Wishing upon a Starlink

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August 30, 2020

JQ - Starlink - 2-web — A rocket launches into the sky as part of the Starlink project. Photo by Marek Cyzio.

As Starlink launched 58 satellites into the sky Aug. 18, many watched, hoping the project could soon bring better internet service to remote communities.

Haliburtonians too are following Starlink, a project under SpaceX launching hundreds of satellites to bring high-speed internet to locations difficult to reach by conventional means. The U.S.-based company said it is targeting service in the northern U.S. and Canada by the end of this year, with public beta-testing to launch this fall.

Eagle Lake resident Ioana Zemi said local internet services cannot provide her with standard service. She said she sees Starlink as a solution for people such as her in remote residences.

“It’s really beneficial in situations like mine, where we live, where people are spaced so far apart,” Zemi said. “The infrastructure requirements are far less than if they were to put in fibre.”

Starlink is applying for a basic international telecommunications service licence with the CRTC, which is still ongoing. The application received more than 2,000 responses.

“Many of the comments noted the urgency of additional broadband options for consumers and locations that either have limited broadband choice now or no connectivity whatsoever,” wrote SpaceX satellite government affairs vice-president Patricia Cooper in a reply to the CRTC July 17. “This outpouring of support is particularly gratifying.”

The County of Haliburton and Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) are also eyeing large-scale internet improvements through public-private partnerships. The County is applying for a grant with Bell and Xplornet to deliver more broadband to areas of need, while EORN is proposing a $1.6 billion project to bring gigabyte-speed service.

But Haliburton Lake resident Joe Mukherjee said he is more optimistic about Starlink and its timeframe to be running by the end of the year. A former telecommunications worker, he said he needs internet for work and has struggled with slow internet speeds under Bell. He said that is caused by their refusal to spend the $500,000 necessary to upgrade the area pedestal congested with too many customers.

“My confidence is, shall we say shaky, that Bell is going to take this and treat it with the urgency I feel it deserves,” Mukherjee said. “Conversely, Starlink has already launched a substantial amount of satellites … I will happily move my services to them.”

Bell said it is expanding its fibre network in Haliburton but Fort Irwin is not in its immediate roll-out. They said they would work with Mukherjee on solutions in the meantime.

Starlink is not without detractors. Cooper wrote seven commentators on their application expressed concern about the impact the low-orbit satellites could have on astronomy. She said they take the problem seriously and have worked to reduce satellite visibility.

Phil Dubé said he hopes Starlink could be a better option than his slow service north of Kushog Lake. He said as a photographer, the astronomy issue is a concern, though it does not outweigh the possible benefit in his mind.

“That bothers me,” Dubé said. “But I see no opportunity for us whatsoever to have high-speed cable down County roads in Haliburton.”

Plea for speed as Dysart passes climate plan

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Lisa Gervais

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August 28, 2020

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JQ - Dysart climate change - 1 — Dysart et al council approved a climate change plan Aug. 25, but some people are frustrated by the pace. File photo.

Dysart et al council is moving ahead with a climate change mitigation plan, but a councillor expressed the need for more urgent action on the topic.

Council approved the plan Aug. 25, presented by County climate change coordinator Korey McKay as part of a larger County plan. Based on council direction, the municipality will attempt to reduce its 2018 corporate emissions levels by 20 per cent for buildings, 10 per cent for fleet and 80 per cent for waste by 2030.

“It outlines potential opportunities that can be taken to reduce the municipality’s carbon footprint,” McKay said. “Exploring and suggesting best practices.”

That includes improving energy efficiency at municipal facilities, reducing fuel consumption and transitioning to lowemission vehicles, and reducing and diverting organic waste from landfills. A joint municipal climate change working group will strive to implement the plan across the County.

Coun. John Smith said the municipality should tackle organic waste quickly. He noted most of the waste emissions reduction will be driven by landfills closing and waste being carried elsewhere, making the 80 per cent figure misleading.

He said despite Dysart’s efforts to encourage more composting, the amount of organic waste commercial establishments produce still needs to be addressed.

“Some in the community are anxious to see more action at a little faster pace,” Smith said. “The amount of organic waste that shows up at our landfill sites is frankly remarkable.”

McKay responded that the working group will address that, and council can make it a priority.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said she would see about getting that on the agenda at the next committee of the whole meeting Sept. 8. She said approving the plan itself and follow-up work were separate topics.

Smith said the environment and climate change committee – which he chaired – was already exploring the issue before Dysart shifted to a committee of the whole structure, which has not met since the pandemic began.

He emphasized the need for the matter to be on the agenda.

“There are so many practical things that could be done that we don’t talk about, we don’t promote, we don’t get staff engaging in driving these things,” Smith said. “It’s extremely frustrating to people in the community who care deeply.”

Places for People plans more homes in Dysart

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Lisa Gervais

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August 28, 2020

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JQ - Places for People - 2 — Places for People is planning to build a new housing development in Dysart. File photo.

Places for People (P4P) is proposing a new $2-2.5 million project to build 10-12 affordable housing units in Dysart by fall 2022.

The housing charity presented to council Aug. 25. They seek to partner with the municipality to create the new units, utilizing municipal property. The municipality is already assessing land assets to identify what is suitable for affordable housing, Deputy Mayor Patrick Kennedy said.

The group has historically bought and renovated run-down properties to rent them at affordable rates. But President Jody Curry said they are pivoting to new development to increase housing stock and have prepared to take that on.

“We’ve done it carefully and worked on it for quite some time,” Curry said. “We are ready to take on a multi-unit project right now.”

The group pitched the idea as part of the County’s overarching goal of producing 750 new affordable units over the next 10 years. Curry said the group hopes to contribute 40 units to that goal.

Curry said they envisions the units would be for one or two people, which they said is a market need. She said 76 per cent of households in the County are one or two persons but only six per cent of the housing stock is one bedroom.

“We will be an excellent partner because we have a proven track record,” Curry said. “A lot of experience with building partnerships and leveraging community resources to make hard work look easy and make seemingly overwhelming projects doable.”

The group also presented to County council Aug. 26, where they pitched the County-owned Haliburton Wee Care property as a good place for the development.

P4P treasurer Max Ward said they would use community bonds to help raise the money needed.

“Community bonds are a better investment than a GIC in many ways because an investor gets to invest in our community,” Ward said. “Money stays here and helps the County in all sorts of ways.”

Kennedy said the timing should work well with the municipality’s review of its property inventory.

“They’re ready to move, we have a desire to help support housing here in Dysart,” Kennedy said. “Great timing for us to take a look at it.”

“We’ll take the presentation and take it into consideration, and we’ll work with you,” Mayor Andrea Roberts said.

Board mandates masks for young students

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Lisa Gervais

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August 28, 2020

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The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) trustees voted Aug. 25 to mandate masks for students in Grades K-3, beyond the scope of the provincial mandate.

The motion extends beyond Grades 4-12, required by the Ministry of Education. The board will allow for reasonable exemptions as outlined in its return to school plan for families, with requests evaluated by principals.

Vice-chair David Morrison noted the Simcoe-Muskoka Health Unit has advised most children over age two wear a mask at indoor public spaces. He said there is a lot of community concern about younger students only being encouraged to wear masks, instead of mandated.

“Asking all the students – everybody that’s in our building – to wear a mask it not an unreasonable thing, just for safety,” Morrison said. “Does that create challenge? Yeah, I suspect it does. But what’s not creating challenge right now?”

School boards across the province have grappled with the idea, with other boards also going ahead with it. But there is a cost associated, even with parents providing masks.

Superintendent Tim Ellis gave a rough estimate of $400,000 to replace masks for students in those K-3 over the year, given how often they may lose or damage them.

“I’ve come to understand this would scale the cost considerably,” Director of Education Wesley Hahn said. “Health and safety are priority. We will do what we have to do.”

Hahn noted the province is allowing the board to pull $3 million from reserves to help address pandemic-related costs this year. Hahn said the cost for extra masks would have to come from that pool.

Trustee John Byrne said it is worth paying.

“If I can keep COVID out of the school, I’m saving a lot more money than closing down classrooms,” Byrne said.

Trustee Colleen Wilcox said all the letters she has received from staff want this mandate and they will be able to get students on board.

“The teachers are going to get ready,” Wilcox said.

Trustee Stephen Binstock said it may take some time, but young students will pick it up quickly.

“If I’ve learned anything from working with JK-3 students, don’t underestimate what they can do when they know it’s right.”

High school semester shift

Another significant change in back-to-school plans is secondary students learning only one credit at a time, down from the board’s planned two. Hahn said they made the change due to a Ministry of Education suggestion. He said it is to ensure students are not in contact with more than 100 people.

“That’s something we feel strongly about that we have to maintain,” Hahn said.

Byrne said it will be difficult for students to focus solely on one subject for an entire day, even if there are breaks.

“It will affect the mental wellness of a lot of people,” Byrne said.

Superintendent Katherine McIver said the board has successfully done block scheduling in summer school and adult and alternate education.

“We’ll have to attend to student well being,” McIver said. “But we also know that we can build off the success TLDSB has already experienced.”

SIU releases name of man shot by police

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Lisa Gervais

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August 27, 2020

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JQ - Police news - 1-web — The OPP had a significant presence at Indian Point Road July 17. They were there to investigate the scene of a police shooting July 15. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The SIU has identified the man shot by police in Haliburton County July 15 as 73-year-old Leslie Hegedus.

The agency released the information Aug. 27 after submitting a DNA sample to the Centre for Forensic Sciences to establish next of kin, it said. Hegedus died after an altercation with OPP at an Indian Point Road residence.

The SIU said the investigation is ongoing.

“So far, five civilian witnesses and four witness offices were interviewed,” the SIU said, adding it has the post-mortem results.

The SIU previously reported Hegedus had an interaction with police officers and was struck when two of them discharged their firearms. Hegedus was transported to hospital in Haliburton where he was pronounced deceased.

In its latest report, it said a firearm collected at the scene and the firearm of the two subject officers were sent to the Centre of Forensic Science for analysis. Investigators are awaiting those results.

The Highlander will update this story as more information is made available.

Recreational cannabis store opening

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Lisa Gervais

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August 27, 2020

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JQ - Cannabis Store - 1-web — Capturing Eden store manager Dylan Haywood. The store can start selling recreational cannabis. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Downtown Haliburton will soon have a recreational cannabis store as Capturing Eden received retail authorization Aug. 24.

The medical cannabis clinic has been working to sell retail cannabis since it opened in May 2019, losing in the initial lottery process. But after going through a months-long authorization, the store hopes to be ready to open to sell recreational cannabis by the Labour Day weekend.

“It’s fair to thank the entire community for all the support they’ve given us,” co-owner Wanita Livingstone said. “This has been a labour of love for us and the community has been very, very helpful.”

The authorization means after passing a final inspection, the store will be able to sell recreational cannabis products, working directly with the Ontario Cannabis Store and its catalogue. That does mean the storefront can no longer be a medical cannabis clinic, but Livingstone said they are looking for a new store space for that service and will continue offering it remotely.

Livingstone said the store can compete with the black market, given its safety and educated staff. They aim to deter 60 per cent of sales in the community.

“There’s not a concern or risk of lacing, not a concern or risk of safety,” Livingstone said. “Rural Ontario is big for the illegal drug trades and we want to be the people that cut that.”

The store is undergoing renovations and the owners installed more security cameras. Everyone who purchases cannabis will need to present ID and there is a maximum of 30 grams per transaction. There will also always be four staff on site, with a maximum of four customers due to the pandemic.

Store manager Dylan Haywood said they did not receive any complaints during a 15-day public notice process in March, required for their application.

“If there was somebody who was dead set on it being a real bad thing, they would have participated,” Haywood said. “The drug is on the market, whether we like it or not. Providing access in a legal and educated way is something that we can’t turn up.”

Livingstone said staff are well trained and they are happy to answer any questions people may have. She said they planned to host a communication forum about the recreational store, but the pandemic made that impossible.

All four of Haliburton’s townships opted to allow retail cannabis in their communities in late 2018. Livingstone said they have worked with Dysart and the County to ensure they were following procedures throughout their application process. No further municipal approvals are required.

Mayor Andrea Roberts said she is thrilled Capturing Eden got the license and she wishes them well.

“It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with the product they sell, the province deemed it legal, and clearly it is in demand,” Roberts said. “Wish them every success as I would any retail store in our municipality.”

County advances climate change plan

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Lisa Gervais

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August 26, 2020

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JQ - County climate change plan - 2 — The County unveiled a draft Corporate Climate Change Mitigation Plan Aug. 12. Above, people at a climate protest. File.

The County of Halliburton unveiled its plan to combat climate change and reduce emissions within the organization Aug. 12.

Climate change co-ordinator Korey McKay presented to County committee of the whole about a draft Corporate Climate Change Mitigation Plan, detailing how it and its four townships could reduce emissions. The plan sets a 15 per cent target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction from 2018 levels to 2030 for the County, as well as different township targets decided by their respective councils earlier this year.

Coun. Brent Devolin said it is a wonderful report.

“For those that think big things don’t happen in the middle of COVID, I think this report and this milestone is a testament today that there are lots of good things going on, even during these challenging times,” Devolin said.

For the County, the plan seeks to address building energy use by conducting energy audits, retrofitting, and developing a new green building policy. The plan also details ways to make the County fleet greener by purchasing low-emission vehicles, implementing electric vehicle charging stations at municipal parking lots and pushing anti-idling. The plan also calls for climate change considerations in existing plans, policies, and decision-making. A joint municipal working group will be established with representatives from each municipality to provide ongoing input.

Coun. Carol Moffatt asked about whether the working group would only include municipal staff, or if it could possibly include members of the public. McKay said that is a council decision but for this plan, she figured the group would have municipal staff, with public members more likely for a community-based plan to come later.

“Staff who work with our buildings, fleet and waste who can provide me with the knowledge and input,” she said.

The committee accepted the report as information and asked McKay to present it to the townships and update it based on comments received.

“You’ve done a good job. A lot of work on this and we have a lot to think about here, about how we’ll go forward,” Warden Liz Danielsen said.

RE/MAX Professionals celebrate grand opening

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Lisa Gervais

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August 25, 2020

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JQ - ReMAX Opening - 1-web — RE/MAX Professionals North celebrated the grand opening of a new office in Minden Aug. 13. Left to right: Mayor Brent Devolin, Coun. Pam Sayne, co-owner Leah Ambler and broker Lisa Mercer. Photo submitted.

After months of waiting, RE/MAX Professionals North celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Minden Aug. 13.

The pandemic delayed the official opening for the new real estate company. It was created in April and is made up of agents from RE/MAX North Country, which had its registration revoked in January amidst a Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) investigation. Ownership from RE/MAX Professionals in Toronto came in to start a new brokerage in Haliburton and agents have been working under them since January.

Owner Christopher Alexander said it feels incredible to finally be able to have a grand opening after the difficult year agents have gone through.

“It’s such a great feeling to be back in business in Haliburton County again,” Alexander said.

RECO revoked the registrations of RE/ MAX North Country and one of its owners, Ray Jarvis. It also froze the brokerage’s bank accounts due to a trust account shortage, where consumer deposits are held. RECO said they have taken no additional action against them since January. But Alexander said there are ongoing court proceedings involving ownership of the old brokerage.

A struggle with that ownership meant they could not use its old offices, Alexander said. It was difficult getting the new brokerage started, but he said he appreciates the community for its support during that process.

“I want to thank all our agents and the community sort of sticking by us while we sorted through what was really a mess to start the year,” Alexander said.

Alexander co-owns RE/MAX Professionals North with his sister Leah Ambler, who heads the original Toronto-based RE/MAX Professionals. Ambler said in February what happened with North Country would never happen with them.

“RE/MAX Professionals is a very longstanding company with a brand. We’ve been around for 40 years,” Ambler said. “We run a strict and good real estate brand. We have a lot of products and experience that we offer our agents that allow them to operate properly in the marketplace.”

Alexander said the real estate market is going strong in Haliburton amidst the pandemic, with demand very high. He said they are excited to be part of the community and plan to get involved in local events.

“We see a really bright future for Haliburton County,” Alexander said. “Haliburton, Minden and the surrounding areas offer so much, and we just really want to be a part of it.”

County backs plans for better internet

By

Lisa Gervais

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August 24, 2020

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County council met to discuss internet service provider proposals Aug.18. Flickr.

The County of Haliburton is supporting two proposals that could provide thousands of people with better internet.

Council held a special meeting Aug. 18 and directed staff to prepare letters of support for each of Bell and Xplornet for them to apply to the first intake of the provincial Improving Connectivity for Ontario program (ICON).

Each of the internet service providers (ISPs) is proposing to build more fibre connectivity in the County with help from a $150 million grant funding pool.

“This is awesome,” Coun. Cec Ryall said. “This is a move forward and something we desperately need.”

The Bell proposal is for $20 million to build a combination of fibre-to-home and fixed wireless at 50 megabyte-per-second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload speeds. They would service approximately 4,000 homes in the County.

The Xplornet project is part of a larger, $200-$220 million proposal to build 2,650 kilometres of fibre across central and northern Ontario. It would bring 100 Mbps service to 5,400 underserved premises within the County. There is no limit on how many applications a municipality can make for the grant, so staff recommended supporting both.

“Both of these have a very significant benefit in Haliburton County,” CAO Mike Rutter said. “We have between 18,00020,000 households, so there’s still lots of work to do, but they are significant.”

Jonathan Black from Kuro Partners, an Ottawabased consulting firm hired to help the County with this process, added the proposals would not cover all of the County.

“This is not ubiquitous coverage,” Black said. “Both proposals are covering a lot of territory, but they are not covering the whole of the area.”

Rutter said four ISPs are interested in working to develop cases for the second intake of ICON. Council also voted to retain Black’s services for that process.

Rutter also said there is a need for data to better identify precisely where the coverage gaps in the County are. He said Black could help source and implement software for that purpose, with a report to come later.

“We think that information would really help County council identify where your money would make the biggest impact,” Rutter said.

From Trump to racoons at Stanhope Airport

By

Lisa Gervais

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August 21, 2020

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Algonquin Highlands’ new airport coordinator says that depending on your politics, his “one claim to ill fame” is having worked for Donald Trump.

Steve Dewey said the now-US president kept helicopters at Teterboro Airport, where he worked, and which specializes in business aviation and charter operations, just 12 miles from midtown Manhattan.

“Everything they say about him is true,” Dewey says with a chuckle. He said he saw him on many occasions but the two never spoke. “You don’t talk to The Donald.”

The airport is close to the Old Meadowlands Entertainment Facility, so celebrities came and went, Dewey said, including Robin Williams.

“He was a wonderful guy. He spent time, when he was waiting for his ride, and hung out with the guys for awhile. Just a crazy, manic, friendly, super nice guy.” By contrast, Dewey said he encountered some VIPs who were “genuinely evil.”

It’s a long way from Teterboro Airport to the tiny, municipally-owned and operated Stanhope Airport in Haliburton County but Dewey couldn’t be happier to be here.

Although he has lived in Canada and the US, Dewey said he’s always had a connection to the Highlands, spending summers with aunt and uncle, Karen and Bruce Turner in the Donald area. He moved here permanently in 2015. His wife is local artist, Rossana Dewey and the two have made West Guilford home.

“I’ve always had a special place for Haliburton in my heart,” he says. “With all the places I’ve been, I always seem to come back here. It’s wonderful.”

He’s been at the airport about a month now.

“I think the biggest conspiracy here,” he says as he glances out the airport window “is how to keep the racoons from getting into the garbage.” He goes on to share how just that morning he had a whole bunch of geese “partying on the runway” so they had to scare them away with the screamer.

“So, I woke up the neighbours and got rid of the geese at the same time.”

There’s also a family of foxes.

All joking aside, he said there is plenty to do at the small airport to keep him busy. He brings with him the experience from Teterboro and stints at Toronto Island Airport and Pearson International Airport. His background is business aviation and his speciality is fuels. He said there is an older plant at the airport they want to upgrade and he is assisting with that. In addition, “I’m a bit more nuts and bolts. I’m a bit more ground-oriented. Not so much the high management level but more the customer service, the product quality, the airport maintenance, that sort of thing.

“So many things have to be done on a daily basis, fuel quality, and the buildings don’t take care of themselves. I just changed a light assembly on the runway.”

He is also keen to ensure good communication with, and reporting to, the municipality.

“I’m used to this,” he adds of Stanhope Airport. “I’m used to small field operations but not at the municipal level. Coming here was a treat, actually. I’d been out of aviation for awhile but it’s like putting on an old pair of shoes again. It just feels right and there’s a lot of potential at this airport.”

With COVID grounding a lot of airport traffic, he said he has been considering ways to attract more pilots and make the airport more of a tourism hub post-COVID. He said it used to be “hopping’ with weekend fly-ins, and a kids’ program.

“If we could just start to generate more traffic into the area, it’ll be good for tourism, it’ll be good for the airport,” he said.

“I think what it really needs is the people. The COVID thing kind of put everything belly up. Traffic is starting to come again. I’ve got things on the burner I have to bounce off the actual airport manager and see if they want to play ball.”

Some of those things are a deal with Enterprise for car rentals. One idea is a pilot painter weekend, where they set up tents for plein air painting. Another is a foodie flyin, with local restaurants coming out to the airport. Having events in conjunction with antique cars is yet another idea.

“With my own promotions background, I can bring to the table what they need to make the airport a little more shiny … to make it a little more attractive to pilots to come in here. It’s more that just saying we’re here, it’s what do we have here.”