Report: Some Highlands East officials suggest fire hall closures

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January 17, 2020

Unidentified Highlands East officials told consultants that fire halls in the municipality should be closed, according to an organizational assessment.

Consultant firm Savino Human Resource Partners Limited (SHRP) recommended the closure of one or two of Highlands East’s five fire halls in a report presented to council Oct. 8. It also recommended creating one central office for administration and department heads. The report said it “is not financially prudent for the municipality to continue to run and maintain” all of its facilities.

Those recommendations stemmed from face-to-face interviews with municipal staff and council. The interview summary section of the report was not immediately made public but The Highlander obtained it via a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act request. The section said multiple staff and/ or council members suggested closing fire halls and consolidating offices, but not all were identified.

“All people interviewed agreed that there are too many locations to currently maintain,” the report said. “The two most common suggestions for facilities consolidation by people interview included:

“Reduce the number of fire stations by 1 or 2 and have agreements with neighbouring municipalities to cover the affected areas. Reduce the number of municipal offices down to one and have all Deptartment Heads and Admin staff work from the same location.”

Another recommendation was to centralize equipment purchases, SHRP said.

SHRP interviewed 18 people. Those were three council members, including Mayor Dave Burton, chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter, all department heads and other staff. The interviews were kept anonymous with no indication of who was interviewed or what each person said.

It is not clear who suggested closing halls or what information that was based on. The talks occurred in June before any specific, up-to-date facilities data had been presented to either council or the Highlands East Fire Committee. The committee, which is tasked with reviewing fire services, is exploring fewer fire halls as an option but has yet to make any recommendations to council.

Most of the report detailed surveys on internal operations.

Councillors want more information

The Highlander reached out to all Highlands East councillors about their positions on closing fire halls. Each of them indicated more information needs to come forward before deciding.

”I have not got, nor has any council member, enough information to decide or comment on closing anything. I think it’s premature,” Burton said.

Fire committee chair and Coun. Cam McKenzie said he was surprised to see the recommendation to close halls. He added his mind is still open and the committee has more work ahead of it.

“I don’t have enough information (to decide), personally,” he said.

Other councillors echoed similar sentiments.

“I need much more information,” Coun. Suzanne Partridge said. “I, personally, have not ever stated that I felt any fire hall should be closed.”

Coun. Ruth Strong said she thinks having one fire hall come into place between Wilberforce and Highland Grove would be something to consider, depending on costs. But she added more needs to be brought forward.

“I feel much more thought and discussion has to be put into this before making decisions,” Strong said.

Deputy Mayor Cec Ryall said he has yet to decide. He added council must consider different options and factors such as insurance rates.

He further said a recommendation coming forward does not mean it reflects the municipality’s opinion.

“It’s up for consideration but that’s as far as it is at,” Ryall said. “At the end of the day, it’s up for us to go through and determine what we would or would not do.”

MacKenzie said the fire committee would discuss the organizational and facility reviews.

When asked, he said he would not personally put much stock into SHRP’s recommendation to close fire halls.

“Down the road, council will have to make some decisions. I think council’s going to be open-minded.”

Dogsled Derby gets green light after storm scare

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Lisa Gervais

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January 17, 2020

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Organizers have declared the Haliburton Highlands Dogsled Derby will go ahead after determining trails were in good enough shape despite a winter storm.

The 18^th annual event Jan. 18-19 brings in competitors to race out of the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre. The event usually attracts approximately 100 competitors, primarily from Ontario, Quebec and the U.S.

A winter storm Jan. 11-12 put the race under threat, with concern about having enough snow and trails getting too icy. But organizers said conditions were good enough to go-ahead.

“Thankfully, the temperatures dropped perfectly,” organizer and Winterdance Dogsled Tours owner Tanya McCready said. “The rain turned to snow and froze so as to not create snow sitting on top of ice but rather a solid base to work on.”

The weekend features several different disciplines, including four, six and eight-dog races, skijoring and kid and youth races. New this year is a kicksled race, a smaller sled pulled by small teams of dogs.

“Far as we’re aware this will be the first time it has been offered as a race in Ontario,” McCready said. “Allow folks with one to two dogs and a small sled to be able to come out and join in the derby.”

She said dogsledding intersects with the core of Haliburton.

“In our mind, Haliburton is all about the love of outdoors, nature, adventure and the connections in between,” McCready said. “Mushing encompasses all of those things that are such cornerstones.”

The free event begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., continuing throughout both days. The Pinestone will also be providing a Bob Seger tribute band for entertainment Saturday at 8 p.m. Organizers ask people to keep non-competing dogs at home as they can distract.

“It is amazing having that many dogs from all over Ontario, Quebec and the U.S. all in Haliburton getting to do what they live [for] and love to do,” McCready said.

TLDSB schools closing for one-day strike

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Lisa Gervais

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January 16, 2020

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The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is preparing to close all of its schools Jan. 21 in the wake of union strike action.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced Jan. 16 the board would be part of a one-day strike unless a deal with the province can be reached. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) also announced it would withdraw services in TLDSB that day as part of its series of rotating strikes unless a deal happens.

This is the first time elementary teachers are striking this year, amidst stalled talks with the province. TLDSB ETFO teacher representative Karen Bratina said provincial negotiators have not met with teachers frequently and are not making progress in talks.

“They’re not handling it at all. This government is trying to make our world-class, publicly-funded public education system cheaper,” Bratina said. “They want to continue to further cut public elementary education.”

Unions across the province have expressed concerns about provincial plans to decrease class funding, increasing average class sizes from 22 to 25 at the high school level and 22 to 23 at the Grade 4 to 8 level. Other issues include compensation levels, mandating online learning in high schools and addressing violence in elementary.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce criticized the escalation of job action. In response to ETFO strikes, he announced the province would provide parents direct funding to pay for childcare for students impacted by strikes.

“Our aim has always been to reach a negotiated settlement that keeps kids in class, which we have done successfully with multiple labour partners to date,” said Lecce in a Jan.15 press release. “We recognize the impact of union escalation on families is real, and unions expect hard-working families to bear the costs of their cyclical labour action.”

Details about the funding are available at Ontario.ca/SupportForParents or by calling 888-444-3770.

Other action

Besides rotating strikes, schools are experiencing the impacts of other job actions. Unions withdrew from EQAO preparation last November, resulting in January’s TLDSB Grade 9 EQAO math testing being pushed back. OSSTF also announced additional sanctions to start Jan. 20, including teachers no longer providing on-calls. They also specified Jan. 21 would be the last strike day until after the secondary school exam period.

ETFO began other service withdrawals Jan. 13, including no longer supervising after-school extra-curricular activities, no longer participating in assemblies except for supervision and no longer participating in field trips.

Bratina said she has met with TLDSB students and they are supportive. She said teachers are determined to continue fighting against cuts, but wanted to assure parents kids are still being taught.

“The teachers in Trillium Lakelands continue to teach the required curriculum to students,” Bratina said. “We, as educators, are going to fight to make it better because we know that the issues that matter to us matter to parents.”

Pinestone takes umbrage with county tourism

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Lisa Gervais

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January 15, 2020

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The county tourism committee is taking a harder look at plans to use TripAdvisor after a letter of protest from the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre.

The tourism committee discussed the letter during its Jan. 8 meeting. The message from Pinestone general manager John Teljeur spoke out against an idea in the county’s 2020 marketing plan to create a new destination page for the Haliburton Highlands with TripAdvisor in a bid to promote the area.

Teljeur said every accommodator tries to reduce the impact of “excessive commissions” paid to the likes of TripAdvisor when guests book through their services. The company takes a percentage cut when someone books through them, which Teljeur said can cost Pinestone thousands of dollars. He further said he does not think stakeholders were consulted enough about the idea.

“You’re essentially opening the flood gates to something we work so hard to prevent,” Teljeur said. “Please reconsider.”

Committee member Rob Berthlot agreed, citing similar concerns as a business owner.

“My perception is this is letting the fox into the henhouse. I have no idea where it will develop into,” Berthlot said.

Director of tourism Amanda Virtanen said the TripAdvisor destination page is a new product the municipality would pay into, with assurance it is a different model and would not take from bookings.

“We’re all in this together. I’m not going to recommend a tactic I don’t think will work. We have full control over all the content,” Virtanen said. “When you Google ‘where to stay in Haliburton Highlands,” the first thing that comes up is TripAdvisor and I’d rather control that content.”

However, Virtanen said she could bring back a presentation provided by TripAdvisor providing more details on the initiative.

“Slow it down a bit,” committee chair and Coun. Carol Moffatt said. “Take a look and make sure we’re not putting the sled at the top of a slippery slope.”

Hike Haliburton protested

Teljeur also took issue with the County’s ongoing investment and management of Hike Haliburton. He said the event should be more self-sufficient and is getting preference over other tourist events in the area. He also spurned the upcoming inaugural winter-edition of Hike Haliburton in February.

“The amount of money (and staff time) siphoned from the County tourism department would be better spent on things that actually bring people to the area. Stay in your lane,” Teljeur said.

A total of 2,790 people participated in hikes and events at the 2019 festival, according to the County report. About 65 per cent of the 186 people who responded to a survey after the festival indicated they were from outside the Highlands.

The County budgeted $38,000 for Hike Haliburton in 2019, including planning for the upcoming winter edition. The regular version subsequently fundraised $20,205 from the public, according to the festival summary report.

Committee members responded that Hike Haliburton is an important event they would like to continue running. Tegan Legge said it has only improved since the county took it over.

“I do truly believe it brings a lot of people into the community and they do come back,” she said.

Student artists get “spaced out” for exhibition

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Lisa Gervais

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January 14, 2020

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High school students showcased their artistic talents in a variety of mediums at the annual student exhibition at the Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre Jan. 9.

The exhibition, entitled “SPACED OUT, featured works from 20 Grade 11 and 12 Haliburton Highlands Secondary School art students, all centred around the theme. The pieces were developed throughout classes and will be on display until Jan. 25.

Student Anabelle Craig said she had worries about her piece, ‘I am there,’ over the Christmas break but she is satisfied seeing how it turned out.

“I’m very proud. I’m quite pleased with what I accomplished,” Craig said. “It kind of warms my heart to see my work up and to see my friend’s work up.”

The annual exhibition has gone on for about 14 years now, art teacher Karen Gervais said. She said the students learn about working under deadlines, configuring an exhibition and conveying meaning to an audience.

“It’s an authentic kind of learning experience,” Gervais said. “They’re not just making the work for themselves. They’re thinking about the broader audience and the people that are going to see the work and the message they want to communicate.”

The artwork on display was varied, ranging from paintings to embroidery to metal and glasswork. Some pieces utilized the exhibition theme more literally to depict outer space, while others were more abstract, showing physical and emotional spaces.

“It’s a good theme because you can take it any way you want,” Craig said. “It was fun to just experiment.”

Gervais said the exhibition is a good chance for the public to see what is on the minds of youth.

“They should just come to see the way our youth is thinking and the really thought-provoking ideas they’re communicating through their work,” she said. “As well as some of the tremendous skill levels that these young artists have.”

County plans 15 per cent greenhouse gas reduction target

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Lisa Gervais

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January 14, 2020

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The County of Haliburton is planning to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent from its 2018 levels over the next decade.

The committee of the whole voted to recommend the target during its Jan. 8 meeting. If approved by council, the county would aim to bring its carbon dioxide emissions from a baseline of 859 tonnes annually to 730 tonnes by 2030. The target would be incorporated as part of the county’s future climate change mitigation plan.

The new climate change co-ordinator Korey McKay said the targets she presented were carefully balanced and feasible.

“We want the target to stress urgency but also be realistic,” McKay said. “We know the science is telling us we need to reduce our emission as much as possible and as soon as possible and we want to show leadership. But at the same time, we don’t want to set ourselves up for failure.”

The county’s emissions are divided into only two categories: its vehicle fleet, comprising 82 per cent of the total emissions, and its buildings.

The 15 per cent reduction was technically the least ambitious of three options presented by staff, who also offered 17 per cent and 20 per cent targets. But McKay said all the options were ambitious.

Still, councillors expressed some concern about actually achieving any of the targets presented. Growth was a major issue cited. Under the status quo, based on current population growth rates, staff estimate greenhouse emissions would be 13 per cent higher in 2030 compared to 2018.

“This is nice to put on a piece of paper,” Coun. Patrick Kennedy said. “But where the rubber meets the road, I don’t think you’re going to be able to achieve it when you have a growing county here.”

“I struggle with how you choose a target, when you pick a target when you don’t know the impacts,” Coun. Carol Moffatt said.

She further said it was important the plan be flexible as more information comes about what reductions will mean financially and practically.

“People are watching. We want to work with the public and do the right things for the right reasons,” Moffatt said. “I would feel awful if we set a target we couldn’t meet and felt that we let people down.”

Director of planning Charsley White said staff worked on making their proposed targets realistic. She added longer-term decision-making, such as replacing gas vehicles with hybrids, would slowly reduce the municipal carbon footprint.

“Even if we’re not perfect at getting to the target that is selected, any change is better than doing nothing,” White said. “It’s not intended to be a static plan. We’ll progress as we go and build upon the lessons that we’ve learned.”

High School puts on Rocky Horror Picture Show

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Lisa Gervais

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January 13, 2020

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Haliburton Highlands Secondary School students are time warping to put on the famed Rocky Horror Picture Show Jan. 12-14.

The school’s drama class will perform the 1973 musical about a lost engaged couple who are swept up into the castle of mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter. Grade 11 student Jordy Schell is starring as Brad Majors. He said he loves how the musical pushes boundaries.

“This show really exemplifies that art has no limits and it’s a huge leap for our high school to tackle a show with such mature and deep content and share it with our community,” Schell said.

The musical, which spawned an R-Rated movie, has been toned down for the high school stage but is still mature, according to Grade 12 student Codie Wilkinson, who is playing Dr. Furter.

“We had to change quite a bit just to make it more appropriate for the audience that would be attending,” Wilkinson said. “I don’t think anything too big has been drastically changed.”

The production features an ensemble cast of 14 students. Wilkinson said it is a show he wanted to do, given the musical’s LGBTQ representation.

“It’s been really fun, although it’s gotten a little stressful toward the end nearing the show,” he said. “Feel pretty well-prepared but something can always go wrong.”

Weather created challenges over the weekend, as a cancelled practice resulted in the Sunday matinee becoming a by-donation dress rehearsal. But both the performances Sunday went on as scheduled and will continue Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or the school’s main office.

Wilkinson said it is good for the community to get a glimpse of what is happening at the high school by seeing the show.

“It’s going to be a fun time,” he said. “See how it’s changed the last few years and see the talent we have to offer.”

(With files from Hannah Sadlier).

Haliburton businesses hit by break-ins

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Lisa Gervais

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January 10, 2020

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Kosy Korner owner Ann Gordon said the community “doesn’t feel safe anymore” after her restaurant was broken into Dec. 26.

In a press release, Haliburton Highlands OPP said they responded that night and discovered the front door glass was smashed. The surveillance video showed a hooded suspect entered and stole a tip jar with approximately $40. Police are still investigating.

Gordon said the perpetrator also tipped over the cash drawer trying to get more money, to no avail. She said the repair costs are still uncertain but the damage is in the thousands.

“I’m disappointed. Disappointing that Haliburton has got now a crime rate,” Gordon said. “Got called from other business owners trying to compare notes.”

She said it is the first time since 2005 that someone has broken into the place.

“It’s just the whole feeling of violation,” Gordon said. “We were here from midnight to 4 a.m. … Just a long, disappointing night.”

The Kosy Korner is not the only business to fall victim to break-ins. The Parkside Laundry suffered thousands in damages Dec. 29 after someone broke into the facility to try to steal from the change machine – the second time it has happened in two months.

“It’s just a very frustrating thing,” owner Craig Gordon said. “They’re never going to get any money out of it but they can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage I have to replace.”

He said he expects to pay the damages out of pocket, for fear of having their insurance cancelled through multiple claims in a short timeframe. He added the systemic issues behind crime need to be addressed, whatever they are.

“If the motive behind them is drug problems, we need to fix that,” he said. “The crime is never going to go away until we can get to the root of why the crime happens in the first place.”

Co-owner Colby Marcellus posted pictures of the suspect from security footage on Facebook, wearing a dark coat with his face covered.

Ann Gordon said breaking in was ridiculous and few businesses keep much cash on site.

“If you get that desperate, there are always people you can talk to,” she said. “There are agencies, there are people, there are small communities. People care. Forty bucks is not worth going to jail.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Haliburton Highlands OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

OPP search for stolen cache of guns

The OPP is searching for a cache of 12 firearms stolen from Glamor Lake Road sometime between Nov. 1-8.

In a Jan. 2 press release, OPP said there were both restricted and non-restricted weapons taken from the residence. OPP continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers.

Charges for breaking into school

Police charged a Highlands East woman with breaking and entering after allegedly discovering her inside a Bancroft school.

Bancroft OPP responded to a call Dec. 31 around 2:30 p.m. They found the school was forcibly entered and located the suspect inside the building.

The woman is also charged with possession of a banned substance, suspected fentanyl. She is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bancroft Jan. 28.

Robinson’s General Store up for sale

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Lisa Gervais

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January 9, 2020

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On the eve of its 100th birthday in 2021, Dorset’s Robinson’s General Store and its accompanying holdings are on the block.

Brad Robinson said the east side of much of Dorset’s downtown, from the Algonquin Highlands community centre to the water, is on the market for $6 million. It includes the general store building, the adjacent plaza, the land now leased by a real estate agent, a house and a waterfront that can accommodate about 15 boats.

In a chat with The Highlander, Brad said the decision wasn’t easy, but “it’s time.” His daughter Joanne now operates the store with her husband Willie Hatton and Brad said they had decided to retire. He is still involved in the store himself at the age of 84.

Brad recalled how he made a decision to sell the store about 28 years ago. He said he was getting “played out” and rang Joanne to let her know of his decision. A few day later, he said Joanne phoned back to tell him not to sell, since they were thinking of moving back home with Brad’s soon-to-be born grandson, Ryan.

Brad took over the store at the tender age of 20 almost 65 years ago. At the time, he had finished high school and was pondering his future. He was contemplating university and had a job offer from the Hudson Bay Company for one of its northern stores. He said he and his dad were sitting around the kitchen table and his dad said, “why don’t you stay here? [The business] isn’t working the way it’s going now. From now on, you’re going to be the boss and will make the final decisions.

“But the store was small, only 75ft by 25ft,” Brad says with a chuckle. It’s gone through 14 additions since then. “We’re really running four stores in one here,” he said of the main building. “It’s a big responsibility but that’s the way it works. We could not make a go at it if we just had a grocery store or a hardware store or a clothing store, there’s not enough business.”

Brad admits it has been a bittersweet decision. He said they are concerned about their employees. They have 10 staff this time of year, a number that balloons to about 60 in summer. “We would certainly hope that whoever would take over would also take over our employees because they know how to run the store,” he says.

He adds customers are also anxious, especially seniors. “They don’t know what’s going to happen. If they don’t have a store like ours or something similar it means they have to drive 100 km to do shopping.” He said some are fearful of driving to larger centres such as Huntsville or Bracebridge because if they get into a fender-bender they could lose automobile insurance or their license. He said they have a lot of faithful customers and he feels for them.

“The thing is when you’re in a situation like I’m in, you become friends with your customers. People come in and have a visit. Locals and the tourists in the spring, they can hardly wait to get here. On a big weekend, I can hardly talk by the end of the day. And I’m a talker. People want to be part of it. They want to make sure that we’re here. And our business has drawn a lot of people to Dorset and now we have an ideal situation in Dorset. We have every business full and they’re all doing well.”

Looking back, Brad says he feels blessed to have lived in Dorset and seen the province release Crown land so the area could be developed in the middle of last century. “I look back and it was the Ontario government that really helped us in this area. They opened up 97 per cent of the township here for cottage lots and so consequently the country filled up quickly so that’s why we put 14 additions on the store because as the businesses grew, we grew the store to accommodate it.”

He’s looking forward to spending more time at the cottage, even having sleepovers. He said he hadn’t had one in two years. But he’s not complaining. “You do in life what you want to do. If I’d wanted to go, I would have gone.”

Minden daycare looking to add 23 spaces

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Lisa Gervais

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January 9, 2020

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The County of Haliburton is asking Minden Hills council for a zoning bylaw amendment at the daycare it owns at 16 Prentice St. in Minden, which is run by Compass Early Learning and Care.

County planner Charlsey White spoke at the Dec. 12 council meeting.

In a report to the meeting, the township’s planner, Ian Clendening acknowledged the centre is in a residential neighbourhood. He said the ask was to change the zoning to the site-specific Community Facility Exception Five to formally permit the daycare, allow reductions in yard setbacks and parking requirements.

The plan is for a 958-square foot addition to the existing 2,249.7-square foot structure.

“The proposed addition would allow for an increase in capacity to a total of 49 children, an increase of 23 spaces, and would require 11 employees,” Clendening said in his report.

Clendening said there had been public consultation and “to date, issues raised through the public consultation process include parking, drainage and noise.”

White said dedicated parking spaces would be included for the first time, and there would be a small on-site retention and drainage pond. She added they would be doing the routine maintenance, such as grass cutting and winter snow removal.

Resident Bob Wood spoke during the public meeting portion. He complained about children screaming, that parents park “willy nilly all over the place” and drainage is insufficient. He suggested the County and township should consider a daycare at Archie Stouffer Elementary School not in a residential neighbourhood populated by seniors.

However, a representative of Compass Early Learning and Care, Kinga Baricz, said it’s a daycare, so there’s going to be noise. She added there are almost 100 families on a waiting list for care.

“We need more daycares than maybe shutting down,” she said. She added some parents can’t work because they can’t find daycare with only two licensed establishments in the County.

Council received the report as information.

Splitting CAO and treasurer roles

The Township of Minden Hills will be looking for a new CAO this year after current CAO/treasurer Lorrie Blanchard recommended last month that the roles be split.

Blanchard confirmed the information with The Highlander this week. She said doing both jobs was “insanely, ridiculously busy” due in large part to the township’s growth and provincial government requirements.

She said when she took on the roles about five years ago, the workload was manageable but she’s now putting in a lot of overtime.

She said she wants to be director of finance only.

She said it’s what she has been trained to do. She is a qualified CPA. She added it is what she most enjoys doing professionally.

“It’s my happy place.”

She will keep doing her existing job until a CAO is hired. “I’m very excited for it. I think it is really good for the municipality,” she said.