Returning cottagers asked to scale back activities
By Jenn Watt
Residents
returning to their cottages are being asked by Premier Doug Ford and
municipal politicians to enjoy the long weekend in a more low-key
fashion.
No big gatherings, no outdoor fires, no fireworks.
Although
seasonal residents were never banned from visiting their properties,
advice from the provincial government had asked that they avoid doing so
to control the spread of the coronavirus and to limit demand on rural
health-care systems and grocery stores.
returning to their cottages are being asked by Premier Doug Ford and
municipal politicians to enjoy the long weekend in a more low-key
fashion.
No big gatherings, no outdoor fires, no fireworks.
Although
seasonal residents were never banned from visiting their properties,
advice from the provincial government had asked that they avoid doing so
to control the spread of the coronavirus and to limit demand on rural
health-care systems and grocery stores.
On May 7, the premier
released a message following a conference call with cottage country
municipal leaders, asking that those returning to their secondary
properties continue to practice COVID-19 protocols and do what they can
to reduce their impact on area services.
“We are still battling a
terrible virus, so we are asking seasonal residents travelling to their
cottages to practice the same public health measures as usual, including
no public gatherings, avoiding nonessential travel as much as possible,
and continue to practice social distancing,” Ford said in a prepared
statement.
released a message following a conference call with cottage country
municipal leaders, asking that those returning to their secondary
properties continue to practice COVID-19 protocols and do what they can
to reduce their impact on area services.
“We are still battling a
terrible virus, so we are asking seasonal residents travelling to their
cottages to practice the same public health measures as usual, including
no public gatherings, avoiding nonessential travel as much as possible,
and continue to practice social distancing,” Ford said in a prepared
statement.
While seasonal residents were given guidance on
returning, Ford asked that tourists continue to postpone their visits to
cottage country.
“I know Ontarians are eager to enjoy the great
outdoors, but there will be plenty of long weekends to come. Right now,
we need to focus on doing everything we can to protect the health and
safety of all Ontarians. We’re all in this together and together we will
beat COVID-19,” he said.
returning, Ford asked that tourists continue to postpone their visits to
cottage country.
“I know Ontarians are eager to enjoy the great
outdoors, but there will be plenty of long weekends to come. Right now,
we need to focus on doing everything we can to protect the health and
safety of all Ontarians. We’re all in this together and together we will
beat COVID-19,” he said.
In Haliburton County, municipal leaders are
offering a welcome to seasonal residents, while reiterating the
importance of physical distancing and scaling back the size of any
planned gatherings.
offering a welcome to seasonal residents, while reiterating the
importance of physical distancing and scaling back the size of any
planned gatherings.
“Bring supplies and everything you might need
with you, practice physical distancing, don’t travel unless you consider
it to be absolutely necessary and refrain from congregating in numbers
over five. Respect the guidelines that have been set out by the province
to protect the health of not only yourself, but others around you,”
Haliburton County Warden Liz Danielsen said via email. “We also ask our
visitors to remember that now is not a time to let our guard down.
Health officials continue to warn that the number of asymptomatic people
continues to be much larger than any of us realize and keeping our
numbers down remains extremely important.”
with you, practice physical distancing, don’t travel unless you consider
it to be absolutely necessary and refrain from congregating in numbers
over five. Respect the guidelines that have been set out by the province
to protect the health of not only yourself, but others around you,”
Haliburton County Warden Liz Danielsen said via email. “We also ask our
visitors to remember that now is not a time to let our guard down.
Health officials continue to warn that the number of asymptomatic people
continues to be much larger than any of us realize and keeping our
numbers down remains extremely important.”
Danielsen was on the call
with the premier last week, which she said offered a window into the
varying opinions from across the province on how to most safely begin to
return to a type of normality.
“Opinions on whether or not to
loosen restrictions in cottage country for the May 24 weekend varied
from those wanting seasonal residents and tourists alike to come to
cottage country to those who were much more cautious, asking for opening
of restrictions to be delayed for another week or two,” she said.
Throughout the pandemic, Danielsen’s message to seasonal residents has been to exercise caution if travelling to the county.
“All
of the heads of council in the county have been of one voice when we
say that we recognize the rights of people who own seasonal homes here
in Haliburton,” she said. “They contribute significantly to our economy,
they pay the same taxes as permanent residents, and we have hesitated
to tell them that they cannot come to their homes, to check on them, or
to isolate their own families in a place that they feel could be safer
and healthier than being closed in in the city. In fact, we do not have
the power to restrict access to the county. We only ask that they
acknowledge that our health system here in the county is fragile, and
supplies can be limited in some cases.”
with the premier last week, which she said offered a window into the
varying opinions from across the province on how to most safely begin to
return to a type of normality.
“Opinions on whether or not to
loosen restrictions in cottage country for the May 24 weekend varied
from those wanting seasonal residents and tourists alike to come to
cottage country to those who were much more cautious, asking for opening
of restrictions to be delayed for another week or two,” she said.
Throughout the pandemic, Danielsen’s message to seasonal residents has been to exercise caution if travelling to the county.
“All
of the heads of council in the county have been of one voice when we
say that we recognize the rights of people who own seasonal homes here
in Haliburton,” she said. “They contribute significantly to our economy,
they pay the same taxes as permanent residents, and we have hesitated
to tell them that they cannot come to their homes, to check on them, or
to isolate their own families in a place that they feel could be safer
and healthier than being closed in in the city. In fact, we do not have
the power to restrict access to the county. We only ask that they
acknowledge that our health system here in the county is fragile, and
supplies can be limited in some cases.”
Warnings in the past from the
premier as well as mayors in other parts of the province that seasonal
property owners should stay home, had led to hard feelings and harsh
comments on social media over the last several weeks.
Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts referenced the debate in a message to seasonal residents on May 8.
“One
of the [early] messages from the federal and provincial governments was
to stay away from your cottage, cabin, or second property. It was
crucial for travel to stop, even between communities, so health
officials could do contact tracing and try to stop the spread of this
powerful and devastating virus,” Roberts’s message reads. “We never had
any authority to ban travel into or out of our community, and we know
some people decided to isolate here in Dysart at their cottage. However,
that messaging created some frustration and confusion for seasonal
communities, which then led to some very unfair and unkind comments.”
premier as well as mayors in other parts of the province that seasonal
property owners should stay home, had led to hard feelings and harsh
comments on social media over the last several weeks.
Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts referenced the debate in a message to seasonal residents on May 8.
“One
of the [early] messages from the federal and provincial governments was
to stay away from your cottage, cabin, or second property. It was
crucial for travel to stop, even between communities, so health
officials could do contact tracing and try to stop the spread of this
powerful and devastating virus,” Roberts’s message reads. “We never had
any authority to ban travel into or out of our community, and we know
some people decided to isolate here in Dysart at their cottage. However,
that messaging created some frustration and confusion for seasonal
communities, which then led to some very unfair and unkind comments.”
Danielsen
said she understood there was worry that an influx of cottagers could
bring an increased risk of COVID-19 cases, and said the municipalities
had been putting out consistent messaging about provincial guidelines
and best practices. She also referenced unkind comments coming from this
concern.
“Remember that we all have equal rights and are going
through this struggle together. Finger pointing and accusations will
ultimately hurt the reputation that we have all worked so hard to create
as, not just a beautiful place to create memories, but a place that
truly welcomes visitors year round,” she said.
“I would ask everyone
to remember that we all love the Haliburton Highlands equally, whether a
full-time resident or a cottager who has returned here for generations.
Let’s look forward to the days when we can enjoy the serenity and
beauty of this place we all call home in one way or another.”
said she understood there was worry that an influx of cottagers could
bring an increased risk of COVID-19 cases, and said the municipalities
had been putting out consistent messaging about provincial guidelines
and best practices. She also referenced unkind comments coming from this
concern.
“Remember that we all have equal rights and are going
through this struggle together. Finger pointing and accusations will
ultimately hurt the reputation that we have all worked so hard to create
as, not just a beautiful place to create memories, but a place that
truly welcomes visitors year round,” she said.
“I would ask everyone
to remember that we all love the Haliburton Highlands equally, whether a
full-time resident or a cottager who has returned here for generations.
Let’s look forward to the days when we can enjoy the serenity and
beauty of this place we all call home in one way or another.”
Roberts
had a similar message: “This spring, we welcome back our seasonal
residents with open arms but six feet apart. So, get your gardens raked,
clean the windows, put in the docks, repair the little things that
always need fixing, and plan for the summer ahead. The warmer weather
will be here and while the summer of 2020 won’t be the same in the
Highlands, it will still be a beautiful, peaceful place where wonderful
family memories will be made. We truly are all in this together, so be
patient and be kind to each other.
had a similar message: “This spring, we welcome back our seasonal
residents with open arms but six feet apart. So, get your gardens raked,
clean the windows, put in the docks, repair the little things that
always need fixing, and plan for the summer ahead. The warmer weather
will be here and while the summer of 2020 won’t be the same in the
Highlands, it will still be a beautiful, peaceful place where wonderful
family memories will be made. We truly are all in this together, so be
patient and be kind to each other.
|