Most people wanting to register their shortterm rental (STR) properties in Dysart et al will receive approval in 2025, with the municipality pondering changes to its official plan that could impact licensing requirements in the STR bylaw it passed last year.

In a Feb. 25 report, bylaw officer Hailey Cole said the township had approved 80 applications by the middle of last month, with 33 pending. Of those, five didn’t comply with Dysart’s zoning bylaw, 16 had Ontario Building Code violations, and 12 required updated paperwork.

Currently, Dysart’s zoning bylaw doesn’t allow for properties with structures within the water setback, including saunas, sheds, gazebos, and hot tubs. To qualify, owners have been told they must first remove the structure. Some members of council, notably mayor Murray Fearrey, have spoken of the need to adjust that ruling.

Cole suggested a temporary solution – granting licenses on the provision illegal structures not be used and removed by Sept. 1. She noted some owners had complained they can’t remove anything until after the snow has melted. Coun. Pat Casey said he’d heard from owners who felt they’d miss out on bookings for the upcoming season if they had to wait until after structures were removed to get their licence.

Council approved conditional licences for these properties, valid for one year from the date received. Cole said the arrangement includes an allowance for bylaw staff to carry out random inspections to ensure structures are not being used. Any violation will void the licence.

Property owners will be eligible for one conditional licence. Cole said they’re only being offered to those with zoning violations – properties with Ontario Building Code infractions do not qualify. Upon expiry, owners will have to apply for a new STR licence.

She estimated Dysart has received applications for approximately half of the active STRs in the municipality.

With council considering changes to its official plan to allow for structures to be located closer to the water setback, and for things like renting out secondary dwelling units as STRs, Cole said those would require updates to Dysart’s official plan.

“Staff have encountered several properties that wish to rent individual rooms within an owner-occupied dwelling. This falls under the definition of a bed and breakfast in the zoning bylaw, which is allowed in most urban residential and rural residential zones, but not in waterfront residential,” she said.

Casey said he wanted to see that changed. “I don’t think we should restrict that.”

Cole said staff will move ahead with enforcement measures for owners advertising without an STR licence in late March.

Consultation planned

Director of planning, Jeff Iles, has been working on updates to Dysart’s official plan and zoning bylaw for months. At a meeting in December, council directed Iles to investigate allowing any one of a gazebo, shed, or sauna on a waterfront with a threemetre setback. The current setbacks are 20 or 30 metres.

To be approved, Iles is proposing that applicants own their shoreline or be required to purchase it from the township, saying “there are roughly 9,000 waterfront properties… adding 9,000 new structures to municipal property comes with significant liability concerns.”

Neither Casey, nor deputy mayor Walt McKechnie, were in favour of that recommendation.

“To buy a shoreline you’re pushing $20,000… I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to alleviate liability, but could we do a licence of occupation… to make it more palatable for someone just looking to build a shed,” Casey said.

Licences of occupation are often used to allow residents to install water-related infrastructure on a municipal shore road allowance.

Iles said he would investigate. Other proposed changes include: adding permission for one roof structure overlooking a waterfront; gazebos and saunas over 10 sq. metres will require a building permit; a two-metre vegetation buffer surrounding structures to protect the ribbon of life.

A public meeting will be scheduled for after the Victoria Day long weekend, with Iles and council saying it’s important that residents be offered the chance to weigh in.

“This is just a starting point for us – we need to listen to what the public has to say, present what we have, and if we feel we need to change it after the public opinion comes in, we’ll do that,” said coun. Barry Boice.

Haliburton County musician, Terra Lightfoot, is going through a bit of a whirlwind at the moment.

She has just come off tour with Colin James, saying, “it was amazing to go across the country with those guys. We had such a good time. Lots of great music, lots of great people. It was just a beautiful time.”

Next up, she and husband John are headed to Peru for a charity trip with Canada’s Great Kitchen Party. “We’re going to see Machu Picchu,” she said.

The next day, they will fly from Lima, Peru to Vancouver – as Lightfoot has been nominated for a Juno Award, with the ceremony taking place March 30 at Rogers Arena.

Lightfoot is up for adult alternative album of the year for Healing Power. She is up against Inuktitut by Elisapie, Revelation by Leif Vollebekk, We were born here, what’s your excuse? by The Secret Beach and Never Better by Wild Rivers.

While not her first Juno nomination, Lightfoot said this one is special.

“It means a lot to be nominated for this record because this is a record that I wrote in the Highlands. And the Highlands is a place where I started feeling like myself for the first time in my life.

“My husband and I found this house and we feel so lucky to live here, and be influenced by nature, and so to have an album that, it feels like my truest representation of me and my music getting nominated for a Juno feels really good.”

Healing Power is Lightfoot’s fifth album. “This just feels right because this is the first place I’ve ever felt like home.”

She recalled how the last time she was nominated, she was up against Gord Downey, “and so that was an easy one.”

However, she is looking forward to a great dinner, and free massage for nominees Sunday morning, “so I’m feeling good no matter what.”

It will also be the first-time seeing host Michael Bublé live.

“I’ve never seen him perform or anything, so I think this will be really fun.”

Kathy Rogers and the rest of the Wilberforce FUNraisers group are doing what they can to put their favourite rural community on the map.

For years, even amongst locals, the running joke has been that anyone unfamiliar with the area, who blinks while passing through the downtown, will miss it completely. Or, even worse, keep their eyes wide open, yet still have no idea where they are.

That’s all changed in recent months though, Rogers said, with a group of volunteers raising money to install lights on the ‘Welcome to Wilberforce’ sign along Hwy. 121 and placing a new custom bench outside the Highlands East township offices. Created by Wayne Quibell of Highland Creek Builders, the decorative piece is inscribed with ‘Wilberforce’ in big bold letters alongside a red maple leaf.

“One of our members was saying at a recent meeting that there’s nothing here in town that says ‘hey, you’re in Wilberforce’, so we decided to do something about that and bring a bit of dazzle to our downtown,” Rogers said.

The bench was installed in December and is the latest reminder of the work the FUNraisers do in the community.

With about a dozen active members, Rogers said its mandate is to bring families together and take pride in their community.

Launched about a decade ago as an offshoot of the now-defunct Monmouth Township recreation committee, the FUNraisers are responsible for annual Wilberforce events such as the Maple Syrup Festival and Penny Raffle. They also regularly assist with the Highlands East fire department’s First Responders’ Day.

“Our goal is to see our local town, businesses and municipality thrive,” Rogers said.

Born and raised in the community, Rogers said she was brought up on volunteerism. Her mom was involved in the curling club and first brought Brownies, a sub-section of Girl Guides for those aged seven to 10, to town. Her dad was a volunteer chief with the fire department.

“I guess you could say it was in my blood – being involved has always been very important to my family,” Rogers said. “Being in such a rural small town, the reason we have most of the things we do is because people stepped up to make them happen… FUNraisers are just carrying on the tradition.”

Maple Syrup Festival, taking place April 19, is celebrating its 44th anniversary this year. Planning for the Penny Raffle, a celebrated summer-time tradition for many years, is also on the go.

It was through the raffle that Barb Schofield was introduced to the group in 2016. Another who has spent her entire life in Wilberforce, she enjoys the social interactions with FUNraisers most.

“I just like doing something to enhance the social atmosphere of the town – the whole point is to get people out so they can meet other people and have a good time,” Schofield said. “A lot of what we do is very kid-centric. We’ll be giving away bunny ears to kids at Maple Syrup Festival. We have a lady who dresses up in a costume and hands out chocolate eggs. It’s all about the smiles.”

She also enjoys raising money for the school bursaries program, with the FUNraisers replicating a program in Gooderham that gives money to students pursuing a post-secondary education. The group has distributed six grants since 2017, totalling $3,000.

Rogers said she hopes to receive at least one bursary application this year, while saying the FUNraisers is also planning to invest in Herlihey Park.

To donate, or become a member, contact wilberforcefunraising@gmail.com.

Colt Taylor credits the Haliburton Army Cadets program with moulding him into the man he is today.

Local troop 1129, for youth aged 12 to 18, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025. Taylor, a volunteer instructor with the corps, has been involved for 16 years – seven as a cadet and nine as a mentor and coach to the County’s next generation of recruits.

“Cadets promote citizenship and help kids develop values and traits such as responsibility, leadership, courage, discipline, and accountability,” Taylor told The Highlander.

The group, which boasts about 30 active members, meets Tuesday evenings at the Haliburton Legion for training nights. Taylor said cadets also participate in specialty assignments some weekends.

There’s no cost for youth to attend, with the program funded by the federal government and receiving further support from the County’s legion branches, the Haliburton Highlands Resource Centre, and the Minden Lions and Lioness’ club.

Taylor said sessions are split into three periods, featuring some form of physical training and instruction. Youth are challenged to develop their fitness, critical thinking, and outdoors-based abilities. He said they’ll have the chance to experience rock climbing and mountain biking, learn first aid, and camp out under the stars while learning how to use a map and compass, GPS technology, and basic survival skills.

As cadets gain more experience, they may be selected for parachuting and national expedition programs. There will also be chances to learn how to handle firearms through regular marksmanship classes.

That’s Taylor’s forte. For years, he’s coached the cadet’s marksmanship team. Respect and discipline are the aim of the game, he said, working with selected youth sporadically throughout the year, but weekly in the lead up to competitions.

Taylor said the troop utilizes a Daisy 853C air rifle, with cadets taking turns shooting 20 targets roughly three centimetres in size from distances of 10 metres and beyond. Shots can be taken in prone and standing positions.

The Haliburton team performed well at a competition in Belleville Feb. 23, placing third out of 10 teams in the Central Ontario zone competition. Taylor said five cadets represented the County at the event.

“The team woke up as early as 3:30 a.m. to meet the bus at the Haliburton Legion for pick-up at 5… they were at a disadvantage as other teams got a lot more sleep, and some other cadet corps have additional gear such as competition marksmanship jackets, but they exceeded expectations.

“The cadets were very happy with their results and are already excited to start practicing for a first-place finish next year,” Taylor said. “They should be very proud of their accomplishment and for representing Haliburton.”

Taylor said cadets also get involved in the community, attending ceremonial military events and volunteering time to worthwhile causes. Last summer, the group assisted with the rehabilitation of ‘The Haliburton’ M4 Easy Eight Sherman tank.

“I love the program – it’s taught me a lot over the years,” Taylor said. “It turns people into leaders… the Haliburton cadet corps is always looking for new recruits.”

Meetings are Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Haliburton Legion. For more information, contact haliburtonarmycadets@gmail.com, or call 705-457-8002.