By Emily Stonehouse
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.
This was how I spent the past week, knee-deep in water in the heart of Minden Hills. I stocked sand, talked to neighbours, and learned, very quickly, that sandbags are heavy.
On Tuesday, April 14 at 12:45 p.m., the Township of Minden Hills officially declared a State of Emergency. “This decision comes as the water level on the Gull River is increasing,” reads the press release, “and the forecasted weather over the next five to 10 days, which is calling for continued rain and warmer temperatures.”
Bob Carter, the mayor of Minden Hills, noted that the deluge of water can be credited to precipitation coming in the form of thunderstorms. He met with me, outside the front of the township building, mere minutes before he pulled the trigger on the declaration of the State of Emergency last Tuesday. He needed some air, he said; stress pulling at the creases around his eyes. “If there was two feet of room for water at the other end,” he said, “we lost over a foot in one day.”
Carter shared that when a declaration is made that activates emergency response, the township has access to services and support at varying levels, including from provincial organizations and the Red Cross.
While Minden is no stranger to emergency situations, with a record-breaking ice storm hitting just last year that downed trees and power lines across the region, Carter said that the pace of floods hit differently. “It’s a little like watching a train wreck,” he said. “You know it’s happening, but there’s not much we can do about it.”
And the rain kept coming. “It’s been intense and physical in a way I didn’t quite expect,” said Kiara Sexton, who moved to her home on Anson Street in 2024. “I’ve spent the past two days sandbagging almost constantly, trying to stay ahead of the water. There’s a kind of adrenaline that comes with it. You’re watching levels, checking pumps, making small decisions over and over again that feel very consequential.”
By April 15, the township released a second press release, notifying the public of nearly 20 Minden roads that were either closed off, or offering limited access.
And the waters were high across the county. County Road 6, also known as Eagle Lake Road, just off Kennisis Lake Road, suffered a collapsed culvert with rushing waters, Ritchie Falls Road had a number of overflowing ditches, saturating the driving areas, and County Road 1, that spans between Haliburton and Minden, saw waters nearly spilling over the edges of the ditches near the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre.
“The roads department stopped in yesterday, expressing concerns,” said Collin Burke, the creative director of Pinestone, when we spoke on April 15. “We removed barriers from the big culvert. Water levels dipped in the afternoon, but this morning into early afternoon, they have continued to rise.”
Highlands East shared a warning late last week that Contau Lake Road is closed at Irondale Road due to high waters, with access available from Gooderham only. In addition, Community Centre Road and Gooderham Park were closed due to flooding.
The Highlands East Mayor and the Warden of Haliburton County, Dave Burton, took to social media over the weekend, noting his thanks for the community support during the trying time. “A special thank you goes out to the remarkable community of volunteers, including young students, cadets, business owners, and helpers coming to lend a hand from out of town – who have stepped up to assist with sandbagging, staffing evacuation centres, dropping off food and water, sharing equipment, and simply keeping an eye out for neighbours,” he said. “Your kindness shows the true spirit of our county and reminds us that, even in challenging times, we are stronger together.”
James Smith, a resident of Minden Hills, shared that this was his first experience with flooding. Smith and his family moved to a property off Gelert Road a few years ago, and said the waters around his property were steadily rising. “It’s never been this high before,” he said, as he hauled sandbags into the back of his truck. “It sucks, it’s an unfortunate circumstance, but we will get through it.”
One neighbour on Anson Street in Minden shared that he just recently moved to the community. “It’s amazing to see how everyone comes together,” he said, wishing to keep his identity anonymous. “I haven’t seen anything like this before.”
While Kiara Sexton hasn’t flooded before, she was no stranger to the risks of being on a flood plain. “I remember watching the episode of Still Standing about flooding in Minden before I ever lived here, and being deeply moved by the spirit of the community,” she said. “It felt special even from a distance. To now be here, experiencing that same generosity firsthand, has been something else entirely.”
Sexton noted that her phone has been buzzing at all hours, with individuals offering her support in the form of groceries or support with her two toddler daughters.
“Despite how challenging the past couple of days have been, I find myself feeling very grateful to be here,” she said. “There’s something grounding about facing a situation like this alongside your neighbours, working shoulder to shoulder, looking out for one another. I feel so lucky to be here.”
That sentiment was felt around the county, as the waters continued to rise. Each time I went out to pack sand, there was a different group of people. Of course there were some familiar faces, running the show, but there were also new faces. Individuals of all ages, trying to find their place in the world where they could give back.
Tension began to rise in Minden Hills when it was announced on Friday, April 17 that Sunnybrook Bridge, the bridge that connects the two sides of Bobcaygeon Road through the heart of Minden, would be closing due to high waters.
The press release noted that the decision was not made lightly, as there was concern over the washout towards Scotch Line, landlocked the residents and businesses wedged between the two closures. “This measure is being implemented after the Emergency Control Group has reviewed the water levels, the ongoing snowmelt and weather forecast,” noted the release. “At the Emergency Management meeting this morning, it was agreed the bridges need to be closed for public safety.” Bobcaygeon Road was repaired promptly, but township staff have recommended treading carefully, as the waters continue to do damage to the fragile culvert.
Crowds gathered on each side of the bridge as it was closed on Friday evening; a precaution that had not been taken since the 2013 flood. “It’s just so sad for our community,” said Mary Douglas, the owner of Let’s Get Local in downtown Minden, as she and her daughter watched the closure signs go up at sundown.
But even with the bridges closed, the community continued to show up. Sandbags were stocked at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, with continued efforts at the Curling Club lot, to accommodate needs on both sides of the closure. The S.G. Nesbitt Arena was transformed into an evacuation centre, offering a space for individuals to eat, sleep, shower, warm up, and charge devices.
And while the waters rose, the community rose higher. They showed up in rain, shine, sleet, and fog. Trucks, equipment, food, donations, time, effort, energy. A united force over the greater good, and a reminder of the resilience a small town can muster in times of need.
This story is ongoing, with the State of Emergency still in effect as I write these words. Further developments will be shared, through our pages, our websites, and our Instagram page, titled Haliburton County Headlines. Additional information is available through the township social media pages and online platforms, with support available for physical and mental health through the County of Haliburton resources. The Township of Minden Hills is steadily sharing updates through their emergency operations services, and for accurate information, should be the primary source of information.
There’s so much more I could have added to this story. It kept me up every night of the week. Thinking about how to capture the energy of the community, the feeling of watching the waters slosh over the tops of your rubber boots, but knowing that’s the least of your worries. Watching strangers become friends, friends become family. The rawness of emotions that float to the surface, reflecting the waters that run through the towns. Anger, fear, frustration, pain, but also joy, warmth, love, and pride.
And even though sandbags are heavy, we are reminded that we can handle it.
Because when we all carry the weight of our community together, things get a little lighter.
