By Mike Baker The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit received its first allocation of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday evening, with staff planning to start vaccinating residents of the area’s long-term care homes this…
Staff and students return to in-person learning
By Sue Tiffin More than 100,000 students from across Ontario returned to in-person learning on Monday morning [Jan. 25], including those from Haliburton County’s five elementary schools and one high school.Trillium Lakelands District School Board…
Haliburton hospital ready to accept patient transfers from…
By Mike Baker Following another weekend of almost 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 across Ontario and a further 102 deaths, health officials are preparing for the worst with many hospitals, particularly in the GTA, dangerously…
Severity of mental health cases increasing in Haliburton…
By Mike Baker Since April of last year, the Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge has offered support to 160 individuals from across Haliburton County.Unsurprisingly, the organization has seen a “slight uptick”…
Local Long-Term Care Coalition hopes to inspire change…
By Mike Baker After issuing a proverbial call to arms last May, a new community group committed to improving conditions within the region’s long-term care homes is continuing to share their concerns that many senior…
Dysart provides dollars, inkind support to Haliburton Sculpture…
By Mike Baker When Barb Bolin joined the volunteer committee of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest more than two decades ago, she would never have imagined the site would eventually become one of Ontario’s top tourist…
Dysart continues 2021 budget process, tax increase sits…
By Mike Baker Dysart et al residents are looking at an increase of at least 1.2 per cent to the municipal portion of their 2021 property tax bill.Gathering virtually earlier this month to discuss the…
Dr. Gemmill speaks to media, Board of Health…
The following are brief reports of items discussed during a media press conference held by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District health unit on Jan. 20, and the health unit’s Board of Health meeting held…
Haliburton Youth Wellness Hub offering connection, support
By Sue Tiffin Isolation, disconnection from friends, nowhere to go and nothing to do.People of all ages are dealing with the stresses of a stay-at-home-order during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s…
New chamber executive says she ‘grew up’ in…
By Mike Baker It turns out that Haliburton’s newest professional import has quite an extensive history in the local community.Amanda Conn took the reins as executive director of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce earlier…
Local health unit provides clarification on when businesses…
The Echo has received several questions in recent weeks, asking when local businesses will be able to reopen. Bernie Mayer, manager of health protection with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit offered these…
Giving children a place to play
By Darren Lum Watching her seven-year-old son Andrew McArthur-Robertson clamber on and around the latest addition to the Maple View complex in Wilberforce makes Sandra McArthur smile.It’s a long-time coming for her and the residents…
Exotic animal bylaw being considered for Highlands East
By Darren Lum The following are Highlands East council briefs from the Jan. 19 meeting held virtually on YouTube. The recent attempts to start a roadside zoo with exotic animals on Peterson Road in neighbouring…
New grants available for businesses impacted by second…
By Mike Baker Some of the local businesses hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive an extra helping hand courtesy of the Ontario Highlands Tourism Organization [OHTO].The group, in collaboration…
Seniors finding balance in fitness during Friday group
By Sue Tiffin For three years, Jim Hicks has been enjoying Balanced Fitness classes – a program that combines gentle seated and standing strength, balance and movement exercises – in the auditorium of Minden’s Hyland…
New cyber security initiative launched in Haliburton County
By Mike Baker The Haliburton County Development Corporation is partnering up with its sister organization in the Kawartha Lakes to provide “critical” cyber security and support services to small and medium sized businesses across the…
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society shares five tips…
As the thermometer continues to dip, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society reminds pet guardians to take extra precautions to keep animals safe during cold weather.When the temperature drops below freezing, pets should not be…
County addresses ‘misinformation’ on shoreline bylaw
By Chad Ingram Haliburton County councillors are calling another special meeting to further discuss the county’s controversial draft shoreline preservation bylaw, after a discussion during a Jan. 13 council meeting that addressed misinformation about the…
Winsley celebrates history of printmaking
By Sue Tiffin Meggan Winsley has certainly made her mark on Toronto.The Haliburton-raised artist is drawing attention downtown in the city, her work being featured at the intersection of Queen Street West and Portland Street.Winsley…
‘This is serious,’ says MOH in health unit’s…
By Sue Tiffin On Jan. 13, at the first of a planned series of weekly media teleconferences launched last week, Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district…
Cancellation of February Frost Fest confirmed
By Darren Lum With outdoor activities such as dogsledding, ice-climbing, and bonfire feasting where the young and young at heart would eat s’mores by a fire, the Frost Festival always brought joy to Haliburton.Its venue…