The County of Haliburton said a 400-metre section of County Road 2 washed out in a storm is open to traffic as of Aug. 12.
Deep Bay Road southwest of Minden, between Devil’s Lake Road and Forster’s Road, sustained significant damage after a storm Aug. 3. The County said it believes this may have been caused by a beaver dam that let go.
The County has worked to repair it since, detouring people to Highway 35. The County said that repair work is now finished.
Deep Bay Road repaired after washout
County budget weathers pandemic storm
County staff reported the budget is on track despite the upheaval caused by COVID-19. Council received a mid-year budget update during its July 22 meeting.
The pandemic has not yet significantly hurt the municipality’s financial position, with an estimated $743,600 in potential savings.
CAO Mike Rutter stressed that although the County’s books are not faring badly, that does not mean residents are not financially hurting. The report said that will impact the 2021 budget.
“We know there are many people in our community that are really suffering as a result of the economic fallout of COVID-19,” Rutter said. “We don’t want anything we say to be misconstrued as minimizing our genuine concern for our residents. We know that there is a lot of pain out there.”
The revenue picture was steady. Although there is a projected shortfall of investment income by $30,000, that was more than offset by unbudgeted provincial grant funding. Councillor Brent Devolin noted the County’s revenues do not have something like a transit system that would be harder hit during a pandemic.
“We’re fortunate compared to some other jurisdictions,” Devolin said. “This is not at all the snapshot that they would see.”
Council opted not reopen the 2020 budget and expressed opposition to cutting back on any more projects.
“We run a fairly tight ship. We budgeted for projects that we need to do,” Warden Liz Danielsen said. “We’re trying to aim for sustainability, and I would worry about the impacts down the road if we did cancel something.”
Council expenses at issue
But councillors were concerned by their own expenses, which are projected to be on budget at $161,028, though staff highlighted a $1,800 reduction in mileage expenses.
Deputy warden Andrea Roberts said there should be more savings given the reduced number of meetings, with committee of the whole not going ahead for several months. Rutter said staff did not remove pay for those cancelled meetings.
“There was a lot of work going on relating to COVID response,” Rutter said. “We know council members were busy with that and were, in all honesty, putting in more hours than they would have had we been having a regular committee of the whole meeting.”
Coun. Carol Moffatt said though she appreciated the intent, there could have been a council discussion about reframing pay.
“I struggle with having received money for meetings I didn’t attend,” Moffatt said. “That’s a problem for me.”
Council put the matter on the agenda for a planned committee of the whole meeting in August.
County to pursue broadband grant
The County of Haliburton is moving ahead with a grant application for a project that could significantly improve internet connectivity.
Council voted July 22 to have staff pursue a partnership with a local telecommunications service provider (TSP) to apply for the provincial Improving Connectivity in Ontario (ICON) program. The $150 million fund offers municipalities a chance to build broadband infrastructure.
The County will pursue the grant with a consultant, utilizing $100,000 remaining in the 2020 budget earmarked for enhanced connectivity. Due to the August 21 deadline for the first intake, the municipality will sole source.
“Everybody with COVID has become extremely aware of connectivity needs,” Coun. Brent Devolin said, adding there will be a rush for consultants to take on work such as this. “The longer we wait, the shallower pond we’re going to be fishing in.”
The initiative would be separate from the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) and its ongoing $213 million cell-gap project, which the County contributes to. CAO Mike Rutter said EORN’s resources are occupied with that development, meaning the County would need to be self-reliant.
Although the exact parameters of the project are to be determined, Rutter highlighted an estimated $55 million needed to bring the CRTC standard of 50 megabytes-per-second download and 10 megabytes-per-second upload to 95 per
cent of the County. With an ICON grant, the provincial and federal governments would pay half, while the County and a private partner would have to cover the rest. Rutter said they have already been approached by two TSPs to apply.
“No idea at this point how broad those proposals will be or how broad the benefit would be,” Rutter said. “We are operating under the assumption any broadband is good broadband.”
He added the County would want any proposal to benefit all four of its townships.
Rutter said such a project could require debt financing. He noted it is a risk after the County approved debt to reduce the road infrastructure gap in 2019 and might need to go into debt to address affordable housing and unforeseen issues in coming months.
But he also said improved connectivity is important for post-pandemic recovery.
“Let’s get going, doing something for the folks out there that need it,” Coun. Carol Moffatt said.
Pride walk in Harcourt supports bullied youth
Harcourt’s streets were filled with Pride colours as more than 60 people gathered to spread a message of love and combat bigotry July 22.
People took part in an ad hoc march through the neighbourhood, waving Pride flags. The event was done in support of gay youth Evan Natale, after he said people at a nearby residence shouted at him about his sexuality – including slurs – during a walk around the neighbourhood.
“I was extremely upset and frustrated,” Natale said. “I just learned to ignore them, but it’s still difficult. I’m hoping this walk will help not just me, but anyone in my position.”
His mother, Debbie Natale, made a Facebook post about the incident. It quickly spread and soon, the idea came together to walk with Evan Natale through the community. She said the walk was an important show of support.
“There’s a lot of young adults out there, and even older adults, that don’t feel they have support,” Natale said. “They need to know they’re not alone and if they need support, we will be there and we will walk with them any time they need it.”
Wayne Beker pushed the event on social media, coming up with the graphic used for it. He said he felt heartbroken when he saw the post.
“Everyone feels alone in something,” Beker said. “We need to get together as a community and support each other and that’s what this kind of turned into.”
The walk attracted people from far and wide. Wayne Holmes came from Belleville to show his support and reflected on his own experience as an LGBTQ man.
“I came out at 21 (years old) in Toronto. Back then, it was a hostile time – people throwing eggs, tomatoes at you, chasing you around. I’ve been beaten many times,” Holmes said. “But all the activism work – I thought it wouldn’t be an issue now, and it still is.”
“We need to show people in rural areas that they’re not alone,” he added.
The walk went through a significant part of the hamlet, including two pointed passes by the residence that heckled Natale. Decorated Canadian curler John Epping also attended and told Evan Natale to reach out to him if he ever needed support.
He said as an openly gay athlete and LGBTQ advocate, he wanted to be there. He added LGBTQ people in Toronto are a little more privileged compared to certain rural areas, where some may not be as educated on the subject.
“I hope this is something they can continually do, and I hope that other maybe small communities, small towns, pick up on something,” Epping said. “It’s about just spreading equality, kindness and being nice to each other.”
“The love and support are absolutely amazing,” Debbie Natale said. “We delivered a good, peaceful message and it’s a good first start.”
Dumpster fire at Haliburton landfill
The Dysart et al fire department responded to a dumpster fire at the Haliburton landfill July 31.
Firefighters were on scene for approximately one hour dealing with the blaze, located at the household waste section of the landfill, according to municipal staff on site. The landfill was closed throughout the response and remains so as of 4:05 p.m.
The cause of the fire is unknown. More to come.
Fire destroys cottage on Boshkung
By Lisa Gervais
Photo by Julia Lewis
Julia Lewis said she was awoken in the middle of the night July 30 by her daughter, who had heard sirens.
Overlooking Boshkung Lake, Lewis said, “We looked outside and the whole bay was lit up by flames.”
A cottage under renovation “was fully engulfed and the firefighters were already there.”
She said Stanhope volunteer firefighters did a great job of preventing the fire from spreading to any other buildings, but the cottage was unfortunately lost.
Algonquin Highlands fire Chief Jonathan Wilker said on July 31 that his department got a call around 2.30 a.m. July 30.
“Someone from across the lake saw the fire,” he said. He added they didn’t know what the exact nature of the call was and paramedics were first on scene followed by volunteer firefighters.
They soon knew it was a structure fire. He said it was a cottage under renovation with no contents. He said the owners were not home and there were no injuries.
He confirmed that upon arrival, it was fully engulfed. He said volunteers were able to set up a pump on a dock on the lake to draw water and took about one hour to extinguish the blaze – but the building was a complete loss.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Why has the Wigamog clock stopped?
The state of the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre, and the Wigamog Inn, now owned by the Aurora Group out of Vaughan, has been a concern for Haliburton County residents for some time now.
The Auroras purchased the Pinestone in 2015 and the Wigamog in 2016.
They announced some grand plans for both sites.
To date, very little, if anything, has been done.
In defence of the Auroras, Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts told The Highlander she’s sure it has been challenging times being in the hotel business these last few months.
We are certain it has. And, we applaud the Pinestone for opening its doors to frontline workers needing accommodation during the pandemic.
Aurora CEO Ravi Aurora did answer a couple of our emails, which we appreciate, since his head office has not responded to many of our queries in the past.
He said they were very busy dealing with COVID protocols and realigning business practices. They needed all the time they could get, so he couldn’t provide an update on the Pinestone, Wigamog, or County Road 21 gas station, car wash and fast food outlet they have talked about.
While we were happy to email him questions, he could answer at his leisure, or restrict a phone call to half-an-hour, he declined. However, he said he appreciated the community’s concerns, they deeply care for the community and the Pinestone and its involvement in the community. He encouraged us to reach out in September when things calm down a bit.
We certainly will, because while things have been tough for the hotel industry for the past six months or so, the Auroras have owned both properties for four to five years now. Whatever happened to opening the Moose Bar and Grill and some of the Wigamog Inn’s rooms by mid-summer 2016, for example?
In the interim, the inn has fallen into a state of disrepair such that it is highly unlikely it could be renovated. Maybe the eventual plan is to demolish it to make way for a planned housing development the Auroras are promising on their website. It’s hard to say, since the Auroras aren’t really talking.
In the meantime, those living around the former inn are faced with seeing what has become an eyesore over the past 10 years or so, since the property had been vacant for five years before the Auroras arrived on the scene.
It is strange to drive down Wigamog Road and see upscale developments such as Haliburton Heights and Silver Beach next to the Wigamog.
Some have also questioned the role of the municipality.
While the Wigamog is privately-owned, the municipality could take a more active role.
Perhaps someone there could press the Auroras for answers.
As for bylaw enforcement, it appears that has only been stepped up the past week or so because neighbours Keith and Julia Robertson are rocking the boat, and The Highlander is asking questions.
The Highlander paid a visit July 20 and observed some pretty disturbing things, including no fences, a lack of ‘no trespassing’ signs, a broken window, and a swimming pool with a busted fence, filled with stagnant water. It’s not only an eyesore, it’s dangerous. We shudder to think what would happen if there was a fire.
We encourage the Auroras to update the community in September, when they have more time. Even bad news, such as if they decided they were not proceeding with their development, is in some cases better than no news at all. And we urge Dysart Council to take a more proactive stance when it comes to developments of this nature in their domain. They shouldn’t wait for neighbour complaints or press questions to actively push for timely and good development in Dysart.
Clock stops ticking at Wigamog Inn
Keith Robertson stands on the road facing the Wigamog inn, looking at the crumbling former resort that he grew up in.
The 74-year-old is the adopted son of Merv and Alison Robertson. He lives just down the road from ‘The Wig.’ The family patriarch, William Robertson, bought the property from the Gould family in 1917, first taking in guests in 1922, giving birth to the inn on Lake Kashagawigamog.
“When I was about that high,” Keith says, holding his hand about two feet off the ground, “we used to live in there. In the summer, we had a cabin to stay in while the lodge was running. In the winter, we moved back into the lodge. And then finally my dad built a house in 1951 or 1952.”
He points out a stone chimney at the inn, which was built in 1898, and is still standing at the inn.
A large picture window gaped open with smashed glass on the railing and porch. Inside, the ceiling is falling in, black mold is visible, furnishings left inside are strewn about.
From the road, one can see remnants of a swimming pool. Some of the fencing is broken. A deer is startled inside the enclosure and knocks down one of the white, iron gate pieces as it crashes onto the ground. There is stagnant water in the pool.
“It’s totally destroyed,” says Robertson, looking around and pushing his baseball cap back off of his forehead in the morning heat.
Earlier this year, Riddin Ryder the Adventurer posted a video to YouTube after entering the inn and its grounds. There are no fences or ‘no trespassing’ signs.
The video reveals items left behind and crumbling infrastructure, including black mold throughout.
Robertson said he watched a bit of the video but it was too painful to view the entire thing.
“I’m seeing rooms I saw when I was this high … and my mother and dad were working away.”
The family owned the resort until it was purchased by Art and Joan Ward in 1967. It was under the Ward’s that the million-dollar conference centre was added to the original inn. Kimberly and Christopher Grossman purchased the Wig in 1993.
The inn changed hands until on March 3, 2016, The Aurora Group announced the purchase of the Wigamog. At the time, they’d already bought the Pinestone.
“We have some great ideas of what this property can look like in the future,” said CEO Ravi Aurora in a media release. “Buying this resort made so much sense for the future of Pinestone and for area tourism. This is an investment in our area economy and community,” he added.
Aurora said the building and property were still being assessed but The Moose Bar and Grill and some of the rooms could be open by mid-summer 2016.
Pinestone general manager John Teljeur was quoted at the time as saying, “We are excited for the collaborative potential of both properties, area tourism and the jobs it could bring to the Haliburton Highlands … this is a chance to reset the tourism clock.”
However, it appears that clock has stopped.
Auroras talk housing development
On the Aurora Group website, there is a tab advertising the company’s portfolio, with a prominent section on a “new residential development in Wigamog Resort, Haliburton.”
It reads, “located in Haliburton, the Aurora Group is building a new residential development on over 40 acres of land. Choose from an incredible selection of 180+ units with home designs including Condos, Towns and Detached Homes.”
The ad is accompanied by a map detailing the plans.
On July 6, The Highlander asked Dysart et al director of planning and land information Jeff Iles what, if any, plans the Auroras have lodged with the township for the Wigamog property. He responded, “The municipality has not received an application or proposal for the Wigamog site.”
The Auroras have approached the township about a piece of land they own along County Road 21, to the east of the Pinestone property, and where they have discussed building a gas station, car wash, and fast food outlet.
Iles said the municipality currently has an active site plan agreement application for that piece of land. He said staff continue to work with the property owner and their development team to move the project forward.
Iles added that at a Jan. 28, 2020 Dysart et al council meeting, council reviewed a proposal to sever the proposed development from the remainder of the owner’s property. Council passed a resolution supporting the proposal, subject to conditions. Following council’s recommendation, the property owner must submit a formal application to the County of Haliburton, which is the approval authority.
On July 9, The Highlander sent an email to Ravi Aurora. He did not respond. The Highlander sent another email on July 14, asking for an update on plans for the Wigamog, the Pinestone and the County Road 21 development.
On July 14, Aurora replied, “I appreciate you reaching out to me. Unfortunately, we are currently very busy dealing with COVID protocols and realigning business practices and need all the time we can get within our operations. Try reaching out around September when things tend to calm down a bit.”
The newspaper responded that the community had concerns about the properties and it could forward email questions or do a short phone interview.
Aurora replied, “As I appreciate the concern, and we deeply care for the community and Pinestone’s involvement with the area. We just aren’t in the position to make any comments at the moment. I hope you understand.”
Teljeur also declined to comment.
Neighbours concerned
Keith Robertson and his wife, Julia, say they have contacted Dysart et al about the state of the Wigamog property.
Julia Robertson said she has complained to bylaw enforcement about the height of the grass in the past. As recently as July 14, she sent a memo regarding fire concerns.
“The property is abandoned and if a fire was to start, our fire department plus mutual aid could not contain the fire,” she wrote.
“My question is who will be held accountable for any fire damage to adjoining properties?”
The Aurora Group also owns other accommodation properties in Ontario, including the Sheraton Four Points in Brantford, which the Aurora website says is currently under renovation.
However, the former Brantford Hotel sustained a fire on Feb. 12, 2020 and the Auroras were issued with a demolition order.
Director, communications and community involvement for the City of Brantford, Maria Visocchi said a series of orders were issued over The Brantford Hotel “in response to the continued neglect and unsafe conditions on the property.”
She said a demolition order was appealed but upheld. The owner was granted an extension but demolition has now occurred.
Visocchi said, “it is my understanding that the Aurora Group held ownership of the property throughout this process.”
Municipal response
Julia Robertson believes the Wigamog should be demolished since she does not think the Auroras are going to do anything with it.
Keith Robertson is also skeptical they will follow through on original plans, saying “they didn’t know anything about the County. They couldn’t care less as long as they got this stuff.” He rubs his index finger and thumb together to indicate money.
The Robertson’s don’t think Dysart council is doing enough, either.
“As the old timers would say, this council is as useless as tits on a bull,” Julia Robertson said.
“They should be acting upon their bylaws. The fact that it’s a fire hazard right now; it brings down property values that way it is right now; it’s unsafe; it’s not gated; you could fall in that pool and you’re not getting out. It needs to go.”
She added it is not fair to the nearby taxpayers of Silver Beach and their upscale homes to “have to look at this rundown thing … and the Auroras are doing nothing.”
Dysart et al bylaw enforcement officer Robert Mascia said bylaw enforcement is usually complaint driven and “we haven’t had that many complaints.” He said his predecessor went out last year over a long grass complaint and the owners complied with her order. He added there had been one complaint this year, recently, over a broken window, which had since been boarded up. He said he checked on the property as recently as July 23. He acknowledged the township had also had a note about the fire risk.
Mascia added he was currently in discussions with Teljeur, “speaking about a possible course of action to prevent people getting in there.”
Mayor Andrea Roberts said on July 27 that she had spoken with Julia Robertson. She said after that conversation, she messaged the fire chief and bylaw officer.
“Both have been investigating her concerns. I also know the bylaw officer has contacted the GM of Pinestone, John Teljeur to let him know what they need to do to secure the building and some progress has been made.”
Roberts said she had met with the Auroras several times “and they have some grand plans for the property, but they have not made any applications to the township or even had pre-consultation with our planners. They also have plans for a development on County Road 21 but that appears stalled as well.
“I’m sure it has been challenging times being in the hotel business these last few months,” the mayor said.
“While it is an eyesore and very sad so to see a wonderful landmark on the lake be in such a state, the municipality is doing all it legally can do. We will continue to monitor the site to ensure it is not a fire hazard.”
Keith Robertson says the plight of the Wigamog Inn breaks his heart.
“It does, and then I go by and another window’s broken. It’s bothered me from day one. It was alright when Art Ward had it.
“It’s my home. I remember helping my mother do the laundry in the fall and hanging it up on the clothesline and the kitchen. It was home.”
Two arrested in Dysart for unlawful firearms
OPP arrested and charged two Haliburton residents with guns-related offences after executing a search warrant at a Hutchings Road property in Dysart July 27.
Haliburton Highlands and City of Kawartha Lakes OPP discovered five unlawfully possessed firearms at the residence, according to a press release.
Two people, ages 42 and 29, were charged with five counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, two counts of careless storage of a firearm and one count of failure to comply with a condition of undertaking.
Both individuals were held for a bail hearing.
The two people were also previously arrested and charged in a drug bust at a Hutchings Road address in Dysart April 9. OPP charged them and three others with drug trafficking after that bust. The two individuals also faced five counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm and three counts of careless storage of a firearm April 9.
Art market pops up during pandemic
Blackbird Pottery owner April Gates said the pandemic has been a difficult time to be an artist.
“It’s been a huge challenge,” Gates said. “I’ve lost about 90 per cent of the work I had planned for myself … It has had quite a devastating impact. For me, it’s making me think about other ways of continuing to do business.”
That has prompted her to host a pop-up art market called Schoolhouse 5 on July 31 and Aug. 1, featuring a small number of fellow artisans from the area coming to exhibit work. She said it is an effort to help the hard-hit arts community.
“Create an opportunity for ourselves to let people know we’re still here, we’re still making artwork,” Gates said.
Many summer arts markets decided to shut down in the spring without surety about COVID-19. But Gates said with the province pushing for more businesses reopening, she feels it is safe to proceed with an event such as this. She said it will mimic the likes of the Haliburton County Farmers Market, with spaced apart booths.
“The risk is very low,” Gates said. “We’re going to be outdoors and because we’re going to follow those safety precautions… There’s going to be maybe up to six or seven exhibitors. We have ample room to space ourselves apart.”
Gates said although the closing of art markets was frustrating, she understands the reasons and appreciated the advanced warning given, noting there are overhead costs to prepare for a market.
“While it’s heartbreaking, I understand it,” Gates said. “We’re testing out here with this tiny pop-up market idea … We’re going to fly the flag and see how people respond.”
Other artists involved include Lisa Barry and Matt Mhilik of Homestead Pottery, painter Rod Prouse, Leslie Howchin of Moth Jewelry and wood artist Samantha Vanderwys.
Gates said she knows people around the community are looking for things to do and there is still interest in handcrafted work. She said it is worthwhile to come to support local artists.
“Come and see the new work that people are developing,” Gates said. “Even just coming out or sending words of encouragement goes a long way right now.”
Blackbird Pottery is hosting the market at its location on 5843 Gelert Rd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.