In his final speech as Archie Stouffer Elementary School (ASES) principal, Mike Gervais told the graduating class of 2024-25 to dream big and put in the work as they prepare for high school.

It was a full house in the ASES gym June 20 as the community celebrated the school’s 64th graduating class. Forty-six students crossed the stage, marking the end of their elementary school journey, with 16 making the honour roll – achieving an 80 per cent average or higher in their Grade 8 year.

“It’s been a privilege watching this incredible group grow for the last six years. When you first walked through our doors, you were small, wide-eyed… you’re now taller, wiser and ready to take on high school,” Gervais said, who is taking over at Cardiff and Wilberforce elementaries.

Having been at ASES for six years, joining as vice principal in 2019 before moving up to the top job in 2022, Gervais said the school, and its students, have made a big impression on him.

There will be further change next year as Michelle Kernohan, the current vice principal, is also moving on. She has spent the past 15 years at ASES, teaching Grade 8 before becoming a VP in 2023. Lauren Alleway, who spent a year as VP at ASES in 2022-23, is rejoining as principal with Shannon Smith the new VP.

Gary Brohman, the County’s trustee with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), was at the ceremony and thanked the parents in attendance for “sending us the best kids.”

Turning his attention to the graduates, Brohman encouraged them to pursue all that high school has to offer next fall.

“Get involved – arts, drama, music, sports, the list goes on. There’s no shortage of ways to connect with people, learn and have fun,” Brohman said.

Valedictorian Hudson Meyer said he and his classmates have learned a lot during their years at ASES.

“When some of us first came here, we couldn’t even tie our shoes. We’ve learned so much since then,” Meyer said. “Most of us have gone from age four to 14 at Archie Stouffer. That’s 10 years with most of the same people in the exact same building. Sadly, I can’t say I’ve been here for all those years, but I’ve been here long enough to say this is a great place, with many wonderful people.

“I believe we’ll all succeed in high school. The best is yet to come.”

Addressing the Haliburton Adult and Alternative Education Centre’s class of 2025, Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) superintendent Jay MacJanet said he has a lot of respect for the obstacles mature learners often overcome.

“It’s truly an honour to celebrate the achievements of this graduating class… you’ve weathered assignments, paced projects, and survived a random but significant ice storm to get here. You’ve shown resilience and heart, so today is your day,” MacJanet said.

“One of the things I love about coming to these graduations is hearing all the personal stories, about the journey and the challenges you’ve overcome. The skills you need to navigate through life take perseverance to refine. You’ve stayed focused on your goal, so let me congratulate you as you step into your next chapter,” he added.

Twelve of this year’s 19 graduates piled into McKeck’s in Haliburton June 25 to mark the latest step in their educational journey.

Among them was Joslyn Balson, who gave the graduate address, saying this year’s class have different reasons for being in adult ed – some had young children to raise, others needed to work to support their families, while a few grappled with devastating loss.

Pointing to her classmates, she said they’re all living proof that the adult ed system works.

“When education adapts to the needs of students, everyone can succeed,” Balson said. “Success shouldn’t be limited to people within the mainstream environment. Our graduation today proves that when education is flexible and meets people where they are, it makes a huge difference.”

Haliburton adult ed teacher Lori Sargent paid tribute to all graduates, though reserved special praise for Hozayfa Wiso, a Syrian refugee who, after several years of work and learning, finally earned his high school diploma.

Wiso landed in the program with a limited knowledge of English but now converses with clients and staff with ease at his job at Curry Chevrolet Buick GMC. She said he started there as a co-op student, which turned into paid employment and, now, an apprenticeship.

“Your charm and hard work win people over… you’ve had a tough life, but we’re really proud of you and what you’ve accomplished,” Sargent said.

Kathy Chatterton will always remember her birthday of 2025 – marked by a severe storm that took out her, and husband Jim’s, trailer and truck.

The couple, from West Guilford, were at their annual gathering in Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park when the storm hit Saturday night.

Jim said there’d been a rain advisory, but “it was good” until about midnight.

“The trailer started shaking like crazy, and then hail came, and then, all of a sudden, a tree crashed through our roof and basically smashed the ceiling down on top of us.”

Jim said the two managed to crawl out, only to find a devastated site.

There were full trees crashed to the ground, along with fallen limbs. They knew their 35-foot trailer had been hit, but it wasn’t until Jim went to the truck to get a flashlight that he noticed the full damage to the trailer, as well as their vehicle.

“A tree had also hit the front of the trailer and knocked the awning off, smashed the front of the trailer in, all the fiberglass was broken and the truck bed was just flattened.

“The tree had hit the truck bed first, then the trailer. Thank God for that or we’d be pancakes. That truck saved our butts.”

Kathy said it all happened very quickly.

“We heard the wind, the trailer started shaking, the hail came, it wasn’t even a minute.” Jim said he’d heard people describe weather like that sounding like a locomotive. “It couldn’t have been better of a description. It was the wind above the trees; it was just unreal. The sound was the scariest thing. It was out of this world.”

Jim added the entire ordeal was “super scary, incredibly scary. It’s a huge trailer, 35-feet long, and that trailer was just shaking like crazy from side to side.”

After they got out of their trailer and did a preliminary assessment of the damage, Jim went to check on their friends, who had joined them for the weekend.

“Everybody was good, but the rain was unbelievable. The water was up past my ankles just walking on the main road.”

Kathy said she did not know if Environment Canada had classified it a tornado, but Jim is convinced it was one. “And, we were lucky, really lucky.”

A tow truck came to pick up the Chattertons and the damaged truck and trailer and they are safe at home, beginning insurance claims.

“It was so destructive,” Jim said.

“Happy birthday to me,” Kathy added

Storm reports

On June 21, from about 9:45 p.m., reports of dangerous conditions were received from several areas.

The Ontario Provincial Police reported that two people camping in the northeastern part of Algonquin Park were impacted by Saturday night’s storm when a tree fell, resulting in serious injuries to one person.

The injured camper was transported out of the park by a Ministry of Natural Resources float plane and taken to hospital for treatment, OPP said on Sunday.

Hwy. 17 was closed between Bonfield and Mattawa due to hazardous road conditions caused by the severe weather and downed trees. The Mike Rodden Arena in Mattawa was used as a shelter for anyone in need of a safe place to stay.

Almost two years to the day since joining Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) on an interim basis, president and CEO Veronica Nelson has announced she’s stepping down from her position effective Sept. 5.

Nelson took the reins at HHHS during a difficult time, two weeks after the shuttering of the Minden ER. She set about righting the ship, changing the culture at HHHS and improving public relations through enhanced community engagement and planning.

Board chair Irene Odell said Nelson has been “a transformational figure,” reducing the organization’s reliance on agency staff by fostering a healthier, happier, work environment for existing staff and new hires.

She also oversaw a revamp of diagnostic services, successfully lobbying the Ministry of Health for approval of new CT and mammography units, which were paid for by the community and opened last year.

Recently, she played a key role in getting the conversation started on a long-term master plan, filing an application with the Ministry of Long-Term Care to expand Minden’s Hyland Crest, and visited the Netherlands as part of a delegation exploring green care farms as an alternative model to supporting dementia patients.

“Veronica has guided the organization through a period of tremendous growth and renewal… her deep commitment to patient care and community health has led to the recruitment of new physicians and the formation of a strong and collaborative leadership team,” Odell told The Highlander.

“It will be difficult to fill Veronica’s shoes as she was a very impactful leader, but we are committed to finding a new leader to carry the positive momentum, building on the foundation she has put in place,” she added.

Nelson will re-join Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay, where she spent 25 years, mostly in diagnostic imaging, before leaving for HHHS in 2023. She spent time as Ross’ interim president and CEO between 2019 and 2020.

Haliburton County deputy warden Liz Danielsen has gotten to know Nelson well over the past year through her role on the HHHS board, saying she was “terribly disappointed” to hear of the CEO’s impending departure.

“Veronica has made so many positive changes since her arrival, working tirelessly and, to some extent, going a long way to healing the community’s frustration over the loss of the ER,” Danielsen said.

Despite leaving a sizeable hole, Danielsen said she isn’t worried about Nelson’s departure impacting the work already underway on strategic planning and long-term care expansion.

“I think she’s got momentum going sufficiently and there will be people who can continue that process on all fronts. It might take a little bit longer, as we have to find a replacement, but I think we’re on the right path,” Danielsen noted.

‘Thank you Haliburton County’

Nelson said she has a lot to be grateful for. “My staff, our volunteers and the community who welcomed and trusted me to create a vision for health in the Highlands.”

She recalled her first town hall, in June 2023, where she heard area residents didn’t like the path HHHS was on. So, she went about changing it, creating an “open and transparent” process where people could express their concerns.

It was a similar story within the organization, with Nelson implementing new systems to improve worker morale. In April, she said a survey noted a 47 per cent improvement in staff satisfaction between spring of 2023 and 2025.

“Seventy-five per cent of our staff now rate HHHS as a great place to work – we know this has contributed to our ability to recruit and retain wonderful professionals,” she said.

Nelson added watching the new CT scanner get wheeled through the front doors last summer is her best memory.

“Knowing just how much work was done to make this a reality… that’s something that has been etched into my heart forever,” she said.

Odell confirmed there is no succession plan currently in place, noting all applicants will be considered.

Highlands East is looking to move ahead with a short-term rental (STR) licensing dashboard – while hoping to avoid some of the flack Dysart et al received when they publicly posted information about STRs in their township.

Junior planner Kim Roberts presented a report to a June 17 council meeting, asking elected officials to direct staff to publish the interactive GIS Dashboard on the municipality’s STR licensing webpage.

Dysart released its on May 12 and eventually all four townships are planning to do the same.

The dashboard shows the location of licensed STRs countywide.

Roberts said, given the concerns raised after Dysart et al released its map, staff wanted to bring information on the map, its purpose, and relevant information about personal privacy to councillors.

She said under the Municipal Act, townships are allowed to both issue licences and licence details may be posted on the municipality’s website.

She said most cottage country municipalities that licence STRs provide a list or map, including Tiny Township, Huntsville, Ramara, Bracebridge and Lake of Bays.

She said staff see three benefits.

“It allows the travelling public to quickly and easily confirm that the STR they are intending to book has a valid licence; provides residents with a resource to know whether or not a STR being operated in their neighbourhood is licensed and is in compliance with the requirements for fire safety, parking, and septic capacity; and allows prospective purchasers in a neighbourhood or lake to know if there are any/many STRs in the area before purchasing.”

Roberts said staff have received feedback from operators and the public with concerns about personal privacy and security, and indicated they would complain to relevant privacy bodies.

She said the Privacy Commissioner’s Office (IPC) decisions “have long recognized that information required for business licensing is not considered private or personal information, even if that business relates to the individual’s dwelling.”

Roberts added land ownership information in Ontario is not private information, and can be accessed via the Ontario Land Registry Office, and people can look at roll books at township offices for MPAC ownership information for free.

“The STR dashboard will only provide a STR licence number and a civic address,” she said. Roberts added although many municipalities provide identifying information of the ‘responsible person’ for licensed premises, enabling direct contact by the public, staff have opted to direct complaints or concerns to the 24/7 hotline or complaints dashboard so only an address or licence number is required to process a complaint or concern.

She said some operators are worried about being targeted by thieves or people not supportive of STRs. She said staff could find no evidence of this.

Roberts said there is a small body of research that demonstrates the presence of STRs in a neighbourhood can increase crime, but mostly in urban areas. Theories around cause include neighbours not knowing one another, eroding the community’s ability to police itself, increased traffic and a transient population.

“Staff are of the belief that disclosing the locations of licensed STR accommodations will foster trust and transparency in the neighbourhoods where these operations are situated.”

Mayor Dave Burton said if people are properly licensed, he would think they would want the address public for promotion.

Coun. Cec Ryall said several STR operators had contacted him. He anticipates “kick back.” He asked for even more information before they go live. Roberts said once the site is ready – they hope for the end of the first week in July – staff would be happy to circulate a private link ahead of time to councillors, and do a demonstration at the July 15 meeting.

CAO Brittany McCaw said they could also alert the public it’s coming, with relevant information on why they are allowed to do it.

Roberts said they had 66 applications to date, 33 approved, four rejected, and 26 pending. She added they had collected $8,487.18 in MAT tax; and $33,000 in licensing fees.

OPP officer Deb McClure will always remember the call; to a report of a 17-yearold male drowning.

Driving to the location, she was picturing a teen flailing in the water. She arrived to a pond on a rural property where members of a large Mennonite family yelled, “our brother is in the water.”

She didn’t see him. Not thinking to remove her heavy gear, she jumped into the water. Nothing. Her clothes and equipment started dragging her down. She felt like she was going to drown at one point.

Back-up arrived. She was able to strip off some of the weight and was tied off from shore. She dove in again, this time finding the boy. She brought him back to the surface.

“We did revive him, but then, unfortunately, about three days later, he passed away.” She received a Commissioners Citation for Bravery award.

McClure is seated at her desk at her new job: detachment commander for the Haliburton Highlands OPP.

“I definitely realize I have a lot to learn as a commander, but I can relate to the guys,” McClure says. “I’m okay to share those adversities I’ve been through. It’s not an easy career. I think the fact I’m able to talk at their level … I’ve had to take a knee before, I’ve seen some bad things; I think my openness and genuineness with individuals, that’s a skill.”

She said when she joined the police force more than 20 years ago, officers didn’t talk about mental health, or the need for selfcare. She said she was told, ‘you shut up, and you suck it up’. “And that’s what you did …to my own detriment. It came to a boiling point numerous years later. Now, I just want to remind my guys it’s okay to talk about it. I’ll share my journey.”

She hopes to extend those people skills to community members, too. “I can’t wait to get settled and actually out and be involved off-duty. It’s not just going to be a job for me. I think that’s what I’ll bring to the table. The other stuff I can learn. I can learn to write a report…”

She has come from the South Bruce OPP detachment, where she was detachment manager. She began her career with the Toronto Police Service in 2002.

Cottage country posting

As a teen, McClure grew up in Bancroft, where her family had a motel – so she knows about living, and working, in cottage country.

“I spent every summer up in this area and just loved it. I basically said after that ‘I’m going to live there one day’.”

That opportunity presented itself earlier this year with Mike Cavanagh leaving the detachment.

“When I finally did bring it (the idea) home and started talking about it with my children and my partner, the very next day I went onto our site for jobs, and it (the Highlands post) was there and I thought, ‘this is my dream, I’m going to go for it’.”

She likes that it is “a very junior detachment.” She did some homework and came up to spend a few days with Cavanagh.

“I liked that I was going to have a challenge of recruiting people here because I do really feel as soon as you get here, it’s a hidden gem. It is beautiful here, Haliburton, Minden, it’s all gorgeous.”

It’s early days, less than a month, and McClure said she is watching, observing and listening. She said the team is “very keen and eager and they’re out there. I would love more community engagement but, again, the issue with a smaller detachment is there’s calls to be done.”

Asked about a bit of a “revolving door” with commanders in the Highlands, McClure said one never knows what the future holds, including her personal life, or OPP plans for her.

However, “all I can say to you, community members and my family here now is that I have moved. I am four hours from my dad and sister, my (grown up) kids…I’m invested that way. I have less than seven (years to go) and I’d like to retire here, but I can’t promise that. I have no control.”

Members of the Haliburton Highlands OPP Detachment Board expressed interest, at their June 18 meeting, in a provincial government OPP billing review.

Members appeared to be unaware of the review that was announced May 22.

However, it was mentioned during a delegation from the municipal policing bureau.

In a letter to impacted mayors and CAOs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) said the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) had announced the review, which is expected to be finalized in time for the issuing of 2026 annual billing statements, and opportunities for engagement with municipalities in June.

AMO posted the news to its website May 23 saying, “AMO understands the impact of rising police costs on municipalities across Ontario, including both those with OPP and municipal police services. AMO looks forward to working closely with SOLGEN on this review and putting it within the context of the need to reform the broader provincial-municipal fiscal relationship.”

Lisa Rotar and Janet Feaver, municipal policing specialists for the Central Region, came to the board meeting to discuss a myriad of OPP information, including annual billing statements.

Member Liz Danielsen queried billing costs per household, due to the large seasonal population in the County.

“This is something that Haliburton County has made significant arguments about in the past when the billing formula was changed. Although the bill is x amount of dollars per household, we’re unique in that half of our households are seasonal and they don’t require the same level, I believe, of service, but no adjustments are made for what’s required for service. MPAC knows how many seasonal residents (there are). I don’t understand why they’re all billed at the same amount.”

Rotar then mentioned the review, noting last year a large discount was given. She added OPP have no say over billing, but it is a SOLGEN decision. She suggested local municipalities provide feedback to the ministry this month.

Danielsen replied, “we made some significant arguments in the past (that were) completely ignored.” She said she would like to put faith that the County’s concerns will be considered in the review. “Residing two to three months a year versus 12 is considerably different.”

Member Bob Carter agreed, saying there are more than 7,000 properties in Minden, but fewer than 7,000 people. “Everyone in Minden has more than one house according to the regulations.

“In our base service, we’re paying more than we are getting, and even having the potential to get. The numbers are huge for us. You are our largest single supplier, at $2 million. It’s a lot of money. This would make a significant change. This is something that really needs to be addressed. We cannot continue to support this type of a situation. Your costs go up every year. Our ability to continue to pay this, unfair model, is not sustainable. It’s not a minor thing. It’s big.”

Rotar said OPP recover costs, and don’t make money on the essential service, “we provide when needed, there, readily available. It is a big bill to pay but it’s essential.”

She reiterated they’ve heard from other municipalities with the same concerns which is why the review is underway. She said they convey issues to the province, but the County should too.

OPP in schools

Rogan added OPP have recognized they need more staff and are recruiting.

Member Walt McKechnie said he would like more police presence in schools.

“We don’t talk about our youth enough.” He said young people need to gain a respect for police, who can educate them on the pitfalls of drugs.

Detachment commander Deb McClure agreed, saying the OPP school resource officer is returning after a hiatus. “I agree, Walt, it is very near and dear to my heart, too.” She’d like a presence, even for evening events, and to do recruiting nights at the high school. However, she said staffing is tight in small detachments such as Haliburton, so it is a balancing act.

As McClure presented the statistics for March to May, Carter said in future he would prefer she highlight worrying trends.

And member, Andrew Hodgson, talked about allocation of resources, asking, for example, why OPP would be out on the water on a Wednesday, when few boaters are on the lake, when “kids in high school are selling drugs. Allocation of resources… the best way of spending our policing dollars. Bang for the buck is critical to our citizens.”

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Helen Parker returned to her Hwy. 118 home June 17 to find a sign by her driveway warning that pesticides had been sprayed by Fowler Construction.

When she got out of the truck, she said she could smell and taste the chemical.

“Under the back of my tongue, I could feel a sensation. It is deeply offensive to me that, without notice, without scientific justification, without due diligence, a toxic pesticide was sprayed in the vicinity of my home and sensitive waterways,” she said.

Parker said the back of the sign gave no indication of why the spraying had been done, or what had been sprayed.

When she called Fowler’s 1-800 number on the sign, she claimed she was told they used Roundup – sprayed for phragmites, and ordered by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO).

Parker said they have a pond on their property and there are wetlands next to the highway. She added a large culvert allows water to flow to a tributary that feeds into local lakes. She added their home has been identified as a significant painted turtle and snapping turtle breeding area.

“A two-kilometre stretch both east and west of our home sees a waterway in most parts of the ditch on both sides of the highway. I have seen many dead turtles due to traffic hits. The last thing these turtles need in peak breeding season is Roundup,” Parker said.

She claimed there are “zero significant phragmites” in the waterway on their property, but said there are phragmites towards Carnarvon, some 10kms away.

A spokesperson for the MTO told The Highlander June 24 the ministry “has an established program to control invasive species along provincial highways to limit the spread of phragmites through a combination of herbicide application and plant cutting when conditions permit.” She added that when working in areas where invasive phragmites are present, their contractors must implement several environmental protection measures as detailed in the 2025 Environmental Guide for Managing Invasive Phragmites.

She said ministry staff confirmed the contractor complied with regulations. “Spraying was completed within the ministry highway right-of-way to control vegetation growth and improve sightlines to ensure the safety of all road users. No spraying occurred within 15 metres of a waterway.”

However, she added, “the contractor has been reminded that all signs must be properly filled out. Ministry staff will be monitoring for compliance.”

Connor Frazer, an environmental compliance officer for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks in Peterborough, said on June 24, the ministry had not received public complaints about the spraying, or Fowler Construction.

“Although we cannot speak to the requirements and work ordered by the Ministry of Transportation, we can confirm the contractor has a valid Pesticide Operator Licence and licensed exterminators on staff to conduct roadside spraying. There are legislative exemptions for notification requirements when spraying roadside ditches for road maintenance. Ministry staff will follow up with Fowler Construction to discuss product(s) used and their application practises,” he said.

But Parker remains adamant pesticides should not have been sprayed.

“It’s sad that the first go-to is to spray poison near wetlands before asking is this necessary?

“My photos of dead vegetation show they did, in fact, spray within 15 metres of a wetland. For years, people thought asbestos was a terrific building product – now we know otherwise. Roundup is toxic – that’s why they erected the signs.”

Carolyn Langdon of Haliburton County Master Gardeners said it seems early in the year to be applying herbicide. “It is done before the grasses set seed. I hope it wasn’t a windy day or a hot day as this affects the uptake of the herbicide.

“Herbicide application in sensitive habitats should be restricted to late summer through to early fall. This timing coincides with senescence of most native plants and reduced activity of native wildlife and species-at-risk and allows for the herbicide to be translocated into the root system.”

She added, “HCMG agree that spraying in wetland areas needs to be assessed and done with great care. Applying herbicide in these habitats should be the last option of treatment. Plants can become resistant to herbicides so if herbicides are to be used, it is important that it is done properly.”

There will soon be a new nature-focused feature greeting people as they arrive at Archie Stouffer Elementary School (ASES) – and it has the entire school community abuzz.

The Minden facility recently secured Bee School status, following in the footsteps of its home township, which was named a Bee City in April 2024. ASES parent council member, Aurora McGinn, said the designation has been in the works since last fall.

“There were some really mature white pine trees cut down in the school’s parking lot last year – they were danger trees, so it had to be done, but the parent council really started talking about how we might beautify the area,” McGinn told The Highlander. “The purpose of the school council is to enhance student achievement. So, we began to think about how we can make this area pretty while also encouraging education.”

They landed on establishing a pollinator garden where the trees had once stood. It will be divided into two sections, with room for future growth. McGinn said the idea is for ASES to utilize the space during class time and after school.

““We want to put in native plants, which will help maintain biodiversity and balance the eco-system. ASES students are already connected to the environment in so many great ways, so this will be just another avenue for them to nurture that relationship, to get their hands dirty, have an outdoor classroom and get connected with nature,” McGinn said.

“Hopefully, we’ll provide them with the tools they need to create their own gardens at home – whether now, or when they’re older,” she added.

Key pollinators include bees, hummingbirds, beetles, flies and ladybugs, which move pollen from one flower to another, enabling fertilization and the production of seeds, fruits and vegetables. They’re a vital part of our food system, McGinn said.

McGinn noted several ASES teachers are involved in the project, with pollinators forming a key part of the elementary science curriculum. Talks are ongoing to establish a school garden club, in partnership with the Minden Junior Horticultural Club.

The Haliburton County Master Gardeners is assisting, offering suggestions for suitable native plants. McGinn said there will be lots featured, including scarlet beebalm, spotted joe-pye weed, American brown nut, biennial bee blossom, brown fox sedge, sweetgrass, wild chives, black-eyed Susan, slender mountain mint, New England aster, sky blue aster, tall sunflower, Prairie smoke, swamp milkweed, anise hyssop, white heath aster, and zigzag golden rod.

The team will begin planting flowers next fall. Now, they’re looking for the community to pitch in with tarp and mulch to prepare the site.

“We really think and hope this garden will be a community endeavour, and that we can inspire a sense of pride and ownership for the entire town. It would be lovely if this were here for the next 20, 30 years.

“Once it’s established, it really won’t need much care. These plants thrive on their own – they won’t need to be watered throughout the summer. We’re doing the work now, so that nature can take over,” she said.