By Sue Tiffin The times, they are a-changin'. Work times, that is. In Algonquin Highlands last week, council approved a compressed work week trial policy that will see many of its employees working four days…
A place to grow
By Sue Tiffin Numerous fairgoers on the weekend described the Haliburton County Fair event hosted by the Minden Agricultural Society as being like a family reunion, and not just those who are related to half…
Getting it done
By Sue Tiffin It felt like I had no sooner sat down to organize the Times/Echo live blog on election night, that the winner had been declared. The night itself wasn’t particularly exciting for those…
Creating better informed voters
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock The really good news about last week’s Ontario election is that its citizens remain pragmatic, rather than dogmatic. Voters didn’t re-elect Doug Ford’s government because they absolutely love it…
Look alive, Ontario
By Sue Tiffin "So, who do you think is going to come in second in the election?” is a question I recently heard and one that might have been on your mind during this provincial…
A better future
By Sue Tiffin Recently I was reading a picture book to my children prior to bed. The book, Our Planet: There’s No Place Like Earth by Stacy McAnulty, like many books and TV shows geared…
Summer days
By Sue Tiffin I love hearing stories about what summer was like in those days that feel like yesterday, for some of you. While fathers stayed home to work in the city and lived to…
Hats in the ring
By Sue Tiffin Finally, the time is here, you’ll soon know whether or not your neighbour was right about so-and-so running for mayor. The nomination period for October’s municipal elections opened on Monday, and some…
Saying yes
By Sue Tiffin After my brother-in-law’s passing a few years ago, my response to the overwhelming grief and loss I felt was that I decided I was going to say yes to everything, because I…
Making it work
By Sue Tiffin Staff shortages and high turnover rates have been rippling throughout the county – and elsewhere, of course – in nearly every sector. Some of these challenges are caused as a direct result…
A community loss
By Sue Tiffin Last week, after hearing of the collision that occurred near Kinmount, my heart – like the heart of so many others in our community – sank. When I received the press release…
Making history
By Sue Tiffin A “rabbit hole” is a phrase used online to describe an extremely engrossing and time-consuming topic, and it is a phrase I use often with Adele Espina. Whether she’s delighting me with the…
Scams and fraud
By Sue Tiffin Every once in awhile, my life is interrupted with a scam of some form in the shape of a phone call, an email or a text – or a series of them,…
This is fine
By Sue Tiffin A rather ubiquitous internet meme shows a few panels of a 2013 webcomic from KC Green called “On Fire.” The first panel shows a dog sitting at a table with a cup of…
Celebrate research
By Sue Tiffin It’d be easy to pass by the little U-Links Centre for Community Based Research building at 93 Bobcaygeon Road in Minden without taking much notice of it. You’ve likely walked or driven…
Helping hands
By Sue Tiffin Throughout the pandemic, the Minden Community Food Centre has seen a greater need for the services it offers, while the team that keeps it going has tried to safely maneuver through provincial…
Virtual on demand
I’ve written before in this space of the value of virtual council sessions, which have enabled reporters to attend more meetings free of travel restrictions or scheduling conflicts. Though not without some technological mishaps, a…
Sharing is not always caring
By Sue Tiffin Last week, someone who works in media elsewhere in the province told me that as the truck convoy filled the streets, so too did angry, misinformed emails in their inbox. The emails…
Freedom
By Sue Tiffin This week marks the anniversary of the time Canada’s first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in Toronto in 2020, and this upcoming Sunday will mark two years since Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus…
Snow day
By Sue Tiffin It’s been a long, hard winter but not for the usual weather-related reasons. For some days leading up to Christmas, I wondered if it would be a touch on the green side…
Being a friend
By Sue Tiffin Generally this space is dedicated to thoughts on more local topics and so it might be odd for you to find yourself, now, reading about American actress and comedian Betty White, but…