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Haldimand Museums hosting International Women’s Day Presentation at Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre

On Wednesday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m., Haldimand Museums will be offering a special, theatrical presentation to celebrate Woman’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Guests will travel back in time and walk in the shoes of 20th century suffragette, Annie Fearless to learn about the challenges and triumphs experienced by women in the early 1900s.

The cost for this presentation is $12.50/person. Pre-registration is required. Register online at link.haldimandcounty.ca or in person (prior to the event) at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South in Cayuga.

International Women’s Day emerged in the early 20th century, resulting from labour movements in North America and Europe which signalled an increasing call for equal opportunities for women. European countries such as Germany, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland were the first to recognize International Women’s Day, beginning on March 19, 1911.

Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre is located at 80 Caithness Street East in Caledonia. For more information about programs and activities, contact Edinburgh Square at (905) 765-3134 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County CAO announces retirement; acting CAO appointed

At the February 16 Special Council Meeting, Haldimand County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Craig Manley informed Council of his intention to retire at the end of May. Manley has been employed with the County at senior positions since 2007 with the last four years as the CAO. The CAO is appointed by Council and is the head of the County Administration and the key link between staff and Council.

“After 37 years in the workforce it is time to transition to a new phase in my life journey – to spend more time with my family, to travel and to pursue my hobbies.  I have been most fortunate to have been able to work in my chosen professional discipline, to have had the opportunity to learn, grow and progress over the years and to have a career that has been meaningful and fulfilling.  Haldimand County has been a wonderful place to work and it has been most rewarding to see the community prosper, grow and add services and facilities that improve the quality of life for our residents and businesses. With Council having completed its orientation process, its strategic planning objectives for the council term and the annual budgeting process it is an appropriate time to make this transition. I would like to thank the successive Councils I’ve worked with for their support and collegiality.  I am leaving knowing the County is in good hands both at the Council and at the administration level.”

Mayor Shelley Bentley thanked Craig for his 15 years of service with the County and the recent work done to help the new Council acclimate to their new roles.  “Craig’s experience, advice and leadership has been very much appreciated by both myself as a new Mayor and by all members of Council. He’s been an invaluable part of Haldimand County for many years as a steady, guiding voice that has seen our community through some of its toughest times.  I know I speak for many of us here when I say that his wealth of knowledge and insight will be sorely missed, and that we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.“

At this same meeting, Council also appointed Cathy Case as the Acting CAO upon Manley’s departure with that role becoming permanent effective October 1, 2023 subject to a performance review and negotiation of an employment contract. Case is a life-long resident of the County and is currently the General Manager of Corporate and Social Services and has significant experience in municipal governance.

Mayor Bentley noted “We are fortunate to have a strong management team in Haldimand and a positive work culture.  In order to ensure a smooth transition and a continued positive trajectory for our community Council felt it was important to look within the organization as a first priority to ensure a continuity of management style and approach to working with Council.’

Over the next four months Manley and Case will be working together to ensure a seamless transition with Manley’s last day occurring on May 31.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.

Upcoming programs at Haldimand County Public Library

The Haldimand County Public Library has some exciting programs coming up for the community.

For further information on library programming, please contact Katrina Krupicz, Community Outreach/Inreach Coordinator, Haldimand County Public Library at 905-318-5932 ext. 6552,  or by email at kkrupicz@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Author visit with Lisa Sherk

Local author Lisa Sherk will be at the Dunnville branch of the Haldimand County Public Library on Thursday, Mar. 2 at 6 p.m. to share her first book of poetry entitled The Looking Glass: Glimpses of Life Through Poetry. Featuring rhyming and free verse poetry, The Looking Glass explores the themes of grief, loss, spirituality, and connectivity. No registration is required.

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

In partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Library is offering free income tax filing services by trained volunteers as part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. This tax program will be offered by drop-off only, at the Caledonia, Jarvis, Cayuga, Hagersville, and Selkirk branches. The free tax clinics will run from March 1 to April 14, 2023.

To be eligible for this free tax filing service, participants must be:

  • Single, with an annual income of $30,000 or less;
  • Married couple, with a combined annual income of $40,000 or less;
  • Single adult with dependents, with an annual income of $35,000 or less (plus an additional $2,500 per dependent);
  • Individual with less than $1,000 investment income.

Once participants drop off materials and complete the necessary forms, all materials will be delivered to a volunteer by library staff. Upon completion of the tax files, participants will be called back to the library to pick up their completed forms. If any questions should arise during the process, a volunteer will contact participants by phone.

Red Cross babysitting course

Registration is now open for the Red Cross Babysitting course offered by the Haldimand County Public Library. Open to youth aged 11 to 17, the course will be offered at all local branches and will run over two or five days depending on the format.

The cost of the course is $40 per person and registration must be completed in person at the library branch. The maximum number of participants in each course is 12 to best ensure student safety and success. Participants will be required to attend all sessions at the branch and demonstrate a responsible and mature attitude in order to receive their certificate of completion.

The dates, times and locations of the upcoming, in-person babysitting courses are:

  • Dunnville Branch – May 8-12, 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. (five-day course)
  • Caledonia Branch – June 19-May 23, 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. (five-day course)
  • Selkirk Branch – July 10-11, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (two-day course)
  • Jarvis Branch – July 20-21, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (two-day course)
  • Hagersville Branch – August 10-11, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (two-day course)
  • Cayuga Branch – August 14-15, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (two-day course)

The Red Cross Babysitting course is a nationally recognized program and is designed to help participants develop self-assurance, knowledge and skills required not only for babysitting duties but also when at home. Topics covered in the course include caring for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children as well as creating safe environments and how to handle emergencies.

Visit www.haldimandlibrary.com or connect on Facebook for information on branches, programs, and collections.

Haldimand County Council approves 2023 Capital Budget

Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2023 Tax-Supported Capital Budget and 10-year forecast on February 2, 2023. The Capital Budget outlines $32.6 million of infrastructure investment in 2023, with a total investment of $326.8 million over the next 10 years. In total, 338 capital projects are scheduled for the 2023 calendar year.

The 2023 Capital Budget is heavily focused on infrastructure revitalization with notable expenditures in areas like roadway improvements, bridge and culvert rehabilitation, and enhancements to corporate, community and recreation facilities.

2023 Capital Budget Highlights:

  • $20 million towards roadway and active transportation improvements such as paving, road reconstruction, tar and chip resurfacing, gravel road conversion, sidewalk/curb replacements, street lighting, as well as bridge/culvert rehabilitations, replacements and other structure-related projects;
    • Includes $2.9 million towards the Gravel Road conversion program, with the bulk of the work to be completed in 2023;
  • $2.1 million towards the purchase of one new pumper and two new tankers and $520,000 for two new ambulances;
  • $939,000 towards enhancing municipal arenas, including upgrades to refrigeration equipment/concessions and building infrastructure;
  • $677,000 combined towards library and museum services, including the installation of an elevator at the Dunnville Branch and stair riser/accessible washroom and lift at Edinburgh Square;
  • $948,000 towards tree conservation and re-forestation initiatives, such as the Downtown Street Tree Revitalization Program and general maintenance, removal, planting and care of urban trees;
  • $394,000 for park and trail-related projects, including bleacher/players’ bench replacements in five locations, paving of the Jarvis Meadow Pathway and Trails Master Plan Update;
  • $378,000 towards the Community Halls Partnership Program, with funds allocated to facility repairs and necessary maintenance; and
  • $211,000 towards mechanical/electric maintenance and repairs at municipal pools.

“The 2023 Capital Budget was prepared in a difficult economic climate and faced a number of challenges in terms of balancing current priorities, future needs and the types of services and facilities we know are desired by the community,” noted Chief Administrative Officer Craig Manley.

“Things like inflation, the rising cost of contracted services, increased growth and uncertainties with regard to federal/provincial funding have all had a big impact on our capital program. Despite this, the 2023 Capital Budget and long-range financing plan outlines a strategy that ensures community needs are met and that will allow us pivot if unforeseen needs arise,” Manley added.

“I appreciate the time and dedication put forward by staff to develop a budget that supports responsible growth in our communities and focuses on sustaining the high-quality levels of service our residents value,” said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley. “The budget was developed with careful strategic foresight and identifies key challenges that we must plan for proactively to maintain our strong financial position over the long term,” Bentley added.

Similar to past years, the capital levy, funded by property taxes, will increase by about $762,200 or about one per cent of the overall municipal levy. The total municipal levy for 2023 will be determined once the 2023 Tax-Supported Operating Budget is approved by Council.

The 2023 Tax-Supported Operating Budget will be presented to Council on the following dates:

• March 2 & 3*, 2023 – 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Haldimand County Administration Building Council Chamber (*if required)

More information on Haldimand County budgets can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca/Financials/Budgets/.

 

Haldimand County announces recipients of support through the Government of Canada-funded My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program

Main streets play a vital role in growing the Canadian economy and supporting local communities. Haldimand County, in partnership with Grand Erie Business Centre and with funding received through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, would like to acknowledge 20 local small business owners who have received a non-repayable contribution of $10,000.

The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program is a data-driven community economic development initiative focused on revitalizing main streets with a healthy retail mix, while providing new and existing businesses on main streets with new economic opportunities.

With the funding received from My Main Street, participating Haldimand County businesses have been able to expand their businesses through the purchase of new products and equipment, diversify their service offerings and product lines, make leasehold improvements, and in some cases, start new businesses.

Haldimand County congratulates the following businesses that demonstrated ideas that will contribute to the downtown retail environment and increase foot traffic to their own business as well as neighbouring main street businesses.

Jarvis

Dunnville

Selkirk

  • Selkirk Social Purchase of an industrial espresso machine for new business.

Hagersville

  • Main 88 Purchase of new kitchen equipment to increase production.
  • Active Relief Centre Purchase of a new retail line.
  • Baejj Purchase of a new oven and freezer to increase productivity.
  • Plank Road Purchase of a point-of-sale system (POS) and kitchen equipment to increase efficiency.

Cayuga

  • Carolinian Café Purchase of a new espresso machine to increase productivity.
  • Caruso’s Purchase of equipment to open a new ice cream parlour attached to the main restaurant.

Caledonia

The My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program is delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario with an overall Government of Canada investment of $23.25 million, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support the recovery and strength of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.

Quotes

“Main streets play a vital role in growing local communities and economies for everyone. The Government of Canada will continue to invest in My Main Street and the small businesses the program serves, resulting in local economic growth and more vibrant neighbourhoods for Canadians and their families to call home.”

  • The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The program has changed the scale of how we think about our business, we have always been focused on local and now we are building a creative destination and with the My Main Street non-repayable contribution we have been able to expand our ability to offer those programs.”

  • Lacie Williamson, Owner, LVW Creative Barracks

“Haldimand County would like to thank the Government of Canada, FedDev Ontario and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario for their support of local business. Emerging from the pandemic, many businesses were seeking ways to encourage people to come back and shop in our downtowns. These funds assisted the start-up of three new businesses and helped the remaining businesses make purchases of equipment and tools to diversify and attract new customers to our downtowns.”

  • Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism

“The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is delighted to be delivering the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to support local business and main streets across southern Ontario. Thanks to the support of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, local businesses will have access to resources to help create economic opportunities for these main street communities, which is an essential component to a successful local economy.”

  • Doug Lindeblom, Managing Director, My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator

Associated Links

Upcoming programs at the Heritage Centre in Cayuga

This February, the Heritage Centre in Cayuga is hosting four events.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 (6 p.m.) – Road to Freedom
In honour of Black History Month, this presentation focuses on the history of the Underground Railroad and Black settlement in Haldimand County.

Tuesday, Feb. 14 (6 p.m.) – Valentine’s Day Mystery
The community is invited to enjoy an evening of mystery exploring a Haldimand County true crime event. Participants will have an opportunity to follow the evidence and figure out the outcome of the case.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 (1 p.m.) – Tea and Presentation: For the Love of Chocolate
Valentine’s Day is all about love, romance and chocolate. This presentation features afternoon tea and a chocolate tasting followed by a talk on the history of chocolate and how it became connected with Valentine’s celebrations.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 (6 p.m.) – Wrapped in Secrets
This presentation details how quilts and other objects were used to help escaping slaves find their way to freedom and, later in the 20th century, how secret messages were sent using quilts during WWI and WWII.

The cost for each regular program is $10 per person and the afternoon tea is $15 per person. Pre-registration is required for all programs. Register online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

All programs take place at the Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre, located at 19 Talbot Street West. For more information, contact the Heritage Centre at (905) 318-5932, ext. 6613 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Need for Proper Smoke and Carbon Monoxide

The Emergency Services Division of Haldimand County would like to remind all residents of the importance of having proper smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in their residences. With the tragic number of house fires and related fatalities in 2022, a key priority for Emergency Services in 2023 is stressing the importance of working smoke/CO alarms under the Fire Code. Community members are asked to be mindful of the requirements as failure to comply could lead to charges.

Provincewide, fire-related deaths have been steadily rising year after year.

  • 2019 saw 72 fire deaths
  • 2020 saw 114 fire deaths
  • 2021 saw 124 fire deaths
  • 2022 saw 133 fire deaths

The top five suspected causes of residential fires are as follows:

  • Unattended cooking
  • Overloaded or faulty wiring
  • Supplementary heating from space heaters, wood stoves, and chimneys
  • Candles
  • Careless smoking

Ontario law requires fire detection devices on every floor of a dwelling and outside all sleeping areas. Offenders can be ticked $360 or fined up to $50,000, and double that for corporations.

What to do to help avoid house fires:

  • Don’t leave the kitchen unattended, most kitchen fires are a result of distraction or leaving the oven/unattended. If you need to leave the room, ask your spouse or roommate to keep an eye on the food and keep stove and oven clean. Keeping your appliances such as your stove clean reduces the risk of a grease fire. Residents should either manually clean their appliances once it is at room temperature, or opt for the oven self-cleaning setting every few months.
  • Limit the use of extension cords and read the CSA/ESA labels on items you are using to determine the electrical load on the receptacle you are using. Especially heating devices/appliances.
  • Try to replace traditional candles with battery-operated decorative candles. If you must use a traditional candle ensure it is in a “tip” proof container or globe.
  • If you smoke, be sure to do it outside and completely extinguish the cigarette in an ashtray.

To help avoid injury or death in the event of a fire, Haldimand County Fire Department recommends the following tips.

  • “Get Out and Stay Out” – never go back inside for anything.
  • Make sure to test your alarms frequently and change the batteries twice annually.
  • Have an escape plan and practice it with your family members. It is important to have a plan set in place prior to an emergency, and allow your children to hear the alarm sounding when you test the batteries so they know what it sounds like.
  • Openly discuss with your children the importance of following the rules and safety guidelines as everyone’s lives depend on it.

If you are not sure how many alarms you need or where they should be placed, do not hesitate to reach out to your local fire department.

Haldimand County continues to roll out pedestrian crossover installation program

Haldimand County’s pedestrian crossover installation program continues to roll out across the community. Crossovers in Cayuga, Jarvis, Hagersville, Byng and Dunnville will be installed over the next month in addition to the two crossovers already in place in Dunnville and Caledonia.

Haldimand County’s first pedestrian crossover was installed in 2020 on Main St. in Dunnville between Bridge St. & Queen St. Since then, staff have worked to establish costing, location criteria and potential additional locations in consultation with members of Council.

Current crossover locations include:

Dunnville – Main St. between Bridge St. & Queen St. (September 2020)
Caledonia – Argyle St. N at Sutherland St. (September 2022)

Locations for soon-to-be installed crossovers include:

Cayuga – Talbot St. (Hwy 3) @ Thorburn St.
Jarvis – Talbot St. (Hwy 3) @ Saunders Dr.
Hagersville – Main St. (Hwy 6) @ Marathon St.
Byng – Rainham Rd. (Rd. 3) @ Port Maitland Rd. (Rd. 11)
Dunnville – George St. (Hwy 3) @ Lock St.

A pedestrian crossover differs from a pedestrian crosswalk. Crosswalks are most often located at an intersection with traffic signals, pedestrian signals or stop signs, whereas crossovers are a designated pedestrian crossing in the roadway, usually not at an intersection.

By law, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield to pedestrians wanting to cross the road and wait for them to completely reach the other side before driving through the crossover.

All crossovers throughout the county will feature signage stating ‘Stop for Pedestrians’ along with yellow flashing lights that are activated at the push of a button (by a pedestrian wanting to cross). The crossover is identified on the roadway by ladder-style pavement markings and triangle yield lines (‘sharks teeth’) on each approach, indicating where drivers and cyclists need to stop.

It is the responsibility of both drivers and pedestrians to understand and follow the rules of the road.

Drivers

  • Pay attention to what’s around you and be prepared to stop for pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
  • Stop behind the marked yield line. You don’t need to stop if there is no-one waiting to cross.
  • Make eye contact with pedestrians to make sure they see you.
  • Allow the pedestrian to cross the entire width of the road before driving through the crossover
  • You may drive with caution once the road is clear, even if the lights are still flashing. Make sure you have looked to see that no-one else is wanting to cross the road.

Pedestrians

  • Use caution.
  • Make sure the driver or cyclist has enough time to stop before you begin to cross.
  • Stand close to the curb. If the crossover has button-activated lights, press it to activate the flashing lights.
  • Hold your hand out in front of you indicating you are waiting to cross the road, making sure drivers can see you before you begin cross.
  • Look both ways and look for traffic to stop.
  • Make eye contact to make sure the driver or cyclist sees you before you step onto the road.
  • Cross when traffic has come to complete stop and you feel it’s safe.

Cyclists

  • When crossing, dismount, follow the rules for pedestrians and walk with your bike.
  • When riding with traffic, follow rules for drivers.

For more information on pedestrian crossovers, visit www.HaldimandCounty.ca/pedestrian-crossovers.

Pedestrians using a pedestrian crossover.

Haldimand County Business Excellence Breakfast to feature guest speaker Eric Termuende

Haldimand County is pleased to announce the return of the Business Excellence Breakfast. This free networking event will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 7:00-9:30 am at the Riverside Exhibition Centre in Caledonia. The Business Excellence Breakfast is presented by Haldimand County in partnership with the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, Grand Erie Business Centre and Caledonia Agricultural Society.

This year’s breakfast will feature Eric Termuende speaking about One-Degree Shifts: Building Tomorrow’s Greatest Places to Work. In this engaging and takeaway-loaded presentation, workplace expert Eric Termuende will share what years of research, stories and insights uncover about the one-degree shifts leaders use to adapt to an ever-changing world around them and build incredible teams.

“The Business Excellence Breakfast is an opportunity for Haldimand County to thank our local businesses for all they do to make Haldimand County a great place to live and work,”  said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley. “This year in particular, we would like to celebrate and acknowledge businesses for their achievements and challenges that they have overcome through the pandemic.”

“This event is also a great opportunity to connect with other local business owners, partners and members of Council,” added Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism.

The My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program is delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario with an overall Government of Canada investment of $23.25 million through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support the recovery and strength of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.

“Main streets play a vital role in growing local communities and economies for everyone, said the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The Government of Canada will continue to invest in My Main Street and the small businesses the program serves, resulting in local economic growth and more vibrant neighbourhoods for Canadians and their families to call home.”

Haldimand County invites local business owners, representatives from Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas and business organizations across the county to attend. There is no cost to attend but registration is required, visit the www.haldimandcounty.ca/business and follow the links for the Business Excellence Breakfast or reach out to opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca (905) 318-5932 ext. 6331 to RSVP.

Haldimand County Council approves 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Haldimand County Council formally adopted the county’s 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan. This multi-year plan outlines the county’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for individuals with disabilities and reaffirms its commitment to providing inclusive and accessible services.

The 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan takes into account legislated requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the needs of the community, input provided by the County’s Accessibility Advisory Committee as well as best practices for accessibility within the public sector.

The Plan outlines several actions that will be undertaken over the next 5 years to further enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of municipal programs, services and facilities. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Enhancing the County website to fully meet AODA standards;
  • Developing a Facilities Accessible Design Standards (FADS) document to clearly define accessible design standards that will be used across the County moving forward;
  • Completing a parks and facilities audit to identify areas of County owned parks and facilities that require accessibility-related improvements;
  • Continuing to engage the Accessibility Advisory Committee and consult members on applicable capital projects, Master Plans, Neighborhood Plans and major initiatives to ensure barrier-free access for all residents;
  • Working closely with the newly-established 2022-2026 Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop criteria for prioritizing accessibility-related enhancements across the county – taking into account both areas of greatest need and fiscal practicality.

While the County is legislatively required to abide by the AODA’s Design of Public Spaces Standard on a go-forward basis, the benefits of investing in accessibility enhancements extend beyond meeting regulatory requirements.

Rather, making expenditures that support an inclusive, barrier-free community will ensure Haldimand remains and continues to evolve as a great place to live, work and play for individuals of all abilities.

For more information on accessibility in Haldimand County or to review the 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/accessibility.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.