News - Page 3 of 43 - Haldimand County

Notice regarding planned “Tractor Convoy” in Haldimand County

It has come to the County’s attention that a “Tractor Convoy” from Dunnville to Delhi has been planned for Saturday, February 5, 2022, portions of which are intended to take place on Haldimand County property including at arenas and parks.

Please be advised that, due to the nature of the event and the potential it has to cause negative experiences, disruptions and safety concerns for other users of our facilities, Haldimand County does not support the activity, and participating in it may result in police involvement and potential charges under the County’s by-laws.

The inclusion of Haldimand County’s logo in the promotion of the event should in no way give the impression it is supported by the County, as use of the logo without permission is also in contravention of the County’s policies.

Haldimand County arenas re-opening at 50% capacity January 31, museums and community halls February 1

In accordance with the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, all Haldimand County arenas will be opening on January 31, and museums/community halls on February 1, with COVID-19 protocols in place. All facilities will be open at 50% capacity.

Visitors are reminded of the following:

Face masks/coverings are required in all Haldimand County facilities, with limited exceptions;
Screening and Proof of Vaccination (POV) are required for individuals 12 years of age or older;
Completing the online contact tracing form is no longer required.

Arenas:

All arena programming, including public skates and ice rentals, will resume on January 31, 2022;
A full schedule of ice programs, including Pre-School Skate, Adult Skate, Child’s Hockey Skate, Youth/Teen/Adult Shinny Programs, Public Skate and Open Figure Skate, is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/recreation-facilities. All programs are offered on a drop-in basis (no registration required) and are free of charge;
Walking tracks will be open in Caledonia, Dunnville and Cayuga from 8 a.m. to facility close. Facility closing times vary and are dependent on bookings, but are typically between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. To confirm closing times, please call an arena directly;
All visitors/spectators must remain seated while consuming food or drink.

Museums:

Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre (Caledonia) and the Heritage Centre (Cayuga) will re-open February 1, 2022. Information on Museum programs and exhibits can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca/recreation-facilities.
Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum (Selkirk) will re-open in March.

Community Halls/Meeting Spaces:

Community Halls and Meeting Spaces will re-open for bookings;
Food or drink may only be consumed while seated in the facility;
To inquire about renting Haldimand County facilities, visit the Community Halls page on the county website.

For more information on Haldimand County programs, facilities and services during the pandemic, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19.

Haldimand County announces six new virtual/in-person programs at The Heritage Centre in Cayuga

The Heritage Centre in Cayuga is pleased to host six new virtual programs for the month of February:

Virtual Royal Visits Presentation: February 1 at 7:00 p.m.
This is the first in a series of presentations about the Royal Family in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. This talk focuses on the many visits that the Royals have made to Canada. This program is only virtual.

Valentine’s Day Mystery Presentation: February 8 at 1:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of fun and mayhem as we try to solve the mystery of the missing artifacts at the Museum.

Cupid’s Arrows Presentation: February 9 at 1:00 p.m.
The history and traditions of Valentine’s Day will be explored.

Wrapped in Secrets Presentation: February 17 at 1:00 p.m.
A presentation detailing how quilts and other objects were used to help escaping slaves find their way to freedom and later to send secret messages during WWI and WWII.

Road to Freedom Presentation: February 22 at 1:00 p.m.
In honour of Black History Month, this talk will focus on the history of the Underground Railroad and Black settlement in Haldimand County.

Royal Food Presentation: February 23 at 1:00 p.m.
The second presentation in our series about the Royal Family will focus on some of some of the favourite foods of the Royals.

Please note: Unless otherwise stated, these presentations are offered both virtually and in person.

Proof of vaccine is required for all those attending in person. All COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

Cost for all programs is $10 per person and pre-registration is required. Register online at Link.HaldimandCounty.ca or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga. A Zoom link will be emailed to all confirmed registrants who wish to participate online.

For more information about programs and activities, contact the Heritage Centre at 905-318-5932 ext. 6613 or email heritagecentre@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County ends Significant Weather Event declaration

Haldimand County has ended the Significant Weather Event declared Sunday in advance of the winter storm.

Winter control staff worked around the clock to patrol and clear approximately 1500kms of roadways during and after the storm.

Members of the public are thanked for patience and cooperation in moving cars off of streets to help crews and their plows work faster.

Residents are reminded of the following service impacts:

Garbage/recycling collection on Monday, January 17, 2022:

There was NO garbage/recycling curbside collection due to inclement weather. Residents whose curbside collection day is normally Monday are asked to hold on to their garbage/recycling until next week (the following Monday, January 24). Affected residents may set out 6 bags of garbage and unlimited recycling.

Recycling collection on Tuesday, January 18, 2022:

There was NO recycling curbside collection due to inclement weather in areas of Oneida, Dunnville and Hagersville, however, garbage collection still took place. Affected residents are asked to hold on to their recycling until next Tuesday, January 25.

Haldimand County Council approves 2022 Water and Wastewater Budget

On January 13, 2022, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2022 Rate-Supported Capital and Operating Budget. Otherwise known as the Water & Wastewater Budget, it is an important strategic document that ensures reliable, safe, clean and affordable potable water is available to residents across the County. New water & wastewater rates take effect on February 1, 2022.

This Rate-Supported Budget deals exclusively with water and wastewater treatment initiatives and is funded directly by user rates (with no support from property taxes). With a focus on the following key principles – providing service capacity for anticipated growth, to ensure the systems are optimized and improved when required, and a focus on replacement/rehabilitation – the average residential, combined water & wastewater user will see a slight increase of about $1.73 (2.1%) on their average monthly bill.

Haldimand’s water & wastewater rates remain below the provincial average due to ongoing strategic planning efforts and diligent asset management practices. In the long-term, rates are expected to remain stable due to a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure maintenance/rehabilitation schedule and a projected increase in user growth.

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

Tax-Supported Capital Budget: March 3, 2022 & March 4, 2022* (*if required)

Tax-Supported Operating Budget: March 31, 2022 & April 1, 2022* (*if required)

More information about 2022 budget deliberations will be shared closer to the scheduled meeting dates. Due to the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, it has not yet been determined whether the meetings will be hosted in-person or virtually.

More information about County budgets is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/financials.

Haldimand County declares Significant Weather Event, administration building to remain closed Monday

Haldimand County has declared a Significant Weather Event as a winter storm approaches the region, effective January 17, 2022 at 12 a.m.

01/18/2022 9 a.m. update: There will be NO RECYCLING curbside collection Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 at the following locations:

Oneida area: From Caledonia to Cayuga West of the Grand River between Hwy 3 and Hwy 6 (basic borders are HWY 6, RR 20, Grand River and HWY 3)

Hagersville: All of it plus small country piece up to Nelles Corners

Dunnville: Southwest side of town from South Cayuga St. to Main and West Street to Cedar, as well as a country portion from Haldimand Townline towards town in entirety from Grand River to Lakeshore.

Garbage collection WILL still take place. Affected residents whose curbside collection day is normally Tuesday are asked to hold on to their recycling until next Tuesday, Jan. 25.

01/17/2022 6 a.m. update: The Haldimand County Administration Building will be closed for the duration of the business day.

Garbage/recycling curbside collection update: There will be NO garbage/recycling curbside collection on Monday, January 17, 2022 due to inclement weather. Residents whose curbside collection day is normally Monday are asked to hold on to their garbage/recycling until next week (the following Monday, January 24, 2022). Affected residents may set out up to 6 bags of garbage next week and unlimited recycling.

Winter storm conditions are expected to begin tonight with an expected snow accumulation of 25 to 40cm. Local blowing snow is possible and visibility may be reduced. The County is asking residents to follow Environment Canada advice and consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

During a significant weather event, residents are advised to use extra caution and are reminded that standard timelines for clearing roads and sidewalks may not be met.

The county’s winter control crews are prepared and ready to respond to this winter storm event, however, with the expected snowfall accumulation, residents are asked to be patient and allow staff time to clear main arterial roadways by priority.

Winter control staff have approximately 1500kms of roadways to clear and will be working as quickly as possible to plow all routes.

A plow priority route map and winter parking/snow removal by-law information can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca. Storm-related updates will be posted here and shared via Facebook and Twitter.

UPDATE: There will be NO garbage/recycling curbside collection on Monday, January 17, 2022 due to inclement weather. Residents whose curbside collection day is normally Monday are asked to hold on to their garbage/recycling until next week (the following Monday, January 24, 2022).

Avoid Recreational Use of Frozen Lakes, Ponds and Rivers in Haldimand County

Haldimand County Emergency Services and The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) are concerned about the increased use of frozen natural water bodies for on-ice activities like skating and ice fishing this winter. Most of these water bodies are not monitored for winter recreation and may not be safe.

Ice fishing is strongly discouraged in areas where ice conditions are not monitored. Anglers are advised to avoid areas downstream of dams and stay off the ice at the mouth of the Grand River.

While colder temperatures allow for some ice formation, daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation and underwater currents greatly affect ice conditions. This winter has been warmer than usual, with significant fluctuations in temperatures adding to the risk. In particular, moving water can further weaken ice that may otherwise look stable on rivers and creeks.

Accessing frozen natural water bodies puts the public and Haldimand County’s first responders at risk. Anyone who falls through the ice could experience hypothermia and death before emergency services can assist them.

Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and pose a serious hazard when combined with cold, fast-moving water. Parents are encouraged to remind their children of the risks associated with these hazards and keep pets away from all water bodies.

Select Grand River Conservation Areas, including Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Shade’s Mills, monitor ice conditions. They will offer ice fishing if conditions permit. For the up-to-date status of winter activities in Grand River Conservation Areas, please visit www.grandriver.ca/activitystatus. These conservation and natural areas are subject to provincial COVID-19 guidelines, and operations may change with little notice.

Many watershed municipalities provide safe, outdoor skating and recreation options. Please visit local municipal websites for more details.

This message will remain in effect until Friday, April 1, 2022, and will be updated if necessary.

For further information, refer to GRCA’s website at www.grandriver.ca.

Haldimand County Public Library presents virtual author visit with Canadian author Donna Morrissey

Canadian Author Donna Morrissey will be joining Haldimand County Public Library this March to discuss her new book “Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist.”

The virtual author visit will take place on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. Copies of the book can be borrowed from your local library branch or downloaded from either CloudLibrary or OverDrive, the library’s ebook databases.

Morrissey is known for her books, “Kit’s Law,” “Downhill Chance,” “Sylvanus Now,” “What They Wanted,” “The Deception of Livvy Higgs,” and “The Fortunate Brother.”

Anyone wishing to join the virtual event is asked to register by calling their local library at 289-674-0400 or by e-mailing kkrupicz@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County announces five new virtual programs at the Heritage Centre

Launching into the new year, the Heritage Centre is pleased to host five new virtual programs:

All That Jazz Presentation: January 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Take a look at life in Haldimand County and Canada during the 1920’s. There was a rapid expansion of agricultural production and exports that helped to fuel the overall economy. A number of inventions helped shape Canada, including the automobile, the airplane, the washing machine, the radio and the assembly line. The decade began with a roar and ended with a crash.

Cultural Cooking Program Workshop: January 19 at 1:00 p.m.
Most of our ancestors emigrated to Haldimand from other countries, bringing with them a variety of recipes from their homeland. This workshop explores how many of these recipes have been adapted to form what we now call “Canadian Cuisine.”

Helping You Date Old Photos Program Workshop: January 25 at 7:00 p.m.
This hands-on workshop will help you learn how to date old photographs and learn some conservation tips, including how to store, scan and maintain your precious memories.

Winter Pastimes Presentation: January 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Wrap up the month with a look at the winter pastimes our ancestors enjoyed and how our various cultures influenced our traditional games.

Royal Visits Presentation: February 1 at 7:00 p.m.
This presentation is the first in a series of year long talks on the Royal Family in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. This first talk focuses on the many visits that the Royals have made to Canada – from Queen Victoria’s son Albert, the Prince of Wales’ visit in 1860 to Queen Elizabeth’s 22 tours beginning with her first in 1951.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions all programming for January will take place via Zoom.

Cost for all programs is $10.00 per person and pre-registration is required. Register online at Link.HaldimandCounty.ca or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga. A Zoom link will be emailed to all confirmed registrants.

For more information about programs and activities, contact the Heritage Centre at 905-318-5932 ext. 6613 or email heritagecentre@haldimandcounty.on.ca

911 Basics

Haldimand County Paramedic Services comprises dedicated professionals who work hard to guarantee emergency care for those in need. We ask all residents to assist us by reviewing when it is appropriate to call 911.

What is 911

911 is a central dispatch for emergency services. This service allows for all emergency services to be deployed to assure those first responders can deliver emergency services quickly and efficiently.

When to call 911

Knowing when to call 911 can be a difficult decision. Assessing your situation will make sure that emergency services are available when needed. Do not hesitate to contact them for immediate help if you are experiencing:

Medical emergencies, like chest pain or difficulty breathing,
A direct threat to life,
An uncontrolled or an uncontained fire.

What happens when you call 911

A 911 dispatcher will answer and ask if you need police, fire or ambulance. Before calling, be sure to assess your situation to give the dispatcher a complete picture of the circumstances you are experiencing. That way, they can arrange for the appropriate assistance.

With many people relying on mobile devices, you may need to provide exact location details. Cell phones do not give the dispatcher’s precise address, and they will only see your general location. Be prepared to give an address or an intersection. Other critical information that may be necessary are:

Apartment number and entry code,
Landmarks,
Any obstacles that may prevent entry,
Language barriers that could require accommodation.

Be sure to stay on the line to let the 911 dispatcher will let you know when to hang up.

Questions to ask yourself:

Is a person hurt or in danger?

Do not hesitate to call 911 if there is difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or chest pain.

Is there an emergency where a law enforcement officer, firefighter or medical help is needed?

If you are witnessing an assault, or think a driver is impaired, do not intervene and call 911 immediately.

Are there alternative numbers to call to help you assess your situation?

There are services available to assist you in determining your required level of care. Telehealth, which offers free medical advice over the phone, or 211 Ontario, a Community and Social Services helpline, can guide you.

Are you still unsure?