What Are We Doing?!
By The Highlander
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What Are We Doing?!Oct 13, 2022
About Candidates: Brian Atkins, Dysart et al, ward 4
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Carm Sawyer, Dysart et al, ward 4
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Hayden Hughes, Dysart et al, ward 4
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Ron Evans, Dysart et al, ward 4
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Jennifer Korpela, Dysart et al, ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Dan Roberts, Dysart et al, ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Nancy Wood-Roberts, Dysart et al, ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
about Short-Term Rentals
For some, a short-term rental means crazy bonfires and late-night parties on the lake. For others, it means a way to finance their cottage, or increased tourism benefitting their communities. It's either paradise or a nightmare! Join us this week as we look into short-term rental units and what our townships are doing to get them under control.
This episode was compiled by Lisa Gervais and edited by Justin van Lieshout.
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett.
Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Napier Simpson, Algonquin Highlands, ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Amber Meirik, Algonquin Highlands, Ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Lisa Barry, Algonquin Highlands, Ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Sabrina Richards, Algonquin Highlands, Ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Stephen Hertel, Minden Hills, Ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Pam Sayne, Minden Hills, Ward 2
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
about Transportation
Getting around in the highlands can be one of the largest hurdles! If you don't own a vehicle you're at the mercy of friends, or unregulated taxi prices! Join us this week as Mike Baker dives into what the county is doing about Transportation.
You'll hear from Jaime Schmale, Marg Cox, and Andrea Roberts, with special thanks to Mike Rutter.
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett.
Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Mike Lang, Algonquin Highlands, Mayor
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Liz Danielsen, Algonquin Highlands, Mayor
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Rob McCaig, Dysart et al, Ward 1
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Pat Casey, Dysart et al, Ward 1
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Pamela Brohm, Dysart et al, Ward 1
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Tom Bailey, Dysart et al, Ward 1
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Angela Lewis, Highlands East, Ward 2
Sam Gillett chatted with the candidate about her vision for Highlands East, Haliburton County, and her thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Trevor Chaulk, Minden Hills, Councillor at Large
Lisa Gervais chatted with the candidate about his vision for Highlands East, Haliburton County, and his thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Tammy McKelvey, Minden Hills, Councillor at Large
Lisa Gervais chatted with the candidate about her vision for Minden Hills, Haliburton County, and her thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Janice Dahms, Highlands East, Ward 2
Lisa Gervais chatted with the candidate about her vision for Highlands East, Haliburton County, and her thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Ivan Ingram, Minden Hills, Ward 1,
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Mike Grozelle, Minden Hills, Ward 1
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Shirley Johannessen, Minden Hills, Ward 1
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Richard Bradley, Minden Hills, Ward 1
Richard Bradley is a candidate for Minden Hills’ ward 1. Sam Gillett chatted with the candidate about his vision for Minden Hills and his plan for tackling hot-button issues in the township. Sam chatted with Richard on park bench during a busy morning in Minden; forgive the background noise!
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Cheryl Ellis, Highlands East, Mayor
Lisa Gervais chatted with the candidate about her vision for Highlands East, Haliburton County, and her thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Candidates: Dave Burton, Highlands East, Mayor
Lisa Gervais chatted with the candidate about his vision for Highlands East, Haliburton County, and his thoughts on the hot topics we’ve covered on What are we doing?
We recorded these interviews in busy offices, on picnic tables outside restaurants and while sitting on benches next to the Gull river: please forgive any audio glitches or background noise.
Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.ink
About Shorelines
Some people love it, some people hate it - but one thing remains true. We all want to see our lakes stay healthy. Our townships recently enacted a shoreline bylaw, and today we're going to talk allllll about it.
Join us as we figure out what we're doing about shorelines!
You'll hear from some of the supporters and opposition to this bylaw as well as from council and how they reached these decisions! You'll also hear some background on the science behind this project and what we can be doing better to ensure the future of our lakes.
Relevant Links:
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett.
Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.inc
about Health Care
An aging population + the Covid migration has our health system under duress! And while this is predominantly a provincial issue, our Municipality can still play a large impact in the quality of care we receive.
So what are we doing about Health Care?
Join us as Lisa lays out the limits of our local government and speaks with Pat and Sheryl Kennedy, along with Cindy Snider for an inside scoop on how we could improve the Highland's Health Care.
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett.
Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.inc
about Poverty
Behind the million dollar lake homes hides a shameful secret. Haliburton County and Manitoulin Island have been competing for the title of "poorest county in the province of Ontario" for YEARS. Maybe it's time we change that? So What Are We Doing about Poverty?
Join us this week as we look into how the county became a silent home for the provinces' most under served, and hear from experts who've known how to address this issue long before the pandemic created an even larger rift between wealthy cottagers and minimum wage locals.
You'll hear from Jaime Schmale, Gena Robertson, Tina Jackson, and Fey Martin, alongside the research and hard work conducted by Mike Baker.
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by Jason Yates @jy.inc
about Amalgamation
Our two-tier municipal structure is under fire! Amalgamation has been a hot word floating around for quite some time in the county, and this isn't the first time. The last time our townships decided to amalgamate was in the 80's, when we reduced from 10 (ish) lower tier governments to 4.
So What Are We Doing about Amalgamation?
Join us as we delve into the Highlander's in depth research conducted by Lisa Gervais. You'll hear from Jack Brezina - who reported on our last amalgamation for the Minden times, and Zach Spicer - an expert in all things municipal. We'll walk through the difference between full blown Amalgamation and the ongoing Service Delivery Review and lay out the pros and cons to becoming a single tier government!
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Read Lisa's coverage of Amalgamation in the Highlander!
Diving into services delivery, Collaboration could save towns $1.18M, County receives service delivery update, Is it time to discuss County governance?, Is it time to change government?, Single-tier government working in CKL, My mind was changed, Amalgamation: not about saving money.
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What do you think about Amalgamation?! Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by @jy.inc
about Housing
With inflation on the rise, and supply running low - the Highlands have become more and more difficult to live in. For some people, that means looking at purchasing homes out of the county in order to make ends meat.
So what are we doing about housing?
Join us this week as we discuss this growing issue, and try to identify some of the solutions the county is working on! This week you'll hear from; Gord Polhamus, Dianne LePage, Mike Moffat, Jaime Schmale, Jeff Strano, Michelle Corley, and Liz Danielson!
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Join our next episode by sending a voice note! Visit: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Artwork by @jy.inc
Hear our bonus episode breaking down what a municipality is here: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/episodes/The-Highlands-Municipality-101-e1jqm3e
about Introductions
Welcome to the Highlander's "What are we doing" Podcast!
Join Justin and the Highlander team (Mike, Lisa, and Sam) as they discuss some of their thoughts on major issues in the county! Setting the stage for future episodes, get to know the journalists that will be bringing you conversations with our community leaders and politicians in anticipation for the municipal elections taking place this fall.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments - join our next episode by visiting: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message or email us at whatarewedoinghighlands@gmail.com.
Created by Justin van Lieshout in partnership with The Highlander, featuring Mike Baker, Lisa Gervais, and Sam Gillett. Music by Mackenzie Robinson AKA. Kashaga'. Find his music here: https://linktr.ee/Kashaga
Hear our bonus episode breaking down what a municipality is here: https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/episodes/The-Highlands-Municipality-101-e1jqm3e
Other useful links:
- https://thehighlander.ca/
- https://www.haliburtoncounty.ca/en/index.aspx
- https://www.dysartetal.ca/
- https://mindenhills.ca/
- https://www.highlandseast.ca/en/index.aspx
- https://www.algonquinhighlands.ca/
and stay tuned for our next episode on
Homelessness and Housing
The Highlands Municipality 101
From humble beginnings as loggers to a sprawling cottager's heaven. Haliburton county has evolved over time from 23 municipalities to one county and four townships.
Join us in this bonus episode where we explore the role of a municipality, what councillors do, and some of the important things you can count on the townships to provide.
Joining this episode are Tamara Wilbee and Mallory Bishop, the CAO and Clerk for the township of Dysart et al.
You'll also hear some exerts from Fred Dean's candidate meeting which can be found on youtube here: https://bserv.zendesk.com/hc/requests/105868.
Join the conversation by submitting audio clips to https://anchor.fm/whatarewedoinghighlands/message!