Cayuga Grand Vista Trail Construction Nearing Completion

Construction on Haldimand County’s newest trail, the Cayuga Grand Vista, is nearing completion. Work on the highly anticipated trail project has been underway since spring 2018, and the route will open to the public later this fall.

The Cayuga Grand Vista trailhead is located behind the Cayuga Courthouse at 55 Munsee St. N. The trail will take pedestrians and cyclists on a scenic loop from the courthouse over the Grand River on the restored CN bridge to King George St. and Maple Rd. and back to the courthouse via Talbot St. E. and Munsee St. N. Two lookout platforms on the east and west sides of the bridge will offer picturesque views of the river and its natural surroundings.

Each lookout has been designated with a name of local individuals that have noted accomplishments locally, provincially and federally – the Honourable Madame Justice Helen Kinnear and the Honourable Dr. Justice T. David Marshall. Plaques will be installed at both lookouts with descriptions of their accomplishments.

“The Cayuga Grand Vista is a great addition to the community. It provides an opportunity for recreation and education,” noted Sheila Wilson, Manager, Community Development and Partnerships. “The peaceful setting and naming plaques offer a unique connection to Cayuga’s past,” she continued.

“The trail will be open in the next few weeks,” Wilson added. “We are waiting on the delivery of gates to prevent unauthorized vehicles from accessing the trail. The gates are a standard design feature incorporated into all trails to ensure pedestrian and cyclist safety.”

An announcement will be posted on the County website and social media accounts once the construction fences come down and the trail is open for use. Residents are reminded that construction sites are not to be accessed by the public and are requested to call the OPP if they witness vehicles using County parkland or trails.

An official Grand Opening Celebration will be scheduled for early spring of 2019.

An aerial view of the Cayuga Grand Vista trail.

Hydro One Operations Centre Coming To Dunnville

Haldimand County and Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One) are pleased to announce that the project to develop a Hydro One Operations Centre in Dunnville, Ontario is underway.

In 2015, Hydro One determined the need to establish an Operations Centre on the east side of Haldimand County to better serve the region. Currently, Hydro One and Haldimand County are working closely together to identify a suitable site within Dunnville that meets the necessary requirements for this development.

Representatives from Hydro One recently met with Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt to discuss the proposed development. The new Hydro One Operations Centre planned for Dunnville will include the construction of a new building of approximately 15,000 square feet in size and bring approximately 20 new jobs to the community.

At this time, Hydro One is conducting its due diligence to identify a preferred location for the new Operations Centre. Once a site has been selected and a conditional agreement of purchase and sale is in place, the design and engineering phase will begin.  It is anticipated that construction of this project will begin in 2020 and be completed in early 2021.

“Haldimand County is pleased to be working closely with Hydro One on this project that will see new and positive growth for our community,” said Mayor Hewitt. “We are looking forward to the development of the new Hydro One Operations Centre in Dunnville.”

Haldimand Museum Announces ‘Haunted’ October Event Schedule

Haldimand Museum & Archives will be hosting three ‘spooky’ programs and events in the weeks leading up to Halloween. A haunted walking tour, lecture on famous gothic novelist Bram Stoker and an exploration of Haldimand’s most haunted places will be offered. All events run from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Haldimand County Museums & Archives in Cayuga (8 Echo Street).

October 17 – Heritage Series: Bram Stoker  

At this installment of the museum’s Heritage Series, attendees will learn all about Bram Stoker, the Irish author best known for his Gothic tale Dracula (1897). As a young student he became interested in theatre and began his career as a theatre critic for the Dublin Evening Mail. Stoker also wrote short stories and several other novels including The Primrose Path (1875), The Snakes Pass (1890) and others. Pre-registration is required for this program; the cost is $5/person (registration code: 6283). Light refreshments will be served.

October 24 – Walking Tour of Cayuga: Ghostly Tales

Join museum staff for a stroll around Cayuga’s most ghostly haunts with stories of murder, mayhem and ghost sightings. The Cayuga Courthouse was the site of several hangings (including members of the infamous Townsend Gang), two of whom are buried in the jail yard.  Discover what curse was put on Cayuga by a wrongly accused person and other spooky facts. Pre-registration is required for this program; the cost is $10/person (registration code: 6284). Light refreshments will be served.

October 31 – Halloween Tea & Talk

At this talk, museum staff will highlight some of the Grand River’s most chilling ghost stories and haunted places. Fresh scones, raspberry jam and other sweet treats will be served. Pre-registration is required for this event; the cost is $10/person (registration code: 6285).

For more information on museum programs and events, contact the museum at 905-772-5880 or email krichardson@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

County Seeking Public Input For Economic Development & Tourism Brand Strategy

Haldimand County’s Economic Development and Tourism Division is seeking community input to develop its brand strategy. The brand redevelopment project, identified as a priority in the 2017 Council-approved Economic Development and Tourism strategy, has been initiated to enhance the County’s positioning as an exceptional place to live, visit and conduct business.

The branding initiative’s objective is to clearly ‘tell the story’ about what Haldimand County has to offer and why potential investors, businesses and visitors should choose Haldimand. The project will develop and deliver a defined, resilient brand identity that describes Haldimand’s competitive advantage, engages people, drives action and represents the many attributes of its unique communities.

“We would like to invite key stakeholders and members of the public to provide input and guide the brand development,” said Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism. “It is important that we use a collaborative process to not only identify Haldimand’s unique story and competitive advantage, but to obtain support and public insight for the final brand,” she continued.

Over the next several weeks – through a series of focus groups, surveys and interviews – the County will be collecting input directly from local stakeholders including residents of all ages, business owners, local volunteers and community groups. Additional consultation will take place beyond Haldimand County to ensure an external perspective informs the final brand.

The re-branding project process will be facilitated by design and marketing firm CQNS. “CQNS has extensive experience working with municipalities and their Economic Development and Tourism organizations,” Romanuk noted. The Economic Development and Tourism Division will work closely with the CQNS team to conduct research and carry out the re-brand’s implementation.

Residents are invited to provide their input by attending a focus group or completing an online survey (open until October 12). Focus groups will be held on the following dates and locations:

Focus Group Session #1: CAYUGA

Date: Wednesday, October 3

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Cayuga Arena – 55 Thorburn St. S, Cayuga, ON N0A 1E0 (upstairs meeting room, McSorley Hall)

 

Focus Group Session #2: DUNNVILLE

Date: Wednesday, October 3

Time: 6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Location: Dunnville Library – 317 Chestnut St, Dunnville, ON N1A 2H4 (upstairs, Programming Room)

 

Focus Group Session #3: HAGERSVILLE

Date: Thursday, October 4

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Hagersville Arena – 36 Sherring St. North, Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 (upstairs meeting room, Almas Room)

 

Focus Group Session #4: CALEDONIA

Date: Thursday, October 4

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Caledonia Library – 100 Haddington St, Caledonia, ON N3W 2N4

Residents who wish to attend a focus group session can contact the Haldimand County Economic Development and Tourism Division at BusinessHaldimand.ca or 905-318-5392 ext. 6331 to register. Residents who are unable to attend an in-person session are encouraged to complete the survey, accessible via BusinessHaldimand.ca or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/haldimand-branding.

Take Back The Light Program Success: County Recycling Efforts Making An Impact

In 2017, Haldimand County joined the Recycling Council of Ontario’s Take Back The Light program – Canada’s leading fluorescent lamp and light fixture recycling program for businesses and institutions. As per the latest program statistics, the County has recycled over 14,450 lamps to date.

Upon joining Take Back The Light in 2017, the County’s Solid Waste Operations team set out with a plan: to work collaboratively with staff responsible for replacing fluorescent lighting in arenas, administration building, libraries, and other municipal facilities. A lighting replacement and maintenance strategy was developed, along with a Take Back The Light-approved process for safely disposing of old bulbs and fixtures. In addition, residents were urged to bring their used light fixtures to various hazardous waste drop-off events – residential participation is a key driver for program success.

The improper disposal of fluorescent lamps results in hundreds of kilograms of mercury leaking into the environment and contaminating water bodies. Through Take Back The Light, 98 per cent of each lamp/light collected is diverted from disposal. The light and lamp components – glass, aluminum, phosphorus and mercury – are recycled to make new products.

By recycling 14,450 lamps, Haldimand County has ensured the proper end of life management of .050 kg of mercury, 48.7 kg of phosphorus, 3411.0 kg of glass and 50.0 kg of metals.

Residents who have fluorescent lights or old lamps they wish to dispose of are encouraged to drop them off at designated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal events run by the County. The next HHW event will take place on Saturday, September 29th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hagersville Secondary School.

Residents with questions about the County’s solid waste or recycling programs are encouraged to consult their Waste & Recycling Guide or download the Recycle Coach app.

Haldimand County Votes – Advance Polling And Election Day Information

Election Day in Haldimand County is October 22, 2018. Visit the election page to confirm your voting eligibility, view advance polling dates, locations and times and other key details.

Election 2018 Quick Facts

• Residents – especially those who recently moved to Haldimand County – are strongly encouraged to check that they are on the Voters’ List. A Voter Registration Portal is available on the election page.

• Advance polling stations are open from October 5 – 13 and are a great way to avoid possible Election Day lineups. Assistive voting devices will be available at the Hagersville Memorial Arena, Grandview Lodge and Caledonia Lions Community Centre advance polling stations.

• Residents can vote at any advance polling station or any Election Day voting location (October 22), regardless of their ward.

• On Election Day, assistive voting devices will be available at the Cayuga Memorial Arena voting location.

• Residents who are unable to make it in person to vote may assign a proxy to vote on their behalf. Instructions and proxy assignment forms are available on the County’s election page.

• In order to cast a ballot, residents must provide 1 piece of identification listing their name and qualifying  address (e.g: driver’s license, utility bill, mortgage statement, etc). A list of acceptable ID is available on the election page. As passports are not issued with addresses, they will not be accepted as ID.

For further information about Haldimand County’s 2018 Municipal Election, visit haldimandcounty.on.ca/election or contact the Clerks office.

Grand Opening Celebration Planned For Dunnville Farmers Market And Waterfront Park

Haldimand County is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated Dunnville Waterfront Park and Farmers Market pavilion projects are now complete and open to the public.

Haldimand County and the Dunnville Farmers Market Association invite all residents to attend the grand opening celebration for the new Dunnville Farmers Market and Waterfront Park on Saturday, September 29, 2018.

The celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at 218 Main Street East, Dunnville and include speeches, a ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of a 140 year old heritage tree located in the park. Refreshments will be provided and vendors will be onsite with locally grown produce for purchase.

The Market will be open from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm on with activities for kids as well as entertainment.

The new market creates a space in Dunnville where shoppers and families can connect with local farmers and learn where their food comes from.

“After several years of community stakeholder input and involvement, the transformation of these riverfront lands has come to fruition with the $1.8 million dollar construction of the Dunnville Waterfront Park and Market Pavilion,” explained Mayor Ken Hewitt. “The market building is a great multi-use structure that will facilitate additional events and activities. This increased usage generates the potential for long-term economic benefits,” he added. “The use of the old arena lands to create the 1.5 acre Waterfront Park enhances the downtown with a beautiful riverside asset that includes walkways, park benches, lighting and landscaping that will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come,” he concluded.

The Dunnville Farmers Market is open on Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. until Saturday, December 22nd.

New Haldimand County Ambulances Debut Blue Emergency Lights

Two new ambulances will be added to Haldimand County’s emergency vehicle fleet next month. These ambulances will be equipped with forward and rear facing blue lights – instead of the usual white lights – in an effort to increase first responder visibility and improve safety during emergency responses.

“Using a combination of flashing red and blue lights will help get the attention of drivers and keep emergency responders safer,” said Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s Fire Chief and Manager of Emergency Medical Services. “Blue lights tend to stand out and are more visible than red or yellow in daylight,” he added.

The placement of blue lights on Haldimand County’s new ambulances are the result of an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act in July 2018, which allows ambulances and fire trucks to use flashing red or blue lights. Previously, only police were allowed to use blue lights.

Gallagher is also reminding residents how to react on the road when an emergency vehicle approaches with a simple phrase: move to the right for sirens and lights. At an intersection, stop sign or traffic light, drivers should stay put if they cannot pull to the right.

First Public Education Meeting Set For Lake Erie Shoreline Hazard Mapping And Risk Assessment Study

Haldimand County, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) have initiated a study to update the Lake Erie shoreline flood, erosion and dynamic beach hazard mapping.

Two Public Education Centres (PEC) will be held to help keep community members informed of the project, with the first scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Selkirk Centennial Community Centre.

The PEC will follow an open house format. There will be no formal presentations; however, the session will provide an opportunity for landowners and members of the public to learn more about the project, how to protect their property from flooding and erosion, as well as contribute their knowledge of local conditions. County and Conservation Authority staff will be available to answer questions and all members of the public interested in the project are welcome to attend.

This is a technical study to update hazard mapping. Updates to conservation authority shoreline management plans or policies, Haldimand County’s Emergency Response Plan and Official Plan are outside the scope of this project.

The PECs for this project will meet the requirements for public consultation for any resulting amendments to regulated area mapping of Ontario Regulations 150/06, 155/06 and 178/06 made under the Conservation Authorities Act.

Consistent hazard mapping across conservation authority jurisdictions is required to support land use planning and permitting decisions in at-risk communities and flood and erosion-related response and mitigation planning. Current shoreline hazard mapping for the County within LPRCA and GRCA jurisdictions was prepared in the late 1980s – early 1990s, while the mapping within the NPCA jurisdiction was updated in 2010.

The project will also update municipal risk assessment information for shoreline flooding, including inventorying at-risk infrastructure and estimating damage potential. It is anticipated the project will be completed by early 2020.

Haldimand County Public Library Partners With Service Canada To Host Canada Pension Plan And Old Age Security Workshops

Haldimand County Public Library has partnered with Service Canada to offer informative workshops about the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and other public benefits. With the closest Service Canada offices to Haldimand County being in Hamilton, Simcoe and Welland, this is an excellent opportunity for community members to meet face-to-face with a representative from the Government of Canada to learn more about what benefits they may be eligible for upon retirement.

Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Workshops are offered to all residents between 6 p.m. and 7:30p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Caledonia Branch (100 Haddington St.) – Monday, September 10th

Selkirk Branch (34 Main St. W.)  – Tuesday, September 11th

Jarvis Branch (2 Monson St.) – Thursday, September 13th

Cayuga Arena – McSorley Family Hall (55 Thorburn St.)  – Monday, September 17th

Dunnville Branch (317 Chestnut St.) – Tuesday, October 2nd

Hagersville Branch (13 Alma St. N.)  – Thursday, September 27th

Registration for these programs is not required.

For more information about public pensions, including the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security pension or related benefits and services, visit Canada.ca or call 1-800-O-Canada. A full listing of library programs and services is available on the library website.