Highlands East offering winter burials

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December 15, 2020

JQ - HE Winter Burials - 2 — Kevin Baker and Jeff McIntosh from CemeCare Complete Cemetery Solutions speak during a workshop Feb. 4. Highlands East is contracting the company to offer winter burials in the pandemic. File photo.

Highlands East has become the first local township to offer winter burials – but only on a temporary basis due to COVID-19.

Council approved a bylaw Dec. 8 to contract CemeCare, which provides winter burials to several municipalities. The move stems from the direction of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, which has asked for cemetery operators to offer burials as far into the winter as possible. This is to alleviate body storage capacity due to concerns about increased deaths due to COVID-19.

Coun. Suzanne Partridge praised the move and said it is something the environment committee has hoped to enact.

“I highly recommend that we do this,” Partridge said. “It will be a wonderful service to the people in our community so they don’t have to wait until the spring.”

Previously, no local townships have offered winter burials due to difficulty working with frozen ground. Burials are usually closed off from November to May, with families needing to choose other options or store their loved ones to get a local burial. There is no cost for the municipality, but those who use the service will have to pay CemeCare. Clerk Robyn Rogers said it is about $1,250 for the opening and closing of the grave.

She further said the Emergency Operations Centre has discussed the issue.

“There are so many conditions that can really affect whether to do it safely or not,” Rogers said. “It’s somewhat of a backup plan, I guess. If we can’t do it and we have an influx of individuals, unfortunately, passing away, that we do have a plan in place to be able to bury these individuals.”

Green Burial Society welcomes news

Haliburton’s Green Burial Society has pushed for winter burials alongside environmentally-friendly ones. It hosted a winter burial workshop Feb. 4 with councillors from all local townships to encourage them to adopt the practice.

CemeCare presented at the workshop. Society president Terry Moore said even though Highlands East is planning this as a temporary measure for now, it is welcome news.

“Hopefully, that will encourage more opportunity for it to be offered,” Moore said. “Hopefully, it’s the toe in the door, that will open the door wide to get year-round green burial options in place.”

He said townships need not necessarily contract the service out and they could do it internally but added CemeCare is a way to offer the service at a modest cost for now. “Good on Highlands East for moving on it.”

Century 21 Granite Realty Group changing hands

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Lisa Gervais

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December 14, 2020

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Andrew and Anne Hodgson are turning over the keys to Century 21 Granite Realty Group Ltd.

Andrew Hodgson said they’ve sold the business to Brandon Nimigon and his wife, Megan Zwart. However, Hodgson will continue to sell real estate. “I love selling real estate. I’m not retiring,” he said.

However, he said it was time to find someone else to own and operate the four real estate offices in Haliburton County and nearly 30 realtors.

At 57, Hodgson said it is a lifestyle choice but also about good succession planning; selling to a young professional who was born, raised and educated in the County, went away to acquire some world experience, and then came back home.

Hodgson himself had only been a realtor for three years when he and Anne purchased the business from Derrell and Kim Stamp 11 years ago.

“We’re really overwhelmed by the support we’ve had owning a business in Haliburton County. The community really accepted us and we’ve been able to have a wonderful 11 years,” Hodgson said.

He added they were fortunate to buy into a business that had been run by “wonderful” realtors with an “exceptional” reputation. They simply had to follow the Stamps lead.

Hodgson, who’s involved in a number of community groups, said they often talk about the challenge of youth attraction and retention.

He said they could have sold to an outside company but they’re “excited a young, local family want to take this on. Brandon’s a good professional, a good realtor, he does things the right way, he is decent and cares about people and clients. That’s part of what started making my mind up, how he’s developed and matured.”

Hodgson added with changes to the industry, including the need for technology during COVID, and the influx of city dwellers to the County, “Brandon gets where the world’s going.”

Nimigon said the prospect of taking over the business Feb. 1, 2021 is “exciting, scary and every other feeling.”

He said when Hodgson approached him, he knew it would be a big step for he and his wife but they felt it was a good fit.

He said they plan on staying in the County for many years to come and it is a good way to get even more involved in the community.

Practicing real estate for just 5.5 years, he said having Hodgson stay on as a realtor gives him peace of mind.

He said his strength lies in the company’s digital footprint going forward. “

I want to take our company to the next level, make sure our websites are top notch, get a lot more into the Google analytics side of things, any new technology that comes out to help our clients.”

He’s a big fan of Facetime, doing virtual walk-throughs with GTA clients to rule out properties that don’t fit. It saves everybody time.

He is also pleased that as a young professional, he has been able to not only return home but have an opportunity such as this.

“When you grow up in a small town, everyone has that mindset they want to get out, go to the city and live there. Then you realize Haliburton is a pretty great place. And I want to provide that opportunity for people to come back and raise their families and have jobs to come to. Real estate is a great way to support the economy and bring tourists in. It’s all about keeping Haliburton growing ad keeping business thriving.”

County must answer two-tiered questions

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Lisa Gervais

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December 13, 2020

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To be one, or not to be one – that is the County’s question.

To become one and amalgamate, perhaps ending the lack of unity and inconsistency on important issues between the townships. Or to remain separate, but together, maintaining township independence and culture, and finding some other way to iron out the trouble spots of the two-tier system.

County council finally had a look Nov. 25 at its long-anticipated services delivery review. That may eventually lead to a discussion on amalgamation, which Coun. Carol Moffatt has maintained the council is open-minded about it. We shall see.

We have written about some of the follies of the two-tier system. Things that should be consistent across all four townships are not. Short-term rentals have been a major problem for years, but only recently has there been any indication the County might take it on. Other matters such as septic inspections or fireworks bylaws led to strange instances of townships wanting to peek at other townships’ work when a more easily unified approach at the County would seem appropriate. We understand jurisdictional hurdles, but it can still feel nonsensical at times.

We recognize there are downsides to amalgamation – a loss of community identity, potentially increased distances to services, perhaps weaker public representation. Whether a unified municipality will be more efficient is uncertain. But it is worth exploring.

It has otherwise been an eventful two years for County council. They pushed forward a unified climate change plan – some would criticize it as not nearly ambitious enough, but it is at least something concrete to address the biggest crisis of our time. Improved connectivity is also making good progress at the County level and above through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network and although it always feels too slow, it is progressing. They have also helped secure the future of local daycares, drastically improved our ability to recruit new doctors, advanced affordable housing and progressed local tourism, all positive steps.

Other issues have fallen through the cracks. The County royally messed up when it comes to transportation, squandering the chance with a dedicated group of volunteers who burned out after years of effort trying to make a unified system happen, to no avail. There is now a transportation piggybank being built-up to wait for upper-government funding to do something, but we feel skeptical about whether that day will come.

The most controversial part of the County’s term has undoubtedly come in its shoreline preservation bylaw. Environmental groups and the construction and landscaping sectors are all pressuring the County about the bylaw and how strong it should be. Thus far the council has managed it prudently, but tough decisions are imminent. We hope councillors can strike a good balance, but ensure the bylaw is strong enough to rein in the reports we hear of out-of-control shoreline developments.

Much of the second half of the term will be about addressing shared services. Resolving the inconsistencies of the two-tier system should be a top priority and finding efficiencies could be a boon as we try to recover from the pandemic. The council might feel the urge to kick the question of amalgamation down the road, for the next council to handle. But we hope we can at least have the decision made, even if not implemented, so we can close the book on the debate once-and-for-all.

Barbershop serving brews with a trim

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Lisa Gervais

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December 12, 2020

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JQ - New barbers - 3 — Nick and Kirstley Folco opened a new barbershop in downtown Haliburton Dec. 8, with a bar and café section to be added later. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Folco family has long dreamed of coming to Haliburton to open their own barbershop – with a twist.

The family made that dream a reality opening The Noble Barber Dec. 8. The barber shop is located at 209 Highland St. It will start as a traditional barber service, but their vision is to make it something more, with a café and bar service, as well as an apparel store.

“Our vision with the shop is to create something that’s not Haliburton. Not that there is anything wrong with that, we just want something that could live in any city, anywhere and be something different than what people are used to in Haliburton,” Nick Folco said. “Gentlemen can come to just feel comfortable.”

Kirstley and Nick Folco recently moved from Peterborough, where Nick Folco worked as a barber. He said it was always their hope to live in Haliburton, having grown up in the area.

“We didn’t plan on all this happening, especially during a pandemic,” Kirstley Folco said. “The pieces just fell into place and we just ran with it.”

They plan to open carefully given the pandemic, using online booking for cuts. The bar will not be opening until next year, with appropriate limitations, they said. Nick Folco said the store concept stems from him starting his career at the Village Cigar Company and Barbershop, established in 2012 in Burlington, which offered a more expanded experience and hosted events.

“You would have people like myself. Obviously, I have long hair, I’m not getting a barber service, but I’d still want to go for their events,” Kirstley Folco said. “It kind of brings people into the business that might not normally be going into a barbershop.”

The barber said anyone skeptical of the idea should take a look.

“It’s going to be beautiful, it’s going to be very welcoming and it’s going to be really cool,” he said. “It is going to have a wild effect when people walk in here. “I’m just very excited to meet everyone in Haliburton and start making good relationships and friendships with people.”

Environmentalists ‘need to keep trying’

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Lisa Gervais

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December 11, 2020

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LG-EH! AGM 2 — A screen capture from the EH! AGM on Dec. 2. Photo by Lisa Gervais.

Extreme weather events including worldwide forest fires and unprecedent flooding were clearly evident in 2020, Environment Haliburton! president Susan Hay told the annual general meeting Dec. 2.

She added that climate change, which has also come about due to deforestation, brought COVID-19, and “the world to its knees.

“We’ve learned there is a relationship between deadly pandemics and deforestation. As man destroys natural spaces, the likelihood of diseases transmitted from animals to humans increases, and yet the destruction continues,” she said.

Due to COVID-19 public health protocols, the AGM was held via Zoom, covering EH!s work since May 2019 when the last AGM was held.

During her president’s report, Hay discussed the work the group had done since the last AGM. Its summer speaker series featured Trent University professor, Dr. Dan Longboat, who shared an Indigenous understanding of man’s responsibility to nature before a crowd of more than 70 people Aug. 10, 2019.

In January, 2020, biologist, Paul Heaven, spoke about the importance of wetlands at the enviro café.

Hay said last Wednesday, “but by using COVID as an excuse, the Ontario government authorized ministerial power to override planning processes, without public consultation or the chance to appeal. And then if that wasn’t bad enough, now they are trying to remove conservation authority’s ability to protect against overdevelopment,” She said while only a small part of Haliburton County is served by a conservation authority, it is still an important issue.

Public education continued with a talk in February by Russ Christianson, who spoke about how General Motors in Oshawa could have gotten into green vehicle production. In March, Paul MacInnes of the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Association and Terry Moore discussed the importance of shoreline vegetation.

Hay noted the County of Haliburton’s shoreline preservation bylaw is not expected until April 2021, a delay she said was a major concern for environmentalists.

She noted while EH! shifted its programming online for May, they were able to still spread their message, including hearing from Eco Choice Pest Control on environmentally-friendly options; Dr. Bob Sandford of University of Alberta on the need for a local and global reset and Christianson on economic development through co-ops; a ‘no planet B’ webinar with Moore and Sue McKenzie of Climate Action Muskoka. EH! was also instrumental in the Sept. 25 Haliburton Highlands climate action day.

Hay also paid tribute to two local environmentalists who passed away this year; Gerry Hunnius, and Donald A. Smith.

The meeting also heard a presentation from Kevin Skerrett on pension fund capitalism (which can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=COW5g2zn8l0).

Hay said November’s viewing of ‘Living in a Time of Dying’ offered advise on how environmentalists can go forward when they are starting to lose hope.

She said what resonated for her was, “even if we can effect some positive change on our governments, and in our communities, protect some wetlands from development, some species from extinction, keep the increase in global temperatures down to a level we can exist, we need to keep trying, support each other, build community and seek ways to be resilient and resourceful.”

Arena most controversial project to date

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Lisa Gervais

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December 11, 2020

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LG-Minden Hills mid-term — The new Minden arena is nearing completion. Photo by Lisa Gervais

Minden Hills voters largely opted for the status quo when they took to the polls in the fall of 2018.

While maintaining the core of council (Mayor Brent Devolin, Deputy Mayor Lisa Schell, Councillor-at-large Ron Nesbitt, and Councillors Jean Neville and Pam Sayne), the addition of newcomers Bob Carter and Jennifer Hughey has brought a new look.

Carter’s attention to detail, particularly around the arena renewal project, has been appreciated by both the media and ratepayers. While less vocal at meetings, Hughey has stuck to her election promise of ensuring transparency at the council table.

For Sayne, who was often on the losing end of 6-1 votes during the 2014-2018 term, she has gained some like-minded allies on certain issues, with Carter and Hughey sometimes agreeing with her.

Without a doubt, the biggest project as of the mid-way mark of this council is the arena and community centre refurbishment. Devolin, Schell, Nesbitt and Neville have never wavered in their belief in it, despite challenges that have included a global pandemic. The Minden “ice palace” will be their legacy.

It has also been the most controversial project in the term, splitting those who vehemently wanted a swimming pool against the arena crowd. It has also ushered in using a large loan to finance it.

Ratepayers who believe in this investment, including for a walking track and gym, would cite it as a major accomplishment. Detractors would say with no swimming pool, it’s merely saddled ratepayers with a 25-year, $12.7 million, debt.

Some of the other achievements would have to include finally hiring key members of senior staff, including CAO Trisha McKibbin, fire chief, Nelson Johnson, and director of community services, Craig Belfry.

Recruitment and retention continue to be a challenge for this township. It started with the departure of former environmental operations manager, Ivan Ingram. Former director of community services, Mark Coleman, left during the arena project and most recently, economic development destination and marketing officer, Emily Stonehouse, moved on. Other departments have had a hard time finding and keeping staff.

Without a doubt, the number one challenge and failure to date has been the Scotch Line landfill. Despite promises of cleaning up leachate seeps, bringing landfill attendants in-house, changing the footprint, bringing in weigh scales and other recommended measures, what improvements have been made are largely Band-aids. With respect to staff managing the site, they have inherited major problems from predecessors and councils that have been unwilling – or unable – to make major changes.

At times, the township has also been slow in implementing new programs. It’s the last lower-tier municipality to tackle septic inspections, for example. Some might argue this is prudent, learning from others first. Others might say it’s due to inefficiency or a lack of staff.

Some other pluses include: getting their house in order, with things such as an updated Official Plan and bylaws; a very cautious and safe approach to handling the pandemic; pushing forward on the flood portfolio; getting some major bridge and roadworks done, including the Sunnybrook bridge and IGA road; and ensuring more social housing and better daycare.

Some of the other cons are that the road network needs much more work, particularly major arteries such as Bobcaygeon and Blairhampton roads.

Heading into budget talks [which started Nov. 16], the council and staff have to establish a clear set of projects and priorities for the next two years. They can perhaps begin to do that now that the County

Warden election will be telling

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 11, 2020

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I found the recently-released services delivery review for Haliburton County and its four lower-tier municipalities to be lacking.

That being said, StrategyCorp., of Toronto provided the eight County councillors with exactly what they had asked for Nov. 25. They wanted a services delivery review only. They did not want any research done on a possible amalgamation or move to a single-tier government. So, they got a document that is recommending 12 better ways of collaborating to save $1.18 million.

That document’s recommendations include hiring five additional staff. It also could take years to implement the changes.

Those of you who were around for the September 2018 mayor’s and deputy mayor’s debate would remember that some ratepayers pushed the idea of amalgamation at that meeting.

One member of the public pointed out we have one of the highest poverty rates in Ontario, lower incomes and higher unemployment than the Ontario average. Yet, at the time, there were 15 municipal employees on the sunshine list, making more than $100,000 each, adding up to more than $1.7 million.

The speaker noted the City of Kawartha Lakes had cut back to just eight councillors in a newly-amalgamated council.

We are headed into budget time at all five local councils and we will see once again that it is wages and benefits that gobble up much of our tax dollars.

It is not councillors that cost us money. They really don’t make a lot of money. It’s the staff salaries that drive the spending.

During that debate two years ago, it was only Minden Hills incumbent mayor Brent Devolin who spoke most passionately about the need for one-tier.

In his opening remarks to that debate more than two years ago, Devolin said our current municipal structure of 24 people in 32 political positions in a County of less than 20,000 permanent residents was not sustainable.

He added that a four-year term of council was enough time to assess, consider, plan and execute the possible changes in time for a municipal election in 2022.

Without a doubt, amalgamation has become a polarizing issue in Haliburton County. There are those who think one-tier will provide better value for money. There are others who argue it will lead to a loss of identity for our townships. Others say it will cost more, not less.

At this stage, even with a services delivery review, we don’t have answers to those questions. Would amalgamation be good or bad for our region?

That’s why I find the current services delivery review lacking.

It will be up to this council to decide if it wants to take the debate one step further.

Which leads me to speculate on the race for County warden. Traditionally, the post is decided upon behind closed doors, and an uncontested winner robed. They used to share it amongst the municipalities. This year is different. We have two candidates squaring off.

Some would say Devolin wants the warden’s seat back because he wants to take the governance review to the next level. Others say current warden, Liz Danielsen, isn’t as sold as Devolin on going to a single-tier.

The election by councillors and swearingin will occur Dec. 15. The decision could provide the answer as to where this term of County Council is headed for 2022.

Don’t get me wrong. Doing a services delivery review in the first place was the right thing to do. Identifying $1.18m in savings is important for ratepayers. However, those questions about amalgamation raised at the 2018 mayor’s and deputy mayor’s debate still have to be answered

Tourism gets $350,000 gift from province

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Lisa Gervais

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December 11, 2020

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LG-tourism announcement 2 — MPP Laurie Scott speaks during a tourism funding announcement Dec. 8. Photo by Lisa Gervais.

The province announced Dec. 8 it is giving the tourism organization representing the Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley region $350,000 in new funding to combat the effects of COVID-19.

Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod, made the announcement for RTO 11. MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, Laurie Scott attended the online event.

MacLeod visited the Highlands July 9 and although a funding announcement was expected then, RTO 8 received $1.4 million later in the day during a press conference in Bobcaygeon.

The new funding is in addition to $2.9 million that has already come to the region, including $734,000 for SIRCH’s bistro café and market and operating money for the Haliburton Highlands Museum, Minden Hills Museum, and the Haliburton County Public Library.

MacLeod, who lives in Ottawa, said in part, “I know that our sectors were hit first, hardest and will take the longest to recover as a result of COVID-19.”

She said the money for RTO 11 is so “they can engage and support hyper-local tourism activities within the region in order to position us for a comeback for the year of the staycation in 2021.”

She added “it’s about community. It’s about where we live. It’s about pride of place and pride of people.”

Scott said, “Tourism is so important up where we live.” She said while operators have been able to pivot well in rural areas, “we know this is an ongoing struggle.” However, she said there is hope with a vaccine on the horizon, with this funding “to help organizations bridge to that better time we know will come.” Executive director of the OHTO, Nicole Whiting, said while some operators have had their best years ever, others are struggling.

“Of course, the devastating impact this crisis has had on our sector is significant,” she said in welcoming the funding. However, she added they’re confident of coming out of the crisis stronger than ever.

Forest cancels 2021 Poker Run

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Lisa Gervais

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December 11, 2020

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For the first time in more than 30 years, the Haliburton Forest is cancelling its annual poker run. It had been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. General manager Tegan Legge said they made the tough decision for the safety of staff, guests and community.

The event has brought in hundreds of snowmobilers annually from all over Ontario. Last year, between the efforts of staff and volunteer, the Forest raised $15,000 for the local fire department.

They intend to continue in 2022, on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Legge said trails will remain open to those wishing to purchase day passes and for those already staying with them. The Cookhouse will be hosting outdoor BBQs on weekends all winter with bonfires and comfort foods.

All day pass fees for Saturday, Feb, 6, 2021 will be donated to Dysart et al fire department.

Social services bracing for pandemic demand

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Lisa Gervais

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December 10, 2020

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JQ - Central Food Network - 2 — Central Food Network has seen an 11 per cent increase in demand for its services since the pandemic started. Highlands East Food Hub workers, left to right: Lisa Ayles, Ken Mott, Donny George. Photo submitted.

Central Food Network and other social service organizations are seeing an increased demand for services – and are rising to meet the need.

The Highlands East food bank announced Dec. 4 it was preparing to up its numbers for its annual Christmas hamper drive in response to an 11 per cent increase in food bank visits since March. Similarly, Heat Bank Haliburton County announced its plans to increase the value of the grants it provides to lower-income households by 25 per cent, from $400 to $500.

Central Food Network executive director, Tina Jackson, said the pressure of the pandemic and rising food costs are being felt. Social services have been preparing for months for higher demand come winter.

“It really underscores the need for things like a living wage, so that people that are working aren’t struggling … As well as for a guaranteed basic income,” Jackson said. “In the meantime, we will continue to be here for people who do fall through the cracks.”

Jackson said the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) flattened the curve of demand over the summer. That trend was similarly seen across the province according to Feed Ontario, though in its Nov. 30 Hunger Report, it said other factors such as new pop-up meal programs made an impact.

Regardless, Jackson said the demand started to increase again when CERB ended in October.

“We started to receive more calls,” she said. “For people now transitioned to EI (employment insurance), they’re getting less money per month.”

Still, food banks and service clubs are working to meet that demand.

“We don’t want to see anyone going hungry,” Highlands East Food Hub manager Ken Mott said. “Although our doors aren’t physically open the way they used to be, our hearts are and we want people to reach out if they need help.”

A surge in community generosity has helped, Jackson said. She highlighted a recent $6,400 donation from 100 Women Who Care and a Rhubarb Restaurant fundraiser providing more than $13,000, both to the Heat Bank.

“We are so grateful to help play a role in this very worthwhile project,” Rhubarb Restaurant owner Terri Matthews-Carl said.

“The number of people donating for us has been unprecedented,” Jackson said. “We are well prepared to weather at least the next six months and I’ve certainly heard that echoed with the other food banks within Haliburton County.”

Still, Jackson said she would like to see more pandemic support from the federal and provincial levels.

“If we think to the beginning of the food bank, we were supposed to be a Band-aid solution. It was supposed to be a short-term thing,” she said. “There’s obviously still a need for food banks, we still need to be here and people need to eat. And we need to have a social safety net.”