Being chosen one of three fan favourites in Samsung True North Tunes – from more than 2,000 artist submissions across Canada – is something Ryan Van Lee wanted to bring “back home” to Haliburton County.

It was announced last week that the Highlands’ musician had been selected through public voting.

The “cool” win has garnered him a raft of industry prizes, including being on a limited-edition beverage can, a live recording session, access to industry mentors, live performance opportunities, marketing chances, and Samsung technology.

He told The Highlander last Thursday (Oct. 8) “I haven’t even taken it in yet.”

Tracking the contest statistics, he didn’t think he would be a winner. He felt he would crack the top 20 across Canada and believed that was an accomplishment in itself. “I was okay with that. I came to terms with it.”

However, votes from across the nation kept coming, and finding out he’d won “was very crazy news for me.”

Van Lee is still absorbing the list of prizes but knows they will benefit his career. He is wrapping his head around the thought of a limited-edition Collective Arts collaboration featuring his artwork on custom beverage cans, created alongside renowned gig-poster artist Tiffany Chin.

The live recording session is at Lacquer Channel Mastering with Noah Mintz, to be filmed by Barnburner Films, of Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats, The Dirty Nil, and Neil Young Archives, fame.

There is one-on-one mentorship and access to Canadian music industry professionals working across A&R, management, publishing, radio and artist development.

Another perk is additional live performance opportunities through Collective Arts and its music partners.

There’ll be a national campaign feature and marketing amplification as well as a Frame TV and sound tower speaker, as well as a custom vinyl and TNT trophy.

“It’s a big break. As musicians, we put so much money into ourselves, and invest so much for it to pay off, which it does, but you have to be ballsy enough to do it. The way I see it is I’m not going to have to pay for everything. Things are going to be a little easier on the wallet.”

Van Lee added the recognition is good for his music resume.

Going back to wanting to bring the title home, Van Lee said that awhile back some kids reached out to him on social media, telling him they had taken up guitar, or gotten into music, because of him, “and that was kind of huge.

“That’s kind of why I want to do this … to leave a legacy. I’ve always dreamed of having my own little photo mural on the side of somewhere because this town is all about sports.” He said that as a kid, he was bullied because he wasn’t into athletics.

“I followed this music path. I bushwhacked my own path in this, and it’s kind of cool to start seeing kids following.”

Tafari Jilany, head of corporate marketing, Samsung Canada, told The Highlander, “Ryan is a great example of an artist building momentum from his local community while creating music that has the potential to resonate far beyond it,” said Jilany. “Through the program, we’re helping artists connect with industry professionals, gain new experiences and reach broader audiences across Canada.”

By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Haliburton’s Will Brown secured third place overall in the national FIM MiniGP Canada Series this past season, wrapping his second year of motorcycle racing with a podium finish.

Competing in the national circuit for young riders aged 10 to 14, Will finished the season at Shannonville Motorsport Park earlier this month.

“When I tell my friends at school that I race bikes on pavement, they mostly get confused and ask if I mean dirt bikes,” Will said. “I usually have to show them my bike before they actually believe me.”

Three years ago, his father, Ron, took Will and his younger brother for a single day at the Super Sonic Road Race School in Brechin, run by Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Toni Sharpless. Ron said the kids had plenty of experience on trail bikes, but had never tried a road bike before.

“I just wanted them to experience it for a day,” Ron said. “Within about an hour, they pulled Will out of the main group to give him private instruction. Other parents were coming up asking where we normally race, and I had to tell them we don’t. It was our first day ever on a track.”

In his second full season, the 12-year-old was travelling the circuit with his number 999 Ohvale GP-0 bike. The bikes run on 10-inch wheels and sealed engines, which helps keep the equipment evenly matched, Ron explained.

“It’s really fun going fast around corners and getting your knee down. Some people even get their elbow down,” Will explained. “If you wreck, your race is pretty much over. But mostly you’re just worried about losing your position.”

Ron said the key is learning to control the bike at speed.

“Smooth is fast,” Ron said, a common coaching motto on the circuit. “The very first race Will ever won was in the rain. It wasn’t because he was faster than the other kids out there, it was because he was smoother on the throttle and the brakes.”

“If you’re coming into a corner, it’s not just hard on the brakes and chop off the throttle,” Will added, while demonstrating his process. “It’s kind of like slowly off the throttle and you don’t just grab the brakes.

You want to progress on the brake a little to help slow the bike down so it doesn’t throw you over the bars.”

The final weekend at Shannonville was also part of the track’s 50th anniversary celebration. The event drew a packed crowd, and Canadian Superbike champion Steve Crevier was also there, spending some time chatting with Will.

Those race results gave Will enough points to finish third overall in the national standings.

He was also awarded the Hard Charger trophy for the second consecutive year. The award is given to a rider who “brings it to every race, every lap and makes it entertaining for the fans.”

“I appreciate that Hard Charger trophy as much as third place nationally,” Ron said. “It shows he brings it every race.”

“I really try when I race,” Will added. “I never give up.”

The racing season is now over, and Will’s bike is parked in the trailer. Until spring, he’s swapping his road helmet for his hockey helmet.

“I hope to go all the way to MotoGP,” Will said. “It’s a long shot, but we’re taking it one step at a time.”

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust’s (HHLT) Nick Weissflog believes Abbey Gardens is one of Canada’s greatest examples of ecological restoration done right.

Speaking at a seed collection event organized by Environment Haliburton! and held at the Haliburton site Oct. 6, Weissflog said the land has seen a remarkable turnaround over the past 20 years. Once a gravel pit, the 380-acre Abbey Gardens property has been transformed from a space that drew from the area’s natural resources to one that replenishes them.

Weissflog was one of three speakers at the event, which included a tour of Abbey Gardens’ vegetable and pollinator gardens, as well as its “flourishing” tallgrass prairie habitat.

“That ecosystem wasn’t found in Haliburton County prior to European colonization – but it’s one that needs a lot of help. With the changing climate and all the sand we have up here, it is a suite of species that does quite well restoring an old sand pit,” Weisslog said.

Cara Steele, an ecologist who tends to the land at Abbey Gardens, said the tallgrass prairie project began in 2017. It focuses on a five-acre plot now known as the ‘Little Pit Prairie’.

“Tallgrass prairie is one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems, with an estimated one per cent remaining,” Steele said, noting the habitat loss has threatened dozens of species, including birds. “Our primary goal is to create more grassland habitat and showcase progressive and innovative reclamation techniques for aggregate pits.”

It can take several years for some grasses to stick and take hold – Steele said the only way to develop a new habitat is seeding and planting by hand. The program has become a focal point of the EcoExplorers program for children aged six to 11, with Steele teaching the process from start to finish.

“Each year, the kids help plant approximately 500-600 grasses,” Steele said.

During last week’s event, Steele said she discovered two new species growing in the prairie that she hadn’t seen before – the cylindrical blazing star and round-headed bush clover. The former is a rare plant she had sewn in with a restoration mix several years ago, but had yet to see it spring.

About 40 people attended the event, with each learning how to foster prairie habitats at home said Haliburton Micromeadows’ Baz Conlin, who also spoke at the event.

“People were concerned about grassland conservation and asked how they could help. They were also interested in establishing their own micro prairies. Attendees were passionate about collecting seed and keen to start their own native grasses,” Conlin said.

“The site at Abbey Gardens is an example of grassroots restoration and rewilding that can be done on any scale, from five acres to 200 sq. ft. When you get native plants back on the landscape, great things happen,” he added.

Conlin was also collecting little bluestem seed for the Ontario Kirtland’s Warbler Restoration Initiative, which restores grassland habitat for at-risk birds at the Featherstone Nature Reserve near Port Hope.

Susan Hay, Environment Haliburton! president, said the event was an important one as it showcased to people how easy it can be renaturalizing barren land. She promoted hands-on learning as an effective way of getting people started.

“We like to try to have outdoor events when the weather is suitable,” Hay said.

Spooky season has officially hit the Highlands and now two of the County’s lower-tier townships are getting in the Halloween spirit.

Dysart et al and Minden Hills have announced Halloween-themed events for later this month. The fourth-annual ‘Haunting in Minden Hills’ is happening at the Minden Hills Cultural Centre Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This year’s Halloween celebration explores urban legends and folklore, with spooky activities and mysterious tales for all ages. Dress up in your favourite costume and join in the fun,” said Robert Wong, the cultural centre’s programming co-ordinator.

There will be various activities throughout the day, Wong said, including a witch dance workshop, palm reading by Catherine Harper, pumpkin carving and contest, scavenger hunts, colouring sheet content, mythical legends crafts and facepainting. There will also be complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn.

There will be prizes given out throughout the day, donated by local businesses. Admission is by donation.

New this year, Dysart township has organized something for kids of all ages.

Haliburton Haunt and Treat is happening at A.J. LaRue Arena Oct. 31 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and is being promoted as a kid-friendly event. Andrea Mueller, Dysart’s manager of programs and events, said there will be a trunk-or-treat in the parking lot, with a Halloween-themed experience inside.

“We’re looking for local businesses, organizations, community groups and residents to decorate their vehicles and hand out treats,” Mueller said. People can register online at www.dysartetal.ca/halloween.

Once the sun goes down, it’ll be time for ‘Dysart After Dark’. Mueller said it’s aimed or people ages 10 and up. Also happening in the arena, it’s a haunted walk-through experience featuring spooky spaces, eerie surprises and plenty of Halloween scares.

The township is looking for community donations to help transform the arena – old decorations, props, lighting and spooky décor are all needed. For more information, contact 705-457-1740 ext. 635.

There’s plenty more happening in the community. Winterdance’s Haunted Halloween Forest, located at 1888 Hodgson Rd., runs tours on Fridays and Saturdays during October, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

The Haliburton Legion is hosting a psychic and mystic market Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some Halloweenthemed activities. There will also be a line dancing event from 7-10 p.m.

Ommmh, at 8 Milne St. in Minden, is hosting a ‘Halloween High Tea’ Oct. 29 at noon, reservations required. On the same day, Cookhouse Saloon (2879 Hwy. 60) is hosting a Halloween jam night party from 8-10 p.m.

On Halloween, Walkabout Farm Therapeutic Riding Association is hosting its first ‘Warped Woods’ show from 2-5:30 p.m. Owner, Jennifer Semach, said the event is suitable for small children and those with disabilities and sensitivities. The DropZone Games Arcade in West Guilford is offering a drive-thru trick or treat service from 5:30-8 p.m.

The Haliburton Legion is hosting a Halloween dance Oct. 31, from 7-11 p.m., with music from The Recycled Teenagers; the Wilberforce Legion is hosting a dance from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with prizes and hot chili available; while Shawn and Elli Chamberlin are hosting a paranormal investigation at the Dominion Hotel, starting at 8 p.m.

Algonquin Highlands has taken a stand against Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), refusing to endorse updated federal regulations designed to speed up approvals for new cell tower installations.

Proposed changes to legislation covering radiocommunication and broadcasting antenna systems were issued by ISED in May. The body said the aim is to accelerate rural connectivity and 5G network expansion by “modernizing public notifications and streamlining municipal review processes.”

Township planner, Aaron Bell, broke down the changes for Algonquin Highlands council at a Sept. 17 meeting. The most impactful, he said, is the removal of local public consultations that tower applicants had to organize before a site could be approved. That will be replaced by a digital portal where people can comment on projects online.

“They intend this portal to function as the sole notification consultation mechanism for proposals all across Canada,” Bell said.

There will be no requirement for applicants to advertise new projects in local newspapers, while on-site signs will only require a QR code people will need to scan to get more information. Application fees, set at $500 in Algonquin Highlands, have also been removed.

The notification process is also changing. Currently, applicants must mail notice of a project to all property owners within 500 metres of a proposed tower site, or 1,000 metres if it’s close to a lake. Now, ISED is mandating that notice be given only to residents who live within three times a tower’s height. With most structures ranging from 30-60 metres, that means only properties 90-180 metres from a site will be notified.

“It’s quite a big change,” Bell said.

ISED said it will also be enforcing a 45-day review clock for residents and municipalities, with Bell saying a late or non-response will trigger automatic federal approval. While local councils retained the right to object to projects based on visual impact and environmental sensitivity before, they can now only oppose for federal procedural and safety breaches.

The township has maintained its own policy for cell tower approvals for more than a decade, but Bell said the updated federal regulations would supersede them.

Outgoing deputy mayor, Jennifer Dailloux, said she was very concerned about this new direction.

“I would say strongly none of these changes are in the best interest of the local population. Townships such as Algonquin Highlands have refined and improved our consultation and notification policies in direct reflection of the experiences we’ve had with these local communities and the lessons we’ve learned.

“The lakeside experience is very different from being in a city surrounded with high rises. We know what we’re doing here and why we’re doing it – because it’s in the best interests of our people and community,” Dailloux said.

Cell gap project

The issue is a big one in the Highlands given the controversy surrounding the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s (EORN) cell gap project, which wrapped in August. Partnering with Rogers and the provincial and federal governments, the $300 million initiative delivered 657 new, co-located and upgraded towers.

“5G cellular services are now available across eastern Ontario, improving services for residents, businesses, first responders, municipalities, Indigenous communities and visitors in the region,” EORN said. The cell gap project targeted 99 per cent voice call coverage, 95 per cent standard definition video coverage, and 85 per cent high definition video coverage in populated rural communities and highly-travelled roads and highways.

In August, EORN said there was a 100 per cent completion rate for upgrades to existing towers, at 311, though only 234 of 257 planned new towers were built – a 91 per cent success rate.

Twenty-one upgrades to existing towers were completed in the County, with four new co-locations, though only 19 of 29 new towers are currently in service – a 65.5 per cent success rate.

Of the proposed new sites, 12 were set for Dysart et al, six each in Minden Hills and Highlands East and five in Algonquin Highlands.

The Highlander did not get confirmation on the 10 projects that haven’t been completed but know Algonquin Highlands council refused to provide concurrence for a tower on Hwy. 60 near Oxtongue Lake in 2023, which didn’t proceed. Minden Hills council also opted against supporting a tower slated for Bobcaygeon Road last fall.

Ward 2 coun. Sabrina Richards called the update “an attack to democracy at the municipal level” and pitched maintaining the local policy, despite having no teeth.

“Even though we have little control when a higher level of government comes in and wants to make changes, we have found when we vote against things we’re not supposed to vote against – like previous tower sites – they do listen,” Richards said.

Algonquin Highlands and Highlands East are the only two County townships with cell tower policies.

CAO John Connolly recommended council maintain what it has, with staff taking on the role of notifying residents within 500 or 1,000 metres of a site, depending on location, and organizing public consultation.

“This is a case of, are we going to get hit in the face or the gut? It’s not the kind of policy we want. We want to maintain the local autonomy. There will be difficulties for providing the advocacy – but I think we still need to do that,” Connolly said. “This is an important issue, a local issue, and I think we need to keep banging the drum.”

The Land Between’s Leora Berman has always harboured dreams of running an incubation program big enough to regenerate the Highlands’ turtle population. Now, she’s one step closer to achieving her goal.

The local charity, founded by Berman in 2007, was awarded a $196,000 grant by the Ontario Trillium Foundation last week, with the money to establish a new Turtle Guardians nursery in Gooderham. Berman said she hopes to have the site up and running by June 2027.

“This is a reason to celebrate and a major milestone for the organization,” Berman said, noting the endowment is The Land Between’s first capital grant. “Our goal is to be on par with Scales Nature Park. They’re the largest incubation centre in Canada… we’re at the point now where, if we don’t do something soon, our kids will not grow up with turtles.”

Berman said staff and volunteers respond to calls from the public about turtles on roads, or in dangerous situations. Because turtle eggs are so vulnerable, they’re taken back to Turtle Guardians’ facility in Haliburton village, where they’re cared for and nurtured for 10 days before being released back into the wild.

This year, the facility took in almost 14,000 eggs from approximately 500 nest sites across the County. They have to maintain a 97 per cent success rate in hatchling survival to maintain their incubator permit. Berman said they’ve always hit that benchmark, but survival in the wild is slim.

Charity hopes to raise another $400,000

“We balance the odds from 1 in 1,400 eggs reaching adulthood [left alone in nature], but it’s 1 in 250 if we excavate nests and incubate,” Berman said. “So, even after all our efforts this year, we have 300 turtles reaching adulthood, we’re seeing an average of 1,000 dead turtles every year… so we’re not even coming close to replacing the dead ones.”

Since 2016, Turtle Guardians has been patrolling roads across Haliburton County, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes and Hastings Highlands, tracking data for rescues, injuries and fatalities. Berman said some areas are seeing losses of up to 40 per cent in turtle populations.

Because Turtle Guardians has only been able to care for hatchlings for up to 10 days before releasing them, Berman said they return to dangerous locations on the side of roads, where they’re prone to be hit by cars if they wander, or picked off by other animals.

To go along with funding for the new facility, Berman said she’s also secured an extension to the amount of time hatchlings can be under Turtle Guardians’ care, now up to two years.

“Now, we’re going to try to boost the turtle population ourselves. If we grow them for one or two years, the hatchlings are that much bigger when they’re released. They won’t be targeted by frogs or fish, and will be difficult for herons to take, so we’re cutting at least half the threats to them right away,” she said.

She’s aiming to take in 20,000 hatchlings next year, though hopes to grow to 30,000 when fully operational. Her upside limit is 50,000.

The 1,500 sq. ft. facility will basically be a turtle farm, Berman said. It will need to be bio-secure to keep new diseases away, with heated flooring required to maintain temperatures.

While thankful for the grant, Berman said she’s around $400,000 short of funding the project. That will cover construction, infrastructure and equipment costs, while also establishing an endowment fund for emergencies. Anyone interested in donating can contact info@turtleguardians.ca.

Once built, Berman said she’ll also be on the lookout for more volunteers to help run the space.

“I want this to be a community project. We want people named on the permits, out excavating nests, helping to raise the turtles and, eventually, release them. That way it becomes sustainable. It becomes a Haliburton project forever – that’s kind of my dream,” she said.

Twins update

Conjoined twin snapping turtles, Bert and Ernie, have beaten the odds thus far, Berman said. Recovered from Eagle Lake in August, the pair were still at Turtle Guardians’ home base in Haliburton as of Tuesday (Oct 6).

“They’re still doing well. I don’t think they’ll make it much longer, but they are still going,” Berman said.

The mini snappers were born with two heads but only one shell and body, a condition known as bicephaly. Conjoined twins occur once in every 100,000 cases among turtle hatchlings.

Berman said the pair would soon be shipped off to Simcoe County, where they’ll be cared for at another rehab centre.

There are positive and negative implications for property owners under proposed new floodplain mapping for Minden Hills, CAO Cynthia Fletcher told council’s last meeting.

A proposed zoning bylaw amendment for floodplain boundaries was presented at a Sept. 24 meeting with little input from the general public so far.

Fletcher said what is being planned, “does have an impact, both positive and negative, to some properties.” She said it was why the report was for information only, as staff feel there needs to be more public education and engagement.

Manager of planning, Amanda Dougherty, discussed proposed amendments to the township zoning bylaw for mapping, from 1988, and for the Gull River only. She said the changes would align Minden’s floodway zone and flood risk overlays with new LiDAR mapping the County of Haliburton did with the Ganaraska Conservation Authority. It would now also include coverage along the Burnt, Drag and Irondale rivers.

“The floodway is an area of high-risk and is not generally permitted [for] development or site alteration. The flood risk area, also referred to as the flood fringe, is subject to flooding but to a lesser degree, and therefore may support development or site alteration providing such development can be safely achieved and without creating new or aggravated hazards,” she said.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey appreciated the report and said the township had to do better outreach.

“This is new mapping. It is definitely going to impact people’s properties, and is totally new for the Irondale, Burnt, and Drag.” She called for informal open houses, such as at the Irondale and Minden community centres, with large maps on the wall, so people can pinpoint their property to learn about potential impacts. She also wanted to make sure the mapping was accurate.

Coun. Pam Sayne felt now being consistent with the provincial planning statement will help the township progress applications faster. She said it was important the community also understands why the municipality is altering its mapping. She thought they could record a public event and share it to YouTube.

Coun. Ivan Ingram asked if existing maps were grandfathered for landowners. Dougherty said anything built pre-mapping changes would be allowed to remain.

Coun. Bob Sisson asked, “what happens if someone has paid a huge amount of money for a property and now it’s going to be zoned in this floodplain, what is the resale going to be for this property?”

Dougherty said while it might sound “crass,” property values are not a planning matter. However, she added, the concern “is not lost on staff.” She said she was already working with possible impacted property owners.

Mayor Bob Carter said the LiDAR mapping was done before COVID but then delayed in the aftermath. He said there had been presentations and public meetings. He agreed with staff he was surprised how little public comment there is now. He encouraged outreach.

“Some people will be overjoyed; some will not be very happy with this new mapping.” He said they would have much more accurate mapping, but “let’s go out and get the input from people and go from there.”

McKelvey noted it wasn’t just the river systems either, but “a lot of properties between lakes as well.”

The only member of the public to speak at the meeting was Patricia Walshe, who lives on Spring Valley Road. She said she had asked how the plan would affect their property but had not heard back.

She said they built in 2015 at “considerable cost” for things such as a flood survey, and had invested to prevent flooding impacts, such as three flying buttresses. She said they had done everything asked of the municipality after the 2013 flood.

With the changes, she said, “I’d like to know how this applies to us.”

With food insecurity at an all-time high across the Highlands, County farmer Godfrey Tyler put Dysart et al council candidates on the spot during a debate at the Haliburton Legion Saturday (Oct. 3), challenging them to do a better job of working with, and advocating for, local growers and suppliers.

Around 235 people attended the event, hosted by the Haliburton Highlands Healthy Democracy Project (HHHDP), which has organized forums in all four townships ahead of this month’s municipal election.

After candidates had a chance to present their platforms in a short one-minute introductory speech, and answer preset questions on amalgamation, lake protection and the future development of the township’s 92-acre property on County Road 21, it was the public’s chance to hold their feet to the fire.

Tyler was one of the first to step forward. For decades, he and his wife, Jean, have cultivated cattle, maple syrup and forestry operations at their Waverly Brook Farm property. He asked deputy mayor candidates Pat Casey and Walt McKechnie and mayoral hopefuls Greg Bishop and Andrew Nowell how they would help local farmers keep putting food on the table.

Bishop said he wanted to review the township’s bylaws around community and personal gardens, which would help with supply. He also promised to work closely with the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market to connect local vendors with Highlands’ stores and shops.

“Getting them on side to buy and supply locally within our institutions around the County is key,” Bishop said.

Nowell promoted homesteading, believing there’s more the municipality can do to support people starting out, while Casey and McKechnie liked the idea of more individual and community gardens – provided they can be protected from wildlife.

Margaret Cox, a volunteer with the Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank noted the organization is spending around $30,000 per month on food to give away to needy households. She asked the four leadership candidates if they would endorse the township providing annual funding to the food bank to support operations – Bishop,McKechnie and Casey said they would, while Nowell presented a different idea.

“We’ve got to look outside the box and bring more food sources into our area. I used to work with Sysco Canada and they usually have a surplus they give away each month,” Nowell said.

Elizabeth Cloutier asked each candidate if they’re aware of the funding streams available to municipalities needing to invest in failing infrastructure. McKechnie brought up a joint $1 billion commitment from the provincial and federal governments to assist townships who don’t issue development charges to builders.

“We’re lining up at the door… we have a team at Dysart working on this, and other grants, all the time. This is something that will be very positive for our community and will help in many ways, maybe even with the sewage plant expansion,” McKechnie said. The $14 million project is still awaiting regulatory approval.

Casey said money could also be used to support expensive bridge repairs and installed necessary infrastructure at the County Road 21 property. Nowell and Bishop said they’d look to staff to provide direction on what the township can apply for and do with the money.

All four committed to doing some work to repair the road into the village at the intersection of County Road 21 and Gelert Road.

With short-term rentals now permitted on licensed shoreline properties, another resident asked if any of the candidates were open to allowing bed and breakfasts. She first came to the Highlands as an arts student 30 years ago and, for the next 20 years, made annual visits, staying at different B&Bs. They’ve mostly disappeared in the years since, she said.

Bishop and McKechnie said the issue is a big one and should be decided by all council, with guidance from staff. Nowell said he would be open to investigating, while Casey noted he’d be in favour.

“I struggle with it, being on the lakes… but the conversation on the other side is Airbnbs. If we’re allowing them in that zone, and B&Bs comply with getting a STR licence, I would support that,” Casey said.

Voting will be done via telephone or the internet in Dysart again this election, with polls opening Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. and closing Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. If you don’t receive your voter information letter by Oct. 16, contact the Dysart municipal office at 705-4571740.