

“This region is going to grow as well,” he said. “We want this building for decades to come.”

Indigenous author shares story

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Joseph Quigley, Local Journalism Initiative Repoter

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October 15, 2019

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JQ - Indigenous author - 1-web — Author Antoine Mountain spoke before a small crowd at the Canoe FM Radio Hall Oct. 3 to promote his new book. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Residential school survivor and Indigenous author Antoine Mountain told a Canoe FM audience that the way to reconciliation is not a report made by politicians which can be put aside and forgotten.

“That’s not the way life is. Life is all about your next-door neighbour,” Mountain said. “What we believe in our culture is that person with the ability to answer your prayer, your needs, is going to meet you halfway. That’s the way I look at reconciliation.

“I can’t just go around saying you’re the bad person, I’m the good one. There’s nobody like that in real life.”

Canoe FM hosted the acclaimed artist and writer Oct. 3. He was promoting his new memoir From Bear Rock Mountain: The Life and Times of a Dene Residential School Survivor. T

he station had him on for a live audience event as Larry O’Connor interviewed him for the recorded Indigenous radio program Tales from the Big Canoe. O’Connor said Mountain’s friends Pat McCann-Smith and Peter Smith of Kennisis Lake asked him to come to Haliburton to share his book.

“We had a nice, little, cozy turnout here,” O’Connor said. “The opportunity to speak to an elder, a Dene elder with so much wisdom, an author, has just been incredible. I feel quite blessed.”

O’Connor asked Mountain about the book, which details Mountain’s life through writing, poetry and art. Mountain said his book features his personal growth. The Northwest Territories activist is currently a fifth-year student at Trent University, working towards his Ph.D in Indigenous studies.

“Wanting to continue working with the youth to prove to them there is an alternative to jails, drugs,” Mountain said. “I want to create some kind of environment for future artists that they’d be able to express themselves in the very high levels of education.”

O’Connor also asked Mountain to offer advice to the youth leading the climate change protests of today. Mountain said he attended one and said he supports them, but they are
much different from some of the major social protects he recalls from the civil rights era.

“I’m standing with one of my brothers, going, ‘where are the cops going by to bash our heads in? This is not a real demonstration’,” Mountain said. “It’s really good for me to see the young people are doing this … the water, climate change, the climate itself isn’t particularly interested in how it’s being saved. The land itself is not particularly interested in who is doing the same. It’s something that simply needs to be done.”

O’Connor said he hopes people listening went away with a better understanding of reconciliation.

“Reconciliation isn’t just one-sided. It’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit coming forward and meeting with settlers, colonizers to have that conversation and some of it is difficult conversations about the past. Much like you’ll find on my program, but also celebrating the relationship because it’s not all bad,” O’Connor said.