Minden Hills taxpayers got their first look at the township’s 2025 budget Nov. 21 – with a starting point of an estimated 8.7 per cent levy increase.

That will not be the final number when council is expected to endorse the completed document early next year.

Director of finance and treasurer, Wendelin Lonergan, said, “staff has really done a dive and we are still working at diving deeper to make sure everything is refined.” She said the staff goal is a “reasonable” increase.

Lonergan said there were a number of external pressures. They include increased OPP billing, which could raise taxes three per cent in the township. Wages will create a crunch, with the township finally having a full complement of staff, and wages up four per cent, and benefits nearly 11 per cent. It looks like there will be no Provincial Offences Act revenue and insurance costs are up six per cent.

The treasurer said there’s pressures on everything the township does, without considering the cost-of-living allowance and inflation.

Minden Hills is working on a new asset management plan that will pinpoint deficiencies in fleet, building and equipment. They hope to offset with bulk purchasing and reviewing whether projects remain important, or if the focus has shifted.

CAO Cynthia Fletcher said there were still some unknowns to be brought back in January.

She commented, “we made some headway in 2024 on stabilizing our workforce, and starting to focus on streamlining and modernizing some of our customer service processes. We made infrastructure improvements and we started putting a lot of focus on engaging our community.”

She said success stories included the Village Green restorations, accessible public washrooms in the downtown, moving waste management and waste diversion in-house, significant infrastructure investments, and several community events.

“In 2025, we will continue modernizing and streamlining more customer service processes, focus on community engagement, more infrastructure improvements, and turn our minds to long-term financial planning as well.”

The township is so far looking at a two per cent increase for water, and three per cent for wastewater.

Mayor Bob Carter noted taxpayers pay to the school board, township and Haliburton County.

During the public meeting portion of the agenda, former coun. Jean Neville spoke to the Lochlin Community Centre. She sits on a committee for the hall, which has been left dormant since COVID, “which is a critical length of time for any building, let alone one of this vintage,” she said.

“We urge this council to dedicate funds to at least start this restoration in the 2025 calendar year… with help from willing tradespeople… maybe saving the old structure is the best way to go,” she said. Speaking to the 8.7 per cent increase as of Nov. 21, Coun. Pam Sayne said she was pleased there are going to be local municipal delegations to the Minister of Finance at upcoming conferences. “We cannot continue with these kinds of increases on a regressive property tax… this has to stop somewhere.”

Algonquin Highlands council is considering a zoning bylaw change that could pave the way for people to legally camp on private residential property within the township.

Coun. Sabrina Richards said she was shocked to learn recently that residents are not permitted to camp on their property at any time during the year. Municipal planner Sean O’Callaghan confirmed Nov. 21 that people can only camp on established campgrounds, Crown land, or on their property temporarily while building or renovating a home – with a permit required.

“You cannot camp on developed or vacant residential property. Enforcing that is, admittedly, an issue. If it’s occurring over a weekend, then it’s not likely to be enforced. If it’s an ongoing activity… that’s where [we’d intervene],” O’Callaghan said.

Mayor Liz Danielsen said she was “gobsmacked” by the revelation.

“The idea that your kids can’t pitch a tent in their own backyard, that’s nuts,” the mayor said.

O’Callaghan noted most municipalities prohibit camping on residential property. In his report to council, he stated camping is a temporary activity that is best directed to areas where the use is ordinarily expected and can be adequately serviced.

Not intended to target kids looking to spend a night underneath the stars, O’Callaghan noted the bylaw is designed to prevent people from establishing tents and trailers as permanent living spaces. He also expressed concern over some campers not having access to washroom facilities.

The planner said he was most worried about people camping on vacant land.

“On the subject of housing, we’re trying to encourage activity, but I’m picturing a vacant lot where someone buys it with the intent of camping on it a couple weeks per year. That becomes a lot that’s never going to have a house on it, at least in the near term. It’s essentially a lot you’re taking out of the bank of available developable lots in the township,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s not promoting development in the community.”

Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux and coun. Lisa Barry both took issue with the rules.

“I think of how young families might save to buy a little piece of vacant land, but they’ll have to save another 50 years before they can build on it. In the meantime, they want to enjoy that space, pitch a tent, take their kids and remind them what it feels like to be in nature and develop that relationship with the environment,” Dailloux said, noting she doesn’t see a problem with that.

Barry added, “I think if you [want to camp] on a piece of property you’re paying taxes on annually you should be able to. A lot of families can’t afford to go on vacations or rent Airbnbs. Our motto is ‘this is where nature begins’. I would like to see some support for how people who have property can enjoy it before having to wait until there’s a residence on it.”

O’Callaghan said North Frontenac, French River, and Lake of Bays all have bylaws that allow camping on certain developed properties, limiting people to 14 or 21 days outdoors. The planner said he’d like to see a cap put on the number of consecutive days people can camp.

CAO Angie Bird suggested council differentiate between camping in a tent and in a trailer, noting trailers have washroom facilities to ensure the proper disposal of waste. She also recommended against allowing people to camp on waterfront properties.

“There are no washroom facilities on the shoreline,” Bird said, indicating human waste could end up in the water.

Danielsen suggested implementing a permit system for people who want to camp on vacant property. She also said she’d have a hard time displacing anyone living in a trailer, whether it contravenes the bylaw or not.

“We know we have a serious housing shortage – if you see a trailer that’s not supposed to be on a property, you know someone is living there. Often, they’ve got nowhere else to go. I struggle with that. I’m not sure how we deal with that,” the mayor said.

Council directed O’Callaghan to bring back bylaw revisions that would allow people to legally camp on private property. Once ideas have been brought forward, the public will be consulted on next steps, Danielsen said.

Moore Lake cottager Jake Moreau is still reeling after his dog, Bowie, was shot between the eyes with a pellet gun Nov. 24.

Moreau said the 100-pound snow white Husky mix is recovering from its injuries, but the family is shaken since their cottage, “is supposed to be a place to relax and unwind; a place of solitude where you can reduce stress levels.”

Moreau said he had returned to the family cottage, and, as usual, Bowie came running to the car to greet him. Happy to be home, Moreau jumped out of the car and went to give the dog some attention when he saw something on his forehead, right between his eyes.

“You can imagine my surprise, shock and anger when I realized it was a pellet from a pellet gun.”

He quickly took Bowie inside to show his father, John, and girlfriend, Lise, frantically asking where the dog had been that afternoon. They took pictures and performed an in-house surgery to remove the pellet.

“Thank goodness he is OK and is healing up well to this moment,” Moreau added.

His father told him to call police. “The 911 operator was incredible. She kept us calm and took our problem very seriously. She did a great job. The police also showed up very quickly. The officer who responded was very thorough and sympathetic.”

Moreau said they told police they thought there were only two people in the area that weekend. He said the family eliminated one as a suspect, and police went to talk to the other. He said they got a call about 40 minutes later from police, saying the person they were talking to had a pellet gun with the same calibre slugs as found in the dog.

Moreau said, “he admitted he was doing target shooting that afternoon, but did not shoot the animal…. The officer said the individual wanted us to come down so he could apologize. Weird? If he did not see the dog and did not shoot it, why would he want to apologize? Why would a pellet be placed perfectly between the eyes of an animal if it was an accident?”

Moreau said the man did not admit to shooting the dog but his story “was not at all logical. If he was target-shooting at a target about six feet off the ground, how could he place a pellet between the eyes of my dog who stands about three feet off the ground? The only way this shot placement could have occurred is if the dog was looking directly at the muzzle of the gun. And he claimed he didn’t see the animal…. a 100-pound snow white Husky mix against a green/brown background.”

Moreau said “they quickly realized the conversation was going nowhere.” He said police asked if they wanted to press charges, “but warned us that while the evidence that the pellet was fired from his gun is present, it is very difficult to prove intent as he would likely keep the same story of it being an accident.”

Moreau said, “I guess the real problem is that we have been going up to my cottage for over 20 years with our wonderful pets.

“Now, it feels like we have to constantly be aware of the dogs’ whereabouts. It’s really a terrible situation we are in now and we are not sure what our dogs did to deserve it.” He said the animals have great temperaments.

Haliburton Highlands OPP Const. Rob Adams confirmed no charges had been laid. He reminded people to follow all safety regulations, wear appropriate gear, and be aware of your surroundings when handling firearms – including pellet guns.

Moreau said they did want to thank the 911 dispatcher and police that responded to their call and took their situation seriously.

“With everything going on in the world today, people do not hear enough stories about the 99 per cent of good law enforcement members. They should be praised and we are very thankful for their help.”

Intense squalls this past weekend blanketed parts of Haliburton County with more than 25 inches of snow as the Highlands belatedly transformed into its usual winter wonderland.

Environment Canada issued a winter weather advisory for Central Ontario Nov. 29, with cottage country hit hardest. Parts of Muskoka were buried under about 40 inches of snow over the weekend, with the OPP closing Hwy. 11 connecting Orillia and Huntsville. Traffic was rerouted via Hwy. 400 and Hwy. 35.

Haliburton Highlands OPP had a busy time, responding to 10 minor and one serious collision over the weekend.

One person, a man in his 20s, was airlifted to a trauma centre with “life altering” injuries following a single-vehicle collision on Kennisis Lake Road Nov. 29. Police closed the area between Growler Lake Drive and Bitter Lake Road for much of the day, reopening around 9 p.m.

Const. Rob Adams with Haliburton Highlands OPP said near-freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall are key factors in winter collisions.

“Stay alert to winter conditions that can change quickly, placing extra demands on your vehicle and driving skill. Drive according to the weather conditions, your ability, and allow extra travel time,” Adams said. “Conduct a maintenance check on… windshield wipers, washer fluid level, windshield defrost, and tire condition. Stock up on your winter survival kit [to keep] in your vehicle.”

Algonquin Highlands and Minden Hills each declared significant weather events Nov. 29, essentially shutting down municipal services and facilities over the weekend. The Stanhope tree lighting ceremony, set for last Friday, was cancelled.

Trillium Lakelands District School Board called a snow day, shutting down all County schools. An opening reception for the ‘Safe and Well 2’ exhibit happening at Rails End Gallery in Haliburton was rescheduled for Dec. 6.

Snow squalls battered northern parts of the County again Dec. 3. The system, moving in from Georgian Bay, dumped another 20 inches on Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge and Dorset area, according to Environment Canada.

Eighteen months ago, Toronto resident Laura Hughes was navigating a recent Stage 2 cancer diagnosis feeling scared, alone, and unsure about what to do next. Then she connected with Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre in Haliburton.

The facility, located on the grounds of Abbey Gardens, offers a variety of in-person and virtual retreats and programs creating healing spaces and a sense of community for people affected by cancer.

Hughes was a year into her diagnosis when a friend told her about Brooksong. She reached out and signed up for a new online offering, figuring at worst she might learn something new. Instead, the results were life-changing, Hughes said.

“I felt so special, heard, understood, and, most of all, included. I had been home for a really long time and finally I had something to look forward to other than appointments,” Hughes said.

She was one of the first participants in a new six-week program titled ‘Re-Shaping Our Cancer Stories’. Through live online gatherings, video segments and supporting materials, participants integrate the natural world, art making, yoga, sound therapy, and discussion circles as they travel through their stories to chart a fresh path forward.

Hughes later took part in Brooksong’s ‘Take a Thread and Follow It’ course, which, over the course of seven weeks, used simple stitching and other art-making mediums to find ways to mend, repair and renew.

Both offerings were completely free, with Brooksong funding the initiatives through a $122,800 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant received in 2022. Executive director, Barb Smith-Morrison said the money has allowed the retreat to provide virtual support to an additional 100 cancer patients this year.

The programs are led by trained facilitators like Fay Wilkinson and Ken Little, who both spoke during a virtual recognition event Nov. 29. Smith-Morrison noted the OTF money also supported the training of 12 facilitators.

Wilkinson is a registered expressive arts practitioner, who said she uses stitching to help patients re-thread pieces of their life post-diagnosis. Little said he uses sport, movement and sound to inspire people.

It had been a year of torment for Amber Young before she found salvation through Brooksong. Diagnosed with NonHodgkins lymphoma in 2023, Young had a five-inch tumour growing on her spinal cord with cancer also taking residence in her spleen, around her lungs and in her bones.

The Ottawa resident was referred to Brooksong through a friend, who had participated in a retreat following a breast cancer diagnosis a couple of years ago.

“Cancer changes your life… one of the biggest things through this program is that, after a year-and-a-half of my life being completely different, I felt like I landed in a room with people who actually saw me and understood what I was going through,” Young said. “Thank you to Brooksong and OTF – the programs being virtual meant I could take part.”

Smith-Morrison said the new virtual offerings have been a great addition to Brooksong’s programming, thanking OTF for its support.

“Not only has this increased the number of people we’re able to support, but it’s also allowed us to develop a new accessible website, create a series of videos to tell the story and impact of our cancer support mission, strengthen our internet capabilities and make our organization more accessible virtually,” Smith-Morrison said. “This is vitally important as our waitlist for our unique cancer support offerings continues to grow.”

The waitlist now sits at more than 200 people.

A third online offering ‘Healing Circles’ will start soon, connecting cancer patients and caregivers monthly via Zoom to share stories and foster connection. For more information, visit brooksong.ca.