Survey says Minden landfills could do better

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February 18, 2021

LG-dump report card — Minden Hills council met via Zoom Feb. 11

Minden Hills residents gave the township an overall grade of C- in a recent waste services survey.

Questionnaire results were presented to the Feb. 11 committee of the while meeting.

Manager of waste facilities, Tara Stephen, said they asked people: whether rules are easy to understand; trip is quick; access to diversion programs; site is clean and organized; hours are plentiful; staff are friendly and helpful; and disposal is low cost.

She said the C- was a disappointing score to her, and she and council would like to see an A or A+ “so, we do have a bit of work to do here.”

In addition, people responding to the call for their opinion gave the municipality a D+ when it came to rules being easy to follow.

Stephen said, “and we have some work to do here.” She said in the past, rules have not been applied consistently and they have been working towards more standardized policies and procedures in the past year and will continue to do so moving forward.

Stephen said they had 429 valid responses, which she said was excellent for a community of Minden Hills’ size. The survey was conducted last November. “

We garnered a lot of really thoughtful feedback from our community that I think are going to provide some excellent insights into our future planning over the next few years,” she said.

Stephen said 60 per cent of respondents were seasonal, 38 per cent permanent and two per cent businesses.

One of the interesting responses she highlighted was that 26 per cent said they planned to convert cottages to houses and move to Minden Hills full-time in the short to long-term. Fourteen per cent plan to do it in the next five years. She said it could impact demographics, shifting to more full-time than seasonal residents in future and that will impact waste services. She attributed this to people being able to work remotely; retirement; getting out of the city and COVID-19.

“As this population shifts for us, we just need to be aware, when we’re looking at our waste services, about whether or not the services we are providing and the way we are providing them are still doing a good job for the type of community we have.”

Stephen said only six per cent of people are taking advantage of the current three garbage bag limit, and the township could consider reducing it. She said it would help with diversion rates and the township could make money off people bringing three or more bags.

She said they also learned that people think the website is not useable, and information unreliable and disorganized. They’ve made improvements the past year, “but there’s still room to do better.” They were also surprised to hear that 25 per cent of people get information by word-ofmouth and 10 per cent from other forms of social media, not township-generated. She suggested council go ahead with the annual waste guide and that an e-mail newsletter or email reminders might be helpful.

Stephen was, however, pleased that the public wants them to focus most on waste reduction and waste reuse. She said reduce is by far the most important of the three Rs.

“This shows that this community understands that hierarchy and understands that our most important next step is to reduce the amount of waste we’re actually generating in this community before we start focusing on recycling.”

She said other themes were: a need to improve the hazardous waste system; an interest in organic waste programs; some desire for curbside collection and collaboration with other townships.

Mayor Brent Devolin said with an overall rating of C- there is room for improvement.

“I think most of us that have been around for a few years, if we had done the same thing a couple of years ago, I’m not sure we would have even got a C- in this.”

Coun. Jennifer Hughey said she wanted the survey results shared with the general public. “I think it’s very important for people to be able to see this information.”

Cottage power rates set to escalate

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Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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Hydro One says more than half of its seasonal customers could see a $650-a-year jump in electricity costs after the Ontario Energy Board approved the elimination of a special rate class for seasonal homes.

A spokesperson for the utility told The Highlander that in the coming weeks, the OEB will send out a notice to customers with details on next steps. There will be information on moving customers to one of the three residential rate classes, urban, medium or low density, and the projected bill impacts.

“We anticipate that 55 per cent of our seasonal customers, nearly 80,000 customers, will see an increase in their bills due to moving to the low-density class,” the spokesperson said.

“This change could increase costs for a typical seasonal customer by $650 per year in annual electricity bills.” The spokesperson said Hydro One does not profit from the OEB’s decision, and has advocated for a different solution that would have reduced the bill impact for seasonal customers.

They added Hydro One has submitted an implementation plan to the OEB that proposes rate mitigation measures for customers who are expected to see a total bill increase of more than 10 per cent. Rate mitigation is a tool used by the OEB to protect consumers from having large bill increases at one time – for example, by phasing in the increase over a number of years.

Cottagers’ association to campaign against rise

The OEB has yet to decide whether the change will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022 or later. It will hold a public hearing to determine the implementation plan. No date has been set.

Hydro One is inviting customers to have their say and provide feedback directly to the regulator by visiting oeb.ca or calling 1-877-632-2727.

When asked about internal cuts to save money, the spokesperson said “Hydro One is continually looking inward to improve productivity and take costs out of the system. In 2019, we saved $202 million in productivity savings, which allows us to drive costs out of the system and enhance efficiency.”

In making the decision the OEB said its concern was that the distribution rates charged to seasonal customers are not reflective of the cost to serve them.

It said, “The OEB was aware that eliminating the seasonal class would cause bill impacts for Hydro One’s seasonal customers, and particularly would cause bills to increase for lower-use seasonal customers. The OEB directed Hydro One to bring forward a bill mitigation plan.”

The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), in a Feb. 9 update to members, said the change affects almost 80,000 low-use customers, who will see their monthly bills increase by $50-plus a month.

“FOCA has been an intervenor at the OEB for many years, and has been advocating against this significant bill impact,” they said.

FOCA is preparing to launch a campaign to stop the elimination, “because this change will result in the doubling of electricity rates for nearly 80,000 seasonal Hydro One customers and cottage owners.”

Long-time Kennisis Lake cottager, Tony Lepine, is worried about the impact.

He said it costs him about $100 every winter for hydro when he’s not there — mostly for the delivery charge.

With the change, he estimates his bill will go up by $60-70 a month, or about $720-a-year.

“That’s a lot of money.”

Lepine said he will still use his cottage, but is considering going off-grid, noting that option is costly as well.

“I’m retired and there’s no way my pension will increase that much,” he said. “I’m lucky to get two per cent per year. This is a significant increase.”

FOCA is encouraging people to sign up for FOCA’s new dedicated electricity e-newsletter, called The Power Line. S

For more information, see:

hydroone.com/about/regulatory/oebapplications/seasonal-rates

Province officers paramedic expansion

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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JQ - Paramedic expansion - 1 — County of Haliburton director of paramedic services Tim Waite. File photo.

The County could be getting up to four additional community paramedics thanks to a three-year funding boost from the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Department of emergency services director, Tim Waite, told County council Jan. 29 that the ministry seeks to expand the program. It wants to address the rising demand in the long-term care sector and help those waiting for beds.

To achieve this, the ministry proposed the funding and asked the County to submit a budget and proposal.

“This is really good news,” Coun. Andrea Roberts said. “Especially in an area like ours, a rural area, where transportation is an issue. The community paramedic program is a great way to get the service to the people as opposed to people having to get to the service.”

The program, which began in Haliburton County in 2017, does safety checks on at-risk people, providing weekly or monthly care. The new positions would be offered as temporary contracts completely funded by the province.

Waite said the province is processing the application and there is no guarantee yet the municipality will get the dollars. Roberts asked about the logistics of the proposal and handling the extra staff. Waite noted there is an additional vehicle in this year’s County budget but there may be an additional department staff person needed to facilitate the new paramedics.

Warden Liz Danielsen said Waite should do a deeper drive to ensure there will not be any limitations on what work the paramedics can do. She added based on a presentation she attended at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference, the province is considering community paramedicine seriously.

“It’s good to see that they’re putting funding in place for it,” she said.

Coun. Dave Burton asked what might happen at the end of the three years, raising the possibility that the municipality might have to then cover the costs.

“The hopes would be after three years they see it’s successful and they want to continue it,” Waite responded. “There is the risk that at that time, the funding could discontinue.”

He added there is language in the provincial collective agreement to lay off the individuals at the end of the term.

Council voted to receive the report as information. A further report will come to council if the province approves the initiative.

Sober man recounts 30 years of drug addiction and homelessness

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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JQ - Drug Feature - 1 — John “Buffalo” Killen stands with a medal he received from Alcoholics Anonymous for sobriety. Photo by Joseph Quigley

As John “Buffalo” Killen stood amongst a self-proclaimed second family at Haliburton’s Alcoholics Anonymous to receive his one-year sobriety medal, he was not shy about describing a troubled past.

It was an end to the 57-year-old’s long road to stop a 33-year addiction to cocaine and a new beginning for the rest of his life. His partner, Kathryn McLean, said Killen had gone through an incredible transformation since checking out of rehab December 2018.

“I’ll continue coming every Sunday here. You won’t take me away,” Killen told the audience Jan. 26, 2020. “You guys have no idea how much it means to me. If you knew my past and what I’d been through, you’d be amazed.”

Killen – now two years sober – describes his past as tumultuous. It is filled with years running from the law, more than 14 years in prison, over 20 years of homelessness and a life-changing look in a mirror.

He was born on a reserve, near Kenora Six Nations, before moving to Port Credit in Mississauga. He said he did not know his parents very well as he grew up, as he was consistently away with friends.

He said he got involved with drugs when he was 16, working as part of a larger group of dealers. He began to start using illicit drugs as well.

“I thought the group that I joined was a family. They listened to me. They understood me. They took care of me,” Killen said.

But that life changed at age 19 when Killen said he shot a friend in a trade dispute. The friend survived, according, to Killen, but was severely injured.

“I sat there, waiting for the police because I knew there was no way of me running.”

He described getting out on bail and leaving the country, hitchhiking in the USA for more than two years. Eventually, he was caught and was returned home to Canada, where he was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

“It’s a totally different world,” Killen said. “Since I’ve been out, I realize all those years, I have been taking a lot of things for granted.”

Life on the streets

When he was released from his long sentence at age 35, Killen said authorities did not provide him much help.

“They don’t give you places to go. They don’t suggest what you should do when you’re out,” he said. “Being 35 years old, being kicked out into society with no help, no communications, no referrals, it was hard for me. So, for (much) of the next 23 years, I was homeless.”

He said he was able to survive by holding doors open for people at a Tim Hortons in Toronto. He knew how to get around and find places to handle his hygiene and laundry.

But Killen was dealing with more than homelessness. He was battling an addiction to cocaine, something that followed him through his years in prison and was still prevalent in his life.

“I know it’s not right, but at the time, it felt like a companion. My main concern was to get my fix for the day,” Killen said. “I think of how much money I spent. I could have built a house with the money I spent on drugs.”

He said his life changed 14 years after being released, when he was taken in by a new homelessness program that helped him transition to permanent housing with assistance. He was able to get an apartment at an affordable rate.

But he said it was not entirely a blessing. Drug dealing was prevalent at his apartment building, he said.

“My addiction got super worse.”

McLean said she met Killen while he was living in that apartment. They encountered each other at Killen’s usual Tim Hortons and hit it off quickly.

“I was in love,” McLean said. “He was good to me.”

She moved in with him. But his lies about his addiction came between them. After three years, she gave him an ultimatum.

“He either got clean and I’d be in his life and support him, or he could use and I didn’t.”

Killen said he did not react much at first.

“I didn’t give a shit. I was getting high,” he said. “I didn’t really care until she moved.”

With an empty apartment and addiction holding him, Killen had an epiphany.

“I went to the washroom and I looked myself in the mirror and I did not like what I saw,” Killen said. “I started crying and actually broke down.”

It was at that point life turned around, he said. He discovered Renascent, a Toronto-based addiction treatment center. He was accepted to begin rehab at a facility in Brooklin, Ontario.

“It was wonderful,” Killen said, adding the counsellors had strong expertise.

Daniel Buller is a part-time counsellor with Renascent who spent time with Killen during his rehab.

“Jon came in a very angry individual and I watched him change,” Buller said. “He mellowed out … I guess he said to himself he’s got no option. This is it and he went out and he followed the rules to the best of his ability.”

McLean said she regularly visited him during his rehab.

“After that, he was just a different, calmer person,” McLean said. “He didn’t fight with me. He didn’t argue over crazy things.”

“Renascent saved me life,” Killen said. “I’m really glad I called.”

Coming to Haliburton

Killen moved to the Wilberforce area soon after coming out of rehab, temporarily residing in a cottage owned by McLean’s family.

“I love it out here in Haliburton. I love Wilberforce, I love the outdoors,” Killen said. “I’m a native. I never did like the concrete jungle.”

Despite the pandemic, Killen said he has gotten by with some odd jobs and the help of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. He is renting out a room in a home in Highlands East, actively looking for work. He also owns a car, which he said is a first for him.

“A year ago, I would never have thought this was possible for me,” he said. “I feel really proud of myself. I’ve come a long way.”

With his life experiences, he said he notices local people abusing drugs as he did.

“For anybody that has an addiction like I do, what they should do is look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, ‘Is this my life? Is this what I want to be?’”

He said support systems should be stronger and it would have made a difference if he could have gotten into Renascent after he left prison. He said people who judge those with addiction should have “a little compassion.”

“Me getting into that situation, mostly, there’s no one out there to help,” Killen said. “There should be places where you can walk in, no questions asked, tell them you have an addiction and get the help you need.

“Same thing with housing and the homeless,” he added. “They want to get the homeless off the street, they can.”

He added it was critical to have a stable living situation to access the information he needed to get into Renascent’s program. It has a publicly funded option through the Ministry of Health, Buller said, but there is an application process and an approximately three-month waiting list.

“I didn’t like being door-slammed on my face,” Killen said about seeking help while homeless. “Some of these places, they’re not very easy to get to right away. There’s always waiting lists and you know, I just didn’t bother.”

With more than two years of sobriety, Killen said he is living his life more fully. He said it is not about willpower but knowing what you pass up. He also welcomed anyone to call him at 437-345- 1338 if they are facing a problem like his.

“I’ve been doing things I never dreamed of doing when I was high. You really have to stop wanting to use.”

Dysart opts against review of ward boundaries

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 16, 2021

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JQ - Dysart ward boundary - 2 — Dysart’s current ward structure is based on geography but is unbalanced by population. Photo via Dysart et al.

Dysart et al council opted against exploring ward boundary changes this term despite the population disparities between them.

Staff presented a report Feb. 9 on the boundaries in response to council questions at a previous meeting. The municipality could make boundary changes through a bylaw appealable to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. Staff recommended a consultant oversee the process if council went forward with changes. T

he municipality has a disparity in its wards, with its most populous Ward 2 (3,886) having more than twice the population as Ward 1 (1,608) and Ward 3 (1,873), according to 2018 voter population counts. But councillors indicated it was not an issue they wanted to tackle at this time.

“We have an awful lot on our plate,” Mayor Andrea Roberts said. “Unless we had a glaring issue, I wouldn’t suggest this is something we would make as a priority right now.”

Clerk Mallory Bishop reported the topic was last raised after the 2014 election, and the council then felt a boundary review was not needed. But even in 2014, Wards 1-4 exceeded a 25 per cent deviation from the ward population average, a maximum threshold generally used by Elections Canada.

Bishop also noted “effective representation” as set out by a Supreme Court of Canada ruling states that population should not be the only factor in determining boundaries as geography, community history and minority representation also deserve consideration.

Coun. John Smith said the same Supreme Court ruling states that “relative parity of voting power” is of prime importance. He argued this is an issue Dysart should take on.

“We need to act on this,” Smith said. “The approach of kicking this can down the road is just perpetuating a problem that hasn’t just existed for a year or two.”

But no other councillors were interested in pursuing change. Coun. Larry Clarke said the municipality should hold off with a new census coming up, given the impact of the pandemic causing more people to permanently move to the area.

Deputy Mayor Patrick Kennedy said the ward structure stems from the geography of the original Dysart et al amalgamation. He added County decisions could impact the township’s ward structure.

“The other elephant in the room is County council has to determine whether we’re going to move forward with amalgamation,” Kennedy said. “You might only have one vote here in Dysart in the future if that goes through.”

Council committee of the whole voted to receive the report as information.

Highland pets welcome reopening of groomers

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 15, 2021

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JQ - Pet groomers - 1 — The province allowed Prettypaws Pet Boutique and Spa and other groomers to reopen Feb. 4. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Pet groomers are welcoming the province allowing them to reopen Feb. 4 after weeks of being shuttered due to the provincial lockdown.

The province is allowing them to provide appointment-only, curbside-style service for pets in need of care for issues that would cause an imminent vet appointment. Groomers were closed after not being considered essential in the latest lockdown, which began Dec. 26.

Prettypaws Pet Boutique and Spa in Dysart is one of the businesses reopening. Owner Christopher O’Mara welcomed the news.

“Grooming is completely essential to the health and welfare of animals,” O’Mara said. “Being forced to close has put our clients at heightened risk of preventable issues. Allowing groomers to reopen will alleviate the stress of grooming appointments on vet offices.”

The provincial move came after mounting pressure from groomers and municipalities alike. Some larger municipalities such as Mississauga had announced they would not send bylaw officers to ticket groomers. Dysart et al did not follow suit, which O’Mara disagreed with.

“They are unmoving in their interpretation of the regulations despite the overwhelming response to the contrary from other municipalities,” O’Mara said. “Dysart is not a friendly community for small businesses.”

Dysart municipal law enforcement officer, Robert Mascia, said the emergency operations centre reviewed it, but the municipality opted not to go against provincial rules.

“We just followed the rules that the province had put out,” Mascia said. “It’s good to see the local businesses will be allowed to open up.”

O’Mara said the salon has worked curbside since May when it could reopen. He said there is no operational difference now compared to then, other than screening dogs for issues that would cause a vet appointment.

He said although he disagrees with the “essential” terminology, grooming is necessary. He added the business has safety measures with enhanced cleaning and screening.

“We are doing everything that every other business that has been allowed to open curbside is doing,” O’Mara said. “If not more.”

He said he has experienced a loss of approximately $34,000 in cancelled bookings with lockdown rules – and the provincial support is not enough. The province created a grant starting at $10,000, going up to $20,000, to help small businesses experiencing lost revenue due to the shutdown.

“Does not even come close to covering our losses,” O’Mara said. “2020 and 2021 are going to be very difficult years for us financially.”

Hyland Crest COVID-19 outbreak declared over

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 15, 2021

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On Feb. 14, Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) received word from Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine
Ridge District Health Unit that the COVID-19 outbreak at Hyland Crest had been declared over.

The home was declared to be in outbreak Jan. 31, when two essential caregivers tested positive in routine mandatory screening. All residents and staff at Hyland Crest have since been screened with no positive results.

“Obviously this is a tremendous relief for everyone and a strong testament to the efficacy of infection
prevention and control measures utilized by staff. All of the protocols we have put in place, and the
diligence of staff in ensuring their implementation, are what prevented the spread to residents and
staff. I have the utmost gratitude for the team at Hyland Crest and all of our staff across the
organization,” said president and CEO, Carolyn Plummer.

She added HHHS will continue to closely monitor residents and continue with rigorous infection prevention
measures. Staff and essential caregivers, who provide important physical and emotional support to
long-term care residents, will continue to participate in mandatory screening as directed by the Ministry
of Long-Term Care.

Residents at Hyland Crest, who have been in isolation since the outbreak
declaration, will now be able to resume socially distant activities within the home.

What you need to know about Haliburton County reopening

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 12, 2021

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Acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill, is urging locals to follow health protocols. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

More local businesses and services will be able to reopen next week with COVID-19 safety measures in place, as the provincial Stay-at-Home Order comes to an end.

Effective at 12:01 am on Tuesday, Feb. 16, the provincial government will move the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) region into the Orange COVID-19 colour category.

Before the lockdown, it had been in the Yellow level.

HKPRDHU’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ian Gemmill, strongly urged caution in a Feb. 12 news release.

“While our legal obligation to limit travel and gatherings will end when the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted, we still have a moral obligation to continue doing all we can to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Gemmill said. “I am pleading with people not to gather with others and to continue to stay home and only go out for essential reasons.”

While COVID-19 cases may be declining, the virus is still circulating in the area, he added. New coronavirus variants that are more easily spread are also present locally, and these could also contribute to a sudden surge in COVID-19 infections, he said.

The HKPRDHU region’s move out of the provincial shutdown to the Orange COVID-19 level means:

Local restaurants/bars can reopen for in-person dining, while continuing to offer takeout, pick-up and delivery.
Worship services, weddings and funerals can resume with limitations.
Gyms and fitness clubs can again open their doors to members with limitations.
In-person shopping can resume at retail stores.
Personal care services such as barbers and hairdressers can resume with restrictions.
Movie theatres and performing arts centres can reopen for performances, with limits in place.

All businesses and services that are reopening must follow COVID-19 restrictions. These include operating with reduced hours (in some cases), limiting the number of people inside at one time, ensuring physical distancing and enhancing cleaning and disinfecting measures. Businesses must also screen customers for COVID-19, while ensuring they wear masks (unless exempt).

The move to Orange also means small social gatherings are once again allowed at private homes, backyards and parks between people from different households. Up to 10 people can gather indoors and up to 25 people outdoors. Masks must be worn, and people need to stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is outside of their household.

More information and resources on the Orange COVID-19 Category rules are available at the HKPRDHU website (hkpr.on.ca).

‘Talk with the Doc’ virtual town halls coming

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 12, 2021

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JQ-vaccine rollout — HKPR District Health Unit acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill

Local residents are encouraged to attend upcoming ‘Talk With The Doc” virtual town halls being presented by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU).

Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ian Gemmill, will host the sessions scheduled for:

Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 2, from 1 to 2 p.m.

During the online information sessions, Dr. Gemmill will provide COVID-19 updates and answer the audience’s questions. Topics will include: information on the local COVID-19 cases and transmission rates; the rollout of vaccines in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes; and HKPRDHU’s ongoing pandemic response.

“We want local residents to be fully informed about what is going on in their communities when it comes to the pandemic,” Dr. Gemmill said. “These virtual information sessions are just another way in which we can engage with our residents and be sure everyone has the information that they need to help to protect themselves and to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

To attend either “Talk with the Doc” information sessions, visit the HKPRDHU website (www.hkpr.on.ca). Participants can register for a session and submit a question for Dr. Gemmill prior to the event. Once registered, participants will receive a link to join the session on the day of the event.

Space is limited for each virtual event, and is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Drug abuse an issue for County youth

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 11, 2021

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JQ - Youth drug use - 2 — Nurse practitioner Kelsey Young said youth cannabis use is an issue. Photo via Flickr.

Haliburtonian Abe Churko said he got a close experience with youth drug abuse locally at a friend’s birthday party.

He said everyone except him took a bit of “molly” – a slang term for a type of ecstasy. Although he went to sleep at 2 a.m., he awoke four hours later to discover his friends still dancing. The party had not stopped.

“At the time, I found it pretty funny,” Churko said. “But you look back, definitely not healthy for you. The thing is, even with hard drugs, if you do them sometimes (occasionally), it can be sustainable. Some people, they try for a few times and they’re gone off the deep end.”

Across Canada, illicit drug use is more prevalent among youth. The 2017 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey found a higher proportion of youth reported experiencing harm due to their illicit drug use – five per cent of youth aged 15-19 and 10 per cent of young adults aged 20 to 24 – than their counterparts 25 and older (three per cent). The same study found cannabis use more prevalent among youth ages 15-19 (19 per cent) and 20-24 (33 per cent) than adults 25 or older.

Nurse practitioner Kelsey Young previously worked part-time at the Haliburton County Youth Hub as a counsellor. She said it is hard to gauge the state of youth drug use in the area – there are not local hard stats for it – but it is part of the substance abuse picture. Especially for cannabis

“I would say one of the major things specifically within the community would be cannabis,” Young said. “Cannabis is known to be harmful for developing brains. So, the fact that it’s legalized isn’t necessarily a bad thing from a systemic view but it has increased our youth rate in cannabis use.”

Churko said cannabis use is prevalent locally – even before legalization came – though the drug still remains illegal for people under 18.

“A lot of kids start smoking pretty early, and lately, over the past few years, some kids are starting to do hard drugs,” Churko said. “I would say most kids have tried weed at least by the end of high school.”

Young said youth drug use is a complicated issue and there are four primary reasons they do it: to feel good, to cope, to do better at a task, or curiosity, when surrounded by other people using it.

Churko said he has seen drug use emerge in social situations like parties before the pandemic. He said ecstasy gained popularity locally after it emerged at one party, and cocaine has always been around the community.

“People start because they see older people doing it and they either want to be cool or they heard about it so much, they want to feel what it feels like,” he said, adding drugs like weed can help people cope with bad home situations.

He further said there is not much awareness of youth drug use in the community.

“I feel like it’s happening under everyone’s noses,” Churko said. “Everyone just sees doing drugs the same as drinking alcohol. It just starts so early they just see it as the same thing.”

Vaping at issue

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit tobacco control officer, Lorne Jordan, said there is another drug that is a significant problem amongst local youth: vaping.

Jordan called it an “epidemic” in local high schools in October 2019, after he had doled out more than 40 charges with fines around the time. He said they made significant progress in education after that, but the pandemic curtailed those efforts.

“COVID just sucks all the oxygen out of the room. Made it impossible to carry that message forward,” Jordan said. “It’s not like the problem went away.”

Jordan said he has had fewer vaping complaints to address from schools since they re-opened in September. Still, he said COVID restrictions may be impacting those totals.

“I don’t think it’s indicative of the fact less students are vaping,” Jordan said. “Hopefully, people will start to come back to it and understand it’s not a consequence-free behaviour.”

Vaping has several short-term health risks and unknown long-term risks. Jordan and others in the public health sectors have called for more restrictions. The province implemented some July 2, limiting most vape products to specialty stores which are restricted to ages 19 and older.

Jordan said those rule changes are positive but do not go far enough.

“We had a very tough act that was watered down by the Ontario government when they took office,” Jordan said. “They listened a little too carefully to the vape lobby and not enough to the science.”

Addressing the problems

Young said it is important the community recognizes the risk of drug use and that places like the youth hub can go a long way to addressing the issue.

“It allows us to provide some preventative care for substance use,” Young said. “Provide information, provide counselling … Providing recreation spaces in order to allow for youth to engage in activities that don’t involve illicit substance use.”

She added for those youth coping with bad home situations, the youth hub also has resources to help address some of that instability.

Churko said better education is important, versus youth receiving charges or criminal punishments for use.

“If you charge someone like that, they’re not going to learn their lesson. They’re just going to get more mad at the system,” Churko said. “Educating parents, probably. Letting them see the warning signs. What these drugs looks like and what your kid would look like.”

Young said harm reduction is also crucial, as well as not stigmatizing users.

“Ostracizing and judging them is not the way to get them the help that they need. In fact, it can often have the opposite effect,” Young said. “Open and honest conversations with youth so that they’re involved. It’s not coming from a ‘we-know-better-than-you perspective.’”