If Minden Hills had to replace all of its assets, they’d be worth nearly $307 million, consultants Watson & Associate Economists Ltd. told council Jan. 9.

In a report to last week’s council meeting, they said transportation assets are the biggest ticket items, at $205 million. That includes more than 270 kilometres of roads; 14 vehicle bridges, three footbridges, and one structural culvert.

That’s followed by facilities at nearly $47 million, and includes 26 structures (excluding water and wastewater), such as the municipal office, public works facilities, the arena, fire hall and others.

Next up is wastewater assets of $28.4 million; and water assets of more than $18 million. That includes water and wastewater mains, water and wastewater treatment plants.

Fleet and equipment come in at $8 million, with 35 vehicles, trailers, playground equipment etc.

CAO Cynthia Fletcher said having an updated asset management plan is “a major milestone” for the township.

“We have been without an up-to- date asset management plan for quite some time. This brings us into compliance for our requirements for 2024 and allows us to go after some available funding,” she said.

Director of finance, Wendelin Lonergan, added there is still work to be done to be compliant for July 1, 2025. She said the asset management plan would be a living document, “going forward in conjunction with budgeting, not just something that sits on a shelf. It will help with grant funding in the future to highlight where any deficiencies may be in our assets in the township.”

Peter Simcisko presented on behalf of Watson and Associate, also providing an assessment of what kind of shape the assets are in.

He said asphalt roads are good, while gravel and surface treatment are fair. Structures are rated as poor for local bridges, but fair for collector bridges, footbridges and culvert.

Water, wastewater, facilities, fleet and equipment are all in fair shape.

Simcisko said that indicates “while the assets are still certainly operational and generally able to meet functional requirements, they are on average reaching the point where replacement or rehabilitation may be needed.”

As a result, he suggested the township spend an average of $7.3 million a year over the next 10 years on assets, with the largest chunk being $5.2 million for roads. He noted that is a preliminary estimate and does not reflect proposed levels of service. They’ll be working with staff on priorities over the next number of months.

“Ultimately, asset management planning at a very high level comes down to this need to balance a desired or proposed level of service with the costs of both achieving and then maintaining that level of service,” Simcisko said. The final asset management plan will be presented to council in June 2025.

Lonergan said a lot of the data is only up to 2021 and there have been investments since then that will be captured in the final report, so the “numbers might look scary at first blush, but this is normal across most municipalities in the province. If we are able to obtain some good grant dollars going forward these numbers will come down quite significantly.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said “this does open us up now for grants to get a lot of these things done and I greatly appreciate that we’ve gotten this far.”

“This is a work in progress that will be continuing,” Lonergan said.

Highlands Opera Studio (HOS) is embarking on a “daring” new year-long project through 2025 – with lead Valerie Kuinka, inviting the Haliburton County community along for the ride.

‘Let’s Make an Opera’ is a grass-rootslevel production designed to encourage participation in local theatre, Kuinka said. One of four professional mentors involved, the long-time HOS co-artistic director says the goal is to take three-to-four stories based on life, or experiences, in Haliburton County and spin them into a series of short operatic features.

The project is supported through a $97,400 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

“We want to encourage people who are not familiar with opera to dispel the preconceptions and take a chance to try something new,” Kuinka said. “All opera is, is stories supported by music and theatre. So, we are bringing the entire process of creating an opera front and centre to people in Haliburton County.”

The first step, Kuinka said, is finding good source material. She’s spent the past month gathering stories from the public – everything from historically significant events from the Highlands’ past to cute and quirky quips from a memorable weekend at the cottage.

“The idea is the stories will all come from, or feature in some way, Haliburton County. It can be a personal story, or just a random anecdote from life. But it must be told by someone that lives here, and has an experience born here,” Kuinka said.

Kuinka’s daughter – professional soprano, singer and songwriter, Lauren Margison, is also involved. So, too, composer Danika Lorén and percussionist Michael Murphy. Between them, the quartet have decades of experience performing professionally and know what it takes to put together an impactful show.

Kuinka said she hopes people will come forward to fill a selection of roles – both on-stage and behind the scenes.

Workshops will begin in April, focusing on setting the selected stories to a musical background. Kuinka said each piece will be 15 to 30 minutes long and will boast its own dedicated team.

“We need wordsmiths, musicians, performers, artists to assist with props, people with stage direction experience, set designers,” Kuinka said, noting no training is required for most behind-the-scenes roles. To be involved in a performance, she added, “you must be able to sing in tune.”

Regular meetings will be held virtually through spring and summer, with a second workshop scheduled for August – with all components coming together for a series of rehearsals.

Kuinka said the idea is to create a heartwarming production for the community, from the community. After spending years supporting and training aspiring musicians through the Highlands Opera Community School and ‘Pay What You Can’ singing programs, Kuinka said she sees this as another way of giving back – and allowing people the chance to peek behind the curtain.

“This is about the people of Haliburton County owning their story. Opera does not have to be professional singers in a big theatre with a full orchestra in a major city. In fact, it’s much more exciting creatively working with smaller operas – this is what we would like to share at home in Haliburton,” she said.

Final performances will take place in November at a to-be-determined location.

Anyone wishing to participate can contact Kuinka at valerie@highlandsoperastudio. com.

Fundraising concert

Celebrating its 19th season this summer, HOS is hosting a fundraising concert at Jane Mallett Theatre in downtown Toronto Feb. 9.

The bill features internationally renowned soprano Christine Goerke, mezzo-soprano Simon Genga, tenor Scott Rumble, Samuel Chan and Margison in solos and ensembles from opera, musical, theatre and jazz, accompanied on piano by Timothy Cheung and Vladimir Soloviev.

Kuinka noted reduced holiday pricing for the summer season has been extended until Jan. 31. This year’s features include: Richard Margison Masterclass July 29; From Opera to Broadway July 31; Why Choose Opera Aug. 5; Pop Goes the Opera! Aug. 7; Casual Song Soirée Aug. 12; Orfeo Ed Euridice Aug. 14; Music on the Water Aug. 16; Homecoming: HOS Alumni in Concert Aug. 18; and The Merry Widow Aug. 21-25.

Tickets are available through the HOS website.

After a 2024 season that saw so many highs, including a top five show finish at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 16-year-old equestrian Tavia Harris says she’s determined to keep progressing as one of the province’s top up-and-coming jumpers.

The Minden resident wrapped up her second season on the amateur Trillium Horse Series circuit last year, where she stood out as a top performer in the central east zone.

Riding twice a month in jumping events between April and August, Harris recorded a top seven finish in regional competition alongside her horse Carpincho, a 19-year-old thoroughbred mare. That qualified her for the Trillium Championships, hosted by the Trillium Hunter Jumper Association, which took place in Ottawa in early September.

After another impressive showing there, where Harris competed against equestrians of all ages – some with more than a decade’s worth of riding experience – she was invited to participate in the prestigious Provincial Cup. While she fell short of a podium finish, Harris’ love for the sport, and connection with her “best friend” Carpincho – or Camero as she’s known outside of competition – earned the pair a place at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, held in Toronto in November.

It was a surreal moment for Harris as she got to see things from the other side of the fence, having attended the fair annually for as long as she can remember.

“As far as last year went, I think it was better than I ever could have hoped for,” Harris told The Highlander in a recent interview. “It’s been hard, and a lot of work… but getting to the fair made it all worth it.”

While her appearance in the city was for showing, rather than jumping, Harris said it ignited a fire deep within her. She and Carpincho placed fifth in the in-hand and under-saddle class – a “remarkable achievement for a girl who had never really showed before,” said mom, Elizabeth Foote.

Later that month, Harris was named co-recipient of the Cassie Bonnar Junior Equestrian of the Year award by the Ontario Equestrian Foundation.

It was the pinnacle of a four-year journey for Harris and her mare, after the pair were first introduced in November 2020. Then 12, Harris had spent years trying to convince her mom to buy her a horse. After relenting, Foote spent months researching for a perfect fit – only for the pair to stumble upon Carpincho, owned by a breeder in Madoc. This was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their connection was instant, Foote said, with Harris making sure to spend time with her new best friend every day. They found a stable in Highlands East to house her.

“Tav was so committed – it was a difficult relationship at first… Camero had some issues to work through, but that kid sat on a bucket in a field every single day. She showed up over and over and over again,” Foote said. “Over time they developed a real trust and before long they were inseparable.”

It was months before Harris climbed on Carpincho’s back for the first time. Almost completely self-taught via videos on YouTube and guides found online – with only a couple entry-level lessons, Harris had to learn through trial and error as she figured out how to adapt and maneuver her body while in full flight.

An avid hockey player for much of her youth, Harris gave up the sport and almost all her other extra-curriculars so she could dedicate as much time as possible to perfecting her new craft.

“That wasn’t too hard – actually, it wasn’t hard at all,” Harris said. “After creating this incredible bond, I knew [jumping] was all I really wanted to do. The fact we get to spend all this time alone, growing together… it means so much to me.”

After jumping two-foot-six-inch hurdles the past two years, Harris said she’s planning to go up to three-feet in 2025. She’ll do so by once again learning the ropes herself, opting against professional coaching. For her, part of the fun is connecting with her horse and going through new experiences together.

“It almost feels like we’re one now whenever I’m riding… but I’m still trying to figure out what the circuit is and how to progress. I just look at all my mistakes from previous rides and try to make sure not to repeat them,” Harris said. “I do want to go to the championships again. I’d like to win.

“After performing so well and exceeding anything I thought I’d do these past two years, I just want to see how far I can go, how far Camero can take me,” Harris concluded.

Eighteen months from the $1.725 million purchase of 91.5 acres along County Road 21 in Haliburton – and Dysart et al mayor, Murray Fearrey, admits the township has “been slower than we should have been” in preparing the land for development.

Council authorized the purchase in July 2023, with Fearrey claiming the parcel represented the last chance to meaningfully expand Haliburton village. He said the property is ripe for residential, commercial and recreational use.

The mayor said much of last year was spent meeting with potential developers to get a sense of what can be done. While the township hasn’t yet identified how many new housing units could be created, Fearrey said it will likely be a mix of single-family homes and multi-unit apartment-style builds.

County-based developer Paul Wilson, who owned the property from 2018 to 2022, previously told The Highlander he believed the land could accommodate up to 200 new homes.

Fearrey hopes 2025 will be the year for real progress at the site, noting township staff are working to amend the official plan to facilitate future development.

“It’s [zoned] all rural right now… it will have to go through a comprehensive process to make sure we can do almost anything on the property. There will be more than two or three zones and they’ll be interchangeable depending on what we do with the layout,” Fearrey said, noting any change will also have to be ratified by the County of Haliburton.

Dysart CAO Tamara Wilbee said staff have identified what studies need to be completed before land can be rezoned and development can begin, with a report and estimated quote to be tabled at a special council meeting Jan. 10.

Extendicare visiting potential sites

Swimming pool

While housing remains the priority, Fearrey said council is also earmarking land for a new arena, curling rink, swimming pool and outdoor playing courts.

“Everybody wants these things – that’s what we’re hearing. It’d be a huge financial cost and it’s a number of years away if I’m being realistic, maybe 10 years, maybe more. But we feel it’s important we dedicate space and allow for the opportunity,” Fearrey said. “A new arena is probably $20 million today – and then you add in all the rest. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, there would need to be a lot of help, but we don’t want to limit the potential of that site.”

Fearrey noted discussions with Extendicare over housing a new long-term care facility on the site is at an impasse. In 2022, the company announced it would be adding 68 new and 60 upgraded beds to a new building in the County, with the Ontario government committing $41 million to the project.

At the time, Extendicare president and CAO, Michael Guerriere, estimated the project would be complete within three years.

In an email to The Highlander Jan. 7, Extendicare spokesperson Owen Saull said, “our development team has visited a number of potential parcels of land and we continue to work closely with municipal officials as we identify a suitable site. We also continue to work with our partners at the Ministry of Long-Term Care, whose support is required to ensure the project is feasible given the unique challenges and costs related to building new homes in rural and remote communities.”

Fearrey believes the CR 21 site to be the best fit. “We’re pressing them.”

Sewage expansion

Dysart council will also discuss plans for the expansion of the township’s sewage treatment facility on Friday (Jan. 10). Fearrey said he expects they will decide how best to proceed with engineering and design.

“Ultimately, we would like to double the size, but if we don’t get the [provincial and federal] funding we’re looking for, then we’ll have to scale it down. It all depends on what’s available,” Fearrey said.

Council has spent more than a year investigating its options – a proposed public/private partnership to help fund a $17 million expansion was considered, though Fearrey said “that hasn’t worked out as well as we thought.”

He said any upgrade is likely at least three years away – though he believes there’s enough capacity remaining to accommodate most, if not all, of what’s built on the CR 21 property.

Public works director, Rob Camelon, said the plant has close to 20 per cent capacity remaining, which is enough for approximately 300 dwellings.

After saying in December 2023 that he’d like to see ground broken at the CR 21 site within two years, Fearrey said he thinks that timeline is still achievable. He reiterated it’s council’s intent to sell the land for development once the prework is complete.

“I do think things will come together fairly quickly. There are some outstanding items we have to figure out, but a lot of the heavy lifting is done. The road is already in, we’ve got people working – a surveyor is laying out portions of the property for residential, commercial and recreational, so we’re making progress,” Fearrey said.

“Interest hasn’t gone away – we still have parties we’re meeting with. It’s a very developable property and is probably going to be pretty reasonable [price wise] to service. Nobody is going to have to go in and blast rock everywhere, so there will be no shortage of takers, I’m sure,” he added.