Consider This Northumberland

Just outside of Brighton, along County Road 64, is the beautiful Murray Canal. Today, it is a recreational waterway that takes boaters from Presqu'ile Bay to the Bay of Quinte. Most people use it to get to the Trent-Severn Waterway or to Kingston by boat. However, in the 19th century, businesspeople, residents, and politicians saw it as a vital route for commerce, national security, and safety. Wh...

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board trustees recently released a strategic plan for their term in office. The document is very short at a glance, with sweeping expressions of what they hope to achieve. In this interview, the school board chair, Jaine Klassen-Jeninga, will take us behind the plan to explain what is going on. She will give context and flush out the details. Most importantl...

Is the county fixing enough roads? How much waste is being diverted from the landfill? Are your tax dollars being appropriately managed? These are only a few questions Northumberland County residents find with just a few clicks of a mouse. County staff developed a performance dashboard on its website. It is devoted to throwing open the curtains behind its activities. An unprecedented amount of inf...

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce released its annual report recently. Business confidence is low across the province. There are a host of issues facing a wide range of sectors across the business spectrum. Yet, amid all the doom and gloom, there is some limited optimism about the upcoming year. Brenda Whitehead, CEO of the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce, will give a local perspective on the mood of...

Farmers and film festivals are not always something you would think go together. Yet, the local chapter of the National Farmers Union of Ontario is screening several documentary films at the Aaron Theatre in Campbellford next Saturday afternoon. These are interviews with farmers across Canada dealing with serious issues like climate change, sustainable farming practices, loss of agricultural lands...

In November, a new show launched on Northumberland 89.7 FM called Conversations Towards Reconciliation with Alderville First Nations Chief Taynar Simpson. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the Indigenous community in Northumberland and elsewhere every month. So far, the show included topics like Indigenous portrayal in movies, games, and TV. There was a chat about the 10th anniversary of the...

The Port Hope police recently released its two-year strategic plan. While the title sounds pretty lofty, there are many nuts and bolts in it. In this interview, Chief Tim Farquharson will address critical issues facing the community. He will discuss the hiring of three new officers and the expansion of the auxiliary force in the hopes of increasing police presence. But that is not all. He will tac...

As one of the largest daycare providers in Northumberland County, the YMCA offers a unique perspective on the pressures operators face. As we heard last week, the transition to providing $10/day spaces has left many providers wondering if they can stay open. Eunice Kirkpatrick, CEO of the YMCA Northumberland, gives a candid assessment of the situation from the frontlines. Operating 22 programs in...

Ontario’s healthcare crisis disproportionately impacts rural hospitals. That is a key message the Rural Ontario Municipal Association delivered in a recently released report. In this interview, Campbellford Memorial Hospital CEO Jeff Hohenkerk can tell you first-hand how difficult it is to run a rural hospital. Keeping the emergency room open, recruiting doctors, addressing the concerns of nurses...

Northumberland County spends nearly $1.5 million supporting local daycare. This is on top of fees paid by parents. Despite the county’s contribution, daycare operators are struggling to stay open. In this interview, Lesley Patterson, manager of Early Year service programs for Northumberland County, will talk about the funding crisis in daycare. Recently, operators across Ontario expressed concerns...

Port Hope resident Angela Grogan recently discovered former municipal councillor and journalist Larry Hall. Hall died in 2014. Hall grew up in Garden Hill and explored his personal history during his lifetime. His great-grandparents were fugitive slaves who fled the United States for Canada along the Underground Railroad. Hall was regularly seen at the Port Hope Public Library each year, giving pr...

The move of Transition House to 310 Division Street is controversial. Supporters view it as a chance to modernize the system to help those who are homeless and need services. Then, some are concerned about the new location. These people are worried about community safety, their homes, and their businesses. These interviews are a deep dive into the new facility. Public meetings are taking place. A...

A record number of people participated in a recent survey about the 2024 Cobourg draft budget. Two hundred and eighty residents went online and filled out a survey. It was four times greater than last year. Inflation, high interest rates, grocery prices, and the cost of gas are hammering everyone’s wallet. Last fall, Cobourg councillors told staff to aim for a five percent increase. Staff returned...

At a recent Cobourg council meeting, a debate ignited over hiring additional police officers. This led to a tense discussion about public safety and the 2024 budget. With community safety a hot topic in the council chambers and on the street, it is creating a lot of strong emotions in and outside Victoria Hall. In this interview, you will hear from Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf. Since he ar...

Farmers rarely get a break. Operating a farm is a 24/7/365 job. Besides running their operation, the men and women who provide us with our food daily also spend time lobbying politicians at all levels of government. In this interview, Northumberland Federation of Agriculture President Allan Carruthers outlines some of the challenges local farmers face. He will talk about the carbon tax, legislatio...

Last month, a major change to the local recycling program took place. And while residents may not notice any difference right away, it is a huge shift with serious implications. Northumberland County is no longer in charge of its recycling program. You will still see the same trucks coming around to pick up your recycling. That will not change. And the green bins are still going. Garbage remains t...

For decades, Alnwick Haldimand Township council has wrestled with the future of the nearly 75-year-old Memorial Arena. The stacks of reports sitting on shelves are a testament to the debates over the years. Various councils have edged along with repairs and replacements as time has taken its toll. Now, with accelerated development near Grafton and a council struggling to keep the facility open, po...

Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate gets pretty excited when he talks about the new $22 million arena under construction in Campbellford. It is with good reason. The new facility boasts an NHL-size ice pad, a lap pool, space for fitness programs, and daycare. It was a long road to get to this point. Originally a $16 million project, the price tag has jumped. The mayor will explain why. He will also touch...

What a difference a year can make.  In this interview, you will hear from the new county Warden, Brian Ostrander. He was elected only a few weeks ago. The focus of our conversation is a new three-year budget passed by county council two weeks ago. You will learn how this approach works and the aspirations of politicians for the upcoming year. There is a six-and-a-half percent increase this year an...

A new year is about to begin. It can be a valuable exercise to reflect on the past 12 months. In this interview from a year ago, you will hear former Warden Mandy Martin. County council had just passed the 2023 budget. This is a great chance to compare what was promised with what happened. You will hear about affordable housing, homelessness, financial pressures, etc. It would be best to listen to...

If everything goes smoothly, Northumberland County will purchase a former retirement residence at 310 Division Street in Cobourg to become the new home for Transition House. It means 35 low-barrier shelter spaces will be available to those in need. It will have accommodations, food, and support services. It will also provide a 24-hour drop-in centre year-round, giving unsheltered people a place to...

It is budget time for local municipalities. Without exception, politicians, bureaucrats, and taxpayers sweat it out to come up with a solution for the annual budget. With more pressures than ever, it is a struggle to find a balance between affordability and services. In this interview, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky outlines the decision by council to raise the levy by 6.9 percent. She outlines t...

The Salvation Army has helped people in need at Christmas for many years. Through its family services operation, using money raised from its Kettle Campaign, it will provide food and toys to ensure nobody is missed during the festive season. This year, more than 800 families have registered to receive this assistance. That is up from 750 last year. You will hear from Jim Alford and Major Dan Broom...

The Fare Share Food Bank is seeing a rise in demand. Over the last year, the number of people using its services is up by 50 percent. These are two of many organizations trying to help those in need. Dick Kauling, chair of the board for the Fare Share Food Bank, will describe the pressures it faces and the response to the increase in demand. You may be surprised to learn that more young families w...

In 1923, a group of women got together to help the hospital in Cobourg. They would roll bandages, sew tourniquets, and give assistance wherever needed. This was the early days of the hospital auxiliary. The role of the auxiliary would expand. It would fundraise and offer expanded services to support the doctors and nurses. Over the years, it would continue to be a pillar within the organization to...