The County’s annual Uniquely Haldimand Photo Contest – now in its 11th year – will be accepting entries from October 16 to December 1, 2023. Residents and visitors are invited to submit photos of Haldimand’s beautiful environment, architecture and vibrant community life for a chance to win some great local prizes.

With 87km of gorgeous Lake Erie waterfront, the Grand River, sprawling countryside and charming towns, Haldimand County is one of the most picturesque destinations on Ontario’s southwest coast. Its abundance of outdoor recreation options, scenic lookouts, community events, historic sites and culinary experiences make it an incredible place to live, explore and photograph.

Photos eligible for entry must depict a scene from within the boundaries of Haldimand County. They must be original, digital high resolution photos no more than two years old and not previously published.

Participants may submit their photos via the online submission portal, accessible at photocontest.haldimandcounty.on.ca. Photos must be submitted by Friday, December 1 and comply with all rules and regulations.

A panel of judges comprised of both County staff, community members and local media will closely examine all submissions in December. Four winners will be announced prior to the end of 2023 with 1 Grand Prize, 1 Second Prize, 1 Third Prize and 1 Honourable Mention awarded.

Prizes include gift certificates for unique culinary experiences and local shops.

Winning photographs will be featured in an exhibit and displayed permanently on the County website.

The new curbside garbage collection contractor for Haldimand County, Norfolk Disposal Services Ltd., will begin collection on October 16, 2023. Residents should note that while their curbside collection day will not change, the time of day for their collection may be different. All garbage and recycling should be curbside before 7 a.m. on their collection day.

Residents in the Dunnville area may notice that their garbage is collected by Grand Disposal Services Ltd. as they have been subcontracted to collect this area on behalf of Norfolk Disposal Services Ltd.

For any questions about garbage or recycling collection, contact Haldimand County at 905-318-5932 or visit https://www.haldimandcounty.ca/garbage-recycling/. Download the Recycle Coach App for collection information and notifications.

Haldimand County has embarked upon a website redesign project to develop a fully accessible, user-friendly website by December 2024. A public survey has been launched to collect resident input and will be open until November 3, 2023.

Haldimand County applied for funding through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in an effort to expedite compliance with website accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The county was successful in its application and awarded $96,000 to support the project.

Having previously deemed website improvements as one of six corporate priorities to achieve during the 2022-2026 term, Haldimand County Council green-lighted the project in February 2023.

Feedback regarding the county website has not gone unnoticed and staff are hoping to gain further insight from the community on needs and wants when it comes to accessing county information. As a first step, residents and businesses are invited to share their thoughts on the current website and their needs for the new site.

The online survey will be available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PD9NXMS until November 3, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. The feedback from the survey will be used to develop the design and sitemap of a new site.

Residents can find updates and view the progress of the website project at www.haldimandcounty.ca/website/.

“We’re incredibly grateful to have received this grant from the federal government,” says Megan Jamieson, General Manager, Corporate & Social Services. “As a municipality, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our services in ways that are meaningful to residents but also affordable. With the support of this grant, we’ll be able to ensure that all residents, of all ages and abilities will be able to access the information they need.”

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund.

Haldimand County is holding a scratch and win contest to win a tour of a garbage and recycling facility, among other prizes. The contest goes alongside the announcement of new curbside garbage and recycling collectors for Haldimand County residents in October 2023 and January 2024, respectively.

Select winners will learn more about where their recycling goes once it leaves their home, how certain items are recycled for other uses, and all of the heavy equipment that helps make it happen. Other prizes include fun items that encourage waste reduction.

Scratch and win cards will be handed out at Household Hazardous Waste Events on Sept. 16 in Dunnville and Oct. 14 in Hagersville, the Trucks to Touch event in Jarvis on Sept. 17, at the Haldimand County Administration Building in Cayuga, and at the Canborough Waste Management Facility.

Cards will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last.

The new garbage contractor for Haldimand County, Norfolk Disposal Services Ltd., will begin collection on October 16, 2023.

Responsibility for residential curbside recycling will transition to Circular Materials Ontario, per the Provincial Government, on January 1, 2024.

Residents should note that while their curbside collection day will not change, the time of day for their collection may be different. All garbage and recycling should be curbside before 7 a.m.

When asked why Haldimand County wanted to hold a contest, Brandon Hedges, Haldimand County’s Manager of Environmental Operations, responded “The upcoming changes to curbside collection will affect all residents. Garbage and recycling isn’t always top of mind, so we wanted to do something fun to get people talking about it. We don’t want anyone to miss a collection, which is why we’re urging everyone to make sure their garbage and recycling is out before 7 a.m. on their collection day.”

Prize winners should contact Haldimand County at 905-318-5932 or visit the Haldimand County Administration Building at 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga for information on how to collect their prize. For full contest rules and regulations, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/bluebox.

Phase Three of Haldimand County’s popular Public Art Tour Haldimand (PATH)—”Bridging Communities”— will launch with the unveiling of eight new, original paddle designs and an artist meet-and-greet on Thursday September 7, from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Haldimand County Administration Building in Cayuga.

Once again led by local artist and PATH Project Coordinator Gina Wilson-McIntee, “Bridging Communities” began with a public call for artists to submit their designs showcasing the importance of the Grand River and Lake Erie to Haldimand County, including illustrations highlighting the area’s natural landscapes, wildlife and history.

The eight artists selected to recreate their designs on paddles—supported and mentored by Wilson-McIntee—include Laura Ashthorpe (Fisherville), Angela Bonitatibus (Cayuga), Cheyanne Bertrand (Fisherville), Sarah Butcher (Jarvis), Eirlys Evans (Cayuga), Andrea Johnston (Dunnville), Emily Mathewson (Hamilton) and Jessica Vander Vegte (Cayuga).

The new paddles will be installed along trails throughout the County in late October; a map showing the new locations will be available on the County’s website.

The September 7 event will also provide an opportunity to meet the artists from the original PATH project and features a special marketplace of the artists’ unique works for purchase.

To learn more about “Bridging Communities” or the opportunity to meet and support Haldimand County’s local artists, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/festivals-events/public-art-tour/. The Haldimand County Administration Building is located at 53 Thorburn Street South in Cayuga.

Haldimand County OPP has announced their new Detachment Commander, Inspector Jodi Kays. Since February 21, 2023, Insp. Kays has been serving as the interim Detachment Commander for Haldimand County.

“On behalf of Haldimand County Council, staff and the community, I am pleased to welcome Inspector Jodi Kays as the new Detachment Commander for the Haldimand OPP,” expressed Mayor Bentley.

Throughout a 30-year career with the OPP, Insp. Kays has acquired first-hand knowledge in a number of positions, including frontline officer, media relations officer, school resource officer, domestic violence investigator, and firearms instructor, as well as experience working in the OPP’s Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Risk Management, and Criminal Operations.

“Jodi’s extensive experience combined with her familiarity of Haldimand County made her an excellent choice to lead our local detachment,” stated Lorne Boyko, Chair of Haldimand County Police Services Board.

It’s that time of the year again for community groups and not-for-profit organizations to get creative and apply for a Haldimand County Community Beautification grant.

Each year, the County sets aside $60,000 in partnership funding for beautification projects on municipal property. These grants support the efforts of volunteer groups in enhancing the vitality, sense of pride and overall quality of life within Haldimand County.

Groups may apply for grant funding of up to 50% of the total cost of the proposed project to a maximum of $4,000 per year per project.

Proposed projects must take place on property owned by Haldimand County. The County may be able to fund more than one application per community group; organizations submitting more than one application are asked to rank their requests in priority order.

Community/volunteer groups can access the online application at: HaldimandCounty.ca/community-partnerships/community-beautification-application/ after speaking with Community Partnerships staff about their project.

Applications — including all supporting materials — must be received online by September 25, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the Community Beautification Grant program, please contact a Community Partnerships Liaison by e-mail partnerships@haldimandcounty.ca or phone: 905-318-5932 x 6119.