Submissions are now open for phase two of Paddle Art Tour Haldimand (PATH), an initiative that celebrates the municipality’s local talent and the importance of the Grand River and Lake Erie to Haldimand County.
Launched in 2021, the PATH became a popular activity for Haldimand County for both residents and visitors, showcasing 24 unique designs created by 23 local artists who used wooden paddles—hand-made by local high school students—to create art portraying the area’s natural landscapes, wildlife, history and more.
Building on the popularity of the tour, the County is inviting local emerging and established artists to submit a sketch and description of an image they would like to paint on one of six new paddles that will be added to the PATH this year. Each paddle blade is a surface of 28″ x 7″ and will be installed handle upright. Selected artists will receive an honorarium of $500. The paddles will be installed at Haldimand County trail locations.
Interested artists can send submissions electronically to partnerships@haldimandcounty.on.ca, in person or by mail to the Haldimand County Administration Building c/o Community Development & Partnerships, 53 Thorburn St. S., Cayuga, ON N0A 1E0.
The closing date for submissions is July 7, 2022, at 4 p.m. and selected artists will be notified by July 14, 2022.
Starting Tuesday, June 21, registration for Haldimand County Public Library’s summer programs opens at all six Haldimand Library branches. This year’s theme is “Once Upon a Time; Myths and Legends,” and offers a magical summer of fun with parties, Storytimes, crafts and more.
The programs are open to children aged 3-12, with in-person registration required. Program dates, times and costs are available at local branches and on the Library’s website.
In addition to the registered programs, the Library is also offering free summer reading clubs for children and teens. Children aged 12 and under can register for the Junior Reading Club while teens 13-18 can sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Club.
Participants in both clubs will receive a ballot for every library book they read throughout the summer, entering them into draws for a chance to win cash and other prizes. Draw dates can be found at each branch. In addition to the draws, Junior Reading Club participants will also get to choose a special prize from the library treasure chest for every 15 library books they read.
The Haldimand County Public Library has selected the winners of their 9th annual April Poetry Contest. The contest saw a great response from the community with more than 200 submissions from individuals across the County.
This year’s theme—Back to Nature—asked entrants to express through poetry how nature impacts and inspires them, how they connect with nature, or how their actions affect the natural environment. Winners were awarded across five categories based on the writer’s age.
An awards ceremony and poetry reading will be held at the Jarvis Branch on Monday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
The Library would like to extend a special thank you to their local sponsors, whose generous donations helped make this contest possible: The Selkirk Lions, the Women’s Institute-Haldimand District, The Friends of the Dunnville Library and The Friends of the Jarvis Library.
2022 Winners
Primary (Kindergarten-Grade 3)
1st & 2nd – Peyton Bosch 3rd – Lily Wooloff
Junior (Grade 4 – Grade 6)
1st – Lyla Yager 2nd – Ava Silva 3rd – Roman Maccallini
Intermediate (Grade 7 – Grade 10)
1st – Reese Vanderwier 2nd & 3rd – Lincoln Vanderwier
Haldimand-Norfolk Housing and Homelessness Prevention services has teamed up with the community paramedic programs in both Haldimand and Norfolk to provide street outreach and housing-related follow-up support to assist people who are experiencing homelessness.
A new collaboration between community paramedics in both counties and specialized outreach workers reduces barriers to care faced by vulnerable, underserved, and hard-to-reach residents. The goal is to connect people to services they may require, including housing and health care.
“We recognized this as an opportunity to be proactive and meet people where they are, making the services more accessible and responsive,” said Louise Lovell, program manager for Haldimand-Norfolk Homeless Prevention Services. “Combining a social services staff member and a community paramedic offers a wider range of services to more people.”
Sarah Page, chief of Norfolk Paramedic Services, and Jason Gallagher, fire chief and manager of Haldimand Paramedic Services, both expressed praise for this partnership. “Expanding our community paramedicine programs to provide access across our counties to those in need of care outside our normal health care system is what we are striving to accomplish,” said Sarah Page. “Both Chief Gallagher and I recognize that this partnership with Haldimand-Norfolk Social Services highlights our regions’ ability to collaborate and find innovative solutions in rural areas for health care delivery and access to support.”
The pilot began early in 2022 and is expected to continue through the end of the year. The teams are deployed in Haldimand on Tuesdays and Norfolk on Wednesdays. Members of the general public or agencies that have clientele that might be served by a visit can call the following numbers: in Norfolk: 519-426-6170 or 519-582-3579 or in Haldimand: 905-318-6623 at Ext. 3134 and a team can be deployed. Callers are asked to provide a specific location or a description of where they have seen people.
Haldimand County is seeking community input to enhance Selkirk’s Waterfront Way. A survey has been developed to collect feedback from residents and establish a community-driven vision for the Waterfront Way. An in-person consultation session is also planned.
In its present state, Waterfront Way is a scenic site offering views of Lake Erie, Selkirk Creek and a forested environment. This site features an existing trail with a pedestrian bridge connecting Erie St. South to Blue Water Parkway.
Specifically, feedback is being sought for the parkette leading to the Waterfront Way Trail – a part of the larger Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
Landscape architecture and planning firm Stempski Kelly Associates Inc. will be facilitating the community engagement process and have produced conceptual designs for the Waterfront Way Parkette leading to the trail.
Conceptual designs are available on the county website at www.haldimancounty.ca/projects-initiatives/selkirk-waterfront-way and highlight several considerations – from walkway/dock configuration and materials to decorative planters, shade structures and seating.
Residents are encouraged to take the survey online and provide comments by Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Members of the public may also attend an in-person consultation session at the Selkirk Centennial Community Centre (34 Main St W, Selkirk) on Monday, June 20, 2022 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. to learn more and provide input. Registration is not required and all are welcome.
Feedback collected through the survey and in-person consultation will be used to inform the final designs for the parkette.
Anyone seeking further information about the survey or Selkirk Waterfront Way enhancements in general are encouraged to call 905-318-5932 or e-mail Haldimand County’s Community Development & Partnerships division at cdp@haldimandcounty.on.ca.
Haldimand County Public Library’s One Book One Haldimand program is back for 2022 with Everyone In This Room Will Someday be Dead, written by Canadian author Emily Austin, who explores the human condition using a blend of deadpan humor and observation.
An annual favourite, the program encourages individuals across Haldimand County to read a selected Canadian title and join the author and other community members for an evening of exciting discussion.
Copies of Everyone In This Room will Someday Be Dead are available at your local Haldimand County Library branch in print format and from the library’s CloudLibrary and Libby digital services in e-book and e-audio formats. Residents can visit their local branch or the library’s website to borrow a copy or call (289) 674-0400 to reserve one.
A virtual author visit will take place online over Zoom on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Participants will enjoy a short reading, a book talk and a Q&A session facilitated by library staff. A library membership is not required to join the discussion.
To register, visit or call your local branch at (289) 674-0400 or e-mail the library’s Outreach Coordinator at kkrupicz@haldimandcounty.on.ca and indicate “OBOH” in your email’s subject line.
Haldimand County’s Economic Development and Tourism Department is pleased to introduce Main Street Ambassadors Jenna Beemer and Jessica Easson as part of our community’s participation in the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program.
Through the Government of Canada’s My Main Street Local Business Accelerator, delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), businesses and entrepreneurs in Haldimand County will have access to these dedicated Main Street Ambassadors who will offer insight and support to help revitalize the main street community. The Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), provided EDCO and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) with a $23.25-million investment to deliver My Main Street support across southern Ontario.
“Our government is committed to supporting small businesses to drive economic growth in communities across Southern Ontario,” says the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The My Main Street program invests in local small businesses and communities to keep our neighbourhoods vibrant, grow our economy and make sure Canadians have access to good jobs.”
“We have a great business community and passionate business owners, and we are looking forward to working with them to further improve the retail mix and increase the diversity of business offerings,” says Lidy Romanuk, Haldimand County’s Manager of Economic Development and Tourism.
In their roles, Jenna and Jessica, will be working over the next year to help grow existing businesses and welcome new entrepreneurs—and business ideas—to the area. As a part of the Local Business Accelerator program, Caledonia, Cayuga, Jarvis, Hagersville, Dunnville and Selkirk business owners will be eligible for detailed market research, data analysis, business support and more.
The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is delivering the My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program stream, which is supporting the revitalization of main street communities and provides non-repayable contributions for more than 650 local businesses across southern Ontario. The program focuses on creating and maintaining vibrant and inclusive local main streets while providing residents, new entrepreneurs, and existing businesses with economic opportunities in our communities.
For more than 12 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The Heritage Centre in Cayuga is pleased to offer six presentations during the month of June. Cost for all programs is $10 per person and pre-registration is required. Register online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn St. S, Cayuga.
June 7 – Famous Canadian Fathers, 6 p.m. This talk looks at some of Canada’s most famous fathers including several notables from Haldimand: Peter Robertson, Dr. Jacob Baxter and Louis Kinnear.
June 8 – Historic Crime Mystery Series, 1 p.m. Focusing on another historic true crime that took place in Haldimand County or the surrounding area – the details remain a mystery until the presentation.
June 14 – Dutch Immigration to Canada and Haldimand County, 6 p.m. The Dutch played a key role in the early settlement of Canada, with many entering Canada as Loyalists following the American Revolution and a large number of Dutch settlers arriving after WWII. This talk will focus on Dutch settlement in Haldimand County and surrounding area.
June 15 – Royal Scandals, 1 p.m. The Heritage Centre’s Royal Series continues with a presentation focused on royal scandals that rocked the world.
June 21 – Did You Ring, Madame?, 6 p.m. This talk examines the life of servants and the class system which existed in Victorian society.
June 22 – Haldimand Through the Lens of a Camera, 1 p.m. Utilizing Haldimand Museums’ photographic collection, this presentation will explore the history of Haldimand County through images featuring built heritage, landscapes, industrial history and daily life.
For more information about programs and activities, contact the Heritage Centre at 905-318-5932 ext. 6613 or email heritagecentre@haldimandcounty.on.ca.
Haldimand County is pleased to invite the community to tour behind the scenes of the Haldimand County Administration Building with an open house event on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The new administration building has been instrumental in bringing us together as staff, and enhancing our customer service through a centralized model,” said Chief Administrative Officer, Craig Manley. “With the building officially opening right as the pandemic hit, we weren’t able to share it with the community the way we’d planned. And while some residents may have already visited for County business, I’m pleased that we now have the opportunity to provide the community with this in-depth look.”
The open house will include guided tours, informational displays, a look at the County’s historical artifacts/collection, and light refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to view staff and council areas as well as learn about the many cultural and heritage aspects included in the building’s design. The Port Maitland ‘On The Grand’ Historical Association will also be onsite to unveil a portrait of Frederick Haldimand that will be hung in the lobby.
The Haldimand County Administration Building officially opened to the public in February 2020. The goal of the new building was to provide a centralized customer service model that would enhance customer experience, maximize administrative/operational efficiencies, improve accessibility, and ensure long-term cost effectiveness.
Learn more about the history of the project on the County website.
Haldimand County’s Paramedic Specialty Programs are essential in delivering specialized in-home service through community outreach programs while offering mobility in care with our Bike Medic Program. These personalized programs keep our community healthy and provide specific care to our residents based on their needs. One of its initiatives is to incorporate animal therapy into the care of clients.
The Community Paramedic Wellness Dog Program brings a deeper connection and support to our existing Community Paramedic Programs. The CP Wellness Dogs can be used in home visits, wellness clinics, and community outreach programs. Animal therapy has long been proven to lower stress, improve feelings of wellbeing, support people through difficult situations, and bring happiness to those they visit.
The CP Wellness Dogs Program is fortunate to have several families and businesses generously donate their suitable dogs for use in this program. If successful in the evaluation and training process, these dogs will be partnered with a Community Paramedic Handler to improve the health and wellness of the people they are visiting.
Haldimand County also has a Bike Paramedic Program that deploys paramedics on bicycles at community events, fairs, and festivals. The Bike Medic program is looking forward to another successful year, quickly responding to patients and providing initial emergency care until an ambulance arrives. The Bike Medics will be attending many events throughout the county; keep an eye out for them during the spring and summer festival season.
The Haldimand County Paramedic Program is diversifying its services to meet the needs of our residents through localized and specialized care. Our Community Paramedic Wellness Dogs Program is making strides to connect people with animals to promote overall wellbeing. Whereas our Bike Medics are actively in the community to ensure you remain safe as summer activities resume. Over the next few months, keep an eye on our Paramedic Speciality Programs tailoring care to meet your needs.
