Work continues on medical centre smell

By

-

April 9, 2026

An odour issue continues to plague the Haliburton Family Medical Centre building, although Dysart et al’s maintenance facilities operator, Rob Parish, said last week it does not appear to be mould.

“We did a group of air quality and airborne mould samples. One spore per cubic metre was found in the lower back kitchen. Anything below 100 per cubic metre is considered a low hazard,” he said.

Parish added the area does not share heating or ventilation with other parts of the building open to the public, such as the Optical Centre, Hill Chiropractor, doctors’ offices, or LifeLabs. Parish said the health unit and Pinchin (the company contracted to complete the air quality) found no visible signs of mould throughout the building, including LifeLabs.

During the air quality testing, Parish said there were elevated levels of carbon dioxide and total volatile organic compounds were found. He said they contracted Pinchin to do a review of the heating and ventilation systems within the medical centre.

Kimberley Robinson, executive director and office manager for the centre, said the plan was to “engage the services of a qualified mechanical engineer to undertake a follow-up investigation of the HVAC equipment to determine how more fresh air can be brought into the building to lower the carbon dioxide and total volatile organic compounds concentrations. Pinchin’s mechanical team can assist if required.”

She said the report also suggested doing further investigation into the health centre’s family health team lunchroom and/or the attached washroom, particularly walls with sinks and toilets to determine if there is concealed mould growth.

She added, “the smell is indicative of an air circulation issue which is being investigated. We are expecting a plan/scope of work any day now to remedy this as well as further investigation of the mould found in the family health team kitchen.”

Rebuilding connection with tourism business owners

By

Submitted

-

April 9, 2026

0

By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Haliburton tourism industry is ushering in a new era by welcoming the formation of an industry-led Municipal Services Corporation (MSC).

During a tourism stakeholders meeting that was hosted at the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre on April 2, the County of Haliburton said it is restructuring how it handles tourism by moving toward a more collaborative, stakeholder-led model. The move comes after the County begins to see the revenue generated from the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) on short-term rentals.

Angelica Ingram, manager of tourism for the County, explained that the shift wasn’t just about tax dollars, but about rebuilding a connection with business owners that had been lost in recent years. She explained, following the seminar, that for nearly a decade, various tourism groups existed in the Highlands, but the most recent iteration disbanded in 2022.

“The two people who were leading it were just too busy, and they couldn’t continue, and nobody really took on the reins,”

Ingram said. Ingram said that since she stepped into her role at the end of 2023, businesses have been vocal about wanting to reconnect.

“I listened… I said I need a little bit of time to just get my feet wet,” she said. “Then in 2025, I started to have conversations with people: ‘let’s try to get this thing going again.’”

And thus a tourism stakeholder session was held. The informal stakeholder group will be supported by the County, the Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC), and the Chamber of Commerce. While not a formal committee of council, Ingram explained that the information gathered at these meetings will directly impact her department’s choices.

“This is a really great opportunity for me to hear what people are saying, how they’re feeling… You can send out emails, you can do online surveys, but the engagement isn’t always there,” the County representative said. “This is the kind of engagement I love.”

For many others in the room, the meeting was a welcome reunion.

“I used to religiously go to all the meetings previous to COVID,” Tegan Legge, general manager of tourism and recreation at Haliburton Forest, said. “Meetings like this are really important so that we can gather and see what’s going on and see who’s still in the room. There are operators in this room that I didn’t even know were still in the County.”

So how does the MSC work? Under provincial law, 50 per cent of MAT revenue must go to an entity responsible for tourism marketing and development. Since the tax took effect on October 1, 2024, the County has begun tracking its impact.

“The first year we’ve seen about $85,000,” Ingram said, adding that three townships are collecting, and one is still in the implementation phase. “I think $100,000 is a better picture going forward of what we could see.”

And where will the money go? The County said that the spending power would lie with MSC’s seven-member board, which would be made up of four council reps and three public members.

“The decision won’t be mine or Scott’s (Scott Ovell, director of economic development); it will be the MSC that gets to make that decision,” Ingram explained.

A “wish list” of projects for the MSC has already taken shape with wayfinding, signage, and rail trail enhancements. There’s also a plan to shift marketing behaviour from individual business competition toward an entire regional brand identity.

While the MSC focuses on marketing and signage, operators like Legge suggest that the County look at some of the barriers in the industry to keep Haliburton competitive.

“Tourism aside, but the County in general, if they can help with public transportation and cutting red tape for accommodators… that’s really beneficial,” Legge said. “Things like my canopy tour, I can’t fill it if I don’t have enough accommodations in the area for people to stay in.”

The stakeholder said that a successful tourism industry requires support for the workforce.

“It’s not just about staff housing. It’s also about daycare. It’s about being able to support those young families that are going to be working in our industry,” Legge said. “Housekeeping, servers, front office. That is probably even more important sometimes.”

The consensus in the room following the two-hour session was that Haliburton’s tourism industry will be stronger with a collaborative, not a solo, mission.

“People always think they’re in competition with one another. They’re not,” Ingram said. “Their best success comes from working together.”

Health unit bringing town hall to Minden

By

Mike Baker

-

April 9, 2026

0

An upcoming community town hall in Minden will give County residents the chance to help shape the future of Lakelands Public Health (LPH) programs and priorities, says local medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott.

The health unit kicks off a four-part series at the Minden Community Centre April 14 at 4 p.m. There will be other sessions in Port Hope, Lindsay and Peterborough through the end of May.

Each town hall will offer an overview of LPH services followed by interactive discussions with staff and opportunities for attendees to provide one-on-one feedback to program and department heads. The input gathered will be used to form the health unit’s new strategic plan, Piggott said.

“It’s only once in a generation that you get the chance to create a new health unit, so we want to take the time to engage and bring the community along as much as possible,” Piggott said. “We want to listen to what people think about public health – the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.”

Piggott said the session will provide his staff an opportunity to explain all that public health is responsible for – and learn about existing service gaps the community want to see plugged.

The agency primarily deals with chronic disease prevention, infectious disease control, environmental and family health and emergency preparedness. Public health takes the lead on immunization, testing, treatment and counselling for sexual health and substance abuse and operating programs like Healthy Babies, Healthy Children (HBHC) and Healthy Smiles Ontario.

“I think public health is an ongoing twoway dialogue. It’s not just something we do and dictate to our community; it has to include conversations and really be something we grow and build together,” Piggott said.

Since the merger between Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit in January 2025, Piggott said LPH has made many program enhancements – including one that was made possible because of the union.

“We’ve introduced the nurse family partnership program (NFP), which is something that focuses on assisting vulnerable women 24 and younger who are first-time moms. It includes home visits and is something we couldn’t do before the merger because both health units had too small a population to partake,” Piggott said, noting it’s a collaboration with McMaster University.

He said the health unit has also invested around $500,000 to bolster its infection prevention control hub.

“We’ve started harmonizing a lot of our disease reporting dashboards – both health units had slightly different ways of communicating infectious diseases and rates of injury and chronic disease, so that’s all on our website now, where people can search by region,” Piggott added.

While the union wasn’t just about improving efficiency and removing redundancies, Piggott said LPH has managed to save around $300,000 in occupancy and insurance costs bringing PPH and HKPR together under one banner.

Piggott said the the health unit will unveil a new strategic plan in 2027.

“It’s going to take the next year or so to really complete… through this journey, there may be some changes, but we’re looking to do them more opportunistically. If we have people departing, we’re looking to make sure there’s work we want to continue to do but also looking to do things we’ve never done before and that’s exciting,” he said.

Piggott said he’ll be in Minden next week and hopes to see a full house at the community centre.

“Taking steps to improve public health services is critically important, especially now given the state of the world and the challenges people are facing. We hope people come out and vocalize their thoughts. We’re open to having honest conversations, even around challenges as that’s the only way to reflect and improve,” Piggott said.

Anyone who can’t attend can participate by filling out a survey available online at www.lakelandsph.ca/news-and-alerts/posts/ community-survey.

Olympics ‘great hope of the world’

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 9, 2026

0

Former CBC broadcaster, Scott Russell, was at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when “a 6’5 guy from Jamaica got out of the blocks, unfolded himself, and Usain Bolt ran 100m in 9.69 seconds before 95,000 people.

“We didn’t know that he could go that fast – that a human being could go that fast – and then he assumed the lightning bolt pose – the place just erupted. What a place to be at to see that happen,” Russell recalled during an April 7 interview with The Highlander.

A former Kilcoo camper and staffer, who’s had a cottage on Gull Lake the past 15 years, Russell spoke at the Speaker Series April 8, and will be joining Canadian figure skating icon, Tracy Wilson, for a fireside chat at the Minden Community Food Centre fundraiser April 11.

Following the Milano-Cortino Olympics, in which Norway bested the world with 41 medals, compared to Canada’s 21, Russell commented on criticism of a lack of funding for Canadian sport.

“I happen to buy it,” he said. “Core funding for high performance sport has not gone up in this country for 20 years; core funding to the national sport organizations which drive sport in the country. When you’re stagnant for 20 years, and you’re trying to rely on ‘own the podium’ to produce all this high tech and the inside edge, that gets pretty difficult.”

He was asked about the Norway sports model versus what is happening in our nation.

“In many major provinces in this country health and physical education and sport is not part of core curriculum. So, kids are getting a miniscule amount of sport through our educational system, and they’re getting 40 minutes a week, and that’s not enough.

“That’s the difference with Norway. Kids are in sport throughout their school education. They don’t specialize in sport right away. We tend to, in the club system, specialize. If you are going to be a hockey player, you are going to pay to play and you are going to specialize in hockey. Whereas in Norway, you are going to do every sport and when it gets time for high performance, we’re going to identify those people who excel in certain sports at a mature age.”

He’s asked if the Olympics are still relevant in our modern world.

“I love the Olympics and I believe they should be as relevant today as they have been in the past. But they are struggling with so many issues right now. One of them is the Olympics are becoming politicized, and struggling to maintain the ideal. They are also struggling with gender identification.”

However, Russell said, “the Olympics are the great hope of the world – and the idea is that people from every race, faith, gender, orientation, and ability are welcome in the one place in the one time – to engage in competition which is fair and just and to show us what is humanly possible.

“There are people who are trying to corrupt the Olympics. And the Olympics are not perfect, but for two weeks or 16 days, it’s amazing to me that this dysfunctional family that we call humanity can somehow get together and make good things happen. I think we have to hold on to that.”

Keeping the frigid plunge streak alive

By

Submitted

-

April 9, 2026

0

By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On a crisp spring morning, dog walkers are usually seen at Head Lake Park bundled up while taking Fido for a stroll past the frozen beach. But for Jon Dunsmore, the sub-zero temperature and partially frozen lake were just what he needed.

Dressed in his swimsuit, a toque, and a towel hanging off his shoulder, Dunsmore walked the path past the dog park, dropped his beach towel on the rocks, and walked straight into Head Lake.

Dunsmore, who was visiting his mother, a lifelong local, explained to The Highlander that he wasn’t going to let a change in geography break a disciplined habit: a daily polar dip.

“I try to do it every day,” he said. “And I just wanted to keep the streak going.” A resident of British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii, Dunsmore plunges into the Pacific waters every single day in a ritual that isn’t about the thrill, but more about the mental edge.

“It’s not something I enjoy doing,” he admitted after emerging from the icy water of Head Lake. “But to force myself into the water every day is a great element to bring into my life. If I do this every day, everything else seems a little easier.”

Dunsmore said the practice helps boost both his physical and mental health, and that self-discipline was the primary driver. Despite the honking geese that joined the B.C. native in the frigid waters, Dunsmore said his internal dialogue goes silent while he focuses on just one thing. Breathing.

“When I first go into the water, you kind of have that sensation of a loss of breath,” he explained. “I really try to control that, focus on my breathing, and just do some real deep breaths while I’m in there… just silence the mind.”

According to several Canadian studies, frequent plunges into icy water can provide several health benefits, including increased metabolism and reduced inflammation. However, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, exposure to sudden cold can spike heart rate and blood pressure, which can be dangerous for those who may have heart conditions. People should consult their family doctor before trying the practice, and never take a plunge alone.

As for Dunsmore, back in Haida Gwaii, the ocean temperatures typically hover between 5 C and 10 C, but he found the freshwater of Haliburton to have a bit of a “bite” to it.

“It’s colder than back home, definitely,” he said. “I’ve never taken the temperature of the water [in Haida Gwaii], but it doesn’t have that same bite as it does here.”

Exciting future

By

Mike Baker

-

April 9, 2026

0

The future of the Red Hawks varsity boys’ hockey program looks bright following a successful three-week junior camp in March.

Coach Jason Morissette said 24 players from Grades 9 and 10 participated, which included practices, an exhibition against Fenelon Falls Secondary School March 12 (a 7-6 loss) and inclusion in a multi-school tournament in Peterborough March 25.

They went 2-1 there, beating St. Theresa from Belleville and St. Stephen from Bowmaville before falling to Peterborough’s Holy Cross in the final.

Only five of the players appeared on this year’s varsity team, giving Morissette hope for a bigger and better program in 2026-27.

“It’s been pretty obvious there’s a demand for hockey at Hal High… this was a great way for us to introduce some new players to the program and let them see what it’s like to wear a Red Hawks jersey,” Morissette said.

“The players were a pleasure to deal with, and I’m really excited about this team’s future.”

Storm take OMHA championship title

By

Submitted

-

April 9, 2026

0

The U15 Highland Storm Rep team, sponsored by Cheryl Smith RE/MAX, was crowned Victoria Durham League Champions; which earned their spot at the OMHA U15 Tier 3 Championships Halton Hills this past weekend.

Facing off against five other top teams in their division, the Storm came ready

Their tournament began Friday with an 8:15 a.m. matchup against the Mooretown Jr. Flags. The Storm set the tone with a commanding 4–1 victory. Lucas Upton led with two goals, while Lucas Vale and Austin Cunningham each added one. Assists came from Hudson Meyer and Vale, while goaltender Blake Hutchinson stood strong between the pipes.

Later that evening, the Storm faced the Prince Edward County Kings, securing a decisive 3–0 win. Hunter Hamilton delivered a hat trick, supported by assists from Tyler Hughes and Brady Burke.

With two round-robin wins, the Storm earned a direct bye to the semi-finals, where they once again met the Mooretown Jr. Flags Saturday evening. The team continued their dominant run with another shutout victory, winning 3–0. Cunningham scored twice, Hamilton added another goal and assist.

Championship Sunday saw the undefeated Storm face the Prince Edward County Kings once again. With a strong showing of support from family, friends, and fans who travelled to Halton Hills and filled the stands, the atmosphere was electric.

In a tightly contested battle, Cruize Neave scored the lone goal of the game, assisted by Cunningham, sealing a thrilling 1–0 victory and the OMHA Championship title.

Goaltender Corbin Elliot was exceptional throughout the final three games, recording three consecutive shutouts and proving to be a difference-maker when it mattered most.

The Storm’s defensive unit: Meyer, Burke, Hughes, James Gooley, Duncan EvansFockler, and Liam Milburn played a critical role in the team’s success. Their ability to shut down opponents, and maintain composure under pressure created a solid foundation for the team’s championship run.

Offensively, the forward group of Neave, Hamilton, Cunningham, Vale, Upton, Chase Kerr, Hunter Peelow, Bently Bull, and Kelson Bagshaw worked cohesively, generating opportunities and capitalizing when it counted most.

The championship performance capped off an incredible season for the Storm, finishing with an impressive 24-6-6 record, a 20-game winning streak, and an outstanding 25 games unbeaten (22 wins, 3 ties).

Behind the bench, the team was led by head coach Jesse Johnson, assistant coach Chris Kerr, trainer Tommy Bagshaw, assistant trainer Tyler Martin, and manager Cheryl Smith.

The team extends heartfelt thanks to their dedicated coaching staff, supportive families, and the many fans who stood behind them all season long.

U11 Minden Carquest LL

By

Submitted

-

April 9, 2026

0

The Highland Storm U11 Minden Carquest Local League season was one for the books.

Through unbelievable smiles, effort and determination, these kids went all the way to the A Championship.

The Storm had a great season going 19-3-2 with the highest goals for in the league.

Our defence was the backbone of the team with strong play from Tripp Meier, Keaton DeCarlo, Griffin Hunt and Francis Gilmour.

Our forwards: Wesley Bramham, Sebastian Dart, Chase Casella, Arizona Latanville, Dean DeLanca, Nolan Gallagher, Nixon Hopkins, Jaxon Pelley and Liam Grant were relentless, playing with drive, determination and effort every game.

Jack Hunter and Isaiah Young split duties between the pipes. They both played great all season and helped on the blue line switching between games.

With the incredible support from amazing parents and friends, this season will be hard to top.

The coaches, Adam DeCarlo, Jordan Hunt and Steve Pelley, could not be prouder of the team they grew to be this season.

From all the coaches, we would like to thank the parents for allowing us to share this amazing season with all their wonderful kids.

As for the parents, we had a great time getting to know each and every one of you through all the shenanigans.

Lastly, to the kids of our Highland Storm team, we thank you for giving us a great season of laughs and fun and we are truly sad to see it end.

U9 MD Hockey Haven

By

Submitted

-

April 9, 2026

0

The U9 MD hockey team enjoyed a memorable and successful season marked by growth, teamwork, and a strong sense of camaraderie.

From the first puck drop to the final game, the players demonstrated tremendous dedication and enthusiasm, improving their skills and supporting one another every step of the way. Practices were filled with energy and determination, and it was clear that each player took pride in contributing to the team’s development. From the pre-game chants to the smiles on and off the ice, these moments will all be missed.

Offensively, the team saw standout performances from top scorers Maddox Gaffeney and Nathan Demerchant, who consistently found the back of the net and led by example. They were supported by a talented group of forwards including Gryphon Luck, James Pettes, Jack Parker, Jack Reid, Ella Sperrino, and James Seed, all of whom brought speed, skill, and relentless effort to every game.

On the defensive side, Hudson Lynch, Annabelle Hutson, Johnny Adlam, and Easton Sperrino played a crucial role in protecting their zone, showing resilience and strong positional awareness. Behind them, goaltender Quinntin Clark made significant strides throughout the season. Having not played net at all before, Quinntin developed into a confident and reliable goaltender, making key saves when the team needed them most. His growth in the crease has been remarkable, and he has a very bright future.

Beyond the rink, the team created lasting memories during tournament travels. Time spent together at the pools, water park, arcade, and bowling alley brought the players closer and helped build strong friendships that will last well beyond the season. A season that would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the coaching and support staff. A special thank you goes to head coach Jamie Luck, assistant coach Jeff Burk, trainer Adam Hutson, and manager Ally French for their countless hours, guidance, and support. Their leadership helped create a positive and encouraging environment where players could thrive.

Overall, it was a fantastic season full of growth, friendships, and unforgettable moments both on and off the ice. Keep winning the small battles and the opportunities will come. Best of luck in your upcoming tryouts.

Punch Up hilarious and heartwarming

By

Lisa Gervais

-

April 9, 2026

0

Youth theatre company, Ctrl-ART-Del is returning to one of its favourite playwrights as it gets set for a spring production of Punch Up.

The work of Kat Sandler, who wrote Mustard performed two seasons ago, has been chosen again.

Spokesperson Christine Carr said they selected this play for several reasons.

Punch Up features a cast of three. In the play, Duncan has always been a pretty boring guy, leading a simple life while working at a bread factory. He stumbles upon Brenda, a sad young woman who’s about to end her life. Convinced he’s fallen in love, Duncan strikes up a desperate deal: if he can get her to laugh, she’ll give life another shot, but if she doesn’t even giggle, he’ll help her go through with her plan.

There’s just one catch: Duncan isn’t funny. So, he borrows Pat, his second-favourite comedian, to help him come up with the perfect routine. But Pat is having a hard time mustering his sense of humour after a bad break-up.

Carr said Sandler’s plays are witty and entertaining, but reflect the real world and its many challenges. “It allows the cast to delve into deeper themes in very relatable ways, and that comes through to the audience. They will be entertained, will absolutely laugh, but hopefully will also be made to think,” she said.

Asked about a theme of suicide ideation, Carr said, “a scary part of today’s world is how real and prevalent these challenging themes already are in society. That reality is paralleled in many of the works we choose to produce. As with any of our plays, we focus on creating safe spaces where the cast can explore the themes and topics, knowing they have support.”

She said Punch Up examines how people can fight the darkness by finding love and laughter in their life. “It explores the importance of connection.”

The cast features some familiar faces: Chris Chumbley, Sophie Lee and Spencer Zumpano.

Chumbley plays Pat. Carr said, “Chris perfectly embodies Pat, the bitter yet hilarious cynical comedian. This role allows him to showcase his comedic timing and his capacity to embody the character, no matter how damaged they may be.”

Zumpano plays Duncan. “Spencer previously played this role during our youth scene study and connected well with the character. He pairs his love of comedy with his acting experience to bring an unintentionally hilarious and awkward character to life,” Carr said.

Lee plays Brenda. Carr said, “Sophie’s character has experienced true heartbreak and loss and Sophie brings these challenging emotions to life, countering Duncan’s comedic nature. She helps ground the production and has stepped up perfectly into a more serious role.”

Carr encourages folks to check the play out.

“This play is hilarious yet also heartwarming. It explores the importance of love and connection in what can be at times a challenging world. While the play tackles serious topics, it is one that has left us dying of laughter throughout the rehearsal process. We are very excited to see the audience react to the play’s humour and life.”

Recommended for ages 13+ due to the serious nature of the themes and language. The play is April 16-18, 7:30 p.m., at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion. Tickets are available on-line (tickets. ctrlartdel.ca) or at the door.