By Emily Stonehouse We repeatedly hear about the importance of disconnecting from the online world, but in reality, it’s nearly impossible to do. The world is fast-paced these days; a swirling buzz of colour and…
A&W opens its doors in Haliburton
By Emily Stonehouse It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The long-discussed A&W Restaurant has opened its doors at 10 Hops Drive in Haliburton. With rumours circulating around town leading up to the opening,…
Hart presents “Water, water everywhere…” for Speaker Series
By Thomas Smith Longtime residents Barry Hart and his wife Heather founded Water Ambassadors in 2002. After visiting Haliburton County as a cottager for decades, Hart and his wife would visit Haliburton County and Kawartha…
Wanted: actors for HSF’s silver season
By Emily Stonehouse Sometimes a new year is an opportunity to get outside your comfort zone, or to reconnect with something that once brought you joy. With the Highlands Summer Festival (HSF) recently announcing their…
Thinking outside the snow globe for winter tourism
By Emily Stonehouse It’s no secret that the security of winters is unstable. Climate change is impacting our snowy certainty with a vengeance, and as a result, many of our local businesses have thrown in…
New doctor starts with family Health Team
By Emily Stonehouse It’s not every day a new doctor comes to town. Actually, it’s fairly rare. The province-wide doctor shortage is a problem that is not isolated to our neck of the woods. But…
Hal High students venture south
By Emily Stonehouse A group of local high school students were recently dazzled by the bright lights in the big city. As a part of the drama initiatives at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS), a…
Out cold; a decision to press pause for…
By Emily Stonehouse It’s not something she takes lightly, but the owner of Mixtape Vintage, Heidi Hudspith, has made a big decision. She will be closing her doors until spring. “All of my costs are…
Celebrating One Year of Self care at Willow…
By Lisa Bucher Special to the Echo Located in the heart of Haliburton, Willow Organic has become a go-to spot for wellness and self care. Co-founded by Sylvia Holland, an experienced spa owner, and Shannon…
Twins arrive on New Year’s Day
By Emily Stonehouse It was a New Year’s Day unlike any other for Ilona and Brandon Sutcliffe, when the Wilberforce-based couple welcomed not only their second child, but their third as well. “Twins don’t run…
Chamber optimistic about year ahead, despite deficit
By Emily Stonehouse The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce (HHCOC) held their 63rd AGM on Dec. 12 via Zoom. The short and sweet meeting included highlights of the past year, as well as projects for…
Bringing joy at Christmas, one satchel at a…
By Emily Stonehouse It’s the time of year for magic and kindness, and that’s something that’s clear during St. George's Anglican Church’s annual St. Nick's Satchel Campaign. For the past eight years, the “Creative Devotions”,…
Kilcoo sexual assault resolved in settlement
By Emily Stonehouse A settlement has been found between former Kilcoo Camp director David Latimer and J. Doe #1 and J. Doe #2, who, in late July of 2023, brought forward sexual assault allegations against…
Local teacher recognized at provincial level
By Emily Stonehouse Krista Patterson has grown up in the Haliburton Highlands, attending the local schools, and getting to know the local families. And now, she is giving back to those same schools that raised…
Violence against rural women is greater than those…
By JAMES MATTHEWS The increase in incidents of violence against women in Ontario disturbs groups that provide services to women in Haliburton County. And county council heard when it met Dec. 11 that it’s a…
County council chooses Burton as new warden
By James Matthews No matter how the vote shakes out, Haliburton County will have a new warden by the time this is read. Results of the Dec. 10 election were not available as of press…
Snowmaker settles in at Winterdance
By Emily Stonehouse “We’re ready.” Two words from Tanya McCready, the owner of Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton. An optimistic sentiment from a tourism provider who was quite literally stuck in the slush last year. …
Gifts from the Heart is here to help
By Emily Stonehouse In the hustle and bustle of a small town, we may not often stop to see that our neighbours are hurting. That’s something that Gena Robertson, the executive director of SIRCH community…
Nordic ski season off to a smooth start
By Emily Stonehouse With the first big snowfall of the season well established around the county, the Haliburton Highlands Nordic Trail and Ski Club Association (HHNTA) has officially opened their trails. And while it may…
Trojan Horse rolls through Haliburton
By Emily Stonehouse “A poison gift.” That’s the phrase used by Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), in reference to the infamous Trojan Horse. “It’s an excellent metaphor for…
Settlement found between Grass Lake parties at odds
By Emily Stonehouse It’s been a long time coming, but the ongoing dispute between Harburn Holdings and Friends of Grass Lake around the contentious property development has been resolved. “We negotiated in good faith,” said…