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A panel of judges comprised of County staff, community figures & a local photographer/filmmaker closely examined more than 200 submissions and determined the grand prize, second prize, third prize and honorable mention winners. The winners include:
1st Place: Cayuga Farm Scene by Doug & Flora Miller
2nd Place: Blue on the Grand by Bob Thomson
3rd Place: Dawn on the Grand River Bridge by Susan Coulthart
Honourable Mention: The Grand Colours of Fall by Robert Barnes
In addition to contest prizes (gift cards for local shops & culinary experiences), winning photographs will be displayed at the new Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre in late January.
Special thanks are owed to contest judges Graeme Bachiu (Windecker Road Films), Kaitlyn Clark (The Haldimand Press), Yvonne Van De Wiele (92.9 The Grand FM), Karen Richardson (Haldimand Museums) and Jerri Whiting (Haldimand County) for their participation and thorough, thoughtful examination of all entries.
Details about next year’s Uniquely Haldimand photo contest will be announced in fall 2021. More information on the Uniquely Haldimand Photo Contest and a gallery of past winners is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/photocontest.
Haldimand County Public Library and the Optimist Club of Haldimand have partnered together to kick off the holiday season with a fun, festive ‘Ask Santa Anything’ program.
From now until December 3, children are invited to write down their most pressing questions for Santa and drop them off at any Haldimand County Public Library branch. For kids who have wondered what Rudolph’s middle name is, what Santa’s favourite cookies are or how Elves keep their ears clean – now is the chance to find out!
On December 13, children and their parents/guardians can visit the library’s Facebook page or YouTube channel to find out if Santa has answered their questions. On December 13, Santa will also reveal some surprises that he has stored up his magical sleeves.
The County’s Annual Uniquely Haldimand Photo Contest – now in its 7th year – will be accepting entries from October 15 to December 1, 2020. Residents and visitors are invited to submit photos of Haldimand’s beautiful environment, architecture and vibrant community life for a chance to win some great prizes.
With 87km of gorgeous Lake Erie waterfront, the Grand River, sprawling countryside and charming towns, Haldimand County is one of the most picturesque destinations on Ontario’s southwest coast. Its abundance of outdoor recreation options, scenic lookouts, community events, historic sites and culinary experiences make it an incredible place to live, explore and photograph.
Photos eligible for entry must depict a scene from within the boundaries of Haldimand County. They must be original, digital high resolution photos no more than two years old and not previously published. Participants may submit their photos via the online submission portal, accessible at photocontest.haldimandcounty.on.ca. Photos must be submitted by Tuesday, December 1 and comply with all rules and regulations.
A panel of judges comprised of both County staff, community figures & local photographers will closely examine all submissions in December. Four winners will be announced prior to the end of 2020 with 1 Grand Prize, 1 Second Prize and 2 Honorable Mentions awarded.
Prizes include gift certificates for unique culinary experiences, Haldimand County souvenirs and more. Winning photographs will be featured in an exhibit within the new Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre and displayed permanently on the County website.
As adults, youth, children and families look for interesting and innovative ways to fill their fall days this year, Haldimand County is continuing its virtual approach to programs and activities for all ages.
Beginning Friday, October 9, staff will be launching fall virtual programming for all ages. Over the course of the next few weeks, families will be able to participate in virtual field trips, find new games to play, get inspired with craft ideas, learn something new in ‘how-to’ webinars and more. No registration is required and all activities are free.
Three (3) virtual contests will also take place throughout fall – a virtual pumpkin carving competition, sport activity challenge and photo contest. Some great prizes will be offered, including one Grand Prize to be drawn in December for the best holiday decorations!
Residents are encouraged to regularly check the County’s website and social media accounts for updates related to virtual programming and the exciting ways to explore and enjoy Haldimand this fall!
Haldimand County youth aged 11 to 15 can now complete the Red Cross Babysitting Course at the Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville Library Branches. This nationally recognized program 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.
Revised to ensure participant safety, the Red Cross Babysitting Course will now run for 5 consecutive days after school. Participants will be required to attend all 5 days to receive their certificate. The number of participants has been reduced to ensure social distancing is maintained throughout the program. Masks must be worn by all participants.
The course cost is $40 per person and registration must be completed in person at the Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville Library branches.
The course dates, times and locations are as follows:
HCPL Caledonia Branch
Monday October 19-Friday October 23 4:00pm – 5:15pm
HCPL Cayuga Branch
Monday October 26 – Friday October 30 3:30pm – 4:45pm
HCPL Dunnville Branch
Monday November 2- Friday November 6 3:30pm – 4:45pm
For more information on the Red Cross Babysitting Course or other library programs, please contact Katrina Krupicz, Community Outreach/Inreach Coordinator.
More information about library services can be found at www.haldimandlibrary.com as well as the library’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Haldimand County is pleased to announce the re-opening of its remaining two museums to the public following recent pandemic closures. As of Tuesday, September 8, Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum in Selkirk and Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre in Caledonia will be open, along with the already reopened Heritage Centre located within the Cayuga Library.
To welcome back visitors, Haldimand Museums have planned a diverse range of exhibitions for the fall including:
Heritage Centre Exhibit: You’ve Come a Long Way Baby – Defining the Roles of Women Now on display at the Heritage Centre (19 Talbot Street, Cayuga) this exhibit showcases female clothing from the 1870s to the 2000s. From corsets to bloomers and pants, what women wore said more about their place in society than anything else. Items are displayed in the context of women’s social, political and cultural experiences.
Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre Exhibit: The Beauty of the World Through my Eyes On September 8, Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre (80 Caithness Street, Caledonia) will debut a new exhibition by Selkirk artist Fred Bulbeck. The Beauty of the World Through My Eyes exhibit showcases Fred’s extraordinary ability to capture a moment in time and tell a story featuring Canadian wildlife such as owls, eagles, moose, small creatures and more.
Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum Exhibit: The Life and Times of Lyric Poet Wilson MacDonald Stop by the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum to experience The Life and Times of Lyric Poet Wilson MacDonald, with displays highlighting the history of rural education and the heritage of the surrounding community. This original one-room school house is located at 3513 Rainham Road, Selkirk.
It is important to note that all three museums have made modifications to their operations including new pandemic-related protocols which allow patrons to safely explore local arts, heritage and culture. Specifically, visitors to Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum and Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre will be required to reserve their visit online to ensure proper physical distancing. At this time, a maximum number of four patrons may be admitted at one time, with each visit limited to 45 minutes. Visitors without a prior reservation may be admitted if capacity allows.
Registration is now open and residents and visitors may reserve time slots using the County’s online reservation system (link.haldimandcounty.ca) or by calling Haldimand County customer service at 905-318-5932.
In accordance with Haldimand County By-law 2191/20, all patrons are required to wear non-medical face masks within all three museums.
At this time, the archives and reference collections located within the Haldimand Museums sites and all in-person services will remain closed until further notice. These services continue to be available upon request through email at museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca. Museum staff are happy to offer research assistance via phone or e-mail.
Above: The Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre
Above: Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum
Above: Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre
Haldimand County Public Library, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society of Haldimand-Norfolk, is offering its popular Strengthen Your Mind courses online.
The courses will be offered online through Zoom twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) starting Tuesday, September 8th through October 15th from 1:30-2:30pm.
The 6-week Strengthen Your Mind Courses provide valuable and practical information for individuals wanting to enhance their memory. During the course, participants will practice and participate in brain challenging exercises and activities. Topics that will be covered during the 7 weeks include memory and aging, learning styles, mental aerobics, exercise, strategies for enhancing memory, brain dominance, the five senses, stress, optimism and humour, nutrition and socialization, and Library tools for mental strength.
Join fellow Haldimand County readers by participating in this year’s One Book One Haldimand program!
One Book One Haldimand is an annual community-wide reading program through which individuals across Haldimand County are encouraged to read a selected Canadian title and join the author and other community members for an afternoon of discussion and book signing.
This year’s selection, Cactus Jack, was written by local author Brad Smith. The book follows a young woman who returns to her deceased father’s ranch with the intention of quickly settling his estate and leaving. But against her better judgement, she changes her plans and puts her future and the future of the ranch on the back of an untested colt named Cactus Jack.
Copies of Cactus Jack are available at all library branches. Individuals who wish to participate may visit their local branch to borrow a copy or call 289-674-0400 to reserve one.
Physical distancing and additional safety measures will be in place at the discussion and book signing, which will take place later this year (date to be announced).
For more information or to suggest a title for 2021, contact Katrina Krupicz, Community Outreach Coordinator at 905-318-5932 ext. 6118.
As parents and children look for interesting and innovative ways to fill their summer days this year, Haldimand County is taking a virtual approach to programs and activities.
Beginning Monday, July 20, staff will be releasing videos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for the next six (6) weeks, sharing activity options for children and families including ‘staycation’ day-trips and itineraries, sports and craft ideas, ‘how-to’ webinars and more. Three (3) contests will take place each week, and one Grand prize winner to be drawn at the end of summer. All details related to summer programming and how to participate is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/summer2020/.
Every week will feature 3 videos and 3 contests. ‘A Day in Haldimand’ (Mondays), ‘Discovery Days’ (Wednesdays) and ‘Throwback Thursday’ (Thursdays).
‘A Day in Haldimand’ will highlight one or two towns in the County and the facilities, activities and local restaurants currently open (with their safety guidelines) that will help make your day trip an event. Use the itinerary provided or mix it up, as this activity is part of the first weekly contest. Families can submit a photo or video showing how they engaged in one of the many different things to do from that particular week’s itinerary. The winning submission will receive a $25 gift card, to be selected from a list of local businesses.
‘Discovery Days’ will include activities that families and children can engage in together, such as crafts, experiments, games, and more. “Discovery Days” includes the second weekly contest, with families asked to submit a photo or video of the activities completed from that week’s video. The winning submission will receive a $5 gift card for a summer treat!
For ‘Throwback Thursday’, participants can go back in time and enjoy a Heritage Minute or interesting fact from Haldimand County’s Archives. Make sure you are watching these videos because they may include a special clue for our third weekly contest. A lucky winner will receive a Haldimand County swag bag.
Residents are encouraged to regularly check the County’s website (HaldimandCounty.ca) and social media accounts for updates related to virtual summer programming and the exciting ways to explore and enjoy summer in Haldimand!
Beginning Tuesday, July 14, Haldimand County’s two splash pads—in Caledonia and Hagersville—will be opened to the public. Both pads will be open with regular summer hours, from 8am until 8pm.
“Following the opening of the County’s three outdoor pools last week, we’re pleased to announce that we can now welcome participants to enjoy our splash pads,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt.
The opening includes a number of health and safety protocols to ensure the public remains safe while using the splash pads during the pandemic, including:
Fencing to limit access to the splash pads, including a separate entrance and exit for participants;
Participant screening prior to entry;
Observance of social distancing protocols (six feet apart from individuals and/or a social bubble);
A maximum of twenty (20) participants at one time on the Caledonia splash pad and ten (10) in Hagersville;
Participants showered and dressed prior to screening/entry to the splash pad; and,
A 20-minute time slot on the splash pad per user followed by cleaning of the area by staff.
“We continue to remain conservative in our re-opening approach to ensure the health and safety of the public using our facilities,” noted Hewitt. “In the case of the County’s splash pads, we are fortunate to have an especially safe and efficient water recirculation system, including using chlorinated water which kills the coronavirus in seconds.”
Residents are encouraged to regularly check the County website (HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19) and social media accounts for updates related to splash pads, pools, recreation programming and associated public health protocols.
