The Government of Ontario announced April 7 it is declaring a state of emergency and putting the province into a four-week stay-at-home order due to COVID-19.
The order goes into effect April 8 and will add additional restrictions to the shutdown measures from April 3. The order requires people to stay-at-home except for essential purposes such as work, outdoor exercise, accessing health care and going to a grocery store. Most non-essential retailers will also be limited to curbside pick-up, including big box stores, which can now only sell essential items.
The move comes as case counts continue to escalate and ICU occupancy rises. Between March 28 and April 5, Ontario has seen the number of COVID patients in intensive care by 25 per cent.
“The COVID-19 situation is at a critical stage and we must act quickly and decisively to stay ahead of these deadly new variants,” Premier Doug Ford said. “By imposing these strict new measures, we will keep people safe while allowing our vaccination program to reach more people, starting with our high-risk population and identified hot spots.”
Schools will remain open under the order. Education workers in hotspot areas will be able to get vaccines starting during the April break.
A limited number of retail stores can open for in-person retail by appointment subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit. These stores include safety supply, assistive devices, vehicle stores, optical and stores operated by a telecommunications providers. Outdoor garden services, plant nurseries and indoor greenhouses can also open at 25 per cent capacity.
The County of Haliburton announced its offices will be closed to the public until further notice. Staff can still be reached via telephone, email and virtual meetings.
The County said the public works department and paramedic services will operate at full capacity with safety measures in place.
“We thank everyone for their patience as we continue to follow public health guidelines to keep our community safe and healthy,” the County said.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is asking people to remain vigilant. It has seen a spike of 94 new cases in the past seven days, mostly in Northumberland County. Haliburton is at seven active cases as of April 7.
“We may not be considered a hot spot for cases, but I am concerned by the increase in the number of cases we have been seeing locally,” medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said. “We are hearing stories of people gathering, not quarantining if they have been identified as a high-risk contact, and travelling for non-essential reasons. Unfortunately, these actions, coupled with the variants of concern that are now circulating, are leading to increased cases in our area.”
Haliburtonians ordered to stay at home
Fire destroys Dysart home
Firefighters successfully put out a blaze that destroyed a home on Boughner Road April 6.
The Dysart et al fire department, Haliburton County Paramedics and other emergency responders attended the scene around 3:30 p.m. The fire completely destroyed the home, but Dysart et al fire chief Mike Iles said nobody was injured.
Firefighters worked the site for some time to handle the smoking debris. Iles said they had to work to put out the building and ensure the nearby grass did not burn up.
“Great response. We had all our equipment here quickly. Very quick attack,” Iles said, adding about 20 firefighters responded. “Middle of the day, that’s incredible.”
Iles said the origin of the fire is unknown.
He further said one of the homeowners was awakened by a smoke alarm, which allowed him to evacuate the burning building.
“Smoke alarms save lives,” Iles said. “Check your smoke alarms. That was a key factor here.”
Positive COVID case at Archie Stouffer
The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) today confirmed a positive COVID-19 case at Archie Stouffer Elementary School in Minden.
Communications officer, Sinead Fegan, said April 6 that all close contacts have been approached by the health unit with directions that they must follow, which includes guidance on isolation dates and testing recommendations.
Fegan said students not identified as close contacts may continue to go to school as usual, and do not need to stay home and isolate or go for testing unless they start showing symptoms or do not pass the COVID-19 self-screening tool.
Due to privacy laws, the health unit will not release personal information about any staff or student who is ill unless deemed necessary, she added.
Fegan said the school is working closely with TLDSB, the transportation consortium, and the health unit.
“Together, we are taking the necessary steps to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 within the school community. Please know that whenever there is an identified positive COVID-19 case at a school, there is additional cleaning and sanitizing of the school above and beyond the extensive cleaning and sanitizing that occurs throughout each school day. The safety of our students and staff is most important and we continue to follow all public health protocols.”
Businesses give thumbs up to provincial budget
Local businesses are welcoming more supports in this year’s provincial budget in the face of uncertainty about the year ahead.
The Government of Ontario released its budget March 24 and spotlighted its business support. That includes measures such as a second round of Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG) payments, providing 120,000 small businesses with an automatic benefit of between $10,000-$20,000 each. A new grant, the Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant, will also provide businesses in that sector $10,000- $20,000 after it was excluded from the first OSBSG.
Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce president Andrea Strano said other supports, including a job training tax credit, a task force for inclusive economic growth and $4 billion in broadband funding over six years are welcome.
“Ontario’s 2021 Budget means supports for the hardest-hit sectors and communities including right here in the Haliburton Highlands,” Strano said. “Initiatives that will create a strong economic rebound related to tourism, training, and vital infrastructure.”
Other measures included in the budget towards economic development included pausing property tax reassessments for a year and $100 million for a tourism recovery program to launch later this year.
Oakview Lodge and Marina owner Greg Hebert said the hospitality sector was overlooked for the OSBSG, since many could remain partially open in the first lockdown. But he said the industry still felt the hit of fewer travellers and the grant is welcome.
“It’s been a long-time coming and for the people in the accommodation sector specifically, it’s been a bit rough,” Hebert said.
Strano said there is uncertainty for the sector with the possibility of a third lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases. But she said there is cause for optimism with more people moving to the area permanently.
Chamber executive director Amanda Conn said the budget does a good job addressing the hardest-hit sectors.
“There would be people out there that would say we need a bit more, but I think it does a decent job,” Conn said.
Hebert said the budget does not seem to be missing anything major but expressed concern about the $38.5 billion projected deficit. Still, he said given the government support coming from loans and tax deferrals, it might take until 2022 to find out which businesses survive and which will not.
“That’s when we’re going to start seeing people getting squeezed,” he said. “By the end of next year, that’s when we’re going to find out who lived through this thing.”
Warden reacts
County warden Liz Danielsen said the budget’s economic recovery programming, along with more funding in the broadband and long-term care sectors, have been identified as key priorities by the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus.
She said the deferral on property tax reassessments also ensures stability and helps residents as they readjust from the pandemic’s impacts. The budget promises $1 billion in additional financial relief for Ontario’s municipalities. Another $50 million is being added for municipal modernization.
“Continuing to commit to modernization funding for all municipalities will enhance efficiency and should create a reduction in costs over the long term,” Danielsen said.
However, Danielsen said the budget lacked enough new funding for human and social services to meet demand. She also expressed concern about the debt load.
“There is little doubt that we will all be facing challenging years ahead,” she said.
Spring showers finish off ‘frustrating’ ski season
Warm weather and spring showers brought the alpine season to an early end March 29 as Sir Sam’s Ski and Bike announced its hills were closing.
The ski hill announced its “most challenging season” was ending as the weather had deteriorated its snow base. It also said season pass holders who did not get full value would be able to forward a credit for next year.
The business planned to remain open for Easter weekend. Owner Chris Bishop said the hill could only open for 35 days this winter due to COVID-19 lockdowns and weather, whereas a normal season would be 80. He said it was a “frustrating” year, with snow resorts across the province upset about being unable to open for weeks after putting COVID-19 protocols in place. Ontario was the only jurisdiction in North America to close them this winter.
“The bottom line, it has a serious effect on your cash flow. We’ll figure out a way to get through to get open for next year,” Bishop said.
Bishop estimated spending about $50,000 on safety measures. He added things such as online ticketing would outlive the pandemic at the hill.
The government has provided some support, including a second round of payments under the Ontario Small Business Support Grant in its 2021 budget, which could mean up to $20,000 for businesses such as Sir Sam’s.
“Those things help,” Bishop said. “But it doesn’t make up for hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.”
The business saw plenty of encouraging support across its social media feed. “
You did everything right,” attendee Rory Gilfillan said. “This season drove home the value of a family-owned and operated hill. As I mentioned before, your hill and more importantly, your people are the animating part of our kids’ lives.”
Bishop said he is now readying for mountain biking in the summer and expects his property’s trails and camps to be popular.
“We just want to thank all of the customers that came this year,” he said. “Hope to see some of them this summer – and obviously, we look forward to a longer ski season next winter.”
A driving force behind County’s vaccine effort
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) volunteer driver Bill Elliott said plenty of people need a lift to get to a medical appointment – including vaccinations.
Volunteer drivers have begun transporting people across the County to get vaccinations and had done that for approximately a dozen people as of March 29, according to vice-president of community programs Stephanie MacLaren. HHHS offers transportation services for adults with disabilities and people 55 and over.
Elliott said the process has gone smoothly so far, whether passengers go into the clinic themselves or he helps them.
“It’s an ageing community and there are a lot of remote areas,” he said. “A lot of elderly don’t drive or don’t like driving a long distance.”
Most people in the County are bound to book an appointment for a vaccine in the coming months. The process is underway for people aged 75 and older and priority groups such as healthcare workers, including volunteer drivers themselves. The province has planned for vaccination for all people 60-79 between April and July, with people younger than that starting in July.
MacLaren said they expect transportation demand might increase, but they have no way of knowing for certain.
“While there is a higher percentage of people in the community who are in the lower end of the age bracket of the senior’s population, their needs with respect to transportation assistance may be less as well,” she said. “It is certainly our intent to be as responsive to the need in the community as it emerges.”
She added HHHS has maintained a strong contingent of volunteer drivers, even with demand decreased throughout the pandemic due to fewer in-person appointments.
“HHHS volunteer drivers have stayed stalwart in their dedication to our clients and community, with many necessary medical trips still occurring. We are seeing this level of dedication in the vaccination response as well. Volunteers are eager to support in whatever way they can,” she said.
Ron Roberts is one of those drivers and said he has been doing the task for 11 years. He said he is glad to be able to help others.
“There are wonderful people in our area and volunteering is very important. The people I’ve met have paid back for every hour of volunteering I’ve done,” Roberts said. “I’m just happy to be here for them.”
The program has had to adjust amidst the pandemic. Passengers and drivers must remain masked, distanced and pass screening questions, MacLaren said. Drivers must also disinfect their vehicles after every trip.
Elliott said the vaccination clinics have been well-organized and he is happy to help people through them when needed.
“The patients that I took felt really comfortable going in and out and that was a good thing for me,” Elliott said. “To me, it’s all about the patients.”
County jumpstarting electric vehicle stations
The County of Haliburton is preparing to install electric vehicle charging stations throughout the municipality.
County council reviewed a proposal from its climate change co-ordinator March 24 for seven or more stations spread in all four townships. The proposal included options for municipal ownership using grant funding or paying a service fee for chargers owned by service providers. Council voted to keep both options open and provide information for lower-tier townships to decide later.
Coun. Brent Devolin said they might need to do both options to meet future demand.
“This metamorphosis … it’s going to happen in the next couple of years, faster than most people are foreseeing,” Devolin said. “The need is coming.”
The County is included in a federal grant funding application for the project. The municipality could either pay an annual service fee of $3,300 per dual-port station with no upfront cost, with stations owned by Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation. The County could also own stations itself using federal grant dollars to cover up to half the up-front costs, which could be $15,000-$25,000 per station, plus ongoing annual service fees of $500- $1,800.
Coun. Andrea Roberts said it is something Dysart et al has wanted to do.
“We weren’t ever able to do this on our own financially,” Roberts said. “I totally agree the time is now to start working on something like this.”
The proposal is not definite on locations, though recommends one dual-port station at each township office to be used for future municipal vehicles. Director of planning, Charsley White, said those hook-ups could be reserved for municipal vehicles during the day and then utilized by the public in off-hours and weekends. Other ports are proposed for mostly public use at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena and Dysart library.
Climate change coordinator, Korey McKay, said she would recommend an hourly fee to incentivize people to move vehicles.
Presently there is only one public charging station in Haliburton County at the Rhubarb restaurant in Carnarvon, meant for Tesla vehicles.
If the initiative is approved, installation could happen in the summer or fall of 2021 for provider-owned chargers, or between September 2021 and 2023 for County-owned.
Council opted to present options to lower-tier townships given they would contribute to the costs. Warden Liz Danielsen said discussions there should happen as quickly as possible so the initiative can proceed.
“It’s an exciting direction for us to be taking,” Danielsen said.
Victim speaks out on impaired driving
Marena Wigmore said there was no way she could have avoided a collision with an allegedly impaired driver when she was driving home March 19.
Haliburton Highlands OPP said it responded to a scene on Kennisis Lake Road around 3:12 p.m. Both involved drivers sustained minor injuries. Police officers arrested and charged a Huntsville man with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and refusing to comply with a demand.
Wigmore said the other vehicle drove head-on into her, in the wrong lane.
“I’m pretty angry. There was nothing I could have done.” Wigmore said. “There was no reason for it to have happened. It was completely avoidable. Now, I have to deal with injuries that I have and losing time off work.
“He’s really lucky he didn’t kill me,” she added.
The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden May 5. Wigmore said the collision destroyed both vehicles.
She said the emergency response was fantastic.
“They got there pretty quickly,” Wigmore said. “Which was great for me, because that was probably the scariest part for me, was waiting.”
Wigmore said impaired driving is a problem in the area. She added she is glad the incident did not turn out worse.
“Any number of my co-workers come down that road. One of them is pregnant, several of them have small kids. What if it had been one of them?” Wigmore asked.
“Impaired driving remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada,” Haliburton Highlands OPP said in a press release. “If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive.”
OPP also responded to a complaint on Eastern Avenue in Haliburton March 27. Police said a woman drove onto a lawn and collided with a tree. They charged a Maynooth woman with impaired driving, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and operation while impaired with a blood-alcohol concentration of 80-plus. She is also due in Minden court May 5.
OPP asked for people to continue calling 911 to report impaired driving. Police said signs include quick acceleration, erratic braking, turning abruptly or illegally and drifting between traffic lanes.
Wigmore said she intends to pursue a civil lawsuit against the driver who struck her. She added she hopes the courts might prevent him from driving for good.
“This man should never drive again.”
Police busy with collisions
Haliburton Highlands OPP reported responding to two other vehicular incidents over the weekend.
Police said they charged a 42-year[1]old with careless driving March 26 after responding to a single-vehicle collision into a hydro pole on Twelve Mile Lake Road. The pole was heavily damaged and required replacement. Later that day, officers responded to another collision where a pickup truck struck a deer. The driver did not report injuries, but the truck sustained more than $2,000 in damages
Haliburton trustee wants staff vaccines
by Kirk Winter
As far as Gary Brohman is concerned, staff working in Haliburton schools are essential workers and he cannot understand why the province has not made the vaccination of teachers, administrators and support staff a priority.
At the March 23 Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) meeting, Brohman advocated forcefully for staff vaccines.
“This has been on my mind for a long time,” Brohman said. “The ministry stand that staff vaccines will be given as soon as possible is not acceptable. How poor a statement is that? The vaccines could come too late. It could be summer. School staff are frontline workers and unfortunately the health units and the ministry do not see it that way. That is simply not good enough.”
Brohman asked his fellow trustees what they could do to make this issue a priority with the province. The Haliburton trustee wondered why firefighters are receiving their vaccinations ahead of teachers “when educational staff are face-to-face with kids every day. These people should be getting their vaccinations now. As soon as possible is not good enough. As a former educator this decision sucks.”
TLDSB deputy chair David Morrison applauded Brohman’s intent saying, “educational workers are on the frontline every single day. The province holds up the school system as a very safe place to be while at the same time expressing caution about COVID variants of concern. This topic has been brought up with the minister (Education Minister Stephen Lecce) on a weekly basis at our videoconferences. The minister says he is pushing for change but a change will only come if supply increases.”
Trustee Louise Clodd added, “We all feel the same way (regarding staff vaccines) and I would like to send a note to the Ontario Public School Board Association to have them continue pushing for this.”
The board asked Clodd to do that at the earliest possible opportunity.
U-Links focuses on environment
Finding a way for the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) to monitor dragonflies and damselflies on its properties caught the interest of student Ryan Hill, who partnered with the Land Trust for his U-Links research project.
Hill was one of a number of students who presented their work at the U-Links virtual celebration of research March 27.
“Basically, they were interested in beginning the first steps for starting their own monitoring program for dragonflies and damselflies,” Hill explained in one of the breakout rooms.
He said his work focused around finding what had been seen on and around their properties; what species would be possible to see; what monitoring protocols are out there; and what recommendations he could make for them starting their own program.
Hill said he concluded, “If HHLT had the resources, the best approach would be to use a program similar to the Illinois (dragonfly and damselfly) survey which uses a protocol that was developed for monitoring butterflies.”
The Land Trust’s Greg Wickware complimented Hill for his “great work.” He added, “The HHLT has many volunteers who are interested in participating in our long-term monitoring program. Training the volunteers will be a top priority.”
ULinks program coordinator, Amanda Duncombe-Lee, said themes of environmental stewardship and sustainability featured in this year’s U-Links projects.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic has been dominating the news and our thoughts, it’s especially important to maintain our focus and commitment to environmental monitoring, research and advocacy,” she said.
The more than 100 people heard numerous presentations, including Samantha Dunlop, who worked with The Land Between on biodiversity planning and protection. She looked into municipal policies.
Mystaya Touw spoke on shoreline stewardship, using the Love Your Lake program as a case study. She said concerns included water quality, septic systems, blue-green algae, invasive species and development. She said one impediment was limited time at the cottage, but said that could be countered by focusing on ‘no mow’ lawns and natural regeneration.
There was also a Benthic Program Overview by Kiera Schweighardt and Leanne Matthews.
Samuel Duah collaborated with Abbey Gardens to look into food waste composting. He said one hinderance was the fear of attracting bears and other wildlife. He found people would support a centralized composting facility, especially if it had a drop-off centre with flexible hours.
In its 30th year, Duncombe-Lee said it was “amazing” to see the community come together every year to mark the accomplishments of students, and community partnerships.
She honoured the students for juggling full course loads and part-time jobs along with the stressors of a pandemic. She was also “proud” of staff and the U-Links management committee. She thanked the Haliburton community for its participation with Trent University and Fleming College students over the past 30 years.
Jim Blake, co-chair of the U-Links management committee, paid tribute to Leopoldina Dobrzensky during his opening remarks, calling her “our local hero of community-based research.”
See the U-Links website for more information ulinks.ca.
If you have a project idea, contact U-Links, before June 30, 2021, at admin@ulinks.ca or 705-286-2411.