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Haldimand County Council Approves 2023 Water And Wastewater Budget

On December 8, 2022, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2023 Rate-Supported Operating & Capital Budget. Otherwise known as the Water & Wastewater Budget, this important strategic document ensures that reliable, safe, clean and affordable potable water is available to residents across the County.

This Rate-Supported Budget deals exclusively with water and wastewater treatment initiatives & is funded directly by user rates (with no financial support from property taxes).

The 2023 budget includes average annual gross expenditures of $11.9 million in capital expenditures on the water side and $8.7 million on the wastewater side. These expenditures are to maintain, improve and optimize the operation of existing systems and to add capacity in response to growth.

The average residential combined water & wastewater user will see a slight increase of about $1.54 (1.83%) on their average monthly bill and despite rising inflation all bulk services (i.e. water depot, septic holding treatment, etc.) have been capped to an increase of 3%.

Overall, Haldimand’s water & wastewater rates still remain below the provincial average and lower relative to nearby comparable communities due to ongoing strategic planning efforts and diligent asset management practices.

New water & wastewater rates take effect on January 1, 2023.

Over the 10-year capital forecast period there is a total of $206 million allocated for enhancements to municipal sewer and water infrastructure.

Major projects slated to begin in 2023 include the construction of a secondary Highway 6 Water Transmission Main and the construction of a new elevated water tank and in-ground reservoir in Caledonia on the sites of existing infrastructure.

Factors impacting the 2023 rate-supported budget and user rates include:

  • rising costs of materials, chemicals, supplies and contracts with water and wastewater treatment plant operators;
  • rising insurance costs due to limited providers and provincial liability legislation;
  • increases to the rate the City of Hamilton charges Haldimand County for water and increased consumption of water (due to growth).

Over the Term of Council (2023-2027), staff will be actively monitoring external pressures on water & wastewater services in order to properly plan for any potential mitigation that may be required. While rates have remained relatively stable, changes to provincial legislation has the ability to significantly impact municipal operations. As such, senior staff will continue to monitor the political environment & lobby against changes that may impact the affordability of water rates in Ontario.

Council will next review the Tax-Supported Operating & Capital Budgets on the following dates:

Tax-Supported Capital Budget: February 2, 2023 & February 3, 2023* (*if required)

Tax-Supported Operating Budget: March 2, 2023 & March 3, 2023* (*if required)

More information about County budgets, user fees/rates and taxes is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/financials.

 

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

Holiday programs and take-home crafts at Haldimand County Library

The Haldimand County Public Library is hosting holiday programming for children aged 3 to 12 at all local branches over the winter holiday. Each library location will be offering in-branch crafts, parties and winter-themed Storytimes for some added fun over the winter break.

For a list of what is offered at each local library, residents can visit their library branch, call (289) 674-0400,  or visit www.haldimandlibrary.ca. Registration is required and some programs do have a small fee (between $1 and $4) to cover supplies.

The Library will also be offering more of the popular Children’s Take-Home Crafts in each of the local branches. Everyone is welcome to come in and grab a craft, completely free of charge, to complete in the comfort of their own home.

Haldimand County’s Fall/Winter 2022-23 Playbook highlights programming and leisure options for the season

The Fall/Winter 2022-23 Playbook—your guide to indoor and outdoor activities, programming and experiences—is now available online and at the Haldimand County Administration Building, libraries and museums. Highlights of the Playbook include:

Free skating programs for all ages

Free skating programs are offered at all four arenas, providing residents and visitors with options to keep active and have fun throughout the colder months. Public skates, preschool skates, child’s hockey skates, youth shinny, teen shinny, adult skate, adult shinny, women’s shinny and open figure skating are all free of charge and require no registration. Check the Playbook or the County’s website for locations, schedules and additional details.

Once the cold weather really sets in, check out Haldimand County’s two natural ice rinks in Fisherville and Selkirk; visit the County website for updates on conditions.

Walking tracks & low-impact exercise

Arenas in Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville have walking tracks open daily from 8 a.m. to closing. Please call the arena to confirm closing times. Seniors Sit To Be Fit, offered by the Haldimand Abilities Centre, is another popular, free program designed to increase participants’ strength, flexibility and endurance.

Outdoor activities

For enthusiasts of the great outdoors, Haldimand’s trails and parks have a lot to offer. Check out disc golf courses in Caledonia’s LaFortune Park (18 holes) or in Jarvis Lions Park (nine holes). You can also try out the Haldimand GeoTour, rated the second-most-popular geocaching experience in southwestern Ontario in 2021.

New this fall is The Ripple Effect, a series of hand-painted paddles installed along trails throughout the county. This latest series of public art is the second phase to the original PATH (Paddle Art Tour Haldimand), a county-wide display of more than 25 handmade wooden paddles painted by local artists. Details about the locations of these public art installations are available on the county website.

Museum and library programming/exhibits

Haldimand County’s museums and libraries also offer a variety of activities and programs, including exhibits, presentations, workshops and social opportunities. A full schedule of museum programs is available online; some programs require registration.

March Break Camps 2023

During March Break, the County’s camps and museum workshops will keep your children active and engaged. Pricing, locations and registration details are in the Playbook and online at link.haldimandcounty.ca.

Visit the Haldimand County Administration Building, your local library branches or museum to pick up a copy of the Playbook or find it online at haldimandcounty.ca/recreation-guide.

The Heritage Centre announces December program lineup

This December, the Heritage Centre in Cayuga is hosting five events and an exhibition celebrating Christmas and featuring the history of board games.

The cost for each regular program is $10 per person and the cost for 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.

Tuesday, Dec. 6 (6 p.m.) – Early Settlers Christmas
This talk will examine early Christmas celebrations for settlers arriving in Upper Canada between the late 1700s to the mid-1800s.

Wednesday, Dec. 7 (1 p.m.) – Christmas Customs and Traditions
Featuring  Christmas customs and traditions during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, this presentation will highlight the history of many traditions still familiar today.

Saturday, Dec. 10 (12:30 p.m.) – Christmas in the 1950s
This talk looks at Christmas in the 1950s when aluminum Christmas trees and bubble lights were all the rage while hula hoops, Barbie dolls and Matchbox cars were found under the tree on Christmas morning.

Tuesday, Dec. 13 (6 p.m.) – Christmas Around the World
A talk featuring Christmas celebrations around the world and how our early ancestors brought their traditions with them when they immigrated to Canada. Many of the traditions and celebrations we enjoy in Canada come from French, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Norwegian and Ukrainian influences.

Wednesday, Dec. 14 (1 p.m.) – Tea and Presentation: Mail Order Christmas
This program features afternoon tea followed by a talk on the history of the mail-order catalogue; attendees can discover how, in the late 19th century, large department stores introduced mail-order operations to extend their markets beyond their stores and into smaller cities and rural areas and how this trend changed the shopping habits of Canadians.

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.

County Launches Annual Haldimand Wish Book, to encourage residents to shop local

Haldimand County’s Economic Development and Tourism division has released the annual Haldimand Wish Book – a one-stop guide for local gift ideas, and unique experiences. This is the third year the wish book has provided residents with ways to ‘shop local’ for the holidays.

The Holiday Wish Book celebrates local, hand-made products and features over 36 local businesses in the print version. Copies are being distributed to all households in Haldimand by mail and will also be available for pickup at Haldimand Libraries. An online, downloadable version of the Holiday Wish Book is available at https://tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book/.

“The Holiday Wish Book is a great opportunity for residents to find great gift ideas for everyone on their list while supporting local business,” said Manager of Economic Development & Tourism at Haldimand County, Lidy Romanuk.

Through the online directory, also located at https://tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book/, shoppers can also find an additional number of local businesses, holiday events, experiences and gift inspiration.

For more information on the Haldimand Holiday Wish Book and support local this holiday season, visit tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book. A social media campaign is currently in market that highlights participating businesses, so be sure to like and share your favourites. Find Tourism Haldimand on Facebook and Instagram.

For any questions, or businesses who want to be added to our online directory, contact the Economic Development and Tourism division at opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca

Flood Watch issued for Lake Erie shoreline, Port Maitland, areas downstream of Dunnville Dam

A Flood Watch has been issued for residents in Zone 1 along the Lake Erie shoreline, Port Maitland & areas downstream of the Dunnville Dam.

The current Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) surge model forecast for the eastern end of Lake Erie is indicating a rise in lake levels of 1.85 metres (6.1 feet) with the possibility of waves increasing the lake levels to a critical level of 2 metres (6.6 feet) above chart datum of 173.5 m.

Peak level is forecast to occur around midnight into the early hours of Sunday. Uncertainty remains in the height of the Lake Erie surge based on current forecast models.

Members of the public are urged to use caution and stay away from Lake Erie shoreline areas experiencing strong wave action and elevated water levels. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas. Keeping a close watch on local weather conditions is recommended.

Residents can look up their property using the Flood Zone Mapping Tool at www.haldimandcounty.ca/floods to see if they may be affected.

Information related to lakeshore flooding hazards and preparedness – as well as 72-hour emergency kit preparation – is also available on the county website.

Haldimand County Emergency Services will be actively monitoring conditions and prepared to respond as necessary. Residents should pay close attention to changing weather conditions and watch for updated flood messages.

Updates will be shared as they become available at www.haldimandcounty.ca and via the county’s Facebook and Twitter.

This message is in effect until Sunday, November 20 at 8 a.m. 

Haldimand County one of dozens of Ontario paramedic services impacted by potential third party cyber incident; 911 services not affected

Haldimand County Paramedic Services has been informed that the third-party platform it uses to record patient data has been taken offline in response to a potential cybersecurity incident. This situation is currently impacting many paramedic services across Ontario.

This service interruption does not affect the paramedics services ability to respond to 9-1-1 emergency calls. There is also no evidence thus far that any confidential information, including personal health information of patients under the care of Haldimand County Paramedic Services, has been compromised.

The third-party platform is operated by ESO, which moved immediately to take the system offline at the first sign of unauthorized access.

ESO is working with appropriate authorities and cybersecurity experts to resolve the matter.

Updates will be shared as they become available.

 

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

Haldimand County welcomes 2022-2026 Council at Inaugural Meeting of new term

On November 15, 2022, Haldimand hosted its Inaugural Meeting for the new term of Council. The meeting began with a brief ceremony that included the Declarations of Office for the Mayor and each individual Councillor.

As part of the ceremony, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley delivered an inaugural speech thanking the community for its support, congratulating newly-elected members of Council and reiterating her commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, transparency and accountability.

“As Mayor I am eager to be a strong advocate for our municipality by working with Council, our community, provincial and federal counterparts and our indigenous communities. By listening, communicating and welcoming your ideas, we can all make Haldimand County an even better place to live, work and play,” Bentley noted.

“The people of Haldimand have spoken that they seek change. As your Mayor, I promise to work for a better future – one that makes sense for the community as a whole,” added Bentley.

Bentley emphasized the need to take a closer look at municipal infrastructure needs, look for new ways to communicate and find ways to plan and provide space for future business development, health care institutions, schools, farmland and parkland.

Mayor Bentley’s speech is available in full on the county website.

Following the inaugural meeting and leading into the new year, members of Council will participate in a comprehensive orientation process followed by priority-setting sessions to define Council’s key goals and objectives for the term.

The first Council in Committee meeting of the new term will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, followed by Council on Monday, December 12, 2022, which will be the last meeting of the calendar year.

2022-2026 Term of Council

Mayor
Shelley Ann Bentley

Ward 1
Stewart Patterson

Ward 2
John Metcalfe

Ward 3
Dan Lawrence

Ward 4
Natalie Stam

Ward 5
Rob Shirton

Ward 6
Patrick O’Neill

Government of Canada Supports Haldimand County through the Tourism Relief Fund

Haldimand County is pleased to announce the receipt of a non-repayable contribution of $94,105 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization to create a new tourism experience development program, “From Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences in Haldimand County.”  The program aims to bring multiple businesses through the experience development process, promoting the launch of new market-ready experiences by early 2023.

This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization received nearly $11 million from FedDev Ontario to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

The “From Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences”  program will focus on creating four new experiential tourism products as travel motivators that engage visitors in a series of memorable travel activities, revealed over time, that are inherently personal, engage the senses and make connections on an emotional, physical, spiritual or intellectual level. The program will encourage operators to respond to a traveller’s desire to venture beyond the beaten tourist paths and dive deeper into authentic local culture.

There has been a great local response to the program, and Tourism Haldimand will be working with the following four businesses as experience partners to carry out the goals and priorities of this program:

  • Forest Fit – nature’s gym without walls
  • Potting Shed – Experience a new era of gardening
  • Rabi’s Grand Kitchen – social enterprise hub and food incubator
  • Cottonwood Mansion – preserving local history

In addition to Haldimand County’s successful application to the Tourism Relief Fund, five other Haldimand County organizations also received funding. Congratulations to the successful applicants:

  • Caledonia Business Improvement Area
  • Ruthven Park National Historic Site Inc.
  • Toronto Motorsports Park
  • Twisted Lemon Restaurant
  • Windecker Woods Flower Farm

Quotes

“The Government of Canada’s $78-million investment through the Tourism Relief Fund is helping communities across southern Ontario. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”

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

“Tourism development enables a range of benefits to all stakeholders involved. It increases income and jobs from tourist spending, helps preserve cultural and natural heritage for tourists, and increases understanding of other cultures.  Community-led projects such as the ‘Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences’ program and small-scale business supports at the local level provide significant contributions toward community improvement, and we’re thrilled to be able to deliver this program with support from the Ontario Southwest Tourism Relief Fund.”

  • Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism.

“Tourism innovators from across the region have demonstrated the abundance of creativity and opportunity for continued tourism growth within Ontario’s Southwest. Through the Tourism Relief Fund, we’re seeing infrastructure improvements, new experience development and destination management projects. These projects will extend more travel into the shoulder seasons, prioritize environmental sustainability and inclusivity, and are innovative and bold. We’re pleased to be working with FedDev Ontario to administer the Tourism Relief Fund in Ontario’s Southwest.”

  • Joanne Wolnik, Executive Director, Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization

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

Haldimand County Fire Department shares important reminders ahead of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week – November 1-7

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from November 1-7, and Haldimand County Fire Department is reminding residents of steps they can take to keep their families safe and prevent a carbon monoxide-related tragedy.

“In Ontario, more than 65% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home,” said Haldimand County Fire Chief Jason Gallagher. “We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO, and one of the actions you can take is getting fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a registered contractor.”

Every household should having a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if the home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage. For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

What is CO?

  • CO is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
  • CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.

How to prevent CO in your home:

  • Ensure fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected annually. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.
  • Check that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
  • Gas and charcoal barbeques should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings. Never use barbeques inside garages, even if the garage doors are open.
  • Portable fuel-burning generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings.
  • Ensure all portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
  • Open the flue before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
  • Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it.

Know the symptoms of CO:

  • Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
  • If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 from outside the building.
  • If your CO alarm sounds and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or if the alarm has reached its “end-of-life” before calling 9-1-1.

Know the sound of your CO alarm:

  • Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
  • Don’t be confused by the sound of your CO alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.

For more CO safety tips, visit the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management’s website and COsafety.ca.