Haldimand County Shortlists Vendors To Deliver County-Wide Broadband Internet Services

In July 2019, at the request of Council, staff released a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) to short-list internet service providers capable of installing broadband infrastructure and facilitating County-wide internet services. Of the four (4) submissions received, three (3) vendors met the requirements outlined in the RFPQ and will progress to the next phase of the selection process.

At the September 23 Council meeting, staff presented Council with a high-level overview of the RFPQ results and received approval to initiate a Negotiated Request for Proposal process (NRFP) with the three successful vendors. Ultimately, negotiations will result in the selection of a successful bidder to install and facilitate internet services throughout all of Haldimand’s communities.

Given the diversity and complexity of the three qualified submissions received during the RFPQ process, the development of the NRFP and subsequent evaluations will be focused on ensuring the best service is obtained at the best value to the County. As such, Council approved obtaining third-party resources to assist staff in facilitating the negotiation process and providing technical expertise with respect to each vendor’s technology proposals & financial capacities. A budget amendment of up to $100,000 was approved and a third party consultant will be brought in to manage the NRFP process from start to finish.

“Council is committed to finding a financially sound, practical solution that makes internet connectivity attainable and sustainable for all,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “We’re taking all steps necessary to ensure we find the right provider that is capable of  delivering these services in the long-term,” he added.

Hewitt also re-iterated Council’s rationale for pursuing an internet service provider independently, outside of the SWIFT (Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology) initiative. “SWIFT’s proposed timeframe – to install high-speed internet to all of Southwestern Ontario by 2040 – was concerning, and Haldimand was placed at the bottom of the project’s priority list,” he noted. “If the County had partnered with SWIFT, there would have been a cost incurred to the County and its taxpayers with no guarantee of an end product.”

The target date to have an agreement in place has not changed and it is anticipated that an agreement will be presented to Council for approval in January of 2020. Project updates will be posted on the County website and social media accounts as they become available.

Haldimand County Adopts 2018-2022 Term Of Council Corporate Priorities

On September 23, 2019, Haldimand County Council formally adopted 8 corporate priorities for the 2018-2022 term. Term of Council Corporate Priorities are a key tool in maintaining strategic organizational focus, managing workload/resources and moving the County forward by prioritizing items that add significant value to the community.

At the beginning of each Term of Council, Council holds strategic planning exercises and discussions to identify major initiatives and administrative improvements it wishes to achieve during its tenure. County staff then identify the scope, resources, timing & other logistical matters associated with proposed initiatives and – through a report – seek Council approval of the proposed work program.

The 8 approved Corporate Priorities are, in no particular order:

1) Responding to provincial funding changes
Identify challenges and develop a fiscal strategy in response to the 2019 Ontario budget and
related legislation

2) Growth strategy, Official Plan update & Highway 6 corridor infrastructure
Continue to plan for & address population growth, long-term infrastructure needs and
economic opportunities for the next 20 years

3) High speed, County-wide broadband internet
Facilitate private sector investment to provide County-wide broadband internet infrastructure
& services     

4) Affordable/social housing strategy
Take necessary steps and examine options related to implementing an affordable and social
housing strategy

5) Procurement & contract management enhancements
Develop and implement solutions to enhance procurement and contract management
activities

6) Customer service enhancements
Further develop customer service standards, practices and resources to enhance
convenience and increase accessibility to municipal services

7) Public mobility & transportation
Define & explore potential transportation options to assist residents with travel-related needs

 
8) Major community recreational facility needs & implementation strategy
Identify and prioritize community and recreation needs associated with 20+ year growth
forecast

“These 8 priorities were determined by Council as a whole in response to our communities’ most pressing needs,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “A number of projects and initiatives will stem from these priorities over the next 3 years, all with the end goal of enhancing livability, community vibrancy and the potential for economic growth in all areas of the County,” he noted.

More information regarding the 2018-2022 Term of Council Corporate Priorities, including timing and key milestones are available at HaldimandCounty.ca under ‘Government’ > ‘Council’ and ‘Council Priorities’. This information will be updated annually.

Haunted Haldimand – Renowned Paranormal Investigator Visiting Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre

Believe it or not, ghosts are REAL! So says Peter Roe – author and Assistant Director of renowned Canadian paranormal research team The Searcher Group. Roe will be visiting Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre on Saturday, October 5 to discuss his popular book Haunted Town Halls. The Centre, which once served as Caledonia’s Town Hall, is located at 80 Caithness Street East.

The Searcher Group is a team of individuals involved in the study of parapsychology – a field of study that investigates paranormal or “psychic” phenomena that cannot be explained by current scientific knowledge. 2019 marks the group’s 40th anniversary of paranormal investigation.

In March 2014, Roe arranged for The Searcher Group to apply their collective skills at the Acton Town Hall Centre, launching what became the first of several stops on a two and-a-half-year ‘Town Hall Tour’ throughout southwestern Ontario. Peter felt these investigations would make  an interesting experiment to see how the team fared in a number of historic buildings that once served the same purpose.

The results of this experiment and his book Haunted Town Halls will be the focus of Roe’s presentation on October 5. Roe will lead a special presentation, followed by a question and answer session and book signing. Roe points out that “…one doesn’t need to be a complete believer to enjoy a good ghost story.”

The cost for this program is $10.00 per person; it’s suitable for mature (13+) audiences. Registration may be completed online at link.haldimandcounty.ca using program code 10315 or in-person at any County office.

For more information on this program or other museum offerings, please contact Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre at esquare.centre@haldimandcounty.on.ca or 905-765-3134. A comprehensive schedule of all museum programs is available in the 2018-19 Community Guide.

Record high Great Lakes levels increase flooding risk along shoreline communities

By Scott Robertson, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Grand River Conservation Authority
Published with permission from the Grand River Conservation Authority

The Great Lakes drainage basin covers an area of approximately 766,000 km2, with the freshwater volume stored within the lakes typically quoted as representing about 18 per cent of the world supply and 84 per cent of North America’s supply. Water levels in the Great Lakes are affected by many natural factors, the primary ones being precipitation, evaporation, runoff, groundwater, ice, aquatic growth, meteorological disturbances and tides. A very small measure of human control exists throughout the Great Lakes system through various locks, canals, and dams, with operational considerations involving aspects such as mitigation of flooding, marine transportation and hydroelectric power generation. None of these controls has more than a negligible impact on Lake Erie water levels.

To some extent, lake levels are somewhat predictable and fluctuate on a range of time scales, from multi-year and seasonal at a lake-wide scale, down to hours, minutes, and even seconds at a local scale. A summary of current basin-wide conditions includes:

  • Lake Superior exceeded its seasonal record levels for May and remained above record for 4 months, before dipping to just below record to start September.
  • The Lake Huron-Michigan system, which effectively “shares” a water level, approached record levels in early summer, but has since receded slightly, entering September only 8 cm below its record for the date, as set in 1986.
  • Lake Erie surpassed both seasonal and historically-recorded levels, previously set in the mid-1980s and late 1990s, in early May. Levels have remained well above both seasonal and historically-recorded highs through the entirety of the summer to the present. As of September 19, they remained 8 cm above the previous record-high for the date, set in 1986, but are slowly declining.
  • On the heels of record-breaking flood levels in 2017, Lake Ontario exceeded even those heights in early June and remained at record-breaking levels through the first week of August.
  • More information about the Great Lakes, characteristics and conditions is available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website at https://waterlevels.gc.ca.

Lake Erie Conditions

So, what does all this mean for Lake Erie and the Grand River shoreline communities of Dunnville and Port Maitland? High levels create conditions ripe for flooding and erosion, potentially altering the shoreline, damaging property or municipal infrastructure, and even potentially injury or loss of life.

While the record-high day-to-day levels resulted in some minor nuisance flooding in very low-lying areas at its peak in May and June, the more significant concern on Lake Erie relates to wind-driven storm surge weather events. Of all the Great Lakes, the shallow character of Erie leaves it particularly susceptible to such conditions.

Winds of sufficient speed and duration are able to “push” water from the west end of the lake to the east end, temporarily raising levels at Dunnville and Port Maitland by up to two metres for hours at a time, before relenting and allowing the water to slosh back to the west end of the lake, like in a bathtub. On top of these storm surges, isolated waves of up to another two metres could also occur, with increased likelihood during such wind events.

The lowest level of flooding starts to occur at Port Maitland at a lake elevation of approximately 175.5 m, with the highest instantaneous level ever recorded at 176.62 m (December 2, 1985). As of September 12, 2019, the stable lake level is 174.88 m, meaning that it would only require a relatively moderate storm surge wind event to initiate low-level flooding along some coastal areas. A significant event could result in near record or even record flooding.

On the plus side, levels are continuing to recede at approximately seasonal rate, but on the negative side, the types of weather events that create storm surges as described above occur primarily in the fall and winter seasons. There remains a lot of water flushing through the upper Great Lakes system draining into Lake Erie, which means that levels, through dropping nicely, will likely remain unseasonably high throughout this crucial period, resulting in a higher potential for lakeshore flooding and erosion along the Lake Erie shoreline. A Lake Erie Conditions Statement – High Lake Level Outlook has been in place since October 2018, and is expected to remain in place for the coming months.

Much will depend on how dry the next couple months are, how much the lake levels can continue to drop, and how kind Mother Nature decides to be with respect to westerly or south-westerly winds.

Find out how to prepare for floods via the Haldimand County Emergency Services and GRCA websites.

  • in Safety

Haldimand County celebrates the sounds and stories surrounding Lake Erie with community-created art installation, INHERITANCE

In the first exhibit of its kind for Haldimand County, INHERITANCE brings the captivating energy of graffiti art paired with melodic recordings of Lake Erie to the Dunnville Farmers’ Market on Tuesday, September 17th. Award-winning Haldimand Artist, Lacie Williamson will unveil INHERITANCE—an array of dynamic voices and stories showcased through a collaborative mural comprised of hundreds of fingerprints and graffiti art—with the help of Mayor Hewitt and Councillor Tony Dalimonte. 

“Lacie’s understanding of participatory art processes are exceptional as they push past the performative, to an immersive level where participants not only gain new technical knowledge, but the opportunity for personal discovery.” – Christopher McLeod, Creative Director, Great Art for Great Lakes

Part of the Great Art for Great Lakes initiative is to celebrate our magnificent waters. In this spirit, INHERITANCE was created by award-winning artist, Lacie Williamson with help from members of the Haldimand community using wood-burning irons where each line and mark is unique to each make to create the effect of worn hands. This, together with the graffiti element of the project, involved layering of simple objects to create depth to give the work of art a more natural and organic feel, telling a story of Lake Erie both past and present.

“Facilitating this project has been very eye opening for myself and participants and I’ve heard from many after the workshops saying they think about water differently now. I was very pleased to see so many local community members engage, but was even more impressed by the large number of people who travelled from Six Nations, Hamilton and Niagara regions to participate and learn about new art techniques.” – Artist, Lacie Williamson

An exemplary instance of connecting art with the public to promote action for a better tomorrow, INHERITANCE will remain on permanent display at the Dunnville Farmers’ Market, showcasing the ecology – and grandeur – of Lake Erie. The unveiling and future visit to INHERITANCE is free of charge. For more information about the project, please visit greatnessglp.com/GAGL.

Heritage Haldimand Hosting Headstone/Historic Stone Conservancy Workshop

Heritage Haldimand, in partnership with Ruthven Park National Historic Site, will be offering a special Headstone Conservancy Workshop on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

The workshop will take place at the Ruthven Park’s Indiana Irish Cemetery located at 243 Highway 54, Cayuga and be presented by Archaeology and Cemetery Conservancy expert Seika Groves. Seika will cover aspects that are key to understanding the process of conserving and restoring headstones and share the knowledge she has gained working in cemeteries with both old and modern headstones. Seika’s expertise may be applied to other types of stone, including statues, sculptures and monuments.

The hands-on session will highlight preservation techniques based upon stone type, from the safest to the most aggressive. Utilizing existing headstones, participants will learn how to apply a number of different restoration methods. Topics to be covered include: types of stone (sandstone, marble, granite, etc.), what stone types may be cleaned, what cleaning techniques should be applied and what cleaning tools and products to use.

Participants are asked to wear comfortable/weather appropriate clothing and enclosed footwear; protective eye wear, gloves and dust masks will be provided.

The cost of this workshop is $10.00 per person. Registration may be completed online at link.haldimandcounty.ca or in person at any Haldimand County office using program code  10313.

For more information, contact Heritage Haldimand at heritage@haldimandcounty.on.ca or 905-318-5932 ext. 6516.

Dunnville Horticultural Society, Ducks Unlimited Canada And Haldimand County Celebrate Restoration Of Thompson Creek Park & Wetland

In 1993, a group of conservation-minded volunteers from the Dunnville Bio Region Association (DBA) hosted a workshop to create a sustainable development plan—related to social, economic and environmental concerns—for Dunnville. One of the action items proposed was to build an outdoor education facility by restoring Thompson Creek, the Wetland and Tallgrass Prairie and plant a Carolinian Arboretum.

While that goal wasn’t entirely realized at that time due to changing resources and partners, on Wednesday, September 25 the new project partners—Dunnville Horticultural Society, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Haldimand County—will celebrate the completion of the vision with the opening of an Eco-Centre at Dunnville Thompson Creek Park.

“We are so excited to have been able to help re-start this project and get it done,” says Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) Past-President Debbie Thomas, who co-chaired the project with volunteer Dan McKay, the original President of the DBA and now a DHS member. “This was a wonderful project when it was started more than twenty years ago and, although it stalled somewhat due to unforeseen circumstances, we are so happy to have been able to work with the volunteer who had a lot to do with the original vision—Dan McKay—and build on it with our Ducks Unlimited Canada and Haldimand County partners.”

The event begins at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 2:00 p.m., with an official welcome at 11:00 a.m. Volunteer tour guides and guest educators will give visitors an opportunity to explore the Park’s revitalized wetlands and tallgrass prairie, as well as the Carolinian arboretum, and learn about the history and significance of the Park from an ecological and conservation perspective. As well, the Park is now home to a Heritage Tree, estimated to be more than 250 years old and newly-designated by Forests Ontario.

DHS’s request to complete the original vision of the DBA was a project approved through Haldimand County’s Community Partnership Program, including grant funding of 35% from the municipality.

As well, for more than twenty years, the County had partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to manage the parklands. For the new restoration DUC provided resource funding to support wildflower replanting—for the next five years—of the grassland area. This work was initiated in spring 2019 following a controlled burn of the area arranged by DHS.

Other work undertaken by the partners during the past year to help prepare the site for the restoration included the spraying late last year for invasive phragmites, removal of dead and unsafe trees in the arboretum, brushing of overgrown areas, creation of a new naturalized pathway around the wetlands and tallgrass prairie, a controlled burn to rejuvenate the area intended for wildflower replanting and installation of educational signage along the Eco-Centre pathways.

“It has been incredibly gratifying to have the opportunity to work with the Dunnville Horticultural Society and its wonderful volunteers to realize the Dunnville Bio Region Association’s original vision for this Park,” adds Dan McKay. “I am excited by the community’s interest and engagement in the new project, and feel confident this is only the beginning of the ongoing conservation of this ecologically-significant Park.”

2019 ‘Neighbour Nights’ Will Bring Caledonia Residents Together At Haldimand County Public Library

Haldimand County Public Library’s popular ‘Neighbour Nights’ program is returning to Caledonia this fall. The monthly social and educational program – hosted out of the Caledonia Library – is geared towards new Caledonia residents, newly retired individuals, new parents and residents with a desire to learn more about their community.

Each Neighbour Night session is themed and centres around various aspects of Caledonia’s vibrant community. The overarching goal of Neighbour Nights is to create and cultivate social connections between community members and local organizations, service clubs, agencies and businesses for the purpose of increasing community engagement and public awareness of programs, services and business.

The 2019 Neighbour Night schedule is as follows:

Thursday, September 26: Lifelong Learning

Thursday, October 24: Volunteering

Thursday, November 21: Local History & Culture

“Neighbour Night is a great opportunity to learn more about the vibrant offerings in Caledonia and Haldimand County,” noted Lindsay Thomas, Community Outreach Coordinator at Haldimand County Public Library. “Neighbour Night, and the library as a whole, provides a comfortable atmosphere for making connections – whether those connections be with fellow residents, information or community services,” she added.

All Neighbour Night programs takes place at Haldimand County Public Library’s Caledonia Branch from 6 to 8 p.m. All community members are welcome to attend the free program, mix and mingle with fellow residents and learn about what’s offered locally. Registration is not required.

Organizations, service clubs, agencies or businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact Lindsay Thomas, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 905-318-5932 ext. 6118 or lthomas@haldimandcounty.on.ca. Additional information about Haldimand County Public Library

programs, resources and events can be found at HaldimandLibrary.ca and on the library’s Facebook page.

Haldimand Museums Hosting Oral History Workshop With Broadcast TV Icon & Internationally Recognized Filmmaker

This September, Haldimand Museums will be welcoming internationally recognized filmmaker Graeme Bachiu and iconic CHCH-TV news anchor Connie Smith to present an oral history/interviewing workshop.

The two-day workshop, to be held at Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre on Saturday, September 14 & Saturday, September 21 (1pm to 3pm), will cover the skills needed to film and interview subjects to preserve oral histories.

“In every family, stories are passed down from generation to generation, occasionally graining details with each telling,” said Anne Unyi, Haldimand County’s Supervisor of Heritage & Culture. “Preserving those stories through film & one-on-one interviews has become much easier with technological advancements, but using these technologies and knowing how to ask the right questions are skills a lot of us need help developing,” Unyi added.

To begin the two-day workshop, filmmaker Graeme Bachiu will teach participants the basic camera and interviewing skills they will need to collect and preserve oral histories. The Oral History Workshop will present both technical and practical hands-on approaches to conducting interviews. On day 2 of the workshop, Graeme will collaborate with one of the best interviewers in the business – former CHCH-TV anchor Connie Smith – to teach a master class in interviewing.

Graeme Bachiu, an internationally recognized documentary filmmaker with over 25 years of film and TV experience. Graeme’s work has been shown on CTV, CBC, CHCH-TV, CNN and NBC and his documentary short films have been screened at film festivals around the world. Graeme has a deep interest in history and preserving stories of the past.

The workshop is available to anyone with an interest in undertaking an oral history project, learning basic principles of filmmaking or becoming a better interviewer. Cost for the two-day program is $60.00 per person. Registration may be completed online at link.haldimandcounty.ca or in person at any Haldimand County office using program code 10314.

Fall Museum Programming Kicks Off At New Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre

The new, state-of-the-art Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre (CLHC) opened to the public on August 6. All library and museum services are now co-located and available at the 19 Talbot St. W location, including popular heritage & learning programs.

Museum staff have announced their September lineup of heritage-focused workshops, which will continue to be offered year-round. The September schedule is as follows:

Heritage Series: Tales from the Grand River – September 10 (6:30 pm to 8:00 pm)
At this heritage talk, participants will learn about the history of the magnificent Grand River, its people and communities. Museum staff will highlight tales from the past and shine a light on the pre-contact era, the Underground Railway & the area’s earliest settlers. This talk is suitable for all ages. Cost is $5/person. Code: 10277.

Adult Workshop: Finding Your Roots – September 11 (1 pm to 3 pm)
This hands-on workshop will show how participants how to navigate microfilm, historical archives and other digital resources to find elusive relatives. Museum staff will explain how to look in unusual places to find items that will help unlock family history. Attendees are encouraged to bring their most difficult genealogy-related questions for museum staff to assist with. Enrollment is limited to 15. Cost is $10/person. Code: 10376.

Heritage Series: British Home Children in Canada – September 18 (1 pm to 3 pm)
From the late 1860s right up to 1948, over 100,000 British children believed to be orphans were emigrated to Canada to be used as indentured farm workers. This talk, led by museum staff, will focus on some of these children’s Haldimand stories. This talk is suitable for adults. Cost is $5/person. Code: 8371.

Culture Club: Historical Jeopardy – September 24 (6:30 pm – 8 pm)
Spend a fun evening exploring Haldimand’s past through a series of historic Jeopardy questions. Put together a team and learn all about Haldimand’s communities and their stories. Cost is $5/person. Code: 10229.

Historically Speaking: Life & Times of Jane Austen-September 25 (1 pm – 3 pm)
This afternoon is dedicated to author Jane Austen who was ahead of her time and one of the earliest women on the fringe of the suffragette movement. Homemade scones, tea and sweet treats will be provided during the talk. Cost is $10/person. Code: 8372.

Pre-registration is required for all paid events. Registration may be completed online at link.haldimandcounty.ca or at any County office using the code provided. For more information about
museum programs and events, contact museum.archives@haldimandcounty.on.ca.