Highlands Opera Studio launches online concert series

By

-

April 29, 2021

Starting May 2 to July 31. Highlands Opera Studio (HOS) will be releasing 13 newly-recorded concerts over 13 weeks.

In an April 27 press release, the HOS said the virtual concerts will feature past and current professional artists, who will share music that is important to them and why.

The mini concerts of 30-40 minutes will span a range of styles and themes and will be available online until the following Saturday.

The cost to purchase a link to a single concert is $10; all 13 concerts are available for $100.

The first concert in the series will feature Catherine Daniel, mezzo soprano and Roger Admiral, piano featuring music from opera, musical theatre, and traditional spirituals.

For more information, visit highlandsoperastudio.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @HighlandsOpera

Outbreak over at Highlands East churches

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 25, 2021

0

JQ - Highlands East COVID Outbreak - 1 — The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit said April 16 that there were two COVID-19 outbreaks at Highlands East churches. Photo via DoorsOpen.

Two Highlands East churches are recovering after COVID-19 outbreaks resulted in nine confirmed cases.

In a letter dated April 16, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit shared information about the outbreak at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Highland Grove and the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Cardiff. HKPR corporate communications manager Chandra Tremblay said there are six cases associated with St. John and three with Our Lady of Lourdes.

The outbreaks were declared over April 19 as 14 days had passed since the last exposure. Pastor Vic Valles said the churches had been closed since April 4 due to the outbreak, but he only knew of one person who experienced any symptoms.

“I’m really concerned, but at the same time, we are trying to do the best that we can,” Valles said. “We try not to congregate, so each individual family has been very careful in isolating themselves.”

The province has allowed religious services to carry on, with the district churches previously allowing 30 per cent capacity indoors before the April 1 shutdown. The rules shifted to 15 per cent capacity with the shutdown and is now down to 10 persons indoors or outdoors as of April 17.

Tremblay said the church notified parishioners and anyone who was a high-risk contact received a letter outlining testing and quarantine requirements. The health unit said there was a confirmed case at St. John March 27 and April 4. There was also a confirmed case at Our Lady of Lourdes April 1, April 2 and April 4.

Valles said it is hard to determine exactly how the transmission occurred. For now, the buildings are remaining closed given the lockdown.

“Holding off right now until the Ministry of Health says something,” Valles said. “Ten people is a really small crowd for a community that gathers for worship, but what do you do? The government is also looking after the health of the community. Whatever instructions they give, we try to follow.

“In the meantime, we just have to kind of bite the bullet here.”

Valles said he does not have the tools to do virtual, online services that other churches are doing. But he said there are other options for locals to visit online services, such as through Peterborough churches.

School bus riders in quarantine

The health unit also notified riders of a specific Haliburton Highlands Secondary School bus about a COVID-19 case.

The health unit sent a letter April 18 for people on Bus 57. It said that there was a confirmed case on the bus and that people who were on it April 8 have been identified as close contacts.

As a result, staff and youth on the bus are required to quarantine at home until April 22. It said essential activities could resume on April 23 if there are no symptoms.

Schools are closed this week after the spring break due to the provincial stay-at-home order.

County hesitant over basic income strategy

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 25, 2021

0

JQ - County basic income - 1 — County council opted against supporting a bill that would introduce a national basic income strategy. File photo.

County of Haliburton council opted against supporting a federal bill April 14 to establish a national basic income strategy over concern about a lack of information.

The Haliburton County – City of Kawartha Lakes Roundtable for Ending Poverty wrote to ask the County to support Bill C-273. The private member’s bill would develop a national strategy for a guaranteed basic income and establish pilot projects. The proposal is expected to come before the House of Commons later this month.

Council members expressed support of the broad concept, but several were concerned about the bill’s ramifications. Only councillors Andrea Roberts, Lisa Schell and deputy warden Patrick Kennedy voted in favour.

Coun. Brent Devolin said he was uncomfortable supporting something that could implement basic income without seeing more information first.

“Affordability becomes a question,” Devolin said. “There’s a whole other part of the analysis of the labour market that I would like to see before I’m prepared to have a position on this.”

Bill C-273 would see a report return in two years about implementing a strategy. The poverty roundtable – made up of local social services, health care, and governments – said the bill is important to address poverty.

“A national basic income in Canada could grow our economy more than it costs, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and supporting Canadian businesses while ending poverty and growing the middle class,” the letter said.

Lindsay was the site of a basic income pilot from the Ontario government in 2017. The pilot was supposed to last three years but was cut short in 2018 by a new Progressive Conservative government. Coun. Carol Moffatt said it is a “chicken and egg” problem where more information is needed before she felt comfortable supporting it. She added she has concern about what municipalities might have to pay.

“There’s no question a basic income program is a great idea,” Moffatt said. “I just feel I don’t know enough about the question in the letter.”

Devolin said supporting the bill would be seen as supporting a basic income before more information such as finances are brought to light. But Kennedy noted the bill does not necessarily mean basic income would go forward. He said it seems designed to get the answers councillors sought.

Roberts said the resolution might not make much difference for the federal decision but would send a message.

“Shows our local people, our constituents here in Haliburton that we care. That we believe in this,” Roberts said.

Councillors did not pass a motion but agreed to have the poverty roundtable present on the issue at a future date

Campaign seeks to spotlight shoreline bylaw

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 23, 2021

0

JQ - Beshore Haliburton - 1 — The County shoreline bylaw discussion is resuming with a new campaign aimed at advocating for the policy document. Photo via Beshore Haliburton.

The public debate on the County’s shoreline bylaw is picking up again with a new campaign advocating for naturalized shorelines.

Beshore Haliburton kicked off an advertising blitz April 15 with a website and information about the issue. The aim is to educate about the importance of shorelines to protect lake health and prevent toxic algae blooms, as well as amassing names for a petition.

It comes as the County has delayed a bylaw to limit development on shorelines, sending out a request for proposals March 24 to have a third-party consultant take over the work. Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Association (CHA) president Paul MacInnes – one of the people behind Beshore Haliburton – said advocates wanted to address the situation.

“When the County decided to pause work on the shoreline preservation bylaw, after almost three years of working on it, a number of us became very concerned,” MacInnes said. “We’re losing the little bit of natural shoreline that we have left very quickly.”

The draft bylaw attracted pushback from the Haliburton County Home Builders Association, local landscapers and some property owners who felt it was too far-reaching. Other organizations such as the CHA and Environment Haliburton! advocated for the tougher rules as something needed to preserve lakes and ensure that property values do not crash from algae blooms.

MacInnes said the dialogue got personal, with uninvolved members of his own family getting targeted by individuals opposing the bylaw. He said the tactics prompted the campaign to keep most of its members – which he said is more than 100 people – anonymous.

“I’m not worried about the CHA and myself being targeted,” he said. “I’m worried about the people and organizations that are part of the campaign that have not already been targeted.”

The Beshore Haliburton website includes links to government and scientific sources around buffer zones in a bid to highlight why the proposed setback for most development in the bylaw – 30 metres from high-water marks – is the correct figure. But the campaign has raised questions about timing.

Michele Bromley of Boshkung Lake Tree Service, part of a group of six landscaping companies that opposed the bylaw as initially drafted in 2020, said Beshore Haliburton seems premature given the County’s RFP process.

“We should just be waiting for the council to do their job and get this RFP done,” Bromley said. “Why are the waters being muddied?

“We feel like we’ve been dragged back into this fight again,” she added. “It’s just totally inappropriate.”

County council has signalled it does not expect to have the bylaw in place for this year’s summer building season as they originally planned. The County said it expects to have a report on proposals back at the May 12 committee of the whole meeting and the consultant will produce a new bylaw for council consideration in the summer.

But MacInnes said he hopes the bylaw can get into place sooner to prevent further destruction. He added the campaign is trying to take a positive approach and also encourage landowners to renaturalize their lakefront.

“We’re taking, very much, the high road,” he said. “This is not about personalities or individuals, this is about protecting the health of our community, which depends on healthy lakes.”

Highlander named best paper

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 23, 2021

0

The Highlander was named the best overall newspaper at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) virtual awards ceremony April 23.

“The Highlander was the clear winner in this class,” the judge said of the 6,500 to 12,499 circulation category.

“Clean and concise writing, headlines and design, with appealing layout from start to finish, excellent use of colour and strong local photography throughout,” the judge added.

“The dedicated arts and sports sections, along with the other special sections like environment and health offer readers a broad slice of community life. This is a shining example of community news not only done well in terms of content, but presented in an appealing package. Loved that they take the time to do a streeter!”

The newspaper also took first in the best feature photo category for an image editor Lisa Gervais took of a blacksmithing student looking through an opening in the handle of his knife at Haliburton School of Art and Design.

The judge said, “Lisa Gervais used a tremendous amount of imagination to figure out how to shoot this photo and make it spectacular. Everything about the photo from human interest, originality, and quality of reproduction make it #1.”

Head of production, Lyelca Rodrigues, also took a first place for local retail layout. The judge said, “you took a simple idea to the next level with great design, eye-catching images, and simple, clean text. Great way to think outside the box.”

Gervais was runner-up for best investigative news story for a piece she wrote headlined ‘Clock stops ticking at the Wig’. The judge commented, “strong open – huge story. Straightforward and simple writing by Lisa Gervais going a long way. Sometimes the work put into a story is directly related to what is on the page. Congrats.”

Rodrigues garnered a second for original ad idea. The judge said, “Nice executions. Simple and easy, yet fun.”

The paper was also awarded third place for best vertical product for Home in the Highlands, best creative ad, and best use of colour.

Friends’ fundraiser to feature local author

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 22, 2021

0

LG-friends event 1 — Local author, Marie Gage, is the guest for an April 28 Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library fundraiser

Local children’s author Marie Gage spent 10 years researching and writing her debut novel, A Ring of Promises.

She’ll be sharing her journey on Wednesday, April 28 during a Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library fundraiser.

The organization is presenting its first virtual Friends Café.

“Marie, a noted children’s author, will be discussing her first major novel A Ring of Promises,” the Friends said.

“This novel is an intriguing work of fiction inspired by the real-life events of the author’s paternal grandparents. It is a captivating story of love and adventure set in Canada, England and Scotland during the 1910s,” the Friends added.

The event is at 1 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/Friends-Café-with-MarieGage.

There will be a 20 to 30-minute author presentation followed by a short question and answer session.

While a free event, donations in support of the library system will be gratefully accepted during the program.

For event questions, contact Rozanne Hynard at 705-286-1071. For registration assistance, contact Jennifer Hughey at 705-854-1205.

New AH fire chief wants to make the diamonds shine

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 22, 2021

0

LG - AH fire chief - 2 — Michael French is the new fire chief in Algonquin Highlands

Completing his 30th year in the fire service, new Algonquin Highlands fire chief, Michael French, said it was always a goal to return to his roots and lead a volunteer fire department.

“When this opportunity came up, my wife and I talked it over and never looked back,” he said in a recent interview.

French added that after serving 12 years as the fire chief of Rama Fire & Rescue Services, he knew in his heart that it was time for a change. He said the most rewarding part of his decision was the current deputy fire chief could take the reins without a hiccup.

French started as a volunteer firefighter in 1991 for the Bracebridge Volunteer Fire Department. The fire chief of the day, Peter Mitchell, gave him every opportunity to succeed as a firefighter and allowed him to take courses at the Ontario Fire College. That resulted in him becoming the only volunteer firefighter in Ontario to graduate from both the Advanced Fire Protection Technology and Advanced Fire Prevention Technology programs.

In 1996, he started as part-time instructor with the college, teaching new volunteer firefighters as they started serving their communities.

“My role as a part-time instructor led to the ultimate opportunity being hired as a first-class firefighter for the Chippewas of Rama First Nation in 2001,” he said.

Under the leadership of then fire chief, Mark Pankhurst, who served as a mentor and an inspiration to succeed, French graduated from the Ryerson University Administration and Governance program and in 2009 was given the opportunity to be the fire chief of the number one First Nation Fire Service in Canada.

He said throughout his career, “I have lived every firefighter’s dream.”

French said his early impressions of the Algonquin Highlands volunteer fire department is that it is very well established.

“I am so impressed to see the dedication of our volunteer firefighters and I really look forward to working with our team going forward.”

He’s not new to the Highlands, either.

“Joining the team at Algonquin Highlands does have a sentimental value as we have had a family cottage at Troutspawn Lake since 1967 and prior to becoming a fulltime firefighter, I had a refrigeration and air conditioning company and worked for many of the establishments in the Algonquin Highlands area,” he said. “The township is a very scenic area. I enjoy the travel throughout the area.”

As for the township itself, he added staff have been welcoming and it already feels like a family.

French said he comes from an emergency services family. His father served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years. His daughter, Kaitlin, is a paramedic for the County of Haliburton and his son, Kyle, is a volunteer firefighter for the Township of Muskoka Lakes.

“My wife for over 30 years, Heather, is the rock of the family. After a very successful career as the owner of Heather’s Floral Designs, she has retired to help look after our two grandchildren, Lincoln and Laurel.”

When it comes to making his mark, French said, “I live by the statement ‘my role is to make the diamonds shine, not to outshine them’. Here in Algonquin Highlands there are a lot of diamonds.”

Public health a passion for top doc

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 22, 2021

0

LG-new MOH — Dr. Natalie Bocking says it's important to limit interactions over the holidays to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Dr. Natalie Bocking has begun her role as the new medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.

Prior to her official start date of April 6, Dr. Bocking has been sitting in on meetings during the past few weeks, meeting with her staff, and learning more about the area and the health unit’s pandemic response,” a spokesperson said in a media release.

Dr. Bocking said she is eager to meet more of the community partners who work with the health unit to protect the health of area residents.

“I am looking forward to building relationships with our partners, our stakeholders and our board so that we can work together and continue to make a difference in the communities that we serve,” Dr. Bocking said.

“Community partners are vital to the work that we do. This is a team effort. A lot of the problems that public health is tackling are huge and it would be impossible without our community partners.”

Dr. Bocking is a public health and preventive medicine specialist and was certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2015 following the completion of her specialty training at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bocking’s academic training also includes a Medical Doctorate from McMaster University and Master’s in International Public Health from the University of Sydney, Australia.

She spent four years working as a public health physician with Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority. In her role, she supported the development of a community based First Nations-governed public health system for 31 rural and remote First Nations. This included overseeing tuberculosis and hepatitis C programming, population health assessment, and maternal and child health support.

In addition to her work in public health, Dr. Bocking has worked as a locum family physician in northwestern Ontario. She has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at provincial and national conferences.

“I went into public health because I thought that some of the issues or health problems I was seeing in family medicine really could have been addressed so much more effectively at a population level and that was really where public health fit for me,” she said.

Dr. Bocking is assuming her new role after former medical officer of health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy retired in December. Dr. Ian Gemmill had been serving as acting medical officer of health in the interim before Dr. Bocking assumed the role.

Born in London, Ontario, Dr. Bocking, her husband and two children moved to the City of Kawartha Lakes in 2019 to her husband’s family farm, which he now operates.

A short, introductory video can be found at https://youtu.be/ UrnnOM7tLVc.

COVID-19 closes outdoor play

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 22, 2021

0

Outdoor facilities such as the Dysart et al skate park were closed April 17 due to new COVID-19 restrictions. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Haliburton Highlands Golf Course president and general manager Randal Wood said he is confused by the latest health restrictions that have shuttered his operation.

The province targeted recreation in its latest efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 April 17, closing facilities as cases continue to spike across the province. The closures included golf courses, basketball courts and soccer fields, with limited exceptions. But golf courses are pushing back on the decision.

Wood said the open spaces make golf a safe activity and they were able to operate without trouble in the past year.

“Golf was one of the first things they opened during the pandemic last season and has a proven track record in 2020,” Wood said. “Our protocols are established, and they’ve proven to be safe.”

The restrictions closed many recreational facilities throughout the County, including tennis and pickleball courts, skate parks and picnic tables. The province has said more restrictions are needed as COVID-19 reaches a new peak in Ontario and intensive care units become full.

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said the restrictions are about being precautious to avoid gatherings at this time.

“The policy direction was taken to be extremely cautious and making sure there was going to be no opportunities for gatherings in such spaces,” Bocking said. “I agree it’s a challenge. We want to encourage people to be physically active and be outside.”

The government targeted other outdoor recreation sites earlier in the shutdown. Overnight seasonal campsites were closed April 3.

Haliburton Forest general manager Tegan Legge said although she understands encouraging people not to travel, the restriction seems silly.

“Our campsites are very private, very well-spaced,” Legge said. “If I could open to the local community so they could get out of their houses and camp lakeside, that would be great.”

Still, Legge said given the time of the year, the business impact is limited. But she said that could change if the restrictions extend to the May long weekend. They are currently set to end just before then.

“It would definitely really hurt. Our bottom line is the May long weekend is our first big weekend of the season,” Legge said. “It definitely would affect our bottom line.”

Legge said there are still trails and activities such as canoeing to enjoy. She added it is important to have opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation in the pandemic.

“Being able to touch trees and the ground and the soil are more important than it ever has been before,” Legge said. “We know everybody coming out hiking, biking, paddling, it gives them that sense of getting out of the pandemic for a minute … It doesn’t feel like the pandemic is happening up here.”

Health unit struggling with third wave of COVID

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 22, 2021

0

by Kirk Winter

The third wave of COVID-19 “has stretched the capacity of the health unit to its limits,” new HKPR medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, told a board meeting April 15.

Bocking said the health unit is having to prioritize tracking of new cases and immunization, while juggling other public health roles.

“We are doing a bit of a dance right now as we continue to work through new cases while also rolling out our vaccination clinics as we know that, in the long run, the vaccinations will play a major role in changing the trajectory of the pandemic,” Bocking said.

In the 14 days as of the meeting, the health unit had been notified of 282 confirmed cases and more than 500 high-risk contacts. In addition, it is staffing six mass immunization clinics in Lindsay, Cobourg, Trent Hills, Fenelon Falls, Minden and Haliburton. It was further investigating eight community outbreaks, responding to 200 to 300 phone calls and emails daily, working with health care partners to set up programs to immunize homebound residents, and working with primary health care providers to implement vaccination of patients.

A high-risk contact is anyone who has come in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. These individuals will be emailed a letter outlining quarantine and testing requirements. Health unit staff will continue to work closely with individuals who are confirmed cases.

Bocking also addressed the growing public frustration with perceived poor response times from the health unit’s call centre.

“In order to address the hundreds of phone calls and emails coming into the health unit each day, staff have had to prioritize their response. Only urgent or emergency emails and contacts will be responded to quickly. Individuals who call or email to check on when they might be eligible to be vaccinated will not receive a response from the health unit,” she said.

On vaccines, Bocking added the health unit is “experiencing challenges” due to a decrease in vaccine deliveries and an increase in who is now eligible.

“Our goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible, but with expanded eligibility provincially and no additional vaccine to provide locally, we are challenged to offer more clinics for our residents,” she said.

“HKPRDHU does not book appointments without having a vaccine delivery confirmed. Residents who have an appointment will not see those cancelled. Instead, it means the health unit will not be able to offer as many new appointments as first planned.”

Bocking reported about the enforcement of isolation and quarantine orders.

She said 44 warning letters and two tickets had been issued by the health unit between Jan. 1 and April 9, 2021 to cases and contacts of COVID-19.

“Cases and contacts are obligated to participate in contact phone calls with the health unit so their progress can be monitored and ensure they are maintaining isolation or quarantine … cases are required to isolate and contacts who are required to quarantine and who do not do so can be charged with fines up to $5,000 a day,” she said.

The medical officer of health added that in more than half of the latest cases, there is no one point of exposure so that tells the health unit “we are clearly seeing the virus circulating in our communities. We need to stay vigilant, follow the directions and do our part to stop any further spread.”