County Closeup

It's out with the old and in with the new – a state of the art x-ray machine at Haliburton Highlands Health Services. The new x-ray device will allow the old one, that's served the community since 2014, to be decommissioned. Its replacement, fully funded through a community campaign with the Triple H S Foundation, ensures quality care remains closer to home for residents and visitors to Haliburton County.The new unit replaces the previous unit which was reaching the end of its life cycle. It was becoming more expensive to repair as parts were becoming difficult to find. The hospital kept it functioning past its 10-year expected lifespan. The Triple H S Foundation's campaign, entitled "Here for You " raised six point three million dollars, far exceeding the campaign goal of four point three million dollars. The campaign originally aimed to fund a new CT scanner and mammography units, but thanks to the extra funds, triple H S was able to purchase and install the new x-ray suite as well. The new x-ray machine is expected to be a well used tool for doctors making diagnoses and subsequently in the treatment of patients.Gail Kennedy, Integrated Director of Diagnostics at the hospital sat down with CanoeFM recently to explain how the new x-ray machine will improve health care across the region.

The snow is melting and the temperatures are warming. For gardeners, this is the time to plan and plant seeds in anticipation of a good growing season ahead.SIRCH in Haliburton, which stands for Supportive Initiative for Residents in the County of Haliburton is inviting those with green thumbs to grow a row of vegetables to help supplement the organization's goal to feed those locally who struggle to put food on the table. By donating the vegetables to SIRCH, you help keep costs down while supporting those who are experiencing food insecurity, so it's a win-win for everyone.The Grow a Row program gives gardeners all they need to get started and great support along the way. Two local Master Gardeners will provide both growing tips and guidance to local gardeners and an upcoming welcome workshop will bring all the growers together to kick off the initiative and share best practices.

If you've been to the gas station lately to fill up, no doubt you've seen how much per litre prices are soaring. The pain at the pump we're all feeling these days has come from a perfect storm.The war in Iran, initiated by the US and Israel, and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz which supplies about 20% of the global oil, has caused markets to react negatively, driving per barrel prices to more than $100 dollars. That translates into Canadians paying more than one dollar and fifty-two cents per litre, with recent highs reaching up to one dollar and ninety-one cents in certain areas.Dan McTeague President of Canadians for Affordable Energy, says while Canadians no longer have to pay the carbon tax, two others have taken its place, namely the Clean Fuel Standard tax and the Industrial Carbon Tax than comes into effect later this week. McTeague says these energy taxes drive the per litre prices even higher than they should be. Another factor to consider, he adds, is the strain on the supply of liquified natural gas that will also pose problems and cause inflation to rise.

Tourism is Haliburton County's second largest industry, next to construction. That's why Angelica Ingram, Tourism Manager for the County of Haliburton wants to capitalize on the growth of the region and its many tourism partners by reigniting a former group that was dedicated to enhancing and promoting all the County has to offer for visitors here.That's also why Ingram is encouraging local businesses and anyone whose livelihood relies on attracting tourists to attend the inaugural Tourism Stakeholder Session happening Thursday, April 2nd at the Pinestone Resort from 10am-12pm.The COVID-19 pandemic did a number on local tourist destinations and local businesses. The prolonged lockdowns hit hard and the impact of those lost months continues to be felt locally, Ingram says. That, paired with political uncertainty, the impact of tariffs and changing ownership, has changed the local landscape and why, she says, there's renewed interest in reimagining the tourism stakeholder group.

After a prolonged hiatus, thanks to the pandemic and other shifting priorities, The Land Between is bringing back its talking circles in Haliburton County and beyond to offer first-hand accounts and discoveries and to build a stronger understanding of the changes taking place in the forests of Haliburton County, particularly those pertaining to wildlife.It's not the first time these talking circles have been held by the organization, but the impact of the pandemic and subsequent return to normal activities has taken time. Now, as The Land Between revisits these talking circles, Berman is excited to hear from a variety of voices, both first nations, local harvesters, (formerly known as trappers), and members of the public.The focus of these talking circles will be on the impact of Eastern Wolves on other species found in the forests here and what people are seeing first-hand. The interplay of one species on others can be profound, and Berman says she wants to create a compendium of data to then share with researchers and various government agencies.

This week the Highlands Little Theatre production ofCalendar Girlsbegins its four-show run in Haliburton. It's a play based on a true story about a group of ladies, members of the Women's Institute in Yorkshire, England.The play follows the story of how an enduring friendship between two women helps heal the pain the loss of a spouse to cancer and the subsequent eyebrow-raising fundraiser the women take part in.Six local women bring that touching and often humorous story to life, but what's even more remarkable is how real-life couple, John and Rita Jackson are bringing their own love story to the stage with art truly imitating life in this production. In Part three of this series, we meet the Jacksons and Director Jack Brezina as opening night draws ever closer.

Highland's Little Theatre production ofCalendar Girlsis only days away from hitting the stage at the Northern Lights Pavillion and the cast and crew are hard at work. There's a lot to do, but hopes are high that on opening night, Tuesday, March 24rth everyone will be ready.This is part 2 of the Back on the Boards series. Last time we met the director Jack Brezina, Kate Butler and Stage Manager Amy Brohme. This time we're hearing from a few more locals who are taking to the stage, a couple who've done it regularly and a senior citizen taking up acting in her 70's.Calendar Girlsis a play based on a true story about a group of ladies, members of the Women's Institute in Yorkshire, England. The play follows the story of how an enduring friendship between two women helps heal the pain the loss of a spouse to cancer and the subsequent eyebrow-raising fundraiser the women take part in. Six local women bring that touching and often humorous story to life. But behind them are the strong and loving men who support their efforts, despite all the headaches and attention they attract.

It's a part of growing old, they say. After childbirth and menopause, women usually suffer from weaker pelvic floors that can lead to incontinence and other issues. And for most women, they simply accept this as their new normal, bringing extra clothing, and wearing pads to cope. But a new technology at the Willow Organic Beauty Wellness & Laser in Haliburton called the Emsella Chair is giving locals with incontinence a new lease on life.Developed in Europe and brought to Canada in 2017, the Emsella Chair also helps men who've gone through prostate cancer and women who face challenges during menopause.The Emsella chair technology uses electromagnetic pulses to activate the pelvic floor. Over time, it is gradually strengthened. Guests usually notice a big difference in how they live their lives on a daily basis. Gone is the need to wear pads or bring a change of clothes wherever you go.

It might not seem like having a safe place to live makes that much of a difference, but ask Angie Wilson and she'll tell you it absolutely does.For most of her life, struggle has been one of the only constants Wilson has known. Born into a family where substance abuse was rampant and untreated, she eventually found herself growing up in foster care.Over time, Wilson too, became addicted to alcohol and her life was consumed with her addiction and barely getting by. Once she had her three children, the walls began to close in and the lies she told herself and others finally caught up with her. Unemployed, with bills piling up and no way to pay them, she literally dropped to the floor in full-blown panic attack. Then, on her sister's prodding, reached out to Places 4 People. Wilson applied for housing assistance with P4P.Wilson's story exemplifies what Places for People is all about and why the upcoming fundraising event, Sleeping in Cars on Friday, March 27th is so critically important to the organization.

James Raffan celebrated two prominent anniversaries last year. One was his 70th birthday and the other marked 50 years of exploring and documenting Canada's arctic and its people. Those two milestones inspired Raffan to write his one-man showThe Accidental Canadian, which combines storytelling and original music and is part love letter, part homage to the places and people who've shaped his life.Raffan is bringing his show to the Haliburton Legion on Wednesday, March 11th. He sat down with CanoeFM recently to share some of what he's learned through trekking in the arctic but more from the indigenous people living there. He's grateful for the life he's been fortunate to live and thinks the best lessons come from being on the edge.