The Red Hawk Nordic Ski team competed at COSSA at Arrowhead Provincial Park Feb. 12.

The meet combined skiers from COSSA, GBSSA (Georgian Bay Secondary School Association) and CISSA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association) as skiers aimed to qualify for the OFSAA nordic championships Feb. 20-21 in Sudbury.

The senior boys were first on the course, skiing 7.5 km. The top Red Hawk was Brechin Johnston, with a second-place finish and a time of 28:02. Evan Backus followed in third; Graham Backus fifth; Owen Megrah-Poppe eighth and Carter Sisco 11th. The team finished first in the interval races and followed Adam Scott for second in the 4x800m sprint.

The senior girls swept the COSSA rankings, led by Violet Humphries with a second-place finish and a time of 30:58; followed by Erika Hoare in third; Olivia Gruppe fourth; Ella Gervais fifth; Teagan Hamilton sixth; Grace Allder seventh and Hannah Sharp eighth, dominating team rival, Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. The top four skiers teamed up for a very fast sprint relay to round out their gold medal day, showing they can hang with ski powerhouses like Huntsville and Collingwood.

In the junior boys’ division, Tristan Humphries made his debut on the COSSA podium finishing in third, completing the 5.5km course in 21:57. He was closely followed by Winston Ramsdale in fourth; Red Hawk skiers fly at COSSA championships and new skiers Eric Mueller 12th; Brady Hamilton 15th and Jack Sharp in 19th. The team was edged out by Adam Scott for interval race team champions, but fought back to beat them in the sprint relay.

Sole junior girl skier Annika Gervais skated her way to a silver medal with a time of 22:44 on the 5.5km course, also earning her first COSSA medal as a new high school skier. Gervais also placed third later in the day in the 800m exhibition sprint.

High school coaches Karen Gervais, and Mike Rieger, and community coaches Kevin Hoare and Joleen Thomas, were very pleased with the athletes’ performances, and their strong determination feeding their continued improvements.

A 14-year-old Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) student was arrested in Haliburton village Feb. 14 and is facing multiple weapons-related charges after what police say was an incident involving a knife on school premises.

Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call from the school at approximately 9:15 a.m. after learning a student was in possession of a blade.

The school was placed into an immediate lockdown, said Haliburton Highlands OPP cst. Rob Adams.

“This is a step that is taken to ensure the safety of the school community while police work to resolve the situation,” he said.

A source, speaking anonymously, told The Highlander the accused stole a knife from a classroom and brandished it towards other students before leaving the property.

Police confirmed the youth was located along Highland Street, a short distance from the downtown, where they were apprehended by officers. The knife was recovered at the time of the arrest.

The student has been charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault with a weapon, and theft under $5,000. Adams said no injuries were reported to police.

The lockdown was lifted by approximately 10:30 a.m.

Adams said the accused will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden at a later date to answer to the charges. The student’s identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Anyone with further information on the incident is asked to call 705-286-1431, or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) has responded to concerns about its Highlands Corridor initiative.

Late last week, some residents began writing letters to municipal, provincial and federal politicians – asking them to put a stop to the HHLT’s request for a conservation reserve.

The corridor is 100,000 hectares of Crown, municipal and private land from north of Norland in the west to Paudash Lake in the east; and south of Haliburton to Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.

Wilberforce’s John Davidson said he was concerned the designation means people will no longer be able to hunt, fish, trap, use motorized vehicles, ride horses, camp, cycle, have unrestrained pets, fires, or use drones. He claimed the designation would also ban logging, mining and quarrying.

The Land Trust, on Feb. 10, responded to what it called “mistaken information” in the community.

The organization said the corridor is made up of private property, Crown land, and three provincial parks; Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands; Kawartha Highlands, and Silent Lake. However, it said only specific areas of Crown land would be designated ‘conservation reserve.’

It added that “within these potential conservation reserves, hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, ATV and dirt bike use on existing trails, horseback riding and cycling, pet walking, campfires etc. would continue to be permitted activities. Only logging, the development of new quarries, and mining would be prohibited in those sections.”

County council seeking more information

As for existing logging and quarry operations, they would be allowed to continue, the HHLT said.

The Land Trust added private property would not be impacted unless landowners wanted to voluntarily work with the HHLT.

It went on to elaborate on specifics in an open letter.

“Our ability to get out in nature – be it on foot, on skis, or ATV or dirt bike, to hunt or to fish is precisely what HHLT seeks to promote and protect through the establishment of conservation reserve spaces throughout the corridor. By designating these spaces as conservation reserves, we are safeguarding the health of these pristine forests and wetlands and ensuring the public’s enjoyment of them for generations to come.”

Conservation Reserve

Dennis Simmons, of Dennis C. Simmons Development and Land Management Consulting Services, in Irondale, is opposed to the corridor, with “even stronger” opposition to the Milburn Kendrick protected area. He said he owns land in the mapped area and his father, and grandfather, logged a large portion of the land and milled lumber.

“All of the land located within the proposed Haliburton Highlands Corridor, including the proposed Milburn Kendrick protected area, is not unique to the province of Ontario,” he argued. “I request the province leave well enough alone and cease this venture of the Haliburton Highlands Corridor and inclusive protected areas on Crown land.”

Simmons further told The Highlander the Ministry of Natural Resources should oversee Crown land, not the HHLT.

Les Selby has also written the province. “I feel they are overstepping their role in a negative way for future resource uses. Aggregates are required to build or resurface provincial and local roads, road sand and salt to protect us on winter roads, materials for developing housing, schools and hospitals, sand to cover municipal landfill sites during operations, etc.”

He added pits and quarries are a temporary land use, and are rehabilitated, with the MECP approving site plans.

Paul Heaven, of Glenside Ecological Services Limited, has been working with the Land Trust on the initiative. He, and the Land Trust’s Shelley Hunt, appeared before County Council Feb. 12 to further talk about their plans.

Addressing council questions, they clarified the only real change would see designation of 15 per cent of Crown land in the Milburn Kendrick protected area. Heaven added the Bancroft Minden Forest Company, which holds the licence, has agreed with the Land Trust that the ecological value of the land outweighs the forestry value.

The two added the Trust is working with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and more recently, the Ontario Trails Protection Alliance.

Speaking specifically to the Milburn Kendrick, Heaven said it is “rich in ecological value, and provides excellent recreational resources.” He added it boasts 24 per cent wetlands, which tackle climate change via flood mitigation, and capturing and storing carbon.

He said it supports five provincially-significant wetland complexes, including the Milburn, Bark Creek, Kendrick Creek, Lochlin, and South Milburn wetland complexes, and that the Lochlin Bog is significant.

Heaven added it supports a mix of habitats, including forests, wetlands, rocky barrens and 55 rare and/or at-risk species.

“It is for these exceptional ecological values that the HHLT is proposing the area be designated as a conservation reserve: a designation that permanently protects ecosystems, biodiversity and provincially-significant elements while providing recreational opportunities.”

Following Wednesday’s meeting, County council intends to seek more information, including from the related provincial ministries, and discuss the issue further at its March 26 meeting.

Dysart et al councillors are getting a hefty pay rise in 2025, though mayor Murray Fearrey noted the extra money is being allocated to attract more people to run for office in next year’s municipal election, rather than compensating incumbents.

At a Jan. 28 meeting, council approved upping the mayor’s annual salary to $40,000 back dated to Jan. 1, an approximate 24.15 per cent increase from the $32,219 Fearrey earned in 2024.

The deputy mayor position, currently held by Walt McKechnie, will now pay $30,000 a year, up 16.39 per cent from the $25,775 earned last year; while councillors Pat Casey, Nancy Wood-Roberts, Tammy Donaldson, Carm Sawyer and Barry Boice will each get $25,000, a 10.85 per cent hike from $22,552.

Fearrey was set to earn $32,798 this year, with McKechnie originally getting $26,239 and councillors receiving $22,958.

Dysart’s mayor has long preached for increased pay, noting the hours required of some council members to effectively fulfill their role is similar to that of a full-time job.

“I don’t think anyone here is desperate for money, that’s not the issue. We’ve got to get some interest for next year,” Fearrey said. “The last thing we want is for there to be more acclamations… right now, at the current pay, it’s hard to attract qualified people. We’re lucky here that we’ve got four people involved in business. We’ve not always been that lucky.”

Casey, Sawyer, Boice and Donaldson all run their own businesses, while Wood-Roberts is a nurse at Haliburton Highlands Health Services. Fearrey and McKechnie are both retired.

More than half of the sitting members were acclaimed during the 2022 election, with Fearrey and McKechnie unopposed for the leadership positions and Donaldson, in ward three, and Boice, in ward five, given a free ride.

It was a similar story at County council, Fearrey noted, with Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter and deputy Lisa Schell also acclaimed. Only Highlands East mayor and current County warden Dave Burton and Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen, the deputy warden, were elected.

Highlands East deputy mayor Cec Ryall and Algonquin Highlands deputy Jennifer Dailloux were each acclaimed as the ward three councillors in their respective communities.

“The average age at the County level is over 70. That’s not very healthy,” Fearrey said, noting he’s also calling on the upper tier to adjust its pay structure for sitting representatives. It did so Feb. 12.

Dysart clerk Mallory Bishop said, “some councils in Ontario are raising their remuneration in preparation for the election. It is something that’s being discussed in other areas… an attempt to attract candidates to run.”

Dysart CAO Tamara Wilbee provided a list of comparative municipalities based on population size, seasonal influx, employment markets and scope of services, noting the numbers council approved – suggested by Fearrey – were “not far off” what other communities are paying.

Pay structures in Minden Hills last year were $33,224 (mayor), $27,635 (deputy), and $22,715 (councillor); Algonquin Highlands paid out $36,723, $29,379, and $24,645; while Highlands East paid $32,500, $26,150, and $22,025.

Mayors in Selwyn ($45,216 in 2024), Muskoka Lakes ($46,410 in 2022), Parry Sound ($46,190 in 2024), Seguin ($46,375 in 2025), Lake of Bays ($48,631 in 2022), and Georgian Bay ($57,750 in 2022) all earned more than Fearrey will bring in under the approved rates, Wilbee noted.

New deputy mayor and councillor pays are consistent with what those communities offer, Wilbee added.

Council also opted to bring annual pay increases in line with what non-unionized staff at the township receive, rather than basing it on inflation determined by the consumer price index (CPI). Wilbee said while there’s no official rate, workers usually receive the same as their CUPE-contracted counterparts. Staff will get a four per cent hike this year and 3.5 per cent in 2026 and 2027.

Minden Hills residential ratepayers are looking at just over a five per cent overall levy increase this year, with council expected to formally pass the 2025 budget at a Feb. 13 council meeting.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey was prepared to continue meeting Feb. 4 to try to find more revenue for the township, and to bring the levy down, but her colleagues wanted to finalize the document so staff could get on with the business of running the corporation.

McKelvey asked fellow councillors if they were content with the outcome.

Mayor Bob Carter played the numbers game, saying it equated to about a three per cent levy jump for municipal services, with the township having to come up with a 0.84 per cent increase for OPP, and putting 1.25 per cent towards infrastructure investment.

“Not many businesses are able to go yearto-year at 3.1 per cent,” Carter said. “Staff has done an outstanding job of keeping these costs down. I am not willing to sacrifice our future to have a short-term savings now. Am I happy? No, I’m not happy, but I think the 3.1 per cent is a reasonable number that people have to accept to keep this municipality strong.”

Per $100,000 of residential assessment, the impact is $22.99-a-year, or six cents a day, for taxpayers. Capital investments amount to $6,833,887 in 2025.

The mayor said that going into budget talks last November, he was worried the increase would be double digits, so this was, “as good as we are going to be able to do at this point. It is a budget, not an exact science.” He wanted to move on and get 2025 projects started.

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said she was not content with the final number either, but said it reflected the reality of “what is required from staff to get moving on the 2025 operations of the corporation. Do I like the number? No, but I think it could have been a lot higher. We will get quarterly reports from finance, but I’d like to see tenders go out, and competitive bidding begin.”

McKelvey reiterated she’d like to look at some revenue areas to bring the tax levy down, and said it was, “not responsible to try to not bring these taxes down when we can look at things.” An example she used was bank interest.

But Coun. Pam Sayne said she did not think they would find savings to warrant spending more staff time sitting in special council meetings for the budget. She noted with provincial and federal elections looming, municipalities had to keep lobbying upper tier governments for a bigger share of the funding pie.

“I don’t like 5.2 per cent either, I’d prefer inflation, but that is not happening with downloads.” She said they needed to educate the public about why municipal tax rates are rising.

CAO Cynthia Fletcher said, “things will change and we’ll modify things throughout the year. True costs will only be known once we’ve tendered out our projects, or sought quotes for any of the services we need. There may be unforeseen things that come throughout the year, and at every turn we will come back to have discussion with council. We may be able to bring more work forward. We may have to defer some things. We may have to reallocate some things.”

She added their goal was to “keep the tax rate at a reasonable level, while maintaining current service levels where possible, and we feel we have presented you with a fair proposal today.”

Some key decisions:

• Council decided not to proceed with pound services from Paws at Killara Station.

• $50,000 to release an expression of interest seeking a partner or partners for the re-development of the Lochlin Community Centre property.

.• Hiring two additional summer students to support the new in-house lawncare maintenance program.

• New vehicles: $65,000 for a pick-up truck for environmental services from the roads reserve; $65,000 for one for community services from the parks reserve; $440,112 for a replacement excavator and float trailer for public works from the roads reserve.

• Roads: Davis Lake Road will receive surface treatment at a cost of $907,952, mostly from taxation, but some grant money. Another $183,817 for surface treatment of roads. Again, there is some grant money. Some $346,509 to convert some roads to gravel (Miners Bay and a portion of Buller Road), using tax money, reserves and grants. Another $170,881 for slurry seal of parts of Scotch Line Road and Wigamog Road.

• An initial spend of $257,500 to replace the Minden Curling Club roof, plus insulation. They have a grant application pending. And, an additional $40,000 for a new roof system for the cultural centre and library.

• $303,331 from reserves to put towards accessibility upgrades at buildings. They did get a $1,137,350 grant.

• Money for security cameras at the cultural centre and library to combat vandalism. $22,000 from reserves.

• $5,000 for a structure assessment of the Bailey Barn.

• A two per cent water rate increase and three per cent wastewater increase.

With concerns over decreased student attendance, Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) has launched a new pilot program at five schools in the region – including two in Haliburton County – designed to spark engagement in the classroom.

Speaking at a recent board meeting in Bracebridge, Wes Hahn, TLDSB director of education, said the program is designed for students with persistent absences. Staff works to assess reasons for absenteeism and implements individual site-specific solutions.

It was launched in September at J.D. Hodgson elementary, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Parkview Public School in Lindsay, Riverside Public School in Huntsville, and Grandview Public School in Bethany.

Associate superintendent Tanya Fraser noted the schools were chosen at random and aren’t necessarily those with the lowest student attendance. The board did not provide attendance figures for the participating schools.

“We are learning lots about the barriers students have in attending school regularly,” she said.

The program will run for the remainder of the school year. Each school has established “attendance champion teams” that Fraser says meets regularly with students and parents to set goals.

“It’s a separate meeting, not with their usual [teachers] and very personalized to each student,” Fraser said. “There’s been a shift from a punitive approach to absenteeism to a more supportive and understanding model… instead of saying ‘you must come every day, all day’ we’re talking to students and asking them what they think they can do. There’s some give and take.”

Hahn said he feels the program is about changing the culture for students who have issues with attendance. The board has brought in re-engagement and mental health counsellors to assist.

He noted students who are absent one day every two weeks end up missing a month’s instruction over the school year. There are students enrolled in the program missing multiple days per week.

The Ministry of Education has issued attendance benchmarks to boards this year, challenging schools to ensure students have an overall attendance of 90 per cent or more. Hahn said across TLDSB, 68 per cent of elementary-aged students are hitting that target, though only 46 per cent are for secondary. He noted inclement weather days, where school buses don’t run, are not included in those totals.

“We do not penalize students who cannot get to school on those days. Teachers don’t run regular lessons or anything like that,” Hahn said.

TLDSB communications lead, Carolynne Bull, said the board is “monitoring a more manageable threshold” for school attendance, at 80 per cent. In Haliburton County, 83 per cent of elementary and 84 per cent of secondary students are hitting that target.

Hahn said the board has been focusing on improving attendance for some time, hosting a series of student and parent forums last spring. Regular barriers include food insecurity, mental health issues, addictions, bullying, and feelings of anxiety and depression.

All secondary schools have started to track attendance period-by-period, with messages sent home for any absence.

“We know what the issues are and have started to address them,” Hahn said. “Interventions such as referrals to re-engagement or mental health counsellors puts parents and students in direct contact with support so they can receive help and, hopefully, remove those barriers for getting to school.

“Offering alternative academic programs is another avenue we’re pursuing. That way students don’t feel the burden of the weight of the world if they’ve been out of school for a long time. It’s about getting them back connected to school, completing assignments, and getting credits so they don’t feel so far behind,” he added.

Evolving instruction

Hahn said there’s been lots of talk about incorporating AI learning into the TLDSB curriculum.

“I know there’s been a lot of negatives on the impacts, particularly around plagiarism, but there are a lot of benefits to this,” he said. “We know the global economy and the world in general is moving forward with this kind of technology. We want to make sure our students and staff are moving along that same path.”

He said a few schools have already started with some introductory instruction.

Wanting to balance screen time with other methods, Hahn said the board is also moving ahead with a review of outdoor education. While schools have routinely organized trips to Camp Muskoka, Hahn said the board is looking at providing regular opportunities in other regions, such as Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes.