County Closeup

Flu season has arrived, but a lot earlier than expected.In fact, the nation's Public Health Agency reported that by mid-October, cases were already showing up, with 6 point 1 per cent positivity rates across the country so far, up significantly from the zero point 8 per cent recorded at the same time last year.Interestingly, one strain seems to be the most dominant and of the cases reported so far, 98 per cent of the lab-confirmed cases have been A (H1N1).Sami Iskandar is a pharmacist at Kinmount Pharmacy. This time of year, he's busy delivering the best defence from catching influenza to his patients –the annual flu shot. Iskandar sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about why, along with other preventative measures, getting a flu shot isn't just the right thing to do for yourself, it helps prevent the spread of the flu as well.

If you've been shopping for groceries in Minden lately, it's likely you've seen the changes taking place at the Valu-Mart there. Now, after Loblaw Companies Limited, the parent firm, chose to bring the Minden location into the well-known Independent brand in August, the store will be known as Easton's Your Independent Grocer.Lynda Easton has been in the grocery business for 32 years and sees the change as benefiting her customers. When she sat down with CanoeFM recently, she said now there will no longer be any confusion when weekly sales flyers come in the mail.

The 2026 municipal election is over and a number of new faces will be serving on councilsacross the four municipalities in Haliburton County. Earlier today, Canoe FM spoke to the twoincumbent mayors and the two new mayors that take the reins leading councils for the nextfour years. They shared their reactions to being elected and their vision for the upcoming term.Another incumbent mayor returning to his role is Dave Burton in HighlandsEast, who narrowly beat out his closest challenger, securing 29 per cent of the votes cast. Nowentering his 20 th year in municipal politics, Burton told Canoe FM he revels in the work he doesto improve the lives of his constituents. He says he will miss those who won't be returning forthis term but is eager to work with those who are new to council.

The 2026 municipal election is over and a number of new faces will be serving on councilsacross the four municipalities in Haliburton County. Earlier today, Canoe FM spoke to the twoincumbent mayors and the two new mayors that take the reins leading councils for the nextfour years. They shared their reactions to being elected and their vision for the upcoming term.Algonquin Highlands has a familiar face returning to the role of mayor. LizDanielson won 53 per cent of the ballots cast in a second rematch with challenger Mike Lang.Danielson begins her fifth term as mayor and is eager to get to work for her constituents.

The 2026 municipal election is over and a number of new faces will be serving on councilsacross the four municipalities in Haliburton County. Earlier today, Canoe FM spoke to the twoincumbent mayors and the two new mayors that take the reins leading councils for the nextfour years. They shared their reactions to being elected and their vision for the upcoming term.Another new face is Tammy McKelvey as the newly elected mayor of MindenHills, who captured 40 per cent of ballots cast. Although not new to council, McKelvey saysshe's excited to lead the municipality for the next four years and face the challenges as theycome through collaboration and hard work.

The 2026 municipal election is over and a number of new faces will be serving on councilsacross the four municipalities in Haliburton County. Canoe FM spoke to the twoincumbent mayors and the two new mayors that take the reins leading councils for the nextfour years.They shared their reactions to being elected and their vision for the upcoming term.Following in the footsteps of Dysart et al Mayor Murray Fearrey, who passed away suddenlyearlier this year, Greg Bishop won the top spot with an impressive 85 per cent of the votes cast.Bishop, an engineer and land surveyor by trade who has served extensively on the OntarioMunicipal Board, told Canoe FM he is looking forward to leading the municipality through itsnext four years and facing the challenges that come with that responsibility. He said theproposed amalgamation of Haliburton County municipalities was on the minds of manyconstituents he spoke with during his campaign.

Ryan Van Lee recently was named as one of three fan favorites in the Samsung True North Tunes Top 3 and while that fame might seem sudden, it represents years of the Haliburton native putting in the work. He beat out 2,000 other singer songwriters in the Samsung True North Tunes Contest recently is sure to give him the much-needed boost to pursue his musical dreams going forward.Van Lee's career to date reads like a movie script. He was born in Haliburton County, raised for many years in West Guilford, or West G as he likes to call it, moved to town, went to school at Hal. High with loving parents Wilfred and Shelley and family who believed in him. In fact, had it not been for his mother catching him playing a toy guitar in his bedroom, Van Lee might not have become the country music artist he is today.Paired with the inspiration he found when his grandmother who took him to see legendary performer Johnny Burke, and you have the makings of a heartwarming story of a homegrown local boy finding success. For him, it's all about taking risks and swinging for the fences.Van Lee sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about his career to date and the advantages that come with being from a small town.

Three years ago, the Haliburton Rotary reached out to the Ministry of Transportation, who owns the land at Skyline Park, which originally opened in 1958 as a highway rest stop. As club members pointed out, over the years, the park began to show its age. With the approval of the MTO, the club began working on improving pathways, removing trees and shrubs to improve the view, repairing the broken concrete on the existing viewing platform and building picnic shelters.For its part, MTO agreed to the replacement of port-a-potties for a year-round permanent washroom building as well as improving the fencing around the site.The Haliburton Rotarians pitched in and now they're asking the community to chip in to complete the project. Canoe FM sat down with Ursula Devolin about the project and how locals can help.

Advance polling in Haliburton County is amping up optimism for increased voter turnout overall in the 2026 Municipal Election.As of today, advance polling in Algonquin Highlands is at 17 per cent, while Minden Hills is 15 per cent, Dysart et al is at 17 per cent and Highlands East is at 12.9 per cent. Canoe FM spoke with Lindsay Jones, Executive Director of the Associations of Municipalities of Ontario earlier today.She said so far, voter turnout is trending upwards in most regions across the province, with Toronto having the largest number of early voters since its 1998 amalgamation. She is pleased that the AMO's Healthy Democracy Project, which has worked particularly hard in Haliburton County to engage residents in local government, seems to have had the desired results.Jones says she's gratified to see growing diversity in candidates. For example, the number of female candidates have increased compared to 2022 with 2,103 or 32 per cent of females running, compared to 1,913 in the last municipal election. Online voting seems to be winning the favor of voters as well, Jones says, with 66 per cent of municipal governments using internet voting, up 52 per cent from 2022.For those elected, AMO is launching Local Leadership Foundations, a new practical learning program designed to help new and returning municipal elected officials build the knowledge and skills needed to begin the 2026–2030 term effectively. The program covers topics including governance, decision-making, municipal finance, civility and integrity, community engagement and leadership.

The greatest threats to the survival of turtles here in Haliburton County come from road mortality – cars running over turtles crossing our roadways and small mammals who predate turtle nests on the gravel shoulders and eat the eggs. That's why a new hatchery and nursery, funded through the Trillium grants and an upcoming fundraising campaign will give turtles in our region a better chance at survival.And it's why Leora Berman, who founded Haliburton's Turtle Guardians 19 years ago, is so grateful for the recent $196 thousand dollar Trillium grant her organization received. The funds will go towards the construction of a turtle hatchery and nursery so that turtles in our region will have a fighting chance at survival.Berman sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about why this new initiative is vitally important.