More than a dozen HHSS students and Interact Club members helped pack up 72 gift bags for local teens Dec. 12 after spending weeks collecting donations around the community. Thirty-six will go to the Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank, and 36 will go to the Minden Community Food Centre. “At the high school, we thought it was important that people our age also get gifts, not just little kids,” said Interact club member and fundraiser organizer Annabelle Borgdorff. Each bag contains snacks, hygiene products, stationery and more. She said she hopes it helps benefit teens who may not have a place to call home this Christmas. “We know there are a lot of people who couch-surf and stuff like that,” Borgdorff said. “Homelessness doesn’t always get recognized in a small town, because it’s not as visible.” Interact club president Sophie Longo, teacher Christine Carr, and Interact member Annabelle Borgdorff helped direct more than a dozen students who filled gift bags.
Fill-a-cruiser
Sgt. Marc Jones, left, and auxiliary staff sgt. Brad Robinson collect donations outside the Foodland in Haliburton Dec. 3 as the OPP held its annual fill-a-cruiser event. The fundraiser also went to Todd’s Independent in Haliburton and Dollo’s Foodland and Easton’s Valu-Mart in Minden, as well as in Wilberforce. OPP said on Dec. 15 that 780 bags of food and $5,200 were collected and donated to local food banks. “Members of the Haliburton Highlands OPP wish to thank the business owners, staff and the community for their generosity and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season,” OPP said.
Walking in a winter wonderland
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the McCaig family home.
Bright lights and a generous collection of outdoor festive decorations adorn all corners of the Sunnyside Street, Haliburton property. Inside, husband and wife team, Rob and Laurie, have transformed their little slice of rural paradise into a winter wonderland that looks like it was pulled straight out of their favourite Yuletide movie.
The crown jewel is a custom-made, 175-square-foot Christmas village the pair have been building since the early 1980s. They have affectionately dubbed the scene, which fills a large portion of their basement, ‘McCaig-R-Ville’.
“Christmas has always meant a lot to our family. My mom always loved it, and she passed that spirit down to me,” Rob said. “We like to go big around the holidays, and this village really has become a tradition of ours, over many, many years.”
Propped up across several fold-up tables, McCaig-R-Ville is a sight to behold. The village boasts 42 buildings, including a thriving downtown that features a community centre, town hall, police station, library, post office, bakery and a selection of locally-themed and inspired stores; nine mountain ranges, which Laurie carefully crafted with papier mache; two train stations, where carriages circle gleefully on a loop half covered with tunnels; and a lookout tower that Rob said is styled after the 100-foot tall structure that overlooks the Frost Centre in Algonquin Highlands.
More than 500 ‘residents’ can be spotted across dozens of scenes – there’s a moving dancing hall that plays festive music on repeat, hockey rinks made from old glass cabinets, and two churches that recreate services Rob remembers from his childhood.
In designing the surrounding lands, McCaig embraced the Highlands’ natural beauty, scattering dozens of small trees, camp sites and wildlife around the display.
“Dollar stores have been good to me when it comes to little things I’ve needed for some of my sets, and for the characters. The buildings can get expensive, though,” said McCaig, who said he’s probably spent a couple thousand dollars on his collection over the past 35 years.
He works full-time on the village for three weeks each year in early November, coming up with new designs and features. The latest arrivals are a news stand, skate rental kiosk and several horse-drawn carriages.
The display will remain intact well into the new year, with McCaig saying he usually takes it down after the Super Bowl in February. He had hoped to welcome area residents into his home this year to see the village, but with the high number of COVID, flu and RSV cases, he decided to postpone.
“We really want to introduce McCaig-R-Ville to Haliburton County. It seems such a shame to have this here and not share it, but I think it’s important that we stay safe this winter.”
McCaig said. “I’ve already got ideas percolating for next year, and we will definitely open this up, and hopefully introduce a donation component so that we have something to give back to our hospitals and food banks.”
Mosley Moose and the magic of giving
Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation (HHHSF) is in the midst of its annual Believe in the Magic of Giving festive fundraiser, aiming to raise $250,000 to complete several equipment upgrade commitments and support some of the hospital’s most in-demand programs.
HHHSF executive director Melanie KlodtWong said the Foundation wants to wrap up purchases for the new nurse call bell system that has been implemented at Highland Wood and Hyland Crest long-term care homes, while also procuring new IV pumps for the Halibuton and Minden hospitals.
Money will also be used to support “critical” community support service programs such as Meals on Wheels and Medically-Required Transportation.
As is tradition, Klodt-Wong said the Foundation has recently welcomed a new addition to its ever-growing family of bears.
Mosley Moose is available for purchase over the holidays and into the new year while supplies last, priced at $25. The stuffed animal program has raised over $165,000 since it was introduced 25 years ago. To donate, or secure your own Mosley Moose, visit hhhs.ca/foundation/shop, or call 705-457-1580.
Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation executive director Melanie Klodt-Wong said Mosley Moose is “the most huggable collectible yet” in the Foundation’s family of bears.
Medical community issues warning over triple-demic
While the threat of COVID-19 isn’t looming quite as large this festive season, Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) president and CEO Carolyn Plummer said the community needs to be wary of the “winter triple-demic” that’s sweeping across much of Ontario.
Health experts are warning that increased cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) over the busy holiday period could overwhelm some Ontario hospitals.
“This has been affecting our community and hospital services in our region and beyond, particularly with pediatric cases and admissions for older adults,” Plummer said.
“This is leading many hospitals to be in what we call a surge position, which means we have more admitted inpatients than we do beds.”
Plummer said HHHS has been in that predicament “a few times” in recent weeks.
“That means, unfortunately, we’ve had patients waiting in the emergency department on a stretcher, or admitted to a bed that may be in a bit of an unconventional space,” she said. “We’ve been working with staff to make sure people who are admitted to those spaces get the best quality of care that we can provide in these unusual circumstances.”
“We’re expecting it’s going to peak in January,” Plummer said, but then hopefully settle down a little bit after that.”
HHHS has advised that if you think you need to visit the emergency department (ED) over the holidays, first stop, check, go.
If an ED is temporarily closed, emergency medical services will take you to the nearest ED. If the situation is not life-threatening, you should ‘stop’ and see if self-care (for a twisted ankle, minor scrapes, or seasonal allergies), a call to a doctor (for chronic symptoms, back pain, or stomach aches), or a call to the assessment centre (if you suspect you have COVID or a respiratory illness) can address your needs. Next, ‘check’ to make sure the ED you plan to visit is open, by calling HHHS at 705-457-1392 and using extension 2555, visiting the website at hhhs. ca, or visiting HHHS’ Facebook or Twitter. If your need is urgent, you can then ‘go’ to the nearest ED.
If you are in need of serious medical attention (for chest pain, severe blood loss, head injury, shortness of breath, or if you think you are having a stroke), you should call 911.
As of Dec. 18, only essential caregivers were able to visit in the in-patient department and the lower level of Hyland Crest, as both facilities were in COVID-19 outbreaks.
Algonquin Highlands slams new provincial bill
Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen expressed frustration over the Ontario government pushing through its More Homes Built Faster Act (Bill 23), saying the new legislation could be catastrophic for the Highlands’ environment and ecosystems.
Introduced in October, Bill 23 proposes significant changes to Ontario’s planning act, land tribunal act, development charges act, conservation authorities act and the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, making it easier for developers to push through new builds province-wide.
Premier Doug Ford has called the bill a necessity as the provincial government works to follow through on its promise to oversee the construction of 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031.
Some of the key features of Bill 23 include reducing developer charges, allowing more liveable units on one residential lot, and introducing programs promoting modular homes and rent-to-own properties.
The new legislation would allow up to three residential units, including basement apartments and garden houses, on one lot without needing any municipal bylaw amendments. These new units would also be exempt from development charges.
The province is also proposing to freeze, reduce and exempt fees for new builds. New affordable and non-profit housing builds would also be exempt from various charges.
“It’s unfortunate the bill has been passed because there are lots of concerns that have been raised. A lot of townships and activist groups are calling for changes… but our government does not seem to be too inclined to pay a lot of attention to what other people think,” Danielsen said.
In a report to council, township planner Sean O’Callaghan outlined some of the potential implications of Bill 23. He said the proposed changes would have a “direct negative impact” on the natural environment in Algonquin Highlands.
“The changes will weaken the protection of wetlands and natural heritage features at a time when we should be doing the opposite,” O’Callaghan wrote. “The importance of Ontario’s natural heritage cannot be understated. These environmental features play a significant role in mitigating storm water runoff, flood water retention and act as an important carbon sink.
“The government’s proposal to allow a developer to ‘pay to slay’ natural heritage features through the proposed offsetting policy to promote a net positive impact will undoubtedly result in an overall negative impact. These features are irreplaceable and cannot be simply moved or reconstructed in a more convenient location to accommodate development,” he added.
Danielsen suggested drafting a letter outlining council’s discontent and forwarding it to Ford and local MPP Laurie Scott.
“It’s still important for our voices to be heard loud and clear on issues that are as important as this,” she said.
Celebrate safely
Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, is encouraging residents to celebrate the holiday season safely and offered preventative measures as respiratory viruses continue to surge across the province.
“With the upcoming holiday season, many families and friends will gather to celebrate, enjoy festivities, and continue traditions that may have been missed during the COVID19 pandemic. However, the fall respiratory season has brought a significant increase in emergency department visits from residents with flu-like symptoms, and with young children especially at risk of developing more severe illness, residents are strongly encouraged to remain extra vigilant when making holiday plans this year,” Dr. Bocking said.
Her tips included: staying up to date with vaccinations, including a COVID-19 booster and flu shot; staying home if you feel sick, even if symptoms are considered mild; wearing a mask in crowded indoor places, such as shopping centres, private holiday parties and gatherings; always practising good hand hygiene and regularly disinfect surfaces; finding other meaningful ways to connect, such as virtual chats, phone calls or outdoor visits for people who may feel uncomfortable gathering indoors.
There are many ways to get a COVID-19 booster and/or flu shot before the holiday season. For more information on eligibility and booking an appointment, visit hkpr.on.ca.
Some ‘exciting’ changes for The Highlander in 2023
As 2022 draws to a close, The Highlander would like to announce some exciting changes.
After three years in the director’s chair, Simon Payn is stepping down as publisher. Payn, who co-owns the County’s only independent newspaper along with Bram Lebo, isn’t going anywhere, however.
“I’m itching to get involved in some new projects, one of which will be writing for this newspaper,” Payn said.
At The Highlander, the publisher does not influence the editorial department. In other words, he or she does not tell it what it should or should not write. Editorial control rests with the news team.
Payn was proud he was able to help navigate through COVID, and launch the new SmartAds and Marketplace products.
“It’s time for someone else to take the reins as we enter a new year. I’m delighted Heather Kennedy will be in charge – her personality, commitment to our community and her love of The Highlander will ensure this newspaper thrives.”
When Lebo and Payn established The Highlander 11 years ago, Kennedy, not long out of college, became the production person on day one when home was the HCDC Business Incubator. She remained with the paper until the end of 2017.
“While on maternity leave with a wonderful person in my place, I made a career change to another local company to be more in line with my changing life of becoming a mom. I worked there for the next four years,” she said.
Returning to The Highlander this month has been an exciting career move, she added. “Also, an amazing opportunity to get involved in the community again, which I have so missed. I’m excited for the future of The Highlander, its products and our team… 2023 is going to be such an exciting year.”
Meanwhile, the paper bids farewell to journalist Sam Gillett.
“I’m leaving to pursue other job opportunities in journalism or in other fields: I graduated during the pandemic, so I want to experience working in other parts of journalism, Ontario or Canada in a post-pandemic world,” he said.
Gillett said he also knows first hand what many Highlanders are experiencing.
“I found rent and the cost of living in Haliburton pretty high: moving back home for a bit allows me to reset, save some money and do a couple of trips, as well as focus on art.”
But Gillett gained an appreciation of his new town during his time and said, “I get the feeling I’ll be back in Haliburton one day: and I feel very sad to leave The Highlander and the great people who make up the team.”
The editorial team will now comprise editor Lisa Gervais, assistant editor Mike Baker, and Payn, who will work on special projects.
The Highlander is an award-winning publication. It scooped four awards at the recent Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Those wins included: best community newspaper website (2021) and best local editorial (2021), as well as a second place for best special section (2020) and third for best local editorial (2020).
At the Ontario Community Newspaper Association awards (OCNAs), there isn’t room to list all of the accolades the paper has received. However, it has been judged best paper of its circulation size for five of the past six years. In the other year, it was third.
“So, while the faces may change, the quality of The Highlander will just continue,” Kennedy said.
Three of four townships may go alone on shoreline bylaw
The County’s shoreline preservation bylaw will go to a special meeting in January after Dysart et al councillors Murray Fearrey and Walt McKechnie voiced reluctance to endorse it at a Dec. 14 meeting.
Half of council already gave the thumbs up to the bylaw in August, prior to the municipal elections. Dysart et al’s former councillors, Andrea Roberts and Pat Kennedy, voted against, and subsequently their council withheld delegated authority for the County to administer the bylaw.
Director of planning, Steve Stone, said last week, the bylaw can still proceed if only three of the four municipalities buy in. Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East and Minden Hills delegated authority earlier this year and their County representatives indicated during the meeting that is not likely to change.
Stone came to council seeking direction, and after a robust debate, they decided to call a special meeting for the new year, to deal with concerns as well as discuss how the bylaw would be implemented.
Warden Liz Danielsen said, “we do need to land somewhere, relatively soon, if we’re going to plan for an April start-up date.”
Stone said they’d have to repeal the existing bylaw, craft a new one, and go back to the three participating counclls for delegated authority. They’d have to revise the funding model as well.
Coun. Bob Carter said from his perspective, “we either stand united or we fall divided. It doesn’t take a master cartographer to figure out that every major lake and water system in Dysart flows through Minden after it leaves Dysart. So, at this point in time, if Dysart, in particular, is not going to go along with the County bylaw, I’m not sure what its total value is.”
Dysart won’t buy in until assured it’s a useful tool
He added legally, and scientifically, the bylaw has been deemed well-crafted and in the common good. “We have a moral issue to be the stewards of these lakes.”
Danielsen said at least having three of four would make “positive strides in the right direction. We need to have an opportunity to see how this works. We won’t know for sure until we put it to the test.”
Coun. Jennifer Dailloux suggested constructing the bylaw for three townships and test piloting it for two years to gather as much data as possible.
Dysart objects
Fearrey said he felt Dysart was “getting a little scolding here” during discussions. He said the County had a tree cutting bylaw, that was complaints driven, but not enforced. Stone informed council they were actually investigating two tree cutting violations at the moment.
“I just hate bylaws that force neighbours to squeal on their neighbours,” Fearrey commented.
He went on to call the bylaw complicated, asking, “why do we have to have 30 pages or whatever it is?” He added in addition to needing to be simplified, there are “so many conflicting things.”
“Clearly my council is not going to delegate authority until they’re satisfied it’s a bylaw or a tool that’s going to be useful,” he said.
McKechnie said he represents “a very large group of people in Dysart” not in favour of the bylaw. He added they feel they’ve not been informed enough on the issues. “They feel there’s enough policies and rules in place.”
McKechnie added he believes it’s a small minority of people who clear cut, or have done something “crazy” to their waterfront. He said he asked a contractor the last time they dynamited and was told 10 years ago.
Coun. Lisa Schell urged McKechnie to speak to the people he said were complaining to him about the bylaw to find out why they don’t support it. She said there could be misinformation or misunderstanding. She also suggested to McKechnie that there were people in his constituency who do support the bylaw.
Carter added, “unlike others, I continue to see wanton destruction of our shoreline and can give you a countless number of examples.”
During his presentation, Stone said the bylaw had been “exhaustively” researched by two consultants, and deemed very well-crafted by a lawyer.
In reference to comments there are too many bylaws, he noted, “the benefit of this new bylaw is it now covers both preservation of trees along the shorelines as well as the terrain close to the water’s edge.” He went on to summarize the bylaw during about a 20-minute presentation.
Carter said, “we need to work towards some consensus. I want everybody in on this because I think that’s what’s needed for the whole community and for our future, too.”
Schell said she was channeling former Coun. Brent Devolin in saying if the County was amalgamated “this would not be going on right now.”
COVID outbreak declared at Haliburton hospital
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the in-patient department of the Haliburton hospital.
In a release to media Sunday afternoon, HHHS spokesperson Lauren Hunter said there are five confirmed cases at the facility. All COVID-positive patients and those who may have been exposed have been isolated.
The in-patient department will be closed to any further admissions until the outbreak is over. Visitors will be restricted to essential caregivers and for those receiving end-of-life care. Essential caregivers may only visit one at a time, must wear full PPE, including gown, gloves, mask and eye coverage, and should remain in the patient’s room at all times.
Volunteers are also restricted from entering the in-patient department until further notice.
Services at the Haliburton emergency department remain unaffected by this outbreak, with Hunter saying community members requiring emergency care should not hesitate to seek assistance.
COVID-19 Outbreak at Hyland Crest
Today (Dec. 16), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak on the lower level of Hyland Crest Long-Term Care.
There are currently four confirmed resident cases associated with the outbreak on the lower level, as well as one staff case, HHHS said.
As a result of the outbreak, nine Hyland Crest residents have been isolated. The home is also now
closed to any further admissions and general visitors. All outings will be cancelled unless it is for a
medical appointment. Volunteers are also restricted from entering the home at this time. Essential
caregivers may continue to visit, one at a time.
HHHS will continue to maintain important Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures, including
mandatory masking in all resident care areas, mandatory vaccination, regular surveillance testing before
entry into long-term care facilities, and enhanced cleaning at Hyland Crest Long-Term Care.
Services in the Minden Hospital remain unaffected by this outbreak and community members in need of
emergency care should not hesitate to seek assistance.
** File photo**