Scott claims sweeping victory for seventh term in HKLB

March 3, 2025

Laurie Scott scored another landslide victory for the Progressive Conservatives in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (HKLB) in the Feb. 27 provincial election, receiving 51.9 per cent of the riding’s vote to earn a seventh term in office.

The local race was one of the first to be declared by CBC, with Scott holding a commanding lead over rivals Alison Bennie of the Ontario Liberal Party and NDP Barbara Doyle, who finished a distant second and third.

Scott’s margin of victory was 14,818 votes according to Elections Ontario, with all polls reported as of 10:58 p.m. She earned 26,506 total votes, with Bennie coming second with 11,688 (22.91 per cent); Doyle third with 6,993 (13.7 per cent) and Haliburton’s Tom Regina, standing for the Greens, finishing fourth with 2,602 votes (5.1 per cent).

Among fringe candidates, Jacquie Barker (New Blue Party) scored 1,223 votes; Brian Kerr (Ontario Party) 926 votes; Gene Balfour (Independent) 426 votes; Zachary Tisdale (Libertarian) 385 votes; and Bill Denby (Freedom Party) 278 votes.

Voter turnout in the riding was pegged at 48.91 per cent, up marginally from 48.14 per cent in 2022, with 51,027 of 104,325 registered electors casting a ballot.

Celebrating with supporters in Lindsay on Thursday night, Scott said she was proud to once again be chosen to represent the area at Queen’s Park.

“Always very happy to apply for the job and get the results. I love representing my riding,” Scott said, noting she prioritized spending her time knocking on doors and chatting with people face-to-face across the region over attending debates organized by YourTV, Minden Matters, and the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce.

SUB: County issues

With basic living costs spiralling in recent years, and the threat of tariffs and counter tariffs with the U.S. looming – likely making things worse – Scott was asked what she would do to make life more affordable for people in Haliburton County, long recognized as one of the poorest regions in Ontario.

“The provincial government has given lots of tax cuts to low-income earners and made different increases to things like ODSP… we cut and give back what we can, like the 10 cents per litre in the gas tax,” she said.

In 2022, the province temporarily reduced the gas tax rate by 5.7 cents per litre, and the diesel tax rate by 5.3 cents per litre. The move was extended to June 30 of this year last October. Since July 2023, people living on ODSP have had their rates increased 11 per cent.

After touting a major focus on affordable housing development in the County following her 2022 election win, Scott claims she followed through on that promise after a Jan. 28 announcement that Minden will receive $2.4 million to bolster the local rental supply.

That build will be headed up by the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation, Scott said, though she offered no timelines for when the money will be paid out or when shovels will hit the ground.

With Haliburton Highlands Health Services recently unveiling plans for a 98-unit $49 million expansion to Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden, Scott indicated she was supportive of the proposal

“I like to see the progression – it would mean more beds. I’ve been talking with [HHHS CEO] Veronica Nelson, the ministry is involved to look at that whole bigger picture of evolution of LTC in the County… we’ve been looking at that for a while,” Scott said, noting she’s also had recent discussions with Extendicare over their future build in the County.

The province announced a $41 million investment with the for-profit care provider in February 2022 for a new 128-bed facility.

“They’ve chosen to build Peterborough first. They tell me Haliburton is next… I think they want to be assured of staffing. There’s a lot of issues they’re looking at,” she said. “Not exactly a date [for start-up], but very soon. It’s still in the future; their plan is to build there.”

In January, Extendicare told The Highlander it has yet to determine a location for the new facility.

Scott said she expected the Eastern Ontario Regional Network Cell Gap project to wrap this year, improving cell service for all County residents, while saying she’s been working with representatives from Bell to bolster broadband services across the region.

SUB: Other candidates respond

Liberal candidate Bennie said she is “the happiest loser in Ontario” after coming in a surprise second-place in HKLB.

“I really am speechless… I said if I got over 1,000 votes that I’d be happy,” Bennie said. “One of the reasons I ran was because I didn’t want to see the party go downhill to nothing in this riding. I spoke to a lot of people and provided a different choice – I’m not your standard, polished person. I’m more ‘let’s get together and work this out’, bit of an underdog, and I think that resonated with people.”

Doyle, a repeat runner for the NDPs after finishing second in 2022, was a distant third. Speaking to The Highlander an hour before polls closed, she said she had a good feeling after a month on the campaign trail.

“The day-to-day affordability was really what people were talking about… things felt different than 2022. So many people told me they’re voting NDP for the first time ever,” Doyle said.

County resident Regina, representing the Greens, took home a lesser split of the vote this time around, down from seven per cent in 2022, but finished in fourth place – ahead of New Blue candidate Jacquie Brown.

Speaking after results were confirmed, he said it was a “forgone conclusion” Scott would reclaim her seat though was surprised by a strong Liberal performance.

In what was his second Ontario election, Regina said he was unsure if he would run again in future.

“I can’t look much past tomorrow, let alone three or four years down the road,” he said.

HHHS reps off to the Netherlands to study LTC models

Mike Baker

February 28, 2025

HHHS is looking into ways to provide specialist care for people with diseases such as dementia. CEO Veronica Nelson, board chair Irene Odell, and chief nursing executive, Jennifer Burns-West, are visiting the Netherlands in April to tour several green care farm operations. They’ll be joined by board member Sharon Kaasalainen, a professor at McMaster University, who has spent years studying the unique approach.

An alternative living arrangement for people with dementia, the facilities typically have fewer residents – between six and eight – who live together in a homelike environment. Support staff are responsible for organizing daily activities, and personal and medical care.

Nelson said HHHS is looking at how to incorporate the approach, and others, into the new facility.

“What we don’t want is to build an institution. That’s why we’re learning and going to see these farms. We hope to build an innovative LTC home where we don’t lock folks up that have dementia and Alzheimer’s, where they can live freely, where they can participate in regular life chores and activities and really build that rural aspect into the home.

“We’re learning and looking to our partners in the community to help form what that looks like in Canada – it’s a little bit different than Europe, where they don’t get the snow we do… but it’s something we’re focusing on,” she said.

Bonnie Roe, lead of Aging Together as Community Haliburton Highlands (ATAC), said HHHS has an opportunity to be a leader in Canada for providing innovative care models for seniors.

“There’s the Butterfly, Green House, Eden Alternative, Green Care Farms – all principles based on care being person-centred, home-like and composed of smaller groupings of units,” Roe said. “Staff connect with the person, based on interests, needs, and feelings – not on a routine that works for the organization.”

She said HHHS staff have already incorporated some aspects of the Butterfly model in Minden and Haliburton.

Roe feels the County is fortunate to have Kaasalainen collaborating with HHHS on a collective vision for LTC and rural dementia care.

“She was instrumental in organizing this trip to glean first-hand knowledge from colleagues in the Netherlands so that it can be incorporated philosophically and structurally into the new building plans at Hyland Crest,” Roe said.

Plan to move LTC to Minden

Mike Baker

February 28, 2025

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has confirmed plans to move all Highlands’ long-term care beds to Minden in the next five years.

CEO Veronica Nelson said an application to expand from 62 beds at Minden’s Hyland Crest to a 160-bed facility will be submitted to the Ministry of Long-Term Care (LTC) by the end of March. If approved, HHHS will close the 30-bed Highland Wood home in Haliburton.

The project would be a significant expansion of the rebranded Minden Health Hub site, with a new LTC wing to be built on the eastern portion of the property. Nelson said it would connect to the existing Hyland Crest.

It’s estimated the project will cost at least $49 million, with Nelson saying the general rule is $500,000 for each new LTC bed.

“Having two small homes is not sustainable,” Nelson said. “We’re looking at consolidation and expansion. What that looks like is yet to be fully determined… it makes sense to expand Minden… adding 98 beds there is a lot less expensive than building 130 beds in Haliburton.

“This is just a plan at this point – nothing is set in stone. The ministry obviously has a say in it, but what we’re looking at is putting everything together at one site,” Nelson added.

She said the Minden hub sits on approximately 9.5 acres, about two acres more than Haliburton, so would be a better fit for the build.

Nelson says build could take three to five years

HHHS communications lead, Lauren Ernst, said if LTC beds are rerouted to Minden, the current Highland Wood site would be retrofitted as an extension to the Haliburton hospital. She said it would be used to build the capacity of acute care and inpatient services.

Ernst said demand for LTC beds is high, with the wait for Highland Wood over 300 days, and for Hyland Crest over 700 days and for Extendicare over 470 days.

“We know our County needs more long-term care beds, and that is our goal,” Ernst added.

Nelson said the expansion would have no impact on other services at the hub, including the urgent care clinic, operated by the Kawartha North Family Health Team, and services such as physiotherapy, bone densitometry, GAIN programming for seniors, and outpatient x-ray.

“We’re actually continuing to expand those services,” Nelson said, announcing a new gynecology clinic will be opening in April. “It will be for physician referrals, or self-referral if people don’t have a family doctor.”

Bonnie Roe, lead of Aging Together as Community Haliburton Highlands (ATAC), said the news of consolidating and expanding in Minden is bittersweet.

“Like any change, one can choose to see this plan as an opportunity or not. Could this new build be the creative alternative many seek? Does it make sense to consolidate all LTC beds in one location to provide optimum care? From a financial and staffing perspective this has huge advantages,” Roe said.

“An obvious negative will be for the residents that will have to move in three-to-five years from their home, which will be very traumatic.”

Master plans underway

A community forum on the future of LTC in the County will be held at the Minden facility March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s the second of a three-part engagement series to share plans on HHHS’ master planning process.

A Feb. 19 event provided updates on HHHS initiatives, recent achievements, and future projects. A third session on the future of acute care is March 26.

Nelson said the idea is to keep the public up to speed with plans for HHHS’ two facilities and allow for input into priorities.

“We’re concurrently doing two master plans – one for the hospital, and one for LTC.”

Master plans are mandated by the Ministry of Health, with HHHS doing both the near term (five to 10 years) and far out (15, 20, 30 years). They must have plans to access capital funding.

“We haven’t had many changes [to acute care] and we need to make some to give us the capacity we need for the next 10 years,” Nelson said, with the population in HHHS’ catchment area expected to increase by 22 per cent over the next 20 years. “This is the way we step back and think about what services and programs are needed in the County now and in the long-term. It’s a long process, but an important one.”

There’s no timeline for submission on the general hospital plan, but Nelson said the aim is to have the LTC file done by end of the fiscal year, March 31.

It typically takes between 12 and 18 months for ministry approval. “Then it would take about two years to build something the size we’re looking at. So, it could take – with the waiting – three to five years for this project,” she said.

HHHS focuses on stability

Mike Baker

February 28, 2025

Haliburton hospital president and CEO, Veronica Nelson, is pleased with the direction HHHS is headed, with 2024 marking a period of stability following years of uncertainty through the COVID19 pandemic.

After reporting a $2.3 million deficit at the end of the fiscal year in March 2024, Nelson said the hospital’s financial position has improved “markedly” since. At the end of the second quarter Sept. 30, the deficit was $700,000.

Nelson will be providing results from Q3 to the board Feb. 27. While she couldn’t provide a number as of press time, she said, “we are in a much better position. We have received some one-time funding to help offset some pressures.”

A big reason for that, Nelson said, is the muchreduced use of agency staff. As of the end of Q3 on Dec. 31, 1.82 per cent of all HHHS workers were agency staff, compared to 11.5 per cent at peak use in June 2023.

A report by Ontario’s auditor general in 2023 noted the average pay for registered nurses was $40.15 per hour, while the average hourly agency rate was $97.33. Nelson confirmed most of the agency staff HHHS utilized were nurses.

Recruitment has been a major focus, with the organization bringing in an additional 142 part-time and full-time staff since June 1, 2023 – the date of the Minden ER closure. Nelson said there have been 32 nurses, 22 PSWs, 10 allied health workers, and 67 other team members hired.

“We’ve made significant inroads, but still have about 18 to 20 vacancies,” she said, noting the hospital is working with Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Trent, Nipissing and Brock universities, and Loyalist and Fleming colleges on training programs for nurses and PSWs.

The hospital has also hired two new full-time and one part-time doctor at its emergency department, with a third full-time hire arriving in July.

“The contract is signed – we’re really excited about him… and we’ve got another one on deck who wants to be here full-time as well,” Nelson said. “Those two additions would fill our emergency department complement of positions… I don’t know when that last happened.”

Patient volumes have increased since the Minden ER closure, but Nelson said wait times for an initial physician assessment have been stable at two-and-a-half hours from March 31 to Dec. 31. For that same period, there has been 5,415 visits to the urgent care clinic in Minden, up from 4,479 from when the clinic opened June 29, 2023 to the end of the previous fiscal year.

Since launching CT services last spring, the hospital has scanned more than 2,200 patients, with 43 per cent of those emergency procedures, Nelson said.

“Given the nearest CT is in Lindsay, having this machine saved 183,000 kilometres of driving for patients, families and EMS. This has been an amazing addition.”

With mammography services beginning last week, Nelson said the next focus is installing a new x-ray in the ER. There will also be construction for a new mental health crisis room, which Nelson said will “offer a safe place for patients and staff to work while in crisis.”

HE assets pegged at $116 million

Lisa Gervais

February 28, 2025

Consultants for Highlands East have determined the township has $116 million in assets.

PSD Citywide’s Jasmine Shadd presented the findings to a Feb. 11 council meeting.

The province has mandated that municipalities must have asset management plans.

The biggest assets are: roads, at $46 million; buildings at $38.5 million; the water network at $7.6 million; bridges and culverts ($6.4 million); vehicles ($6.3 million); sanitary network ($5.4 million); machinery and equipment ($4.6 million), and land improvements ($1.4 million).

They found 51 per cent of infrastructure in ‘fair’ or ‘better’ position, with the overall average condition coming in at 44 per cent ‘fair.’

Getting a ‘very poor’ rating were some of the water network, vehicles, machinery and equipment, land improvements, buildings, bridges and culverts.

“Based on the current replacement cost of the portfolio, the average annual capital needs over the lifecycle off all assets total $4.4 million,” the consultants said.

They noted there is now a gap of more than $2.1 million a year to reach that and the township will have to collect more money in future.

Shadd noted Highlands East is not alone in having such a gap.

“Most municipalities across Canada do not have adequate funds to keep up with annual infrastructure needs. Addressing these annual funding shortfalls is a difficult and a long-term endeavour.”

Mayor Dave Burton asked if it was normal for buildings to be valued so high, at $38.5 million. Shadd said buildings are costly to replace.

Deputy mayor Cec Ryall noted, “we are in a timeline where dollars for taxpayer purposes are extremely difficult to do. Everybody is struggling with budgets.” He said he was looking for a proactive maintenance program, “to look at how to prolong the life of assets in a cost-effective way.”

Shadd said that is not something her company does; but townships do.

Ryall noted the County has established a 1.5 per cent levy per year to help with future infrastructure costs. He said it was something for Highlands East to consider.

Ratepayers see 5.96 per cent hike

Highlands East is poised to pass its 2025 budget when council next meets March 11.

Brittany McCaw, CAO/treasurer, told a special council meeting Feb. 19 that the township was looking at an overall spending increase from the 2024 budget of $534,237.

“This equates to a 5.96 per cent municipal tax rate increase,” she said.

It’s a hike of about $33.38 per $100,000 of residential assessment.

McCaw said factoring in the County and education budgets, the overall impact is a 5.11 per cent jump.

“This budget is the culmination of careful planning and consultation, reflecting our commitment to remain productive and forward thinking while ensuring we address the monetary needs of the municipality and our ratepayers,” McCaw said. She added there were many rising costs beyond their control, including the pending impact of U.S. tariffs.

McColl’s bridge replacement

Council accepted the tender from McPherson Andrews Contracting Ltd. for $470,075.90 plus HST to complete the proposed work on the McColl’s bridge in the 2025 budget year.

Public works operations manager Perry Kelly said they got six bids.

He said the project was first identified in 2023, after the 2022 bridge inspections determined, “the structure needed immediate repairs to keep the bridge open. A replacement was deemed necessary through those inspections from the engineering firm that completed the 2022 bridge inspection.”

Work was done in the winter of 2022 to secure the structure until the municipality could work towards the replacement of the bridge. They are using existing abutments to save money.

Kelly said the winning bid is less than the 2025 budgeted amount of $667,000 for the total project.

Helping turtles

Highlands East is going to help the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative with $700 of in-kind donations.

The conservation group had asked the municipality to provide signposts with hardware and municipal staff time to install turtle crossing signs.

Think Turtle is looking to have one or two sets of signs on Dyno Road, and one on Lewis Road.

Council approved the request.

County debates future chambers

Lisa Gervais

February 28, 2025

A plan to move County council chambers across the road from the County building at 11 Newcastle Street in Minden – as well as renovating the existing headquarters – was hotly debated at council Feb. 12, as it comes with a $1.6 million price tag.

While County staff and politicians have been talking about using the vacant Land Registry Office across the street for a new council home for some time, their first glimpse at floor plans for the new space caught some councillors off guard.

The office closed, along with 43 others across Ontario in 2020, following a move to online property records.

The first floor features the new council meeting space, with a public gallery for 21 people. There is a separate conference room; a kitchenette and lounge, and two sets of washrooms. It would be accessed by stairs and a lift. There would also be a ground floor level with office and public spaces. CAO Gary Dyke said it has been determined they would not be able to use the basement area.

Dyke told the meeting that staff and their consultant, Tessier Design Corp., were readying to put the job out to tender with a hope of starting construction at the end of May and moving in, in early October. He said $1.2 million would be funded by the department, with a little over $420,000 from safe restart and modernization funding. Council approved the money in the 2025 budget.

Dyke said the existing building at 11 Newcastle St. has a number of accessibility issues, and, “we are running out of space. We have very limited meeting space in the building.”

‘Boondoggle’

After coun. Jennifer Dailloux and deputy warden Liz Danielsen referenced aesthetics of the refurbished space, coun. Murray Fearrey queried the whole project. He said they were talking about spending more than $1 million; and while he had heard about moving council chambers, “it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a drawing on it. There are alternatives, there were, … it’s more efficient to have the council chamber in the building where you have your staff. To me, this is a boondoggle.” Fearrey added other options, such as selling the Land Registry Office and extensively renovating the existing headquarters had not been discussed. He said he had a lot of questions and thought they should put the item on hold.

Coun. Bob Carter said they approved putting the project into the budget; knowing it would not affect 2025’s budget. But, after seeing the floor plans, he said, “I am concerned about the cost.” He added he felt it was premature contacting vendors about detailed pricing, “if we’re not going to approve it.”

Carter said 11 Newcastle St. work is needed, but across the street optional. He noted the five townships are talking about working together more, and there could be amalgamation, so it had to be determined if there were too many, or too few offices.

Dyke said they had not discussed possible renovations at 11 Newcastle St. with council, but the idea of moving the council chambers into the former Land Registry Office “was always discussed.” He conceded other elements, such as offices, had not.

But Coun. Cec Ryall said the current building, “as it sits right now ain’t doing the job…there needs to be something done.” However, he said he has to be able to justify the spending of $1.6 million to taxpayers, so would need the rationale, and benefits, for the changes. He also asked if it made sense for Minden Hills to also use the new council chambers. Dyke said a shared council chamber was a possibility. He noted there would be more community space.

Dailloux said “the blueprint moment is a big moment for the brain.” She said she recalled directing staff about a two-building option at budget, so was worried council was pulling the rug out from under staff, “doing what they were asked to do.” She felt decisions about office space, etc., were operational.

Dyke said they could come back with more specific information, and council received the report for information only.

Redmans Records ‘hub’ for music scene

Mike Baker

February 28, 2025

While it wasn’t quite what she had in mind when setting the goal to be her own boss after graduating from the Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD) several years ago, Kelsey Redman said the chance to become sole owner at Russell Red Records was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

The lifelong musician completed a deal to take over the Highland Street business in Haliburton on Feb. 1.

She’s taken a month to decorate the space, which is undergoing a slight rebranding. Moving forward, the downtown storefront will be known as Redmans Records.

After serving as manager since April, Redman said it was a feeling of “right place, right time” when former owners Dan Manley and Collin Burke decided they wanted out.

“I always thought I’d be an artist selling my work, or a musician doing live performances as my income source – getting into retail has been interesting, but I like it. It’s been a really fun job working with music every day,” Redman told The Highlander.

She’s been a full-time County resident for 14 years, first moving to the area in 2011 to enrol at HSAD. By 2018, she had run the gamut at the arts-based college, completing all 12 courses – including artist blacksmithing, glassblowing, ceramics, jewellery making, and photography.

Redman has 10 certificates and two diplomas from her time at HSAD, where she was also a technician and faculty member.

She credits the institution with facilitating connections and friendships with people who are helping her through this new chapter in life.

Enter Wendy Lingard, who spent several semesters at the school throughout the pandemic – some under Redman’s tutelage. The pair have been reunited at the record store, with Lingard working part-time and assisting with decorating – painting the interior to the same colour scheme as HSAD – and helping with stock and customers.

A member of the Highlands Chamber Orchestra, the Haliburton Highlands Wind Symphony, and Highlands Swing Band, Redman said she hopes to inspire people to pursue their passion for music. She plans to start selling cut-price instruments to help those who otherwise may not be able to afford to play, particularly youth.

“When I was 10, I could never afford a double bass – I had mine gifted by my math tutor in high school. That’s the instrument I still play today. Things such as tubas, I only recently bought my first one at an auction,” Redman said. “I think it would be so cool to find used instruments and get as many of them into kids’ hands as possible.”

She’s also planning to purchase an espresso machine, wanting to turn the record store into a hangout spot for locals. There will be other refreshments, including baked goods, available come spring.

Redman also has a growing collection of vintage vinyls with roots in the County she’s hoping to build on – tracks from the 1967 Hal High Glee Club, live recordings from The Rockcliffe, North to Carnarvon from The Jeff Barry Band, and pieces by Johnny Burke, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer who was a staple of the Highlands community from 2007 until his passing in 2017.

“These records are like little pieces of history, I love collecting them. I’m always finding new stuff whether out in the community, or online. It’s a pretty niche thing, but it’s fun seeing how much I can collect,” she said.

While remaining open during renovations, Redman is planning a full launch March 1. The storefront is open Wednesday through Sunday.

“I’d love for this to be the spot where musicians come just to hang out, to keep up with what’s happening… I’d like to have a database here of people in the County that can help with teaching instruments, repairs. Almost like a one-stop shop connecting all the dots of the different people on the music scene,” she added.

Storm fry visiting Muskies

Submitted

February 28, 2025

It was an early morning start for the Highland Storm U9 MD team as they hit the ice versus the Lindsay Muskies Feb. 22.

Though it was bright and early, the team was wide awake.

The game started with the Storm coming out in full force. Despite strong defence by the Muskies, the fish were unable to stop our strong forward lines with the first goal going to the blue and white; who finished the first period with a 1-0 lead.

The second period started just as strong; 32 seconds in, another unstoppable goal for the Storm. This was the first of the period followed by two more in the back of the net, ending the second 4-0. The crowd held its breath in the last seconds as the Muskies had a shot on net, but we were saved by the bell and the refs waved it off.

Going into the third, the Storm did not slow down. The defence remained strong and resilient, showing no mercy. Though the Muskies snuck a goal in half way through the third, they were no match for the Storm, who put two more in the back of the net, making the final score 5-1.

A huge shoutout to the entire squad, for playing as a team, making great passes, and trying their absolute hardest every shift.

Two more games – then post-season for Huskies

Lisa Gervais

February 28, 2025

The Haliburton County Huskies played their last regular season game of the year at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Feb. 26 [the result against the North York Rangers was not known as of press time] and will finish their season with road tilts Feb. 28, against the Trenton Golden Hawks, and March 1, versus the Toronto Patriots.

Sitting on 79 points in the competitive east conference, good for third place behind the Golden Hawks (95 points) and Toronto Jr. Canadiens (85 points), the three games will determine who the blue and white will square off against in the first round of the playoffs – slated to run March 7-20.

The Huskies have continued their hot hand, winning eight of their last 10 games – including weekend wins over the Markham Royals and Stouffville Spirit to put them on a five-game win streak.

Huskies 5 Royals 1

This past Saturday, Ty Petrou scored a natural hat-trick in just eight minutes of the first period to propel his team to a 5-1 victory over Markham.

His first came at 10:44 on the powerplay, his 24th of the season, from Nathan Poole, with his 50th helper, and Cameron Hankai (assist number 37). At 16:34, the scoresheet was repeated, with another powerplay marker from Petrou (number 25 on the season), from Poole (51) and Hankai (38). Petrou completed the sweep at 18:29, his 26th goal, from Poole (52) and Chase Del Colombo (8).

Coach Ryan Ramsay said he had never experienced a natural hat-trick in such a short time frame of a game. “There’s always a first for something. It was great for him, and his confidence. He has a great shot. We want him to shoot more, so it just shows.”

He noted it was a four-assist night for Poole, who would not have been far off Patrick Saini’s point total record, set last year (94), if not for missed games due to injury. Poole is fourth in league scoring.

The Royals solved Tyler Hodges for the only time in the game at six seconds of the second period. However, Raine Nadeau notched his first at 1:49, from Kieran Litterick (6) and De Jesus (24). Then, De Jesus tallied his 27th, from Hankai (39) and Poole (53) to seal the deal.

There was no scoring in the third as Hodges recorded the 5-1 win, turning aside 24 of 25 shots.

Huskies 4 Spirit 3

Sunday was a closer affair with Haliburton and Stouffville trading goals early on.

De Jesus put the Huskies up 1-0 at 4:53 of the first, his 28th, from Litterick (7) and Oliver Tang, with his first assist. At 11:05, the Spirit answered back.

Petrou opened the scoring in the second frame, his 27th, from Poole (54) and Del Colombo (9), but the Spirit tied it.

Stouffville took the lead early in the third, but the Huskies answered back with two of their own: Del Colombo (5), from Poole (55) and Kaiden Thatcher (15) and then Stefan Forgione fired in the game-winner, his fifth, at 11:48, from Noah Lodoen (16) and Litterick (8). Stephen Toltl turned aside 28 of 31 shots for the win.

Playoffs

In readiness for the playoffs, Ramsay was expecting to sit some of his top players for this weekend’s road games. “Don’t want them to get hurt,” he said.

On a five-game win streak, and winning eight of 10, Ramsay said confidence is high going to home ice advantage.

“We played Stouffville Feb. 23. They should be coming in fourth, one place behind us. We had four of our top nine forwards out and a top defenseman and we beat them. And they needed to win. So, it just shows the depth that we have.”

It’s the best regular season the Huskies have had since moving to the County for the 2021-22 season. They are up to 39 wins, with more expected in the last three games of the season. They recorded 36 victories in 2022-23.

HHSS Nordic Hawks fly at OFSAA in Sudbury

Lisa Gervais

February 28, 2025

The Haliburton Highlands Nordic Ski team competed at the Ontario Federation of Secondary Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships in Sudbury Feb. 20-21, with three podium finishes.

Coach Karen Gervais said the team, which trains at Glebe Park, “was faced with a different challenge on the mostly flat and rolling trails, but found their glide on the snow and once again produced some very strong race results.”

In the interval start distance races, junior girl Annika Gervais had her best race of the season over the 5km course, making the podium with her seventh place finish out of 105 high school division skiers.

Winston Ramsdale was the top finisher in the junior boys’ high school division (34th), followed by Tristan Humphries (39th), Eric Mueller (52nd), Brady Hamilton (62nd); and Jack Sharp (105th) in a field of 120 skiers. The team finished 12th in the overall team standings out of 19 teams.

The senior girls’ squad was led by Erika Hoare, who also skied her best race of the season, finishing 16th on the 7.5 km course, which featured more climbing than the junior loop. Violet Humphries followed (21st); Olivia Gruppe (36st); Grace Allder (40th); Ella Gervais (48th); Teagan Hamilton (49th) and Hannah Sharp (54th) of 104 skiers in their division. The team earned a seventh place finish to take home some purple ribbons.

In senior boys’ action, Brechin Johnston led, finishing 25th of 133 skiers. Evan Backus was 39th; Graham Backus 48th; Owen Megrah-Poppe 95th and Carter Sisco 108th. The team were 10th in the standings of 19 schools.

On day two, teams raced in the 4 x 900m sprint relay. Gervais said, “all teams skied very competitive races, and managed to hold their spots in the team standings.”

The junior boys’ team of Ramsdale, Humphries, Mueller and Hamilton finished 10th. The senior boys fought hard with Gervais saying, “Evan Backus skillfully avoided competitors and crashes in the lead leg, jostling for space with 10 other teams in the heat. Megrah-Poppe and Graham Backus skied solid middle laps and Johnston fought hard in a very competitive anchor leg.”

The senior girls of Gruppe, Gervais, Hoare and Humphries was the only team to ski their way into the final.

“They skied passionately hard in the final, knocking nearly 20 seconds off their heat time to close the gap significantly between them and sixth-place rival Lo Ellen Park from Sudbury, but just could not catch them at the line,” Gervais said. They maintained their seventh-place position for another podium finish.

“The skiers represented Haliburton with excellence and integrity,” Gervais said on behalf of fellow coaches Mike Rieger, Joleen Thomas and Kevin Hoare. They thanked graduating students, Hoare, Sharp and Hamilton for “their leadership and commitment and helping to grow the Hal High Nordic Skiing program over the few last years.”

There were also thanks for the groomers at Glebe Park.

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