County Closeup

If you live and work in Haliburton County, owning a car is essential. But with the cost of living these days, including gas, insurance, and maintenance, a car can be out of reach for many people in the region. And that fact is creating pinch points for local businesses trying to recruit and retain employees. The same goes for anyone who has appointments or errands to run. Simply put, there is no alternative.Despite its best efforts to secure some kind of bus system that could operate between Minden Hills and Haliburton Village, Haliburton County is once again on a road to nowhere. At a recent County Council meeting, members were told that the cost to create a bus between the two centres is just too expensive.Earlier this Spring, Scott Ovell, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the County, told councilors once again that a fixed route bus running between the two centres of Minden and Haliburton is financially impossible for the foreseeable future. He sat down with CanoeFM to explain why.

Mike Knight has been into music since he was a boy growing up in the UK. A lover of all kinds of music, he is also an accomplished bass player and sound engineer for local music events in Haliburton County, under the name Makk Sound. Now, Knight has realized another dream through the creation of his own recording space called Apple Tree Studio.Named after a beautiful apple tree that grows in his yard, Mike Knight planned and designed the entire studio's set-up, from the ground up, and included state-of-the-art features that guarantee the best sound recording quality possible. It took him 20 months to build the studio that had a soft opening in December of last year. That attention to detail is something Knight is justifiably proud of since he knows the little things do actually matter in a studio.Knight sat down with CanoeFM recently in his new studio to explain how it was built and why he was so passionate about creating it literally from the ground up.

The facts are staggering. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people experience loneliness with social disconnection linked to more than 871 thousand deaths each year. Roughly 52 per cent of Canadians report feeling lonely at least once a week.That's why, during Mental Health Week, May fourth through tenth, the Lakelands Pubic Health is aiming to combat loneliness head-on by creating ‘connection corners' in libraries across Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes.Strong connections are vital for people of all ages. For seniors, having an active social circle can lower the risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease and depression. In youth, social isolation can trigger depression, anxiety, learning difficulties, lowered self-esteem and behavioral issues.Joanne Brewster is a Health Promoter with Lakelands Public Health. She sat down with CanoeFM to discuss how the health unit's campaign, in partnership with 18 libraries in the region, encourages residents to focus on social connections for improving mental health and overall well-being. She says doing so can reduce stress, improve your mood and foster a sense of belonging.

It's the fastest way to get medical assistance, but in the last few years more than half of the calls to 911 both here in Haliburton and across the province are for non-emergencies. CBC Radio recently played actual calls to 911 to highlight some of the frivolous reasons people call for help, including one where a woman called 911 because she dropped her phone in a snowbank.That's why Mike Slatter, who heads up the Haliburton County Paramedic Service, is urging local residents to understand that while the paramedic service is always ready to respond, calling 911 for non-emergencies hampers its ability to answer the call for more serious and urgent cases.In Haliburton County, people are calling for what Slatter refers to as ‘non-acute' reasons and in doing so, take away the resources intended for real emergencies. Slatter sat down with CanoeFM recently to discuss the problem and offer solutions.

When Jack Hutchison learned of the opportunity to lead Haliburton Highlands Health Services as its new CEO, he jumped at the chance to do so. Having grown up in Minden, Hutchison knew first-hand how vital triple H S is to local residents and seasonal visitors. So, this was his chance to give back to the community that helped shape him and his career.That's why his move from Moosonee back to Haliburton County to lead triple H S means so much to him. Hutchison sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about his leadership approach and the hospital's priorities going forward.

Facing massive third-party costs in a largely tourism-based economy, Haliburton County Council is taking the proactive step to see what can be done to improve the financial sustainability of the County and its two-tier structure by hiring a consultant to look at its current governance model.At a recent special session, Gary Dyke, Haliburton County CAO, presented a report, entitled Exploring the Future of Haliburton County: An Affordability and Governance Structure Study, which focused on the fiscal strain placed on the county and the resulting impacts on the tax levy and infrastructure budgets.Dyke told councilors legislated payments to external bodies take up more than 50 per cent of the tax rate increases which divert monies from local priorities, including roads, bridges, and emergency response and permanent residents shoulder those costs.The County of Haliburton currently faces significant capital investment requirements of more than $70 million over the next 8-10 years for roads and large vehicle replacement. Meanwhile, Haliburton County's lower-tier municipalities face similar fiscal challenges. Dyke said current funding models in Haliburton's rural tourism-based economy do not meet the needs of the capital and operating realities.

Named in honor of a former Ontario Premier, The Leslie M. Frost Centre was, at one time, the first outdoor education center in Ontario. It was dedicated to environmental and resource managementeducation.Recently, it was announced that the long-defunct centre, located in Algonquin Highlands on the shores of Lake St. Nora had been sold for $3M dollars. Canoe FM spoke to a real estate agent who's assisting in the sale. Jonathan Weizel, of Royal LePage Terre Equity Realty, said the new owner plans to operate a substance abuse and mental health rehab facility there.Barrie Martin worked at the centre for more than 28 years and shared some of his thoughts on the centre and its recent purchase with CanoeFM.

The Town of Minden Hills declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon after heavy rain combined with melting snow to cause flooding in the municipality. Numerous roads have become impassable and a section of Bobcageon Road suffered a devastating washout, with the road collapsing under the rushing water.Bob Carter, Mayor of Minden Hills, made the declaration to ensure the town and its residents will have the support of the Province of Ontario, should the existing flooding get worse. And with more rain in the forecast, it feels like the entire town is holding its collective breath.Mayor Carter says staff, County officials, The Province, the OPP and Emergency Services are meeting regularly and continuing to track and update the public about road closures and restrictions. He recommends local residents visit the Town of Minden Hills website to check for updates.

Coming Full Circle is a new and innovative pilot project that was identified as a gap needing to be filled by Point in Time and the Haliburton County Connections Committee. The two organizations applied for a federal grant and pulled in the Canadian Mental Health Association who now oversees the program. It's a guest-led, peer approach that aims to overcome the barriers of access in communities and stigma.David Barkley knows that when you're struggling with substance abuse, the first step is often the hardest one to take. That's why, a new approach that focuses on the person, rather than the program, is gaining popularity in Haliburton.It's called Coming Full Circle, and while it's only been in the community since last fall, its impact is already being felt. What's different is the organization doesn't demand anything from participants, but rather, takes a gentle, welcoming approach, where help is offered as needed or requested. There's no set date and time for appointments, no demands made for counseling session timelines and best of all, no judgement.Barkley sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about how the program works and how it's being received in the community.

Though you wouldn't notice it to look at him, Brandon Nimigon has the weight of more than 100 years resting on his shoulders. He's the new owner of Bernsteins – a building that has stood for more than a century and has a storied past, to say the least.Nimigon purchased the building that previously housed Bernstein's, but it's had a number of other identities; including a deli, a grocery store and a clothing store. Nimigon, a Century 21 broker, heard the building would be going on the market and jumped at the chance to put an offer in. The Century 21 office will move to the new space, and will be joined by two other offices and two apartments upstairs. Nimigon has big plans for the place and knows the importance of preserving its legacy while giving it a much-needed makeover.One of the most remarkable things is that the renovation project is employing a variety of local firms to get the work done, from design, to drawings, demo and construction. Nimigon says with his contacts, it was easy to build a dream team to re-imagine the space and put money back into the local community.