For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 4:01 p.m. Release #CFB-23-02
Subject: Total Fire Ban to be lifted in Haliburton County
With sufficient rainfall in recent days, the total fire ban that was enacted in Haliburton County on June 1 will be lifted as of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12. This is a joint decision of the County’s four chief fire officials.
The lifting of the ban means that seasonal burning regulations remain in effect, with no outdoor burning between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and that burning permits are re-activated. Visit the website of your local municipality for more details on burning regulations.
For more information on the lifting of the fire ban, contact your local fire chief.
Contact Information:
Mike French Fire Chief Algonquin Highlands Fire Services 705-706-0010 mfrench@algonquinhighlands.ca
Shain Duda Fire Chief Township of Minden Hills 705-286-1202, Ext. 560 sduda@mindenhills.ca
Dan Chumbley Fire Chief Municipality of Dysart et al 705-457-2126 dchumbley@dysartetal.ca
Chris Baughman Fire Chief Municipality of Highlands East 705-448-2981, Ext. 428 cbaughman@highlandseast.ca
News
Canoe FM shares $24,612.49 between NFP’s in Haliburton County
Six months worth of Canoe FM bingo proceeds have been shared by NFP's in Haliburton County:
Not for Profit Organizations for June 2023
- CHA for flyers for educating community members about septic health, taking care of shorelines, improving fishing and reducing the spread of invasive species.
- U-Links – archiving newspapers
- U-Links – for educational resources to provide training for data collection and analysis of environmental research.
- Highlands Summer Festival
- Skyline Dance Studio
- Abbey Retreat Centre
- Haliburton County Folk Society
- SIRCH
- Haliburton Sculpture Forest
- Haliburton Highlands Land Trust
- Friends of the Rail Trail
- Families in Motion
- Rails End Gallery
- Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary
- Point in Time
- Places for People
- Volunteer Dental Outreach
- Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library
- Abbey Gardens
- Haliburton Red Wolves
- Arts Council Haliburton Highlands
- Bark Lake Cultural Development
- Walkabout Farms
Total: We split $24,612.49 between the above organizations.
M819795
Minden Hills – Canada Day Fireworks
For Immediate Release
Minden, ON.
Tuesday June 27, 2023
9:45 AM
Release #23-49
SUBJECT: Canada Day Fireworks
The complete Fire Ban implemented on June 1, 2023, for all of Haliburton County,
including the Township of Minden Hills, remains in effect.
The Fireworks display scheduled for Canada Day evening at the Minden Fairgrounds,
as part of the Township’s celebrations, may be postponed due to the current Fire Ban in
effect for the Township and the MNRF Fire Restrictions in place for the province.
Fireworks are not allowed to be set off during a Fire Ban as per Township By-law 20-
104, Open Air Fires.
In the event the Canada Day Fireworks are cancelled, an alternate date will be
scheduled for the display to take place and will be communicated by media release,
posted on the municipal website and corporate social media channels.
We understand the desire to enjoy summer campfires and outdoor cooking. To help
keep the community and environment safe, it is critical there are no outdoor fires of any
kind. Only propane BBQs are permitted for food preparation purposes and shall be
extinguished immediately after use. The ban includes campfires, bonfires, fireworks,
charcoal BBQs, outdoor candles and lanterns, Tiki torches, chimineas and the
burning of leaves or brush.
All Burn and Fireworks Permits are suspended until further notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
For more information and accurate updates, please visit www.mindenhills.ca.
-END-
Contact Information:
Shain Duda, Fire Chief
Township of Minden Hills
PO Box 359, 7 Milne Street
Minden, ON K0M 2K0
sduda@mindenhills.ca
HHHS – Breaking News
For immediate release: June 12, 2023
For more information, please contact:
Lauren Ernst
Communications Lead, Haliburton Highlands Health Services
lernst@hhhs.ca
HHHS Announces Acting President & CEO
Commencing June 12th, 2023, Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) President & CEO
Carolyn Plummer will be on a medical leave of absence.
David O’Brien, HHHS Board Chair, said “the HHHS Board of Directors would like to thank CEO Plummer for her hard work and dedication, particularly during the past few months, and we recognize the importance of looking after her health. We wish her all the best as she addresses her medical issues.”
In order to ensure ongoing leadership at HHHS during this time, the Board of Directors has appointed Veronica Nelson as Acting President and CEO, as of June 12th, 2023. She will be responsible for all aspects of the role during CEO Plummer’s absence, and will work closely with the Board of Directors and HHHS leadership team on the continued delivery of all services at HHHS.
Ms. Nelson has been temporarily seconded to HHHS from her role as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH). Ms. Nelson previously worked at HHHS as a Medical Radiation Technologist earlier in her career. She has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, and has been an executive leader at RMH since 2015, including serving as Interim President and CEO from March 2019 to April 2020. She began her career as a Medical Radiation Technologist, and later obtained her Masters of Medical Radiation Science and Masters
Certificate in Healthcare Management. Her strengths include leadership, community collaboration and project management. She is currently co-leading the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team (OHT). She has been the overseeing the Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Departments at both HHHS and RMH and will continue to do so moving forward.
HHHS and RMH have had an ongoing partnership for several years, sharing many services including:
- Epic Clinical Information System
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Information and Communications Technology
- Laboratory
- Medical Device Reprocessing
- Pharmacy
“HHHS and RMH are both organizations that mean a great deal to me,” said Ms. Nelson. “I am excited to bring my skillset and experience to working with the HHHS Board of Directors and team members throughout the organization. I know how incredibly important HHHS and its services are to patients, residents, clients, and the community.”
Mr. O’Brien went on to say “We look forward to working with Ms. Nelson and have the utmost confidence in her ability to take on the significant responsibilities associated with this position.”
Minden Hills Press Release
For Immediate Release
Minden, Ontario
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
10:00 AM
Release # 23-41
Subject: Minden Hills Cultural Centre presents the exhibit
Bateman Family: A Sense of Place, July 6 to Sept 2, 2023
The Bateman family cherish the memories of their summer holidays spent at the family
cottages in Haliburton County. Their experiences over several decades are captured in
this personal family exhibit featuring paintings by Alan, Brad, Jack, Robert & Ross, and
photographs by Birgit Freybe Bateman.
The exhibit will display early artwork of sentimental value to Robert plus special pieces
from his own collection including Among the Leaves and Queen Anne’s Lace. Original
works and limited-edition prints by the Bateman family will be on display, as well as a
selection of originals and prints available for sale.
During the exhibit, Robert is generously offering his original painting Castor canadensis
(acrylic on canvas, 36” x 36”, 2002) for sale. This unique painting was inspired when
Robert was driving home from his cottage in Haliburton and spotted a beaver on the
side of the road. Growing up, he spent many summers at the cottage waiting patiently at
the water's edge, with mosquitoes buzzing around his head, hoping to catch a glimpse
of the animal emerging from the water. During this chance encounter he pulled over
quickly to the roadside and snapped a few photographs. The beaver’s wet, slicked back
fur created a powerful image reminiscent of a bronze sculpture, which Robert enjoyed
recreating in his studio. The Minden Hills Cultural Centre will receive 25% of the
revenue from the sale of Castor canadensis.
Bateman Family: A Sense of Place will be on display at the Minden Hills Cultural Centre
– Agnes Jamieson Gallery from July 6 to September 2, 2023. The opening reception will
be held on Saturday, July 8 from 1 to 4 PM. Pre-registration is required for the Artist
Talk at 1:30 PM. To pre-register, please email culturalcentre@mindenhills.ca or call
705-286-3763.
The Agnes Jamieson Gallery is a public gallery with year-round visual exhibitions of
local and regional art. The Gallery is part of the Minden Hills Cultural Centre which also
includes the Museum, Heritage Village and Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre. The
Minden Hills Cultural Centre is located at 176 Bobcaygeon Road, Minden, Ontario and
is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is by donation.
For questions regarding this exhibit, please call the Community Services Department at
705-286-1260 x 542. For more information, visit the Township of Minden Hills website at
www.mindenhills.ca.
Page 2 of 2
-END-
Contact Information:
Shannon Kelly, Manager of Cultural Services
Township of Minden Hills
PO Box 359, 7 Milne Street
Minden, ON K0M 2K0
skelly@mindenhills.ca
Media Release from HKPR
HKPR District Health Unit Advises Air Quality Health Index Moves to High Risk
Consider reducing strenuous outdoor activities if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Port Hope, ON (June 7, 2023) – The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) would like to advise residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County and Northumberland County that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) has now moved to high risk due to smoke from ongoing forest fires.
“The current smoke plumes from forest fires throughout Ontario and Quebec are leading to worsening air quality, moving the air quality health index to high risk,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health, and Chief Executive Officer for the HKPR District Health Unit. “For those who may be at risk due to other health reasons we are advising you to please prioritize your health by reducing your exposure.”
Public health officials refer to the MECP’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), which uses data from 39 air monitoring stations that collect real-time air pollution data and report on key pollutants that are indicators of overall outdoor air quality. The AQHI hourly values and daily forecasts are calculated and produced by ECCC and posted hourly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The AQHI table below shows the health risk associated with the air pollution we breathe presented on a scale of 1 to 10+ with four health risk categories. Each category also provides direction on health measures for ‘at risk’ individuals and the general population.
By taking these precautions, you can help protect your health and minimize the risks associated with wildfire smoke events, for more information on wildfires visit hkpr.on.ca/WildFires.
Health Measures for the General Population
Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Health Measures for the At Risk Population
Individuals with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant women, and those who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.
- Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy.
- Improve your air quality by changing your furnace filters.
- Find out if you are at risk
More Public Health Information
The HKPR District Health Unit encourages residents and visitors to follow the Air Quality Health Index by visiting the AQHI webpage, on the WeatherCan app and on the Weather Alerts page. For further information please refer to our Wildfires and Air Quality webpage.
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