In this episode of What the Haliburton, host Bram Lebo and LJI reporter Adam Frisk chat with Highlands East mayoral candidate Mike Killingsworth. The former TTC chief special constable and Markham deputy clerk shares his vision for protecting rural living, keeping taxes fair, and improving council transparency.

Host Bram Lebo and Highlander LJI reporter Adam Frisk kick off our municipal election coverage for Highlands East, where a five-way race for mayor is underway.

The first guest is candidate Krystle Anne Pegg, a Gooderham-based paralegal specializing in legal disputes and regulatory matters. Krystle is also the founder and chair of Citizens for Crown Land Protection, a non-profit dedicated to safeguarding public land access across Canada, and an outspoken supporter of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights.

Tune in as she shares her vision for Highlands East, her advocacy work, and how raising her family in Haliburton County shapes her approach to local leadership.

Five municipalities with five councils and five sets of staff seems like a lot for Haliburton's population of 21,000 or so. Bram and Lisa speak with Gary Dyke, Chief Administrative Officer of Haliburton County, to get the scoop on the options for our future and why we need to look at them. Should we go for single tier or a hybrid model? Or maybe we can just keep trucking along. Join us for an in-depth discussion of this timely topic.

Host Bram Lebo and The Highlander deputy editor Mike Baker sit down with Dysart et al mayoral candidate Greg Bishop to discuss his vision for the township and his jump into council politics. A retired Ontario Land Surveyor and land tribunal adjudicator, Bishop breaks down his platform and shares why he's stepping up to lead the municipality.

What the Haliburton is moving on to the Dysart et al mayoral race following our four-part series on Minden Hills. Kicking off the coverage is Andrew Nowell, owner of The Wicked Wizard’s Wife, a 26-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran and local legion member.

The use of food banks in Haliburton County continues to rise due to high food costs, low incomes and a variety of social factors. This year alone, usage has increased 27%, stressing our local food banks and inspiring a Christmas in July fundraiser. What's going on when families and individuals can't afford to put food on the table? To get some insight into that question and how we can all help, Bram and Adam speak to Louise Ewing, chair of the Christian Community Concern Centre - otherwise known as the 4Cs - a community organization that runs a thrift shop and food bank.

In the last of our series of interviews of Minden Hills Mayoral Candidates, we sit down with incumbent Bob Carter to discuss his record and plans for a third term.

In our third candidate interview for the 2026 Municipal Election, Bram and Lisa talk to Pat Kitcheman, a local building contractor and newcomer to politics. Pat tells us a bit about himself, why he's running, and what he would do if elected Mayor of his hometown.

Bram and Lisa host our second candidate interview with Pam Sayne. Pam is completing her third term as Minden Hills councilor and is now running for Mayor.

In this special mini-edition, we sit down with our reporter Adam Frisk and co-owner Simon Payne to discuss the launch of HI, The Highlander’s brand-new news and information app for Haliburton County.

HI delivers a clean, direct online feed of local updates straight to your phone. Built on a foundation of community trust, it features 100 per cent pure Haliburton County content sourced from The Highlander and local organizations you know and rely on. Adam and Simon break down how the app works, why it's a game-changer for local journalism, and how you can use it to stay connected to the Highlands.