Consider This Northumberland - June 16: Protecting Farmland / Fare Share Food Bank
It is a well-known statistic. Ontario is losing more than 300 acres of farmland every day. It is stunning when you realize we are talking about our food source.
What you don't hear as often is how this affects Northumberland County. But there is a group trying to change that.
The Northumberland Rural Coalition is hosting a panel discussion about protecting farmland in this region. Local MPP David Piccini is scheduled to speak on the panel. There are also several experts from groups like the Ontario Farmland Trust and specialists who will also add their perspectives. Considering agriculture is one of the most significant economic drivers in the county, you will want to listen.
The following story is an important update.
The recent Colborne grocery store fire reminds us of the fragile nature of our food supply. It only takes an instant, and people are struggling to eat.
The show's second segment is with the Fare Share Food Bank's executive director, Helen Donovan. There is a shocking rise in the number of people using its services. Plus, you won't believe who is showing up at the door in need.
Consider This Northumberland - June 9: Pride in Northumberland
The celebrations associated with Pride Month are as diverse as the residents themselves. Today's show focuses on two areas that may not be as high profile as others regarding Pride but are equally significant.
The first interview is with two representatives from Northumberland Hills Hospital. It is flying a Pride flag, and it also created a rainbow crosswalk at its main entrance. You will find out the significance of those two initiatives. But you will also learn how the hospital works to improve its relationships with the LGBTQ2+ community. Many studies show health care providers don't always measure up when it comes to caring for these people. That is not just patients but also the staff. You will hear about the hospital's ongoing efforts to improve those connections.
Then, you will hear about how a newly formed group in Brighton is holding its first Pride Day this Sunday. A partnership between the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network or PARN has joined with community members to organize an event.
Consider This Northumberland - May 19: Short Term Rental Struggles / Community Counselling Resource Centre
Municipalities across Northumberland County struggle to deal with short-term rentals. Those are the rental properties often associated with AirBnB or Vrbo online platforms.
For some, renting a space, either a room or a house, is an excellent source of income. It can be a stimulant for the local economy. Others see it as a significant boost for tourism.
Then, there are others who see it differently. There are noise issues, parking problems, and a host of other negatives.
Alnwick-Haldimand Township council is the latest to wrestle with its attempts to control short-term rentals. An ad hock committee recently brought forward some changes to a bylaw passed in 2022. These tweaks have a group of operators and the business association very concerned.
On today’s show, you will hear those concerns. Two representatives of the group will dive into the issue to see if a balance can be found. They will give their perspective on how it plays out in the township before council decides later this month.
Next, there is an update. About one year ago, the Community Counselling Resource Centre in Peterborough arrived in the county. It hoped to fill in a gap left by the closure of the Northumberland Community Counselling Centre, which was serving about 1,000 clients when it shut its doors.
We will hear from the executive director. She will share how the group is doing in Northumberland. The Chief Executive Officer for Family Services Ontario will also paint the bigger picture and where Northumberland fits into the array of mental health programs offered.
Consider This Northumberland - May 12: Mayor John Logel / Port Hope Cultural Plan
For nearly 75 years, the arena in Grafton has served the local hockey community. Once again, its future is uncertain as major repairs are necessary to keep it in service.
The five community centres in Alnwick-Haldimand Township are also under review as budget pressures raise questions about their viability.
Mayor John Logel says these are only two of the items under consideration when thinking about the township’s strategic plan,.
It is a time for strategic planning across Northumberland County. Nearly all local councils will be seeking input from taxpayers in order to set goals for this term of council.
While a strategic plan often draws little attention from the public, it is critical. It is fundamental. It is the basis for decisions going forward. Everything from affordable housing to tax rates can be guided by the plan.
You will hear how one municipality, Alnwick-Haldimand, is going about its strategic planning and how it may impact residents.
Then, you will hear about another plan. This time it is a cultural plan for Port Hope. From local musicians playing at the Ganaraska Hotel to kids' art camps, culture permeates where we live. Writers, painters, musical theatre, and diverse, multicultural events are only a few of the things that make up the cultural fabric that wraps around us.
Leslie Murray, Manager of Community Recreation and Culture, will explain the town’s efforts to update the current cultural plan from 2012.
Consider This Northumberland - May 5: Town Governance / Brighton Parks
For many years, people have said local governments should be run like a business. It should be efficient and cost-effective. And taxpayers should be treated like clients or customers, ensuring excellent service and accountability.
Then ask anyone who has gone before a local council as a delegation to ask for something. You get 10 minutes to speak. Politicians ask a couple of questions. You sit and wait until your item comes up on the agenda. Then, depending on your request, you get what you want, or council votes to accept your presentation for informational purposes. There your request goes to sit on a shelf and gathers dust.
In 2019, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities released a national poll saying 56 percent of Canadian feel their local government can improve the quality of life in their community. That is barely half.
On today’s show, Cobourg Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty will explain a major overhaul to the way council is run. The goal is to make it easier for people to talk to politicians and get more input. It is also going to change the structure of how council operates. For some, it means a more transparent system that will give politicians and the public a greater voice in decisions. For others, it could mean a path to full-time councillors and a power grab by those in charge. Have a listen and you can decide.
Then, you will hear about Brighton council’s new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Besides proposing a multiplex rec centre, it looks at everything from parks to trails and what is in between.
Consider This Northumberland - April 28: Preserving the land
Preserving land in its natural state is critical for the future. With all the pressures to develop affordable housing, the idea of making sure we protect and preserve areas can easily get lost.
On today’s show, you will hear two stories about ensuring our natural heritage does not get overlooked.
To begin, you will hear from Pauline Browse, a former MP and a lifelong resident of Hamilton Township. She will talk about protecting the Rouge National Urban Park located in Scarborough. This is a fight she has waged for more than 30 years. The Ontario government is threatening the park as it is about to open land for development adjacent to the park in Pickering. The Pickering lands are part of the Greenbelt.
Next, you will hear from the Northumberland Land Trust. This is a local group with a mission to ensure tracts of land within the county are protected forever. It encourages people to donate land to the trust. Then, it acts as stewards to help Mother Nature keep the property in a natural state.
Consider This Northumberland - April 21: Northumberland Drug Users Unite / Horizons of Friendship
Over the past few weeks, the opioid crisis emerged as a topic of public debate. Advocates and supporters of people with addictions often urged politicians and bureaucrats to include consultations with people with lived experience.
That term, lived experience, means different things to people. It is also a perspective that many don’t understand. What is it like to live with or be recovering from an addiction?
On today’s show, this experience is the focus. Ashley Smoke, a 33-year-old Port Hope resident, will share her story. She lived with an addiction for 18 years. Now, she is recovering. She is a mother of a four-year-old son. Plus, she is a long-time advocate for people with addictions. She recently formed Northumberland Drug Users Unite, a group seeking to dispel myths about people who face or are recovering from addiction.
Then, you will hear from the new executive director for Horizons of Friendship. Rodrigo Konigs started his new position less than a month ago. But he is working hard to get up to speed in his new job leading this non-government organization that provides aid in Central America.
Consider This Northumberland - April 14: Harm Reduction / MRF Sale
Five people died of drug overdoses last month. That is according to the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. In 2021, 28 people died. That is more than double what it was only two years ago.
Northumberland County has more suspected cases of drug overdoses than anywhere else in the health unit’s coverage area.
If you ask Dr. Natalie Bocking, the chief medical officer of health, she will tell you it is a crisis. Many would agree.
The health unit’s support of a harm reduction approach to the crisis has politicians upset. Earlier this week, Bocking was in front of the county council, explaining the health unit’s position. As councillors vented their frustration, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky was the only member of county council to try to take concrete steps during the presentation. She offered to seek the support of her council to help jump-start a drug strategy with the health unit.
In today’s interview, Dr. Bocking will explain the health unit’s position. She will also address much of the misinformation and disinformation being spread by politicians and the public about harm reduction, overdose prevention sites, and what can and cannot be done.
After that, something different. Every homeowner in the county puts out the recycling. Those gray, blue, and green containers help divert 90 percent of materials from landfills.
The recycling goes to the Materials Recovery Facility, or what is referred to as the MRF. It has been around for decades. It was sold recently to a huge company taking over the plant at the end of this year.
You will hear two county representatives talk about the sale and the impact on the curbside pickup that residents currently enjoy.
Consider This Northumberland - April 6: What's next for NSCC / Film Fund
The Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective was before Cobourg council earlier this week. Politicians were deciding what to do next. Staff recommended two alternatives: reject it or go forward with the proposal to put 12 units next to the Memorial Arena on Furnace Street.
After politicians presented their positions, Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty offered a third choice. Declare the land surplus and offer it to Northumberland County as a site for an affordable housing project. The idea was unanimously approved. Meanwhile, the sleeping cabin proposal was accepted for informational purposes, meaning it has not been rejected.
As for the collective, the question remains: What is next?
In today’s interview, you will hear the group’s reaction. Meghan Sheffield, a spokesperson for the collective, will talk about the group’s response to the various positions of politicians and opponents. Plus, she will say where the project goes from here.
Next, you will hear about an initiative to bring more films and TV productions to eastern Ontario. It involves a $25 million injection of money into the local industry. Heather Haldane, co-chair South Eastern Ontario Production Accelerator Fund, and Albert Botha, a steering committee volunteer living in Northumberland, will discuss these efforts. The goal is to create more local talent and production opportunities in the region from Northumberland to the Quebec border. It could generate up to $150 million in economic benefits if successful.
Consider This Northumberland - March 31: Chief Dave Mowat / Balder Corporation
A man was dropped off at Northumberland Hills Hospital with a gunshot wound earlier this month. After an OPP investigation, a police raid occurred on a property within Alderville First Nation. Shortly after, the band council removed the people living on that property.
On today’s show, Alderville First Nation Chief Dave Mowat will explain why he and the band council took these serious steps. More importantly, he will delve into these unique powers and why they are so crucial to keeping his community safe.
After that, there is another story about the application of political power. Representatives of Balder Corporation, the developer of a rental apartment building at the corner of William Street and University Avenue, came before the council recently. Town staff contends the development has only four affordable units instead of 15. Balder Corporation representatives disagreed. You will hear why the council approved the grant, despite the disparity.