School vaping becoming “epidemic,” officer says

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October 18, 2019

Vaping within the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge area has become an “epidemic” according to the health unit’s tobacco control officer.

In a presentation to the unit’s board of health Oct. 17, control officer Lorne Jordan said vaping has become “pretty much an epidemic” in schools and he has doled out 40 charges in recent months. He said provincial laws need to change to address it.

“We’re seeing it not only on school property but inside schools. Not just inside schools but inside classrooms. Students are vaping whenever the teacher turns their back,” Jordan said. “It’s a very inconspicuous device.”

Vaping is disallowed in the same places smoking is in Ontario, including enclosed public spaces. But Jordan said laying charges, including an approximately $300 fine, is not having the same impact on vaping as it has historically with cigarettes.

“Normally, I charge a kid in high school, everyone in that high school hears about that charge within an hour and we get really good compliance for six months,” Jordan said. “Not seen that same effect with vaping.”

Education campaigns and warnings about the short-term health risks and uncertain long-term risks have also proved ineffective so far, Jordan said. He added he thinks the solution is with provincial legislation to curtail advertising and flavoured vaping, used by a tobacco company-controlled vaping industry.

“We really need stricter laws,” Jordan said. “This is like a godsend for the tobacco industry because they can get a whole new generation of young people addicted to nicotine through vaping.”

Another issue Jordan identified was courts reducing fines, with people subjected to them pleading financial hardship.

Minden Hills OPP Const. Christopher Henshall suggested the province be lobbied to impose bigger minimum fines for vaping in disallowed spaces.

“There are multiple avenues you can pursue to protect kids,” Henshall said. “Everyone in the high school age thinks you’re invincible.”

Board member and Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts proposed the health unit draft a motion for a future board meeting to ask the provincial government to toughen vaping legislation.

Vaping is making news due to recent cases of severe pulmonary illnesses and death associated with the use of vaping products in the United States.

“It is important for Canadians to know that vaping does have health risks and that the potential short and long-term effects of vaping remain unknown. Non-smokers, people who are pregnant and young people should not vape,” Health Canada said in a September information release.

Jordan said he is aware of one or two students in Northumberland County who have been hospitalized due to vaping.

Championing inclusion from Canberra to the county

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Lisa Gervais

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October 18, 2019

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The program producer of the National Gallery of Australia crouches down in front of a sculpture of a reassembled tree that has been hinged together with steel brackets and has a wooden crutch leaning against it.

She’s surrounded by members of the Art-Making for the Health of It! group.

Together, they discuss what Jocelyn Purdie’s art installation at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden means to them.

This week, Adriane Boag was a guest of Fay Wilkinson, a registered expressive arts consultant, educator, storyteller and artist who resides in Haliburton.

The Canberra resident also did a lunch and learn at the college; a talk at the Abbey Retreat Centre and a workshop at the Rails End Gallery during her stay.

She talked a lot during her visit about the Art and Dementia programs her gallery does; the supporting research around how it is helping people; programs for people in palliative care; those living with mental health challenges; children in hospital, and the NGA ArtMed program, a partnership with the Australian National University for medical students.

The theme of the week also leant itself to discussions about how similar programs could be developed in Haliburton County.

“She understands the rural context,” explained Wilkinson at the speakers’ series at the Abbey Retreat Centre Oct. 15. “There will be discussion about ‘how do we do this in our community’?”

“Take whatever you want and make it yours,” Boag added. “I’m very keen to work with Fay in this area.”

Boag has been sharing the gallery’s work around the world, at conferences in South Korea, New York, Italy, Japan and this fall in Montreal. She has also been the subject of a Tedtalk.

Wilkinson and Boag met last year when the Haliburton artist was invited to speak at a conference in Australia.

Boag said a dementia diagnosis can come with a lot of grief. She added there is a focus on what people can no longer do, versus what they can still do. She said the art and dementia program is about “going forward in an optimistic way.”

People with dementia come to the gallery with their carers to look at art, discuss and create. In some cases, the gallery comes to them via outreach.

Boag talked about a man named Chris, who had visited the gallery every two weeks for four years and told them, “I am leading the best life I ever have.”

She said test results have shown that over time the visits lower cortisol levels to more normal levels.

Commenting on the palliative program, in which they have brought people at end of life to the gallery to look at pieces, such as by Monet, she said it provides distraction and respite.

Griffins, Hurricanes blow out Red Hawks football

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Lisa Gervais

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October 17, 2019

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The Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) senior football team is staying positive after a pair of 31-0 losses Oct. 11 and 16.

The Red Hawks could not muster any offence against the top-seeded Thomas A. Stewart Griffins Oct. 16 and the second-place Holy Cross Hurricanes Oct. 11. The losses dropped HHSS to 0-5 and well out of the playoff picture.

But coach Tim Davies kept positive after the losses. In an interview after the Holy Cross game, he said his team competed well. They held the team to only seven points in the first half.

“We had a few injuries in the second and probably ran out of a little bit of gas,” Davies said. “Although there are 12 guys on the field, it’s still man-on-man. As soon as you start replacing guys that aren’t playing their normal positions, then it becomes difficult, but the kids played well.”

The Griffins controlled the game throughout, up 17-0 at the half and then adding two touchdowns in the third quarter.

But the Red Hawks kept the game closer against the Hurricanes. Though the Red Hawks did not make much headway offensively, their defense held, keeping Holy Cross to one touchdown in the first half.

“We did very good,” linebacker and fullback Desi Davies said. “We did more than we expected to do in the first half.”

But Holy Cross struck quickly in the third. After scoring a touchdown, they picked up a Red Hawks pass and made another successful scoring drive to make it 21-0.

Holy Cross stymied the Red Hawks’ next offensive drive. After the Red Hawks punted, the Hurricanes came back with another touchdown. They later finished the game’s scoring with a field goal.

“It was a little bit frustrating but we just know we have to regroup and try and rally back together as a team,” Desi Davies said.

The team’s next game is on the road against Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute Oct. 22, before the season wraps up against St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School at home Nov. 1.

The Red Hawks senior football team is the only single-A school in the Kawarthas. Although coach Davies said they are probably not playoff-bound, he thinks the team can be more competitive in their final games.

“We’re a young team,” he said. “We’re on the outside looking in. We’re still going to come out and have some fun.”

“It’s been fun,” Desi Davies said about the season so far. “I’m just proud of the guys, every single person on this team that has stuck in there.”

Red Hawks volleyball pursues quick rise

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Lisa Gervais

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October 16, 2019

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The Haliburton Highlands Secondary School Red Hawks seniors boys volleyball team is in its first-year and building for the future – but believes success can come before season’s end.

The single-A team had its first home games Oct. 8, losing two best-of-three matches in straight sets to higher-ranked AAA I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEW) and single-A St. Thomas Aquinas (STA).

But the games do not count toward any standings until the end of the season when HHSS will attempt to battle for a spot at the Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) championships. Head coach Brett Caputo said he believes the team can make it.

“We’re young, so we’re a year behind everybody age-wise,” Caputo said. “Within the single-A schools, we’re competitive and just the little things are going to make a difference”

The team kept things close in its home games, losing sets 25-22 and 25-17 to St. Thomas. STA is one of the schools HHSS will be competing against to reach COSSA and Caputo said he liked how his team played them.

“We’re right there,” Caputo said. “St. Thomas has a leg up right now but we played with them.”

The team fell into a 15-1 hole against IEW in its first set against them before battling back to lose 25-15. They ended the match with a closer 25-18 loss.

“To make that big comeback in the first game … it was impressive,” Caputo said.

The team will work to limit its errors in the games ahead, as well as increasing its aggressiveness, the coach said.

But he added the group, which has been together for three years, is fun to work with.

“It’s nice to see them progress and improve as we go through.”

Liam Little is a fifth-year student playing competitively for the first time after it was unavailable for his senior years.

Despite the team’s inexperience, Little said he thinks the team can make it to COSSA.

“There’s definitely room for improvement,” Little said. “But we’re definitely looking good so far.”

To reach COSSA, they will have to finish top-2 in a three-team bracket against St. Thomas and Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute, who they defeated earlier this season. Their seeding tournament is Oct. 22, with the Kawartha Championships Oct. 29.

“A lot of schools don’t expect us to be competitive,” Caputo said. “We are competitive and we’re getting better and we’re coming after them.”

mes Oct. 8, losing two best-of-three matches in straight sets to higher-ranked AAA I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEW) and single-A St. Thomas Aquinas (STA).

But the games do not count toward any standings until the end of the season when HHSS will battle for a spot at the Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) championships. Head coach Brett Caputo said he believes the team can make it.

“We’re young, so we’re a year behind everybody age-wise,” Caputo said. “Within the single-A schools, we’re competitive and just the little things are going to make a difference.”

Group aims to build new multi-million arts centre

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Lisa Gervais

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October 16, 2019

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Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation chair Daniel Manley and his board have a big idea for the county.

The group has set out to bring a massive arts centre to better meet the needs of its art groups. The organization formally began in 2018 and achieved charitable status Aug. 1.

The centre would have more seats than the 210 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion (NLPAP), where many arts groups currently perform in Haliburton. The proposed facility would feature administration space, a dedicated rehearsal space, a complete lobby area and a kitchen.

The price tag is uncertain, but Manley speculated it could cost more than $20 million. Despite the price tag, Manley believes the project can work.

“This can succeed because of the love of performance but also for all the arts up here. If we were able to build a branch for Sir Sandford Fleming (College) here, I think we can support and sustain an arts centre this size,” Manley said. “I think the county will fill it.”

Manley said he has experienced the need for a new facility as the music director for the Highlands Chamber Orchestra and the co-director of the Highlands Wind Symphony. Although the group envisions a new facility as complementary to the NLPAP, Manley said more is necessary.

“It came out of a lot of talks for a number of years. There were people wanting an arts centre, something that would have more options,” Manley said.

Those conversations led to the creation of the foundation, which also features Brent Wootton as director and Wil Andrea as secretary. Manley said they have consulted with other arts groups and there is a lot of interest.

Marci Mandel of Those Other Movies, which organizes the Haliburton International Film Festival, said although the NLPAP is wonderful, it has its limitations.

“Sound quality, screen size, concessions and the inability to stage galas,” Mandel said. “We look forward to the opportunity to work with the new theatre foundation to create another performance space that can take the movie goer’s experience to the next level.”

Highlands Opera Studio general director Valeria Kuinka said her organization supports a new theatre. But she added it will be hard to build and a less expensive, open-air theatre is worth exploring. “

It’s an expensive proposition no matter how you look at it,” she said, adding cottagers would need to be engaged to support the initiative. “I think anything’s possible in Haliburton County and I’m all for dreaming and getting behind a realistic dream.”

Manley said the team plans to utilize grant funding and private donations to pay for it. The group is not relying on municipal funding, though Manley said any help they could offer would be welcome. The process will take time. Manley said the group is aiming to complete feasibility studies.

“We have to determine, what all the requirements would be for the building, what kind of cost that could translate into,” Manley said. “Certainly, going to be a multi-year project.”

But Manley said having charitable status will help get larger donations. He further said the group is planning to expand to include more board members and will begin applying for grants in early 2020.

“This region is going to grow as well,” he said. “We want this building for decades to come.”

Indigenous author shares story

By

Lisa Gervais

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October 15, 2019

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Residential school survivor and Indigenous author Antoine Mountain told a Canoe FM audience that the way to reconciliation is not a report made by politicians which can be put aside and forgotten.

“That’s not the way life is. Life is all about your next-door neighbour,” Mountain said. “What we believe in our culture is that person with the ability to answer your prayer, your needs, is going to meet you halfway. That’s the way I look at reconciliation.

“I can’t just go around saying you’re the bad person, I’m the good one. There’s nobody like that in real life.”

Canoe FM hosted the acclaimed artist and writer Oct. 3. He was promoting his new memoir From Bear Rock Mountain: The Life and Times of a Dene Residential School Survivor. T

he station had him on for a live audience event as Larry O’Connor interviewed him for the recorded Indigenous radio program Tales from the Big Canoe. O’Connor said Mountain’s friends Pat McCann-Smith and Peter Smith of Kennisis Lake asked him to come to Haliburton to share his book.

“We had a nice, little, cozy turnout here,” O’Connor said. “The opportunity to speak to an elder, a Dene elder with so much wisdom, an author, has just been incredible. I feel quite blessed.”

O’Connor asked Mountain about the book, which details Mountain’s life through writing, poetry and art. Mountain said his book features his personal growth. The Northwest Territories activist is currently a fifth-year student at Trent University, working towards his Ph.D in Indigenous studies.

“Wanting to continue working with the youth to prove to them there is an alternative to jails, drugs,” Mountain said. “I want to create some kind of environment for future artists that they’d be able to express themselves in the very high levels of education.”

O’Connor also asked Mountain to offer advice to the youth leading the climate change protests of today. Mountain said he attended one and said he supports them, but they are
much different from some of the major social protects he recalls from the civil rights era.

“I’m standing with one of my brothers, going, ‘where are the cops going by to bash our heads in? This is not a real demonstration’,” Mountain said. “It’s really good for me to see the young people are doing this … the water, climate change, the climate itself isn’t particularly interested in how it’s being saved. The land itself is not particularly interested in who is doing the same. It’s something that simply needs to be done.”

O’Connor said he hopes people listening went away with a better understanding of reconciliation.

“Reconciliation isn’t just one-sided. It’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit coming forward and meeting with settlers, colonizers to have that conversation and some of it is difficult conversations about the past. Much like you’ll find on my program, but also celebrating the relationship because it’s not all bad,” O’Connor said.

HE organizational review recommends fire hall cut

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Lisa Gervais

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October 15, 2019

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The consultant Highlands East hired to review its entire organization is recommending significant changes including cutting the number of fire stations and shifting organization structure.

Savino Human Resources Partners presented to council about the review during an Oct. 8 meeting. The Peterborough-based consulting firm completed a wide-ranging review of the municipality, offering recommendations on facilities, customer service and operations.

The review recommended reducing the number of fire stations in the municipality from five to three or four. Other recommendations included having the deputy mayor be elected instead of appointed by council and investing in more remote and online customer service options.

“These are recommendations and council will consider the implementation through strategic planning and budgeting process,” Hunter said.

Another recommendation was to have one office for all administration staff and department heads, likely in Wilberforce. However, the report added the municipality does not currently have a space suited for this.

The review said it is not financially prudent for the municipality to continue to run and maintain its large number of facilities.

It said the recommendation to have a unified office and reduce the number of fire stations was to “alleviate some of the financial pressures and not create too large of a customer service impact in the immediate future.”

As for fire stations, the report said its proposed cut could be done in 2019 or 2020 with proper planning.

“It is suggested the municipality look at their volume of calls in the proximity of each fire station as well as the cost and availability of neighbouring communities to help cover in the event of emergencies,” the review said.

The report and its recommendations were informed by surveys conducted with staff and council, as well as face-to-face meetings with staff. The municipality withheld the portion of the review summarizing these as protected information.

Managing partner Matthew Savino said when it comes to facilities, the municipality is challenged by its size and the ramifications of the Highlands East amalgamation.

“There are a lot of legacy buildings here. There probably isn’t a perfect answer,” Savino said. “But there are some recommendations in there as to how you might be able to find some efficiencies.”

Coun. Cam McKenzie complimented the review.

“It’s really easy to be good about positive things. Identifying weaknesses is probably more important,” McKenzie said.

Council voted to receive the delegation. No decisions have been made as to which recommendations will be implemented. The changes are recommended to occur over a two-to-three-year period.

Workshop helps seniors navigate aging journey

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Lisa Gervais

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October 14, 2019

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Seniors groups provided their patrons with wide-ranging advice on aging through a brand new workshop entitled Bridging the Gap Sept. 27.

Aging Well Haliburton County and CARP Chapter 54 brought in medical professionals, emergency responders and a lawyer to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129 to discuss the challenges of aging.

Aging Well chair Doreen Boville said she was pleased by how the event went and the more than 50-person turnout.

“Sometimes people, they are trying to navigate through things themselves,” Boville said. “We wanted to offer a workshop that brought a lot of speakers together, brought a lot of topics together so people could come here and they could get a lot of information at one time to help them as they navigate that journey.”

Crystal Morrissey of the Canadian Hearing Society presented about hearing loss and the challenges associated with it. She said there is no easy solution to hearing loss, but a variety of measures such as hearing aids, communication strategies, support groups, education and other specialty devices can help.

“Together, all of these things can help you to have a successful communication experience with your care partners, your loved ones and your community,” Morrissey said.

Optician Elsie Deocampo presented on vision loss for seniors. She said the workshop format was good to help spread important information.

“A lot of old people don’t have internet or don’t have use of computers,” Deocampo said. “Word of mouth is a better way of sending all the messages.”

Aging Well member Heather May offered a presentation on housing, which will be followed by a workshop Oct. 18. She said it is vitally important for seniors to sort out their housing plans as they age.

“Please, pay attention to your housing issues. Don’t assume it’s there for you. Write your politicians,” she said.

Other presentations centered on when to call 911 and the legal and financial concerns of aging. Attendee Julie Tolentino said it was an informative event.

“I’m not getting any younger and some things change very quickly and so it’s always better to know what sort of things to do, rather than find yourself in a situation where you don’t know,” Tolentino said. “Finding out what all the resources are is really important.”

The Haliburton County Development Corporation helped fund the event. Boville said Aging Well and CARP are open to hosting a workshop like this again based on feedback.

She added people should reach out to services they think they might need.

“Just start putting that plan in place so they can be as healthy as possible for as long as possible.”

Candidates debate social policy

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Lisa Gervais

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October 14, 2019

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Lindsay’s social advocacy groups grilled Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock federal election candidates about their party’s social policies Oct. 6.

The Lindsay Advocate hosted an allcandidates debate at the Cambridge Street United Church with the help of the Food Security Working Group of the Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition, Kawartha Citizens United and Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition.

Each of the candidates took part, including the People’s Party of Canada’s (PPC) Gene Balfour, NDP’s Barbara Doyle, Liberal Party’s Judi Forbes, Green Party’s Elizabeth Fraser and Conservative Party incumbent Jamie Schmale.

Candidates were asked how they would address seniors’ health issues.

Doyle said the NDP would develop a national seniors’ strategy, including universal pharmacare. She also said seniors’ benefits would be looked at as a top priority.

“We know we’re not giving enough. Seniors built this country. We know we have to be better for your day-today living,” Doyle said.

Forbes spoke to the Liberal government’s record, such as reversing cuts to Old Age Security (OAS), increasing the guaranteed income supplement and creating a national dementia strategy.

“I actually volunteer at a local seniors’ home and when visiting this home, they tell you about how this government’s seniors’ programs have made a difference,” Forbes said.

Fraser said her party would implement universal pharamacare and home-sharing programs to allow people to stay in their homes longer.

“Seniors deserve to have the same level of care as all Canadians and we can do that by making health care more affordable,” Fraser said.

Balfour discussed how increasing the tax burden and regulations are making living costs higher.

“If I leave one message here today, it’s going to be about affordability,” Balfour said, before adding a quote from a C.D. Howe Institute Report, “Politicians promising handouts are selling short-term snake oil.”

Schmale said pension cheques are not going far enough and the Conservatives would help alleviate living costs by taking the GST off home-heating bills, getting rid of the carbon tax and lowering income taxes for the lowest bracket.

He also said the Canada Pension Plan needs to provide seniors with better options for passing their contribution to family members after they die.

“If we tweak that program, we can give seniors flexibility and help them keep most of their money because, after all, that’s their money that they saved up for,” he said.

Basic income Candidates were asked whether their party supports a guaranteed basic income. The province piloted it in Lindsay in 2018 but the new Conservative government cancelled it in March 2019.

Forbes said her party has worked to help the middle class through benefits and tax cuts. Although her party is not promising it, she said it is a consideration and she would personally champion if elected.

“Locally, I acknowledge individuals were severely impacted by Ford’s cancellation of the pilot program,” Forbes said.

Both Fraser and Doyle garnered applause after explaining how their parties support the idea.

“This is a program we don’t need to test anymore. We know it works,” Fraser said, adding it could be funded through increasing corporate tax rates and tackling off-share tax havens.

“We saw in our community the positive impacts to all the participants, but also the businesses in your town,” Doyle said. “We can do better taking care of each other in this country.”

Balfour questioned whether the idea is fiscally achievable.

“Everybody talks about what they would like to do, the nice to have,” Balfour said. “Let’s look at the cost and operational aspects of this to figure out if this is truly viable, or are we just dreaming.”

Schmale said addressing affordability issues should come by addressing living costs, citing rising Hydro bills as an example.

“People are having less and less into their paycheques and their pension cheques to go by,” Schmale said. “Ask yourself why. Tax is going up. Bad government policies are causing a lot of these problems.”

The full stream of the debate is available through The Lindsay Advocate.

Schools stay open with strike averted

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Lisa Gervais

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October 12, 2019

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Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) went back to business as usual after a support staff strike was averted Oct. 6.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the province negotiated a tentative deal that night, ending the threat of labour action. TLDSB was prepared to close schools had the strike gone ahead as planned Oct. 7.

The deal meant the end of any job action, including the work-to-rule Sept. 30-Oct. 4 leading into the strike threat. TLDSB schools also re-opened for community use.

CUPE Local 997 president William Campbell said there was relief from membership after the deal was made.

“Nobody wants to go on strike, and nobody wants the students to not be able to be going to school and getting their education,” Campbell said. “It was kind of a last resort.”

The provincial deal will still require ratification. Campbell said local votes will occur before the end of October.

CUPE said it will not disclose details of the deal until after members ratify it. TLDSB board of trustees chair Louise Clodd said she was happy about the agreement.

“We’re really very pleased a tentative agreement was reached,” Clodd said. “All our community school activities are now back on so we’re very happy about that.”

But even if the provincial deal is ratified, negotiations are not yet over for TLDSB. Campbell said they still need to negotiate a deal locally, with formal talks expected to begin in November.

“I don’t have any particular expectations,” he said. “We have a number of things that are important to our members that we will have proposals for.”

Clodd said she expects the two sides will be able to work out a deal. She added she does not think local negotiations will go like like provincial ones did.

“I would certainly predict that it will go much more smoothly,” she said.