Thanks, Mike

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March 5, 2021

It’s not often we use this editorial space to pay tribute to an individual in the community. However, Mike Jaycock’s contribution to Haliburton County over the years is significant and it somehow seemed fitting.

While Mike and his wife, Jane, and dog Sophie, are not moving until March 24, word is out that the Highlands’ loss is Ingersoll’s gain.

CanoeFM spilled the beans in an email blast and The Highlander asked Jaycock to trip down memory lane with us for a story on his pending departure which is running on our people page a little further back in today’s edition.

Glancing through a lengthy email – since Jaycock is one of those few people who can do an email interview because he writes very well, honed from years of doing radio interviews – it’s hard to believe what he has packed in, in his 18 years as a permanent resident.

Difficult to fathom that when he first arrived, he and Jane didn’t know anybody. However, they soon learned that joining a club or organization – in their case the Haliburton Curling Club – was the ticket to friendship.

Meeting Dave Sovereign, one of Canoe’s founders, helped Jaycock transition into community radio. Jaycock helped Sovereign with the morning show, before taking it on himself for about 10 years. He went on to do the Friday Drive show.

Jaycock reflected on his great friendship with the late Lorraine McNeil, his radio partner who gave him the kick he needed to translate his dream for a Christmas pantomime into The Highlands Christmas Shindig. With alter ego, Dame Beatrice, and more people than we can name in this space, they have launched what continues to be one of the marquee events on the County calendar, and a huge fundraiser for Fuel for Warmth.

The good news is Dame Beatrice plans to come back in November for what’s hoped to be a live show.

Prior to that, he recalls going to Those Other Movies and seeing Prairie Home Companion and loving it. After the show he chatted with Tammy Rea and they talked about the power of that kind of production. Naturally Rea thought they should try it here. Many will remember the Highlands Radio Almanac.

For many, Jaycock has been the voice of not just community radio, but so many local events. He is synonymous with Canada Day in Minden. There was many a live broadcast at election times. We recall his voice at the Lions Club polar bear challenge; emcee of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce awards gala; countless auctions including the hospital auxiliary and Tall Pine Tales.

And there were contributions to the Sculpture Forest and Performing Arts committees; Rotary; SIRCH; Yours Outdoors, Dysart et al and the Ontario Senior Games. And, we’re pretty sure he’s missed a few.

Outside of the radio station, his contributions continue. He was instrumental in the work of the Haliburton Creative Business Incubator. Some might have forgotten that he was the first business manager there. He taught at the college, too. He recalls some great young people coming through the eco-tourism program including Haliburton Forest’s Tegan Legge.

Jaycock was named Highlander of the Year in 2009.

While we may still listen to him on air from time to time and see him in November, when he and Jane move March 24, the Highlands will bid them farewell with a heavy heart.

Thanks, Mike.

Cook it up and get ready for retail

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Lisa Gervais

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March 5, 2021

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This year’s Cook It Up and Ready for Retail training programs will be offered both onsite and online, SIRCH Community Services said in a Feb. 15 news release.

In partnership with Fleming College, both programs are starting soon.

Cook It Up trains people in food services. Ready for Retail trains people to work in retail spaces.

This year, for the first time, Cook It Up trainees get to practice their skills in the SIRCH Community Kitchen and Bistro, while Ready for Retail students will cut their teeth at the SIRCH Marketplace.

SIRCH said successful candidates can do some courses from home or, if they don’t have an available computer, at the new training centre. Some of the classes will be in small groups in the training centre as well.

“These programs will help you gain the skills and confidence you need to find success,” SIRCH executive director, Gena Robertson, said to potential participants.

“We can help you solve any practical issues that may stand in your way, like if you don’t have transportation, or need to be home when the kids get off the bus. And you’ll get a hot lunch any day you’re on site.”

She added, “Our instructors will make you feel confident in no time. Our goal is to get you employed, or self-employed, and everyone is going to bend over backwards to make that happen.”

The programs have been running for six years. Robertson said 90 per cent of graduates have been offered jobs upon graduation.

The programs are free. To apply or learn more, contact SIRCH at info@ sirch.on.ca or call 705-457-1742. Or you can visit www.sirch.on.ca

New owners have big plans for Minden links

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Lisa Gervais

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March 5, 2021

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Beaverbrook Golf Course in Minden has new owners and big plans for the nine-hole course, clubhouse and property.

Luigi Centurami and Liz Coccia have purchased the course and hired Gordon Timbers as the director of golf to lead the golf operations and maintenance team at the property.

Timbers said he’s assuming his role this spring and will begin implementing plans for improvement throughout the facility.

“COVID-19 protocols will be at the top of the list, with a goal of ensuring all guests feel comfortable with a minimal contact experience,” he said.

Plans also include a complete renovation to the clubhouse, which is currently underway and should be completed early in the 2021 golf season. An addition of new carts is in the works as well, which Timbers said will improve the quality of the experience.

“We will be adding a full-service restaurant to the facility, called Mulligans Pub & Patio, that will be operated by Michael Wright and Paula Sylvester as owners and food and beverage managers for the course,” he said.

The pair have been owners and operators of the Tower Bistro restaurant in Dorset, winning the TripAdvisor award of excellence.

Timbers said the facility is also excited to announce that they will be offering a full adult membership at the promotion price of $500. Timbers will also be assessing the daily rates for the coming 2021 season and will probably make adjustments to be on par with the other 9-hole courses in the County.

They’ll be continuing the ladies league tradition as a supporting venue for the Chippers and Putters divisions held on Tuesdays. The course will also be offering a weekly men’s night that is slated for Monday evenings; which will be using a shotgun format to promote a club atmosphere.

With Centurami and Coccia also owning Twin Lakes Resort, Timbers said currently the two entities will be separate, “but we may offer a stay and play promotion through the resort in the future.”

Timbers’ resume includes work at the Muskoka Bay Club, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Beacon Hall Golf Course in Aurora.

Jaycock flying the coop but Dame Beatrice will be back

By

Lisa Gervais

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March 5, 2021

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LG-Mike Jaycock 1 — Canoe FM volunteer Mike Jaycock hosts one of his final programs after 10 years of service.

One of Haliburton County’s favourite adopted sons is leaving the Highlands, but he promises to be back as his alter ego, Dame Beatrice.

Mike Jaycock is entering yet another stage of retirement as he and wife, Jane, are moving to Ingersoll.

Jaycock told The Highlander the decision was one of the toughest the couple has ever faced.

“We knew there’d be a time when we wanted to be closer to family and, given the real estate market, it appeared that now was the time we should make those plans,” he said.

They were looking to be outside the big cities, around Woodstock and Ingersoll, down the 403. They found a home in Ingersoll, population 9,000 which puts them nicely within reach of all family members. The Jaycocks have been permanent residents of the Highlands for almost 18 years.

Jaycock recalls that when they first arrived, they didn’t know anyone. However, after joining the Haliburton Curling Club they began to make friends.

He also began volunteering with CanoeFM. It started with a morning show a few days a week, morphing into five days a week.

“Through snow storms, rainy days and beautiful summer mornings, I did that for about 10 years.” Jaycock retired after coming down with Meniere’s Disease, an inner ear disorder that triggers severe bouts of vertigo. However, he was able to do the Friday Drive show and co-hosted with Lorraine McNeil on Monday mornings.

He describes his friendship with McNeil as the best thing that happened to him in radio.

“I still hear her laughter. Almost each time we were together I was able to trick her with some improbable comment and she would always say to me (off air) ‘you’re such a bum!’ and then we would both laugh uproariously. It was the best of times. Lorraine has been gone from us for three years now but her positive impact on my life, as for many others, continues.”

She was also integral in pushing Jaycock to fulfill his dream for a Christmas Pantomime that would become the Highlands Christmas Shindig, a major fundraiser for Fuel for Warmth.

“Little did we know that it would be a huge hit and that tickets to the show would become much sought after,” he said.

Prior to that, with Tammy Rae, there was the Highlands Radio Almanac. For 10 weeks in the summer, the troupe travelled to a different location each week, throughout the County, and broadcast live, with local talent and interview guests and even live radio commercials for sponsors of the program.

“It was two hours of great radio. I still believe that it was the best radio I’ve ever been a part of,” Jaycock said. All up, he spent almost 18 years on air.

“That’s a pretty good retirement project. It’s a great group of people and I have been so lucky to have been a part of their family”

HSAD students get more mental health dollars

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Lisa Gervais

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March 5, 2021

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Fleming College president, Maureen Adamson, says 69 per cent of students at Haliburton, Lindsay and Peterborough campuses have experienced anxiety during COVID-19. She said that’s up about six per cent prior to the pandemic.

In addition, she says 52 per cent have experienced depression, also up from 46 per cent prior to COVID.

Not surprisingly, she said there has been an increased demand for mental health and addictions support.

Adamson welcomed news Feb. 26 that the province is investing an additional $336,826 for mental health and addiction resources at the campuses she leads, including Haliburton School of Art and Design.

The college president said she is also worried about student retention, with some dropping out due to anxiety and other mental health concerns.

In making the announcement, the province said the money will support a variety of initiatives, including Good2Talk/Allo j’écoute, Ontario’s bilingual mental health helpline which provides professional counselling and information and referrals to all students via telephone, text and live chat (new this year). It is available to all postsecondary students 24/7, 365 days a year.

The province added the funding will strengthen community partnerships, increase the number of mental health workers and programs and immediately expand access for students to the provincial mental health and addictions system.

Local MPP, Laurie Scott, said it had been an exceptionally challenging year for students.

“We’ve heard in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock from students who attend these schools … they have expressed the challenges they have faced through the year and the toll it has taken on their mental health,” she said.

Although there is some in-class learning at HSAD right now, students have been forced to learn virtually from home for long stretches of time, which is stressful, Adamson said.

“This has been an unprecedented year of anxiety, students looking for support, counselling services have been taxed, so I cannot tell you how profound and important and timely this funding is for us and our students,” she said.

Plans underway for County vaccinations

By

Lisa Gervais

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March 5, 2021

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Five Haliburton County partners are working with the local health unit to finalize plans for community vaccination against COVID-19.

The Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team, Haliburton Family Medical Centre, Haliburton County Paramedic Service, the County of Haliburton, and Haliburton Highlands Health Services say that while no firm timeline or clinic information is available yet, they recognize residents want local details about what they can expect in terms of immunization plans and locations.

The supply of vaccines into Haliburton County is guided by the availability and determination of priority groups by the province. The local partners say they are working diligently with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) to plan for the arrival of vaccines for the community.

“We know that many of our residents are anxiously awaiting details on the availability of the vaccine locally, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we wait for the vaccine supply to arrive,” said HKPRDHU acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill.

During his weekly media briefing March 3, Gemmill said the Feb. 26 approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine is another game changer in a playing field that is altering all of the time.

Details to be announced soon

He added, “working on very concrete plans about when and where we’ll have clinics and so on. Not quite finished that yet, but … it’s coming soon. Just be patient. Like everybody, we all have to be patient. We all want to get this vaccine as quickly as possible.”

It is known that after local healthcare workers are immunized, the next priority group will be residents over the age of 80.

According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, it’s expected that age group will be able to book appointments for a vaccine starting March 15. People 75 and older are looking at April 15, those 70 and up May 1, and 65 and older June 1. The college said that is subject to availability and could change. They added there will likely be mass vaccination sites, mobile sites, and likely pharmacies doing injections.

The Haliburton partners and Gemmill said information regarding when, where, and how to book appointments for vaccinations will follow in the coming weeks and will be shared with residents through newspapers, local radio stations, social media, and health care partner websites.

“At the moment, there is no wait list process to receive the vaccine and partners are grateful for the patience of community members who are anxious to receive immunization,” the partners said.

They added that until vaccines are more widely available, the community should continue to follow all public health measures to help stop the spread, including staying home as much as possible, practicing physical distancing, wearing a mask or face covering in public spaces, and getting tested for COVID-19 if they are experiencing any of the symptoms.

More information about prioritization across Ontario is available at Ontario.ca/CovidVaccine.

Minden mystery docuseries debuts

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Lisa Gervais

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March 4, 2021

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JQ - For Heaven's Sake - 1 — Mike Mildon and Jackson Rowe are releasing a docuseries filmed in Minden throughout the past year. File photo.

The Haliburton Highlands is being spotlighted on international streaming services through the docuseries “For Heaven’s Sake,” launching March 4.

The series chronicles an adventure for filmmakers, Jackson Rowe and Mike Mildon, who unravel the mysterious disappearance of Mildon’s great, great-uncle Harold Heaven in Minden in 1934. The eight-episode series – filmed predominantly in the township in 2019 and 2020 – will launch in its entirety on CBC Gem and Paramount+.

“It feels very, very strange, but good,” Mildon said about releasing the series. “It’s been a long journey that’s come to the end. We’re so excited to show Minden and the rest of the world the journey we went on.”

The series tracks the two as they travel around the community, speaking with people to investigate the family mystery. Heaven’s body was never recovered after he disappeared from his Horseshoe Lake cabin; it was ruled a suicide by authorities at the time, but the filmmakers pursue alternate theories, including murder.

Although they had considered a movie, Mildon said the amount of content they got made it better for a series.

“We felt the different leads we got, we could explore one per episode,” Rowe said.

Those who followed along with the production locally might have an idea of how the series will unfold. But the duo said the series has many aspects people likely missed, including the ups and downs of being detectives and the moral challenges they faced.

“We just wanted to make sure any moral wrongdoing fell on the shoulders of Mike and myself,” Rowe said. “It was hard to find a proper perspective where we gave respect to all the faces along the way. It’s all in there. It’s something we didn’t want to shy away from – warts and all.”

The pair – who previously did short-form skit comedy – said what comes next for them is up in the air. For now, they are focused on promoting the series.

Mildon said the series will have lots to see for locals. The two expressed their appreciation for the area.

“Minden was such an important character in the story. The community and the town were so wonderful to us,” Mildon said. “Just seeing familiar faces and seeing how this town came together to help these unlikely detectives try to solve this way-too-old of a case. It’s a very, very heartwarming, interesting story.”

“It’s exciting,” Rowe said. “It’s hard to do something unique nowadays and I feel we actually have, so we’re proud of that.”

The series premiers March 4 on Paramount+ and CBC Gem. CBC Gem is available for free online at cbcgem.ca, as an app for iOS and Android devices, or on a television via Apple TV and Google Chromecast.

HE passes budget with 2.23 per cent levy increase

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Lisa Gervais

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March 4, 2021

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Highlands East council approved its budget March 2 with a 2.23 per cent increase to its portion of the tax rate.

Council reviewed its final budget, which is expected to be formalized with a bylaw March 9. It amounts to approximately $184,000 more in tax revenue than budgeted in 2020. The increase will add $11.04 to residential tax bills per $100,000 of assessment value.

Coun. Suzanne Partridge praised the budget and the efforts of CAO Shannon Hunter.

“I know it’s been very challenging and taken you days and days and weeks and hours of work,” Partridge said. “You’ve done an excellent job, that we haven’t had to go back and forth.”

The budget features several new capital projects, including $1.4 million for the South Wilberforce Bridge project principally funded through grants, $385,000 for a Cardiff Pool repair with $200,000 carried forward from the 2020 budget and an additional $148,487 in parks for the Herlihey Park and a new tractor.

For the park improvement project, Hunter said planning has occupied a lot of time. She said staff hope to have the park completed this year and may put it out to tender if the work cannot be done internally. At a minimum, she said the park’s parking lot and walking trails would be finished in 2021.

The municipality is also spending approximately $50,000 to add a junior planning position. The department has seen an increase in revenue, offset by rising costs. It currently uses a third-party planner, but Hunter said it is hoped a new staff member could help process applications more efficiently and handle work currently divided among three other staff members.

Deputy mayor Cec Ryall said Highlands East needs the planner given the volume of people moving into the area from cities.

“We’re going to end up with a lot more people applying for a lot more stuff up here,” he said. “I firmly believe it’s something we have to do.”

The municipality is also budgeting an additional $30,000 in wages and benefits for its roads department as it hires for public works supervisor and roads operation manager positions.

Other noted expenses included $40,900 for municipal office maintenance and $25,000 for a County-wide climate initiative to add electric vehicle charging stations.

Ryall said the 2.23 per cent tax rate increase puts the municipality in an “awesome position.”

“It doesn’t sound like we’ve compromised anything,” Ryall said.

EH! packs them in for lake algae bloom talk

By

Lisa Gervais

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March 3, 2021

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JQ - EH Algae - 2 — Environment Haliburton! hosted a discussion on blue-green algae blooms which attracted hundreds of people. File photo.

Environment Haliburton! (EH) attracted hundreds of people Feb. 9 for a discussion on blue-green algae blooms.

Dr. Elizabeth Favot, an assistant lake stewardship coordinator with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, spoke to blooms and her research into how they form. The discussion also featured additional commentary from ecosystem management professor, Barb Elliot, and environmental scientist Dr. Norman Yan. Approximately 300 people registered for the session.

Favot said blooms can be caused by several factors, including nutrient runoff such as phosphorus reaching lakes, shifting lake levels and climate change. She said more research is needed to account for some lakes experiencing blooms without many changes in nutrient levels.

“Nutrients are of course critically important to support blooms, but in terms of the drivers or triggers, they are not always the entire story,” Favot said.

The presentation comes after the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed blue-green algae blooms in six Haliburton lakes last fall, though none showed toxin levels above the drinking water standard. However, Favot said a precautious approach is normally used to assume they are producing toxins given some uncertainty around what conditions lead to toxins.

The presentation highlighted every aspect of blue-green algae, more technically known as cyanobacteria. Favot discussed how blooms are becoming increasingly common in Ontario and how they can create toxins that are potentially deadly if consumed. Favot said although nutrient runoff is a significant factor, there are other reasons for the increase, such as climate change causing temperature and conditional changes in lakes which can help blue-green algae thrive. Her doctorate examined the causes of blooms in the approximately 26 per cent of lakes globally with a low phosphorus concentration.

“Even if nutrients have not increased, blooms can still occur in a modern climate,” Favot said. “Climate change is lowering critical nutrient thresholds for blue-green algae blooms to occur.”

But Favot said from a management perspective, people should utilize terrestrial plants to filter nutrient runoff.

“What we can do to mitigate them is relatively straightforward,” Favot said. “We need to keep nutrient concentrations in lakes as natural as possible.”

Elliott agreed. Speaking to a question about the importance of natural shorelines, Elliott compared them to a Jenga game, and how taking away natural parts from shorelines repeatedly can make them unstable.

“I liken it to death by a thousand cuts,” Elliott said. “When we make those changes, it just creates the potential for there to be more impacts because of that activity. We have to try to keep it as natural as we can.”

Although about 300 people registered, only 100 people watched live due to technical issues with Zoom, the online platform used.

“It is a shame there was a wrinkle in our Zoom plans,” EH! President Susan Hay said. “I’m sorry for those who joined late because you couldn’t get in earlier.”

The full presentation is available on the EH Youtube channel.

New addictions clinic arrives in the Highlands

By

Lisa Gervais

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March 3, 2021

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JQ - RAAM Clinic - 1 — Haliburton Highlands Health Services has started a new addictions clinic in Minden. File photo.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has partnered to bring rapid access addictions treatment closer to home.

HHHS launched a new Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic through its mental health services offices in Minden, starting as a one-month trial Dec. 1 and continued into the new year. It offers quick access to treatment for those dealing with substance abuse, primarily alcohol and opioids.

A RAAM clinic was previously available to locals in Peterborough since 2018, on a drop-in basis. But HHHS mental health services program manager, Beverlee Groves-Foley, said the distance proved too difficult for some.

“We’ve had many clients that needed the service but could not transport to Peterborough,” Groves-Foley said. “There’s no public transit and it’s quite costly to get people there … And so, with the increased need in the community, we want to ensure the community had access.”

The service is available two half-days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in partnership with Fourcast Addiction Services and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). Support workers are available, as well as an addictions specialist at the PRHC through telemedicine. The clinic uses a harm reduction model and can offer assessments, opioid substitution therapy, counselling, and withdrawal management, with follow-ups arranged with primary care providers. Self-referrals are accepted.

“Our clients locally will be able to get a better, more comprehensive level of support in that area,” HHHS president and CEO Carolyn Plummer told her board Jan.28. “We’re happy to have it available locally.”

Groves-Foley said RAAM is typically a drop-in model so people can access the support whenever they are ready. But for now, they are scheduling appointments to arrange transportation.

“Transportation is such a challenge for most people,” Groves-Foley said. “The goal would be eventually having a drop-in model, but we’ll have to see how that works in Haliburton County.”

The clinic has been working well so far, she said. She added that there may be a perception it is mostly for opioid users, but most people using the clinic are doing so for alcohol.

“Alcohol is a large challenge for many people which affects their lives,” she said. “We do see a lot of clients that are looking to reduce their use.”

Groves-Foley said the hope would be to eventually have a space for it at the Haliburton hospital as well.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m so pleased that it’s here,” she said.

People can contact HHHS mental health services at 705-286-4575.