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.

David Mills and Jim Frost are devoted members of the Haliburton Lions Club. Every year, they're in charge of the club's prized possession — its Santa Claus float for the annual Christmas parade. Designed and constructed in 2004, its founders have passed on, but their vision is lovingly preserved. Each year, the float is repaired and prepared for the nigh time parade, with hand-carved reindeers and a beautiful cutter for Santa to ride in.Over the years, the float has encountered a number of interesting challenges, but the community's affection for it has kept it rolling in the parade, no matter what. Both Mills and Frost say it's the star of the annual event and a great source of pride.Mills and Frost recently visited the CanoeFM studios to discuss the vibrant history of the Santa Claus float and what it means to the community.

It's been a year of the kind of work that Leanne Young and her husband Kyle are grateful to be doing — helping to support and guide the youth of Haliburton County. Through their efforts, Youth Unlimited brings preteens together through their programming, both at The Bridge and in area schools. Now, they say, it's time to give back to the community with their Concert of Hope, presented on Saturday, November 29that Lakeside Church at 9 Park Street from 2 to 4 pm.The concert will feature live music and dance performances, a raffle and the sale of fresh apple pies, just in time for the holidays. It's a way of saying thank you to the community who has supported the organization and its goal to offer local youth fun activities and friendship in a safe welcoming space.CanoeFM recently spoke with Young and one of the performers for the concert.

The 2nd Annual Harvest Haliburton Food Forum brought together growers, municipal leaders, tourism leads, ministry representatives, university professors and local business leaders to advocate for support of small-scale farms and regenerative farming by creating policies and bylaws that protect local farmland and food production.Less than two per cent of Haliburton County is used for agriculture. It's rocky terrain and challenging soil conditions makes it a difficult place for farming. But with creativity and innovation, a group of farmers here are doing their best to support their local food system.CanoeFM attended the event and had a chance to speak with a number of participants, including Aisha Malik, the Co-Chair of Harvest Haliburton and a public health dietician at Lakelands Public Health. Her focus there is sustainable food systems, so her role with Harvest Haliburton is a perfect fit. She says the organization aims to bring everyone to the table to improve the local food system here.

After he retired from running his scrap metal business in Minden, Rick Harding needed to find something to keep him busy. With the help of his best friend Rick Franklin, the two started collecting pop cans, then beer cans and liquor bottles, then scrap metal. The two then began taking the items to the city for recycling, and giving the proceeds to the Minden Community Food Centre.Jean Munroe, Executive Director of the centre, says the generosity of people like Harding and Franklin are what help support members of the community who are struggling to make ends meet. She says demand has dramatically increased, and that's why the efforts of people like Harding and Franklin mean so much.

More than half of Ontario's ice rinks and arenas are nearing the end of their lifecycle, requiring significant and expensive repairs or replacement. According to the Ontario Recreational Facilities Association, (or ORFA), the province's estimated 27 hundred arenas are in poor or failing condition. With many of them built more than 50 years ago, many of the province's arenas are facing closure and service reductions due to high repair costs, safety concerns, and lack of consistent funding.Terry Piche, Director of Training, Research and Development with ORFA says when the provincial government downloaded the management of recreational facilities onto the backs of municipal governments in the 1990's, it put real financial pressures on communities eager to maintain use by local hockey teams, community groups and other users. He says while he's happy to hear Highlands East is getting by keeping their rec facilities open and regularly maintained, the approach won't work forever.