Haliburton County Echo

By Emily Stonehouse I am going to say something that I doubt will win me many friends: I think we need to slow down on housing. Whoa whoa, keep reading. I promise I will explain this. To begin, I adamantly, wholly believe that housing is a human right. That every individual – regardless of background or financial status – is deserving of a roof over their head. Full stop. But that said, as someone who has waded many waters in this community, I think the term “housing” has become a bit of a buzz word.

By Emily Stonehouse It’s been a hotly discussed topic at Dysart council, but questions around an amendment to the zoning bylaw that would allow for additional dwelling units (ADUs) to be used as short term rentals (STRs) has come to an end.

By Emily Stonehouse It’s that time of year again. June is forever the month of whirlwind obligations. Graduations, ceremonies, dances, recitals, tournaments, races, open houses. Every day there’s another note from the school about an upcoming event. And if public school isn’t enough, we also mix in the winding down of extra-curriculars, nice weather, and buzzing kids. But as I looked up from the pile of both personal and professional commitments, I realized the joy of celebrating these kids.

By Emily Stonehouse Gathering together for the Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame Induction on May 23, proved two things: We are a community of doers and dreams, and you never know someone’s full story. On the rainy Saturday, the A.J. LaRue was completely packed. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds came out to celebrate the accomplishments of a number of dedicated athletes from over the years.

By Emily Stonehouse While we wind down a flooding season for the books, many environmental organizations have opted to start looking into mitigation strategies in an effort to slow down water concerns in the future. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) recently penned an article outlining some of the efforts landowners can make that may change the outcome of the spring floods.

By Emily Stonehouse ’ve always found the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) to be a bit of an oxymoron. It’s right up there with ‘jumbo shrimp’ or ‘old news’. The two words clashing and pulling against one another, similar to how AI is cloaking our world; an old versus new mentality. This week in County council, Director of IT Mike March brought a report to the table, outlining the framework for how IT can be utilized and managed moving forward.

By Emily Stonehouse In the heart of Gooderham, there lies a piece of Haliburton County history. Barr’s General Store was opened when Peter Barr moved from Irondale to Gooderham to start the shop in the late 1800s. The store formed a community around it, with the hamlet becoming a hustling and bustling destination, servicing the Irondale River, Monck Road, Buckhorn Road, and the IB&O Railway.

By Emily Stonehouse While the County of Haliburton undergoes the process for a governance structure study, CAO Gary Dyke has ventured to each lower tier table to discuss the roll-out of the project. Earlier this year, County councillors agreed to move ahead with the study. Dyke has urged along the way that we at least need to have the wheels in motion to show the province that we’re not just sitting in that cushy place of status quo.

By Emily Stonehouse With increased foot traffic along Highland Street, Dysart staff have been looking at ways to mitigate risk. At its December 9, 2025 meeting, council resolved to obtain engineering fees for the rehabilitation of Highland Street from York Street westerly to Gelert Road, with a provision for a pedestrian crossover (PXO) at 126 Highland, which houses the Hook, Line and Sinker restaurant.

By Emily Stonehouse Sandbags are heavy. That’s not how you’re supposed to start an article. For the most part, we write our stories following Canadian Press guidelines. Every week, I am looking up best practices and professional preferences. But when the community calls a State of Emergency, all formalities go out the window. Meetings are cancelled, organized events postponed. Strangers become friends, friends become family.