Parents/Guardians Urged to Update Immunization Records to Avoid School Suspensions
Steps to Check, Update, or Book Your Child’s Immunizations
(February 11, 2026) – Lakelands Public Health is notifying parents and guardians of students in Grades 2 and 11 about the requirement to submit or update immunization records, as mandated by provincial legislation.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), students must have current immunization records or a valid exemption on file with their local health unit. Lakelands Public Health is actively collecting this information from Grades 2 and 11 families to support compliance. Students in these grades without up-to-date records may face school suspension starting March 31, 2026. Parents and guardians are encouraged to submit records to Lakelands Public Health promptly to avoid any disruption to their child’s education.
Key Dates
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March 9, 2026: Suspension notices will be sent to schools for delivery to students to take home in their backpack.
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March 31, 2026: Suspensions start for any students who remain non-compliant under the ISPA.
“It’s important for parents and guardians to report their child’s immunization updates directly to Lakelands Public Health,” said Marianne Rock, Manager, Vaccine and Preventable Diseases, from Lakelands Public Health. “Immunization information is not automatically shared by healthcare providers, so it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure Lakelands Public Health is informed of any updates.”
How to Check, Update, or Book Immunizations
Parents and guardians can check immunization records, submit updates or a valid exemption, or book an immunization appointment using the options below. Please note that immunization records are not automatically shared with Public Health by healthcare providers.
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Check or Update Online Access your child’s immunization record through Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) or submit updates using the Online Immunization Portal. Visit LakelandsPH.ca/Immunization to select the appropriate portal for your area.
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Book an Immunization Lakelands Public Health offers immunization clinics for individuals without a local healthcare provider. Clinics are available by appointment only. Visit LakelandsPH.ca/Immunization to view clinic dates, times, and locations.
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Submit an Exemption Visit LakelandsPH.ca/Exemption to learn more about exemptions and the process for completion.
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Once submitted, a nurse will review the exemption and follow-up with you.
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Call for Assistance Parents and guardians can contact Lakelands Public Health by calling 1-866-888-4577 for support with checking or updating immunization records.
These efforts are supported by local school boards, including Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB), Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, and the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland, and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB).
For more information, visit LakelandsPH.ca/Immunization or call 1-866-888-4577.
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Media Contact Ashley Beaulac, SCMP© Communications Manager Lakelands Public Health abeaulac@lakelandsph.ca
About Lakelands Public Health
Lakelands Public Health serves the County of Haliburton, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and the City and County of Peterborough. The organization works to protect health, prevent illness and injury, and promote overall well-being for everyone who lives, works, and learns in the region, including urban and rural communities as well as Alderville, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha First Nations.
Established through the voluntary merger of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health, Lakelands Public Health combines local knowledge, public health expertise, and a strong community focus to deliver programs and services that respond to local needs. These include infectious disease prevention and control, healthy living initiatives, environmental health, school and family health programs, and emergency preparedness. For more information, visit LakelandsPH.ca.
News
Peterborough Regional Health Centre Launches Emergency Department Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathways
Peterborough, ON – A new Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathway is now available in PRHC’s Emergency Department for patients with minor illnesses and injuries.
Beginning Monday, January 12, 2026, the online Streamlined Treatment & Evaluation Pathway (STEP) will allow patients to be pre-screened for minor illnesses and injuries, including respiratory symptoms, minor limb injuries, and urinary tract infections. Once they arrive at the hospital, patients who are eligible for STEP will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis by a dedicated physician.
Before arriving at the hospital, patients will be asked to complete a short online survey to determine their eligibility for this care pathway based on their symptoms. The STEP survey is available on the hospital’s website at prhc.on.ca by navigating to the Emergency Department page, or can be accessed directly at https://redcap.link/PRHC_STEP
Patients who complete the survey and are eligible for STEP will be provided with a confirmation message and asked to come to the Emergency Department as usual. Upon arrival, these patients will check in at the Emergency Department triage desk and show the Registration Clerk their confirmation of STEP eligibility. Once the triage nurse has verified the patient’s eligibility, they will be directed to the STEP area of the Green Zone waiting room, where they will wait to be seen by a physician.
If you complete the survey and STEP isn’t the right pathway for your care, you will be asked to come to the Emergency Department and go through the normal triage process.
The STEP system is now live. A dedicated STEP physician will be available to see patients with minor illnesses and injuries from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis based on eligibility as determined by the survey and triage.
PRHC’s ED sees more than 75,000 visits annually – a new patient arrives in the Emergency Department every seven minutes. Pressures on the Emergency Department have continued to grow over the last decade, with rising demand for emergency services outpacing capacity as patient volumes, complexity and acuity have intensified.
“STEP is one of many initiatives our Emergency Department has taken on to help reduce wait times, hospital admissions and patient length-of-stay,” said Jessica Jackson, Director of Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory Services and Trauma at PRHC. “We want to ensure that we are able to streamline our patients in the most efficient way possible to improve their care and experience, and with the support of leadership and staff across the hospital, we will continue to invest in these and other efforts to make innovations like STEP possible.”
About Peterborough Regional Health Centre
- With 500 inpatient beds, PRHC is a regional acute care referral centre serving one of the fastest-growing and aging populations in Canada, extending north to Haliburton, south to Northumberland, east to Quinte, and west to Durham.
- A new patient arrives at PRHC’s Emergency Department every seven minutes.
- PRHC now offers an online wait-time clock for its Emergency Department here, supporting transparency, reducing uncertainty, and empowering patients with timely information.
- PRHC is working to meet the growing demand for care in our community and region. With the support of generous donors through the PRHC Foundation, we aim to empower world-class care, closer to home; fuel innovation and bring new, lifesaving services to our region; attract the best and brightest healthcare professionals; and find solutions to critical hospital challenges. Find out more about the Campaign for PRHC here: ca/an-update-on-the-progress-of-the-70-million-campaign-for-prhc/
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For more information:
Michelene Ough | Director, Communications | mough@prhc.on.ca
Youth in Policing Academy
HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS OPP HOLDS YOUTH IN POLICING ACADEMY
This interactive program is open to students in Grades 9-12 who reside in the Haliburton Highlands area and are interested in learning more about a career in policing. Participants will gain hands-on insight into a variety of policing areas, including general patrol duties, major criminal investigations, canine services, emergency response, forensic identification, and impaired driving investigations.
The academy will be hosted at the Haliburton Highlands OPP Detachment and will run on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., starting March 25, 2026, and concluding April 29, 2026.
If you're considering a future in policing or simply want to learn more about the profession and what the OPP has to offer, this academy could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Applications are available at the Haliburton Highlands OPP Detachment or at the front desk of Haliburton Highlands Secondary School. Applications can be submitted at either location.
The application deadline is March 9, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by email.
Canoe FM exists because of people like you!
Canoe FM exists because people in this community step up.
Right now, we’re looking for a few volunteers who believe local voices, local music, and local stories matter.
You don’t need radio experience — just an interest and a bit of time. We’ll train you, support you, and you’ll never be on your own.
Community radio can’t survive without volunteers, and even a few people stepping forward makes a real difference.
If you’ve ever thought, “I could do that,” this is your sign.
Reach out, call the station, or stop by Canoe FM. We’d love to talk with you. 705-457-1009
Canoe FM Journalist has an update from LifeLabs
Thank you for reaching out.
We can confirm that the Haliburton LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (PSC) is operating on reduced hours as we work with the property manager and landlord to investigate the odour within the building complex. Our hours of operation will remain reduced during the ongoing investigation (7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) while continuing to provide access to the community.
Our initial investigation has confirmed that there is no mould or gas leak within the PSC and it's safe for patients and our team. We are prioritizing both employee and patient safety as we work to identify the cause of the odour. Out of an abundance of caution, we have provided masks for our staff and patients.
We remain committed to maintaining the highest possible safety standards within our facilities and are actively working with the landlord to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
Minden Hills – Strategic Plan Prioritization Online Survey
For Immediate Release
Minden, ON
Friday, February 6, 2026|
11:30 AM
Release #26-08
SUBJECT: Strategic Plan – Prioritization Online Survey
Your voice matters in Minden Hills and we need your input. The Township of Minden Hills is working with Karen Jones Consulting Inc. on developing our Strategic Plan. We are moving to the next phase in gathering input with an online Prioritization Survey.
This is your opportunity to share what matters to you as well as helping to guide community priorities for the years to come.
Your participation will refine what we have heard, as well will help build a strong and informed plan. Share your thoughts!
The online survey will be available for input until Friday, February 27, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
On-line Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Minden
Note, we will have paper copies available at our facilities Arena, Cultural Centre, Municipal Office and the Scotch Line Landfill. These paper surveys need to be returned to us by Monday, February 23, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. to be included in the process.
Should you have any questions about the Strategic Plan Process and/or the Prioritization Survey please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your support as we complete the process towards developing a Strategic Plan for Minden Hill.
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Lisa Fitton, Deputy Clerk
Township of Minden Hills
T: 705-286-1260 ext. 527
Email