Rails End Gallery cancels Art and Craft Festival

By

-

April 22, 2020

JQ - Arts Fest - 3-web — Alannah Kemp tests out a tin-can banjo at the 2019 Haliburton Art and Craft Festival. File photo.

The Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre has cancelled its signature Haliburton Art and Craft Festival for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive director/curator Laurie Jones made the announcement April 11, citing concern for the health and well-being of festival-goers. The annual three-day event, now in its 57th year, attracts thousands of visitors and normally runs at the end of July in Head Lake Park.

Jones said it is a significant loss for the artists and for Haliburton. She said tourism impact studies indicate the festival usually brings in more than $1.4 million to the local economy.

“It brings so much into the town,” Jones said. “I am really going to miss the artists.”

Jones said the gallery board of directors had a special meeting and decided upon the cancellation, based on the information available about the impact of COVID-19 stretching for months to come. Other spring and summer festivals across the province have begun announcing cancellations as well.

She said they wanted to ensure artists knew well in advance.

“It’s their livelihood,” Jones said, adding drawing out the decision would leave artists in a tenuous position. “Were we to have continued, they’d have to create product and then potentially no event.”

Jones said the cancellation is a pretty big financial hit for the gallery, as it usually accounts for a third of annual revenue. However, she noted there is an associated decrease in expenses.

“We’ll have to be creative about how we recoup it,” Jones said. “We’re a charity and there are some federal programs that are rolling out that are going to be helpful.”

Despite the cancellation, Jones said they want to highlight each festival artist on their website, which they do every year.

“I’ll have to expand that and also speak to artists to see what they need from us.”

Jones said artists were appreciative of the early warning, adding the gallery wants to ensure the festival remains one of the best in the province in the years to come.

“We really want to preserve this festival’s place in the galaxy of high-quality, wellrun, friendly festivals in the province,” Jones said.

Fleming cancels all Haliburton summer programming

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 21, 2020

0

JQ - Fleming cancellation - 1-web — The Haliburton School of Art and Design will not run its summer programming this year. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Fleming College has cancelled all of its summer programming at the Haliburton School of Art and Design due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The college announced the move April 8, halting more than 300 weeklong and weekend courses at the school which run between May and September every year.

College vice president of academic experience Tom Phillips said based on the information available, it is unlikely it would be possible to run the handson art courses in the summer.

“The Haliburton summer school is very much face-to-face, very much hands-on, the nature of it,” Phillips said. “Everything in the world going on is a clear indication that … being face-to-face in a condensed environment in say, June, July, August, is very unlikely.”

Torontonian Rhoda Payne has attended Fleming’s summer school for more than 14 years and taught a course about upscaling art last summer. She said the cancellation was understandable, but it hurt.

“Still devastating for everyone I’ve spoken to,” Payne said, adding she was looking forward to teaching for her second year. “I’m so disappointed that I won’t get to do that again.”

Like many post-secondary institutions, Fleming has had to adapt to online and alternative learning to finish its winter and spring semesters. Though nothing has been announced for summer, Phillips said there would be some exploration of alternatives.

“We are still looking at possibilities of something online,” Phillips said. “We’re doing that across all our programs. We’re looking at ways we can connect people without having face-to-face contact. We are exploring that, it’s just a matter of finding what could be done and then devoting some resources to it.”

Payne said it would make sense to try out classes through online meeting software like Zoom.

“I’m becoming comfortable with Zoom, as I’m sure most people are. I think it’s entirely possible that we could teach and take courses and get critiques and do all kinds of things with technology,” Payne said. “It’d be great to give it a shot.”

Phillips said staff are preparing different delivery scenarios for the fall semester, including the possibility of returning to face-to-face learning.

“We’re developing contingency plans and things in place if that were not true. We’re convinced that there will be face-to-face contact in the fall at some point. The probability of that is very high,” he said.

Payne said the loss of summer programming is significant for the Haliburton township.

“I’m heartbroken for the town of Haliburton to not have the masses of people that come into the school in the summer,” Payne said. “It helps, I’m sure, the economy and it’s just a wonderful environment. It’s heartbreaking.”

Increased demand at food banks

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 21, 2020

0

JQ - Food bank demand - 1-web — Local food banks are dealing with increased demand. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Local food banks are reporting spikes in demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but say they are managing for now.

Both the Central Food Network and the Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank reported more people have needed their services in the past few weeks. The Minden Food Bank could not be reached for comment before press time.

Central Food Network operational and administrative director Tina Jackson said March was one of their busiest months outside of the usual peak of December. They served 105 households, 16 per cent more than February.

“It has been incredibly busy,” Jackson said. “We served almost 240 individuals in March, which is pretty high for us.”

Food Banks Canada has raised concerns about the impact of COVID19 on food banks across the country, with increased demand, strained operational capacity and drops in volunteers. The federal government responded by announcing $100 million towards food banks April 3.

But Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank manager Judy MacDuff said for them, the increase has not been as high as expected, with about 10 new people in the last few weeks of March. She credited it to government support programs like the Emergency Response Benefit.

“I know people have got it and that may be why we aren’t seeing the numbers we thought we’d see. But this (pandemic) is not half over,” MacDuff said.

The volunteer base is holding up as well, she added.

“We’re still able to look after the people we have and the donations. Right now, we’re in okay shape,” she said.

Food banks have also had to adapt by disallowing public entry to their facilities, instead providing hampers for pickup. Jackson said there are reduced quantities of food at stores, which has required some adaptation as well.

“We would normally have a lot of our volunteer shoppers that clip coupons, watch the sales, go into local grocery stores to really stretch our dollars,” Jackson said. “Given COVID-19, that’s not a safe option and because many of the grocery stores are struggling to get the quantities of food in order to meet demand, we’re very mindful … What that has resulted in is having to establish contacts with food distributors.”

Still, both food banks are anticipating the demand to get higher in the weeks to come. Jackson said they are expecting a 15 per cent increase, and “time’s going to tell” on how well they’ll manage.

“We’re definitely going to be here and we’re definitely going to do everything we can to meet needs. We have many donations which we’ll stretch as far as we can,” Jackson said. “High hopes that we’ll have the support we need from various levels of government in order to continue to be there.”

Food banks are looking for cash donations. Donations can be made through respective food bank websites at mindenfoodbank.org, haliburton4cs. org and centralfoodnetwork.org.

“Thank everybody for all the support we’re getting,” MacDuff said. “We really appreciate it.”

County libraries breaking into online sphere

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 20, 2020

0

JQ - Library board meeting - 2-web — Haliburton County Public Library program and outreach co-ordinator Nancy Therrien reads Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman for a video March 20. File photo

The Haliburton County Public Library Board is allowing the library to continue its upped online services as it navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board held a special meeting over a Zoom call April 8, the first public meeting with local councillors since last month. They discussed how the library was faring with its online and remote services and whether they might continue beyond the pandemic.

Library CEO Bessie Sullivan said programming such as daily online storytime has been popular, attracting thousands of views.

“Over the last three weeks we have taken as many services as possible online,” Sullivan said. “That’s been a fairly frantic, busy process.”

That has included expanding its online collection with discounted offerings from publishers such as online Canadian daily newspapers, offering remote library card renewals and signups, and other livestreamed programming. The extra programming costs have been $9,062 so far, Sullivan reported, but that’s been offset by three employees requesting leave. To maintain the online programming in the months to come, Sullivan said it will require about half the staff.

“We are so far behind in terms of our ability to deliver a lot of online services,” Sullivan said. “What we have done in the last three weeks is probably where we would have wanted to be, prior to this, if we had staff capacity.”

Board member Carol Moffatt said there is a chance to maintain some of the expanded online offerings in the future, though it would take more resources.

“Everybody agrees, there’s probably a really exciting opportunity – pending money of course – to continue to reach out to people with the online stuff,” she said.

However, board members also discussed the limitations and the potential for layoffs once inventory work is finished.

Sullivan said there were some overtime hours as people worked to get the online programming set up, which board member Liz Danielsen said she was concerned about.

“We have to be careful we’re not offering more than we can manage,” Danielsen said. “While I appreciate every effort that’s being made – and it sounds like there are really fabulous opportunities here – we do need to pace ourselves.”

Board member Lynda Buch said public expectations must be managed. When libraries eventually re-open, she said it would be impossible to keep the same level of online programming that is running right now.

Vice-chair Andrea Roberts said the library should keep numbers to determine how valuable it is to keep some programming running.

Moffatt said, for now, it is best to maintain the programming as everyone adjusts during the emergency.

“I would like us not to be too concerned so much about people being annoyed if online program opportunities fall by the wayside after the fact,” she said. “We’re doing that with municipalities, we’re making changes to operations that are not going to be continued or sustainable after the pandemic.”

Board members also decided to put off library advocacy work and strategic planning.

“We’re going to have new ways of doing things,” Roberts said. “It may alter the whole conversation about how we want to go in the next five years.”

Community rallies to welcome home girl injured by dogs

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 18, 2020

0

JQ - Dog attack - 2 — Sadie Lester looks out a window from SickKids Hospital in Toronto. Photo via Lacey Mainprize.

With a procession of vehicles, signs, and cheers, Haliburton welcomed Sadie Lester as she returned home from treatment at SickKids Hospital in Toronto April 17.

Lester was the six-year-old critically injured in attack by two Saint Bernard dogs April 12 in Dysart et al, according to the family. She was airlifted to Toronto, requiring extensive treatment and surgery according to the family, including over 400 stitches. Her mother Lindsay Lester also suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack.

But the community has rallied around the family, putting up welcome signs and lining up in cars outside the family home, including police cruisers and a fire truck. The community has also raised more than $33,000 on GoFundMe to support Sadie as of April 18.

“The welcome back into Haliburton was beyond anything we could ever imagine,” AJ Lester, Sadie’s father, said in a Facebook post. “I truly can’t thank you all enough … This community has banded together and have shown us what a real community is.

“Your time and effort mean the world to my family and Sadie was beaming ear-to-ear. She said she’s famous. You gave a little girl who’s going through hell on Earth a huge gift today.”

Tiffany Prentice said she knows the family through the Lakeside Church and participated in the gesture.

“We’ve all kind of adopted Sadie as our own this week,” Prentice said. “Just as they (the Lester family) kind of crested the hill, it was a cloudy, overcast day. I swear to you the clouds parted and the sun shone down on that truck … There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that God was with them on their journey.”

AJ Lester has posted regular updates to Facebook during Sadie’s recovery process. He described a difficult experience given the severity of Sadie’s injuries. Lester said she would require a walker to get around their home and expects more surgery in the next 12 months.

“Please understand if you don’t hear back from us, it’s just so overwhelming,” Lester wrote in an update April 16. “We are grateful for all your support, love and prayers, we just don’t emotionally have it to talk to everyone, to talk to hardly anyone. We just want to wake up from this, but it’s not a dream.”

Lester said the family is declining media interviews.

In another update, he said he has encouraged Sadie with the thought of a trip to Disneyland when the experience is all over.

“I just want to give this beautiful little creation something to set her sights on in the midst of all this pain. Her questions break my heart,” he posted April 15. “Truly thankful to God for sparing her, just still in total disbelief.”

Police said they are still investigating the attack, and the dogs are quarantined outside of the community by order of the local health unit.

“We are upset, frustrated and angry, but I want those who are watching to know we don’t have hate in us right now,” Lester said.

Prentice recalled how the community supported her family when they went through an ordeal several years ago, where her son was also airlifted to Toronto hospital. She said they wanted to make sure that support happened for Sadie too.

“We do this with everyone when this happens. The community itself really takes on that family as their own and becomes so close. They just have to help in some way, and it makes them feel better. Especially right now with the isolation,” Prentice said.

The GoFundMe for the Lester family is available at https://ca.gofundme.com/f/sadie-lester.

Townships keep boat launches open

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 17, 2020

0

JQ - Boat launches - 1-web — Local municipalities are keeping boat launches open for now. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The County’s four townships are keeping municipal boat launches open for now despite public concern about the possibility of people flouting social-distancing rules.

Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills have all said they are keeping boat launches open for now. But other jurisdictions across the province have made the call to close them due to the pandemic, including the neighbouring City of Kawartha Lakes.

Local municipal leaders have said they are closely monitoring boat launches. Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt said the issue has been frustrating. She added the municipality sought clarification from the province regarding its order to close all outdoor amenities, and were told boat launches are considered essential only if they are used for transportation to primary residences, not recreational purposes.

“I’m currently engaged with people who are actively challenging or looking for ways around the order, and with the warmer weather coming the entire situation is only going to get worse. Many years’ experience – and a wee bit of cynicism – tells us that even if we put up ropes or barricades, people will move them,” Moffatt said.

Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin said it is on their radar, but launches have not had any activity with lakes still frozen over. He noted it is also important emergency responders have access to boat launches.

“We’ve been monitoring and will continue to monitor,” Devolin said. “If it becomes problematic, then we’ll respond.”

Highlands East Mayor Dave Burton said in his years, he has not seen boat launches as a place where people congregate. He said the municipality is considering closing launches but added it will be difficult to enforce.

“It’s going to be a bit challenging. Not that we can’t do it, but it just takes a lot of staff time,” Burton said. “It’s a big decision and I don’t take it lightly.”

Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Robert said the municipality will continue to monitor the
situation, adding many launches are remote and allow only one vehicle at a time, so physical distancing is possible.

“It’s important to note that marinas are deemed non-essential and they can not do boat deliveries at this time. The only people that could launch a boat is someone who has it stored at their own home,” she said.

The County and local doctors have asked seasonal residents to stay home during this time to help prevent the spread of COVID19. Moffatt said many feel closing boat launches will restrict cottagers from being here, but she noted the authority to exclude people from their own properties falls on the province.

“There are too many moving parts and conflicting jurisdictions here,” she said. “The real shame is that instead of folks willingly working with us to do the right thing for the entire community, we have to spend time figuring out how to barricade and enforce. Marina owners are being hassled about the provincial order of their closure, and people are debating the definition of residency.”

Long-term care homes guard against virus

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 16, 2020

0

JQ - Highland Wood reopening - 3-web — Haliburton Highlands Health Services is planning to address criticism it received for its handling of the Highland Wood evacuation last year. File photo.

Highland Wood family council chair Trina West said it was hard at first to connect with her mother in the long-term care home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would see her every day, and then all of a sudden, you’re just cut off cold,” West said.
“They set up the ability to video chat with her, so that was very helpful because that way, I could actually see she was okay and provide some relief. But with all the unfortunate goings-on with the other long-term care homes, you do nothing but worry.”

Local long-term cares homes have implemented additional safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to their vulnerable residents. So far, they have been successful, with no cases reported in those homes. But outbreaks have appeared in 93 long-term care homes across the province, including the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, which has had 29 deaths to date.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services CEO Carolyn Plummer said they have been proactive in their response, including active screening and taking the temperature of staff before shifts, wearing masks well before it was mandated by the Ministry of Health and reducing or eliminating instances of staff working across long-term care sites or between hospitals and long-term care. Staff are also changing clothes when they come into work, including shoes.

Directors of care for Highland Wood, Michelle Douglas, and Hyland Crest’s April DeCarlo, assured families April 6 that they are also screening new admissions to the facility and isolating them for 14 days as a precaution. Residents also have their temperatures taken twice daily.

“Please know that our staff and management team will continue to take every possible step to protect residents during this distressing time,” Douglas and DeCarlo said.

One issue that emerged at Pinecrest was its size. CBC News reported there was not enough space to separate sick residents into different rooms from healthy ones until some had passed away.

But that is not an issue at HHHS, Plummer said.

“Our homes are set up a bit differently from Pinecrest Nursing Home. We have the ability to separate and isolate residents if the need arises,” she said.

Extendicare Haliburton declined a request for an interview but released a message April 7 detailing its response to COVID-19, including screening for staff and residents, limited entry and wearing protective equipment.

“The care and safety of our residents, clients, patients, team members and families are our top priority,” Extendicare national director of infection prevention and control Lyn Fabricius said in a letter. “We take the COVID-19 situation very seriously and we are following Public Health Authority directives to ensure everyone’s safety.”

West commended HHHS staff for their efforts.

“The family members of the residents want to express their deep and sincere appreciation to the staff for their service and for taking such good and loving care of their residents,” West said. “It is truly remarkable and clearly evident how much these people care, and we want to acknowledge that and express our gratitude to each and every one of them.” (With files from Lisa Gervais)

A need-to-know basis

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 16, 2020

0

When we posted updates April 12 and 13 – on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – we had a number of our Facebook followers complain that not enough information was being provided.

While most understood that patient names could not be given for privacy reasons, they wanted to know in what towns the virus had struck and whether people were in long-term care homes, had been affected in the community or if they had been travelling.

Some weren’t happy with the paper, others with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, which is updating the number of cases on its website, but not providing any other information.

The only thing the health unit did tell us in the early days was when we had our first case, a man in his 80s who was recovering. There’s been nothing since.

However, let’s not presume that reporting numbers is all that the local health unit is doing. No doubt they are doing contact tracing investigations. In other words, they’re finding out about anyone who has been in contact with the infected patients and advising them of best, next steps. Since our numbers of cases is relatively low – six as of press time – it remains fairly easy for health officials to keep people, who have potentially been exposed, healthy.

It seems to me that our health unit is being as transparent as possible in what is a tricky situation. After all, doctors must adhere to the Hippocratic Oath, which states, “respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know.” I think doctors, and the health unit, believe – as do we – that a decision to reveal the identities of people infected would be disastrous with horrible ramifications.

For example, would you seek out medical assistance if you thought your name was going to be splashed around the community? What if your name got out, and your employer found out, and decided to lay you off? To those who are demanding more information, I would ask you to put yourselves in the shoes of one of the six confirmed cases in Haliburton County. How much of your personal information would you want revealed? Further, if we happened to know that there was a confirmed case in the town we live in, what would be the reaction? Some would certainly be more vigilant. They would ensure they follow the prescribed protocols even more vigorously. Others might simply panic unnecessarily.

Knowing we have half-a-dozen cases in our County should have us all raising the ante when it comes to following guidelines for preventing COVID-19. In other words, just because you want to know who has the coronavirus, or where they live, or how they got it, doesn’t entitle you to know that information.

You can be assured that if there is an outbreak in a long-term care home or a village, you will be informed. As numbers continue to climb, it’s possible locals will start reacting to the spread of the coronavirus in much the same way as the seasonal flu, which affects hundreds if not thousands of us each year, and kills some. We hope people will concentrate on personal protection (better and more frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds) and less on who has the virus, where they’re from, or how they got it in the days, weeks and months to come.

Community groups spring up to help with virus

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 16, 2020

0

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders until May 12 – community groups continue to spring up to help people in need.

One of them is the Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN) support network. Bonnie and Greg Roe, who live on the Ritchie Falls Road, began the initiative about a month ago. They started by emailing, and dropping off flyers in people’s mailboxes, to connect.

“We just wanted to set up a support network to help each other should anyone need it or if stricter measures were to be put in place,” Bonnie Roe said.

She added they have since decided to expand to the broader community.

“We have more than 25 volunteers (and counting) currently ready to assist. Physical distancing and health protocols will be used at all times.”

Volunteers are picking up shopping or take-out food. They are also working with the food banks to pick up and deliver food boxes for those who cannot drive, or wish to minimize their exposure, in the community.

“Since grocery stores are receiving so many pickup orders, NHN can help by shopping and delivering on a short turn around. We encourage prepayment if possible and cash is accepted when necessary,” Roe said.

They said items can be left on people’s doorstep and payment for purchases arranged. She said other services include: offering a friendly phone call or email and assisting with any urgent chores or needs, all for free. She added that university-aged students are part of the volunteer force, and some people are willing to help with those outdoor chores. As well, they are collaborating with Tekrider to share volunteers for pick up and delivery of personal protective equipment to their respective drop-off locations.

For further information, or support, contact bonnieroe08@gmail.com or call 705-286-2414.

Another group that has emerged is the Haliburton Caremongers. The goal of this group is also to organize the Haliburton County community on the grassroots level to ensure vulnerable community members have access to food, healthcare, and other necessities.

It is also for the redistribution of resources in the case that stockpiling prevents people from accessing basics.

You can also post requests for aid, and or support, on their Facebook page (Caremongers Haliburton).

The recently-created haliburtoncares.ca website also offers information to the public who may need assistance.

“It is so very heart-warming to see, as a community, how everyone is coming together for the better good in this COVID19 crisis,” Roe said.

However, she added, “what concerns me are those people who do not have internet, are isolated and may not know about the support we can offer and all of the other amazing supports in the County.”

Violence escalates during pandemic isolation

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 16, 2020

0

The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton – which operates the women’s shelter in Minden – said support and crisis services for women experiencing violence are still available.

In an April 9 press release, they said they have implemented COVID-19 screening assessments, disinfecting, physical distancing, and isolation practices since shelters, safety planning, referrals and ongoing support are more important than ever.

“Staying at home is causing increased risk of harm to women who are now trapped and have fewer opportunities to get help,” they said. “Here and around the world, women who have been able to escape abusers or call for help report that the violence escalated during periods of pandemic isolation. Calls to women’s shelters and crisis lines are increasing.”

If you have been injured, or your life is at risk, call 911 for help and let them know if: your life is at risk; you’ve been injured or need an ambulance; the person used a weapon or has threatened to use one and the type; the person has threatened to hurt you, your children, your pets or themselves; drugs (and what kind) and, or alcohol is involved and there is a protection order – a peace bond or family court restraining order.

The YWCA’s 24-hour support and crisis line is available and answered by skilled, empathetic staff at 1-800-461-7656 or text 705-991-0110 if you would like to: speak with someone about your options; are wondering about services in our communities that are still available; are concerned about your safety and your children’s safety; are ready to leave and wonder if there’s a safe place to go or you would like to find out more so you can refer a friend or family member.

“Crossroads Shelter and HERS – Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace are essential services for women and children fleeing violence in Peterborough and Haliburton County. We continue to provide reliable, confidential support, resources, safety and information around the clock,” the release stated.

Their offices are closed to the public and staff who usually work at their Simcoe Street office, Women’s Centre of Haliburton County and Centennial Crescent Housing Community are working remotely and will continue to provide assistance by phone (Peterborough: 705-743-3526, Haliburton: 705-286-6442), text (705-991-1591) and email (info@ywcapeterborough.org) during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m).

They continue to accept donations online or by phone at 705-743-3526 and thank those who have offered support.

For ongoing updates and information, visit ywcapeterborough.org, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram