County Closeup

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 wom...

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 Am...

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...

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 alcoh...

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....

Roger Trull considers his volunteer role with the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame to be one of the best in the world. After all, he gets to tell the newest group of inductees they're being honored. For the third time since its inception, the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting another slate of worthy individuals at an upcoming ceremony, those who've made their mark...

Like many other Ontario communities, the village of Kinmount has a doctor shortage. Now, the problem has been made worse as Dr. Mimi Van Der Leden recently announced she's closing up shop, leaving 500 local patients without a physician. Dr. Van Der Leden's patients were notified about the closure of her practice last week via phone messages and mailed letters, causing many to take to social media...

Over the years, many have tried and failed to make Minden's downtown core a place people, and more specifically, shoppers want to be. Now, the creation of the Minden Business Working Group, formed under the umbrella of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce, to transform the downtown to reflect the unique character and pride of Minden and its residents. Matthew Renda, who owns Boshkung Socia...

These days, with post secondary tuition on the rise, it's a good idea to be certain about one's future career path. That's exactly what the Haliburton Highlands Ontario Provincial Police is attempting to do with its new initiative, the OPP Youth Academy. The program, the first of its kind to be offered in the region, gives high school students a chance to learn more about the diverse roles within...

The true story of how a small Women's Institute in Yorkshire raised both eyebrows and funds by posing nude for a calendar is the central theme of the playCalendar Girls, set to take the stage of the Northern Lights Pavilion in Haliburton in late March. Since early January, the cast and crew have been hard at work, learning their lines, blocking and even some songs for the upcoming show. Most peopl...

Barb Murphy has a new motto for living in Haliburton during snowy winters: Keep the snow low. Recently, the Ingoldsby resident had an unpleasant surprise when he carbon monoxide alarms went off one evening and the gauges measured dangerous levels of CO2 in her home. Murphy, who considers herself a capable and independent sort, was shocked the alarms went off, but immediately took action. She opene...

It's been an important part of the community for both permanent residents and seasonal visitors, and now, after a fire that completely destroyed the main store, last Thursday, the owners are vowing to rebuild. CanoeFM spoke with Kevin Dyck, one of three owners of the Kingdon Timber Mart earlier today. Dyck said despite the shock and sadness of the fire, they are already making plans to rebuild the...

Dementia Widow – A Memoir of Love, Death & Survivalis Minden's own Fay Martin's first work, but it's her very own story of loss, acceptance and finding a way through. It is a personal story she knew she wanted to tell while experiencing her husband's journey with dementia. In it, she explores frustrating delays in diagnosing him, and the impact on their marriage, as Martin went from an equal p...

At more than 20 years old, the playground at Stuart W. Baker Elementary School is well past its prime. Within the next couple of years, it will most likely be decommissioned due to safety concerns. That's why Lauren Adelson, and the rest of the school's parent teacher council are busy organizing an upcoming fundraiser entitled ‘Pasta for Playground' to help get them closer to their dream of a safe...

It's been a tough year for Canada. Threats of annexation and geopolitical uncertainty have been difficult for most of us to deal with. That's why the Highlands Summer Festival in Haliburton is launching its summer season with a fitting prescription — laughs and lots of them from an all-Canadian season of plays and musicals. Dougie Walker, Artistic Director and Producer of HSF took time out of his...

The Healthy Democracy Project's Voices and Votes Speaker Series is attempting to educate and inform the public about the local political process. Coming this March, there are two new presentations entitled ‘Behind the Scenes of Municipal Leadership'and ‘Understanding Campaigns, How Success Happens'. The goal is to pull back the curtain and by doing so, inspire people to engage in the level of gove...

After six years of good fiscal management and meeting educational priorities, the Trillium Lakes District School Board, (TLDSB) announced recently that the Board's new Outdoor Education & Indigenous Centre will begin construction on its own property in Minden later this Spring. The new, three thousand square foot centre is expected to cost $1.2 million dollars which will come out of the Board'...

The 2nd Annual Haliburton February Folk Festival is a delight for the senses and a perfect way to rid yourself of the winter blahs. There's a jam-packed schedule of local artists and top-tier talents in this year's festival that's already underway. Organizers are thrilled to build on their first year's success. Lizzy Clarke is the coordinator of the February Folk Festival – a month-long celebratio...

Darren Lum has traded in his notebook and camera for a completely different career. After decades of working as a journalist in Haliburton, he's working as a carpenter with a local homebuilder, Haliburton Crew. Now Lum is in an industry that's crying out to attract more people like him – those willing to pick up a power tool and work in the trades. With a can-do attitude and a seemingly fearless a...

Over the last four years, Kathy Judson , a mother of twin 12-year-old gymnastics-crazed daughters has searched for a spot that would work for a gymnastics space in Haliburton. She was exhausted from having to drive her girls hours out of town to train and compete. After the last possible site fell through, she reached out to the Haliburton County Development Corporation, or HCDC for guidance. The...

The Haliburton Sled Dog Derby returns to The Pinestone on January 24rth and 25th — one of three remaining dog sled racing events still taking place in Ontario. It's a true team sport, where both the animals and humans must work together. This weekend's event will feature mushers competing in a number of different race classes from across the province, Quebec and the US. The event even attracted an...

Balancing priorities, preparing for the future while keeping the taxpayers' burden as low as possible is what Minden Hills Mayor Bob Carter is trying to do with the 2026 budget process. That's why he chose to use his newly granted Strong Mayors' powers to veto eight amendments already passed by council during the budget deliberations. When Mayor presented the proposed budget to council on Dec. 15,...

Under the guise of fast-tracking housing and infrastructure construction, consistent standards and better flood and hazard management across the province, the Ontario government is proposing to amalgamate 36 existing conservation authorities into seven larger regional bodies, with oversight from a provincial agency. The plan, announced in November 2025, has already received harsh criticism from se...

As of yesterday, Sunday, January 11th, The Beer Store in Haliburton has officially closed. In June, the local store would've celebrated its 50thyear of serving locals and tourists and yesterday the last case of beer rolled out. When the store closed at 4pm, employees, former employees, friends and customers gathered in the parking lot to mark the occasion. They stood together in the blustery weath...

It's Friday morning at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden and a group of men, all over 50 are out on the ice, to skate, sweat and swap stories on a sheet of ice. The main reason is obvious – everyone here has a deep love of the game of hockey and a desire to stay active. But it's about a lot more than that. The league gives retirees a chance to connect with each other and share some laughs...