County Closeup

Humans Of Haliburton Book

Susan Tromanhaser credits her father for passing on his curiosity for people and willingness to just ask questions. It's been the thread that's woven through her life both professionally and personally, she says.And it's that curiosity that's kept her busy for more than three years documenting the lives of locals here in Haliburton County in a weekly column for the Highlander newspaper. The column, entitled ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands' invites readers to learn more about the people in their community, their life stories, their loves, losses and their humanity.After interviewing more than 150 people, Tromanhauser felt it might be a good idea to publish a coffee-table-style book that compiles many of the stories of the people she's met. So, she's done exactly that, with a book launch scheduled for Saturday, June 6thfrom 1 to 3 pm at the Corner Gallery in Haliburton.Tromanhauser, who spent her professional career as a principal for the Niagara School Board then at Brock University training teachers, sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about what inspired her to publish her new book, ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands'.

Jump in the Lake Fundraiser

Susan Tromanhaser credits her father for passing on his curiosity for people and willingness to just ask questions. It's been the thread that's woven through her life both professionally and personally, she says.And it's that curiosity that's kept her busy for more than three years documenting the lives of locals here in Haliburton County in a weekly column for the Highlander newspaper. The column, entitled ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands' invites readers to learn more about the people in their community, their life stories, their loves, losses and their humanity.After interviewing more than 150 people, Tromanhauser felt it might be a good idea to publish a coffee-table-style book that compiles many of the stories of the people she's met. So, she's done exactly that, with a book launch scheduled for Saturday, June 6thfrom 1 to 3 pm at the Corner Gallery in Haliburton.Tromanhauser, who spent her professional career as a principal for the Niagara School Board then at Brock University training teachers, sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about what inspired her to publish her new book, ‘Humans of Haliburton Highlands'.

Nature Nuggets Book

Rick Whitteker's love of the natural world has shaped his career, his activism and even his leisure time. And it's that love and fascination that's led him to write his first book, fittingly entitled, ‘Nature Nuggets' and it focuses on all the wonders to be found here in Haliburton County in all four seasons by way of hiking, kayaking and snowshoeing.The book is a collection of past columns Whittaker wrote for County Life and was designed and printed by Parker Pad & Printing in the last few weeks, Now, Whitteker is on a kind of informal book tour, speaking at several events in the county. He took time out to speak to CanoeFM to talk about what inspired his foray into becoming a published author.

Genealogy Group

What started as a group of locals assisting the Ontario Genealogical Society in 1990, with the creation of a province-wide index of all cemetery headstones, eventually became the origin story for the Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group, focused on local family history and genealogy.With more than 80 members, the local group meets five times a year, but for many members, including Espina, the day-to-day is usually spent sifting through websites and registries all aimed at connecting people with their roots.The job requires genealogists to be one part detective and other part researcher, but the process is a lot easier now that technology puts everything at your fingertips. In the early days, however, the work required trips to the Ontario archives and hours spent pouring over records of all kinds.Adele Espina, Chair of the group, sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about how finding someone's ancestors is a voyage of discovery.

County transportation

If you live and work in Haliburton County, owning a car is essential. But with the cost of living these days, including gas, insurance, and maintenance, a car can be out of reach for many people in the region. And that fact is creating pinch points for local businesses trying to recruit and retain employees. The same goes for anyone who has appointments or errands to run. Simply put, there is no alternative.Despite its best efforts to secure some kind of bus system that could operate between Minden Hills and Haliburton Village, Haliburton County is once again on a road to nowhere. At a recent County Council meeting, members were told that the cost to create a bus between the two centres is just too expensive.Earlier this Spring, Scott Ovell, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the County, told councilors once again that a fixed route bus running between the two centres of Minden and Haliburton is financially impossible for the foreseeable future. He sat down with CanoeFM to explain why.