Under the guise of fast-tracking housing and infrastructure construction, consistent standards and better flood and hazard management across the province, the Ontario government is proposing to amalgamate 36 existing conservation authorities into seven larger regional bodies, with oversight from a provincial agency.The plan, announced in November 2025, has already received harsh criticism from several municipalities and conservation authorities through the public consultation or period, which ended in late December. Those in opposition have voiced concerns over the loss of local environmental knowledge, reduced community engagement, potential job losses, and disruption to critical flood management.When it comes to Haliburton County, only a small fraction falls under conservation authority jurisdiction, that being a tiny portion in Highlands East, managed by Crowe Valley Conservation. And yet, the Kawartha Conservation Authority manages Source Water Protection here.CanoeFM spoke with a number of local organizations who fear how the amalgamation of conservation authorities will impact the local environment and in turn, the county's economy.

As of yesterday, Sunday, January 11th, The Beer Store in Haliburton has officially closed. In June, the local store would've celebrated its 50thyear of serving locals and tourists and yesterday the last case of beer rolled out.When the store closed at 4pm, employees, former employees, friends and customers gathered in the parking lot to mark the occasion. They stood together in the blustery weather, and while impacted employees were prohibited from speaking to the media, several loyal customers openly shared their disappointment.The closure of the Haliburton location came from an agreement with the Ontario government, The Beer Store and the union representing 65-hundred full and part-time Beer Store employees, United Food and Commercial Workers, following the expansion of alcohol sales at grocery and convenience stores across the province.

It's Friday morning at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden and a group of men, all over 50 are out on the ice, to skate, sweat and swap stories on a sheet of ice. The main reason is obvious – everyone here has a deep love of the game of hockey and a desire to stay active.But it's about a lot more than that. The league gives retirees a chance to connect with each other and share some laughs and an occasional pint of beer. Last year, a group of players over the age of 83, retired from the group that was a staple in their lives.CanoeFM dropped into the Minden arena to learn why this league is so popular here.

According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, more than 50 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning every year — the majority of which occur during fall and winter. That's why, as of January 1, 2026, changes to the Ontario Fire Code now require a working carbon monoxide alarm on every level of any residence with a gas-burning appliance, including a furnace, water heater or stove.The previous legislation required a carbon monoxide detector outside every sleeping area, but officials say the new law is aimed at providing better protection against a deadly gas that can't be seen, smelled or tasted.CanoeFM spoke with Don Kruger, Minden Hills Fire Chief, to learn why the change in legislation is necessary in providing another level of prevention.

The beauty of Haliburton County and the wonderful people who live there are the reasons a local couple has stepped up to double the impact of the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation's ‘Believe in the Magic of Giving' holiday campaign.Scott Pollard and his wife Suzanne Patmios have a four-season home on Mountain Lake that's become their favorite place to be. The beauty of the area, along with the kind-hearted residents and businesses are the reason why the couple will match all donations made during the holiday campaign, dollar for dollar, up to $100 thousand dollars to provide essential healthcare in the community.CanoeFM sat down recently with them to find out why giving back is so important.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium found in rocks and soil. You can't see, smell, or taste radon. When it enters confined spaces like a house, it can build up to high levels and become harmful.When radon is inhaled, radioactive particles can get trapped in your lungs. This damages lung tissue and over many years, can develop into lung cancer. In Canada, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking.That's why, for the first time, the newly merged Lakelands Public Health is offering free Radon test kits to residents in Haliburton County as part of the Evict Radon dot CA National Study, to help collect data and build awareness about radon levels in the region.

Local Haliburton County fire departments are joining forces with the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council and other fire safety education organizations to deliver its annual ‘12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety' campaign.Don Kruger, Minden Hills Fire Chief, spoke with CanoeFM recently to explain that this time of year brings with it added fire risks and with some forethought and planning, local residents can stay fire safe this holiday season.

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This week, [someone], [someone else] and [another person] cover [topic].....

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This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Thirty-eight years ago, a lone gunman entered Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal with one goal — to kill as many females as possible. He walked into an engineering class, asked the men to leave and proceeded to shoot the female students. In what he described as ‘fighting feminism', he shot all nine women in the room, killing six.The shooter then moved through corridors, the cafeteria, and another classroom, specifically targeting women to shoot for just under 20 minutes. He killed another eight women before turning the gun on himself. A total of 14 women lost their lives that day.That horrendous attack and the violence that women still face all these years later is why the Haliburton Highlands Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women is hosting a vigil on Saturday, December 6 at 10:30 am. The event gives residents a chance to remember those women who died and to support those who have or are experiencing abuse.