Two Haliburton businesses have partnered to help restore prairie grasses in the Oak Ridges Moraine – that may one day help the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler and other species to survive and thrive.

Baz Conlin of Haliburton Micromeadows has been contracted by the Northumberland Land Trust, part of the larger Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. He said the two Land Trusts are working with partners to restore 80 hectares for the bird, and other species, including those threatened (Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Whip-poorwill, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Hognosed Snake) and those of special concern (Golden-winged Warbler, Snapping Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, and Monarch Butterfly).

Kirtland’s Warblers have very specific habitat requirements, typically nesting in well-drained sandy soils covered in large forests of young Jack Pine, a habitat often created by fire. They lay their nests on the ground, hidden away under low lying branches of young Jack Pines with a thick cover of understory plants, such as grasses, sweet-fern and blueberry.

That’s where Conlin comes in – helping to bring the grasses that are needed.

“Basically, they are trying to restore a shortgrass prairie full of native grass species, and then they’re creating a young Jack Pine forest in this area to try to create habitat for these birds, so it’s like a bottom-up restoration project,” Conlin said.

He added they are looking for different species of grasses that would have originated in Pine-Oak savannah or tall prairie grass ecosystems. However, because of development, and fire suppression, there’s less than one per cent of the original coverage in Ontario.

“So, finding large enough populations of these species in order to collect enough seed to sow 80 hectares is a lot. You need about three to five pounds per acre of seed and the seed weighs nothing.” He added it’s very hard to collect in the wild and takes an inordinate amount of time.

One of the grasses is Little Bluestem, which Simon Payn of Grounded has planted at his Lucas House garden, which houses Grounded, The Highlander, Lebo Law, and Corner Gallery.

“The grass that Simon’s growing, Little Bluestem, is a major component of these ecosystems and his seeds come from a very small remnant population in the Pontypool area of Kawartha Lakes,” Conlin said.

He believes they are from a Hydro corridor there. Conlin visited the Lucas House garden and was able to collect about 10 gallons of seed, which ended up being three to five pounds, enough to restore a large area in the Moraine.

He said there are seed purveyors in Ontario, but the seeds are often cultivated from the northern U.S. and don’t produce what he is looking for. “

By collecting the seeds that Simon’s grown, we are preserving local genetics, and we are getting those local genetics back onto the land to essentially restore those tree (such as Jack Pine) populations.”

He added that Abbey Gardens have also offered Little Bluestem grass from their sand pit restoration as a seed source in the future.

For now, though, he said, “we have this small little planting from The Highlander that comes from seeds from a very rare isolated population and the genes of that plant are being preserved by collecting those seeds at The Highlander and then sowing them on this large property, and it’s a partnership between all these groups.” Another contributor is Fleming College, Peterborough, which sowed the seeds at the site.

Payn said, “I love that the garden at Lucas House is breathing new life into a prairie. It shows how we here in the Highlands can work together and help the natural world.”

The Beer Store (TBS) officially announced the pending closure of its location at 15 Hops Dr. in Haliburton, with grocery stores trying to figure out what their role will be with empties.

A spokesperson for The Beer Store confirmed the closure for Jan. 11, 2026 in an email to The Highlander Nov. 17, sending a press release issued Nov. 13.

“We are making the difficult decision to close the Haliburton Beer Store. We know this is disappointing news for staff, customers, and the local community. This decision reflects specific local circumstances,” Ozzie Ahmed, VP Retail TBS said. He did not elaborate on “local circumstances.”

He said they would remain open until end of the day Jan. 11, including accepting empties.

“We want to thank customers for their patronage in Haliburton. The Beer Store recognizes the contributions our employees make to the business and in the communities where we operate. All efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements.”

We asked how many employees work at the Haliburton location and had not received an answer as of press time. We attempted to reach out to an employee, however received an email from The Beer Store stating, “staff at retail locations are not spokespeople for the organization, although awesome ambassadors for the organization.”

Grocery stores must accept empties in new year

The Highlander emailed The Beer Store last month asking about a pending closure, and were told Oct. 14 “out of respect for customers and staff, we do not comment or speculate about future changes to our retail network. If a decision is made to close a store, out of respect, the first people to know are our employees.”

Haliburton’s is the latest in a long line of stores that have been closed since the beginning of 2025.

One person commented on Facebook, “I can’t wait to flood the first grocery store with my empties.”

Ahmed noted all grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept the return of empties and refund customer deposits starting Jan. 1, 2026.

The Highlander reached out to Steve Todd at Todd’s Your Independent Grocer Haliburton and Brad Park at Haliburton Foodland. Both are on vacation this week, and were unavailable to comment. However, The Highlander has learned that both stores are trying to figure out what to do about empties.

Meanwhile, Environmental Defence senior program manager, plastics, Karen Wirsig welcomed the news that Ontario grocery stores selling alcohol must start accepting empties.

She said, “we are pleased to learn, one year after the expansion of alcohol sales in grocery and convenience stores went into effect, that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is enforcing the requirement for certain grocery stores to accept empties as part of the deposit-return program for alcoholic beverages. This is essential for saving the program.”

She added the Ontario deposit-return program (ODRP) was at risk of collapse due to the closure of Beer Store locations. By the end of the year, The Beer Store will have closed about 100 outlets.

The Highlander spoke with Beer Store shoppers Nov. 17. One man, who declined to give his name, said, “I think it will affect a lot of people because if the grocery stores can’t take the empties, they have to give back their licence, which only leaves us with (convenience stores).”

He said he would buy his beer somewhere in town after Jan. 11 as he won’t drive out-of-town to get it.

“It’s too bad and there are jobs, too.”

Employee Shannon Stinson, on social media Nov. 15, wrote “the rumours are true. The Haliburton Beer Store will be closing Jan. 11, 2026. I would like to thank everyone for the years of support.”

What to do with your empties

• The Beer Store has launched a new empty return locator to find another Beer Store or alternative retailer that is accepting empties. They are on The Beer Store’s website. In the navigation bar select ‘returning empties’. Then, select ‘where to return empties’.

• To find the closest Beer Store location, go to www.thebeerstore.ca/locations.

• To find an alternative beer retailer, use the province’s website locator at: where to buy alcoholic beverages.

Minden Hills hopes to revise its beleaguered septic reinspection program by bringing it in-house,

Council, at a Nov. 13 meeting, gave deputy chief building official, Tim Lewis, the green light to hire a septic inspector to take over the portfolio – at an estimated cost of more than $80,000-a year to taxpayers.

Lewis told council, “within the municipality of Minden Hills, there are approximately 5,000 septic systems. Under the septic reinspection program, approximately one-third of these systems have been reinspected by a third-party firm to date. The external program was costly and did not achieve all of the intended results.”

He said having a rolling reinspection program is essential for protecting the township’s lakes. Further, he said it helps residents by detecting potential issues sooner, avoiding costly repairs and replacements; and teaches them how to maintain and operate systems.

Lewis said new software allows staff to do the tracking, schedule checks, track data, and correspond with homeowners.

“A total of 2,229 properties were inspected under the former reinspection program, leaving 2,771 left to be inspected. With an additional inspection resource, staff anticipate completing the outstanding inspections within a 2.5-year period and that a five-year rolling re-inspection program can be maintained.”

He suggested the inspection fee remain at $240, consistent with what people have been charged to date. Once the cycle is done, he said council could reconsider the cost. He estimated staffing costs at $82,000-a-year, for salary, benefits, personal protective equipment, and expenses.

Lewis said, “bringing the program in-house is cost-recoverable while providing a consistent, trackable, and sustainable inspection service.”

Coun. Bob Sisson asked if it was a mandatory program. Lewis said while not mandatory, he would not advise the township stepping away from it. He said protecting the township’s lakes is important for tourism, and quality of life.

Coun. Pam Sayne lobbied hard to bring it in-house. She said she had been getting calls from people asking when the township would be reinstating the program, as they are concerned about lake health. She added she thinks the program will pay for itself as they are charging a fee and if someone is in arrears, it can be added to their tax bill.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey said she was 100 per cent behind the township doing the program. However, she argued against bringing it in-house. She said they should tender for a different third-party provider. She said they lack office space, and thought it would cost more than $82,000-a year. “It takes more than one set of boots on the ground to even do these inspections.”

Sayne disagreed, saying an in-house service would be more efficient, particularly around communications, oversight and administration.

Mayor Bob Carter said, “anything that is going to increase the budget I’m naturally against.” However, he said he would appreciate the consistency.

Coun. Ivan Ingram added if they are looking at a continuous program, it would mean renewing contracts, or long-term contracts, with providers.

In the end, council agreed to move the program in-house.

Following the success of a six-month cycling pilot in Haliburton village this summer, Pamela Marsales says the Caboose Community Bike Hub located in Head Lake Park needs community support if it’s to return for another season.

The space opened in April after the Friends of the Rail Trail (FoRT) secured $30,000 in seed grant funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The money was used to renovate the caboose in Head Lake Park, allowing the space to be used as a focal point for cycling-related programming in the downtown.

Marsales said FoRT planned to apply for a follow-up OTF grow grant for 2026, but the project didn’t make the cut. She told Dysart et al council Oct. 28 more money would be needed to support the hub’s operations next year.

“The bike hub gave new purpose to the working on the budget now and it’s not looking too good.” Following further discussion, coun. Nancy Wood-Roberts suggested council was fine committing the space for another season, but not any additional funds. caboose, which had been sitting empty and had pretty much become a storage shed. It added new vibrant energy to the entrance to Head Lake Park,” Marsales said. “The project served literally all ages, from 18 months to people in their 80s. The caboose was an inviting space for visitors.”

She estimated about 200 people visited the caboose and participated in community rides and workshops throughout the summer, with the hub closing for the season in October.

She asked if Dysart would consider dedicating money in the 2026 budget to support another season of cycling, but council was unconvinced.

“The problem with these things is, you get the seed grant and then don’t get the one after that, so then everyone comes to the township looking for money. It just isn’t [realistic],” said mayor Murray Fearrey. “I don’t think the space is an issue. The caboose looks a lot better… but we’re working on the budget now and it’s not looking too good.”

Following further discussion, coun. Nancy Wood-Roberts suggested council was fine committing the space for another season, but not any additional funds.

Marsales said there are numerous benefits to continuing the program. She said the caboose drew visitors from other areas, with a seniors cycling group from Sudbury stopping in to learn about the Rotary bike share. Marsales said they intended to launch something similar in their home community.

Guided rides through the downtown were popular, Marsales said, helping to showcase all that Haliburton village has to offer. She said the Rotary bikes, a regular target for local vandals, have had a quieter season.

“Since this project has been active, there’s been a rise in responsible use of the bike share. We can keep an eye on everything happening in the park, keep running our programming, which was very popular through summer,” Marsales said.

She estimates there are 1.7 million cyclists in Ontario, generating an economic impact of $517 million per year. On average, visiting cyclists spend $317 when riding in a new area. She pitched a similar arrangement to the one Dysart has with Rails End Gallery, where the municipality contributes money for operations and maintenance.

“It’s a unique opportunity to continue supporting a location that gets high visibility and enjoyed a successful year of programming this summer. It would be a shame to see that space sit empty again,” Marsales said.

Dysart did not commit any money, with Marsales saying she intends to approach Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC) for funding. A formal request for municipal funding will be considered during 2026 budget talks, Fearrey said.

U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research has put out a final call to the community to submit their research project proposals for consideration for the upcoming winter and spring post-secondary semester.

Frank Figuli, the non-profit’s program coordinator, said U-Links is looking to take on at least five new environmental-based projects over the coming weeks. He’s also hoping to see submissions covering the social sector.

The County-based organization takes potential projects submitted by community groups or residents and matches them with student researchers from Fleming College and Trent University, who work in the field in the Highlands compiling data that they hope can provide answers to long-lingering questions.

Since 1999, U-Links has partnered with more than 3,000 students on over 600 projects. Staff assist with developing comprehensive project proposals, identifying research questions and how best to collect data.

“We’re here to increase knowledge capital and guide informed decision making through these projects,” Figuli said. “There’s not anything too small or too niche – we always find a way to incorporate a host’s needs into an experiential learning opportunity for a student.

“It’s a mutual benefit – the community gets vital information, which can change the way we look at a certain area, or how we care or protect it moving forward. The students, meanwhile, are taking away skills that would be very hard to get in a traditional academic setting,” Figuli added.

Each year, U-Links takes on between 25 and 30 projects, Figuli said, with students presenting their findings at an annual celebration of research event, held in Haliburton every March. Next year’s event is scheduled for March 28.

Figuli said U-Links staff are currently assisting students on 28 projects – including a study of artificial nesting platforms for loons, investigating alternatives to fireworks, and development of a hazardous algae bloom reporting framework. He expects all of those to be presented at the upcoming research celebration.

He said about 85 per cent of the projects U-Links takes on are environmental – with studies and monitoring of the area’s 600plus lakes a constant theme.

Other recent notable projects, Figuli said, include an artificial light analysis of Paudash Lake, which he said focused on some of the ecological impacts of light pollution; an investigation into how apples could pave the way for increased agritourism in the Highlands; and a study of the benefits of the renaturalization of Abbey Gardens, which is flourishing on the site of a spent gravel pit.

A research paper on the work U-Links assisted with at Abbey Gardens was recently published in the summer edition of Canadian Reclamation magazine.

Figuli is also looking for opportunities it can provide first-year college and university students through its community service learning program (CSL). Last year, youth led educational activity stations at the annual Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha Children’s Water Festival, helped stabilize sensitive shorelines around Glamor Lake by planting native plants, and established year-round inspection sites at Waverley Brook Farm to track the impacts of weather changes and shifting environment.

All project proposals are due by Nov. 24 and can be submitted to Figuli at coordinator@ulinks.ca.

“Our bottlenecks this year are not students – we have enough of those. It’s finding hosts and projects,” he said. Once a project is accepted, the possibilities are almost limitless, Figuli added. “We’ve seen a project started at the undergraduate level and escalate, with different students, to a master’s thesis… this is one of the more unique ways people can make a difference in their community.”

Aging Together As Community Haliburton Highlands (ATAC) is celebrating another important milestone, says lead Bonnie Roe, with the group recently securing official not-for-profit (NFP) status.

Roe said ATAC received its NFP designation in August – a move she believes sets the organization up well for the future. It’s been almost three years since Roe and her husband, Greg, and a handful of other community activists joined forces, creating a group committed to advocating for and supporting seniors across the County.

They launched, initially, as the Haliburton Highlands Long-Term Care Coalition, transitioning to ATAC last year. Roe said the group’s purpose has always been to educate seniors about the programs and services available to help them live fulfilling lives well into their golden years.

“We wanted to take a grassroots community perspective to get people to open up and share their stories, to find out what issues people are living through here and how we can try to help them,” Roe told The Highlander.

Speaking to the non-profit designation, Roe said it was a lot of work.

“Many, many hours spent filling out paperwork… we think this is a very important step, as having this status gives us structure. We now need to develop bylaws and policies, which makes us more accountable to the community,” Roe said. “Most importantly, it gives us some level of stability financially, because it does open more doors for funding, which will allow us to do more.

“The overarching goal now is to build capacity through our programming, which should help us attract new members,” Roe added, noting ATAC has a mailing list of about 500 people, with hundreds attending events through 2025.

A community celebration to mark the charitable distinction is being held Nov. 23 at the Haliburton Legion, from noon to 3 p.m. It will double as a chili “funraiser”, Roe said, with ATAC looking to secure funds to see them through the winter.

In its first year, ATAC received $22,500 through a federal New Horizons for Seniors grant. It got another $25,000 via Ontario’s Seniors Community Grant Program in summer 2024, but Roe admitted the coffers are largely empty as the group tries to maintain a presence through the shoulder months.

“This is a transition time for us. From the end of summer until April, we have no funding. We will, hopefully, be getting some money in April, but we really need some support until then,” Roe said.

Six County-based restaurants will be supplying homemade chili – Stone 21 at Pinestone Resort, SIRCH Bistro, Boshkung Smokehouse, Dominion Hotel, Poquito Loco and Features Brasserie. Haliburton Foodland and Wintergreen Maple Products are also involved, offering their support.

Roe said Dr. Nell Thomas will give a presentation at 1:30 p.m. titled ‘love, vitality and value: the legacy of our elders’, which Roe says will unpack the impact older generations have had on society. Live entertainment will be provided by Gary Baumgartner and Mixed Bag, featuring Dave Bathe and George Porter.

The event is by-donation, with Roe telling people to pay what they can, with a suggested amount of $20. Registration is required, through atachhevents@gmail.com or 705-457-6579.

ATAC is actively looking for more board members, with Roe saying there’s an opening for two new members.

“We’re looking for motivated individuals to volunteer in an area that speaks to your interests, values and those of ATAC,” Roe said. “Do you enjoy event planning, board governance or participating in working groups? Fundraising or writing grants? Not all roles are time-intensive and may easily fit your schedule.

“Our events bring together people young and old who believe that aging is an important community discussion that requires planning and finding creative solutions together,” Roe added.