Mobile phones and COVID control

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April 15, 2021

by Dr. Nell Thomas

Vaccines are making their way through our community.

More of us are feeling that cloak of protection start to form around us after getting the shot. It sure does take the edge off the constant feeling of vulnerability and the vigilance we have all been burdened with. But until vaccination coverage helps us to reach herd immunity, nonpharmaceutical interventions remain the primary means of preventing virus spread. In some countries, such as Taiwan, for example, population behaviour has been the key to controlling spread of the virus.

Border control and compulsory mask wearing on public transit was imposed at the outset in Taiwan. Therefore, this island nation (population 23.6 million) had no locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 for the 253 days between April and December 2020. As of February 28, 2021, there had been 955 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan, with only 77 (8.1 per cent) locally acquired.

Adherence to social distancing and face masking, plus quarantining and contact tracing. These are the techniques that have made Taiwan a country with one of the lowest per capita COVID incidence and mortality rates in the world. They have not had to close schools or use strict lockdowns.

An estimated 55 per cent of their infections occurred during the presymptomatic stage. A combination of early diagnosis of cases, plus contact tracing, plus 14-day quarantine of close contacts (regardless of symptoms) was estimated to decrease the reproduction number from 2.5 (each infected person infects 2.5 other people) to 1.5 people. (Remember, to stop spread, it is necessary to have the infection rate less than one.)

The effect of social distance and face masks reduced the reproduction number to 1.3, meaning that voluntary populationbased interventions, if used alone, were not enough to stop spread. Combining quarantining and contact tracing plus social distance and masks reduced the reproduction number to 0.85, successfully stopping spread.

Taiwan demonstrates that stopping the COVID-19 pandemic requires the collaboration of public health professionals and the general public. Either strategy alone would be insufficient.

The behaviours that are most effective at reducing spread in Taiwan are also effective in Canada. We are just not applying them strictly. But if we did, we would see the benefit. A study that tracked peoples’ movements using smartphone data from March 15, 2020 until March 6, 2021 showed that average time spent outside the home in a three-week period predicted the increased spread of COVID-19. It showed that low levels of mobility will control disease spread. (I doubt any of us is surprised at this, as we have witnessed the numbers go up when our activity is less restricted and fall again after lockdowns curb movement in our community.)

This study measured weekly growth rate – the ratio of cases in a given week compared to the previous week – and evaluated the effects of average time spent outside the home in the previous three weeks. The researchers tracked variation from week to week among regions and provinces.

Across the 51-week study period, 888,751 people were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Each 10 per cent increase in population mobility was associated with a 25 per cent increase in weekly case growth rate. Before the pandemic we had no restrictions on our movement, so mobility at pre-pandemic baseline was 100 per cent. Mobility measured during the study was highest in the summer (69 per cent) and dropped to 54 per cent in winter 2021.

The study concluded that use of smartphone data can be used to guide provincial and regional loosening and tightening of physical distancing measures. Mobility strongly and consistently predicts weekly case growth, and low levels of mobility are needed to control COVID-19.

All-ages volunteer army needed

By

Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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I attended the orientation session for Rotary Club of Minden volunteers for the S.G. Nesbitt arena COVID vaccination clinic.

According to Rotary, in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean Islands, 71 per cent of Rotarians are more than 50 years of age. Only 12 per cent are less than 40 years old.

The local Rotarians attending last week’s session included some people much older than 50. While I admire all of them, I do worry about the burden of potentially months of volunteer work to support the cause when they are a vulnerable demographic.

I can only hope their ranks have been, and will be, bolstered by volunteers of younger demographics in the days, weeks and months to come.

According to the Government of Canada, Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1965) and Matures (born between 1918 and 1945) are more likely to be top volunteers in Canada.

In 2018, Statistics Canada found Matures (40 per cent) and Baby Boomers (31 per cent) were more likely than iGen (born 1996 and later) – at 18 per cent – to be top volunteers.

StatsCan rationalizes that with many Baby Boomers struggling to keep businesses afloat, working from home, and in some cases caring for elderly parents, they likely have less time for volunteering during the pandemic.

At the same time Matures are among those at highest risk of COVID-19 and may be self-isolating.

So, the most dedicated unpaid workers in the charitable sector going into the pandemic are now among the most impacted by the current situation and in need of support themselves.

But StatsCan doesn’t know the mettle of the Rotary Clubs of Minden and Haliburton and the army of Baby Boomer and Mature volunteers in the Highlands. It is in some cases the busiest and most at-risk who are showing up to staff the clinics at the A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton and the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden.

However, their ranks should be bolstered by iGens, according to StatsCan. Although less likely than other generation to be top volunteers, they were involved in quite a bit of volunteer work going into the pandemic.

Further, as schools have transitioned to online learning and extra-curricular activities have been cancelled, some iGens may be in a better position to up their community contributions through formal volunteering.

They are actually known for more informal giving. The StatsCan paper said the informal volunteer rate for iGen (78 per cent) was actually higher than Baby Boomers (73 per cent) and Matures (58 per cent). This likely reflects different volunteertype preferences for younger versus older generations.

That informal volunteer includes things such as helping people outside of the household and community improvement not on behalf of a group or organization.

So, while it appears Baby Boomers, Matures and iGens are stepping up to the plate, The Highlander is putting out a challenge to others to step forward, including Millennials (those born 1981 to 1995) as well as GenXers (born 1966-1980) to help staff the clinics.

Each clinic will be running three days a week – Haliburton on Monday, Thursday and Sunday and Minden on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Haliburton clinic is also running on Fridays in at least its first two weeks.

Anyone can volunteer for the Haliburton clinic by contacting haliburtonrotary@ gmail.com. The Minden effort can be reached at volunteer@mindenrotary.ca or 705-286-4922. Shifts are four hours, with two blocks each day. People can only sign on up to two weeks in advance.

Minden to begin septic reinspections in the south

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Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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Property owners of North Pigeon, Little Bob, Gull, Black and Moore Lakes can expect letters from the Township of Minden Hills and contractor WSP Canada soon regarding the kick-off to the septic reinspection program.

About 1,071 non-vacant properties in Zone A will be done in year one of the anticipated five-year program.

WSP’s Paisley McDowell updated council at the April 8 meeting.

“The program is proposed to begin in 2021 with Zone A and be completed in 2025 with Zone E,” McDowell said.

She added that WSP was planning to send program information letters to all property owners in April/May 2021 to introduce the program.

She added a modified version would be sent to property owners from Zone A that includes more details about the inspection process and the information on how they can contact WSP to book an inspection.

She is also looking to council to set up two virtual public information sessions that were postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and are now proposed to take place this spring.

“In WSP’s experience, these initial information sessions are a critical part of the program to allow owners to engage with WSP directly, learn about the program, understand their responsibilities and ask questions,” she said.

Coun. Bob Carter said he’d like to see an accompanying letter from the township, to point out that it is not an optional program; outline the costs associated with it; and information on what will happen to people who do not comply.

“Let’s get it out there right up front so that everybody understands what’s going on here because this is a very important program,” Carter said.

He asked McDowell why it is fiveyear program, and she replied that WSP normally recommends about 1,000 properties a year as a “doable” number.

Carter also asked if they could do inspections during a stay-at-home order and McDowell said they are an essential service that can guarantee safety as it is outdoor work with employees and homeowners wearing masks and social distancing.

Carter further asked when inspections would commence and McDowell said within the month of May. She said they know seasonal residents are often not at their properties until the May long weekend.

The five-year plan

• 2021: North Pigeon, Little Bob, Gull, Black and Moore lakes.

• 2022: Duck, Horseshoe, Mountain lakes.

• 2023: Soyers, Kashagawigamog, Canning lakes.

• 2024: Little Boshkung, Twelve Mile, Brady and Bob lakes.

• 2025: Davis, Bat, South and Bow lakes.

Minden to begin septic reinspections in the south Minden is expected to kick off its septic program in May

Citizen calls out long-term Dysart oil spill

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Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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JQ - Oil seepage - 2 — Brian Johnston sits next to an absorbent boom placed to deal with an oil seepage on the Drag River. Photo by Joseph Quigley

Brian Johnston said the sight of oil spilling into a Drag River stream where Walleye spawn is “sickening.” The avid fisher called out the decades-long problem in a viral Facebook post March 30.

Johnston said a small stream of oil, the result of an old gas station near the locale, has continually poured into the river since the 1980s. The post had been shared more than 120 times as of April 12.

Johnston said he was glad to bring the problem to light.

“It’s kind of embarrassing it’s not been cleaned up,” Johnston said. “How many times does this have to happen before this gets fixed?”

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks district engineer Kelly Andreoli said the leak is coming from an underground storage tank of fuel oil, which she said the province confirmed in a 2012 drilling program. She said the oil was initially sporadic but is appearing more frequently in recent years due to fluctuations in groundwater.

Andreoli said the province plans to remove the buried oil tank and install a barrier along the shoreline to prevent any residual contamination.

She said a work plan and site investigation are likely to begin this spring.

“The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks takes all spills and threats to the environment very seriously,” Andreoli said. “The ministry anticipates that implementation of the various stages of the remediation project will require approximately five years.”

Andreoli said although there may be some localized impacts from the seepage, the environmental impact appears to be minimal. But Johnston said it is still important to get the spill fixed. He noted how area municipalities have prioritized waterway protection with laws such as septic tanks being set back from shorelines.

“It’s just as bad as littering. If I went to your property and spilled a bunch of diesel fuel on your property, how would you feel about it?” Johnston said. “A waterway is public property.”

Johnston said there is difficulty determining who bears responsibility for the underground tank, but the solution is likely to come from taxpayer dollars.

Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts said the ministry cleaned the area in the past, but she does not have further information on the spill. Andreoli said the township has assisted by maintaining absorbent booms in the area to help mitigate the seepage.

Johnston said he was not out to point fingers at the municipality but would like it addressed. He noted how the section of the river can teem with Walleye at this time of year. He said the absorbent boom is not enough and more needs to be done.

“As long as we are aware and spread awareness of the issue, hopefully, the faster this will be dealt with,” he said.

Residents peck at bylaw blocking backyard chickens

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Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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Matt and Alex McWilliams hope Minden Hills council doesn’t chicken out on their request to have a long-standing township bylaw revisited to allow them to have backyard chickens in their residentiallyzoned neighbourhood.

The McWilliams made a virtual presentation to the April 8 council meeting.

Matt McWilliams said they grow food, tap Maple trees, pick apples and have backyard chickens – all deemed in contravention of a 15-year-old bylaw that says farming must not occur on land designated residential.

He said the delegation wanted to clarify wording in the bylaw on what exactly constitutes farm land use.

He added he had more than 50 signatures of households in his neighbourhood overwhelmingly supporting the idea.

“What we wanted to address is that according to the zoning bylaw 06-10, farm use is not permitted in a residential zone. We’re in a residential zone but the definition of a farm is land used for the growing of crops, nursery or horticultural, raising of livestock, agri-forestry or maple syrup production.”

He said they had received a complaint that their land was being used as a farm due to their homesteading on their acre.

“In the trend of green and climate action, why wouldn’t the township be encouraging the growing of backyard food production, including and not limited to eggs from chickens, rather than discouraging food security in the wake of a pandemic?” he asked. He noted Ontario farmers have forecast upcoming food shortages that will hit later this year due to COVID.

In a time of environmental pressures and food insecurity, the McWilliams think residential zones shouldn’t have such high restrictions. They noted that Harvest Haliburton had identified the benefits of having backyard chickens for improving food security, environmental and health benefits and social well-being.

Alex McWilliams said reasons given against backyard chickens in residential areas include attracting predators. However, “there is zero evidence of this potential claim.” She said they had bears and foxes long before fencing the yard and introducing hens. Nor is there a smell, she added.

Dysart et al allows backyard chickens and Algonquin Highlands is looking into it, they said. Metropolitan areas such as Kingston, Kitchener, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver have also recognized the benefit of this type of land use, noted the McWilliams. Matt McWiliams said it becomes an issue of discrimination.

“At the end of the day, we are two of thousands of up and comers that townships like Minden will be seeing trickle in more and more as the months progress. For people moving this far, urban farming is one of the biggest draws to such a quaint rural community. We hope we’re not forced out due to the unwillingness of recognizing the ever-changing landscape of the economy and food security rights. We hope the bylaw would be changed to allow growing of horticultural crops, agriforest, maple sap production and backyard chickens to be allowed in residential zones.”

Coun. Jean Neville, a self-described “poultry fancier,” said she had been fighting for changes during her entire time on council.

She said one of the issues cited is chickens spreading viruses to humans. “I have not yet known anybody to have caught a disease or died from a chicken.”

She added chickens, hens and the raising of chicks has proven to contribute to social well-being and decreasing anxiety during COVID. “They are the best mental therapy ever.” She added she lives in a residential area and people tap their Maple trees for home use.

Coun. Bob Carter said he was on the planning committee before becoming a councillor when the issue was put up for review, so it had been extensively reviewed in those 15 years. At the time, he said it was decided not to proceed.

“I don’t think we should just make changes because – even though it seems like the right thing to do – all changes have consequences so we should at least review the research that was done.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said she recalled the main reason a change was not made during the review was based on Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) input, and concern about viruses being spread to large chicken operations. She said she agreed with the McWilliams’ direction and politics, but wanted to check with OMAFRA.

Mayor Brent Devolin said the issue would be discussed along with other bylaws needing possible updating before the end of this term of council.

Family comes to terms with dog attack

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Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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Sadie Lester is just like any other seven-year-old Haliburton County kid, enjoying jumping on her trampoline during Spring break.

The bespectacled girl with the long blonde hair pulled pack into a ponytail briefly joins a Zoom call to say “Hi,” adding she likes going to Stuart Baker Elementary School in Haliburton with her friends, rather than virtual learning. She then runs off to play.

It’s a far cry from a year ago when she was at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto following a vicious dog attack.

Her mom, Lindsay, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries on that fateful April 12, 2020 day. The events of a year ago have naturally affected Sadie’s father and Lindsay’s husband, AJ, as well as elder child, Addison.

“I would say that this past year, there’s been ebbs and flows,” Lindsay said in an interview. “There’s certain times when we felt like it’s been years since it happened and other weeks it just felt like it happened the day prior.”

An anniversary date is a natural trigger. Lindsay says the smell of spring brings it back. On Easter Sunday, she and Addison were out for a walk and got cornered by an off-leash dog on a public dock. That brought it back, too. Lindsay admitted to an hour in bed crying in the aftermath of that. However, overall, she said the family “is definitely in a good place.”

Physically, Lindsay has long since healed. Sadie has had several trips to Sick Kids for follow-up treatment after a week-long stay last year. There has also been physiotherapy, speech therapy and scar therapy. However, Sadie has just one more major procedure remaining.

God ‘never left us in the ditch for a second’

The Lesters said surgeons will take fat tissue from her buttocks to help rebuild her right thigh. They will also do something called revision, to lessen the scarring in 14 places on the young girl’s body, including her face. Then she’ll need laser therapy. It’s hoped the revision will make a 75 per cent improvement to the visual scarring.

AJ said his daughter is self-conscious about her scars. Tucking her into bed at night, he said she’s commented, “I wish I didn’t have these scars. She calls them the cracks on her face.”

Lindsay added that in some ways having to wear a mask due to COVID has helped ease Sadie back into normalcy.

Mentally, the work continues as well. Lindsay has had counselling and said she has tools in her toolbox to talk herself through her triggers.

Sadie has also been under the care of a child trauma counsellor, who is pleased with her progress. Lindsay explained kids like Sadie are “puddle jumpers” so they will talk about their trauma and then quickly move on to something else. That’s normal. It’s when children aren’t talking about it that counsellors are more concerned.

The family said they also want the public to know that dogs running off leash in public places are not helpful to them, or others that have experienced dog bites or similar trauma.

“We want to remind people of the importance of keeping their dogs on leashes in public places … especially the park in town as numerous times when we’ve been there with Sadie, people have let their dogs run free,” Lindsay said.

Throughout it all, AJ and Lindsay said they have been blessed with solid people in their lives, from family, to friends, to complete strangers who donated towards a $40,000-plus GoFundMe which has helped immensely with the medical expenses.

Both said they would like to thank each and every person in the Highlands who either donated money or sent cards or presents or helped welcome Sadie home April 17, 2020 upon release from hospital.

They also couldn’t say enough about Addison, from the time Sadie came home from hospital to today.

“She was great. She was an amazing older sister. She was a champ,” AJ says.

A test of faith

The Christian family admitted the ordeal has been a test of their faith.

Lindsay said, “AJ and I had to ask ourselves this question, are we going to judge God by the circumstance or are we going to judge the circumstance in light of who God says he is? Because it’s great to say God is this wonderful, loving God and then all of a sudden, your kid gets ripped apart by dogs. It’s natural to question is he really good, is he really loving?”

“I have two truths that exist,” she added. “The mother in me, if we were to rewind and he were to say, ‘this is what Sunday’s going to look like,’ no earthly mother could ever say ‘okay.’ But now being able to have experienced how he’s revealed himself through this, and that he is trustworthy and he is kind and he is gracious and never left us in the ditch for a second, I would say that I am at peace with what has happened because of the gains that we’ve experienced from God showing us who he is really is.”

AJ adds he has learned that bad things happen to good people.

“At the end of the day, you realize there is going to be purpose to all this stuff. And if you can’t bring some kind of hope through the situations you go through, then it will probably just make you a bitter person. And I could sense that very strongly and so I thought, you know, I have the tools from going to church for years. I know all the things I’m supposed to do.”

AJ said there are still ebb and flow days for him as well, and days when he is frustrated and angry.

“Our life has changed in the past 12 months. These things happen because we live in a world that isn’t perfect and it’s not meant to be perfect. If it was, then bad things wouldn’t happen. But if you allow him, he can take those bad things and bring good to it and that’s where we’re at.”

AJ said since last year, there have been more good days than bad ones and there has been progressive healing.

One thing AJ said on Facebook last year at this time was that when it was all over, the family wanted to take Sadie to Disneyland. He said a vacation remains on the cards, post-COVID.

Lindsay added, “I’m going to be a puddle when she’s there riding on the rides. I’ll be doing the ugly cry. It’s going to be just horrific to look at.”

But that’s the kind of horrific image this Haliburton County family can live with.

Historic building becomes modern art studio

By

Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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JQ - Heritage House artist - 2 — Artist Tiffany Howe is hosting an online open studio event April 17-18 at her new locale inside the former site of the Heritage House Café. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Multidisciplinary artist Tiffany Howe said it is hard to visualize how her latest studio space was once the general store she would visit regularly as a kid.

The long-time local artist recently moved from her Redstone Lake studio into the former site of the Heritage House Café on Pine Street in Haliburton. The locale has undergone many transformations over the years – once one of Haliburton’s first general stores, before turning into different iterations of shops and cafes before Howe moved in. Now, it is her art studio. Howe, also a curator at the Ethel Curry Gallery, said she knew the house as both a store and café.

Now, she is ready to give the public limited access to the structure again through workshops and an online open studio event she is planning April 17-18.

“I feel really, really fortunate,” Howe said. “It’s a strange sort of serendipitous thing. Now, I end up getting to live here and getting to create here all the time. It’s just been part of my life since birth.”

The building has plenty of history behind it, with a store dating back to at least 1881, according to Haliburton Museum curator Kate Butler. It was owned by lumbermen and managed by Frederick Freeman, who took over the premises. It would eventually become Banks’ General Store, operated by Don and Jacquie Banks from 1978-1995, which is how Howe remembers it as a child living nearby.

“It’s really hard to visualize it,” Howe said. “Thinking about being this tiny kid, wandering up and down the aisles. It’s really hard to even picture it.”

Howe also said she knew it as the Wild Oak Café, featuring a stage with open mic nights. The stage area still exists, though is now part of her living room. But she said she hopes to bring the public in once again.

“I just feel like I really need to take advantage of how accessible this space is,” Howe said. “I also know that because so many other people have a lot of personal history in this space, they’re going to be curious about what’s going on here now.”

Howe has filled the walls with art and said she uses much of the space to create, making project such as mixed media paintings with recycled materials. Beyond the studio event, Howe said she plans to host art events and workshops in the future.

“I’d like to do life drawing sessions,” Howe said. “And art discussion and critiques. I know that’s another thing that people in the arts community have been asking for.”

The April 17-18 online open house will feature work from herself and artists Noelia Marziali, Andrew Laughlin Brown, Talitha-Litha Marie and Jennifer Seward, with everything available for sale. It will use photos and video with curbside pick-up.

“It was an essential hub of the community, especially back in the early 1900s,” Howe said. “Its importance to the community, has kind of waxed and waned, but it’s a landmark.”

Summer camps uncertain about season

By

Lisa Gervais

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April 15, 2021

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JQ - Summer camps - 1 — Summer camps such as Hockey Haven are awaiting confirmation on what programming they can make available this year. File photo.

Local camps are preparing and hoping to offer more programming this summer but await word from the province about what will be allowed.

The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) submitted a plan to the province to reopen camps, including overnight ones shuttered in 2020 due to the pandemic. The proposal asks for testing support for anyone entering camps and introduces protocols to reduce traffic flow in and out.

Hockey Haven owner, Troy Binnie, said he is exploring procuring rapid testing for his facility. Registration is open for his programs, but he said he is not taking any money until there is more assurance.

“We’re planning for regular summer – or as close to regular as we’re going to get,” Binnie said. “Kids need it. I think they’ve struggled for the last year trying to get through this (pandemic).”

The province scuttled overnight programs last year, allowing only day programs to go ahead. Camps such as Haliburton’s Medeba cancelled day programs as well due to logistics.

OCA COVID task force member, Thomas Appleyard, said demand is high this year. He added day camps – as well as overnight ones in other jurisdictions – ran with success.

“We understand that it’s not definite. That there are risks involved, We’re very optimistic though,” Appleyard said.

Camexicanus co-founder, Greg Sadlier, ran a day camp last year and said they are planning for a “best-case” scenario with contingencies. Sadlier said they learned a lot going through it last year and children should be even more accustomed to behaving under health protocols.

“We’ve noticed our kids are adaptable,” Sadlier said. “Being able to be outdoors, we really are able to do a lot of our programming.”

But COVID cases are rising again are across the province. Day camps are closed for the next month as part of the provincial shutdown, though summer restrictions have yet to be decided.

Appleyard said beyond testing for anyone entering camp, the OCA hopes to limit transmission through cleanliness protocols and limiting campers to smaller groups. It is providing information and training to its members about best practices.

Losing another summer would hurt, Appleyard said, with his members unable to adapt with curbside service such as other sectors.

“There’s no question it would be a very serious financial consequence,” Appleyard said. “It would certainly jeopardize the future of the industry in Ontario.”

Binnie said he would be prepared to run at a lower capacity or just do day camp programming.

“We’ll continue to wait it out, but it’s obviously going to be tough,” Binnie said. “Going to be tough on a lot of camps and some of them may not be back.”

“We just really want to encourage families to engage as they feel safe and comfortable,” Sadlier said. “Engage with organizations that are working hard to offer positive experiences for their kids.”

Bobcaygeon finalist for Kraft Hockeyville

By

Lisa Gervais

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April 9, 2021

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The Haliburton County community, as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes, is rallying for Bobcaygeon as it’s made the top four in this year’s Kraft Hockeyville competition.

Bobcaygeon is the only arena representing Ontario. Its competitors are in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

To help break down the barriers to community hockey and improve local arenas, Kraft Heinz, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), is awarding one community the grand prize of hosting an NHL pre-season game in their local arena, $250,000 for arena upgrades and the coveted title of Kraft Hockeyville Canada 2021.

As a finalist, Bobcaygeon is already guaranteed $25,000 in arena upgrades and $10,000 in new hockey equipment from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund for deserving youth in the community.

City of Kawartha Lakes Coun. Kathleen Seymour-Fagan said, “Bobcaygeon is passionate about hockey and our local arena brings us together as fans, friends, family and ultimately as a community.

“To keep the game alive in our community, the arena needs accessibility upgrades to ensure that all players, regardless of age, gender or ability, are able to access the facility. Winning Kraft Hockeyville 2021 is a shot at opening the doors to new generations of hockey players and fans,” Seymour-Fagan said.

Local resident Mike Mudie nominated Bobcaygeon and Ann Adare has been instrumental in rallying the community to get to the final four.

“Our community is known for its heart. Even our slogan, ‘Three Islands, One Heart’ speaks to how we come together,” Adare said.

She added that in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bobcaygeon was hit hard with a devastating outbreak and the death of 28 residents at Pinecrest Nursing Home.

She said lockdowns have also meant businesses were shuttered, dealing a particularly difficult blow to a town relying on summer tourism.

Adare said Kawartha Lakes raised $190,000 that has gone back into the community to help support Bobcaygeon and area patients, families and health care workers in need of food, supplies, transportation and mental wellness counselling.

“This effort has left our community tapped out. There are no funds left to upgrade our arena which is now closed and facing an uncertain future. I’m glad this time we can come together for a happier purpose.

A Hockeyville win would ensure that the arena can reopen and upgrades would ensure that our arena can welcome everyone,” Adare said.

The existing arena was built in 1955 by volunteers after the community fundraised $100.000.

How to get involved

Register and vote for Bobcaygeon at krafthockeyville.ca. Voting opens April 9 at 9 a.m. and closes on April 10 at 5 p.m. The community that receives the most votes during the voting phase will be declared the grand prize winner. Voting is unlimited.

Change blows through Haliburton Solar and Wind

By

Lisa Gervais

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April 9, 2021

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Haliburton Solar and Wind (HSW) founder, Brian Nash, has sold the business to two long-time employees.

The company announced the news in a media release March 30.

The new owners are the husband-and-wife team of Joel Ideson and Carolina Barberi.

Ideson is a master electrician who specializes in creating off-grid solutions for residential and industrial applications. Barberi will be the day-to-day operations manager.

Nash is remaining with the company in a consultant role for system design and sales.

“The Haliburton Solar and Wind brand is very strong,” Nash said. “The opportunities are significant. The new owners have all the capabilities to take the business to the next level.”

He added his business focus is also changing.

“Working with community colleges, private enterprise and professional associations, I will be providing training and education in renewable energies.”

Nash has worked with Barberi for more than 20 years. He said she’s been a senior elite project manager for complex projects globally for one of his other businesses. He said she moved over to HSW in 2016 and knows the business extremely well.

Ideson has been a controls electrician in challenging industrial environments for many years, Nash said.

“He is a master electrician that brings a wealth of knowledge and capability to Haliburton Solar and Wind.”

Nash said HSW has experienced exponential growth the last several years.

The company was established in 2013 in Haliburton to provide innovative and reliable energy alternatives. HSW pioneered Canada’s first off-grid demonstration center, on the grounds of Abbey Gardens, and went on to become a North American award-winning alternative energy company, specializing in large complex off-grid power systems.

“As our projects became significantly larger and more complex, the business garnered an excellent reputation and word of mouth has spread quickly. For example, last year we completed a large off-grid estate on the southern coast of Nova Scotia,” Nash said.

Nash said he’s confident in the future of the company and looking forward to his own sea change.

“I am really, really excited about the future of Haliburton Solar and Wind. I am also really looking forward to my new opportunities in the training and education field.”

The 100 bear pledge

Barberi said HSW wanted to create a unique initiative to coincide with their announcement.

HSW is pledging to purchase 100 ‘Humphrey’ stuffed bears from the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation. They are then asking the community to nominate frontline health care workers to receive the bears.

“2020 was a rough year for many people in our community. In 2021, we want to spread thanks and kindness to our local frontline workers and HHHS (Haliburton Highlands Health Services) at the same time,” she said.

To submit a nomination, visit HSW’s social media sites and publicly share a story or anonymously submit a name via direct message.

“We want to make this as easy as possible,” Barberi said. “You tell us who deserves it, and we make sure 100 community members know just how appreciated they really are, by sending them a Humphrey the stuffed bear on your behalf. It’s that simple.”

Here’s where to nominate:

• Facebook: facebook.com/ HaliburtonSolarandWind Instagram: instagram.com/haliburton_ solar_and_wind/

• Twitter: twitter.com/YourCleanEnergy or Visit: haliburtonsolarandwind.com/ contact/