Consider This Northumberland

Amid the pandemic in 2021, a group of farmers realized the toll it was taking on mental health. Besides the usual pressures of Mother Nature and fluctuating commodity prices, farmers faced increased isolation and a host of other challenges.

Paul Burnham, Bruce Buttars, and the late Sid Atkinson came on this show to talk about the situation. As part of the conversation, it turned to mental health. Out of this concern, the local federation initiated support for farmers. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture saw the benefits of this program and lobbied hard to get the government to support it.

In 2022, the Farmer Wellness Initiative was born.

Listen to a rebroadcast of this interview in the context of what is happening now.

Young people stood inside Staples in Cobourg this week, showing off their talents. They are part of the Youth Entrepreneurship  Showcase, which displays the various businesses they ran over the summer.

In this interview, you will learn about two programs the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland runs for young people. The first is the Summer Company, which gives micro-grants to high school and university students. Plus, you will discover the My Future My Career program, where children ages eight to 14 can get up to $500 to create their own business.

Wait till you hear about the variety of enterprises. It is a long way from having a lemonade stand.

Several municipalities in Northumberland have implemented policies regarding public behaviour towards staff and politicians. A growing number of incidents has spawned this response, as some residents are becoming increasingly rude and belligerent. Meanwhile, members of the public argue they are frustrated by a lack of transparency and consultation.

In this interview, the issue of public decorum is front and centre. David Dawson, Chief Administration Officer of Alnwick-Haldimand, sent out a public reminder to residents about its Zero Tolerance policy after an incident. He will discuss the changing dynamics between his staff, politicians, and the public.

In the midst of a summer heat wave, it seems like a good time to take a break. This week on Consider This Northumberland, you will hear a favourite story.

This story is about the Salsa kids. A group of 19 business students from Cobourg Collegiate Institute got some fantastic hands-on experience last semester. The class planned, developed, produced, and marketed their own retail-ready salsa. It was a three-month project. The young people worked with the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland and the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre in Colborne.

They did everything from cooking to designing the labels to packing boxes. In the end, they had 600 jars of salsa to sell. It is an example of the innovative education students are getting at CCI.

The demand for rental housing in Northumberland is apparent, as vacancy rates are barely one percent. So, it may be good news when a proposal to build four three-storey buildings in Colborne goes before the Social Services Committee next week.

A proposal to build 60 affordable apartments at 123 King Street East will be brought before politicians for consideration. This is in addition to the 39 units already existing on the site. The units will be a mix of rent-geared-to-income and market-value units. More importantly, it will be suitable for families and singles.

In this interview, two officials from Northumberland County will preview the proposal and explain how it fits into the community's overall housing strategy and how the public can become involved.

If you go into many retail outlets or any place that provides customer service, you will see signs warning people about rude behaviour. It appears some people forget their manners.

At a recent Cramahe Township council meeting, staff and politicians grappled with bad behaviour. It is one of a host of municipalities struggling to set boundaries for interactions between the community and the people who serve it.

Council introduced a public conduct policy at the behest of the Ontario Ombudsman. This set off a community-wide debate about the relationship between staff, politicians, and the public regarding in-person contact, email, and other interactions, stretching even to social media platforms.

In this interview, Mayor Mandy Martin will explain the policy and the intent behind it.

Earlier this week, images of the flooding in Toronto filled the news. A torrential rainstorm overwhelmed the sewer system, causing massive power outages, closing major roads, and costing millions to the city, businesses, and homeowners.

It is also a vivid example of stormwater management, which is the ability of municipal infrastructure to remove water when it rains or snow melts.

Cobourg is embroiled in a controversial change to how it funds that infrastructure. In this interview, you will meet one of many critics of the proposed system. Colline Bell, a spokesperson for a group of residents opposed to the changes, will share her journey from a quiet resident to a vocal opponent.

Business is down on the main street in Port Hope. Few people will argue this point, as Walton Street is undergoing a $6.5 million upgrade. The road is torn up. There is lots of heavy equipment and fencing.

However, a new initiative is underway to draw people back. It is called Be Walton.

In this interview, Port Hope Councillor Todd Attridge will discuss this program. He is a politician on the Heritage Business Improvement Area board, also known as the HBIA. The town hired consultants to design a comprehensive program to bring people back during the construction. The Big Dig, as it is called, is expected to last until November. Is the Be Walton plan sufficient? You listen and decide.

About a year ago, Northumberland County created a Workforce Housing program. The idea was to build affordable housing to attract people to work in Northumberland. In a perfect world, these people would fill gaps in the local workforce and have an affordable home to move to.

The creation of affordable housing is critical in the face of a major housing crisis within the county and across the country. The Workforce Housing program is separate from all other efforts by local municipalities to stimulate the construction of affordable homes.

There is another twist. Part of the program is aimed at recruiting foreign workers. The county is collaborating with international recruiters to bring workers from Columbia and Jordan to Northumberland. Some of the housing would be for them.

As you listen carefully, figure out if this is a good strategy.

Recently, a progress report regarding the new homeless shelter at 310 Division Street was provided to Northumberland County Council. At its June meeting, the council also received an update on its affordable housing and homeless strategy.

Rebecca Carman, associate director of housing and homelessness for Northumberland County, will bring us up to speed on what is happening. The building permits for renovating the new shelter are submitted to the town's building department. She will provide some timelines. Plus, Carman will discuss what is being done to create more affordable housing in the county. This includes its ambitious plans to introduce 250 new units and rent supplements to reduce the waitlist of more than 1,000 families. She will also provide an update as to the status of the encampment in Cobourg and its future.