Huskies on brink of eliminating Canadiens

April 3, 2025

t’s been a week of adversity for Haliburton County Husky players – enduring the aftermath of the ice storm. But the squad overcame all of that to take a 3-2 series lead in OJHL second round action. They could eliminate the Toronto Junior Canadiens when the teams clash in Haliburton tonight (April 3).

The storm forced the Huskies to cancel their March 29 game at home. It was rescheduled to March 30, but the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena remained shuttered.

The Huskies had to travel to the Canadiens’ barn instead March 31. They were not back at home again until April 1, playing their first game ever at the A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton.

Coach Ryan Ramsay said Tuesday’s tilt in Haliburton was a good game. “We played well. Obviously, it was a great start. We had a little bit of a lapse in the second, but we played well enough to win. Good on the boys.”

The Huskies recorded a 5-2 win, but it was a closer affair with two empty netters to seal the deal.

Ramsay: ‘team with character’

The Huskies scored early: Luke Hampel, from Deandres De Jesus and Chase Lefebvre just 1:38 in. Then, Nathan Poole potted one at 6:46, from Tai York and Nolan Ling.

The Canadiens got one back, at 15:43. Ty Petrou gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead, at 14 minutes, from Cameron Hankai and Alex Bradshaw.

The Canadiens made it a 3-2 game at 9:43 of the third, but Petrou and Isaac Larmand found the empty net.

Ramsay is happy with the likes of Petrou and Poole, saying the team leaders “continue to elevate their game when needed. They’re leaders and they’re great hockey players.”

He added goalie Tyler Hodges has been “great” in the playoffs.

Ramsay talked about how the majority of his players – whether billets or at hockey house – were without power, connectivity, and running water for 48 hours. He said five to seven players were sitting cold and in the dark at homes without generators.

Yet, they boarded a bus to Toronto March 31 when they hadn’t slept or eaten much, or been able to focus well.

“It just shows the character of kids we have this year compared to other years. These guys want to win and they’re really close. Other years, we’ve had good teams but questioned how bad they wanted to win. This group, they’re dialed in and they really want to win as a group. It shows,” Ramsay said.

They beat the Canadiens 3-0 this past Monday, on goals by Larmand, Poole, and Petrou; with Hodges recoding the 29-save shutout.

The team lost 3-1 March 26, with Petrou the lone goal scorer.

Up 3-2 in the series, Ramsay said they have put themselves in a good position to eliminate a good hockey team at home.

“You can’t get ahead of yourself, but I would rather be up 3-2, than down 3-2.

“You hope to get some bounces and some luck. Once you’re this far in the season, every team is good. You need some bounces; you need some luck and you need some guys to have a game. I think our focus is the same thing. You know they are going to come out fighting for their lives because they are, so it’s just that…match that intensity and just be ready to play.”

Next game: Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Haliburton.

Celebrating the liquid amber in the Highlands

Lisa Gervais

April 3, 2025

The County of Haliburton is celebrating all things maple this coming weekend. The County of Haliburton has put together the following list.

Colour of Wood

Hosted by: Wendy & Rick Wood

Rick and Wendy started making Maple syrup on their 25 acres of managed forest in 2015 with 90 taps on buckets. They now have almost 1,000 taps on pipeline. It all flows downhill to their sugar house. Just sap, gravity, lots of firewood and the help of Mother Nature. Their syrup is known for its unique label and wonderful taste. They are located at 1255 Peterson Rd. Minden Hills, 249-993-0134, colourofwood@ gmail.com

Wintergreen Maple Products

People are invited to tour the bush on self-guided tours. Phone ahead to book an appointment. 705-286-3202.

Esson Creek Maple

Tours of the sugarbush can be booked all year, and during syrup season will end with a “sugar on snow” experience. The tour includes the forest, the minerals, and the entire syrup-making process

Yours Outdoors Maple Magic

Ready to make maple memories with your loved ones? Then this experience is for you. Maple Magic is geared towards families, kids of all ages and anyone who has a sweet tooth. During this two-hour experience, you’ll hear the ins and outs of maple syrup production, follow the impressive journey from sap to syrup, check out a real sugar shack, and eat a pancake meal.

Dominion Hotel

Special maple entrees and drinks made with local maple syrup will be added to the menu on April 5 and 6. try a maple glazed salmon, sugar maple pulled pork sandwich with maple BBQ sauce, sugar shack poutine with pulled pork and maple BBQ sauce… as well as try a beverage like a maple hot chocolate.

Hook, Line & Sinker

Special maple entrees and drinks, made with local maple syrup will be added to the menu on April 5 and 6. Try the maple dusted wings or the maple mustard salmon bowl… finished off with assorted mini maple cake… and if you’re thirsty, try the maple Bourbon fizz cocktail.

Abbey Gardens

Special maple menu items and treats, made with local maple syrup will be added to the menu on April 5 and 6. Try the ham and Swiss sandwich with a maple mustard sauce… finished off with assorted butter tarts, maple cookies and cupcakes.

Schmale touts focus on housing, trades

Mike Baker

March 27, 2025

With a snap federal election just 32 days away, Jamie Schmale, three-time MP and the Conservative candidate in the re-jigged Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes riding, said his party will prioritize investing in housing, natural resources, and the trades to bolster Canada’s economy.

With Liberal prime minister Mark Carney, on March 23, calling an election for April 28, Schmale said it’s been a whirlwind few days as he prepares to launch his re-election campaign. He was previously elected to office in 2015, 2019, and 2021.

As of press time, he’s the only declared candidate for the riding.

“I think it was a smart move for the Liberals to call an election in such a short period of time… I think Canadians have been wanting an election to help give some certainty dealing with the United States,” Schmale told The Highlander March 25.

Asked about the near $60 billion in tariffs the Liberal government has imposed on the U.S. as a response to president Donald Trump’s threats to impose additional 25 per cent charges on all Canadian imports, Schmale feels Canada is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“We would like to see a normalization of this relationship. I think it’s damaged right now… it probably has been forever damaged,” Schmale said.

He believes the answer is breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers and developing new agreements with other countries, saying the Conservatives would like to revive the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipeline projects to ensure Canadian oil and gas can be sold and shipped to Europe and Asia.

‘Canada is never going to become 51st state’

Schmale said a Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would continue to stand up to Trump.

“For me, Canada is never going to become the 51st state. We will fight with everything we have to ensure that does not happen,” he said.

Election promises

With the Conservatives promising to reduce income tax rates for Canada’s lower and middle class, Schmale said the savings would equate to about $1,800 a year for most families.

If elected, he said a motion to reduce the lowest income tax bracket rate from 15 to 12.75 per cent would be tabled “as soon as we can get it out”, likely during 2026 budget deliberations. It will be funded through right-sizing government, he said, with the Conservatives planning a review of staffing levels across all departments.

Schmale added the Conservatives would “axe the [carbon] tax completely,” going one step above Carney, who last week said the Liberals would scrap consumer-facing charges but maintain taxes for industry.

He said housing has to be a priority, with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimating 3.5 million homes need to be built by 2030 to restore affordability and address the current housing gap.

“We still have a housing crisis. We’ve had 10 years now where house prices have gotten out of control for many people… it’s beyond time for action. We have talked about selling off federal buildings to turn into affordable housing, about incentivizing municipalities to accelerate building permits, about removing the sales tax on the construction of new homes.

“Another side of this is looking at increasing our labour pool. We have a severe shortage in the skilled trades, so we need to put some focus there, on training more workers,” Schmale said.

Last week, Poilievre announced plans to offer apprenticeship grants up to $4,000, fund training halls for skills development for up to 350,000 workers over five years, and work with provinces to harmonize health and safety regulations to allow tradespeople to work anywhere in Canada.

Asked if he would support a trades school coming to Haliburton County, something Dysart mayor Murray Fearrey and others have long advocated for, Schmale said, “if there is demand to expand to Haliburton, absolutely, I would support that.”

In 2021, Schmale secured 52 per cent of the riding’s vote, ahead of Judi Forbes (Liberal, 23 per cent), Zac Miller (NDP, 14 per cent), Alison Davidson (People’s Party, seven per cent), Angel Godsoe (Greens, 2.5 per cent), and Gene Balfour (Libertarian, 0.68 per cent).

The Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes Liberal Association, NDP Canada, and Green Party of Canada did not respond to questions as of press time.

Townships to ‘wait and see’ on tariffs

Mike Baker

March 27, 2025

Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey said he’s waiting to see what U.S. president Donald Trump does with proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports before worrying about the potential impacts in Haliburton County.

Measures proposed by Trump in January are on hold until April 2, with the U.S. president, new Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, and Ontario premier Doug Ford embroiled in a public game of tit-for-tat involving retaliatory tariffs and counter threats.

Since March 4, Canada has instituted 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. goods, with another $29.8 billion pending. Fearrey believes the federal government is playing a dangerous game.

“The more we retaliate, I think the more he’s going to reciprocate,” Fearrey said. “It’s a dangerous game. There’s 340 million people in the U.S. and about 40 million in Canada – we rely on them for a lot of things we use every day – a prolonged trade war would only hurt us.”

He said the biggest issue for the township would be on major vehicle purchases, with most heavy-duty trucks and equipment imported from the U.S. For those, Dysart would be dinged by the Canadian government’s counter tariffs.

“It’s going to hurt if, all of a sudden, we’re having to pay an extra 25 per cent for every vehicle purchase we need to make,” Fearrey said.

Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter agreed, noting municipalities are already stretched thin.

“Costs have gone up so much over the last few years, it’s a bit mind boggling to begin with,” he said.

Spring is usually a busy time for municipalities, with staff working to send projects approved during recent budget discussions to tender.

Carter said Minden Hills has lots of RFPs out right now, mainly for construction projects, that aren’t being picked up.

“It’s really difficult to say what will happen. Any time there’s economic uncertainty, people play their cards close to the vest. The thing I fear most is that these RFPs come back and people have put in more of a buffer [costing us more],” he said.

Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen didn’t want to speculate on what may, or may not, happen. “It’s early days to make decisions on an issue that appears to be somewhat of a moving target.”

With each township upping taxes between four and six per cent in 2025, Fearrey said he’s worried about what the tariffs could do to next year’s numbers.

“Everything costs so much more today… in Dysart, we have bridges that are going to cost $1.5 million apiece to do next year, and we have more coming after that. It wasn’t that many years ago you’d be able to get grants for $500,000 or $750,000 to help, but those aren’t available anymore.

“Unless somebody, somewhere has an idea to change funding for local governments to find more money, we’re not going to be able to get out of this mess. It’s just going to keep getting worse,” Fearrey said.

U.S. contracts to stay

At the administrative level, County CAO Gary Duke has been working with the CAOs from the four townships, including Highlands East, to prepare for any impacts as best they can.

“We are actively monitoring developments and will be making necessary adjustments to our operational budgets to remain responsive to these changing circumstances.

“We are focusing on procurement issues related to U.S.-based companies and service contracts related to IT, and the purchasing of vehicles necessary for road maintenance and emergency services, as well as the overall price structure for construction projects across the County,” Dyke said.

He noted the County and lower-tier townships would not join the likes of Cambridge, On, Leduc in Alberta, and North Vancouver, BC, in closing social media accounts owned by American interests, such as X and Facebook.

There’s no appetite either for ending existing agreements with U.S. companies. Last year, the County’s four townships signed contracts with Granicus, headquartered in Denver, Colorado but boasting a Canadian arm, for the firm to manage short-term rental applications.

“We recognize the importance of honouring existing contracts with U.S.-based firms that were negotiated and signed in good faith prior to the introduction of these tariffs. Our municipality values the relationships we have built and the mutual benefits these partnerships bring to our local economy,” Dyke said, adding staff may approach councils for talks on limiting bids from U.S. companies on certain municipal projects.

“Our goal is to ensure municipal contracts not only support our community, but also align with broader national interests… we are engaging with government officials to explore strategies that prioritize our local and Canadian suppliers.”

Managing growth key for Minden

Lisa Gervais

March 27, 2025

Saying “it’s the voices of your community,” consultant Andy Mitchell, of Arising Collective, delivered a community engagement report to Minden Hills council at its March 13 meeting.

The document will form part of the municipality’s strategic plan that is currently underway, CAO Cynthia Fletcher said.

Commenting on a process that saw more than 700 people take part, “was a pretty significant response rate, speaking to the passion of the community for the community,” Mitchell said. “This engagement was successful because the people of the community were willing to engage.”

Summarizing key observations, Mitchell said they were told people are the foundation of the community. “It came out in our conversations, people are generous, caring, come together in crisis, and are willing to help each other out. People feel passionate about Minden Hills, its history, their connection to the community, and values of the community.”

As the township considers its strategic plan, it must keep those things front and centre, Mitchell said.

He added Arising Collective was told protecting the rural nature of Minden Hills in the face of growth is important. “People live here because it is a rural community, the lifestyle, set of values. People recognize there will be growth and changes, but don’t alter the fundamental reality of what community is,” he advised council.

The public also spoke to getting over the fear of change and embracing the future. Mitchell said with post-COVID weariness, “there is a tendency to stay with what you know, as opposed to taking a chance on what you don’t know.” He said the public was clear in saying, “we just need to get on with it.”

Mindenites also spoke to the need to revitalize the downtown, to launch a spirit of renewal in the community; and further that, “council needs to both govern and lead the community.”

He said ratepayers recognize the township cannot afford to do everything and must prioritize two-to-three things and just start.

In discussing opportunities, Mitchell said four key themes emerged: strengthening the small business, tourism, and local food sectors as a means of creating additional wealth and jobs; return to some things done well in the past; pursuing innovative approaches to community and broader challenges, such as multigenerational housing; and reinvigorating the downtown.

As to where the community wants to go, the consultants summarized what they heard from people.

“Minden Hills wants to build on its natural and built assets as it renews itself in an inclusive and comprehensive manner. Building on the diversity of its residents’ talents and through an invigoration of volunteerism, leveraging of social networks, and with the leadership of council, it intends to establish community priorities that address all segments of the community, while contributing to an increased standard of living and a better quality of life. The journey may be long, and it may be challenging, but it needs to begin now.”

Coun. Pam Sayne, who sits on the board of ROMA, said some of the challenges residents spoke to them about are shared across regional and rural Ontario.

“Housing, healthcare, internet, transportation, cost of living, food prices.” She said she “appreciated we have a creative community here to solve those problems. We need to make sure we are interacting in a way that allows creativity to come forward.”

Mayor Bob Carter said doing the community engagement as part of a strategic plan is leading the community.

Fletcher said staff will present a report to council in April recommending the next steps and processes for completing the work to develop a strategic community priority plan.

Lakes, radio, plastics on menu for U-Links

Mike Baker

March 27, 2025

After spending months analyzing water samples from 18 lakes in Haliburton County, student researcher Jacob Wyonch says he’s just scratching the surface on data he hopes will one day accurately portray the prevalence of microplastics in our waters.

In his first year of Trent University’s masters in environmental and life sciences graduate program, Wyonch has partnered with U-Links on the multi-year project. So far, he’s tested samples from spring and fall in 2022 and 2023, though plans to run data from the two seasons through to 2026.

An update on Wyonch’s progress will be shared at U-Links celebration of research, taking place March 29 at the Haliburton School of Art + Design.

Speaking with The Highlander this week, Wyonch said his work carries on from a prior U-Links project investigating surface water samples from Stocking, Kennisis, Paudash, Spruce and Wenona lakes. Other waterbodies, such as Haliburton Lake and Lake Kashagawigamog, have been added to his study to represent microplastic pollution in more populated areas.

“The idea is to understand how the connection between human presence and microplastics may change over time,” Wyonch said.

Microplastics are materials up to five millimetres long that have typically broken down from a larger product. Wyonch said there are two main categories – primary, which are bead-like components largely found in personal care and beauty products, and secondary, which are small fragments from things like plastic containers and construction materials.

They’re also distinguished by different plastic types, usually polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

“One of the reasons microplastics are so infamous right now is because when they break down to such a miniscule size, they’re often light enough for them to be carried through the atmosphere. That’s why we’re seeing reports of their presence in the Arctic and other very remote areas.”

Wyonch said preliminary results from 2022 and 2023 data show a median concentration of three microplastic particles per litre of surface water across the 18 lakes tested. The average size of microplastics found was about 1.5 millimetres.

Asked about the impacts on water quality and human health, Wyonch said that’s “complex” to determine. He cited studies that found some aquatic species becoming lethargic, displaying abnormal behaviour, and seeing changes to their immune system when exposed to different types and concentrations of microplastics.

“We can’t really subject humans to the same trials… but what we do know is microplastics are easily ingested and inhaled by humans and other large animals and frequent places like the brain, lungs and blood,” Wyonch said.

Some types of microplastics, especially older pieces, can bond with other contaminants, like pesticides, which can make them more dangerous, Wyonch added.

There were some anomalies in his data, notably a spring 2023 sample from Big Hawk Lake showing a concentration of about 13 particles per litre. The average of all other lakes that season was four.

“There could be multiple reasons for that – where you collect samples from makes a big difference. Microplastics tend to accumulate closer to the shore. On-water activities, like fishing, are big sources of microplastic pollution,” Wyonch said.

Eliminating the problem is largely impossible at this point, though Wyonch noted people can help limit further pollution by changing their consumption habits.

“Be conscious of your plastic use, recognize how much you use and then find alternatives, especially for single-use plastics. It’s those things that are most likely to find their way into our environment,” he said.

On the agenda

U-Links staffer Daniela Pagliaro said more than 30 students will be available this weekend to discuss their County-based projects with the public. Informative posters will be displayed in the HSAD great hall.

There will be two additional live presentations, by Ella Honey and Angus McBridge who analyzed light pollution on Paudash Lake, and Tully Privett on CanoeFM radio statistics.

A panel discussion on invasive species in Haliburton County is also scheduled, featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Pedro Antunes from Algoma University, students Kaleigh Mooney and Eric Sager, and Paul MacInnes of the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA).

“They will discuss the threat of invasive species and what you can do to help,” said U-Links director Andy Gordon.

The celebration of research runs 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free with a light lunch and refreshments served. Register online at ulinks.ca.

Haliburton Solar + Wind blows to new digs

Lisa Gervais

March 27, 2025

Haliburton Solar + Wind has moved from Abbey Gardens to a new home on Hwy. 35 in Minden.

Owner Carolina Barberi said, “it was about finding a central location for all the staff. We have staff that live as far away as Lindsay, and travelling to Abbey Gardens was just too far.

“Additionally, there was no storage at Abbey Gardens, so it made our ability to plan our projects a little bit more complicated.”

She said they had equipment stored at her home, the foreman’s home, and some on-site, which made coordinating difficult.”

Having the storage (at #12667 Hwy. 35 Minden, unit 2) is really important.”

Barberi said the other bonus is the exposure that comes with being located on a highway.

“Just for visibility … we’ve already had people just pop in randomly to ask questions, whereas at Abbey Gardens, unless you were at Abbey Gardens, people didn’t know we were there; after being there for 10 years, people still didn’t know we were there.”

Founder and former owner, Brian Nash, established Haliburton Solar + Wind in 2012 and moved the business to a custom-made building at Abbey Gardens in 2017. He sold to Barberi and Joel Ideson, master electrician, in 2021.

Ideson looks across the highway to the Hydro One depot, and jokes, “my biggest reason for being here? I can keep an eye on the competition.”

Comedy aside, Barberi added, “it made a lot of sense. We needed to have better exposure, have a central location to make planning for our projects easier. This is great. Say we were travelling to Dorset, and needed to fill the trucks with gas, we’d be asking ‘where is the nearest gas station?’ and having to travel back from Haliburton or Minden. Now, we have a gas station just up the highway. Logistically, this made sense.”

When Nash moved into Abbey Gardens, it was into a sustainably-built solar powered and off-grid building; the first of its kind at the time. The building showcased offgrid technologies on the Abbey Gardens property.

Ideson said it’s driving him crazy there are no solar panels at the new digs – yet. “My eventual goal is to have a full gridconnected demonstration because the industry has rapidly changed over the last three years or so. What we’re installing this year; we probably won’t install next year. It will be obsolete. The focus now is on grid-connected, basically energy reduced or load displacement. Using your own power, keeping grid in the background as needed, and also having the ability to discharge batteries based on time of use etc.”

He elaborates, “moving forward, that needs to be the central focus of the company. We’re still going to obviously do off-grid, but off-grid is becoming far more complicated with the increased size and loads people have.”

Barberi added, “what’s great about the hybrid model is it allows people the ability to live off-grid with the security of a backup.”

The former Algonquin Outfitters store has had a facelift, replete with new paint, and ceiling tiles. And while the space is new, Barberi said the goal remains the same.

“Always education; explaining to people what is available, and how it works. One of the biggest things with this industry is demystifying how it works. There’s a lot of people who don’t understand.”

She added with provincial grants announced this year, allowing up to $5,000 back on roof-mounted solar, and up to $5,000 for energy storage, now applying to any property, not just primary, they are getting inquiries.

Haliburton Solar and Wind is at #12667 Hwy. 35, unit 2. 705-455-2637.

Dominion cracks cookbook

Lisa Gervais

March 27, 2025

The Dominion Hotel in Minden has been recognized for good food and outstanding customer experience by eviivo, an international cloud-based property booking and management platform.

Hotel owner Shawn Chamberlin said his establishment will be included in eviivo’s upcoming cookbook publication, Inspired Stays, Local Flavors.

The book was distributed internationally on Independent Accommodation Day (IAD), March 24.

Chamberlin said the book features best-loved recipes from independent hosts around the world.

Chamberlin added The Dominion Hotel has been the “hot spot” in downtown Minden since it first started providing food, drink, entertainment, and accommodation to travellers and locals in 1865.

It is the oldest business in Haliburton County and one of the oldest continually operating hotels in Canada.

“Indeed, this business predates Canada, having been opened two years before Confederation,” Chamberlin said.

As for the cookbook, he said their fish and chips is the featured entry.

“The decades-old recipe is simply made with the hotel’s own Dominion Hotel 1865 Lager and continues to be a best seller, especially on ‘Fish Friday’.”

Shawn and wife, Elli Chamberlin, said they were excited by the recognition.

“Our food quality and customer experience are top priorities. We’ve known the popularity of our fish and chips. It is so nice to be recognized for having our food and location included in this international cookbook,” Elli Chamberlin said.

Eviivo says it is, “a leading hospitality software company that provides independent accommodators a hassle-free booking and property management platform. With over 28,000 accommodations and 660,000 bookings per month, eviivo’s booking and property management platform is the preferred software for independent hotels, motels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, urban rentals, resorts, inns, and villas.”

Doc(k) day: moving forward with hope

Lisa Gervais

March 27, 2025

Director Larry Weinstein nearly talked himself out of making Saturday night’s offering at Doc(k) Day, April 5, in Haliburton.

His film, Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity, will screen in the prime position and Weinstein will be on hand for a question-and-answer session at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion.

Yet, when approached by a colleague in German television about making a film to mark the 200th anniversary of the symphony, Weinstein wasn’t feeling it. He’d already done a feature length film on Beethoven. He added in an interview with The Highlander, he doesn’t particularly like the melody of Ode to Joy in the symphony, finding it “rather banal.

“I was talking myself out of a job. Whenever I reject something, that’s when it comes back to haunt me.”

He read Harvey Sachs’ The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824. It discusses what was happening in politics, aesthetics, and the overall climate of the era, at the time of the symphony’s premier in Vienna, Austria. Sachs talks about the work as a symbol of freedom and joy – bringing forth the power of the individual, while celebrating the collective spirit of humanity.

Weinstein shifted from thinking it “banal” asking himself, “what if it’s more about the enlightenment ideals that inspired Beethoven to want to do a symphony, which he incorporated Friedrich Schiller’s poem Ode to Joy in?”

No one had ever included words in a symphony before “but he thought this was so important because the world wasn’t a great place … I think Beethoven thought ‘I want to make a piece of music that is a love letter to humanity; that is about the future; where we should go and where we are not now. Maybe he was writing this piece for us 200 years later, assuming the world would be a better place’.”

It’s not lost on Weinstein that the symphony “is very relevant today.”

From saying ‘no’ to the project, he said ‘yes’, and then came up with the idea of following nine people around the world grappling with the message of hope in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, including a deaf composer, a Polish rock star, an author, a legendary cartoonist, and Weinstein himself. He spoke with members of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, about their tragedies, stories, and losses.

During the making of the film, Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Weinstein’s sister and brother-in-law were in a kibbutz two kilometres from Gaza. It was very personal. The director said he believes in humanness, and did not want to become political or embittered. “To be resolution, there has to be understanding, and empathy, and compassion. We, as people, have to embrace these higher values in order to exist and co-exist.”

Weinstein called Doc(k) Day, “a great festival.” He was here 10 years ago with Our Man in Tehran, which he said the audience responded to “beautifully and generously.

“I just want the audience to feel the message profoundly for the sake of our friend Beethoven, for the same enlightenment, for the sake of humanity, and for my sake.”

Humanity and hope

Those Other Movies will bring five documentary films (four full-length and one short) to Haliburton.

“It is an opportunity to come together as a community to learn, reflect, and consider how to move forward in this world with hope,” spokesperson Tammy Rea said.

She added, “the films have local and global connections to the arts, music, sports, and beautiful natural environments. The movies show many aspects of humanity – inspirational, challenging and hopeful.”

The lineup for the day is: 10 a.m. Diane Warren: Relentless (91 min.)

Tells the story of a genius songwriter who has written over 400 songs for iconic artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, and Aerosmith. 11:45 a.m.: Save Solace (11 min.) + Q and A with the director, Matt Steeves.

Documents the work of a group advocating to stop the planned construction of a new logging road that would dissect the Solace Wildlands, the last unprotected and roadless forest in Ontario’s Temagami wilderness.

Picnic lunch. Bring your own lunch; eat and chat together in the cafeteria.

1:30 p.m.: Porcelain War (87 min.) Tells the story of a group of artists from Ukraine who persevere against all odds.

3:30 p.m.: Red Fever (103 min.) Follows Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond across North America and Europe to look at a multitude of ways in which Indigenous cultures have been reduced to stereotypes.

7:30 p.m.: Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity (85 min.) + Q&A with director Larry Weinstein

(*Timing subject to change)

Tickets can be reserved online at thoseothermovies.com under the ‘online store’ tab. Tickets are $35 for all five films or $30 for season pass holders. For more information, contact thoseothermovieshaliburton@gmail.com

Sleeping in Cars adds $32k to P4P coffers

Lisa Gervais

March 27, 2025

Thirty people slept overnight in their vehicles March 21 as part of Places for People’s Sleeping in Cars annual event.

Organizers said they had raised more than $32,000 and were hopeful of meeting their goal of $40,000 before the campaign ends in a couple of weeks.

Spokesperson, Nataly Mylan, said, “we had a great breakfast, thanks to Fork & Flour and Rebel Elixir, and Yvonne from Skin Tech. We owe Andria Cowan Molyneaux and the ACM Designs team a huge thanks for once again being our event sponsor and for participating.” Mylan added, “there was a very positive atmosphere despite the current political and economic climate, which means people think affordable housing is important.

Thank you to such an incredibly generous and caring community. It was awesome to see new faces and meet new people.

Thanks to Gord Kidd for the music, it certainly helped us keep spirits lifted.” She said people can still donate and more donations are coming in.” P4P president Susan Tromanhauser said, “the generosity of community members supporting the Sleeping in Cars event plays a crucial role in maintaining our P4P units, ensuring our tenants continue to have access to safe, comfortable living spaces.

Additionally, this support enables us to plan for future units, addressing the increasing demand for affordable housing throughout Haliburton County.” Go to placesforpeoople.ca.

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