Haldimand County Summer Program Registration Opens June 14

Summer is quickly approaching and the Haldimand County Summer Programs Team has been hard at work creating plans for a safe return to day camps and aquatic programs!

This summer will see the return of Camp HaldiFUN, Camp Creative Campers and the Leadership Initiative in a variety of locations: Caledonia, Cayuga, Dunnville, Hagersville and Jarvis.  Fun will be the focus as staff make sure every day at camp is filled with a variety of activities, crafts and games.

If you’re looking to cool off this summer, visit one of the County’s three outdoor pools located in Caledonia, Dunnville and Hagersville for a swim or for some lessons. Watch the Haldimand County website and social media accounts for a pool opening announcement coming soon!

Safety measures related to COVID-19 will be in place to ensure everyone has a safe camp or aquatics experience.

Pre-registration for public and fitness swims will be required again this summer. Residents can book free public/fitness swim slots using the County’s online registration system (link.haldimandcounty.ca) or by calling Haldimand County customer service at (905) 318-5932. Please note there will be an overall reduction in the number of public swim spots available to comply with social distancing requirements, and participants are encouraged to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Registration opens on Monday, June 14 for day camps and aquatic programs; you can register by using the County’s online registration system or in-person at the Haldimand County Administration Building in Cayuga.

For more details regarding the camp and swim programs, contact the Summer Coordinators at (905) 318-5932 ext. 8383.

Make a splash this summer!!

Caledonia Splash Pad opening for the season May 29

The Caledonia Splash Pad will open for the season on May 29, 2021. It will be open daily throughout summer from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. An opening date for the Hagersville Splash Pad will be announced shortly, and is contingent on contracted pump repair work.

Splash pad users are encouraged to ‘Play Smart, Stay Apart’ by maintaining a 2 metre distance from individuals outside of their household and following all COVID-19 precautions (including handwashing).

Residents are encouraged to regularly check the County website (HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19) and social media accounts for updates related to splash pads, pool, recreation programming including camps and associated public health protocols.

Haldimand Museums and Cayuga Secondary School hosting virtual art exhibit, online auction

Haldimand Museums and Cayuga Secondary School’s grade 11 art class have once again partnered to produce a very special exhibit: “We Chair-ish You In Haldimand County”.

This virtual exhibit, which runs May 4 to May 20, displays 17 re-purposed wooden chairs showcasing unique artistic designs produced by Mrs. Lammens’ talented students. Accompanying each chair is an artist statement in which the student conveys the story or idea behind their chair’s distinctive design, including which artist and movement they have chosen to emulate.

These one-of-a-kind chairs will be available to the public through an online auction; bidders have from Monday, May 10 through Thursday, May 20 at 4:30 pm to place their bids.

In 2019, the “We Chair-ish You in Haldimand County” event raised over $1,000. Once again this year all proceeds will benefit future exhibitions and program development at Haldimand Museums.

For further information, contact the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum at 905-776-3319 or wmacdonald.museum@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

‘Good in Every Grain’ educational kits for kids available at local libraries

Calling all budding farmers! Good in Every Grain is a new program by the Grain Farmers of Ontario that aims to inspire grade school students to learn about where their food comes from, the types of grains grown in Ontario, and how plants develop. Children can now request a grain kit that contains soybean or wheat seeds, a soil wafer, a germination cup and a how-to-guide for parents at their local Haldimand County Library branch.

Parents are encouraged to request a kit early, as supplies are limited. Simply fill out the e-mail form at HaldimandLibrary.ca and select ‘Grain Kit Request’ from the drop-down list. Alternatively, parents can call their local branch at 289-674-0400 to request a kit.

Make sure to include your phone number and indicate which library branch you would like to pick-up your kit. Library staff will call you when your kit is ready and arrange a curbside appointment.

 

Haldimand County Public Library launching new virtual book club

Residents aged 14 and above are invited to join the Haldimand County Public Library’s new virtual book club. Unlike other book clubs where everyone reads the same title, at B.Y.O.B. Club, you pick the titles you want to read.

Each month, there will be a new theme (mystery, banned books, bestsellers, etc.) and then YOU choose a title to read and discuss via Zoom. Titles read can be in print, digital (e-books) or audio formats. Meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm. All sessions will be hosted by Library staff who will not only help with discussions but will also guide the readers towards their next choices.

The first meeting will take place Tuesday, May 18 at 7pm. For this inaugural meeting, everyone is encouraged to read a cookbook. It could be a family favorite, one you saw on the library’s social media posts or one written by a celebrity. Anything goes! Share your opinions about your selection, recommend it to others or seek suggestions for something better!

To register, e-mail kkrupicz@haldimandcounty.on.ca with the subject line BYOB or call your local library branch at 289-674-0400.

Haldimand Museums Celebrate Museum Month With Virtual Presentations, Exhibits

May is Museum Month in Ontario and Haldimand Museums is proud to announce its ‘virtual’ return to monthly presentations via ZOOM, beginning May 12, 2021 and continuing through July.

Special presentations will be led by Heritage Centre Curator, Karen Richardson, and highlight topics like Famous Canadian Mothers, The Life and Times of Peter Lymburner Robertson (the Canadian inventor of the Robertson screwdriver) and You Can’t Live Without It, a look at the impact of advertising through the centuries.

Individual interested in attending may view the full program descriptions and register through the County’s program registration portal.

For more information on virtual museum programming, contact the Heritage Centre at 905-318-5932 ext. 6613 or e-mail museum.archives@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

While museums are closed for in-person service due to COVID-19 restrictions, staff remain available to assist with research inquiries via the contacts listed above.

Haldimand County Public Library Hosting 8th Annual Poetry Contest

Haldimand County Public Library is inviting residents of all ages to get creative and participate in its 8th annual poetry contest, to be held throughout the month of April.

This year’s theme is “Community”. Community can be defined in a variety of ways and means different things to different individuals. Using your poem, tell us about your community: who your community is, why it is important to you, or how the individuals in a community can work together for a greater good.

Entry forms, a full list of rules and submission details can be obtained on the library’s website or at any library branch. Submissions can be made at each of the library branches or be submitted online.

Submissions will be accepted during the month of April and entered to win cash prizes in one of the following categories:

  • Primary – Kindergarten to Gr. 3
  • Junior – Gr. 4 to Gr. 6
  • Intermediate – Gr. 7 to Gr. 10
  • Senior – Gr. 11 – 12
  • Adult – age 18+

Judging will take place at the beginning of May by a library-chosen panel. First, second and third-place prizes will be awarded in each category. First prize will receive $50, second prize will receive $35 and third prize will receive $20. Winners will be announced in mid-May.

Individuals with further questions about the 8th Annual April Poetry Contest may call or visit their local library branch. Stay connected with the library: ‘like’ us on Facebook for updates on programming, special events and more.

Haldimand County Re-opens in Orange; Plans Underway for Public Access to County Arenas

With the announcement by Premier Doug Ford of Haldimand County’s re-opening in the ‘orange’ or ‘restrict’ stage of the Province’s colour-coded re-opening framework, municipal staff have begun the process to re-open County Arenas.

Beginning the week of February 22, three of Haldimand County’s Arenas (two pads at Caledonia’s HCCC and one each in Dunnville and Hagersville) will re-open for minor sports programming including hockey, figure skating and ringette. The Cayuga Memorial Arena will remain closed for all recreation and the ice removed as the County prepares the facility to become a community vaccination centre in the coming weeks. Preliminary information about community vaccination clinics, including Frequently Asked Questions, is available here.

Residents are encouraged to check the County website regularly for updates about Arena programming, including future public skates and use of the walking tracks.

 

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

Haldimand County Celebrates Black History Month With Special Presentation On Canfield’s Ties To Underground Railroad

February is Black History Month, and Haldimand Museums and Heritage Haldimand have partnered to present an online historical telling of black freedom seekers who came to Canfield via the Underground Railroad more than 150 years ago.

The online presentation is researched and narrated by well-known local historian Sylvia Weaver, who has been working to share and recognize this important history for years, including through the installation of a Black Settlement Marker and Memorial Plaque in Canfield Park in 2017.

This rich history explored in the presentation is little known to many but tells the story of the village of Canfield, whose residents welcomed slaves fleeing from the United States through the Underground Railroad and worked with the newcomers to build a vibrant community.

Through photos and historical documents, the presentation focuses on the personal stories of the freedom seekers, the significance of the Underground Railroad, the development of the Black community in Canfield and the lives of its families.

Haldimand Museums staff have also prepared an Education Package with reading materials and resources to encourage educators and learners of all ages to better understand this meaningful local history.

All materials will be available for viewing on February 10, 2021, on Haldimand County Heritage & Culture page: HaldimandCounty.ca/heritage-culture.

For more information about Haldimand County’s heritage programming or support materials, please contact Haldimand Museums.

Pictured below (L to R): Donna Ford, President of the Central Ontario Network for Black History and Sylvia Weaver, historian and member of Heritage Haldimand during the 2017 black settlement market and memorial plaque unveiling.

 

New Library Resource Provides Free Digital Access To Thousands Of Newspapers, Magazines

Haldimand County Public Library is pleased to announce that all cardholders now have FREE access to PressReader, a digital newspaper and magazine subscription service. Using the new tool, residents can browse and download thousands of local and international titles, including the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator, Simcoe Reformer, Canadian Living and more.

PressReader can be viewed through a computer web browser or from the PressReader app on a smartphone or tablet. For step-by-step instructions on how to get started, visit HaldimandLibrary.ca and click on the ‘PressReader’ icon.

Accessing PressReader requires a library card number and library PIN. Residents that do not have a library card and wish to sign up can call any local library branch or use the online request form at HaldimandLibrary.ca.

PressReader is one of many digital resources offered by the library. For more information on downloadable eBooks/audiobooks, virtual programming for children & other online offerings, visit the library website or call any branch.