County Closeup

A travelling exhibit from Kenora’s Lake of the Woods museum, entitled “We Were Taught Differently” now on display at the Minden Hills Cultural Center, hopes to enlighten local residents about what indigenous children and youth endured at these schools – the last of which closed in 1997.

Comprised of a series of panels, photographs and first-person accounts, We were Taught Differently is difficult content to absorb. Touching, poignant and shocking in its portrayal of the lives of indigenous children forced to endure corporal punishment, physical and sexual abuse and discrimination, the exhibit holds nothing back. On display are the real-life testimonials of the pain and suffering and the collective shame of the country.

Shannon Kelly, Manager of Cultural Services, spoke with CanoeFM recently about the significance of the exhibit and why learning about the indigenous experience in residential schools is so important.

When it comes to the vices of Canadians, alcohol is still the preferred choice. But a recent report from Statistics Canada shows Canadians are drinking less alcohol and buying more cannabis. In fact, cannabis sales increased by 15.8 per cent, with Canadians spending $5.2 billion dollars in 2023 & 24. Cannabis retailers have their own theories for the trend, saying that with more access, information and a variety of types — not to mention its affordability, are reasons for the rise in use and popularity.

CanoeFM recently spoke with a cannabis retailer in Minden, as well as a few local residents to find out why the trend is moving away from alcohol. Surprisingly, the people CanoeFM spoke to didn’t reflect the StatsCan findings, with only one person saying he preferred cannabis over alcohol.

The savagery of war and the courage of Canadian service men and women — including that which his own son Chuck endured on his tour in Afghanistan, were all the motivation Wayne Krangle needed to start producing maple syrup for charity, aptly named Syrup for Soldiers. The liquid gold comes from more than 200 sugar maples that Wayne has on his property in Algonquin Highlands.

Now in its 16th season, Wayne is in charge of production, while Wayne, a former corporal and former Toronto Police Services officer, handles sales and marketing of Syrup for Soldiers. Proceeds from the sales of his maple syrup go to support the Wounded Warriors fund.

CanoeFM recently visited the father and son duo on a cold April day when the sap wasn’t running, to learn more about the operation and why Syrup for Soldiers has been such a sweet success.

The ice storm that knocked out power and decimated thousands of trees in Haliburton County is over, but the damage left behind will take weeks, if not months, to repair. That’s why the Haliburton ATV Association and its many riders turned out recently to help clear the Rail Trail ahead of the upcoming ATV season which begins May 1.

With more than 1,000 kilometers of trails in the region, it’s going to take many hands–and chainsaws–to make the trails both safe and rideable again. CanoeFM went out on the trails to survey the damage and speak to riders about how critical the cleanup work is.

One in eight Canadian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. While urban centers offer far more variety and accessibility to mastectomy products and clothing, women in rural communities must drive hours to find what they need. That’s why the announcement that a new initiative by Body Med North Boutique to help support women with bras, prosthetics or breast forms, compression garments and helpful advice, is welcome news for women in the region living with breast cancer.

CanoeFM recently sat down with a breast cancer survivor and Barb Daize, founder of Body Med Boutique in Burlington. Now, with the help of Minden resident and fitting specialist Christine Hewitt, the Body Med North Clinic will save women the hassle of driving long distances for the garments they need to improve how they feel both physically and emotionally.

Fittings will take place at the Reform & Restore Wellness Hub in Haliburton each month until October, starting April 24th and 25th from 10 am to 4 pm.

Bring your broken toasters, your snowblowers, your shirts in need of mending! At Haliburton’s monthly Repair Cafe, you’re sure to find the fix you’re looking for!

That’s the message SIRCH Program Coordinator Dianne Woodcock hopes to spread far and wide. The Haliburton Repair Cafe is open for the season and the many volunteer fixers are ready to take on whatever challenges local residents have to offer.

From jewelry and clothing repairs, to electronic devices or even ceramics, the Repair Cafe aims to extend the life of broken items and keep them out of the landfill as part of SIRCH’s founding principles of promoting sustainability.

CanoeFM recently visited the first session of the Repair Cafe’s 2025 season and spoke with both the fixers and the residents hoping for a positive outcome. Woodcock explains how adopting this initiative, that began in Europe in 2009, has made a real impact in Haliburton.

The joy and challenges of brewing beer is what the brand new Brewhouse boardgame is all about, and two local breweries — Haliburton Highlands Brewery and Boshkung Brewery — are featured in the game.

Invented by a former brewer, the aim of the game is to successfully brew a batch of beer of your choice from scratch and have it served in a taproom, while trying to handle some of the real-life pitfalls that can happen along the way.

CanoeFM recently spoke with the game’s creator and with Michael Schiedel-Webb, owner of Haliburton Highlands Brewery, about how the game came to be and how it will help promote 15 Ontario craft breweries.

Every Friday, Minden’s Dominion Hotel serves up one of its most popular dishes to customers — fish and chips. Now the historic hotel’s fan favorite will be included in a cookbook with hundreds of others from notable hospitality hotspots around the world.

Entitled “Inspired Stays, Local Flavors”, the cookbook is the brainchild of Enviivo, a cloud-based accommodation booking and management platform. The Dominion Hotel, in operation since before confederation, uses the platform.

CanoeFm recently spoke with Shawn Chamberlain owner of The Dominion Hotel. He and his wife were surprised to be honored with the award and included in a cookbook that features other world-class establishments.

They’re the heartbeat of any hospital, and their work is both essential and appreciated. Haliburton Highlands Health Services, (HHHS), knows volunteers play a vital role and is inviting members of the community — no matter your age or how much time you have to offer — to join the team of volunteers at the healthcare facility.

HHHS recently revamped their volunteer program, streamlining it and creating opportunities for people of all walks of life to give back to their local hospital. Whether you want to help patients directly or have more of a background role, HHHS and officials are urging anyone — those who are retired, students, and those who are new to Haliburton to jump on board.

CanoeFM spoke with Amanda Rowden, Community Support Manager, HHHS, to learn about the application process and the variety of opportunities available at the hospital.

Haliburton County is a place filled with beauty and wonder and Hike Haliburton — a free festival held here — gives locals and visitors alike the chance to explore all that’s on offer in our region. That’s why, for the second year in a row, Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) awarded Hike Haliburton one of the top 100 festivals in the province.

Handed out at the SYNERGY 2025 awards gala in Kitchener in February, Hike Haliburton was included in a list of outstanding events that excel within the industry.

CanoeFM spoke to Angelica Ingram, Manager of Tourism for the County of Haliburton recently to learn more about the popular hiking festival. She says what makes Hike Haliburton unique is how it combines both existing trails with those on private property that owners want to share with visitors. It gives hikers a chance to see places in Haliburton County that they might not otherwise get to experience.