Haliburton County (also referred to as the Haliburton Highlands) is located at the south end of the Canadian Shield at the north end of southern Ontario, approximately 2.5 hours northeast of Toronto.
Haliburton County is 4,025 square kilometres in size with a rugged landscape of lakes and hills which is inhabited by 18,062 year-round residents and an additional seasonal population of approximately 45,000.
Within the permanent population, 32% are over the age of 65. Haliburton County has a child poverty rate of 23% and and an overall poverty rate of 17.2% (HKPR District Health Unit 2019), in part due to low-paying seasonal work and to the high numbers of pensioners.
The County also has the second highest cost of living after Toronto, in part due to issues with lack of transportation and higher housing and food costs. A living wage in Haliburton is $19.47.
Haliburton County also has a thriving arts community, and a burgeoning local food network. It is a resilient community where people care for and about each other. Those who can give, do so generously.