TSW doing a good job

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July 11, 2019

I never thought I’d hear it.

I specifically went to the Soyers Lake Cottage Owners Association AGM this past Saturday because I wanted to hear the latest from the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow, or CEWF.

CEWF’s chair, Ted Spence, was the guest speaker.

I learned things about Parks Canada and the Trent Severn Waterway, as well as about CEWF, that I didn’t know.

For those who don’t know, CEWF is a volunteer organization established in 2006 to provide input to the Panel on the Future of the Trent Severn Waterway. It aims to represent the interests of more than 30,000 waterfront property owners on reservoir and flow-through lakes in Haliburton and Northern Peterborough Counties. There are 32-member lake associations, the majority in the county.

After viewing Spence’s 39-slide powerpoint, I now have a better handle on how complex managing the system is. I won’t be so quick to criticize and judge the TSW.

Neither is CEWF, with Spence saying the words I never thought I’d hear from CEWF. “They’ve done a pretty good job of it.”

Since 2016, the TSW has made their water management decisions based on a lot more data and analysis. For example, they’ve added real-time snow gauges to augment manual readings. They’ve upped their weather forecasting game. They do a better job of monitoring inflow and outflow. They do a precipitation and runoff model. They’ve also done routing models to see how the water flows.

Despite the fact we are seeing more extreme weather, such as milder winters with more rain and snow and more summer storms, we are not seeing the same flooding that we did in 2013 and 2017. In fact, more water ran through the system this year than in those years, and Minden was not flooded out.

As Spence pointed out, in 2019, even with 3.5 times the normal snowpack at the end of March and 180 per cent of normal rain in April, the flood levels were less than in 2017.

Of course, the Burnt River basin is taking the hit now.

Parks Canada announced the first of its summer drawdowns this past Friday. For most, it’s viewed as a good thing since the reservoirs are still quite high. With some predicting possible drought-like conditions, we’ll be interested to see how the rest of the summer unfolds.

Spence also provided some valuable information to waterfront owners that we would like to pass along.

Be aware of the increased risk of extreme flood levels, potentially with ice on the lakes.

Review your infrastructure and if appropriate make changes now to your dock systems, electrical and boat storage.

Be aware of the increased risk of low lake levels earlier in the season and at levels not previously experienced.

Finally, review infrastructure for low levels, including water lines, access, boat mooring, etcetera.

You can also do your bit by staying informed. Nowadays, people cannot say that they didn’t know, as both Parks Canada, the TSW and the CEWF provide volumes of information on their websites.

You can learn more about CEWF and monitor water levels at cewf.ca. For more on Parks Canada and the TSW, see www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/infonet

EORN finally crosses funding finish line

By

Simon Payn

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July 11, 2019

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After years of lobbying, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) has secured $71 million in federal funding it needs to proceed with a massive mobile broadband project.

The federal government announced July 4 it will help pay for the $213 million initiative. The project aims to improve cellular and network coverage in eastern Ontario. With municipalities, the province and the federal government all on board now, EORN is preparing to make the initiative happen.

EORN board member and Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin said there is relief in getting funding in place.

“It’s definitely years of hard work,” Devolin said. “I know it can’t happen fast enough for many of us within Haliburton County.”

The project’s goals include: achieving 99 per cent of the eastern Ontario region having voice call service levels; 95 per cent coverage for standard-definition service and 85 per cent coverage for high-definition service. EORN will also invest $34 million into increased capacity for high-density areas.

“This project will allow Eastern Ontario rural municipalities to be better connected and ensure that residents have improved access to online services,” Minister of Rural Economic Development Bernadette Jordan said in a press release. Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale said although the announcement pleased him, he is unhappy about how long it took. The initiative has been in the works since 2016.

“While today’s announcement is a positive step forward, it also is met with frustration, as the government has had the EORN project application on their desk for over two years with little to no movement,” Schmale said.

Devolin said getting funding approved can take time given the complexities of governments. But he added regional municipalities pushing it as a number one issue helped get it forward.

“We all wish it was better but it is what it is,” he said. “What you need to do is be pragmatic, keep your focus, not be distracted.”

The province is also committing $71 million, or one-third funding. Municipalities are contributing $10 million, while the remaining $61 million is expected to come from mobile carriers through a competitive bidding process. Devolin said he expects no problems getting the private sector funding.

“They are as encouraged and aggressive to get on this as any of the rest of us,” he said.

With the money secured, Devolin said EORN will soon meet to plan out how the project will roll out and determine what areas to address first. That planning process could take the rest of the year, Devolin said, with multiple years of work ahead after that. But Haliburton stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries when improvements start coming online.

“This is a really important day for Haliburton County,” he said.

On The Highlander’s Facebook page, local business owner Colby Marcellus said on Lochlin Road, they pay a lot of money for practically non-existent internet service. They typically have to use their cell phone data to get online.

“As business owners, we rely heavily on internet access. In this day and age, solid, high speed access is essential to a vibrant community. This shouldn’t be so hard.”

The Outsider: Birthday blues

By

Will Jones

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July 11, 2019

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It’s the eve of his 10th birthday.

Yes, the day before he hits double figures. And, what does my boy, Little Z, do? He ups and leaves for summer camp. Just like that, with no thought for how his mother and I might cope without him. He insists we take him to Camp Medeba.

Normally, I’d be pleased with this outcome. My little boy has had the odd issue with separation from his parents. He likes us close. By that, I mean he still occasionally wanders into our bedroom and snuggles up the centre of the bed in the middle of the night. He is somewhat insistent that we both come see him do his latest sporting craze. If a date night to Rhubarb is mentioned, he knows what he’s going to eat before we’ve had a chance to ditch him and drive to the restaurant.

So, you might think I’d be happy at a kid-free week; the first time ever that he’s stayed away for more than a night. But, it’s his birthday tomorrow and he won’t be here to celebrate it.

I don’t know how my lovely wife is going to cope. She’s already wandering forlornly around the house picking up all the general detritus that an almost 10-year-old boy leaves lying in his wake. I can see she wishes that he was here making more mess for her to tidy. I haven’t seen her sniff one of his worn T-shirts as yet and I’d advise her not to because you never know where he’s been but I’m sure it’s going to happen soon. As for me, I’m a little troubled as to who is going to build all the new Lego Star Wars kits with me that grandma has sent, and a battle with the new Nerf guns won’t be half as much fun without Little Z.

I guess I should look on the bright side. Time alone with my lovely wife, with guaranteed no interlopers in our bed. Not a chance of walking bleary-eyed downstairs in the morning and treading on an errant Lego brick. No need to shout at my son for shooting Jeff the dog with his new Nerf guns because, “daddy is too lame to play another round.” And a wonderfully tidy house that will stay that way until at least next Sunday when my little man comes home.

There are many benefits to my almost 10-year-old boy going to camp, for me as well as him. I’m still going to miss him on his birthday. I’m gonna’ be sad tomorrow because my little boy is becoming just a bit independent and if the next 10 years go as quickly as the last, he’ll be moving out for good before I know it.

Hmm, now I’ve said it, that doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe he can just come back on his birthdays … just don’t tell his mother I said that.

Clinic hopes for pot luck in lottery

By

Simon Payn

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July 11, 2019

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Haliburton could soon be home to cottage country’s first retail pot shop.

The medical cannabis assessment clinic Capturing Eden in Dysart et al is planning to go for a retail licence in the second provincial lottery, announced by the province July 3. If successful, the store could be selling retail cannabis as early as October.

Owner Stephen Barber always planned for his business to sell cannabis eventually. He said it would be a way to help an underserviced region.

“We’d like to be able to help the communities that we’re involved with,” Barber said. “We don’t want people to have to travel or go to places that they don’t really want to go.”

The store faces competition due to the province only making a limited number of licences available. There will only be 42 new non-reserve licences. Seven of those have been allotted to the east region, which includes Haliburton and stretches from Barrie to Ottawa. Only Kingston and Ottawa currently have stores in the region.

Barber said although he’d prefer the application process be based more on merit, he has prepared the store ahead of time to fit all the regulations.

“We have a self-contained store where we have all the security,” he said. “We should have a good shot.”

This is the first opportunity for smaller communities to get stores in Ontario. Only 25 retail locations opened in April after the initial lottery and only in places with more than 50,000 people. Although online ordering for retail cannabis is available, the nearest physical location for people in Haliburton to purchase is in Oshawa or Toronto.

Barber said if he is successful, he still intends to maintain the clinic side of the operation. But he added it remains to be determined whether he would be allowed to provide medical cannabis.

Implementation funding unspent

The County of Haliburton, Dysart et al and other area municipalities have already opted-in to allow for the stores within their borders. To help navigate the change, every municipality in the province received money to manage the drug’s legalization. The County of Haliburton received $66,961, Dysart et al $22,082, Minden Hills $18,771, Algonquin Highlands $12,917 and Highlands East $13,912.

However, the funding has gone unspent. Both the county and Dysart et al have confirmed their allotted funds have yet to be used.

The county’s deputy CAO and director of planning Charsley White said the county’s funding will be a discussion for council at a later date.

“Awaiting to see what those costs are (for cannabis implementation),” she said.

Cannabis-related traffic crime has not gone up within Haliburton amidst legalization. From Oct. 17, 2018, when cannabis was legalized, to June 30, 2019, Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment indicated there three cannabis offences, all traffic-related. That is down from the same time the previous year, when there were 16 cannabis offences, six traffic related, according to the detachment.

Barber said a store in Haliburton would help counteract the black market, a federal aim of legalization.

“It would be really significant,” Barber said. “People in Haliburton right now have to travel quite a distance to get recreational, and they don’t always know exactly what they’re getting.”

Welch family honoured in Minden Cultural Centre renaming

By

Meagan Secord

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July 8, 2019

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MSMindencommon1.jpg.b40f34ce — Meagan Secord

John Welch said it’s nice to have the seven generation history of the Welch family recognized as an important part of Minden’s history.

Minden’s Hills Cultural Centre chose the Welch family name for one of its most used spaces June 29.
The story John submitted about Francis Welch, the son who took over John Welch and Sons funeral home, one of the family businesses, won a renaming competition.

But it wasn’t the only story about the Welch family submitted.

John’s sister Mary Hamilton also handed in a story for the competition about the family as a whole and the many other businesses they owned that helped grow Minden as a community.

“I used to get my little list from my grandmother and walk to Minden, to my uncle Sam’s store, and I’d give the list in and go home with the groceries,” said Hamilton.

She said she feels like she is connected to all of her family through the town and the stories about them and is very happy the new room is named after them.

“Our grandfather was one of the brothers, he died when I was six years old,” said Hamilton. “It’s like we knew him because our family was quite close and there was always a story.”

The new John Welch and Sons room at the centre is used to hold openings, meetings and other events and is an important community space according to Emily Stonehouse, supervisor of the centre.

Stonehouse said the community was asked to submit stories of important community figures or families.

A judging panel of three people then chose which story would be the base for the new name of the space.

She thought it would be important for the room to have a name, so she launched the competition at the beginning of January.

Shortly after the competition started, pipes burst at the cultural centre and the room flooded. Stonehouse said she was worried there would be no room to name when she came into work and saw the damage.

But, the room was fixed and the judges went on to pick the Welch family as the new name of a space that helps bring a community together.

Creating good Wilberforce citizens for the world

By

Meagan Secord

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July 8, 2019

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MSWilberforce1.jpg.ba1d9e33 — Meagan Secord

Elaine Fournier, principal of Wilberforce Elementary School, said in her closing remarks at this year’s graduation ceremony, how honoured she feels watching most of the Grade 8 graduates grow since kindergarten.

“I think for me it’s the deepest sense of pride and it’s also a deep sense of being connected to the community,” said Fournier. “Parents entrust us with their children and we do our very best to honour that trust each and every day.”

The Grade 8’s of Wilberforce walked across the stage to get their awards and diplomas June 26, as the first steps of their journey leading them to Haliburton Highlands Secondary School in the fall.

Violette Kane, valedictorian, said in her speech how the memories from Wilberforce will stay with her throughout her life and how everything she’s learned will help her in the coming years.

“It’s scary, yes,” she said. “But everything we’ve learned in elementary school will prepare us for high school.” Fournier said how excited she will be to watch these same kids cross the graduation stage in four years at HHSS and hopefully again when they graduate post-secondary.

“School is certainly about academics and about helping them to achieve in literacy and numeracy but it’s so much more than that,” said Fournier. “It’s about creating good citizens who are going to be able to go out in the world and make it a better place.”

View the same from top of the mountain

By

Meagan Secord

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July 8, 2019

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MSADULTGRAD1.jpg.f30687a2 — Meagan Secord

Heart warming stories of perseverance and determination were shared amongst the crowd at this year’s Adult Alternative Education Centre graduation ceremony on June 26.

Martin Gage, vice principal, stressed the notion that everyone walks a different path in life but no matter how windy it might be, there is always a choice to succeed.

“A mentor of mine once told me, there are many paths to the top of the mountain. But once you’re there, the view is the same,” he said.

The students at the centre are of all ages and work towards their Grade 12 diploma in a time frame that works best for them.

Some have children or full-time jobs and other just decided to finish high school in a different setting.

Graduate Hasan Wiso came from Syria to make a better life here in Canada.

He learned English from scratch through the school and his job at McKecks and spoke about how thankful he was for everyone in the community who has supported him.

“This, these people, are my family,” he said. “I am so thankful to be here and graduating with them.”

Standing at the podium placed in the back of McKecks, Lori Sargent, a teacher at the school, told stories of her students. She explained how she met them, the challenges they’ve endured and how they’ve excelled.

A new beginning for Grade 3 Cardiff grads

By

Meagan Secord

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July 8, 2019

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Cardiff Elementary School’s Senior Kindergarteners and Grade 3’s donned their home made graduation caps, decorated with stickers and glitter, as they made their way into the community centre June 24.

The ceremony was full of excitement, singing and even a little dancing as the kids received their diplomas and special awards for all their hard work.

Elaine Fournier, principal of the school, said she was excited to give students recognition for categories such as academics, character, effort and athletics as well as hand the Grade 3’s their diplomas.

The Cardiff Elementary School graduates will move onto Grade 4 next year at Wilberforce Elementary School.

“It is a big step when they move because Grade 3 marks the end of our primary years,” she said. “When they come over to Wilberforce, they’re not the big kids at the school anymore where we’ve been telling them the kinders are looking up to them and they’re our leaders.”

Parents of the graduates commented on how grown up their little ones were and how they remember their first day of kindergarten at Cardiff like it was yesterday.

“I think there’s a shift for them and it’s almost like a new beginning where they start their own growth and development until they move onto the point where I get the pleasure of watching them graduate Grade 8,” said Fournier.

County, CKL plan 5,500 affordable housing units

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 5, 2019

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JQHousingaffordability2web.jpg.479ce64c — Joseph Quigley

The County of Haliburton and City of Kawartha Lakes are planning to bring 5,500 additional rental housing units to the area over the next 20 years. Lisa Oliveira of the Housing Services.

Corporation spoke to county council about a new affordable housing master plan June 26. The plan, titled “From Housing Assets to Housing People” aims to address community trends and a 1700-household strong waiting list for subsidized rental units.

Oliveira said the overarching target would amount to about 100 rental units in the city and 40 in the county annually.

“There’s an opportunity there to include those affordable rental targets in our official plans as well as other local plans,” she said.

The new plan lays out seven goals to achieve those new units, including a focus on the long-term viability of non-profit providers, strategic redevelopment, providing a diverse range of rental housing types and creating mixed-income inclusive communities.

Coun. Andrea Roberts expressed some skepticism for the idea to add 40 units in the county annually, noting how private developers have not been going for affordable developments.

“I honestly don’t know if that’s overreaching,” Roberts said.

The city’s manager of human services Hope Lee said the new units need not necessarily be newly built and the figure comes from the county’s official plans.

“We’re going to be looking at other alternatives of providing rent supplements, looking at that secondary suite,” Lee said.

Coun. Brent Devolin said in conversations with private developers in Minden, there’s been more uptake for affordable components.

“That’s a huge change in mindset,” Devolin said. “The numbers are big but potentially do-able.”

Lee also presented council with an overview on the latest about legislative changes at the federal and provincial level which aim to improve rental rules. She highlighted new housing benefits and upcoming changes to simplify things like rent geared to income rules

“I’d say it’s moving in the right direction, but it will still take some time,” Lee said.

Coun. Carol Moffatt said more communication is needed to get people to sign on for municipal programs aimed at encouraging affordable housing development, such as the Housing Help’s Secondary Suite program.

CAO Mike Rutter replied although a new renovation loan program is getting good uptake, the county would try to market secondary suites more.

County council voted unanimously to endorse the master plan.

Crossing cultures with the power of art

By

Lisa Gervais

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July 5, 2019

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JQCamexicanus1web.jpg.5ce37c71 — Joseph Quigley

Young artists from Haliburton and Mexico alike are learning, playing and performing together at the cross-cultural Camexicanus summer camp July 2-6.

Students from Mexico are joining with local kids for a one-week arts experience at Camp Adelaide. The camp’s classes include music, dancing, acting, visual arts and language, culminating in a camper showcase at the end of the week.

Founder and director Greg Sadlier said the 24 campers are breaking through barriers with the power of art.

“We see the power of young people, meeting each other for the first time and realizing that they have more in common than they have that’s different,” Sadlier said. “Even if language is a barrier, culture is a barrier, to watch them sing the same songs, dance the same dance.”

Camexicanus has run since 2015, previously in the Kitchener/Waterloo area before shifting to Haliburton this year. Its Mexican students also tour and perform across Ontario, which will happen again this year following the camp.

Mexican camper Jose Siller is back for his second year with Camexicanus. He said it is a way to create bonds between countries.

“Nowadays there’s a lot of conflicts,” Siller said. “We need more strengthening of our bonds.”

He added the camp offers a unique learning experience in a different country.

“This camp is bringing opportunities to a lot of students from Mexico that are interested in arts to go to Canada and live a whole experience,” Siller said.

Haliburton-local Finn Tentrees is an assistant program director at this year’s camp. Tentrees said it is a good way to expose kids to more diversity.

“It’s always good to have something that supports art,” he said. “Putting kids from Mexico with youth in Haliburton I think is amazing actually. Not a whole lot of diversity up here.”

“For kids, they have this ability to reach out and to form relationships and art is just an incredible backdoor for that,” Sadlier said. “Art is the expression of humanity. It’s the expression of youth.”

Camexicanus will hold its student showcase at the Haliburton Highlands Museum July 6 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and students.