ICE STORM 2025

Andy Forrest washed his hair – not once, but twice – April 7 as he luxuriated in his first shower in 10 days at the Minden Hills warming centre.

The East Moore Lake resident was on day 10 of no electricity and although he has a generator, it is not hooked up to his hot water heater.

He did have a couple of bird baths at the sink, but was not keen on a cold shower, saying, “I’m allergic to them, I break out in goosebumps.”

Emerging from the front doors of the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena, which has housed a 24-hour warming centre since the afternoon of March 31 – and is still going 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. as of press time – Forrest said he’d been advised by Hydro One his power would be on by 9 p.m. April 8. However, he had heard that before with messages to his spotty cell phone service. He said he had yet to see a Hydro One truck on his road. He admitted we was “getting tired of it.”

They have a woodstove, and a generator, but it only runs in six hours-on, six hoursoff shifts. Propane is running low and they’d already shelled out $1,100.

But, at least, he felt clean for the first time since the ice storm on Monday – hoping he would not have to come back for a warming centre shower.

Angelique Short usually comes to the rec centre to use the walking track, but was this week using Wi-Fi. She has been without power, internet and phone service for a spell and it was cold. She was having a coffee and eating a snack. Philosophically, she thought the experience was about “learning to know what it is like to have less. Sleeping in a place like this makes you appreciate you have a little more, and if you can get through this, you can get through anything.”

Centre still open 14 hours a day

Staff bonding

Nabanita Mondal, a Minden Hills planning technician, is one of many municipal employees who have been staffing the centre. She’s been there every day with the exception of Sunday. She has done it all: greeted people and signed them in; given them shower tokens; aided in the kitchen; provided food and beverages; helped people get clean drinking water; and pointed out places to connect devices.

A new employee, Mondal said it was a unique way to get to know other township, as well as County of Haliburton, staff. “We all came together. It gives a sense of community service as well.” She said she would look back and say, “remember that time we were making soup and chopping garlic?”

In the kitchen, Mondal joins Krista McAlpine, Donelda Smith, and Kerrah Folls.

“A lot of cooking,” McAlpine, “the head chef,” said of the experience, including vats of soup and chili, sandwiches, waffles, French toast and eggs.

McAlpine said she now had new friends in a township that has scattered departments. “We don’t cross paths, so when you all get thrown into this, you get to know each other’s personalities.”

Amanda Dougherty, the township’s planner by day, added, “obviously nobody wants to be in a situation where the community needs a warming centre, but it’s been pretty rewarding to be able to be here. We’re seeing a lot of community members. We’re getting good feedback. It’s nice to be able to help them in a different way.”

In the hall, Lisa Bjorkquist of Hydro One was busy at a table. She was asked for an interview, but declined, saying she was too busy, and The Highlander believed her.

Director of community services, Candace McGuigan said that as of April 6, 444 people had utilized the warming centre since opening.

A guest at the time, Miner’s Bay Lodge general manager Darren Powers remembers what it was like when a tornado ripped through the resort in 2013 – pure devastation, he told The Highlander this week.

Powers didn’t think he’d see anything like it again, but the destruction caused by the recent ice storm gave him an eerie feeling of déjà vu.

“We were hit hard… at last count, there are about 150 trees down, four of our main buildings have holes in the roof, we’ve got trailers that have significant damage, trees ripping right through them, some cottages almost flattened,” Powers said. “We’re probably looking at close to $100,000 in damages.”

He was on-site March 29 when the bad weather hit. Initially, the freezing rain created a beautiful picturesque scene as Powers peered out the window of the main lodge.

Then, all hell started to break loose.

“I saw everything, heard everything. Trees were snapping by the minute. The smaller ones came down pretty much right away, and I could see the bigger ones swaying with the wind as the ice built up. Then there were the loud cracks as branches buckled under the weight,” Powers said.

Twelve days later and the resort still doesn’t have power – the GM said it’ll likely be another two weeks until it’s restored. Poles were ripped right out of the ground, necessitating a full rebuild of Miners’ Bay’s electrical circuit.

Resort plans regular season opening

Powers was there all last weekend coordinating clean-up. He’ll be back again April 11th, leading crews of paid workers and volunteers. He said the outpouring of support has been incredible, with about 20 people – some long-time guests, others nearby cottagers who think of themselves as part of the Miners’ Bay community – stepping up to help.

“It’s almost like going back to the 1970s, you know, when disaster strikes the whole community rallies to get you back on your feet,” Powers said. “Miners’ Bay is an important spot for many. It’s been a landmark here since 1938.”

There has been some flooding – to the beach area, and in the basement of the resort’s store, but Powers said that happens every year. He estimates about 10 per cent of the clean-up has been completed. A crane is coming in this weekend so crews can get a bird’s eye view of the property. He said most of the cottages and cabins will need windows and roofs replacing, and to be repainted.

While bad, the damages aren’t expected to impact the resort’s upcoming season. Powers said the trailer park is scheduled to open for the May long weekend, with the main property welcoming guests in June.

“Those dates will not be affected at all; the place will look tip-top by then. It’ll be like this never happened,” Powers said.

Hydro One update

Hydro One spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa said as of April 9th, approximately 17,000 Ontario customers remained without power, including 1,661 in the County.

There are 94 active outages in Haliburton County, Rosa confirmed. So far, crews have fixed 358 outages in the area, restoring power to approximately 54,011 residences. She said about three per cent of Hydro One’s Highlands power grid remains offline.

Most of those are seasonal properties she notes, approximately 1,200 – meaning there are still about 400 full-time residences down. There’s no working timetable for restoration.

Rosa said crews made significant progress on repairs last weekend.

“More than 50 new poles were installed in Minden… [on Monday] crews focused on the most difficult to access properties. Heavy rains and localized flooding have washed out roads, creating further access issues for crews, but we’re working as safely and quickly to restore power,” Rosa said.

Hydro One announced a new ice storm recovery grant April 7, enabling municipalities to receive up to $10,000 to pay for things like food, supplies, clean-up and shelter for displaced residents.

“The damage is the worst we’ve seen in decades, and some of the hardest hit communities will never look the same,” said Meghan Collie, Hydro One media relations advisor. “The grant will help impacted communities access essential needs as they begin to rebuild.”

Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter is hopeful the provincial government will give financial aid to the township in the wake of its declaration of a state of emergency March 31 due to the ice storm.

With internet and phones down, municipal officials had to drive to Dwight to officially fax their declaration to the Ontario government.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott toured the warming centre at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena April 3. Meanwhile, minister of emergency preparedness and response, Jill Dunlop, and Scott visited the warming centre April 6.

It is equipped with cots from the Red Cross, a mobile triage van courtesy of the County of Renfrew, and the centre is manned by municipal staff, with hot food, beverages, and showers, along with places to charge devices.

Carter was on hand for the tours, along with County of Haliburton CAO Gary Dyke, EMS chief Michael Slatter, OPP interim detachment commander Mike Cavanagh, and municipal staff and politicians.

Carter told The Highlander declaring a state of emergency was step one of a long process.

“You have to declare an emergency before you can be eligible for money, and there’s still lots of rules beyond that, and only certain things are eligible,” Carter said.

“They have to be consumables. If you buy a new antenna, you can’t charge that.”

He noted the declaration has brought back up to the township, including, most recently, NB Power from New Brunswick, and crews from Saskatchewan and northern Ontario. The County of Renfrew remains at the warming centre for EMS support. And the Red Cross still has 50 cots set up.

“You can only get that when you are in that emergency situation.”

The mayor said it also allows involvement in a system whereby the people in the community can work through insurance claims. “It’s a whole special process so people can file insurance claims online. So, making the declaration is really important.”

Carter said the loss of communication prompted the initial decision to declare a state of emergency.

On the day, Carter said he got a phone message from Premier Doug Ford acknowledging the township was in trouble and telling him to call if there was anything he could do.

Carter phoned the next day, but Ford was unavailable, prompting him to leave a text message. Because his phone was impacted, he couldn’t text. He was able to call the premier’s office. He said a staffer called Ford out of a meeting. Ford called him back immediately.

“I wasn’t quite expecting that,” the mayor said. “I told him the problem and he said he’d call the president of Bell right away.” Carter said Ford went back into his meeting but directed people, including Scott, and “Bell started dealing with us.”

He said Bell called Dyke at the County to assure him they were working 16 hours a day on Minden Hills’ connection problems.

What it means?

Emergency declarations can be made when the head of council, in consultation with the community’s senior staff (known as the community control group), determines that such action would be in the best interest of the municipality based on a perceived or apparent threat.

A state of emergency declaration would be considered if there was a situation or impending situation that: threatened public safety, public health, the environment, critical infrastructure, property, and/or economic stability, and exceeded the capacity of the community’s emergency response.

By declaring a state of emergency, the municipality is able to streamline its purchase and tender policies; extend Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage to volunteers, and make claims for financial assistance for disaster recovery.

Declaring a state of emergency does not guarantee the municipality will receive financial assistance from the provincial or federal government for disaster relief. Municipalities must apply for financial assistance to the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program.

Residents who have experienced a loss in the aftermath of a natural disaster that causes costly, widespread damage to eligible private property may apply to the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program.

“If we can, we answer the call,” said the district superintendent of Energie NB, which sent crews from New Brunswick to Haliburton County this week.

“We have a list of out-of-province storms that is posted, and whoever wants to go, jumps in the truck,” he added.

Some of the hardest hit by last week’s ice storm are seeing hydro trucks from all over come to help with the restoration of power, and clean-up. People from Irondale have been watching, and cheering, workers from the Woodstock area in New Brunswick who have answered the call for help.

“Some of us have been up here for about five days, others about three,” said one worker. “We are mostly clearing trees right now, there are a lot of downed trees.” He said there are private contractors and tree trimmers out along with them to get things done.

When asked why so many would come from out of the province to help, the district superintendent said it was very rewarding. “It is the best part of the job,” he said. “Getting to work with, and meet, new people, and help those who need it.” He added there is a lot of tree damage and broken poles, “which looks very familiar.” He was involved in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island in 2022 and was there for 23 days.

There are so many Hydro poles that need replacing, and some of the areas that the New Brunswick team are working in are so remote, that they will have to be flown in by helicopter. This is expected to take place within the next day or so.

The New Brunswick crews have been working 16 hours a day to restore power in Irondale and surrounding areas, and some locals, like George Simmons, have been showing their support by waving, flying the Canadian flag, and thanking them.

“We just want to show them how appreciative we are for all their hard work,” Simmons said.

However, some have been wondering why the municipality hasn’t done more, like opening the Irondale Community Centre so they have washrooms, and a place to warm up and eat lunch. Resident Jeff Hancock called out the local advisory committee in Minden Hills for “failing to use municipal resources like the community centre to help anyone, including the NB hydro workers.”

S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden was open around the clock from March 31 to April 8, serving as a warming centre and place where people could shower and charge their devices. There were cots for those who wanted to spend the night.

The facility remains open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to assist those impacted by the storm.”

The sentiment of “they help us, we help them” was echoed by the superintendent, as well as members of the crew, who said they were happy to be here and would be sticking around as long as it takes to restore power to those impacted.

Algonquin Highlands environmental manager Melissa Murray estimates the township can continue burying waste at its active landfill sites for another 53 years, or until 2078.

In a recent report to council, Murray said municipal dumps at Maple Lake, Pine Springs, and Oxtongue Lake were at a combined 40 per cent capacity by the end of 2024. The township’s fourth waste location, in Dorset, is a transfer station only. Its landfill was capped in 2015.

Murray warned, though, that the estimated lifespan was determined based on historic figures, not necessarily future projections.

“As our population increases and uses of our landfill sites change, that number can change at any time,” she said, noting all sites complied with Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) standards in 2024.

Individually, the Maple Lake site has a remaining lifespan of 45 years, Oxtongue Lake 69 years, and Pine Springs 100 years.

Staff clocked 30,147 vehicles at Maple Lake last year, down marginally from 2023, taking in 44,927 bags of household garbage. With the installation of a weigh scale at the site last spring, Murray said she’s able to “quantify numbers a little better.” Before, staff tracked garbage by cubic metres but now does so through metric tons.

“We had 291 metric tonnes of waste accepted at Maple Lake, with 130 metric tonnes of that brought over from Dorset,” Murray said.

The township also collected 209 tonnes of blue box recyclables, 7.66 tonnes of electronic waste, 106 tonnes of scrap metal, 1.24 tonnes of household batteries, and 103 discarded appliances.

She said 3,027 vehicles used the Pine Springs location, disposing of 5,080 bags of garbage. From that, she estimates 48 tonnes of waste was deposited into the landfill last year, with an additional 23 tonnes transferred from Dorset. Murray said 15.89 tonnes of blue box materials were also collected.

“The bins at Pine Springs are in a bit of disrepair, so we will be looking at options to change those this year,” Murray said.

At Oxtongue Lake, 4,352 vehicles dropped off 5,555 garbage bags totalling 52 tonnes of waste, which Murray said was down from 2023. Staff also collected 29.04 tonnes of blue box recyclables, 3.92 tonnes of waste electronics, and 11.73 tonnes of scrap metal.

Murray said there will be surveys conducted at Pine Springs and Oxtongue Lake this year as the township plans for future expansion.

“We’re looking at moving into a new landfilling area [at Oxtongue Lake], so we’re going to do some work to see what our development plan will be. There is capacity, the land just hasn’t been developed yet,” Murray said, noting the need for tree clearing in 2026.

Murray said there were no concerns with ground and surface water quality assessments conducted at Maple Lake, Pine Springs or Oxtongue Lake, and recommended the township cease testing at the Dorset Transfer Station.

“It’s been a number of years since the site was capped. It’s in a state where there aren’t evolving changes to the site… we’re not seeing any active leachate, there’s no new waste being added. We’re not seeing any exceedances with our monitoring program over the last seven years, so there’s nothing to be concerned about,” Murray said.