This award recognizes the contributions and community leadership demonstrated by individuals for the benefit of the Haliburton Highlands. Any resident (permanent or seasonal) of the Highlands who has made outstanding contributions to the community in the areas of art, culture, heritage, community services, community economic development or the environment are eligible for nomination. The Highlander of the Year is a community booster and a true Ambassador for the Haliburton Highlands.
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Dale Walker
A resident of this community for the past 35 years, Dale Walker can often be heard saying, there is no better place to live, play, volunteer and work than in the Haliburton Highlands. Her community work really started with her rural upbringing in the southern Ontario farming area of Hagersville and is now firmly cemented in the Haliburton Highlands. Her work life has involved banking, business co-owner, and manager of social housing, and for the past 13 years she has been living her dream job – fundraising for our hospitals. Most people run in the opposite direction when the word ‘fundraising’ is mentioned – Dale on the other hand is passionate about her fundraising responsibilities in the community. For Dale, often work life, community work and social times all come together and the opportunities are endless!
Dale has volunteered extensively over the years sharing her ideas, knowledge and energy for the benefit of the community. She has volunteered with the Kinsmen/Kinettes for 10 years; Haliburton County Development Corporation for 15 years; participated in political events and meetings for 20 years; helped organize the Ontario Senior Games; participated in Housing & Business Development meetings, and supported Ducks Unlimited for 10 years. As much as Dale’s involvement in the community has enriched the lives of others, she appreciates the richness that these opportunities have brought to her life, both personal and professional. Dale believes that “giving back simply adds to a great life!”
Dale believes that she has the best job around – she’s passionate about the fact that she is able to work with so many great people, and for such a great cause – the well-being of our community. Through her creative and tireless efforts, Dale has been instrumental in raising unbelievable sums of money from our small county, for our local hospitals.
Jim Blake
Jim Blake has contributed to the well being of Haliburton County in so many ways. In his capacity as volunteer, he is President and Co-founder of Haliburton County Community Co-operative which is the governing body for numerous community initiatives. He is also Co-chair and co-founder of U-Links Centre for Committee-Based Research; and Chair of Dusk Dances Haliburton, Glebe Park Committee and the Ontario East Creative Economy Sector Team. He is an active member of the Communities in Action Committee, Arts Council Education Committee, Haliburton County Cultural Mapping Project, Dysart et al Municipal Cultural Planning Advisory Committee, Membership Committee of Haliburton Curling Club, and the Performing Arts Roundtable.
In his professional capacity he has been instrumental in community development working as a consultant for the Haliburton County Development Corporation, the Creative Economy Committee, and many not-for-profit organizations. He is also Curator for the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, instructor at the Haliburton School of The Arts, an artist, and a professional storyteller.
Jim has extraordinary leadership and facilitation skills. He works well with everyone to achieve the best possible outcomes. He is an enabler and motivator. His interests and skills are diverse and multi-sectoral. He sees the big picture in terms of what contributes to making a community healthy and vibrant, and is exceptionally generous with his time and expertise in order to help move ideas and projects forward. He excels as a community booster and is a true ambassador for the Highlands. He promotes the County locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally and has the trust and confidence of other community leaders and initiators, who often call upon him for advice and ideas, which he never hesitates to share. In the interconnected web that is our community, there are few people who have not been beneficiaries of Jim’s community contributions in some way.
Barb Bolin
During Barb’s 35 year career with Fleming College, she grew the campus from a small part time operation to a nationally recognized institution that has contributed in many significant ways to the social and economic growth of the County.
Her innovative thinking and her desire and ability to work with others has led to a number of successful initiatives, such as the the Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands, the Sculpture Forest , the Haliburton County Stewardship Council and the Haliburton Creative Business Incubator, each of which brings tourists to the County and encourages relocation to the Highlands.
One of Barb’s exceptional skills is her ability to help people refocus their thinking, channel their collective energy and begin the work in planning next steps. This was demonstrated as the Guild of Fine Arts ran its course and the Arts Council~ Haliburton Highlands was formed.
Barb volunteers with many local organizations including Haliburton County Development Corporation, where she currently holds the position of past chair, Friends of Fleming College, Haliburton County Stewardship Council and Abbey Gardens. She believes in building partnerships that benefit the organization and the community. She does not ask anyone to do anything that she would not do herself. She knocks on doors to raise funds for projects, she seeks out partners that bring needed expertise and takes a back seat when the credits are being rolled out.
Her passion began with the arts and has grown to encompass the social, environmental and economic prosperity of Haliburton County and its citizens.
Jim Frost
Jim and his wife Marilyn cottaged in Haliburton from the early 70′s and moved full time to the village of Haliburton in 1998 to open a B & B.
Jim joined the Lions Club that year and has been active in the club ever since, serving as President in 2006.
Jim was on the Highland Games Committee for 10 years and served as Chair of the Games as it grew to become a major event in the Haliburton tourist season.
Through the Lions Club, Jim coordinated the Haliburton Village Santa Claus Parade and was instrumental in the move to an evening parade.
Jim was a member of the 2011 Ontario Senior Games Organizing Committee serving as Accommodation and Food Co-chair for this event of 900 participants.
From 2008 – 2011, Jim contributed to the improvement and beautification of the downtown as the BIA Administrator. He worked closely with the members, overseeing the business of the BIA and helping organize their annual events and activities – the biggest of which was Colourfest 2011, which attracted visitors from across the province.
Jim, with Marilyn, runs the Box Office for the Highlands Summer Festival, the annual live summer theatre. This is a year-round duty as a season pass mail-out in the fall, sells season ticket packages all winter long. Tickets are printed and mailed out in the spring leading to daily duties at the theatre during the theatre’s summer-long run. Jim has undertaken this job for 10 years now and has a reputation with the almost 1700 patrons, for adding his personal touch to his box office duties.
Murray Fearrey
Murray Fearrey began his work career in 1962 in Time Management for General Motors in Oshawa. Returning to Haliburton in 1967 he worked as an Assessor for the Municipality of Dysart et al. In 1971 he entered into the business world as an Owner/partner in Haliburton Lumber. 1972 found Murray entering into Municipal politics and staying there until present day. While serving, he has been Reeve in the years 1975 to 1991 as well as 1993 to present and County Warden 12 times. He has given his volunteer time in serving a variety of service clubs from the Rotary to the Lions.
Murray has and continues to be a strong supporter in the betterment of Haliburton County. He has worked along with others to bring such services and facilities to Haliburton County as Fleming College and the Haliburton Family Medical Centre facility.
Bringing special events to Haliburton County has also been one of Murray’s goals. He has assisted in bringing such events to Haliburton as the Highland Games and the Dog Sled Races. Murray believes in and has supported such initiatives as Canoe FM, EH (Environment Haliburton), Seniors Affordable Housing, County Tree Cutting Bylaw and one of the latest, the Volunteer Outreach Dental Clinic as well as a host of many other initiatives for the betterment of Haliburton.
Phil Graham
Phil Graham, 87 yrs old and raised in Minden, has been collecting data on monthly temperatures and precipitation volumes in Minden for 62 years.
Recently retired, Phil began his volunteer climatological work in the 1940′s, using specialized thermometers for measuring highest and lowest temperatures and a rain gauge. Phil had a weather station set-up in his backyard and every month, Phil would submit his data of highest and lowest temperatures, average temperature, days with the most and least rainfall and total rainfall, to the federal government. He was also responsible for reporting on extreme weather.
Phil’s volunteer work with the Minden volunteer climate station has played an important role in Environment Canada’s understanding of climate patterns, fluctuations and high-impact weather events such as extreme rainfall, ice storms heat waves and drought. So much so, that Phil’s contributions were recently recognized by Environment Canada. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his volunteer climate station reporting.
Doug McIntosh
Two years ago, Doug McIntosh worked tirelessly, to bring our local District of the Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA 55+) back into operation. Doug is the Games Coordinator for OSGA 55+ District 11, Haliburton Count.
The OSGA’s motto is “Stay Active, Stay Healthy” and Doug has been instrumental in engaging 460 local seniors in OSGA games. Some participants competed in multiple events resulting in over 700 games being played in 2011.
Doug oversees 34 volunteer convenors for 26 local games, which include golf, pickleball, euchre, bid euchre, contract bridge, duplicate bridge, cribbage, 5 pin bowling, carpet bowling, cycling, snooker/9 ball, horseshoes, swimming, darts, walking, bocce, crokinole, hockey, Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, skating, curling, tennis, table tennis and shuffleboard.
After participants qualified at the local level, Doug registered a team of 53 athletes to compete in OSGA Winterfest held in Haliburton County in February 2011; a team of 51 for the Eastern OSGA 55+ Regional Games held in Smiths Falls in Augus 2011 and he is currently assembling a team of 18 for the Canada Games in Sydney, N.S. August 2012.
In 2011, Doug introduced pickleball and carpet bowling to our area and currently convenes these games on a weekly basis. He also co-convenes a new weekly bid euchre event.
In addition to these games, Doug also oversees their annual golf tournament which has grown from 19 to 100 participants.
He has written a District Operating Manual and in all of this, his objective has been to create awareness of OSGA and give Highlanders 55+ the opportunity to enjoy an active lifestyle while participating in OSGA sports.
Beth O’Connor
While the Highlands has proven a great place to start and grow a business for Beth O’Connor, what has been even more gratifying is the welcome and the opportunities she has received for integrating into the fabric of the community. Before starting her business she was involved in the community as a ‘friendly visitor’ for Community Care and had her own radio show on Canoe FM.
Her community contributions have been rooted in her volunteer work as a member of the Board of Community Care, and a Director on the Board of the Fleming College Foundation. As Chair of Fleming’s Friends Committee she is stays involved and committed to fundraising and advocacy for Haliburton’s Fleming College. She currently hosts the half hour weekly “Business with Beth” on Canoe FM – where her goal is to promote and support businesses and small business owners across the county.
Starting her investment practice for RBC Dominion Securities five years ago put her in the unique situation of living in a community of need while working for a socially responsible corporation. For the past five years she has been able to secure financial assistance for numerous local charities on an ongoing basis. In 2011 she helped some 20+ local charities and not-for-profits from environmental groups like Ducks Unlimited and the Fish Hatchery to community based charities like the Free Dental Clinic, Community Care, SIRCH and Haliburton’s Creative Business Incubator.
Janis Parker
When it comes to being an involved member of the Haliburton Highlands community, there aren’t many who can rival the dedication and drive of Janis Parker.
A long-time member of the community, Janis has dedicated countless hours of her time to worthy causes and organizations, and made sizeable financial donations for the overall betterment of the Highlands.
She is a hands-on volunteer who has helped out at events like Haliburton’s Art & Craft Festival, the Frost Fest and more. In the summer months, she coordinates charity golf tournaments and concerts at her Kennisis Lake home (her permanent residence since 2010, after 35 years of commuting), with proceeds going to local initiatives.
But her volunteer work extends beyond the occasional event or appearance. In the past year, she has served on the following volunteer boards: Arts Council Haliburton Highlands, Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County, Haliburton Creative Business Incubator, U-Links and the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.
One would think that type of a time commitment would only work around a retiree’s schedule. Janis, however, is a full time worker in addition to her extracurricular commitments. As president of Parker Pad & Printing Ltd., she runs a busy printing operation with locations in Markham and Haliburton. Total number of employees: nearly 70 (six of which are in Haliburton).
Kim Stamp
A personal project started by Kim Stamp has grown and touched many lives in Haliburton and beyond. Kim Stamp started her ‘Afghanistan Project’ in late 2006 when she began sending packages of items to troops deployed to Afghanistan. The packages were made up of things the military did not provide but which the troops needed for personal care and comfort, and to boost morale. Many of the specific items sent, such as toys, shoes and clothing were also given by the troops to Afghans, especially children, and helped to promote Canadian goodwill.
Kim also began sending regular emails of support and messages of sympathy whenever a Canadian soldier was killed. She developed a “Pen Pal” type relationship in 2007, with Sgt Major Kevin Lamorie of the Military Police while he and his platoon were deployed there. Her last email from Sgt. Major Lamorie in Afghanistan was to inform her that they would be bringing a contingent of soldiers to Haliburton for Remembrance Day to thank Haliburton for its support, a tradition that continues to this day. This year there were approximately 40 troops from CFB Petawawa in attendance at our Remembrance Day Services.
Many people have been inspired to support the project and together, they began to help injured soldiers upon their return to Canada. They’ve purchased a lazy boy chair, a bed, 2 computers – one for a triple amputee and one for a double amputee, paid for services that the military would not and contributed to the building of a wheelchair friendly house for double amputee MCpl Mike Trauner, who also came to speak at this year’s Remembrance Day dinner at Kim’s invitation.
The ‘Support our Troops’ hung proudly over our village streets were initiated by Kim and supported by many local sponsors. The banners have become a tangible way for people to remember our troops overseas.
Kim believes that when our country asks young men and women to leave their families, friends and homes and put their lives on the line every day, that they deserve our love and support. Her association with the Canadian Military in this way has been one of the most rewarding community service projects she has ever undertaken.
John Teljeur believes in the Chinese proverb – Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, feed him for life.
John volunteers for a number of organizations including FoodNet/Food Coalition and the HHOA as well as working closely with SIRCH, Out to Learn and Community Care. In 2010, John started a program called JT’s Food Crusade, which was designed to create awareness and help find solutions to poverty and hunger in our communities through economic and social change. In 2011, he built 3 more community gardens and an apple/pear orchard and raised almost 1000 lbs. of organic fruits/vegetables for local food agencies including Minden and Cardiff Food Banks, OEYC, SIRCH, Point in Time, Community Care, and the 4 C’s as well as drop-offs to various families in need. Through his work with these groups, an inter-agency distribution network was created to ensure that all produce got to those who needed it, in peak condition.
As co-creator of the Fishstock Music Festival, he helped Community Care, SIRCH and Haliburton Lions Club, raise $3000 – the event also secured a major sponsor for the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association.
With the intent of improving economic activity in the County, jump-starting improvements to the Minden Fairgrounds and raise funds for community groups, John helped spearhead the Minden Water Festival – expected to attract over 10,000 people to the area in August 2012.
Johns Blog/Facebook/Twitter pages have provided updates on the progress of the Food Crusade and provided people from over a dozen countries with tips on how to start their own gardens/get involved.
2012 Nominee Bios / Overviews
Highlander of the Year Award
This award recognizes the contributions and community leadership demonstrated by individuals for the benefit of the Haliburton Highlands. Any resident (permanent or seasonal) of the Highlands who has made outstanding contributions to the community in the areas of art, culture, heritage, community services, community economic development or the environment are eligible for nomination. The Highlander of the Year is a community booster and a true Ambassador for the Haliburton Highlands.
Dale Walker
A resident of this community for the past 35 years, Dale Walker can often be heard saying, there is no better place to live, play, volunteer and work than in the Haliburton Highlands. Her community work really started with her rural upbringing in the southern Ontario farming area of Hagersville and is now firmly cemented in the Haliburton Highlands. Her work life has involved banking, business co-owner, and manager of social housing, and for the past 13 years she has been living her dream job – fundraising for our hospitals. Most people run in the opposite direction when the word ‘fundraising’ is mentioned – Dale on the other hand is passionate about her fundraising responsibilities in the community. For Dale, often work life, community work and social times all come together and the opportunities are endless!
Dale has volunteered extensively over the years sharing her ideas, knowledge and energy for the benefit of the community. She has volunteered with the Kinsmen/Kinettes for 10 years; Haliburton County Development Corporation for 15 years; participated in political events and meetings for 20 years; helped organize the Ontario Senior Games; participated in Housing & Business Development meetings, and supported Ducks Unlimited for 10 years. As much as Dale’s involvement in the community has enriched the lives of others, she appreciates the richness that these opportunities have brought to her life, both personal and professional. Dale believes that “giving back simply adds to a great life!”
Dale believes that she has the best job around – she’s passionate about the fact that she is able to work with so many great people, and for such a great cause – the well-being of our community. Through her creative and tireless efforts, Dale has been instrumental in raising unbelievable sums of money from our small county, for our local hospitals.
Jim Blake
Jim Blake has contributed to the well being of Haliburton County in so many ways. In his capacity as volunteer, he is President and Co-founder of Haliburton County Community Co-operative which is the governing body for numerous community initiatives. He is also Co-chair and co-founder of U-Links Centre for Committee-Based Research; and Chair of Dusk Dances Haliburton, Glebe Park Committee and the Ontario East Creative Economy Sector Team. He is an active member of the Communities in Action Committee, Arts Council Education Committee, Haliburton County Cultural Mapping Project, Dysart et al Municipal Cultural Planning Advisory Committee, Membership Committee of Haliburton Curling Club, and the Performing Arts Roundtable.
In his professional capacity he has been instrumental in community development working as a consultant for the Haliburton County Development Corporation, the Creative Economy Committee, and many not-for-profit organizations. He is also Curator for the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, instructor at the Haliburton School of The Arts, an artist, and a professional storyteller.
Jim has extraordinary leadership and facilitation skills. He works well with everyone to achieve the best possible outcomes. He is an enabler and motivator. His interests and skills are diverse and multi-sectoral. He sees the big picture in terms of what contributes to making a community healthy and vibrant, and is exceptionally generous with his time and expertise in order to help move ideas and projects forward. He excels as a community booster and is a true ambassador for the Highlands. He promotes the County locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally and has the trust and confidence of other community leaders and initiators, who often call upon him for advice and ideas, which he never hesitates to share. In the interconnected web that is our community, there are few people who have not been beneficiaries of Jim’s community contributions in some way.
Barb Bolin
During Barb’s 35 year career with Fleming College, she grew the campus from a small part time operation to a nationally recognized institution that has contributed in many significant ways to the social and economic growth of the County.
Her innovative thinking and her desire and ability to work with others has led to a number of successful initiatives, such as the the Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands, the Sculpture Forest , the Haliburton County Stewardship Council and the Haliburton Creative Business Incubator, each of which brings tourists to the County and encourages relocation to the Highlands.
One of Barb’s exceptional skills is her ability to help people refocus their thinking, channel their collective energy and begin the work in planning next steps. This was demonstrated as the Guild of Fine Arts ran its course and the Arts Council~ Haliburton Highlands was formed.
Barb volunteers with many local organizations including Haliburton County Development Corporation, where she currently holds the position of past chair, Friends of Fleming College, Haliburton County Stewardship Council and Abbey Gardens. She believes in building partnerships that benefit the organization and the community. She does not ask anyone to do anything that she would not do herself. She knocks on doors to raise funds for projects, she seeks out partners that bring needed expertise and takes a back seat when the credits are being rolled out.
Her passion began with the arts and has grown to encompass the social, environmental and economic prosperity of Haliburton County and its citizens.
Jim Frost
Jim and his wife Marilyn cottaged in Haliburton from the early 70′s and moved full time to the village of Haliburton in 1998 to open a B & B.
Jim joined the Lions Club that year and has been active in the club ever since, serving as President in 2006.
Jim was on the Highland Games Committee for 10 years and served as Chair of the Games as it grew to become a major event in the Haliburton tourist season.
Through the Lions Club, Jim coordinated the Haliburton Village Santa Claus Parade and was instrumental in the move to an evening parade.
Jim was a member of the 2011 Ontario Senior Games Organizing Committee serving as Accommodation and Food Co-chair for this event of 900 participants.
From 2008 – 2011, Jim contributed to the improvement and beautification of the downtown as the BIA Administrator. He worked closely with the members, overseeing the business of the BIA and helping organize their annual events and activities – the biggest of which was Colourfest 2011, which attracted visitors from across the province.
Jim, with Marilyn, runs the Box Office for the Highlands Summer Festival, the annual live summer theatre. This is a year-round duty as a season pass mail-out in the fall, sells season ticket packages all winter long. Tickets are printed and mailed out in the spring leading to daily duties at the theatre during the theatre’s summer-long run. Jim has undertaken this job for 10 years now and has a reputation with the almost 1700 patrons, for adding his personal touch to his box office duties.
Murray Fearrey
Murray Fearrey began his work career in 1962 in Time Management for General Motors in Oshawa. Returning to Haliburton in 1967 he worked as an Assessor for the Municipality of Dysart et al. In 1971 he entered into the business world as an Owner/partner in Haliburton Lumber. 1972 found Murray entering into Municipal politics and staying there until present day. While serving, he has been Reeve in the years 1975 to 1991 as well as 1993 to present and County Warden 12 times. He has given his volunteer time in serving a variety of service clubs from the Rotary to the Lions.
Murray has and continues to be a strong supporter in the betterment of Haliburton County. He has worked along with others to bring such services and facilities to Haliburton County as Fleming College and the Haliburton Family Medical Centre facility.
Bringing special events to Haliburton County has also been one of Murray’s goals. He has assisted in bringing such events to Haliburton as the Highland Games and the Dog Sled Races. Murray believes in and has supported such initiatives as Canoe FM, EH (Environment Haliburton), Seniors Affordable Housing, County Tree Cutting Bylaw and one of the latest, the Volunteer Outreach Dental Clinic as well as a host of many other initiatives for the betterment of Haliburton.
Phil Graham
Phil Graham, 87 yrs old and raised in Minden, has been collecting data on monthly temperatures and precipitation volumes in Minden for 62 years.
Recently retired, Phil began his volunteer climatological work in the 1940′s, using specialized thermometers for measuring highest and lowest temperatures and a rain gauge. Phil had a weather station set-up in his backyard and every month, Phil would submit his data of highest and lowest temperatures, average temperature, days with the most and least rainfall and total rainfall, to the federal government. He was also responsible for reporting on extreme weather.
Phil’s volunteer work with the Minden volunteer climate station has played an important role in Environment Canada’s understanding of climate patterns, fluctuations and high-impact weather events such as extreme rainfall, ice storms heat waves and drought. So much so, that Phil’s contributions were recently recognized by Environment Canada. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his volunteer climate station reporting.
Doug McIntosh
Two years ago, Doug McIntosh worked tirelessly, to bring our local District of the Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA 55+) back into operation. Doug is the Games Coordinator for OSGA 55+ District 11, Haliburton Count.
The OSGA’s motto is “Stay Active, Stay Healthy” and Doug has been instrumental in engaging 460 local seniors in OSGA games. Some participants competed in multiple events resulting in over 700 games being played in 2011.
Doug oversees 34 volunteer convenors for 26 local games, which include golf, pickleball, euchre, bid euchre, contract bridge, duplicate bridge, cribbage, 5 pin bowling, carpet bowling, cycling, snooker/9 ball, horseshoes, swimming, darts, walking, bocce, crokinole, hockey, Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, skating, curling, tennis, table tennis and shuffleboard.
After participants qualified at the local level, Doug registered a team of 53 athletes to compete in OSGA Winterfest held in Haliburton County in February 2011; a team of 51 for the Eastern OSGA 55+ Regional Games held in Smiths Falls in Augus 2011 and he is currently assembling a team of 18 for the Canada Games in Sydney, N.S. August 2012.
In 2011, Doug introduced pickleball and carpet bowling to our area and currently convenes these games on a weekly basis. He also co-convenes a new weekly bid euchre event.
In addition to these games, Doug also oversees their annual golf tournament which has grown from 19 to 100 participants.
He has written a District Operating Manual and in all of this, his objective has been to create awareness of OSGA and give Highlanders 55+ the opportunity to enjoy an active lifestyle while participating in OSGA sports.
Beth O’Connor
While the Highlands has proven a great place to start and grow a business for Beth O’Connor, what has been even more gratifying is the welcome and the opportunities she has received for integrating into the fabric of the community. Before starting her business she was involved in the community as a ‘friendly visitor’ for Community Care and had her own radio show on Canoe FM.
Her community contributions have been rooted in her volunteer work as a member of the Board of Community Care, and a Director on the Board of the Fleming College Foundation. As Chair of Fleming’s Friends Committee she is stays involved and committed to fundraising and advocacy for Haliburton’s Fleming College. She currently hosts the half hour weekly “Business with Beth” on Canoe FM – where her goal is to promote and support businesses and small business owners across the county.
Starting her investment practice for RBC Dominion Securities five years ago put her in the unique situation of living in a community of need while working for a socially responsible corporation. For the past five years she has been able to secure financial assistance for numerous local charities on an ongoing basis. In 2011 she helped some 20+ local charities and not-for-profits from environmental groups like Ducks Unlimited and the Fish Hatchery to community based charities like the Free Dental Clinic, Community Care, SIRCH and Haliburton’s Creative Business Incubator.
Janis Parker
When it comes to being an involved member of the Haliburton Highlands community, there aren’t many who can rival the dedication and drive of Janis Parker.
A long-time member of the community, Janis has dedicated countless hours of her time to worthy causes and organizations, and made sizeable financial donations for the overall betterment of the Highlands.
She is a hands-on volunteer who has helped out at events like Haliburton’s Art & Craft Festival, the Frost Fest and more. In the summer months, she coordinates charity golf tournaments and concerts at her Kennisis Lake home (her permanent residence since 2010, after 35 years of commuting), with proceeds going to local initiatives.
But her volunteer work extends beyond the occasional event or appearance. In the past year, she has served on the following volunteer boards: Arts Council Haliburton Highlands, Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County, Haliburton Creative Business Incubator, U-Links and the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.
One would think that type of a time commitment would only work around a retiree’s schedule. Janis, however, is a full time worker in addition to her extracurricular commitments. As president of Parker Pad & Printing Ltd., she runs a busy printing operation with locations in Markham and Haliburton. Total number of employees: nearly 70 (six of which are in Haliburton).
Kim Stamp
A personal project started by Kim Stamp has grown and touched many lives in Haliburton and beyond. Kim Stamp started her ‘Afghanistan Project’ in late 2006 when she began sending packages of items to troops deployed to Afghanistan. The packages were made up of things the military did not provide but which the troops needed for personal care and comfort, and to boost morale. Many of the specific items sent, such as toys, shoes and clothing were also given by the troops to Afghans, especially children, and helped to promote Canadian goodwill.
Kim also began sending regular emails of support and messages of sympathy whenever a Canadian soldier was killed. She developed a “Pen Pal” type relationship in 2007, with Sgt Major Kevin Lamorie of the Military Police while he and his platoon were deployed there. Her last email from Sgt. Major Lamorie in Afghanistan was to inform her that they would be bringing a contingent of soldiers to Haliburton for Remembrance Day to thank Haliburton for its support, a tradition that continues to this day. This year there were approximately 40 troops from CFB Petawawa in attendance at our Remembrance Day Services.
Many people have been inspired to support the project and together, they began to help injured soldiers upon their return to Canada. They’ve purchased a lazy boy chair, a bed, 2 computers – one for a triple amputee and one for a double amputee, paid for services that the military would not and contributed to the building of a wheelchair friendly house for double amputee MCpl Mike Trauner, who also came to speak at this year’s Remembrance Day dinner at Kim’s invitation.
The ‘Support our Troops’ hung proudly over our village streets were initiated by Kim and supported by many local sponsors. The banners have become a tangible way for people to remember our troops overseas.
Kim believes that when our country asks young men and women to leave their families, friends and homes and put their lives on the line every day, that they deserve our love and support. Her association with the Canadian Military in this way has been one of the most rewarding community service projects she has ever undertaken.
John Teljeur
John Teljeur believes in the Chinese proverb – Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, feed him for life.
John volunteers for a number of organizations including FoodNet/Food Coalition and the HHOA as well as working closely with SIRCH, Out to Learn and Community Care. In 2010, John started a program called JT’s Food Crusade, which was designed to create awareness and help find solutions to poverty and hunger in our communities through economic and social change. In 2011, he built 3 more community gardens and an apple/pear orchard and raised almost 1000 lbs. of organic fruits/vegetables for local food agencies including Minden and Cardiff Food Banks, OEYC, SIRCH, Point in Time, Community Care, and the 4 C’s as well as drop-offs to various families in need. Through his work with these groups, an inter-agency distribution network was created to ensure that all produce got to those who needed it, in peak condition.
As co-creator of the Fishstock Music Festival, he helped Community Care, SIRCH and Haliburton Lions Club, raise $3000 – the event also secured a major sponsor for the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association.
With the intent of improving economic activity in the County, jump-starting improvements to the Minden Fairgrounds and raise funds for community groups, John helped spearhead the Minden Water Festival – expected to attract over 10,000 people to the area in August 2012.
Johns Blog/Facebook/Twitter pages have provided updates on the progress of the Food Crusade and provided people from over a dozen countries with tips on how to start their own gardens/get involved.