The Highlands festival Singers are in their 34rth year of entertaining audiences in Haliburton. In that time, they've performed Handel's Messiah eight times and this year they're bringing it back to the delight of both the singers and to the community.CanoeFM recently attended a rehearsal and spoke to Musical Director Melissa Stephens and a number of choir members on what this classic work means to them. In some cases, people said it was their way of ringing in the holiday season, while others say the work has shaped their lives for decades.

Given the rising cost of third-party commitments to the City of Kawartha Lakes for Social Services and housing, Lakelands Public Health, as well as physician recruitment, which represent more than four per cent of the 2026 budget, Haliburton County aims to maintain existing service levels while planning for the future. Those third-party costs, total more than 6 point 6 million dollars, up more than one million dollars from last year's allocation.New items in this year's budget include the hiring of six new employees – three new Advanced Care Paramedics, a GIS technician, a Cyber Security Analyst and a Grant Writer.The Budget Liaison Committee also recommended $500 thousand dollars be cut from the Sustainable Roads Infrastructure Program for 2026. County Liaison are recommending council funds the Library Board $1 million dollars for this year and use its more than $400 thousand in reserves to operate.Haliburton County is gathering public feedback up to Dec. 2 for next budget council session.

Protecting lake health is something Jim Prince and fellow members of the Kenisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association take very seriously. They say doing so is vital to both the environment and to the local economy. That’s why, as a lake steward, his lake association and nine others have voiced their opposition to the move by some Dysart et Al councilors to peel back long-established shoreline protection regulations under the municipality’s Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw.