Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt said it was a bittersweet day of mixed emotions as Zion United Church in Carnarvon closed its doors forever Sunday after a nearly 128-year life.  

The church is amalgamating with the Highlands Hills Pastoral Charge in Minden.  The charge held a 90-minute joint service April 28 to mark the historic closing, followed by a lunch in the Christian Education Building.  

During a Litany of Thanksgiving, symbols of the life of the church were presented in one of the most moving parts of the service. 

 Parishioner Joan Chapple was a living symbol. Her grandfather, A.W. Moore, was a member of the committee appointed to build the church.

He was also one of the first trustees. His mother’s home was used for a social fundraiser and he helped to move logs from Gelert to build the church, that was dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 30, 1891. 

 Like Chapple, many in the church and education building had had a long association with the place of worship on Highway 35N at East Road.

There were choir members who’d sung in the church – known as the Singing Church – for 70 years. There were former Sunday school teachers and Boy Scout leaders.

There were council members, past and present, United Church Women and the faithful.  Property committee chair Barb Walford Davis laid a hammer, saw and nails as part of the symbol-laying.

She was credited with having “treated this building as if it were her second home.”  

Sunday school teacher, Barbara Braker, took people down memory lane, to a time when there was no paved highway, lots of trees, no cars, only horses and buggies, with few inhabitants.

“They decided to build a house on this spot to gather together, to come together like we are now as a family. We take our memories with us as we continue our journey with Highlands Hills United Church,” she said.  

Moffatt said those forefathers of that first Methodist Church in Carnarvon would be thrilled their church was still standing after nearly 128 years but saddened by the day as well.  

She noted the long history, not just as a church, but a place for gatherings, entertainment, weddings, baptisms and funerals, not to mention the United Church Women serving “no end of tea” and pies.

She talked about how the church had survived the great fire of 1952 following a lightning strike.  

The land is being severed so the church and hall can be sold while the township will maintain the cemetery.

Moffatt added that Zion would become part of a future exhibition at the Stanhope Museum.  

Licensed lay worship leader, Debbie Sherwin, said “for many of us, Zion had been a faith community house for many years.”  

Rev. Max Ward said decreasing resources, both financial and human, had led to change.

He talked about increasing upkeep costs for an aging building. He said some parishes do not address their problems “but you are not a congregation that refuses to change.”  

He said change is not easy and brings anxiety, fear, loss, grief and pain. However, he encouraged the Zion parishioners to have faith and to pray. Like any new relationship, he said “it will take time, energy, presence, commitment and faith.”

Haliburton’s employers worked to fill job openings ahead of a busy summer season at the Fleming Crew Employment Centre’s Job Fair April 25.  

The fair’s 25 employers spoke with approximately 100 people who attended in pursuit of jobs. The employers came from a variety of sectors, including municipal, tourism, service, and trades.  

Fleming Crew employment and training consultant Jillian Diezel said the event was successful and challenged misconceptions about the labour market.  

“Sometimes people feel there aren’t any jobs available in Haliburton but something like this goes to disprove that,” Diezel said. “The turnout from job seekers shows that there are many people out there looking for work.”  

However, employers spoke about the struggle of finding people available to fill positions. Hawk River Construction landscape manager Adam MacIntosh said his company has tried to fill openings since January. 

“It’s been quite challenging. It’s an employee market right now,” MacIntosh said. “We’ve filled a few positions but we have a few more to fill.”  

Red Umbrella Inn manager Kirk Neilson said there is always difficulty filling seasonal spots.  

“A lot of people will look for something full-time, they’ll be looking for something all-year round and we’re a seasonal operation,” Neilson said.  

However, MacIntosh said events like the job fair are welcome ways to help with the labour shortage.  

“This fair that Fleming Crew’s put on has been seemingly a good success, so I think more stuff like this can be helpful,” MacIntosh said.

Job seeker Lisa, who asked her last name be withheld, said the fair was a good one-stop location.  

“It makes it a lot easier,” she said. “It’s very good because you get to know the employers there as people, not just as an employment company.”  

Diezel said Fleming Crew plans to continue to offer the job fairs on an annual or semi-annual basis.  

“There aren’t any other real opportunities for employers to meet candidates face-to-face outside of an interview,” she said. “We are looking forward to doing these … to continue providing the public with the opportunity.”

The county is advancing a new bylaw to protect natural shorelines within 30 metres of the high-water mark.  

Council received a report on the new bylaw during its April 26 meeting.

The bylaw incorporates the existing Shoreline Tree Preservation Bylaw plus regulations for protecting native species.  

Staff said in a report the goals of the bylaw are to prevent further natural shoreline loss and increase ecological health. 

 “The benefits of having the by-law in place at the County include consistency of regulation across the County and consistency in shoreline development/ protection review and enforcement,” director of planning Charsley White said in a report.  

The proposed bylaw would also regulate site alteration within 30 metres of the shore. Coun.

Carol Moffatt said she has received questions about what options people would have to modify existing structures within that range.  

White replied people would be required to provide staff with a plan to ensure development is not disruptive. 

“What we want to help control is the degradation of the shoreline,” White said. “Making sure it’s done in a natural way.”  

Coun. Andrea Roberts said she expects most people will comply.  

“It’s not a big administrative cash grab for everybody. We’re just trying to say these are the guidelines,” she said.  

Council decided not to add any regulations on pesticides and fertilizers within the bylaw. There is also no prohibition on activities on shorelines, all of which were considered earlier in the process.  

Council also voted to direct staff to speak to lower-tier councils and seek resolutions of support.

Public consultations are expected to take place between June and August. The county has budgeted $50,000 for implementing, review and enforcement of the bylaw this year, with an estimated cost of $120,000 annually after that.  

Coun. Cec Ryall said the bylaw is a starting point. 

 “It’s not the perfect solution. It’s not the end,” Ryall said. “It’s the beginning of a revolutionary program that’s going to keep going.”

Capturing Eden owner Stephen Barber said he wants to help a community grappling with opioid use with his new medical cannabis assessment clinic opening Saturday.  

The store is located on 192 Highland St. It will have medical staff to provide the necessary assessment to get medical cannabis.

The location will also feature a full line of hemp products but will sell no cannabis on site. 

Barber said he chose Haliburton as the first location for a planned line of stores due to its high rate of opioid use.

A 2016 study from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network found in 2015, Haliburton County had the second highest rate of opioid users in the province. 

 “Many individuals are curious about augmenting their current care needs with cannabis or actually trying to stop addictions, such as opioids,” Barber said. “People currently in Haliburton are travelling 1.5 to two hours just to get medical cannabis assessments.”  

“We want to make a point to become an integral part of the community,” he added.  

Barber said the clinic will have two full-time and two part-time staff to start, although he hopes the business can grow to add more.

Medical staff will offer the assessments, with those who qualify being directed to a licenced cannabis provider to get the product.

A pharmacist will also be available to help clients learn how to use the product properly, Barber said.  

“We know that they are underserviced already because they have a lack of physicians to be able to go for advice or to find a proper substance,” Barber said. “This way they can come right to us and look to discuss their needs.”  

The hemp products include medications and soaps.  

Recreational cannabis on the horizon 

Barber said he also plans to sell recreational cannabis once the province allows it.

At present, it has been regulated that until there are more than 25 retail store authorizations in Ontario in municipalities with more than 50,000 people, none may be issued in places with less than that.  

Barber said he renovated the building in a way to meet the requirements for recreational cannabis. But he added he wants to build a reputation before pursuing it.  

“We would like to develop a relationship not only with the citizens of the area but with the community as a whole,” Barber said. “Once we’ve established our roots there and our credibility, then we would look at that.” 

Barber said he presented before Dysart council about the store.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said the store did not need any new zoning approvals and council wishes the owners well.  

Barber said cannabis is beneficial to help treat some conditions and relieve pain.  

“It is not addictive as per opioids. That’s why in an opioid over abuse area, cannabis is a good alternative because it actually helps people wean themselves off of opioids,” Barber said.

 “We truly plan to help the community,” Barber said. 

Minden Hills Council, by a narrow vote of 4-3, approved planning amendments to allow Francis Thomas Contracting (FTC) to use its new septage spreading field in the township.  

Councillors Jennifer Hughey, Jean Neville and Pam Sayne voted against, while Mayor Brent Devolin, Deputy Mayor Lisa Schell, and Councillors Bob Carter and Ron Nesbitt were in favour at the April 25 meeting.  

Approval was for a rezoning and Official Plan (OP) amendments. The OP change must now go to the County of Haliburton. FTC already has approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). 

FTC controller Joe Cox told The Highlander the company was relieved at the outcome.  However, while the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) allowed the company to begin using the field as of May 1, it will hold off pending better conditions. 

 “We’ve still got a few weeks to go before we can really do much of anything,” Cox said on Monday.  

Cox said half-load restrictions on roads means their driver would have to dump every time he pumps out a septic or holding tank. Further, he said the road going into the site is soft.  

The field is located at 866 Bobcaygeon Rd., about 4 kilometres northwest of the village. The MECP has placed 33 conditions in the ECA, and the license is only for two years.

At the council meeting, Councillors Carter, Sayne and Neville expressed concern. Sayne said she thought the MECP had not factored in flood conditions when doing its assessment of the site. She was worried about the effect on neighbouring wells and the municipal drinking water system.  

Neville is worried about the impact on human health, both for FTC’s employees but also the neighbours. She talked about air-borne contaminants.  

“I’d like to know where the Ministry of Health is in this process,” she said. A former health care worker, she described the stringent conditions she worked under. Here, she said it’s a case of “spreading, spraying, dumping hundreds of thousands of litres of things such as feces, urine, blood.”  

Carter admitted he was “conflicted” and called for a 10-minute recess before the vote. He said he felt FTC had followed the law but had concerns about the MECP’s process.

He also wondered what they will be testing for in wells at the site. He wanted council to consider a provisional change to the bylaw and OP.  Planner Ian Clendening said if council were to make such amendments or vote down the planning changes it opened the township to an appeal.

Ultimately, he said the MECP took precedence on the matter. He added that Sayne’s concerns were not a recognized threat by the MECP. 

 “In the end, they [MECP] hold the hammer and will do what they want,” Mayor Brent Devolin said.

He added “I think the due diligence is done.”  

Cox said FTC planned to be a good neighbour.  

“From my mind, obviously we want to do the right thing … even saying that May 1 we’re allowed to spread on the field but knowingly we would be holding off until better or more conditions exist.”

The Bob Lake Association (BLA) came to the April 25 Minden Hills council meeting asking politicians to reopen the discussion about a possible public boat launch on the lake.  

Dave Roberts and Laurent Joncas made a presentation.  

They said the BLA have located what they think is a suitable site although there are complications.  

Their proposed site is on the northeast corner of the same dam property that the historical launch was on. It was closed because the private owner was worried about liability.  

Roberts and Joncas said an estimated five acres would have to be severed from a 54-acre property for a launch.

Access would be from Bob Lake Road, to Loggers Crossing Lane, then it would require 900- feet of newly-constructed road.  

They said the landowner was initially amenable to their plans but has now backed off and they’ve had no contact. They asked if the township would consider expropriating the land.

They further provided a cost estimate of all the work required to re-establish a lunch at just under $150K, including a $24K contingency. 

They’re proposing the money come from municipal tax dollars, a shoreline road allowance reserve account and a special tax levy.  

They also called on council to establish a joint task force to move the portfolio forward.  

Mayor Brent Devolin said the issue has been “complex” and the BLA had given council “lots to digest.”

He said there would be a follow-up report from staff.  Coun. Bob Carter suggested the association buy the land and own the boat launch, but the BLA said that isn’t what they want to do, nor is the land for sale. 

 It was suggested the township talk to the landowner.  

Coun. Pam Sayne wanted a task force struck to immediately deal with the issue, saying the lack of a public boat launch at the site had been going on for too long and she felt council was partially responsible for the issue. Devolin responded that he disagreed with Sayne about responsibility.

With a group 16-bicyclists strong, the Haliburton Real Easy Ryders Cycling Club kicked off from the West Guilford Community Centre April 30.  

The ride was the first of the season for the club, which has traveled along the many roads and trails in the county since 1998. The club rides together every Tuesday and Friday from May until October.  

Recent retiree Russ Duhaime joined the club just before its first ride this year and said it is cool to travel with a group of people who share his passion for the sport.  

“I love the way it de-stresses me,” Duhaime said of cycling. “Whatever problems you have in the world, they go away 20 minutes into a bike ride. People talk about meditation and mindfulness and that all comes naturally through biking.”  

President Robin Bell said the club’s membership is very strong. With more than 70 people registered, the club expects to expand to more than 100 people come the summer.  

The club welcomes all adults but its average age is in the mid-60s, Bell said. He added cycling is a good way for seniors to keep active.  

“It does exercise the big muscles for the legs, it exercises the lungs, the heart. You can go at your own speed,” Bell said.  

But the club is more than about riding bikes. Bell said it is a social experience, with members stopping at the same places to talk, eat and enjoy good company.  

Carolyn Langdon said there are always people you can find to go at your speed.  

“You make friends in the club,” she said. “You can either go for endurance, you can go for speed or you can just choose any type of group that you like within the spectrum.”  

“Some people just go on their bike and go hell-bent,” rider Joan Stoner said. “Some of us just wander around and look at the scenery and love it. It’s a camaraderie.”  

With the season getting started, Langdon said she is glad to hit the trails on her bike again. 

 “The icy snow is off the roads,” she said. “After a long winter, it’s really great to get out.” 

 Information on joining the club is available at haliburtonrealeasyryders.com

When the Abbey Retreat Centre (ARC) board was working towards holding their first cancer retreat in March of 2017, they recognized they needed some front office help.  

Chair Joy Davey wanted someone to do a little bit of paperwork. Member Barb Bolin suggested Donna McCallum, a former CAO of Dysart et al, who was retired.  

“So, I met with Joy and we just clicked,” McCallum said just before officially stepping down from her role as executive director of ARC at a reception on April 14.

New executive director, Doug Norris was formally introduced.  

McCallum, who started the last week of January 2017, said the one thing she told Davey was, “I don’t want to do meetings and I don’t want to do minutes. Guess what?” 

 She did both, and so much more in her more than two years with ARC, taking her part-time paperwork role to a full-fledged executive-director position.  

In an interview with The Highlander, McCallum said she was pleased Norris had been hired.  

“The job outgrew me. I didn’t want to spend 40 hours or more, and that’s what it was taking. In order for the centre to grow, it needed somebody full-time to take on all the extras.”  She said just taking care of the day-to-day operations of the centre did not afford time to get out into the community and that is something Norris can now do.  

The centre offers free cancer retreats for up to 10 people approximately every  two months. To help support that mission, it has added programming, including a speaker series, yoga, and other events aimed at bringing people to the back of the property, as well as revenue to support the cancer retreats.

They cost about $10,000 a weekend.  McCallum said the vision continues to be around making ARC a wellness hub.

They have also recently applied for charitable status and gotten a New Horizons for Seniors grant for their volunteer program. 

 Norris said he wants to educate people that ARC and Abbey Gardens and its food hub are two separate entities, although they both share the grounds with Haliburton Solar and Wind and Haliburton Highlands Brewing. 

He said another thing he would like to do over the next year or two is boost the profile of the retreat centre.  

“The core work is the cancer retreat. Everything else we do drives towards that. But we have to keep enough traffic in the centre, and revenue-generating traffic,” he said. “So, that’s the key mandate for me in year one and two, just to be out there in the community and helping people to understand more about who we are, even as we’re evolving and figuring out exactly what our work is going to be.”  

He said he thinks it’s great that people are associating Haliburton County with a unique program that promotes how people can thrive with cancer.

He added developing a wellness hub that supports a healthy local community also epitomizes the fight against cancer. 

Norris, a United Church minister, has been a Maple Lake cottager for about 14 years and is finishing up a house here. His wife will join him soon.

McCallum, meanwhile, heads back to retirement.  Norris commented on how McCallum’s flexibility has been part of the success story.

“To step in and respond when the need was ‘just to do a little paperwork.’ To carry it through to where the position was an emerging executive director role with that layer of responsibility. And to carry it that far and her willingness to go from that point A to that point B. And what a privilege for me to step in and pick it up on that platform.” 

 McCallum, who’s parting gift was a bursary for retreat participants, said, “I will always feel this was a special time in my life as part of the team that helped to start the Abbey Retreat Centre;   the board, the retreat team, the support staff, the volunteers … all an important part of the team that have given so generously of their time and made the work I did so much easier.”