County Closeup

In real estate, it's usually about location, location, location. But in Haliburton County, as with other cottage country areas, now it's all about patience and a dose of reality.Cottage country has long been a sought-after location for real estate buyers, and surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the boom has gone bust. As interest rates soar and mortgages came up for renewal, many property owners are facing the financial reality that their days of cottage ownership are over.CanoeFM spoke with a local home seller, a seasoned real estate broker and the regional real estate board president to discuss the current buyers' market and how economic uncertainty, interest rates, mortgage renewals, and price corrections are impacting both buyers and sellers alike.

Ever since the explosion of the internet, people have been turning to ‘Dr. Google' to research medical maladies. Now, because of the convergence of both a shortage of physicians and the growth of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, more people are relying on medical expertise found on their laptop.According to the Ontario Medical Association, the advent of AI and a lack of access to primary care are feeding a rising trend in people trying to diagnose and treat themselves online, often leading to misdiagnoses and potentially dangerous complications.CanoeFM recently spoke with Dr. Norm Bottom from the Haliburton Medical Center and Dr. Michael Seabrooke, a resident, about the growing trend of artificial intelligence and its impact on healthcare.

More than 13 years ago, the municipality of Dysart et Al asked local residents for their opinion on what was needed in terms of art and culture. That one survey led to the creation of the Cultural Resources Committee, whose job was to foster creativity in the community with a variety of projects. Now, the municipality is attempting to refresh the cultural landscape through its online Cultural Plan Update Survey.

CanoeFM spoke with both the chair of the committee and the consultant hired to create and implement the latest survey, which takes the community's temperature on what is needed to bolster greater diversity of offerings in the local arts and culture scene.

The survey, now open on the municipality's website will close on Aug. 10, and local residents are encouraged to share their opinions that will chart the community's future.

Homeschooling, a tradition that's existed for hundreds of years, has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021-2022, the number of Ontario children being homeschool jumped from 40,000 to more than 85,000 and here in Haliburton County, the trend continues.

Micheon Hutchings is a member of the Haliburton Homeschoolers, a Facebook group that supports parents who've chosen to educate their children themselves. CanoeFM spoke with Hutchings recently. She says the freedom to explore a wide range of topics on their own schedule, without the pressure to follow a curriculum means children excel on their own timeline.

Hutchings adds the stigma of homeschooled children is gradually being debunked as more parents see the benefits of choosing this unconventional method of educating children.

Threatened annexation and tariffs by US President Donald Trump have cooled the historically friendly relationship between Canada and the United States. That now includes travel by Canadians who are choosing not to go south of the border this summer.

Border crossings have dropped 33 point one per cent in June. Canadian air travel also fell by 22 point one per cent in the same month. Last year, Canadians spent $20 point 5 billion dollars south of the border and the U.S.

CanoeFm recently spoke with Angelica Ingram, Manager of Tourism with the County of Haliburton. She says she's hearing from lots of people that have crossed the United States off their lists as a future travel destination due to the insulting rhetoric by President Trump. She adds the boycott presents an opportunity for Canadians to take more staycations, exploring their own country, and Haliburton in particular.

They're fast and fun, but in the hands of untrained drivers, ATVs – All Terrain Vehicles, can be deadly. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, in the last 10 years, there have been 58 off-road vehicle fatalities in the region, with 59 per cent of those occurring with drivers not wearing helmets. In fact, the Haliburton Highlands OPP say the region leads the province with the most ATV fatalities.

Haliburton ATV Club President Mike Bukowski says his club is doing all it can to educate ATV riders the importance of obeying speed limits, wearing a helmet and not driving while impaired. The local club partners with the Kawartha ATV Club promoting safety courses for riders of all ages. And while ATV sales have been steadily growing since the COVID-19 pandemic, training courses remain voluntary.

Constable Matt Elliott of the OPP's SAVE Team – Snowmobile, ATV and Vessel Enforcement, spoke with CanoeFM recently and says many accidents and deaths can be prevented if the laws and safety measures are followed.

Thanks to Hydro One's Ice Storm 2025 Recovery Grant, 50 indigenous communities and municipalities, including the County of Haliburton and the Township of Minden Hills, will receive up to ten thousand dollars to support local recovery efforts and bolster emergency preparedness.

Minden Hills declared a state of emergency that lasted long after the initial storm and subsequent power outage. That declaration made the municipality eligible for provincial aid. With the additional grant monies from Hydro One, Mayor Bob Carter says the emergency infrastructure in the municipality can now be enhanced. He says the money is appreciated given that it lifts the financial burden off the backs of local taxpayers.

CanoeFM spoke with Mayor Bob Carter recently about how the Hydro One grant has already had an impact on the township.

HHHS CEO Veronica Nelson recently announced her plans to leave the hospital to take on the CEO role at Ross Memorial in Lindsay. Nelson came into the organization in the midst of turmoil, following the closure of the Minden Emergency Room. After two years, she's proud of the work that's been done to build back the trust of both staff and the community and forging a path forward together.

In her two years here, Nelson successfully stewarded the construction of the new CT and mammography units at the Haliburton hospital and work is already underway for the new X-ray department.

CanoeFM sat down with Nelson recently to reflect on her tenure at HHHS and the fondness she's developed for the community.

The Kawartha Haliburton Children's Aid Society is hoping to find more foster families willing to open their homes to care for children and have launched a campaign to help encourage them to do so through information sessions throughout the region.

While the good news is fewer children and youth are going into the care of the KHCAS, the bad news is that either through retirement, changing family dynamics or simply the cost of living ever increasing, the number of foster parents and families is dwindling. Currently, there are 30 foster families with the KHCAS, but more are desperately needed to keep children from having to leave the communities they live in.

CanoeFM spoke with both Barb Reay, Resource Worker with KHCAS and Vicky McPhail, a foster mom, to learn more about why opening your home to children in need can be a rewarding experience.

On the third Wednesday of the month, a group of men and women meet in the private dining area of a local restaurant in Haliburton to share their writing samples, receive feedback and be pushed out of their comfort zone. The newly-formed Haliburton Writers Write group aims to support local writers in the region and to have some fun along the way.

The group was the brainchild of the Haliburton Arts Council and Doug Tindal who saw a need for a support group of sorts for local writers. So far, the group is attracting a wide array of people who write for all sorts of reasons. Some have the goal of being published one day, while others write for themselves or to capture family stories while they're able to do so. No matter the reason, the Haliburton Writers Write group gathers each month to share ideas, pointers and hone their craft.

CanoeFM attended the second meeting of the group recently and was allowed the privilege of listening to the works of several writers there.