A new program designed to match County residents dealing with substance abuse issues and mental health challenges with people who have lived experience overcoming them now has a home base in Haliburton village.

Coming Full Circle is a two-year pilot that aims to change the narrative around supporting people in crisis, says David Barkley, project lead. He recently secured a space at 83 Maple Ave., Unit 7 of the Halco Plaza. The next step is hiring a team of seven peer support specialists who, he hopes, can get to work making a difference in the community.

He’s expecting the program to fully launch in late May or early June. “This is going to be a unique approach to supporting people – there will be oneon-one, drop-in, casual and insert-type programming. It’s all about fostering connections and finding ways to communicate with people,” Barkley said.

“We want to improve the resources in this community and be seen as a place where anyone can come for support, instead of being just another name or group that people don’t want to use.”

It’s a collaboration between Point in Time, Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR), and several organizations representing the Haliburton County Connections Committee. It was made possible by a $800,000 grant from Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program.

Barkley has 22 years of experience working in the field, most recently with the Lynx Early Psychosis Intervention Program. He said he’s seen the peer support model “become a little more accepted” in recent years, believing it’s the key to unlocking doors, and barriers, for people needing support.

Breaking it down more, he said the program isn’t meant to attract professionals with fancy degrees or diplomas to serve in lead roles, opting instead for “real life” experience.

“We want a full complement of peers. We want people who are in different stages of their own recovery journey, because we want everyone to be able to learn from one another.

“Ultimately, we believe lived experience is lived expertise. If people have been there and it’s true, exposure to substance use and addictions, it helps foster connections with people just starting out on their own healing journey. They didn’t read it in a book, they didn’t go to school to learn about it. It’s genuine, firsthand knowledge. That’s the kind of thing that helps break down barriers, that people can connect with,” Barkley said.

All staff will be trained once hired and before meeting with would-be clients, on things like non-violent crisis intervention, verbal support, and communication techniques. Barkley said he’s still looking for candidates – pay is above market rate, for 21 hours a week.

He expects the drop-in centre will be open up to three days a week, though said that may change as the program develops.

Asked if he had a sense for how prevalent the drug crisis is in Haliburton County, and what the program expects to do numbers wise, Barkley said he’s less focused on statistics.

“We know it is an issue, but it’s an issue everywhere. It’s been expressed the County can really use some additional resources… it’s something that’s impacting a lot of people in the community,” he said. “Our goal is to improve things. If that’s one person at a time, that’s OK with me. Now is the time, I think, to try some different things… because the usual ways and models haven’t been working.

“We’re wanting to see people who have maybe connected with supports before, but it didn’t quite work for them. And it doesn’t just have to be drugs and mental health – we’re hoping people who have issues around food insecurity, housing and homelessness come to us as well so we can help them and maybe improve connections to other resources once people have developed a level of trust.”

If they can get a foothold, Barkley believes Coming Full Circle can change the way other agencies work and operate, too.

“This peer support approach can be effective, but it isn’t being utilized a whole lot. It’s going to take unique, almost outside the box ways of thinking and connecting to make a difference. We’ll be evaluating ourselves all the time to make sure we’re hitting the right mark, and hope to share what’s working for us with others,” Barkley said.

For more information, or to apply, visit cmhahkpr.ca/careers.

For as long as Highlands East teenager Veronica Beynon can remember she’s always dreamed of writing and producing movies, TV shows and stage plays – now her fantasy is set to become reality thanks to Highlands Opera Community School.

The Hal High victory lapper was recently announced as one of five storytellers for the studio’s upcoming Let’s Make an Opera production. The year-long pilot project is being overseen by Valerie Kuinka, lead at Highlands Opera Studio, and three other mentors – Lauren Margison, Danika Loren, and Michael Murphy.

The goal is to create a professional play based on stories, historical happenings and life experiences in Haliburton County. Fellow County residents Marci Mandel, Meghan Mardus, Jack Simpson and Janet Trull will also have stories featured for the opera, which will premiere later this year. The project is supported through a $97,400 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

Beynon’s was one of the last of 14 submissions received, with the student telling The Highlander she quickly put a proposal together after learning about the project through Melissa Stephens, a retired teacher and conductor with Highlands Festival Singers.

“It was actually a week before the final due date – I went into researching some old newspaper clippings from a long time ago to find some fun historical facts I could try to build an opera around,” Beynon said.

She read up on the County’s rich history of logging and found accounts of land disputes between original settlers in Haliburton and those who arrived following the completion of the Victoria Railway in 1878.

After stumbling upon the works of Ontario author Larry D. Cotton, renowned for his Whiskey and Wickedness series that spans 30 books, she settled on a comedic scene involving two men arguing in a fictional County-based bar. Her story is a simple one, involving one other character, a bartender.

“One of the funny recurring themes through all my research was about these almost like duels going on in the bars. Because people were intoxicated, they were forced to take the bullets out of their guns before being served. So I thought it would be really fun to play with the idea of a shootout almost happening in a bar, only for all the suspense and build-up to lead to nothing,” Beynon said, noting it will feature callbacks to key historical moments.

She’s collaborating on the piece with Bill Gliddon, a man almost 70 years her elder. An organist at St. George’s Anglican Church for 63 years and retired music teacher, Gliddon said he jumped at the opportunity to assist Beynon by composing music for her story.

The pair met for the first time in late March to go over ideas. Gliddon said they connected instantly.

“I liked her story, I thought it was funny. Then I thought to myself how refreshing it would be working with someone so young, the intergenerational creativity we could each bring to the project,” said Gliddon, who also submitted a story but wasn’t selected.

Following that first meeting, he provided Beynon with seven musical numbers she could take away to style her words for. A week later, she sent back almost a complete libretto – essentially the manuscript for an opera. That inspired Gliddon, who spent much of April 11 perfecting his composition.

While far from finished, he’s likened the piece to an old-school Gilbert and Sullivan production. That was a nice callback for the former Hal High music teacher and Glee club figurehead, who produced student-led plays from the Victorian-era duo annually through the 70s and 80s.

While Beynon will take a behind-the-scenes role during the final production, Gliddon admits he feels a calling to tickle the ivories. He’ll also assist with final planning.

Next steps

Kuinka said the community is abuzz following the story announcement, with the next phase going to be finding performers. There are workshops scheduled May 16 and Aug. 9, though she encourages anyone interested in playing a role to reach out.

Originally, the opera was to feature three or four local stories, but Kuinka said the judges had a hard enough time whittling things down to five.

“We’ve really hit the ground running now – our selected writers have all been matched with mentors to assist. Some require help with the music, but others are already working themselves to figure out how to best bring their pieces to life,” Kuinka said, noting Mandel and Mardus will also perform in their renditions.

“We have stories that are hilarious, stories that are deeply moving and are tear-jerkers, and stories of human growth, of experience overcoming hardship,” she added.

Kuinka is hoping all stories will be wrapped by Aug. 9, giving performers at least three months to perfect their act.

The final performance will be held in November of December, likely at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion.

HoS is looking to fill a variety of behind-the-scenes roles, as well as on-stage, with anyone interested asked to contact Kuinka at valerie@highlandsoperastudio.com.

Richard van Nood knows a thing or two about driving. He opened Driver’s Edge Driver Training in Haliburton County in 1990 and has been teaching the skill for 35 years.

He is asked about driving in spring.

“In the spring, in the fall as well, is probably the trickier time,” he says. In winter, he said drivers know what to expect, and adjust accordingly.

“But when you are in the spring or the fall, you get those changing temperatures. I always say you have to look at the roads. If they’re nice and white, especially in the spring, that’s nice dry salt on the roads. If they look dark, and if the temperatures are hovering around freezing going into that shaded area; everybody goes ‘oh, black ice.’ It’s invisible but it’s not unpredictable.”

He said with every vehicle now having a thermometer, drivers should be aware of temperatures.

“As soon as it comes close to the freezing temperatures, it warns you the roads might be slippery. There’s not much more to adjusting your driving.”

However, he advises people to clean their vehicles well in spring. “Especially when you get loads of salt that’s accumulated. I’ll spend more time in the spring washing the underside of my car, than the top side.” Otherwise, he said “everything just rusts faster.”

He also recommends getting the vehicle oil sprayed before winter.

The long-time driving instructor added people often ask him why there seems to be so many burned out headlights in winter and spring.

“It’s just that time of year. If lightbulbs are on their last legs, turning them on when it’s -15 and all that sudden heat (burns them out).”

Asked about driving tips, he offers some for younger drivers in particular.

“Don’t get too quick and carefree. I see it in the spring around the high school. As soon as the weather starts getting nice, they start going nuts. They come out of that parking lot, and they’re leaving black streaks down the road.”

Other spring car care tips:

• Wash your car: Spring is a great time to wash away winter grime, road salt, and debris that can cause corrosion.

• Inspect wiper blades: Check for wear and tear, and replace them if they’re streaking or juddering.

• Check tire pressure and rotate tires: Ensure tires are properly inflated and consider rotating them to even out wear.

• Check lights: Ensure all headlights, brake lights, and turn signals are functioning correctly.

• Check fluids: Top off engine coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid.

• Oil change: Change your oil and filter, especially if you’ve been driving through winter conditions.

• Inspect belts and hoses: Check for cracks, leaks, or damage to belts and hoses.

• Check battery: Test your battery’s condition and ensure terminals are clean and tight.

• Inspect brakes: Listen for any grinding, squealing, or clanking noises, and have your brakes inspected if necessary.

• Check air filters: Replace the engine air filter and cabin air filter if they are dirty or old.

• Spring clean the interior: Vacuum carpets, clean seats, wipe down the dashboard and console, and clean the windows.

• Check A/C: Before the weather gets too hot, make sure your air conditioning system is working properly.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) said on April 14 it will not proceed with the establishment of a new conservation reserve in Haliburton County’s Milburn Kendrick area.

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust had expressed interest in creating an 8,500-hectare reserve in part of the area in its Highlands Corridor.

However, this past Monday, the ministry informed interested parties “the Crown lands included in this proposal will continue to be managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).”

They added information about current uses for the area can be found on the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas.

“Stakeholder input is important to us, and we are committed to engaging with affected communities to ensure all voices are heard in conservation discussions. And future proposals for new protected areas under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act 2006 will include public and indigenous consultation on the proposed boundaries, land uses and permissible activities,” Kirsten Service of the MECP said.

John Davidson, of Wilberforce, helped create the Citizens for Crown Land Protection (CCLP) group. It quickly formed after hearing about the Land Trust proposal and held a packed open house at the Haliburton Legion March 23.

Davidson said on April 16, “I think they (the ministry) listened to the input from the public and made the right decision.”

County meeting not needed

He said he was proud of residents “who were so willing to take part and learn about it and take the action needed.”

Davidson attributed a quick decision to their efforts, saying they had been in contact with the MECP and various organizations “from the minute we started.”

The group has maintained management of public lands must remain vested in provincial and local governments, “and not be directed by any special interest group.” They opposed redesignating huge blocks of public land from general use Crown land to conservation reserve. They added the area is significant due to good stewardship by MNRF, MECP and municipalities. They felt a conservation reservation manager would have extraordinary powers under the Ontario Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, “not in the public interests of the population, the economy, and general public.”

Land Trust board chair, Todd Hall, said on April 16, “the provincial decision not to proceed with the conservation reserve designation is regrettable. In such an ecologically-sensitive area, this level of protection makes a big difference. We were not alone in a wish to ensure that generations to come could enjoy recreation in this special place. We thank the Bancroft Minden Forest Company, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and the many citizens who enthusiastically supported HHLT’s conservation efforts.”

The County of Haliburton said Monday that as a result of the decision, a rescheduled public meeting by the County regarding the reserve has been cancelled.

On March 26, the County organized a public meeting to provide an opportunity for the public to present comments to County council regarding the proposal, which would then be summarized and forwarded to the MECP as feedback.

That meeting was postponed that morning due to a medical emergency, with a plan to reschedule. On April 14, the County said the meeting is no longer required.