Consider This Northumberland

A total solar eclipse will pass over Northumberland County on April 8. Residents will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch this unique phenomenon. The last one occurred nearly 400 years ago, and it will be another 400 years before it happens again.

In this interview, Rick Stankiewicz, publicity director for the Peterborough Astronomical Association, will explain a total solar eclipse. He will also explain where it will take place and how to watch it safely. As someone who has watched a total solar eclipse before, he says it will be an awesome experience.

At the east end of Cobourg sits the Lucas Point Industrial Park. Across from the Cobourg Community Centre sits the Northam Industrial Park. Daniel Van Kampen and his team are responsible for looking after those industries and attracting new ones. He is the manager of economic development for the town of Cobourg.

He also shares responsibility for bringing new retailers and services to the downtown and the rest of Cobourg.

His group and Venture 13 (the organization that supports and funds many innovative new entrepreneurs) presented an annual report to the town council. You will want to hear what he says to learn more about their work and the state of the local economy.

Hamilton Township recently won a lottery of sorts. It was chosen to work on an internationally significant pilot project with one of the top institutes managing water supply in Ontario.

The treatment plant for Creighton Heights uses an innovative biological system from the United States to remove ammonia from its water supply. The Walkerton Clean Water Centre is partnering with the township. If successful, it could pave the way for other smaller municipalities in Canada and the United States to use this advanced system.

Just outside of Brighton, along County Road 64, is the beautiful Murray Canal. Today, it is a recreational waterway that takes boaters from Presqu'ile Bay to the Bay of Quinte. Most people use it to get to the Trent-Severn Waterway or to Kingston by boat.

However, in the 19th century, businesspeople, residents, and politicians saw it as a vital route for commerce, national security, and safety.

While the Welland and Rideau canals were built in the mid-1800s, the Murray Canal was consistently delayed. Lobbying efforts by local businesspeople and politicians and a fateful re-election campaign won by Sir John A. Macdonald finally moved the project forward.

A new book by local historian Dan Buchanan tells this amazing story. If you are curious about local history, have a listen.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board trustees recently released a strategic plan for their term in office. The document is very short at a glance, with sweeping expressions of what they hope to achieve.

In this interview, the school board chair, Jaine Klassen-Jeninga, will take us behind the plan to explain what is going on. She will give context and flush out the details. Most importantly, she will explain how the board’s goals will be measured and achieved over the next four years. She will explain how the school board will deal with the rising pressures seen across the country by parents and provincial governments around gender identity and how the board hopes to respond to these concerns in local schools.

Is the county fixing enough roads? How much waste is being diverted from the landfill? Are your tax dollars being appropriately managed?

These are only a few questions Northumberland County residents find with just a few clicks of a mouse.

County staff developed a performance dashboard on its website. It is devoted to throwing open the curtains behind its activities. An unprecedented amount of information is now available. It allows residents to track the performance of county staff and politicians regarding all of its responsibilities. For the casual observer, it gives an overview of whether goals and promises are being met. For the serious watchdog, it provides a lot of depth to drill down into the finer details. It will be up to residents to determine if it really will enhance the transparency and accountability of bureaucrats and politicians.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce released its annual report recently. Business confidence is low across the province. There are a host of issues facing a wide range of sectors across the business spectrum. Yet, amid all the doom and gloom, there is some limited optimism about the upcoming year.

Brenda Whitehead, CEO of the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce, will give a local perspective on the mood of her members. A record number of businesses from Northumberland County participated in the survey this year.

When painting a picture of the business environment, her message is simple: it all depends on who you are talking to. For some, the opportunities for expansion and growth exist. Yet, for others, there are significant challenges, such as layoffs and cutbacks. She will give her analysis and insight.

Farmers and film festivals are not always something you would think go together. Yet, the local chapter of the National Farmers Union of Ontario is screening several documentary films at the Aaron Theatre in Campbellford next Saturday afternoon. These are interviews with farmers across Canada dealing with serious issues like climate change, sustainable farming practices, loss of agricultural lands, and the family farm's future.

These are not just films for farmers. They are films for everyone. If you ate today, you will be interested in this film festival.

In November, a new show launched on Northumberland 89.7 FM called Conversations Towards Reconciliation with Alderville First Nations Chief Taynar Simpson. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the Indigenous community in Northumberland and elsewhere every month.

So far, the show included topics like Indigenous portrayal in movies, games, and TV. There was a chat about the 10th anniversary of the solar farm in Alderville and boil water advisories. Each episode also includes a long list of events and announcements about what is happening in Alderville.

In this episode, you will hear about a meeting of all the chiefs from across Canada at the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa. It was attended by Chief Simpson. You will also learn about something called the duty to consult. It is an important aspect of recognizing land rights, not only across the country and the province but also locally. You will find out if municipalities and the county are engaging with Alderville when it comes to development and protecting heritage, along with the environment and Indigenous rights.

 You can hear Conversations Towards Reconciliation with Simpson on the third Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. on Northumberland 89.7 FM or on Apple Podcasts.

The Port Hope police recently released its two-year strategic plan. While the title sounds pretty lofty, there are many nuts and bolts in it.

In this interview, Chief Tim Farquharson will address critical issues facing the community. He will discuss the hiring of three new officers and the expansion of the auxiliary force in the hopes of increasing police presence. But that is not all. He will tackle the local opioid crisis, homelessness, mental health, and public engagement. The question is: Will all this help residents feel safe and secure?