Haliburton County outlined in red
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that the land which we call Haliburton County is the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations and also within the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin Nation. We acknowledge that we all live on lands from which Indigenous Peoples were dispossessed by colonialism.
We honour all Indigenous peoples, for their cultures, their languages, their wise teachings and ways of being, their stewardship and protection of the lands and waters and life that have shaped this land since time began. The intent and spirit of the treaties that form the legal basis of Canada bind us to share the land “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow
We respectfully acknowledge that the land which we call Haliburton County is the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations and also within the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin Nation. We acknowledge that we all live on lands from which Indigenous Peoples were dispossessed by colonialism.
We honour all Indigenous peoples, for their cultures, their languages, their wise teachings and ways of being, their stewardship and protection of the lands and waters and life that have shaped this land since time began. The intent and spirit of the treaties that form the legal basis of Canada bind us to share the land “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow
History of Environment Haliburton!
In 1997, Haliburton County undertook a participatory strategic planning exercise, led by Dr. Chris Bryant from the University of Waterloo. He recommended that the County establish a number of citizen committees to provide advice on the important issues that arose during the strategic planning exercise. One of the committees established was the County Advisory Committee for the Environment (CACE). CACE was chaired by Carolynn Coburn. It met once a month in the County Council chambers, on Saturdays. The County provided lunch and administrative support. Don Shortreed, Councillor for Algonquin Highlands, sat on the committee.
CACE offered advice on the first County Official Plan. During its development a series of public meetings was held to develop strategies for resources, growth and habitation. CACE also commented on the incineration of waste, the tree by-law, dishwasher detergents and gravel pits. At the end of 2002, the County disbanded CACE. This was a mutual parting of the ways. The spoke-hub process established through the strategic plan created a very slow process for getting advice to Council. Council seldom requested CACE input, and some of the advice proffered by CACE was not well received. CACE was feeling less and less relevant.
Environment Haliburton!
The former members of CACE did not want to disband. They wanted to continue with more latitude and more relevance. They met in early 2003, and with the help of a small grant from HCDC, they incorporated as a non-profit. The name, Environment Haliburton!, came from the creative brain of Cathy Olliffe, and the mission statement and objectives were developed by the group of 20 – 25 citizens of the County.
The new organization, frequently referred to as EH!, declared that it would “take a comprehensive view of environmental issues in Haliburton County and will provide a strong voice to encourage positive initiatives and oppose those that could have an adverse effect on the environment.” This statement developed into a mission statement which added, “EH! recognizes and wants to work with the existing organizations that have an interest in specific environmental subjects: forest, wetlands, headwaters, trails, recreation, lake associations etc.”
The objectives were:
• To advocate for and to support others who are advocating for environmental protection and conservation.
• To disseminate educational materials and information throughout the county on environmental issues and concerns.
• To lobby governments and their agencies to enact legislation and regulations to protect and conserve the county environment.
• To support and encourage environmental research in the county.
• To join with others in the county, province and nation who are also working for the protection and conservation of the environment.
Since its formation in 2003, EH! has pursued these objectives. Illustrated by the following:
Advocacy and supporting others
We have worked with residents to oppose developments that would damage the natural environment: development adjacent to provincially significant wetlands, gravel pit expansions, an asphalt plant on Crown land, new uranium mines.
We have advocated for protection of provincially significant wetlands and the Lochlin esker, for radon testing in schools, for the rehabilitation of a brownfield, and against allowing motorized vehicles on the County Rail Trail.
Communications/ Education
We have created educational materials: bookmarks, information pamphlets, Enviro-books, Enviro-notes (on radon and uranium, species at risk, natural shorelines, local food, local transportation, renewable energy) and re-usable bags. We participated in the creation of the Children’s Water Festival. We commissioned the creation of the Green Man, which has appeared at public events and in schools. We have a bookclub.
We have staffed information tables at community events, fairs and annual meetings of cottagers. We have held workshops and community fora on environmental issues: land trusts, rising carbon dioxide levels, lake planning, local food, gravel pits, uranium, small woodlots. We hold monthly Enviro-Cafes. We have invited well-known provincial and national figures to come to the County to speak on environmental issues.
We write articles for the local newspapers and public service announcements for the local radio stations. We are interviewed on local radio, and are contacted by the local papers for comment when environmental issues are current..
We have a website and a Facebook page where we advertise our events and where we provide environmental information and links to other sources of information. We maintain a hard-copy archive of articles published in the local press concerning the environment.
We recognize and support the role artists play in connecting us to the natural environment: workshop held by Franke James; EH! award at Highland East’s Plein Air Art Festival; the play Sea Sick by Alanna Mitchell; song-writing workshops offered by James Gordon to thee classes at Archie Stouffer Elementary School.
Lobby governments
We provide input when Official Plans are revised; we ask questions at all-candidates meetings; we write letters – to our councillors, our MP and our MPP; we make presentations to municipal councils and community groups; we participate in public demonstrations. We were very active in opposing the closure of the Frost Centre. We conducted a campaign for the right to a healthy environment (the Blue Dot campaign), which included presentations to all five councils. We appeared at a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearing objecting to the granting of a 10-year licence to manage Chalk River Laboratories.
Research
On occasion, we have hired an expert to conduct research for us. More often, we have worked with U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research. Those research papers are accessible through the Haliburton County Public Library and through the U-Links webpage.
Join with others
We have supported both provincial and local organizations: PermaFrost, Gravel Watch Ontario, Ontario Environmental Network, Coalition for Equitable Water Flow,
We have collaborated with Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council, Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association, Kinark Outdoor Centre, Highlands Climate Action Network, Local Food Coalition, Haliburton in Transition, Gaia Centre for Ecospirituality and Sustainable Work, RockRose, Minden United Church, Hike Haliburton, Those Other Movies, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Archie Stouffer Elementary School, Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, Minden Hills Cultural Centre and Nature’s Place; Climate Action Muskoka, Seniors Climate Action Network..
The EH! Model
To the extent that there is an EH! model it seems to be the following:
CACE offered advice on the first County Official Plan. During its development a series of public meetings was held to develop strategies for resources, growth and habitation. CACE also commented on the incineration of waste, the tree by-law, dishwasher detergents and gravel pits. At the end of 2002, the County disbanded CACE. This was a mutual parting of the ways. The spoke-hub process established through the strategic plan created a very slow process for getting advice to Council. Council seldom requested CACE input, and some of the advice proffered by CACE was not well received. CACE was feeling less and less relevant.
Environment Haliburton!
The former members of CACE did not want to disband. They wanted to continue with more latitude and more relevance. They met in early 2003, and with the help of a small grant from HCDC, they incorporated as a non-profit. The name, Environment Haliburton!, came from the creative brain of Cathy Olliffe, and the mission statement and objectives were developed by the group of 20 – 25 citizens of the County.
The new organization, frequently referred to as EH!, declared that it would “take a comprehensive view of environmental issues in Haliburton County and will provide a strong voice to encourage positive initiatives and oppose those that could have an adverse effect on the environment.” This statement developed into a mission statement which added, “EH! recognizes and wants to work with the existing organizations that have an interest in specific environmental subjects: forest, wetlands, headwaters, trails, recreation, lake associations etc.”
The objectives were:
• To advocate for and to support others who are advocating for environmental protection and conservation.
• To disseminate educational materials and information throughout the county on environmental issues and concerns.
• To lobby governments and their agencies to enact legislation and regulations to protect and conserve the county environment.
• To support and encourage environmental research in the county.
• To join with others in the county, province and nation who are also working for the protection and conservation of the environment.
Since its formation in 2003, EH! has pursued these objectives. Illustrated by the following:
Advocacy and supporting others
We have worked with residents to oppose developments that would damage the natural environment: development adjacent to provincially significant wetlands, gravel pit expansions, an asphalt plant on Crown land, new uranium mines.
We have advocated for protection of provincially significant wetlands and the Lochlin esker, for radon testing in schools, for the rehabilitation of a brownfield, and against allowing motorized vehicles on the County Rail Trail.
Communications/ Education
We have created educational materials: bookmarks, information pamphlets, Enviro-books, Enviro-notes (on radon and uranium, species at risk, natural shorelines, local food, local transportation, renewable energy) and re-usable bags. We participated in the creation of the Children’s Water Festival. We commissioned the creation of the Green Man, which has appeared at public events and in schools. We have a bookclub.
We have staffed information tables at community events, fairs and annual meetings of cottagers. We have held workshops and community fora on environmental issues: land trusts, rising carbon dioxide levels, lake planning, local food, gravel pits, uranium, small woodlots. We hold monthly Enviro-Cafes. We have invited well-known provincial and national figures to come to the County to speak on environmental issues.
We write articles for the local newspapers and public service announcements for the local radio stations. We are interviewed on local radio, and are contacted by the local papers for comment when environmental issues are current..
We have a website and a Facebook page where we advertise our events and where we provide environmental information and links to other sources of information. We maintain a hard-copy archive of articles published in the local press concerning the environment.
We recognize and support the role artists play in connecting us to the natural environment: workshop held by Franke James; EH! award at Highland East’s Plein Air Art Festival; the play Sea Sick by Alanna Mitchell; song-writing workshops offered by James Gordon to thee classes at Archie Stouffer Elementary School.
Lobby governments
We provide input when Official Plans are revised; we ask questions at all-candidates meetings; we write letters – to our councillors, our MP and our MPP; we make presentations to municipal councils and community groups; we participate in public demonstrations. We were very active in opposing the closure of the Frost Centre. We conducted a campaign for the right to a healthy environment (the Blue Dot campaign), which included presentations to all five councils. We appeared at a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearing objecting to the granting of a 10-year licence to manage Chalk River Laboratories.
Research
On occasion, we have hired an expert to conduct research for us. More often, we have worked with U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research. Those research papers are accessible through the Haliburton County Public Library and through the U-Links webpage.
Join with others
We have supported both provincial and local organizations: PermaFrost, Gravel Watch Ontario, Ontario Environmental Network, Coalition for Equitable Water Flow,
We have collaborated with Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council, Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association, Kinark Outdoor Centre, Highlands Climate Action Network, Local Food Coalition, Haliburton in Transition, Gaia Centre for Ecospirituality and Sustainable Work, RockRose, Minden United Church, Hike Haliburton, Those Other Movies, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Archie Stouffer Elementary School, Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, Minden Hills Cultural Centre and Nature’s Place; Climate Action Muskoka, Seniors Climate Action Network..
The EH! Model
To the extent that there is an EH! model it seems to be the following:
- We work in partnerships, we develop networks
- We have spawned and supported other groups such as the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust and the food coalition, Rural Transportation Options, Green Burial Society
- We work on issues from and with a community base
- We respond to residents who approach us with issues