Consider This Northumberland

Every August, local politicians truck off to the annual conference for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario or AMO. It is a chance to learn and network. But most importantly, it is a chance to lobby. All the provincial cabinet ministers, associate ministers, and the like attend. It is a rare opportunity to speak directly to those in power to express concerns or make a case for funding. On...

Grab the kids, get out your bike, and don’t forget the leash for the dog. The annual Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice is taking place in Victoria Park on September 28. So, why talk to them now? Well, it is early bird registration, and there are prizes for those who enter early. This is a major fundraiser for Ed’s House. It is the hospice care centre providing compassionate end-of-life and palliati...

Two areas in Cobourg started a Neighbourhood Watch pilot program recently to boost safety. One is in the east end and the other is in the west end. It is the culmination of several months of work by residents in collaboration with the Cobourg Police. Neighbourhood Watch is a program in Canada dating back to the 1970s. Originally, it was a grassroots effort to reduce burglaries in residential homes...

When does a community grant to a local charitable organization become a strategic investment? Port Hope council is looking to overhaul its community grants. At a recent meeting, politicians sent a request to staff to revamp the funding to streamline its approach to allocating around $200,000 to various groups. The new system is called the Community Strategic Initiatives Funding program. It was int...

Things between the public and local politicians are not always smooth sailing. Concerns about transparency, accountability, and relationships between residents, staff, and council can be problematic at times. When complaints arise, every municipality in Ontario has an integrity commission to act as a mediator. In this interview, Alnwick Haldimand Township Mayor John Logel talks about the most rece...

Many community groups, non-profits, and organizations across Northumberland struggle to raise money. It is highly competitive, and donor dollars are limited. That is why it is becoming increasingly important how the dollars are used efficiently, effectively, and with complete transparency and accountability. To meet this new reality, the United Way has revamped how it will distribute its funding t...

Going from writing songs and recording albums to creating a musical is a giant step for any musician. Cale Crowe made the leap. As a result, the world premiere of Rez Gas is taking place on August 22 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. This story is about Destin, who moves away from his reserve to chase a music career. Then, after experiencing car trouble while filling up for gas, he encounters o...

From the outset, Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate and his council refused to buy into strong mayor powers. Back in April, the provincial government extended strong mayor powers to 169 municipalities. This included Port Hope, Cobourg, Brighton, and Trent Hills. These came into effect in May. Crate rejected these powers almost immediately. And recently, council passed all the bylaws to turn those powers...

Doctor recruitment in Northumberland County has become increasingly politicized recently. County council voted in June to spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars each of the next two years to take over doctor recruitment.  Earlier this month, it issued a call for businesspeople to join a recruitment advisory committee. Currently, 8,000 people are without primary care, and the number could hit...

Brighton just went live with its new Automated Speed camera on Monday. This was after a three-month trial. It is the first in Northumberland County. In places like Toronto and Vaughan, these cameras are a source of controversy. Some call them speed traps, while others say it is a cost-effective, efficient way to reduce speed in the community. In this interview, you will hear Mayor Brian Ostrander...

The Friends of Wesleyville Village are gearing up for a major push as they aim to garner more attention and undertake significant fundraising efforts. In this interview, Wendy Schroder, Community Programming Coordinator for the Friends of Wesleyville Village, will discuss plans to establish a fundraising committee to undertake a major campaign. She will also provide the history of Wesleyville, bac...

The operation at 310 Division Street is undergoing a major change. Northumberland County council decided to close the warming/cooling hub on July 4 at its last regular meeting. It is also looking to go from a low-barrier facility to a higher barrier, meaning it will continue to offer shelter and housing, but under a different set of standards. Also, a report will be done by the end of the month to...

The new Northumberland County Archives and Museum received a significant boost last week with its first private donation towards its operations. Stewart Richardson, a local businessman, historian, and philanthropist, gave $85,000 towards the main exhibition gallery. It will be named in his honour. In this interview, you will hear from Richardson about his donation. You will also learn about his pa...

The Cobourg police service launched a Safer Streets program. At the same time, the Ontario government passed Bill 6, the Safer Municipalities Act. This act gives local governments additional powers to deal with people living rough. In this interview, Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf will explain how the new Safer Streets program and Bill 6 are related. He will also lay out what is being done t...

Indigenous leaders met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently over concerns with Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. Alderville First Nations Chief Taynar Simpson was one of 15 chiefs from across the province invited to participate. Listen to his story as he takes us inside the meeting and see what you think about what was achieved, and whether it was worth it.

Once more, 310 Division Street was front and centre in a debate over its services. Cobourg council hosted a town hall on Tuesday night at the Cobourg Community Centre. It was a chance for residents to express their thoughts. This was followed the next day by a decision from Northumberland County council to change the operation's mandate from a low-barrier shelter to a lower to moderate operation,...

It was a $250 fine and some compliance orders to meet the standards of Cobourg’s Emergency Care Establishment bylaw. That was the enforcement order given to Northumberland County back on April 10. It was over an alleged Fire Safety Plan violation during a surprise inspection. While it may not seem like a big deal, the county decided the order was flawed. So, it decided to seek a judicial review so...

Brighton will hold its third annual Pop Up Pride event on Saturday, June 21. As you will hear in this interview with Megan Fox, one of the organizers, there are lots of new things taking place, plus some of the favourites from the past. The family-oriented event is just one of an ever-expanding list of various happenings in June to celebrate Pride Month. From its humble beginnings, Pop-Up Pride ra...

In Northumberland everyone is a bit different when it comes to strong mayor powers. In Trent Hills, Bob Crate is giving them up, sticking with current practices. Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankvsky has taken a similar path. Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander is taking a mixed bag, delegating some powers while keeping a few others, confident that he and council can meet provincial priorities without them. I...

Pride Flags are flying across Northumberland County as municipalities, local police, and other institutions honour Pride Month. This weekend, local pride celebrations begin in earnest. Northumberland Pride kicks off a series of events in Port Hope and Cobourg. Brighton will hold its events on June 15 and 23. In this interview, Emilio Ojeda, chair of Trent Hills Pride, will discuss what is happenin...

The statistics are grim. For the week of May 4, five people were suspected of a drug overdose in local emergency departments. Paramedics identified a possible four people had overdosed during the same period when on call. In April, officials believe four people died due to drugs. The opioid crisis fades into the background as other concerns overwhelm. But for some on the front lines, the battle co...

About 18,000 airmen serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force died during WWII. Many served on bombers in mixed crews with American and British forces. For many families who lost loved ones during the war, some face an additional hardship. The majority of bodies were returned to be buried. But there are still individuals who remain missing in unidentified graves across Europe to this day. In this in...

Three-ten Division Street is back in the news. A delegation recently appeared before Cobourg town council to seek clarification regarding changes to the Emergency Care Establishment bylaw regarding licensing language. Council was seeking to limit the number of establishments to two. The Transition House board has concerns due to the organizational structure between the shelter and Northumberland C...

The Ontario Government announced last week it plans to strengthen the bail system to protect communities from violent criminals. It wants to prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing further crimes while on bail. That is something Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf has called for over many years, along with many police chiefs from across the province and the country. In this interview...

Campbellford Memorial Hospital recently launched a new program for patients waiting for ongoing care. It combines virtual care, artificial intelligence, and in-person support. It’s called The Rural Stop Gap. The program acts like a bridge between a hospital stay and long-term care needs. Rather than patients taking up hospital beds, Rural Stop Gap uses various technologies and a specially trained...