Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
Time for a serious chat
It is more than 15 years since the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit was broken up and Muskoka was attached to the Simcoe County Health Unit. It was a mistake then and it is a mistake now.
It all started over what was effectively a school-yard fight, a polite way of saying what I really mean. I was mayor of Huntsville at the time and, because of that, also a District councillor. The District was responsible for appointing Muskoka’s members to the board of the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit and I was one of those that got the job.
It was a dysfunctional board from day one. It was presided over by a despotic type from Parry Sound who ruled the roost and had a visible dislike for Muskoka. It was likely because he and other Parry Sound representatives on the board resented the fact that Ernie Eves had included Muskoka in Northern Ontario, allowing them to dip into grants they would not otherwise receive. (A subsequent Liberal government changed that.)
Whatever the origin of the problem was, it was real and made it impossible for Muskoka to get a fair shake on health unit issues and put the medical officer of health of the day between a rock and a hard place. And so there was a bit of a coup, and Gord Adams, who was chair of the District of Muskoka, was appointed as a co-chair of the health unit.
The former chair from Parry Sound wasn’t too happy about that division of power and asked the Province to intervene. And they did. However, instead of addressing the problem, fixing up the mess that was inside, they took the easy way out by separating the two antagonists and attaching Parry Sound to North Bay and Muskoka to Simcoe County. It also gave them an excuse to eliminate one medical officer of health in the province.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how we ended up in the mess we have today.
Most people are now aware that as of Monday the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will move into the Red/Control level of the Province’s COVID-19 response framework, much more restrictive than Muskoka’s COVID-19 statistics justify. Indeed, on our own, we are likely at the green level, the safest in the Province.
Now before I go any further, let me be clear that I am not soft on COVID-19 restrictions. On the whole, I think the Ford Government has done a pretty good job, certainly as well as most other jurisdictions. I do not underestimate the current spread of the virus. I believe that masks are essential in public places and that social distancing is important. I accept that restrictions should apply to areas where the virus spread is not in control or where people are ignoring the protocols put in place by the government.
But Muskoka is not one of those places and further restrictions on our economy and the people who live here can have serious and unnecessary consequences. The problem is in Simcoe County and not here. Let’s look at the statistics.
In Muskoka, since February, there have been 106 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections and one death. As of this past Friday, there are nine active COVID-19 cases here and no one is hospitalized.
In Simcoe County, 2,478 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed since February. The bulk of these cases were in Barrie and numerous municipalities to the south of Barrie, closer to Toronto. Fifty-three people have died. As of Friday, there are 351 active cases in Simcoe and 15 people are hospitalized.
Based on these statistics, for purposes of determining the level of risk or spread of the coronavirus, Muskoka should simply not be lumped in with Simcoe County.
Why is that important?
Well, Premier Ford himself has acknowledged that there are three priorities in dealing with this pandemic. The first, of course, is safety: controlling the virus. But protecting the economy and recognizing the effect of the pandemic on people’s mental health is also important.
Placing Muskoka at this level of restriction, when they do not belong, has some serious consequences. Some businesses that have been holding on by the skin of their teeth will be seriously challenged or will inevitably close. Restaurants, for instance, cannot economically survive with just 10 patrons at a time, as the new level of restrictions require. Other businesses will suffer from restrictions that should not apply to Muskoka, quite possibly resulting in layoffs or unemployment. While municipal facilities, at least in Huntsville, will remain open, access will be limited even further than it is now, and some activities will be cancelled.
People will become more isolated, more depressed, and more prone to mental illness. The mayor of Muskoka Lakes, Phil Harding, had it right when he said it would be devastating for Muskoka to have to follow the same COVID-19 protocols as Barrie, Bradford, or Innisfil.
Muskoka people should be rewarded for the manner in which they have controlled the curve of COVID-19 here, not punished. Even Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, acknowledges that there is a level of unfairness when he said, “These further restrictions would impact Muskoka, even though they don’t have the same transmission pattern [as Simcoe].”
Dr. Gardner also said, “There is certainly concern in Muskoka about being treated in the same way as Simcoe, even though their transmission patterns are very different. Legally the Province would find it difficult [to separate the two] but I don’t think it would be impossible.”
By definition, if it is not impossible, it is possible. Over to you Norm Miller. Premier Ford has said he will do everything in his power to keep things as open as possible in areas where it is justified. Just look at the statistics. Clearly it is justified in Muskoka. You are his Parliamentary Assistant. His door must be open to you.
Please have a serious chat with him.
Hugh Mackenzie
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Thanks for writing this and putting it into context Hugh. We’re in Collingwood and Blue Mountain in Grey County was in Green Zone when we were in Grey Lockdown. They are essentially the same town and opposite restrictions a few country blocks apart. I also am no softie on Covid protocols but like parenting, overprotecting can do moree harm than under protecting. Barrie and their current Covid problems are on the far side of Simcoe county an hour drive away.
I live in Simcoe County, but the very northern part (Coldwater) Muskoka is just 5 minutes North of me. Our numbers are nothing compared to Barrie and places to the south of Barrie. It is Barrie, New Tecumseth and Bradford that kill us in numbers and they are just above Toronto. Even around us we are pretty good. But the same as Muskoka, the cottagers from the Toronto region don’t seem to care, as long as their needs are met. The reason for the red zone may be similar, somewhat to us. being that it is intended to restrict the movements of people from the G.T.A. We don’t want them to bring their virus up to us, cause they only visit and we live here year round. If their area is closed down, of course they’re going to travel up here and then Muskoka . cause apparently they’re forced to (like someone is holding a gun to their head saying you have to) I heard this on the news back in December and I thought REALLY! you’re that stupid! What gets me is they are paid more money in Toronto, you would think for being smart! Obviously not. They just can’t understand what “STAY AT HOME” means. But then again neither can alot of politicians.
Ralph Cliffe: Actually, we are now in the grey lockdown zone, not the red. Big difference. Methinks the Doug Ford government should be assuming some responsibility re international flights.
What difference where we are located . We are in the red zone-lock down.
Thanks to Mr. Trudeau still letting international flights land in Toronto and
the passengers are allowed to roam free without any virus testing.
We are paying the price so international travels can come and go as they please.
Thanks Mr. Trudeau. You have failed again to understand the situation and think
money handouts cure everything. That said, many humans and their arrogance, ignorance
is not helping either.
I’m not aware of the history as to when Orillia was attached to the Simcoe County Health Unit but I do know that we who live here are smack dab in the middle. Our covid numbers and growth rate are a far cry from Barrie’s (about 10%) let alone and other red districts, and much closer to Muskoka’s numbers. We are in the same boat as Muskoka and caught between a rock and hard place. Like Huntsville, we don’t believe our numbers warrant being placed in the red zone. But, since this article was written, and as I write this, the entire province is being placed in lock-down and we’re all being painted with the same brush, mostly because the powers that be don’t want locked-down Quebecers coming here. Let’s hope they do the same for all the airports…nobody in and nobody out.
Hugh is right, people might forget that Muskoka was arbitrarily written out of Northern Ontario by the McGuinty Liberals “with the stroke of a pen”… as John Tory, the former Progressive Conservative leader once put it. This tit-for-tat, was a cynical political move, done out of spite, to punish voters in retaliation for the support Muskoka had shown the previous Eves/Harris Government.
Based on math and science that supports the move, “with the stroke of pen” Ford and Miller could return Muskoka to Green righting a wrong. This would also fall directly inline with promises Ford made about ensuring that future decisions about curtailments of businesses and services would be targeted and fact based.
Ford (a quasi resident himself) and Miller who sit in a majority government owe it to Muskokans to put their money where their mouth is, and return the favour of support that Muskoka has shown them.
They need to act quickly and decisively to immediately mitigate the devastating effects the throttling of the economy is having on Muskoka, and remove restrictions that are a result of a geographic technicality rather than science.
Dr. Mr Ford,
Please acknowledge this is a very well explained situation. Think of the geographical size of this area. Population varies dramatically throughout the region and traditionally the more removed from urban centres one lives, usually equals Conservative votes. I know you have many challenges on your plate.
Please listen to your voters on this issue.
Regards,
Steve Case
South Etobicoke
An observation on a few of the comments here that seem to justify Muskoka being in the red due to our major town centers being in near proximity (i.e. read a 1 to 2 hr. drive) to the red Barrie area. It’s a suspect argument at best. If that thinking were consistently applied, most of Southern Ontario should be red now.
It clearly isn’t, as a quick look at the color coded map shows. The Ford government rightly switched from the entire province lockdown strategy in the first wave, to risk zones based on actual virus spread. It has nothing to do with traffic patterns. He understood that shutting down small towns and vast rural areas solely because of people in larger metro areas who travel (yes, in far greater numbers) around Ontario was not the right balance.
The problem we now have, as Hugh explained well in his article, is the health zones don’t always align with the actual virus risk zones. Exceptions can and should be allowed, especially for rural health zones that straddle larger metro areas, like ours. Muskoka has little in common with Barrie, which has become a slightly more distant suburb of the GTA. We have far more in common with areas in all other directions but south. And the benefits of a northern designation far outweighs any small down-side loss. Heck, there was even a time not long ago when Muskoka District was sending health care $ to RVH’s cancer center in Barrie… which of course made no sense, given our local HC funding shortfalls, and pressing needs and deficiencies.. but I digress.
The important longer term realignments of health boundaries can wait until the pandemic is over, but color-code exemptions for special cases like ours shouldn’t have to wait until then.
I understand the controversy regarding joining the Simcoe and Muskoka health units however ….
BY PUTTING MUSKOKA IN THE RED ZONE I believe that the Ontario Government is attempting to police and protect Muskoka from the covid carriers who mindlessly travel to Barrie and Collingwood for weekend activities and if they are now red and Muskoka is not …they will travel into Muskoka for their activities.
Halton which was an ORANGE zone is now a RED zone ,to protect Halton from the shoppers from Peel and Toronto who are now pouring in as York is also now Grey .
Toronto shoppers in Halton are bragging to stores in Halton about how far they have driven !!
Next will be Halton turning grey lockdown due to
the shoppers …..good riddance to the ney sayers and covid deniers.
We are not Americans so let’s stop mimicking them in this pandemic as it is not an attractive image.
I hate to be the voice of dissension but I for one am glad we are now in the red zone – whether or not we come under the Simcoe district.
I truly sympathize with business owners in Huntsville but my concerns are more for the inadequacies of the health care system here and the truly amazing front line health care workers who have to deal with this situation on a daily basis. With limited facilities to deal with a pandemic and a shortage of staff things could very easily get out of hand and the hospital be overwhelmed. That would be bad for all of us, not just those who contract COVID-19. Things are bad enough already for example the wait for an ultrasound is about 10 months here whereas is some of the lockdown zones down south it is less than a week. Does this not illustrate that our hospitals here are underfunded and under equipped?
Please stay safe, wear a mask properly to cover your nose and chin, sanitize and wash your hands frequently and keep a 6 foot distance between you and others even when warring a mask
Poor little Muskoka is sort of on the fringe of both the northern Ontario and the Southern Ontario as well as being torn East West to some extent as well.
When I took a hunting course a few years back the instructor was very adamant that the “best hunting” always would be found on the margines, the edges or fringes of one zone of habitat where it met and interacted with another zone. Places like the edges of lakes, the zone where a field or open area becomes forested and so on.
Well I think Muskoka is right in that definition. Each successive government wants to be seen as a “dynamic game changer”, someone who “knows better” and thus can make changes to “improve” the situation. Thus with one government we are in Northern Ontario. In the next Southern. Back and forth we go but it is worse than just this. The different levels of government can’t even agree among themselves where we are in Muskoka. That grey line between cheap car licenses and more expensive ones sort of waffles around somewhere near Novar I think, perhaps.
We play games with health care so that Bracebridge and Huntsville sort of view each other with great suspicion and Gravenhurst is not mentioned at all. One year we are going to expand Huntsville, the next Bracebridge and the next we are going to carve a totally new health campus out of the bush near Port Sydney. The only common thread is that no matter what solution we pick… there is never enough money.
I hate to point this out because my experience is that the individuals involved in providing health care are among the most dedicated and hard working people you will ever find. The point I would make is that strangely, as soon as we create organizations that cover large areas and have managers and directors with salaries that often include 5 zeros then suddenly things that were always done, can’t be done and all kinds of things can no longer be afforded?
You can take this observation to our school system, and municipal government to a significant degree with just minor adjustments.
What we say or want in the actual Muskoka area is of little consequence as we are simply so outnumbered and thus out voted that politicians realize that we are insignificant. Thus we get tossed one way and then another with each successive government.
I have to agree with Hugh. Muskoka would be better served it it was better defined and placed in a jurisdiction that better matched our make up. So far, despite the building boom, we are not much like South Simcoe and we would be better served if we were not lumped in with this area.
Barrie, for example, is a sort of special case in that it might best be considered as part of Toronto when you look at the traffic patterns, workplaces and such. One way of knowing this is to look at YOUR shopping habits. In the 70’s and prior Barrie was just a nondescript town that we passed through on our way to Toronto to shop. For the last 20 years I can count the number of times I have been to Toronto, other than to use the airport, on the fingers of one hand. There is nothing to shop for that is not to be found in Barrie nowadays so why go that extra hour to the hub of all traffic chaos called Toronto anymore.
But I’ve run off on a tangent. The bottom line, which I think Hugh has captured is that Muskoka needs to be better defined in area and hooked to a more similar area for administrative purposes than Simcoe. It would be nice to have some consistency between levels of government as well.
Agree 150%, as I commented elsewhere.
What can we do? Maybe start a petition, to be presented to Norm Miller? Or more than one — one for business owners, one for permanent residents in general?
Ford has done well? Don’t make me laugh. Total abdication of responsibility.
I fully support Mr. Mackenzie’s stance regarding the fact that Muskoka should never have amalgamated with Simcoe to form the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit over 15 years ago. These two areas need to be separated now. Our MPP Honourable Norm Miller needs to listen to the leaders and listen to the people regarding the trending statistics, and assist us to make a change to get Muskoka out of the Red Zone: if not an immediate physical-barrier change, a change to grant the Muskoka region a designation for Covid that reflects our cases per capita. It is not only unfair to our local businesses, it is unfair to the local people and to our cottagers. I agree that Muskoka has taken the Covid protocols seriously. I wrote the Muskoka district mayors at the beginning of July to push for mandatory masks or face coverings in public spaces before the district meeting. After speaking with Mayor Terziano, I learned that many were in support of this mask protocol in early July. I was so impressed with the support of our mayors, our fellow Muskokans, and our fellow Cottage Visitors to wear masks in public places and to continue to support public health initiatives.
The Red Zoning in our Muskoka area is one initiative that I am following, but with disagreement. Muskoka needs to be treated in a fair way. It would make more sense to have Muskoka coupled with the Parry Sound and North Bay Region. We have much more in common with these two areas; population wise and geographically!
The children in school are following the protocols well too. Parents are supporting the school’s strict guides for safety measures. Students wear masks appropriately and hand sanitize many times each day. The Muskoka Region needs its own Covid Zoning! Our population density is different than Barrie, our geography is different, and our economy is different. Our youth is also negatively impacted by this Red Zoning as children’s sports are being cancelled. If the cases in Muskoka represented The Red Zone, it would be easy to understand. The recent Red Zoning is difficult to understand for adults let alone trying to explain this ruling to a class full of junior students. Please hear the voices and help to get Muskoka out of the Red Zone! This is such a far cry from any truth!
I also agree with Mr. Mackenzie that the Ford Government has done a good job in promoting safe public health measures for the people of Ontario and by trying to zone for Covid risk accordingly in the province. Though, I disagree with the current Red Zone ruling for Muskoka, I understand that there may be other designations in out province dealing with an unjust COVID ZONING! Speak up now to help protect your district. It is my hope that the petition to remove Muskoka from the Simcoe Muskoka Health jurisdiction be heard too. There were over 3400 votes on this survey in favour to remove Muskoka as of 1:00pm today. This petition’s results need to be shared with Honourable Miller and our mayors. It seems like many local Muskokans are on the same page!
Sincerely,
Shelly Brandon-Yungblut
Huntsville Resident
Although I agree with comments that many of us work and shop south, Hugh and others make excellent points. Despite our work and shopping south we have so far done a great job of controlling the virus. Population density is on our side and we should not be in the red zone with Simcoe. But we must also not be complacent. I have seen several incidents of people shopping or in other public businesses ( eg. car dealership) and not wearing masks or stupidly wearing them with the nose exposed. We all know what the necessary precautions are and we All need to continue to follow them.
I fully agree with your statements Hugh. Unfortunately as you point out Ford’s hands will be tied. If you try’s to do anything you can bet the liberals or ndp will call out conflict of interest because he happens to own a place in the region.
I support the decision of the local health department. If they cannot get their act together then give them the red card. Lock them down so they cant spread this to the rest of us.
Redzones are the first to receive vaccines. Maybe that is why the sudden change to the red zone.
Reply to John K. Davis
I think if you look around you will find a lot of people going to North Bay to shop and to Sudbury for medical attention. You are most likely right about going south for work but that has been going on right from the start. My opinion is still we should not be linked with Simcoe we may have a few people going to Barrie for work but the have thousands going to Toronto every day and that is where this is all coming from.
Charlie Piper from Ramara where there have only been single digit case counts since the beginning of this outbreak , do we need to be in red zone Norm Miller ?
I am sorry to say this but muskoka should be in the red zone. We are not following protocols. I have seen our hotels book up our stores packed with people and we are now encouraging people to travel to our community. Allowing people from the grey zone to come here. I work at a local grocery store and in the past three weeks we have doubled in population and there are alot more people then before not wearing mask in the store or following social distance rules. So yes doug ford was right for putting muskoka in the red zone. I just wish he did it sooner
Great article. Thank you. Areas with low case counts and community transmission should be rewarded, for lack of a better word, for following protocols and being diligent. It also serves as a motivation for areas with high case counts to see communities like Muskoka enjoy more freedoms as a result. By lumping us in with Simcoe, that reward is lost and with it I suspect, some of the motivation to stay vigilant. Sad.
I Am in complete ageement with you, Hugh, and with all those who posted. Seems Muskoka gets punished every time. Sick of these arbitrary demarcations drawn by bureaucrats.
Let as all take a moment to stop and reflect on where we fit into the health and commerce puzzle of Ontario? How many readers of this article go to North Bay for their surgeries, Costco etc., compared to Orillia or Barrie?
How many people work in North Bay compared to Orillia or Barrie? I find the roads between Huntsville and Barrie that were once very quiet in the winter months are not anymore.
If you work, shop or seek medical remedies in the south you become a large part of the COVID threat here in Muskoka. It has been said many times this VIRUS does not move by itself, it is a hitchhiker, it requires someone to assist it into Muskoka.
We sometimes have to take the good with the bad, because we live on the highway 11 & 60 corridors we have received many benefits from all directions.
Let us not throw the baby out with the bath waters every time we have a cloud on those waters.
Great article. I think the premier such stop people from high risk areas from coming to Muskoka. Our numbers are low but travel could put us at risk. The environment is different since the summer and there is less outdoor opportunities for people which could cause more contact and causes. Yhe premier said if you had to go to ypur cottage take your groceries and don’t go out in the community. Who has to go to a cottage. If you are bringing your supplies with you then you are not helping our economy so please just stay home. We know this is hard.we will not see our only daughter for Christmas as she is in York region and works at Southlake. We will not go down and she will obey the restrictions that are in place. We had a whole summer that we had to put up with airbnb renters that did what ever they pleased once they got here and we left our condo in town and went to our cottage on Limberlost just to feel safer. The level of virus is far worse now and the restrictions where they are coming from have been in place for some time. I think this is a situation that could blow up and when these people leave we will be left with the aftermath. There will always be another Christmas if we are here to celebrate. No one is ammune.
Thank-you for this article Hugh. There was another historical layer to this issue, however. Up until to 2004 I was appointed to the Board of the Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Temiskaming District Health Council. The territory started at Gravenhurst to the south, Kirkland Lake to the north, west of Sturgeon Falls and further west to take in Parry Sound. Near the end of this time, Gord Adams was appointed to our Board. When McGuinty was elected Premier of Ontario this all changed. All of a sudden the lines were redrawn and the LHIN’s (Local Health Integration Network) were formed. Muskoka ceased to be part of the north. We were now in the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN and lost our Northern Ontario status. I served on this Board for a couple of years until I stepped down to run in the 2018 Municipal election. With the election of Doug Ford, there was a plan to redraw the lines again. Dissolving the current 15 LHIN’s putting Muskoka back into the northern group of communities. They only got as far as dismissing the Boards of Directors before COVID hit.
On District Council I strongly advocated for getting us back into the north prior to COVID but failed to convince the majority of council to agree, unfortunately. Many of my council colleagues felt a stronger tie to Simcoe at that time.
As we can see clearly now it is imperative for us to again become part of the north for many reasons. Not only for healthcare delivery but to regain our Northern Ontario status.
As you know I had some reservations on this point. Now I am in full agreement with you. We have little in common with Barrie which seems thousands per day to Toronto.
I also feel like we are being punished……by some arbitrary line drawn on a map and devised by politicians.
Well said, Hugh. Especially the historical context. One of Dr. Gardner’s “worries” on an Ontario Morning interview was the difficulty in changing the website information…?
It’s definitely time for a re-think…should have been done ages ago…align with the riding boundaries. Geographically and demographically we are “North”.
I am sad. I am frustrated and just plain Covid tired. I feel as though the people of Muskoka are constantly running against the wind. When I go to town I see business owners, especially those with small retail businesses and restaurants, working diligently to keep us safe. I have not seen a “mask less” person for months. At every stop I can sanitize my hands and physically distance. And yet, we get lumped with a large metropolitan city whose numbers are out of control. It makes absolutely no sense.
The argument, I know, is that people from southern Simcoe will travel north and our numbers will rise. The truth is that those visitors did come in the summer and fall but our numbers remained low.Our town was full of families who visited but our businesses kept them safe.
The new red zone has limited visitors from seeing family members at Muskoka Landing. I am not the “primary” person who has to have a Covid test in order to go into the facility. No longer can I have a window visit with my 96 year old mother in law. How am I spreading Covid through a window? (**Correction Dec. 15: after discussions with Muskoka Landing, it has been clarified that window visits are still allowed. ~Mary) Meanwhile, she enters her 10th month of isolation. She enjoys visits from family members , but no longer.
The Canada Summit Centre will close down over the holiday season. School children on holidays will not have access to swimming or skating or Christmas Day camps. People who enjoy curling will no longer have that opportunity. This, I fear, is not a healthy way to live.
Norm Miller, you need to think hard about your responsibility for Muskoka residents. Actions that are being taken today will take linger for years down the road. Muskoka residents need to stay diligent, follow health guidelines and support local as much as possible.
Let’s save Muskoka.
Bottom line right Hugh ? Politicians greedy and ignorant to what is really required . School yard fight?
What ever suits them best .
Give me a break that is scary . To think our elected politicians go over and above try convince the average jo
Politicians here all should be ashamed . Ford as you know owns a compound cottage near Port Sydney and of course he cant separate Muskoka from Simcoe without serious negative issues .
???????
It would not be quite as bad if the powers that be used there heads just a bit . Why are restaurants only aloud 10 people to dine inside but can sit four at each table why not make it 12 people at least they could have three full tables. This is the kind of thing that must drive the owners crazy.
Excellent article Hugh, a big thanks to you for writing it. Your historical context on this important matter should be understood by all in Muskoka.
Now, Muskoka residents and cottage owners alike should get behind this issue and push for the change. It was overdue before COVID struck, now its quite clear why it must happen. Step 1, disconnect from Simcoe on COVID shutdown rules. Step 2, realign to the north and west.
I feel very frustrated as a Restaurant Owner in Huntsville. Since March we have been following strict COVID protocols and have invested a lot of money to making the dining experience a safe space. We pay rent for a space that seats 105 patrons and now we are only allowed 10 patrons in at one time. Not only is that going to be financially difficult (as our fixed costs don’t go away), it also means I have to lay off a lot of our hard working staff, for a second time around. We employed 28 people in this town, even throughout the slow winter months but now we are being forced to lay them off. To me the worst part of this is how many people we will have to turn down who want to come in for a warm meal. Many who are living alone, who rely on eating a meal at our restaurant and it is an outing for them and it is good for their mental health. Now Christmas is coming and many people will have to eat at home, alone. If the numbers of COVID cases were out of control in Huntsville this would be a different story but we have done such a good job at keeping everyone safe here and now I feel like we are all being punished.
The Huntsville Curling Club which has been operating in a very safe manner since the fall has now basically been closed down until the area is moved out of the red zone. If the area is not moved out of the red zone fairly early in January it is likely the season will be lost. People will lose the recreational and mental benefits this sport allows the participants to enjoy during these Covid-19 times. Had we not been lumped in with Simcoe this situation would not have arisen. Like many others in the area the club will suffer some financial hardship if it is not allowed to
operate safely for the remainder of the season.