County Closeup

For Keli Schmidt, the month-long postal strike hasn’t been an obstacle for her business – Haliburton Clothing Co. The clothing designer makes comfortable, casual clothes and sells them mostly online. While other local businesses are feeling the strain of the strike by Canada Post union employees, Keli says it’s business as usual for now. A strong believer in a fair wage, Keli supports the postal e...

For 21 years, Environment Haliburton has been doing all it can to raise awareness about the threats of climate change. They’ve written op-eds, held webinars and other events and written articles and letters to local politicians about the very real impacts of a warming planet. While in the past, there were more naysayers than believers, that’s finally changing. The group is seeing more buy-in by bo...

A giant snowstorm that brought travel in many northern Ontario communities to a stand-still late last week also cut short the Ontario Health Council’s Trojan Horse Tour. After visiting both Minden and Haliburton on November 28, the threat of blizzard conditions caused organizers to call off visits to both Bracebridge and Midland. The 15-foot-tall Trojan horse has been touring the province to raise...

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they’re not disposable. That sentiment is what drives Kristyn Begbie to rescue and care for stray and abandoned dogs in Haliburton County. Snowflake Meadows, a rescue shelter located just outside of Lochlin, focuses on trying to give dogs a better life. Recently, 47 dogs came to the shelter in one month, and now Snowflake Meadows is bursting at the seams. CanoeFM...

It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many families in Haliburton County, the holidays can be stressful. The Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association’s 29th Annual Christmas Challenge Toy & Food Drive ensures even more children and families in the region can share the fun of the season. CanoeFM spoke with Aggie Toes, Executive Officer for HCHBA recently. She says...

Haliburton Highlands Secondary School handed out awards and recognition recently as part of its undergraduate awards ceremony. The high school’s scholarship fund presents over 200 awards to the undergraduates and graduates. Eighty-five of those awards come from the Haliburton Highlands Scholarship Endowment Fund. Both individuals and organizations have contributed and the Endowment Fund continues...

The cold weather is on its way, and with it, a season of dread for those who struggle to afford home heating. Rising costs for food, gas and other necessities put a strain on many residents of Haliburton County. That’s why the 11th Annual Highlands Christmas Shindig, taking place at the Haliburton Legion on Saturday, November 30th, supporting the Fuel for Warmth initiative, is such an important ev...

When you’re struggling with mental health issues, getting help is critical, but often it’s not an easy thing to do. Research by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA) has found it is harder to access mental health support in rural communities than in cities. The Road Ahead Mobile Wellness Clinic could change that in Haliburton County. Run by the CMHA, mobile clinics connect those in rural s...

Across Ontario, an estimated 2.5 million people are without a doctor, and there is fierce competition between municipalities to attract doctors to their communities. In Haliburton County, the quest to secure physicians to care for area residents is Wendy Welch’s job. As Physician Recruitment Coordinator for Haliburton Highlands Health Services, she says it’s a challenging task, but progress is bei...

On the top of a hill in the forest surrounding Irondale in Haliburton County, a majestic white pine stands strong against the wind and the rain. At more than 100 years old and over 100 feet in height, the tree has survived several threats, including a devastating fire and the logging trade. The tree is the third tallest white pine tree in Ontario and a source of pride to many locals. Long-time loc...

It’s been a long wait for the reopening of the Dorset Library. Though the completely renovated facility opened in August, the official ribbon cutting was on October 25. The library is now a transformation of its former self, with an inviting feel, a wide selection of reading material and lots of places to sit down with a good book. The building had been closed for four years — just as the recreati...

It’s been a few months since the Dorset Recreation Center reopened following a four-year wait and members couldn’t be happier. Originally shuttered in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center was then forced to close indefinitely because black mold was found on the premises. After project costs of $1.5 million, the centre opened once again in August. CanoeFM visited the facility recently and...

A Remembrance Day display in the small village of Irondale, Ontario in Haliburton County is having a big impact. The display, featuring 56 banners with the photos, names and details of men and women who served in wartime. This is the third year that the display, entitled “Service, Courage and Sacrifice”, has been put on by Bark Lake’s Cultural Development and its popularity and community response...

Deer wandering the streets of Haliburton isn’t new. After all, the town is built in deer habitat – along the edges of a forest. While well-meaning residents and seasonal visitors have delighted in feeding them for decades, some say the practice has resulted in some serious consequences. Whether because of several collisions on in-town roads and highways, or the devastation of residents’ prized gar...

Before you know it, winter will be here with all the challenges it brings. Snow, slush, icy conditions and of course, bone-numbing temperatures. While we have our own way of preparing – putting away our shorts and t-shirts in favor of sweaters, boots and long underwear, the Highlands East roads crews in Tory Hill are getting all their equipment in order to keep drivers in the region safe. It's a p...

Seniors’ healthcare in Haliburton County got a shot in the arm recently when two nurse practitioners signed on at both long term care centers here. One is working at Highland Crest – a 62-bed facility in Minden and another at Highland Wood – a 30 bed facility attached to Haliburton Highlands Health Services. Jennifer Burns West, Chief Nursing Executive and VP of Clinic and Community Programs for H...

Local resident Jim Frost was the first Haliburton Highlands Health Services patient to use the hospital’s brand-new CT scanner. The CT scanner has been in use for three months. So far, more than 1,000 patients have used the scanner since July, severely cutting down on the need for patients, their physicians and emergency medical staff to drive out of the county for diagnostic tests at other health...

Members of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association are ensuring a species of lake trout continues to thrive in the region’s many lakes. Together, at Elvin Johnson Park, the group has gathered to collect the eggs from fertile females to improve the survival of the Haliburton Gold trout– a fish found only here in the County. Dave Moss, who heads up egg collection, explains how the process works...

The statistics are staggering. At 82 per cent, Ontario has the highest proportion of renters paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. In Haliburton County, affordable housing remains a crippling obstacle to residents, with no easy answers. That’s what the 3 rd Annual Places for People’s Housing Summit, taking place October 24 in Minden aims to address through collaboration and prob...

It’s been more than a month since alcoholic drinks have been given the green light for sale in convenience stores in Ontario, thanks to a push from Premier Doug Ford to broaden consumer choices. The Wilberforce Service Centre is one of more than 41 hundred convenience stores in the province selling alcohol and owners Lindsay and Todd Watling are seeing the benefits first- hand. While some local re...

For Katie Woodward, cycling has become both a passion and a purpose. For the third year in a row, the Gelert resident has been cycling in the Great Cycle Challenge in support of SickKids Hospital in Toronto. While she originally chose to ride to pull herself out of a slump, Katie soon discovered that putting others ahead of herself was a positive move in the right direction – not just for herself,...

A new elevator at the Haliburton Legion, Branch 129 is expected to be a real lift to the community of Haliburton, thanks to a one-hundred-thousand-dollar Trillium grant and assistance from the federal government, local businesses, service groups and local residents. The elevator will allow physically challenged members and the public to attend events at the Legion. In years past, the steep stairca...

It’s 37 tons and a beloved icon in the Town of Haliburton. After a recent facelift, the Second World War-era M4 Easy Eight Sherman tank will return to its home in front of the Haliburton Legion, Branch 129 this month where it’s sat proudly for more than 50 years. The tank, the pride of the Legion and its members, was lifted onto a flatbed early in May, and taken away for a facelift. Just a few mor...