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Community is one step closer to an Ontario Health Team

By Cecilia Nasmith


Following months of intensive planning and work, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee has submitted a final-stage application to the province to form the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland.

The provincial government introduced OHTs in March as a new model of health-care delivery that better connects different parts of the health-care system by bringing together patients, residents, families, communities, providers and system leaders in a single team to deliver a coordinated continuum of care within a defined geographic area. Even if they belong to different organizations or are sited in different physical locations, team members will work together toward common goals for strengthening local programs and services, improving access and quality of care.

Local participants who put together the application for the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland included patient, care-giver and First Nation representatives, both county hospitals, primary care providers and physician specialists, community health centres and family health teams, long-term care, home- and community-care support services, Emergency Medical Services, hospice palliative care, housing and mental-health representatives.

This group was one of 31 the province invited in July to develop a full application based on self-assessment submissions to the province in the spring.

The proposal being submitted this week seeks to amplify patient and caregiver voices within the health-care system and better align health care stakeholders and providers, closing gaps and improving the co-ordination of care and services.

While the province’s vision is to have all care coordinated through OHTs in the future, the announcement said, the first OHTs will be expected to test local application of the integrated-care concept through targeted projects serving specific populations.

In Year One, the Northumberland OHT will focus on access to comprehensive health-care services for rural populations within Northumberland County – specifically those who experience significant barriers to health care. Based on input and data gathered to date, efforts will be focused on several proposed projects.

The Volunteer Peer Support initiative will match key volunteers with those in the community who require informal support, broadening their social network and assisting them to navigate and access the health care services they need.

The Community Paramedicine initiative will leverage the skills and training of Northumberland Paramedics to provide proactive services for patients who use 9-1-1 services in the face of such challenges as system gaps and access to community care. This will include remote patient monitoring as appropriate.

Rural Outreach Clinics will see multiple partners bringing services and clinicians together to rural community locations to reduce barriers to care patients in small, rural areas may experience, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges.

Recognizing the critical importance of partnerships with patients and caregivers in the planning, design and governance of OHTs, the Northumberland proposal also emphasizes the Team’s commitment to patient-caregiver partnership and community engagement through a number of features, including patient and caregiver representation within all the Team's governance, planning and project team structures – as well as:

  • Adoption of a Patient-Caregiver Partnership and Community Engagement Framework that reflects international best practices and the Patient Declaration of Values for Ontario, setting out the commitment to ongoing consultation to validate proposed Year One projects, assess the local services and supports needed most, and inform future-year priorities.

  • Creation of Northumberland's first county-wide Patient and Family Advisory Council.

  • The intent to establish a future role for a local Ombudsperson.

The announcement included congratulations from Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini for demonstrating a true understanding of the intent behind the new OHT model and ensuring the voices of patient and caregiver representatives are embedded in the team's governance, advisory and consultation plans.

“OHTs will improve how people connect to and navigate our health-care system, closing gaps and improving patient and caregiver experience.” Piccini pledged.

Scott MacPherson, a patient representative on the collaborative planning committee, expressed his belief in the positive change that can be effected by placing the patient at the centre of system design and implementation.

“The province confirmed that Northumberland’s initial self-evaluation, submitted in May, demonstrated a strong commitment to the vision of a patient-centered integrated health-care system, and a high state of readiness to move forward collaboratively,” MacPherson said.

“As a moderate-to-heavy user of the healthcare system since my youth, I have appreciated the opportunity to contribute my perspective and key learnings to this process, and I look forward to facilitating future implementation.”

Northumberland Family Health Team primary-care physician Dr. Erin Pepper said that more than 90% of the county's primary-care physicians have signed on in support of the OHT initiative. And Northumberland Hills Hospital president and chief executive officer Linda Davis considers the model “a unique opportunity for local organizations to go beyond our previous partnerships to actually co-design, with patients and providers, specific, tangible improvements to enhance the delivery of care in our community.

“We believe we have developed a proposal for service delivery that will improve health outcomes, patient and provider experience, and value for Northumberland residents.”

The province has confirmed that the first OHTs will be announced this fall.

NHH spotlights services for Mental Illness Awareness Week

By Cecilia Nasmith



Through the very inspiring story of one client, Northumberland Hills Hospital is observing Mental Illness Awareness Week – which began Oct. 6 – by taking the opportunity to spotlight the mental-health services available in our region.

Especially the NHH's ACT Team – which stands for Assertive Community Treatment.

The NHH press release identifies the client only as Noah, saying there was a time when mental illness had so interrupted his life that he couldn't enjoy the simple pleasure of coffee with friends.

“He had turned away from himself, his job, and from family and friends who cared about him,” the press release related.

“He was scared and alone, obsessed with the colours black and white, and convinced that he had the power to change the colours in the world - and if he didn’t, or couldn’t, harm would come to him, and to others.”

It wasn't a matter of being on drugs, Noah said. He went to school, got a job and a license, made friends and seemed to have his life on track. He was working and living with his parent in his mid-20s, when signs of mental illness became evident.

It began with his obsession with colour, and then with numbers. He recounted what he recalls as one of his worst moments, finding himself in a farmer's field near his parents’ Roseneath home. And he did not want to live.

Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, Noah persevered in the face of his condition and found the help he needed. After multiple hospitalizations, a lot of work on his part, and years of support from his parents, neighbours, outreach community mental health workers, and psychiatrists, he now lives independently – and even volunteers to help those challenged by mental-illness journeys of their own.

He wanted to share his story for Mental Illness Awareness Week as a message of hope for the one in five Canadians dealing with mental illness today.

Though his journey to recovery is ongoing, Noah is very grateful for the circle of supports that helped him to get to the good place he’s in today—especially his friends in the ACT Team.

One of 80 Northumberland clients served today by NHH’s ACT Team, Noah (now 37) is a strong advocate for the power ACT had to help him when he needed it most.

A small team, ACT consists of a variety of clinicians that includes a case manager, nurses, a social worker, an occupational therapist, an addiction specialist, a vocational specialist and a psychiatrist.

Though they are based out of NHH’s Elgin Street offices, and overseen by Jennifer Cox - Integrated Director of Community Mental Health who links care between Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services and both Northumberland hospitals - most ACT Team members actually spend little of their time in the office. They spend far more time supporting people living with severe mental illness in the community. 

Clients range in age from 18 to 65. With the intensive support of the ACT Team, most are able to maintain their goal of staying out of hospital, and out of jail.

ACT Team lead Julia Smith noted in the press release that most of their clients are living with a diagnosis of severe bipolar disorder or schizophrenia,

“We are available to them seven days per week/365 days a year, using a model that goes to where they are, taking care to the client, be that in their own home, with family, in shelter or on the street.”

Many of NHH’s ACT clients receive daily visits, and sometimes even twice a day. Others are seen weekly.

“Our aim is to fit into the client’s life, as required, so the support is ongoing,” Smith continued.

“Our ACT services are not time-limited, and we work hard to support the whole person as their needs dictate, including mental but also physical and social needs, such as support with activities of daily living like cooking, eating and personal care, housing assistance, help connecting with other community resources, or simply helping with transportation to get to and from a doctor appointment,” she listed.

“Whatever the need may be, we’re there.”

On those occasions when an ACT client is in crisis, and requires hospitalization, the first stop is the NHH Emergency Department. ACT staff accompany the client to the ED, and liaise directly with Mental Health Crisis Clinician Laurie Gallagher.

At this point, Gallagher becomes the lead advocate, and makes sure that they get all the support they need. She also acts as a link back to the ACT team, to keep them informed of the client’s next steps, and helps to work together with the team until the client is discharged back into the community or transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

“The relationship between community support and emergency support is key to our ACT clients’ well-being,” Smith stated.

“It’s a whole-system approach.”

Isolation is one of the biggest challenges faced by those with severe mental illness and. in response to clients’ suggestions, the ACT Team in 2016 opened a space to help combat that. The Living Room, located in the Market Building in downtown Cobourg, now operates two days a week.

Noah has been an important force behind the Living Room service and today, s part of ACT’s stepped-care program of less-intensive support, he takes a lead role in the Living Room’s day-to-day functioning, opening up, locking up, an (with ACT Team staff) assisting other ACT clients who can use it as a downtown drop-in centre for support and friendship.

Reflecting on his journey to the ACT Team, Noah realizes he was lucky.

“My mom knew a guy that knew about the ACT Team, and I got in. It’s been a total changer for me. I’ve got a lot of friends,” he said.

Noah added that the trial-and-error of finding the right mix of medication for his particular problems has left its mark.

“I still have shakes from the last meds,” he explains, showing how his hands shake heavily,

“But I’ve stopped the shaking in my head.

“I got the high more than anything,” he says of his illness when symptoms were at their worst. “Mania was a great feeling.”

For Noah, ACT has become a life-changing social network as well as a clinical lifeline.

“The events they have are great,” he said with a smile.

“We play hockey in the winter, baseball in the summer. There’s a Christmas party, a summer barbecue, floor hockey — it’s great!”

Noah has benefited from it all and, since his mother has also become a volunteer, both now do what they can to help others too.

With scheduled home visits from ACT workers once every two weeks, and appointments every six months with his psychiatrist, Noah (and his family) have the security of knowing they can call on ACT any time as needed.

“I still have times when I think of the stuff I used to focus on, but it just doesn’t stick with me now,” he said.

“The meds I am on cut it off, and - I’ve worked on it.”

His message is that the ACT Team is a safe haven.

“The people are respectful. To anyone else going through the same kind of stuff I went through, you are not alone!”

By talking about mental health in our community, the press release stated, we can work together to help end the stigma associated with mental illness — and help people find the supports they need when they need them.

In the 2018-2019 fiscal year, 4,669 individuals were served by NHH’s Community Mental Health Services programming - almost 500 more than the previous year.

Needs continue to rise. With community partnerships now providing walk-in counselling for adults and youth, as well as crisis support in the Emergency Department and the local M-HEART team (which pairs mental-health professionals with area police services), NHH has a growing list of individual and group services to help support local need.

Where specialized service is not available locally, the press release continued,, “we’re here to help connect.”

For information on the mental-health services available at NHH today, and contact information for the team, please visit the Patient Care Services section of the Hospital website at https://nhh.ca/Patients/PatientCareServices/OutpatientCare/CommunityMentalHealth or contact the team directly at 905-377-9891 or 1-888-294-7579.

Horizons pleads for foreign aid assurances

By Cecilia Nasmith


Horizons of Friendship is calling on Canadian party leaders and all candidates in the current Federal election to commit to upholding Canada's legacy and leadership in international assistance.

The international development agency founded in 1973 by three Cobourg residents is committed to eliminating poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico through partnerships with trusted local agencies. Its current project, undertaken with Federal funding, is saving the lives of women and children in a region in Guatemala where infant-, childbirth- and pregnancy-mortality rates were significant. Horizons has also engaged in similar partnerships to make a difference in such areas as health, migration, climate action, and violence against women.

“Horizons strongly condemns any regression on international assistance, which may endanger progress towards sustainable development goals and lead to further fragility and insecurity around the world,” the agency's press release stated.

The bulletin expresses special concern with the Oct. 1 announcement by Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer of a prospective 25% cut to international aid and a proposal to deny aid to middle and upper-middle developing countries around the globe.

From Horizons' perspective, this would effectively cut all funding to the countries where they work and curtail the ability of other Canadian non-governmental organizations to support international development, particularly in Latin America.

Horizons executive director Patricia Rebolledo said in the press release that this will undermine progress and work on climate action, gender equality and poverty eradication.

“We have made tremendous progress in advancing women’s and children’s health and rights, food security, and climate action across Central America and Mexico. This proposal threatens our ability to continue to work on these issues in the region with support from the Government of Canada,” Rebolledo said.

As of 2018, Canada only spent 0.28% of its gross national income on international assistance – far short of the globally agreed target of 0.7%.

The press release calculates that this represents just 28 cents for every $100 Canadians earn.

“Horizons hopes that the incoming government will focus on increasing international assistance for developing countries, instead of cutting international assistance,” it stated.

“Horizons looks forward to working with any government to reduce poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico.”

Cobourg Transit continues on Thanksgiving

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg reminds residents that both conventional and Wheels transit buses will be running on Thanksgiving Day – Monday, Oct. 14.

Conventional Cobourg Transit service will be available from 6:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., with Wheels Transit running from 6:16 a.m. to 11 p.m. BTS Network will operate from 6:15 to 8 a.m., and from 3 to 7:45 p.m.

For more information, contact the Public Works division at 905-372-4555.

Police Charge Six Individuals With Child Pornography Offences

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Child Sexual Exploitation Unit executed six unrelated search warrants between September 24 and 26, 2019 in Northumberland County. These warrants were carried out jointly with the OPP Digital Forensics Unit and Northumberland OPP with assistance from the Cobourg Police Service and the Port Hope Police Service.

 As a result of the search warrants, six individuals were charged with a total of 16 criminal charges.

 A summary of the investigations, involved persons and charges laid are as follows:

On September 24, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in the Municipality of Trent Hills. As a result of the investigation, Kyle ELIEFF, 61 years-of-age of the Municipality of Trent Hills was charged with two counts of Possession and one count of Accessing Child Pornography. The accused is scheduled to appear next on October 16, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.

On September 24, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamilton Township. As a result of the investigation, Derek Peter MITCHELL, 35 years-of-age of Hamilton Township was charged with one count of Possession and one count of Accessing Child Pornography. The accused is scheduled to appear next on October 16, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.

On September 25, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamilton Township. As a result of the investigation, a 16 year-old was charged with one count of Making Available and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. The youth is scheduled to appear next on November 12, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.

On September 25, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in the town of Cobourg. As a result of the investigation, Donald Robert CHOLMONDELEY, 62 years-of-age of Cobourg was charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The accused is scheduled to appear next on October 23, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.

On September 26, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in the town of Port Hope. As a result of the investigation, Richard Bruce MARPLE, 59 years-of-age of Port Hope was charged with one count of Making Available, one count of Possession and one count of Accessing Child Pornography. The accused is scheduled to appear next on October 3rd, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.

On September 26, 2019, police executed a search warrant at a residence in the town of Cobourg. As a result of the investigation, David McDOUGALL, 50 years-of-age of Cobourg was charged with one count of Making Available and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The accused is scheduled to appear next on October 2, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg

Multiple electronic devices were seized for further examination.

The exploitation of children on the internet remains a growing concern for the OPP and the public is reminded that, "Every photograph is sexual abuse of a real child. It is not just a photo. Every time that photo is seen on the internet, the child is victimized again." -Inspector Tina Chalk, Manager, Counter Exploitation and Missing Persons Section

The Ontario Provincial Police will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children.

Any member of the public wishing to report instances of child sexual abuse on the internet is encouraged to do so by calling your local police service, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or by navigating to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection website to report it through cybertip.ca.

Copex 2019 welcomes special guests

By Cecilia Nasmith



Three special guests showed up at the 50th anniversary Cobourg Stamp Club show and sale Sept. 28 – known as Copex 2019 – to help the members celebrate that important milestone.

Cobourg Mayor John Henderson brought greetings from the town, town crier Mandy Robinson delivered a ringing cry written just for the occasion and one of the town planners, Rob Franklin, showed up in a special costume to impersonate one of the nation's Fathers of Confederation.

Official town greetings are received - from left, Franklin, Henderson, club president Malcolm Pacey and Robinson. The James Cockburn table is seen with all proclamations and presentations made

Franklin's visit had to do with the release of a limited-edition envelope for this 50th anniversary honouring Cobourg's own Father of Confederation James Cockburn that club president Malcolm Pacey collaborated on with Cobourg Mayor John Henderson.

And if James Cockburn is involved, Henderson said, the Rob & Rob Show will be there.

That's the mayor's affectionate nickname for two of the town's most valuable historical resources, Their day jobs are Loyalist College professor (Rob Washburn) and the town's manager of planning and development (Franklin). On their own time, they are the go-to people for anything Cockburn.

Between the two of them, they have researched Cockburn, written one-man biographical plays about him and organize educational extravaganzas for local schools each year in honour of his birthday in February – it will be a bicentennial of his birth on Feb. 13, 2020, Henderson noted.

But they have done even more.

Cobourg manager of planning and development honours the Father of Confederation he is impersonating, James Cockburn.

Washburn made the presentation to Cobourg council that resulted in the renaming of the August holiday in Cockburn's honour, and it is observed each year with the performance of one of those one-man plays in front of Victoria Hall, where Cockburn had his law office long ago.

And Franklin IS James Cockburn, complete to top hat, impersonating the Father of Confederation at the February programming, performing the one-man plays and providing a unique heritage touch at civic functions.

Another heritage touch came from the town crier, not only in her costuming but in the cry she composed that set out much of the history of the club as well as offering warm congratulations on behalf of the town.

As her own gift, Robinson had her official cry written up in old English script and presented it in a folder for the club to keep.

Henderson echoed the sentiment and noted the club's contributions to the town from its beginning in 1966 when Canadian Army personnel stationed at the former supply depot in Cobourg shared their mutual interest in philately with local collectors,

“From its early beginnings, they gave the community a place to meet and share their hobby and, more important, passion for stamps,” the mayor said.

Speaking after the show, Pacey estimated some 130 visitors had shown up to enjoy the proceedings, which proved to be a successful show and sale that is a good basis to build on going forward to 2020 and beyond.

The three special visitors were all the talk, he said, and the special James Cockburn limited-edition envelope was completely sold out.

Pacey understands the visiting dealers did well. Jim Allen of Perforations Plus in Lindsay – who has been attending Copex shows for about 10 years – would agree.

“It's a wonderful small-club show,” he said.

“They know exactly what they are doing. They have have good club management, they have good displays that come in, the back room is well organized and dealers always do well here.”

Allen was one of eight dealers present for this landmark show, and visitors were invited to vote for their favourite from among 15 exhibitions – a wide-ranging variety, from Dogs With Jobs and Marvel Comics to The Explorers and Japan: World Heritage Sites.

At the edge of the food court, 50th-anniversary cakes waited to be cut by the distinguished guests. In an adjoining room, the silent auction and consignment tables were set up, with the club books on tables for those who needed more information.

There is also more information to be found at the regular meetings of the Cobourg Stamp Club, and Pacey invites anyone interested to drop in.

The meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (except July and August, when meetings are held the second Wednesday in July and the fourth Wednesday in August).

They take place at the Salvation Army Citadel at 59 Ballantine St. in Cobourg. Doors open at 5:30 p.m, and the meetings generally run from 6 to 8 p.m.

County holds Northumberland Forest Master Plan info sessions

By Cecilia Nasmith


Northumberland County will host two public information sessions in October about work that is currently under way to develop a Northumberland County Forest Master Plan that will guide its sustainable management over the next 20 years.

County Natural and Cultural Heritage Manager Todd Farrell noted in the county's press release that the forest not only provides recreational opportunities but is also home to many unique species and habitats (such a the rare Black Oak Woodland).

“It is important that we develop sustainable long-term plans to maintain and enhance these natural assets within our community,” Farrell said.

During the planning process, staff are exploring best practices for maintaining habitats, as well as recreational trails and facilities, in the most sustainable manner. In June, they collected feedback from residents through an on-line survey that ran for three weeks. This feedback, as well as input gathered at the October information sessions, will be considered during the development of the final plan.

The first session runs Oct. 15 at the Centreton Community Centre (2363 County Rd. 2) and the second on Oct. 17 at the county building (555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg). Both are open from 4 to 7 p.m., and both feature two 15-minute presentations by staff (at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.).

For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/Forest.