Consider This Northumberland

On September 4, at a town committee meeting, Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland floated the idea of separating from the county. Warden Brian Ostrander came on this show two weeks ago to respond to his idea.

A lot has happened since then.

In this interview, Cleveland will elaborate. He will talk about his original motivation to propose a separation. Cleveland will also share his new vision for a restructured Northumberland County. He will answer his critics. Plus, he will explain how he feels sitting in the chambers at county council from when he was elected until today.

This is an experiment.

Most people listening to this show live busy lives. So much goes on that it is difficult to stay on top of what is going on at the various councils within Northumberland.

In this podcast, you will hear the actual debate from the September 18 county council meeting. It is straight out of the public meeting.

You will hear an item raised by Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland. It is at the heart of his concerns regarding the encampment on King Street. You will hear him ask questions, get answers, and the ensuing debate amongst the councillors.  Then, you can decide what to think about the situation between politicians and staff at the county and the mayor.

I am calling this feature: In Their Words. No spin. No opinions. No one telling you what to think. Just what was said.

It is a chance you might not have otherwise to hear directly from your elected representatives. I hope you find it useful and informative.

With fall fast approaching, the days grow cooler and nights even colder. For those living unsheltered across Northumberland County, things will become tougher.

In this interview, a Brighton councillor is trying to get his municipality to prepare. Jeff Wheeldon wants the town to collaborate with the county to improve services to unsheltered people in his area. Wheeldon says Brighton's efforts remind everyone about the extent of homelessness across Northumberland. He feels each municipality has a role to play, even if it is a responsibility of the county.

Wheeldon is also a member of the Housing and Homelessness Task Force. It is a group of politicians from each of the seven municipalities. Its purpose is to share ideas and brainstorm.

As you listen, you can figure out how successful Wheeldon and the task force are in searching for solutions.

Please note: After recording the interview, county officials responded to Wheeldon's reports of unsheltered people, which is the conversation.

More than 30 years ago, David Sheffield attended a potluck dinner at Green Wood Towers in Port Hope. The meal changed his life.

He went on to create the Green Wood Coalition, a non-profit aimed at helping those who lived on the margins in the community. Slowly, it would gain attention. There would be challenges but also successes.

In this interview, Sheffield will explain why he stepped down, the state of the organization, and his own reflections on the past and his future. Listen and see if you agree with his assessment.

At a recent committee meeting of Cobourg council, Mayor Lucas Cleveland said Cobourg’s efforts to deal with the encampment on King Street were only dealing with the symptoms, but not the sickness.

The sickness the mayor was referring to was Northumberland County’s efforts to address the situation. The county is responsible for housing and homelessness. Cobourg is not. This limits what the town council can do to address the ongoing concerns raised by the public.

He suggested it may be time for town council to consider leaving the county to become a separate municipality.

His remarks were, in part, a response to resident and local businessperson James Bisson appearing as a delegation. Bisson expressed deep concerns and frustration about the encampment. He is not alone.

In this interview, you will hear a response to the mayor’s remarks from Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander. You will also hear him respond to several concerns raised by Mr. Bisson’s presentation.

Nearly 30,000 Chinook Salmon migrate through the lower Ganaraska River in Port Hope to spawn upstream. It is one of the largest in Ontario. This magnificent display of nature attracts tourists and anglers from far and wide.

However, the stretch from Corbett’s Dam to the mouth of the river is a hotbed of controversy. The shallow waters and pools expose fish to unscrupulous people who illegally snag or net fish. Plus, there are other impacts on the fish, the river, and the town.

For some residents, enough was enough. For years, complaints were made. Efforts to remedy the situation failed. A petition was presented to town council calling for a ban. Yet, for dedicated anglers, it meant a potential loss of a thriving fishery to those who acted responsibly.

This fall, the Ontario government designated a stretch of the Ganaraska River as a fishing sanctuary. In this interview, you will hear all about what that means for the residents, anglers, and, especially, the fish. You decide if it is the right thing to do.

International Overdose Awareness Day was last week. A tragic death caused by a drug overdose took place in Alderville recently. It was a reminder that no community is immune.

First Nations people are seven times more likely to die of a drug overdose as compared to non-First Nations people, according to a recent study done by the Chiefs of Ontario. It is an organization representing 133 First Nations in the province.

In this interview, Alderville Chief Taynar Simpson joins me to discuss the opioid crisis in his community. Similar to places across Ontario, he is facing issues related to opioids, overdoses, and related deaths.

Simpson said the band council met to discuss the problem at its last meeting. You will learn how it responded to the most recent death and its plans.

After a year of hard work and numerous challenges, the walk-in clinic in Port Hope re-opened with a soft launch earlier this month.

As everyone slowly finds their sea legs, the clinic hopes to serve a growing population in Northumberland without doctors.

In this early stage, the hours are irregular. People need to check the county’s website or call to find the days and times it is open.

In this interview, county officials will explain what is going on and why. As the doctors and staff become familiar with the new technology and physician recruitment continues, they will paint a picture of what is happening now and in the immediate future.

Marsha Smoke is a quiet, humble individual who lives in Alderville. When you meet her, she is soft-spoken, listens intently, and chooses her words with great care.

Marsha Smoke is also the new Southeast Regional Chief for the Anishinabek Nation. Northumberland is part of the area she serves. Smoke is a longtime advocate of Indigenous rights dating back decades. She takes on the pressing issues facing First Nations in her new role, supporting chiefs like Alderville’s Taynar Simpson and others. She is also a successful entrepreneur, a knowledge keeper, and a loving great-grandmother. To find out more, have a listen.

The harvest is in full swing. It is the time of year when we enjoy the bounty farmers provide annually. But at what cost?

Three-quarters of farmers in Canada suffer from moderate to high stress. One in four contemplate suicide, according to a study done in 2021 by Guelph University.

In this interview, we learn more about mental health in the agriculture sector. Northumberland County started a program to support farmers. It was the genesis of a province-wide program.

The first interview will involve two current Northumberland Federation of Agriculture members discussing a new wave of funding to enhance the current program. It is called the Farmer Wellness Initiative and is part of Agriculture Wellness Ontario.