Podcast
County Closeup
Hosted by Elizabeth Oakley | Canoe FM · EN
At more four thousand kilometers in size, Haliburton County is home to just as many
stories. Every person living here has issues, interests and life lessons and CanoeFM is
here to share them. County Close-up. Bringing the stories in Haliburton County to life!
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Beer Store Empties Returns
Jun 3000:06:27Tap to summarizeSince May 2024, the Beer Store has closed one hundred and ten retail locations across the province. The original agreement stated that grocery stores were obligated to take back empty alcohol containers. But now, after numerous grocery chains lobbied against the policy, they are no longer responsible for doing so. The result? People in rural communities have to drive out of their way to return their empties if they want the deposit payout.But, increasingly what's happening is those empties are more likely to end up in a recycling bin at the landfill instead. The closure of Beer Store locations across Ontario has severely hampered the Ontario Deposit Return Program. Ontarians lost an estimated $60 million in unredeemed deposits as rural residents face longer travel times to reclaim their $0.10 or $0.20 fees.The Beer Store in Haliburton closed earlier this year and the only remaining official Beer Store retail outlet is in Minden. Grocery stores like both Foodland and Todd's Independent do not accept empties.CanoeFM spoke to a number of local residents and cottagers who are having to find alternative solutions to deal with their empties.
Transcribe →Lorne VanSinclair Wins CRABO Award
Jun 800:08:47Tap to summarizeLorne VanSinclair has been fascinated by the power of radio and music since he was a little boy. And it's that fascination that's led him to carve out a career in both radio and music that's won the appreciation of both listeners and radio associations.Though not formally trained, VanSinclair found creative ways to get on air. He worked at CBC in Toronto as a technician and would suggest program ideas that would lead to him running with them. Over the years, VanSinclair worked at CHFI as a regular guest on Don Daynard's Saturday Night Oldies show. He was on CKLN, and CUIT both in Toronto, as well as CFOR in Orillia.But it was Haliburton County's own CanoeFM where VanSinclair launched his internationally syndicated show Backbeat in 2019. That show is broadcast on nearly 30 campus and community radio stations across Canada, the US and web streams in Germany.Recently, VanSinclair was awarded his second Community Radio Award in Broadcast and Online, otherwise known as a "CRABO" for his vintage music show in the Best Blues or Similar Music Show category. In 2024, he won a CRABO in the Best Music Variety category. VanSinclair credits CanoeFM for taking a chance on him and nurturing his show along the way.
Transcribe →Minden Foodland Celebrates 70 years
Jun 800:05:29Tap to summarizeWhen Joe and Peter Dollo came home from World War II, the brothers decided to go into business. Together, with the support of their wives Florence and Christina, the Dollos opened a small grocery store on Minden's main street. It was 1946, and the small store became the family business, with everyone pitching in to make it a success.That's the origin story of Minden's Foodland, now celebrating 70 years in business and the four generations who made it a valued part of the community. Through all the years, the store and the family behind it, are looking back with pride and looking forward to a special reunion event that takes place Saturday, June 13that the Minden Hills Community Centre.John Davis was 14 when he started working at the Dollo's family grocery store in 1966. He bagged groceries and then carried them out to customers' cars or even their boats. He moved into the produce section, then the meat department and eventually he became the Meat Manager. Little did he know at the time that the experience would lead to his own career in the grocery industry. And all these years later, Davis is excited to join family, friends and Foodland co-workers together to celebrate how a dream by two brothers has grown into a Minden staple.
Transcribe →Memories of Murray Fearrey
Jun 800:08:29Tap to summarizeSelfless, dedicated, fair-minded, and caring. Those are adjectives used to describe Murray Fearrey, who, after more than 50 years spent in Haliburton municipal politics, died last Thursday, May 28th. He was 84.Flags are flying at half mast at the municipal building in Haliburton and numerous locations across the county in honor of a man who dedicated his life to public service.Born and raised here, Murray spent his entire life in Haliburton. Over five decades of public service as Reeve, 12 terms as County Warden, and a long-serving Mayor of Dysart et al, both friends, family and even colleagues say he helped shape nearly every corner of the community he loved so deeply.CanoeFM spoke to two people who knew Fearrey better than most and who are feeling his loss profoundly; Tamara Willbee, CAO of Dysart et al and Deputy Mayor Walt McKechnie.
Transcribe →HHHS ER Wait Times
May 2900:06:39Tap to summarizeEmergency room wait times in Ontario have increased by 67 per cent in the past five years, a new report has found.The study, by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, found that 90 per cent of patients waited 4.5 hours for an initial assessment at ERs across Ontario in 2024 and 2025, up from 2.7 hours five years prior.And while the report goes on to state the rise in ER wait times is directly tied to a flawed funding model by the Province, at Haliburton Highlands Health Services, treating patients in a timely and effective manner is a delicate balance made more challenging by daily and seasonal fluctuations in ER visits.Victoria Miscio, Interim Chief Nursing Executive, for HHHS recently sat down with CanoeFM to explain how patients are cared for in the ER, the systems in place that prioritize treatment and to dispel the myth that it's first come, first served.
Transcribe →Community Living Walking the Picket Line
May 2900:06:20Tap to summarizeThe picket lines are up in Haliburton County as more than 300 full and part time Community Living Trent Highlands staff have entered into a legal strike after the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Ontario Government failed to come to an agreement on the latest contract offer.Community Living Trent Highlands operate two homes in Haliburton and additional outreach services across the county for developmentally challenged youth and adults. Homes and outreach services are also delivered in Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes. More than one thousand clients are served by the organization.Community Living staff have been in a legal strike position since last fall. After the Friday midnight deadline came and went, the union began preparing to strike. Picket lines are now up in all three communities served by Community Living Trent Highlands and local members were seen picketing near the library in Haliburton on Monday. Teresa Jordan, Executive Director for Community Living Trent Highlands spoke with Canoe FM Monday afternoon to explain what led the organization and its 300 full and part time staff to reluctantly walk off the job.
Transcribe →Art Centre Foundation waiting for approval
May 2900:07:55Tap to summarizeIt's been a long road for the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation, but the organization is hoping that within the next six months to a year, their plan to build a world-class performing arts space will become a reality.Recently, the group finalized the site plan as part of their application to the Municipality of Dysart. Getting to this stage has taken years of work and a steadfast commitment, but now it's a game of wait and see. The HHACF came into existence in 2018 and since then, numerous people have donated their time and energy to the goal of a new performing arts space here in Haliburton.Since then, it's been all about moving the project through the municipality of Dysart for rezoning. Recently, with the help of a consultant in Peterborough, the HHACF completed a site plan in its application for approval and have been told the review is underway. Clipperton says this can take between six to 12 months but the group is optimistic.
Transcribe →Canada Post Eliminating Home Delivery
May 2900:03:56Tap to summarizeCanada Post recently announced its plan to convert all home delivery addresses to community mailboxes. In a statement detailing the plan, provided to CanoeFM, the Crown Corporations says taking this action will quote "ensure it can meet the evolving needs of Canadians in a financially sustainable way," end quote.Starting later this year, Canada Post will eliminate door-to-door mail delivery to 136 thousand residents across the country. Then, over the next five years, it will convert approximately four million addresses that still receive door-to-door delivery to community mailboxes.Since 2025, the federal government has financially bailed out Canada Post three times, to the tune of $2.72 Billion dollars. Canada Post's decision to end home mail delivery comes as a result of year over year financial losses, a drastic drop in mail volumes, labor disputes, rising operational costs and stiff parcel delivery competition. The Crown Corporation says eliminating door-to-door mail delivery will save nearly $400 million dollars a year.CanoeFM went to the street to find out how locals are reacting to the end of home mail delivery.
Transcribe →Humans Of Haliburton Book
May 1500:06:15Tap to summarizeSusan Tromanhaser credits her father for passing on his curiosity for people and willingness to just ask questions. It's been the thread that's woven through her life both professionally and personally, she says.And it's that curiosity that's kept her busy for more than three years documenting the lives of locals here in Haliburton County in a weekly column for the Highlander newspaper. The column, entitled ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands' invites readers to learn more about the people in their community, their life stories, their loves, losses and their humanity.After interviewing more than 150 people, Tromanhauser felt it might be a good idea to publish a coffee-table-style book that compiles many of the stories of the people she's met. So, she's done exactly that, with a book launch scheduled for Saturday, June 6thfrom 1 to 3 pm at the Corner Gallery in Haliburton.Tromanhauser, who spent her professional career as a principal for the Niagara School Board then at Brock University training teachers, sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about what inspired her to publish her new book, ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands'.
Transcribe →Jump in the Lake Fundraiser
May 1500:08:15Tap to summarizeSusan Tromanhaser credits her father for passing on his curiosity for people and willingness to just ask questions. It's been the thread that's woven through her life both professionally and personally, she says.And it's that curiosity that's kept her busy for more than three years documenting the lives of locals here in Haliburton County in a weekly column for the Highlander newspaper. The column, entitled ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands' invites readers to learn more about the people in their community, their life stories, their loves, losses and their humanity.After interviewing more than 150 people, Tromanhauser felt it might be a good idea to publish a coffee-table-style book that compiles many of the stories of the people she's met. So, she's done exactly that, with a book launch scheduled for Saturday, June 6thfrom 1 to 3 pm at the Corner Gallery in Haliburton.Tromanhauser, who spent her professional career as a principal for the Niagara School Board then at Brock University training teachers, sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about what inspired her to publish her new book, ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands'.
Transcribe →