Municipality was urged to name Pond Arena in community centre in honour of Grace Bowen In a May 5 news release announcing the action the bureau alleges Wonderland is advertising prices that do not include a mandatory fixed fee of $0.99 Visit our new Shopping and Services section 1 and Lakeview/Forth Street and Monks Cove Sanitary Pump Stations The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and Town of Cobourg (Town) have undertaken a Planning Review and provide feedback on updated mapping for the Growth Management amendment to County Official Plan Visit our new Shopping and Services section the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report It called the crisis what it is: a genocide April 30 is the deadline to file your 2024 income tax and benefit return Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The Town of Cobourg is going to be featured in the first-ever authorized scripted series about the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali — and Cobourg residents will have a chance to be unpaid extras during a parade scene According to a media release from the town a production company will be in Cobourg over the next two weeks for filming of the new Amazon Prime Video series The Greatest which stars Jaalen Best as Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) The ongoing series is a spin-off of the 1977 biographical sports film The Greatest based on Ali’s book of the same name which followed his life from the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome to his regaining the heavyweight crown from George Foreman in their famous “Rumble in the Jungle” fight in 1974 The first season of the Amazon series is subtitled “I Shook Up the World” and begins in 1960 when 18-year-old Cassius Clay wins the Olympic gold medal The series is described as a coming-of-age story that unfolds against the backdrop of cultural shifts The Greatest is produced in collaboration with Ali’s estate — Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74 after a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease — with his widow Lonnie Ali serving as executive producer The Greatest also stars Omari Hardwick as Ali’s father Cassius “Cash” Clay Sr. Dana Gourrier as Ali’s mother Odessa “Bird” Clay Kai Parham as Ali’s younger brother Rudy Clay Amin Joseph as boxer Sonny Liston (the world heavyweight champion Ali defeated in two controversial fights in 1964 and 1965) and Michael Ealy as Ali’s spiritual advisor and friend Malcolm X the human rights activist with whom Ali later had a falling out after Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam The Greatest will be filming in the Toronto area from April 21 to August 31 Production company Reunion MA Production Inc with filming day in downtown Cobourg on April 30 Film preparation of store fronts and windows on King Street from Third to Hibernia will take place from April 21 to 25 filming will take place at a private residence in the east end of Cobourg and filming preparation will begin in the James Cockburn Room at Victoria Hall filming will take place in downtown Cobourg from 7 a.m including inside and outside the James Cockburn Room at Victoria Hall and on King Street from Third to Hibernia for the shooting of a parade scene A community casting call will be issued for local residents to participate as unpaid walk-on extras during the parade scene The production will wrap up on May 1 and 2 vehicles will be parked in the Albert Street lot from April 21 to May 2 and at the Victoria Park Campground from April 27 to 30 production vehicles will be using on-street parking on both sides of King Street from Third to Hibernia on April 30 “Welcoming film productions to Cobourg plays a vital role in driving economic development and boosting tourism,” says Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland in the media release “Each production supports local businesses and showcases the unique charm of our town to audiences far and wide.” “It’s an exciting way to strengthen our local economy while keeping Cobourg on the map as a premier filming destination,” adds Cleveland Perhaps as an attempt to counter any negative perceptions about an American series being filmed in Cobourg after U.S president Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada and threatened the country’s sovereignty the media release notes the production company is hiring around 200 Canadian paid background actors and has around 150 Canadian crew members “All hotel accommodations are being booked locally,” the media release states “The production team intends to support local businesses and coffee shops throughout their stay.” while residents will notice the American flag and bunting outside of Victoria Hall and on King Street for the week of April 28 “their presence will be kept to the minimum required times.” kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways and our news digest is delivered daily every morning Email        The Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County suffered a major blow on Wednesday (April 9) when Post Holdings announced it would be closing Cobourg’s Weetabix plant by the end of the year throwing an estimated 150 people out of work which manufactures cereals including Raisin Bran and Grape-Nuts as well as peanut butter and pet food The Weetabix plant at 751 D’Arcy Street in Cobourg is one of two cereal manufacturing facilities the company is closing The company says its production capabilities at the two plants will be transferred to other Post Consumer Brands manufacturing locations and the Cobourg and Sparks plants will close by the end of December 2025 “The ready-to-eat cereal category continues to decline,” Post Consumer Brands president and CEO Nicolas Catoggio said in a media release we are reducing excess manufacturing capacity and optimizing our North American plant network to better utilize our production capacity.” With the exception of a surge in demand during the pandemic consumer preferences have been steadily shifting away from highly processed ready-to-eat cereal to more convenient and healthier breakfast options like protein bars and yogurt Large cereal manufacturers like Post Holdings and General Mills are also competing against a growing niche cereal market that produces healthier options Post has seen cereal volumes decline by 2.3 per cent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 The company says it expects to save around $21 to $23 million starting in fiscal 2026 as a result of closing the Cobourg and Sparks plants Post also operates a third plant in Canada That plant was not affected by the announcement Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland issued a statement late Wednesday that he was “very saddened to receive the news” of the closure announcement “Post has been a valued member of the business community in Cobourg since 2017 when the company acquired Weetabix,” he said “Their loss will be felt throughout Northumberland This closure represents the loss of 150 local jobs within our community I know I speak for all of council when I say this is very unfortunate.” “I will be reaching out to the senior team at Post to see how Cobourg can help in this difficult time Our primary concern now is for our fellow friends and neighbours as employees and how we can make sure they are accessing the services they require.” Cobourg’s Weetabix plant has been operation in 1978 and makes breakfast cereals under the Weetabix a high-fibre cereal sold only in Canada since 2003 It produces around 26 million pounds of cereal each year and Weetabix was originally a family-owned company established in the U.K Northamptonshire producing three billion Weetabix biscuits every year The largest producer of breakfast cereals in the U.K. Weetabix was bought by a private equity firm Lion Capitol and China’s Bright Food acquired a majority stake with the intention of expanding into the Chinese market After Weetabix failed to catch on in China Bright Food sold the business to Post Holdings in 2017 the Ontario government announced $412,700 in funding for an expansion of the Cobourg plant that was to create 47 new jobs Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds made a virtual appearance at a Cobourg committee meeting to push for a local arena to be renamed after a young girl who died of cancer who died in early 2015 from a battle with osteosarcoma changed his life when he met her over a decade ago through Toronto’s SickKids Foundation The Canadian “Deadpool” actor attended the Town of Cobourg’s community services protection and economic development standing committee to plead his case alongside Grace’s parents “[The arena] was Grace’s temple; that was her church “Her name kind of said it all.” The committee voted unanimously to move this item to the regular council meeting scheduled for April 30 at which the entire Cobourg City Council will give their final vote “As parents of someone who has lost a child I think I can speak for anyone in our shoes The biggest fear is that you’ll never hear someone else say their name again,” said Greg Bowen In December 2024, Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, pledged to match donations to SickKids up to $500,000. That same month, Reynolds was awarded the Order of Canada. Beyond fundraising, Reynolds has personally connected with SickKids patients and paid tribute to Grace’s passing in 2016 Reynolds said it would “be beautiful” for The Pond Arena to be renamed in Grace’s honour “I wasn’t doing anything with this platform that I had A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel a mentally ill man who was killed in an Ontario prison is calling out the provincial government over the lack of correctional reform listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices Northumberland—Peterborough South MPP David Piccini (third from left) stands next to Solicitor General Michael Kerzner (fourth from left) during a funding announcement for the police services in Port Hope and Cobourg The CCTV grant program is part of the Guns The Ontario government is investing a combined $355,000 to help the Cobourg Police Service and Port Hope Police Service expand their video surveillance systems and better protect the community against crime and violence The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Closed Circuit Television Grant Program to be used to replace outdated equipment expand or enhance current technology and install new or additional CCTV surveillance cameras “Our government remains dedicated to its commitment to support police services in their tireless efforts to keep our streets safe,” said David Piccini “CCTV is a powerful tool for our front-line police officers Having modern equipment enables them to detect and deter criminal activity in our community “CCTV surveillance systems are an important part of local police work to detect especially in areas of gun and gang violence and other serious crimes,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner our government led by Premier Ford is ensuring police services have the tools and resources they need to help protect their communities and keep Ontarians safe.” Cobourg Police Service will receive $255,000 and Port Hope Police Service will get $100,000 the Ontario CCTV Grant program is part of Ontario’s Guns The funding being provided to Cobourg and Port Hope Police services represents two of 14 projects across the province for a total investment of $2 million for 2024-2025 “No community is immune to the impacts of organized crime,” said Chief Paul VandeGraaf “CCTV technology is a crucial step in tackling gun and gang violence while ensuring the safety of our residents the Cobourg Police Service can expand and maintain the CCTV Network in Cobourg to better respond to criminal activities Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson said CCTV cameras are a cost-effective investigative tool that can augment traditional policing CCTV cameras can contribute to community safety by capturing evidence that can assist in determining the truth and convicting the guilty.” Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Actor Ryan Reynolds dropped by a Community Services and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting this week to urge the town to rename its Pond Arena for Grace Bowen A display was placed in the Cobourg Community Centre this month in honour of Grace Bowen and her association with Sick Kids members vote unanimously to support renaming the Pond Arena The link between Cobourg’s Bowen family and actor Ryan Reynolds goes back more than a decade Nine-year-old Grace Bowen fought her battle with osteosarcoma — the same cancer that hit Terry Fox — for more than a year before she died March 13 there were numerous fundraisers held locally for Grace and her family the family was at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto While Grace was in Toronto she became friends with several people including Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser and Reynolds who she met at the Canadian Walk of Fame ceremony Reynolds made a virtual appearance at Cobourg’s Community Services and Economic Development Standing Committee with a special request for the group — name the Pond Arena in Cobourg’s community centre for Grace the Town of Cobourg joined forces with the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association (WNGHA) and the Bowen family to celebrate 150 years of The Hospital for Sick Children “The Town of Cobourg is proud to join communities across the county to celebrate the life-changing work being done every day at SickKids and to honour an incredible little girl whose courage and determination in her fight against cancer was of celebrity proportion,” the town stated in a release and passionate young girl from Grafton … whose love for hockey could not be measured she poured every ounce of her energy into the game and the unbreakable bond with her teammates.” Reynolds recalled that passion on Wednesday “I met Grace backstage with Haley Wickenheiser Grace at some point came up and gave me a hug or something … I forget exactly what it was … but I just remember looking at this little girl who’s going through so much “And just from the moment I met her that night if I have a free moment for any kid who’s carrying a bag of rocks around like that She was on his mind this week when the notion came up to possibly rename the Pond Arena for Grace Hockey was her life … would be pretty beautiful if we were able to rename the arena the Grace Bowen Arena Sick Kids officials have chosen 150 significant moments at the hospital to mark the 150 years and Grace meeting Ryan and Haley in 2014 was impactful for the hospital a special display was placed next to the Pond Arena to honour Grace Grace’s mom Andrea told Northumberland News that the family fights every day to continue Grace’s legacy and tell her story “We fight to help other children by raising much-needed childhood cancer research funds We continue to fight every day to take another step without Grace And we will continue the fight with SickKids who did all they could with amazing teams of doctors nurses and the people behind the scenes supporting children and families like us.” the Cobourg committee voted unanimously to support renaming the Pond Arena The matter is expected to go before council April 30 Bill Hodgins is a news writer for Northumberlandnews.com Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland says he’s contemplating a task force in reaction to the news that Post Consumer Brands will be closing its Cobourg factory later this year ‘How can we bring someone to town to take over that facility as soon as possible?’ Mayor Lucas Cleveland knows there will be challenging times ahead for the municipality, still reeling from this week’s announcement that Post Consumer Brands will close its D’Arcy Street facility in Cobourg at the end of the year is on the challenge facing those 150 employees who learned they would be losing their jobs worrisome and full of anxiety and concern,” he told Northumberland News “I can you that because Cobourg is such a small community it’s hard to know anyone in this community that isn’t indirectly linked to an employer or employee from that factory What it means to Coburg is that it’s a time for us to show our generosity and it’s time for us to come together to support our neighbours Cereal maker Post announced Wednesday it will close the Weetabix plant in Cobourg this year “The two facilities together employ approximately 300 employees and are expected to close by the end of December 2025,” the company announced adding it had already notified employees of the decision and that capabilities at the two plants will be transferred to other manufacturing locations “The ready-to-eat cereal category continues to decline,” company president and CEO Nicolas Catoggio said we are reducing excess manufacturing capacity and optimizing our North American plant network to better utilize our production capacity.” Cleveland said the community has shown resiliency in the past with news like this and he feels it’s the way forward this time as well the economic development team and the county to come together as well because we’ve got a history of good news around unfortunate events.” Cleveland says Baxter’s rehired a majority of the old employees “What we have to do is also look for the opportunities If we’re unable to save the building and the current facility how can we bring someone to town to take over that facility as soon as possible to ensure that there are then job opportunities for those employees?” Cobourg is currently experiencing an economic boom we’ve seen an incredible turnaround on the industrial and commercial landscape in Cobourg We’ve gone from a million square feet of an empty industrial space when I was elected to a fully filled industrial complex within Cobourg Lucas Point Park basically sell out to industries coming to town and the construction of new industrial and commercial spaces at Lucas Point Park … we are currently having to bring individual workers to fill this growth and economic activity because we don’t have enough employees at present within the local community to fill all of these jobs.” losing 150 jobs in the community is a situation which needs to be addressed in the community you’ll definitely be seeing a notice of motion I’m going to be putting forward about the creation of a task force … I’m still talking to (the economic development department) I’m trying to understand both from the county and the lower tier as well as looking at maybe the southeastern development (economic development) maybe getting someone from them onto the task force.” Knowing the realities of the current economic situation he said they should be exploring all options How is the town and the community going to ensure that the adequate supports for these individuals are in place That’s one potential area of this task force I think the other area of the task force should be the strategy with which to fill that space?” The community’s current economic boom could make it attractive to a manufacturer looking to relocate or set up new business Cleveland said when you look at the growth of Mississauga or Brampton or any of the other areas that are just about the same distance from Toronto and then you look in Northumberland County the growth they’ve experienced is becoming more evident here now “I think what is happening is that exact situation is now coming to fruition is that because of the economic conditions Northumberland County is at the centre of a lot of this shift So we are seeing a lot of Torontonians … we’re seeing a lot of young families moving here You can see that on the daycare waiting lists You can see that on the need for ice time for hockey players You can see it on the growth of the soccer leagues we’re seeing that demographic shift significantly since COVID they can find a company that likes what Northumberland County and Cobourg have to offer “If we can bring to Cobourg a manufacturing facility that would absorb some of their equipment then there is a possibility that we can have employment for a number of those 150 families in a position similar to what happened with Baxter’s Bakery.” May 8 at select McDonald’s restaurants in Northumberland County will help support treatment services for children with special needs McDonald’s restaurants in Port Hope and Cobourg have chosen Five Counties Children’s Centre as the local charity to benefit from “McHappy Day.” McDonald’s restaurants across Canada support local children’s charities by donating a portion of proceeds from every food and beverage item sold on McHappy Day McHappy Day raised $8.9 million across Canada for the Ronald McDonald House Charities as well as local children’s charities Last year was the first year that Five Counties was as the beneficiary of McHappy Day in Northumberland County The centre is looking forward to another successful fundraiser this year “McHappy Day was an amazing event last year at McDonald’s locations in Port Hope and Cobourg raising the most funds ever for kids’ charities,” Bill Eekhof communications coordinator for Five Counties “We had tremendous support from Five Counties staff supporters and many other organizations who came out to assist us at McHappy Day.” Eekhof said Five Counties is “extremely grateful” for Lisa Wilson owner of the McDonald’s locations in Cobourg and Port Hope and her entire team for again selecting Five Counties as the local children’s charity to benefit in 2025 “Our hope this year is to see many people come out again on May 8 to show their support by stopping by at a local McDonald’s to dine in or take out,” Eekhof added “McHappy Day is a lot of fun in raising the profile of Five Counties in Northumberland and raising funds that assist Five Counties in being able to see more kids and reduce wait times for important treatment services in our community.” McHappy Day in Cobourg and Port Hope raised a best-ever total of $30,000 to support kids’ charities Approximately three-quarters of this total — $22,500 — went to support Five Counties in providing treatment services for children and youth with physical developmental and communication needs in Northumberland The balance of approximately $7,500 went to Ronald McDonald House Charities which provides out-of-town families with a place to stay while their child is being treated in hospital “We are thrilled to again have Five Counties Children’s Centre as our designated charity for 2025,” said Wilson in a media release “Our amazing teams in Port Hope and Cobourg look forward to serving our guests and supporting Five Counties Children’s Centre and Ronald McDonald House Charities as they make a difference for the children and families in our communities.” Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin is thankful the local children’s treatment centre — which has supported children and youth with physical and communications needs for five decades — will again benefit from McHappy Day “Lisa and her entire team at McDonald’s were gracious and enthusiastic hosts for McHappy Day in 2024 and Five Counties feels very privileged to again partner on the event in 2025,” Pepin said “We hope to repeat the success of 2024 and encourage everyone to come out to McHappy Day on May 8 to enjoy a McDonald’s meal or treat knowing that (their) purchase will support Five Counties in its work treating children and youth in Northumberland County,” Pepin added community members can visit McDonald’s in Cobourg or Port Hope on McHappy Day A portion of proceeds from every food and beverage item sold all day will be donated to Five Counties and Ronald McDonald House Charities families and supporters will also be at the McDonald’s locations that day to collect additional donations and thank visitors Five Counties is marking its 50th anniversary this year nearly 1,600 children and youth in Northumberland benefited from its programs VideoRyan Reynolds petitions Cobourg to re-name arena after inspirational girlActor Ryan Reynolds made an impassioned address to the Cobourg community services committee to convince them to re-name a local arena in honour of Grace Bowen. Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini speaks at the Weetabix plant in Cobourg during a funding announcement in 2019 National Director of Sales for Weetabix John Burgess seen in Cobourg giving away 500 boxes of cereal in 2013 Company closing plant in Nevada too; as man as 300 positions could be lost Cereal maker Post announced Wednesday morning it will close the Weetabix plant in Cobourg this year putting an estimated 300 people out of work from both plants said it certainly comes as a blow to the community The Weetabix plant has been manufacturing breakfast cereals “I got the news this morning about Post Consumer Brands closing the Cobourg facility I got it the same time as everybody else,” he said We certainly want the displaced workers to find other employment or business opportunities.” Van Kampen didn’t know exactly how many workers would be affected here but says he’s heard they have about 150 currently employed The announcement hit Cobourg early Wednesday when the company said it would be closing the two plants as a way to reduce capacity in its cereal production network “The two facilities together employ approximately 300 employees and are expected to close by the end of December 2025,” Post Consumer Brands announced in an early morning press release It said it had already notified employees of the decision and that capabilities at the two plants will be transferred to other manufacturing locations Employees in Cobourg have seen this talk before The D’Arcy Street facility has been part of the Post Consumer Brands business since July 2017 former mayor Gil Brocanier had to dispel rumours of a planned closure when the company announced it was closing a plant in Clinton it too had only been acquired by the company a year earlier an expansion to the Cobourg plant was announced with a $412,700 funding announcement by Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini about 185 workers were employed at the plant producing approximately 26 million pounds of cereal each year the company said it was committed to a $4-million investment to expand facilities in both Cobourg and Niagara Falls Van Kampen says with the closing not scheduled until Dec the municipality can begin to see if there’s another industry interested in the D’Arcy street plant “If there’s any silver lining in this announcement That would be good for Cobourg and eastern Ontario that we have an available building that could get repurposed for another manufacturer pretty quickly.” In a company “sustainability report” released earlier this year figures showed total worldwide employment for Post Consumer Brands at 11,480 people The United Kingdom held 11 per cent of the workforce and Canada was sitting at three per cent Post says the transfer and startup of production at its other locations is estimated to cost approximately $5 to $7 million adding to its previously announced capital expenditures guidance range of $380 to $420 million for the current fiscal year By closing the two plants and moving production to other facilities the company expects annual cost savings of approximately $21 to $23 million Contact Metroland Staff at thenewsroom@metroland.com. Bill Hodgins is a news writer for Northumberlandnews.com. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Tom Venetis is a 30+ year journalism veteran, starting as a business reporter with Canadian Press and later went on to cover Canada’s fast-growing technology business sector in the 90s and early 2000s for many B2B and news organizations. He is now a respected automotive business writer and commentator, appearing on CBC Radio and is now associate editor of Convenience Store News Canada and Octane Magazine. Tom is also an avid book and jazz and classical record collector. has announced plans to close two of its Post Consumer Brands cereal manufacturing facilities in Cobourg The planned closure of the facilities reflects Post's need to reduce capacity in its cereal production network The two facilities together employ approximately 300 employees and are expected to close by the end of December 2025 Post Consumer Brands has notified employees of the decision Production capabilities at the facilities will be transferred to other Post Consumer Brands manufacturing locations Regarding the planned closure of the facilities Post Consumer Brands president and CEO Nicolas Catoggio said "The ready-to-eat cereal category continues to decline we are reducing excess manufacturing capacity and optimizing our North American plant network to better utilize our production capacity." READ:  How companies are meeting the demand for protein-rich products The Cobourg facility has been part of the Post Consumer Brands business since July 2017 The Sparks facility has been part of the business since June 2021 when Post acquired the Treehouse Foods ready-to-eat cereal business Post currently expects to incur cash and noncash pre-tax charges totaling approximately US$63.5 to US$67.5 million in connection with the transfer of production capabilities to other Post Consumer Brands locations and closure of the facilities Completion of the transfer and start-up of production at other locations is estimated to require capital expenditures of approximately US$5 to US$7 million incremental to Post's previously announced capital expenditures guidance range of US$380 to US$420 million As a result of the transfer of production capabilities to other locations and closure of the facilities Post expects to achieve annual cost savings of approximately US$21 to US$23 million Residents can expect to see a military presence and support staff operating in Hamilton Township The large-scale exercise will provide vital hands-on experience for military personnel can expect to see a heavy military presence in the area late next month Peterborough County officials says the 31 Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army Reserve from London will be here for a domestic training taking place April 26 and 27 With the Canadian Armed Forces increasingly called upon to assist with domestic disaster response they are expanding their training efforts to ensure operational readiness this large-scale exercise will provide vital hands-on experience for military personnel while also fostering collaboration with local municipalities and emergency management partners Cramahe Township and Alderville First Nation and all personnel will depart by April 30 following cleanup operations CAF personnel have been planning this exercise in Northumberland County since the spring of 2024 working closely with area municipalities to determine the best approach and limit any impact to residents “This training exercise is an excellent opportunity for Northumberland County and our local municipalities to collaborate with the Canadian Armed Forces reinforcing our collective preparedness for emergency situations,” says county health “We want to reassure our residents that this is strictly a training event While you may see increased military activity across the county The exercise is designed to have minimal impact on the community and the environment and the CAF will manage its own security and first-aid response Northumberland County’s emergency services have been briefed and will provide support if required through normal response channels Residents are encouraged to report dead wildlife and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of avian influenza This follows reports of a large die-off of birds in the Cobourg harbor area between January 3 and 6 It is believed that the die-off was a result of avian influenza The risk of transmission to humans in this case is very low since the birds were found in an open environment and there are no remaining dead birds observed at the site. However, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) is reminding the public to remain cautious and adhere to recommended safety precautions if interacting with wild birds there have been no confirmed human cases of avian influenza within our district area and we anticipate that this trend will continue,” said Dr “It’s important for everyone to understand the risks avian influenza poses not only to wild and domestic bird populations but also to human health and we urge residents to take all necessary precautions to protect both themselves and animals during this time.”  To minimize the risk of exposure to avian influenza residents are encouraged to follow these precautions:  Avoid direct contact with ill or dead wild birds and animals wear proper personal protective equipment i.e place the animal in two sealed plastic bags Report sick or dead wildlife to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-800-567-2033 Follow safe cooking guidelines when preparing poultry and eggs Always cook poultry to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) to ensure safety from potential pathogens it is crucial that individuals do not handle or eat any animals that appear to be sick or that have died from unknown causes Keep pets indoors or on leashes when outside to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds Monitor domestic birds for signs of illness and follow recommendations from the Government of Canada using a well-ventilated area and washing your hands and surfaces can drastically reduce your risk of exposure to avian influenza Symptoms of avian influenza can be similar to the flu If you are exposed to birds, animals, or contaminated environments suspected of avian influenza, or if you experience symptoms, it is important to self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider, Health 811, or the health unit for guidance practice respiratory etiquette by wearing a mask and maintaining proper hand hygiene and regularly clean surfaces to help prevent the spread of infection For more information, please visit hkpr.on.ca/AvianFlu Media Contacts: Ashley Beaulac, Communications Manager, HKPR District Health Unit, abeaulac@hkpr.on.ca Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides important public health programs and services to residents in Northumberland County Our dedicated team of public health professionals We work with health care providers and community partners to address emerging health issues service gaps and social inequities to support residents in being well and reaching their full potential We value your experiences with our services and invite you to share your feedback Your insights help us improve and better serve our community We provide public health programs and services to residents in the County of Haliburton City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County that promote healthy living This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy An outgoing and determined little girl from Grafton who loved to play hockey before she was diagnosed with the cancer that took her life may soon have a Cobourg arena named after her thanks in part to a plea from famous Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds The Deadpool star appeared virtually in a delegation to the Town of Cobourg’s community services protection and economic development standing committee on Wednesday (April 9) when he proposed renaming the Pond Arena in the Cobourg Community Centre after Grace Bowen who had first met Grace more than 10 years ago agreed to appear before the committee at the request of Grace’s parents Greg and Andrea who attended the committee meeting in person along with Grace’s sister Mackenzie “She changed my life,” Reynolds told the committee she was already passionate about hockey and embraced everything about it from practices and tournaments to her teammates She was a member of the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association and played at the Cobourg Community Centre and rinks around the community That all changed when a sore knee that was bothering Grace turned out to be something much more serious 2014 — two days before her ninth birthday — she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma the same rare and aggressive bone cancer that took the life of Terry Fox Grace underwent surgeries — including rotationplasty surgery that removed part of her leg — and chemotherapy at SickKids in Toronto all while facing the ordeal with a positive and determined attitude and demonstrating compassion for those around her When a mutual friend requested an autograph for Grace from Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser Wickenheiser met Grace and soon developed a close relationship with her and her family She later invited Grace to be her guest at the Canada’s Walk Of Fame ceremonies on October 19 where Wickenheiser was one of the inductees Reynolds was also one of the inductees and was sitting in the audience when Wickenheiser introduced Grace on stage Wickenheiser asked Grace who she was most excited about meeting “Ryan Reynolds” was her answer and Reynolds immediately ran on stage to give Grace a hug and a kiss He later met with Grace and her family backstage if I had a free moment for any kid who's carrying a bag of rocks around like that Reynolds attributes meeting Grace with changing the way he approached his philanthropic work he had kept out of the public eye and didn’t use the platform he had to advocate for the causes he supported “Grace just changed that,” Reynolds told the committee “From the moment I met her that night if I had a free moment for any kid who’s carrying a bag of rocks around like that Reynolds began his tradition of making funny fundraising campaign videos in support of SickKids often featuring a signature ugly Christmas sweater he has helped raise over $3 million for SickKids through a combination of personal donations and his promotional efforts to encourage others to donate when Reynolds received the Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainer of the Year award at the 22nd annual Critics Choice Awards he dedicated the award to Grace and to Connor McGrath along with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and SickKids Foundation of Toronto It would be pretty beautiful if we could rename the arena the Grace Bowen Arena or the Grace Bowen Memorial Arena After sharing his story of meeting Grace and the impact she had on him Reynolds proposed that Grace’s memory be honoured by renaming the arena “It would be pretty beautiful if we could rename the arena the Grace Bowen Arena or the Grace Bowen Memorial Arena,” he said Grace’s father Greg also addressed the committee describing how his daughter faced her illness “Her concern for others was unmatched for a nine-year-old little girl,” Greg said noting that Grace was always showing compassion for the other children and their families at SickKids and she did everything she did with a passion We often can only describe her in our household as relentless.” He also said that one of the fears of parents who have lost a child is that their name will be forgotten The arena-renaming request comes one week after the Town of Cobourg joined forces with the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association and the Bowen family to celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Hospital for Sick Children One of the SickKids 150th birthday balloon sculptures is on display in the grand hall of the Cobourg Community Centre until Sunday (April 13) the committee voted unanimously to move the item forward to the regular council meeting scheduled for April 30 where all of Cobourg council will give their final vote he would like to come to Cobourg to take part in any renaming ceremony Canada Post issued an alert to the Cobourg community on Thursday saying it would be suspending delivery due to extreme weather and snow An alert can be issued for a particular community or entire province It issued the “red delivery service alert” for Cobourg and Parry Sound Yellow delivery service alerts were issued to Belleville and Sudbury for similar reasons A red alert means they are suspending delivery and not sending their delivery agents out A yellow service alert means they are going to do their best to deliver Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it’s safe to do so 1 priority,” Canada Post stated in issuing the alert An alert can be issued for a particular community or an entire province Service alerts are posted to Canada Post’s delivery service alerts webpage which lists all active and archived alerts and updates The service alerts can also be found on the social media platforms: X (@postes_aides and @canadaposthelps) and Facebook  “We encourage customers to clear the snow and ice from their walkways to ensure safe access to the front door for both their visitors If customers have questions regarding mail delivery, they can contact Canada Post’s Customer Service team online at canadapost.ca/support or by telephone at 1-866-607-6301 (TTY: 1-800-267-2797) Cobourg’s police officers and firefighters are hoping to score a hat trick or two for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-West Durham and Northumberland Community members can cheer on their preferred team by heading over to the Cobourg Community Centre at 750 D’Arcy St for the second annual “Battle of the Badges” charity hockey game with family-friendly pre-game activities beginning at 5:30 p.m “We’re excited to hit the ice again for such an important cause,” Cobourg Police Service Constable Ryan Rinneard told kawarthaNOW “The friendly rivalry between the police and fire brings our community together and helps support youth through the incredible work of (Big Brothers Big Sisters).” The Town of Cobourg invites residents to mark their calendars and bring along their friends and family members for an evening of fun in support of a great cause Proceeds will benefit “an organization that has been changing lives through the power of mentorship and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year,” a media release noted with the hopes to double that amount this year we had a great crowd come out to cheer on the players and help raise awareness and funds to support (Big Brothers Big Sisters),” Lisa Munday manager of communications and strategic planning for Cobourg Police Service “With a bit more lead time this year we hope for another great night of hockey and to double our fundraising totals.” “The Battle of the Badges hockey game in Cobourg is a fantastic night out because it combines exciting hockey action with a friendly rivalry between the Cobourg Police and Cobourg Fire,” Munday added “This event not only showcases the competitive spirit but also supports a great cause.” Activities require a minimum donation of $2 to participate followed by “an epic showdown” when the game gets underway community members are encouraged to make donations at the door and photo opportunities with mascots Chippy the Squirrel There will be food and beverages available for purchase will be on site offering cookies for a $2 donation Event supporters include Brock Street Brewery the Cobourg Cougars junior hockey team will be donating the proceeds from their 3 p.m game’s 50/50 draw and chuck-a-puck event to the cause For more information about the game, including sponsorship opportunities, visit www.experiencecobourg.ca/portfolio/battleofthebadges/ Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-West Durham and Northumberland has been changing lives through the power of mentorship for the past five decades The organization offers one-to-one and group programs that aim to help children build self-confidence and forge meaningful connections within their communities “Our mentors do more than offer guidance; they become trusted role models who inspire values like giving back and treating others with respect — from family and friends to the broader community,” the release stated “Every mentor-child match and every in-school program sparks something extraordinary — life-changing relationships grounded in trust A 41-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a death in Cobourg on Sunday morning (March 2) Cobourg police and emergency services responded to an apartment building at 24 James Street West where a person was found dead of Cobourg has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder Police have not yet released any information about the victim Cobourg police contacted the Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to assist in the investigation The murder investigation is now being conducted by the Cobourg Police Service with assistance from the OPP Forensic Identification Services under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or stopcrimehere.ca Unsheltered people in the Cobourg area looking to escape the cold will be able to access the new warming room at 310 Division St in Cobourg beginning Wednesday (November 13) After several special meetings involving municipal and county councils the pieces are now in place to open the warming room Northumberland County announced on Tuesday The county said it has received confirmation from the Town of Cobourg that it has met the requirements of Cobourg’s emergency care establishments (ECE) bylaw which was introduced by the town earlier this year The unmet requirements ultimately delayed the warming room’s opening earlier in the fall The county said Northumberland and Transition House staff have made the final arrangements for staffing and will open the doors to the new space at 6 p.m “Our immediate goal is to get individuals in out of the cold,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a statement “We appreciate the Town of Cobourg’s hard work to help us get this facility operational as winter approaches.” “We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the town and with residents to ensure successful integration of the shelter into the community.” The warming room will be open 24 hours a day to provide people experiencing homelessness with a safe and warm place to rest The warming room is part of a larger transition of shelter and shelter services from Transition House’s current location on Chapel Street to Division Street Renovations remain underway at the Division Street location on the building’s higher floors to provide overnight accommodations for those in need During a recent Northumberland County council meeting councillors heard the renovations that would allow for overnight stays would likely continue into December Northumberland County council authorized spending up to $40,000 on additional motel rooms to accommodate homeless people in the area as the occupancy capacity was reached at the Chapel Street location after the number of beds permitted were reduced to align with new town requirements Ostrander said opening the warming room is a step in the right direction “This is an important milestone in our community’s ongoing efforts to provide modernized shelter services for those experiencing homelessness,” Ostrander said “The opening of the warming space is a vital first step in creating a modern multi-purpose shelter that will better meet community needs We look forward to welcoming people to this new space.” The Division Street location is expected to provide a range of services that includes the warming/cooling space and supportive programs designed to help people “on their journey to life stabilization.” renovation of the 35 emergency shelter spaces on the second and third floors of the building “are progressing well and are on track to open before the end of this year,” with transitional housing units on the fourth floor anticipated to be occupied by early 2025 With the aim of stimulating the local economy this holiday season the Town of Cobourg has modified its parking fees in the downtown for residents and visitors during November and December The town announced on Friday (November 1) it is waiving the fee for the first hour of parking downtown during November and December “With the holiday season approaching we hope that offering an hour of free parking will encourage more people to explore and support our downtown businesses,” Cobourg economic development manager Daniel Van Kampen told kawarthaNOW “This offer is aimed at making holiday shopping in our community a little easier and more enjoyable.” He added it’s a way of saying “thank you for choosing to shop local and celebrate with us downtown.” The initiative with the Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) runs until December 31 Cobourg council approved to extend the one-hour of free parking to include the month of November this year The free hour of parking within any downtown metered streets or municipal parking lots is to encourage residents and visitors to shop and support downtown businesses “We encourage our residents and visitors to shop and support our local businesses,” said Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland in a media release Downtown street meters are $2.25 per hour and any expired meters will be given a one-hour grace period by the Town of Cobourg’s municipal law enforcement officers Vehicles parked longer than the one-hour grace period will be subject to parking tickets For a list of the qualifying downtown metered streets and municipal parking lots, visit cobourg.ca/parking According to the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) with more than 7,000 small businesses in Northumberland County choosing to shop locally can have a big impact “Supporting and encouraging local businesses is vital to Northumberland’s economic and social well-being,” BECN business development coordinator Kailyn Coupland told kawarthaNOW in an earlier interview during Small Business Week home-grown businesses that contribute to the community’s unique character and economic resilience invest back into the community by creating jobs and fostering a sense of connection and pride among residents,” Coupland explained Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland stood with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Cobourg last summer to announce that the province is investing up to $25 million in water infrastructure to enable the construction of 2,266 new homes in the town Lucas Cleveland seeking 'equal representation for our taxation.' Lucas Cleveland seeking “equal representation for our taxation.” the win by David Piccini in Thursday’s night’s provincial election is an opportunity for the town to continue in its pursuit for “equal representation for our taxation.” Cleveland was on hand at Piccini’s election victory party in Cobourg as the PC MPP for Northumberland – Peterborough South won his third consecutive election in the riding where he grew up Piccini was re-elected with 28,489 of 54,680 (52.1 per cent) votes cast was in second place with 17,705 votes and Bruce LePage who heaped praise on Piccini for his commitment to the riding Thursday night said he’s hoping he can continue to work with the MPP — and the province — about “re-establishing and renegotiating” the relationship between Cobourg and Northumberland County “I think that it’s really important … as Cobourg citizens realize 56 per cent of our tax dollars goes to Cobourg whereas we’re seeing over 30 per cent go to the county I think it’s about time that Cobourg residents and I Are we seeing the kind of services — that Cobourg needs — being delivered?” he said it’s time to look at how to best advocate for that Having some continuity at Queen’s Park is a benefit “I look forward to having conversations with (the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing) and to see how we can ensure that we get equal representation for our taxation It’s a fundamental key of democracy and I think that for Cobourg residents It’s an issue Cleveland raised with the county late last year particularly as Cobourg was feeling the brunt of policing costs related to the homeless encampment that had been established at the former Brookside Detention Centre property on King Street Cleveland floated the notion of Cobourg separating from the county “We’re two years into our term with only two years left,” he said at the time or at least put us on the path to fixing 90 per cent of the issues we face in this community — 90 per cent of the issues that our residents are upset with that we get the thousands of emails about — what we need to do is either adjust our relationship within the Northumberland County organization so that we have better opportunities to make decisions for our own town or we need to look at separating from the county.” as county council discussed a potential study on restructuring within the county Cleveland said municipal discussions on the matter should be a priority County staff said if it were to go ahead with a study it would take extensive work on behalf of the county and its member municipalities and it could be well into 2026 before any substantive results could be back before county council “I think the timing is appropriate and I think it’s necessary too,” he said at the December county council meeting “The reason I say that is that we are at our halfway mark … we have two years left before our next election cycle have this report ready for that next election cycle.” That’s the appropriate time that member municipalities should be having these discussions “so that the potential candidates at that time can showcase their position on this report as our constituents across the county are re-electing their local representatives I think that will give a clear mandate to the next term of government.” The restructuring report proposed that if the county can get the nod from a majority of its member municipalities it should pursue the idea of evaluating and developing an assessment of one or two county services or perhaps study the benefits and challenges of a full amalgamation to a single government across Northumberland County for all services “Any study on municipal restructuring will require participation from all seven member municipalities depending on the services being considered,” the report read “It is critical that there is an interest in the study and a commitment of support from the participants.” The county has asked its member municipalities to respond to determine interest in pursuing a municipal restructuring study with a response deadline of March 3 The idea of restructuring is not new to Northumberland County Northumberland has been restructured several times in its 232-year history Northumberland was initially formed in 1792 It joined with Durham County to form the Newcastle District in 1802 it became the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham the majority of Durham County joined Ontario County to form Durham Region except for the Town of Port Hope and Hope Township Hope and Port Hope joined Northumberland County to form a standalone county named Northumberland A production crew prepares to film scenes in Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland says these shoots boost the local economy Faux parade down King Street is part of the filming for new series based on the life of Muhammad Ali Based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts Just a month after Cobourg council dealt with a request from one resident to remove any American flags from the town’s municipal buildings it looks like it will be flying high above Victoria Hall next week But maybe there is “The Greatest” of reasons Downtown Cobourg is expected to sub in for an American town when Reunion MA Production Inc. will be filming for a new series entitled “The Greatest,” a spinoff of the 1977 feature film covering the life of Muhammad Ali Jaalen Best (“American Horror Stories,” “Magnum P.I.”) has been cast as Ali in Prime Video’s limited series about the life of Muhammad Ali Jordan and executive producer/showrunner Ben Watkins “Welcoming film productions to Cobourg plays a vital role in driving economic development and boosting tourism,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland The filming will include a faux parade down a section of King Street “Each production supports local businesses and showcases the unique charm of our town to audiences far and wide It’s an exciting way to strengthen our local economy while keeping Cobourg on the map as a premier filming destination.” Cobourg residents will notice the American flag and bunting outside of Victoria Hall and on King Street the week of April 28 but their presence will be kept to the minimum required times The production company will be in contact with all residents and businesses that will be directly impacted The municipality says the film crew is working to maximize Canadian involvement and the economic benefit to our community The visit will require approximately 200 Canadian paid background actors inviting local citizens to participate as unpaid walk-ons during a planned parade scene The production team intends to support local businesses Cobourg has a long history of working with international production companies Council recognizes filming is an excellent source of revenue with very little resource cost Each production provides primary sources of revenue to the town through facility rentals Secondary benefits to the economy are large as the productions use local resources Cobourg firefighters respond to a call on Division Street in this 2024 file photo Fire officials say complete restoration could take several weeks Officials with Cobourg’s Golden Plough Lodge long-term care home say seven residents had to be relocated following a fire there Saturday No one was seriously injured and no definitive cause was released County facilities staff have completed an assessment of the affected areas of the home and have been able to accommodate most of the residents affected While the fire was contained to a single resident room smoke and water damage have required the decommissioning of two resident rooms on the main floor and two office spaces have been cordoned off All but seven residents have returned to their rooms Capacity exists within the home for the relocation of six residents and staff are working with Ontario Health at Home on an alternate placement for a seventh resident Restoration work is now underway and is anticipated to take several weeks “I want to thank our tremendous staff at the Golden Plough Lodge for their unwavering professionalism and quick action in responding to today’s incident,” stated Glenn Dees Northumberland County is constructing a new long-term-care home adjacent to the facility where the fire occurred The new 203,000-square-foot facility is expected to be ready for occupancy this summer Northumberland County and Transition House are continuing their work to meet requirements related to the fire safety plan and staffing levels at Cobourg’s emergency shelter after being issued an order by the Town of Cobourg to comply with certain regulations director of health and human services for Northumberland County told kawarthaNOW the county and Transition House are taking steps to ensure they’re in compliance with by-laws around the operation of the shelter at 310 Division St The Town of Cobourg announced last Monday (April 14) that its municipal law enforcement and licensing department had issued an order on the operator of Transition House and property owner to be compliant with requirements of the town’s emergency care establishments (ECE) and ensure the fire safety plan is followed “Transition House and Northumberland County are working hard to ensure that people who find themselves in a housing crisis and require accommodation can find safe and welcoming services at 310 Division St. and that these services will be offered in a way that ensures a strong standard of health and personal dignity is always maintained,” Dees told kawarthaNOW in a statement “Based on regular by-law inspections since opening staff have made prompt changes such as enhanced client sign-in processes and property standards-related enhancements In response to nearly daily inspections over the last week staff have once again taken action to adjust practices.” One of the requirements of the order entails having one staff member on duty for every 10 occupants “In planning for the opening of 310 Division St. Northumberland County and Transition House sought to deliver a high standard of service by striving for a low ratio of 10 clients to every one staff member,” Dees noted “There are no provincial standards for shelter staffing; however it is typical for staffing ratios in shelters to be between 10 to 20 clients for every one staff member was to achieve the lower end of this range.” Based on the current staffing model for the shelter this means there could be up to four staff and 40 clients total at any given time between shelter spaces and the warming hub although the building’s actual capacity in exceptional circumstances such as inclement weather or a client presenting in crisis admission to shelter would be permitted temporarily so long as the total number did not exceed capacity requirements for the building under the fire code along with other resourcing considerations four on-duty shelter staff were supporting 43 clients or a ratio of 10.75 clients to one staff member.” “Because this was higher than the 10 clients to one staff member ratio that the county and Transition House indicated in the fire safety plan orders and administrative penalties were issued the staff-to-client ratios will be strictly upheld while staff engage the fire department to review the fire safety plan,” Dees noted the town’s order stated that the main floor warming room/cooling centre in Transition House is only to be used as a relief space for people escaping the elements and not as a sleeping area The county said the warming room/cooling centre is not being used as a space for sleeping “The county and Transition House understand sleeping area to mean a room designed for sleeping and used primarily for that purpose,” Dees noted and it is always occupied by active people including trained staff.” “Like any living area in any private home people may occasionally fall asleep for short periods even in places not designed primarily for that purpose but the warming hub is never used for long-term or overnight sleeping,” Dees pointed out municipal law enforcement officers noted some clients were asleep in provided armchairs which was viewed as being in contravention of the fire safety plan shelter staff removed the armchairs from this space the following day and replaced them with more table settings,” Dees said Transition House hopes to maintain a welcoming space for clients while addressing (by-law) requirements The county and Transition House will be engaging further with by-law and fire about possible alternative remedies and hope to be able to restore armchairs in the future to ensure a comfortable drop-in space for people seeking rest and safety from the elements.” the order noted that the on-duty manager must at all times carry the key required to activate the two-stage fire alarm and that there must at all times be an on-duty manager Dees said all Transition House staff are considered “supervisory staff” and carry keys for access to all client rooms and common areas “All staff are trained on the fire safety plan and emergency response,” he said On-site security also has a master key for the entire building including the key to access the fire panel to activate the two-stage fire alarm “On-duty staff are present at all times at 310 Division St. in addition to at least one security person and an on-call manager/supervisor is available 24/7 Staff have determined that this order resulted from a miscommunication during the inspection.” “Northumberland County and Transition House will continue to collaborate with the Town of Cobourg and Cobourg Fire Department to overcome challenges and ensure the mutual goal of safe and dignified services for people experiencing homelessness and the well-being of the community.” The Town of Cobourg’s media release noted the town “is working hard” to ensure people who are in crisis and require accommodation services from an emergency care establishment (ECE) can reasonably expect that such ECE services meet basic health and safety standards of operation The Town of Cobourg’s municipal law enforcement and licensing department issued the order as a means “to gain compliance with applicable law and ensure the fire safety plan is followed,” noted the release “My number-one priority remains on improving the safety and security for all Cobourg residents,” said Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland we owe it to the residents of 310 Division St. and the greater Cobourg community to let staff independently and at their discretion enforce the provisions and expectations of our ECE by-law and all rules and regulations as set by the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the Building Code Act so we can ensure that the needs of ECE residents are met.” the Town of Cobourg “has had to place an order and issue a penalty notice due to continued non-compliance,” the release stated which the county purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House the warming room offers respite from the cold (and will offer respite from the heat in the summer) along with laundry and shower facilities and food the shelter was designed to offer 10 longer-term transitional housing units on the fourth floor which serves as Cobourg’s municipal headquarters The Town of Cobourg is changing property tax payments to four times a year the Town of Cobourg says residents can expect some changes to the payment cycle for this year’s property taxes property tax bills are issued twice per year each tax bill contains two instalments for a total of four payments per year The first tax bill of the year is based on 50 per cent of your previous year’s tax bill with no increase reflected This rate is broken down into two equal payments The second property tax bill — which will be received in the spring — will contain the final two instalments based on your updated 2025 tax rates Municipal tax rates are set based on three levies The municipal tax rate is set by the Town of Cobourg The county tax rate is set by the County of Northumberland The municipal budget for 2025 includes a 5.23 per cent net increase after allowing for new assessment growth of 2.32 per cent and an infrastructure levy of one per cent Once the education and county budgets have been calculated increases over the 2024 levy will be divided among the final two instalments The town’s tax office says there will no longer be separate instalment dates for residential and commercial and industrial properties To reduce the number of tax bills received by industrial and commercial property owners all property taxes for 2025 will be due on: There is no change for property owners enrolled in Cobourg’s pre-authorized payment plans Residential owners enrolled in the plan pay 10 instalments per year from February to November Commercial property owners pay 12 instalments from January to December A 41-year-old Cobourg man has been charged with first-degree murder The victim has been identified by OPP as Karen Ferguson A man has been charged with first-degree murder after a woman’s dead body was found at a Cobourg home on Sunday Cobourg officers were called to a James Street home on March 2 and found one person deceased Cobourg police are investigating with help from the OPP’s forensic identification services Anyone with information is asked to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122 The Town of Cobourg and the Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area are offering an hour of free parking for those shopping downtown Town and DBIA team up to offer an hour of free parking for shoppers Council approved to extend the one-hour of free parking to include November this year at any downtown metered streets or municipal parking lots to encourage residents and visitors to shop and support downtown businesses “On behalf of the Town of Cobourg and the DBIA we are pleased to be providing one hour of free paid parking for both November and December this year,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland “We encourage our residents and visitors to shop and support our local businesses shop locally and have a wonderful downtown experience.” Downtown street meters are $2.25 an hour and any expired meters will be given a one-hour grace period by the town’s municipal law enforcement officers Vehicles parked longer than the grace period will be subject to parking tickets For a list of the qualifying downtown metered streets and municipal parking lots, view the downtown parking map at Cobourg.ca/parking Michel Cabardos and Bill Shields stand near the new Infant loss memorial inside the Cobourg Union Cemetery New monument gives families place to visit and mourn when they need somewhere to go The two trees outside Bill Shields’ window — the two he dug up and took with him when he moved — weren’t just any trees only to have the pregnancies end before coming to term “I’ve seen it both professionally and lived it personally,” says Shields a former funeral director who works with Cobourg Monumental Works “I think there needs to be a spot … I planted trees in my backyard where I lived and when we moved They were the only representation I had for my children that everybody else our medical system or our health care system he met with Michel Cabardos of Cobourg Union Cemetery and psychotherapist Sabine Fischer of Northumberland Hills Hospital to discuss a new project they hope will help families deal with early pregnancy loss Just inside the gates of the Elgin Street cemetery A donation from Campbell Monumental and Cobourg Union Cemetery a large butterfly is carved next to the words “In Memory of our Sacred Children.” who worked as a funeral director for 40 years says if a loss occurs before 20 weeks and when the weight is less than 500 grams the government system doesn’t recognize the loss as a child They’re not registered as a birth or stillbirth at that point “The health care system doesn’t recognize it as a person or a human … it’s seen as medical waste.” Cabardos says he envisioned a place where parents could go to mourn and he feels this project might help those people “It’s a place where people who have had a premature loss and in the past have never been recognized he’s seen a bit of demand from mothers coming years later “We had a man come in after his mother revealed on her deathbed that he was a twin but we expect it’s much more than we think.” people tend to keep these things in family and to themselves and I know after I lost my first and I started to talk about it to friends I was actually angry at how many people I had met that had been in the same situation I had no concept because nobody was able to talk about it the more he saw the importance of having somewhere for people to go With the snow melting and the cemetery becoming easier to navigate they want to get the word out to the community about the project The monument offers an opportunity to have a name inscribed with the date of the loss There is no government paperwork to complete and Cabardos has been reaching out to area service clubs and community groups to see if they might wish to donate for those who see the inscription cost as a barrier to participation Cabardos says he’s researched the concept and as far as he can tell there is no other community or cemetery offering the same to mourning families also a team lead for Northumberland Hills Hospital’s spiritual care volunteers says she’s had numerous cases where mothers have lost their babies and have really suffered because of this lack of recognition it’s a psychological lack of recognition — ‘But it wasn’t really a person yet The couple really suffers … certainly the mother … and it’s almost like gaslighting when the rest of the world doesn’t recognize it or doesn’t recognize the meaning of it,” she says Cabardos says it’s for parents who have maybe just had a loss or for those who have been suffering with nowhere to go for years or maybe decades then they are deemed human and they have to go through all the rigamarole to be named “If the people want to — they don’t have to do it at the time They can come back years later and do it.” but there is going to be the cost of the engraving ($300) “We wanted to make it the least onerous on the family so they don’t have to come in and purchase a lot They’re not buying an internment or a lot or anything like that.” To learn more about the project, contact Cabardos at the Cobourg Union Cemetery, at 905-372-8687 or email to cobourgcemetery@bellnet.ca From sessions specifically geared to women in business to other offerings targeting brand development and RRSP contribution advice the Town of Cobourg and Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre have unveiled a lineup of business-related programming for winter 2025 Cobourg’s economic development department and Venture13 say they have planned a series of “dynamic and insightful programs and anyone seeking to elevate their business will benefit from the 2025 program schedule curated to equip participants with the tools they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape,” noted a media release Cobourg’s economic development manager shared a few thoughts with kawarthaNOW about the upcoming program “The Town of Cobourg’s economic development team is pleased to provide opportunities for Cobourg business owners and managers to hear and speak directly with organizations that can offer guidance for funding,” Van Kampen said “The team is also giving special attention for women in business to learn from each other and share their experiences during the StrikeUp Digital Conference for Women Viewing Party and Cobourg’s newest session InspiHER Local Women in Business at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.” 2025 will see the transformation of the Revenue Growth Series with new opportunities to learn from business owners and experts who have discovered new revenue for their company Each recording will feature a candid conversation with a local businessperson who will share the challenges he or she faced and how innovative thinking and daring decision making took the business from a state of impasse to new opportunity Business owners and managers can stay tuned for the “Season 1” release during the first quarter of 2025 the economic development team will host a morning coffee chat at Venture13’s part-time CFO services community kitchen Open to all small business owners and entrepreneurs the discussion is an opportunity to share experiences and learn from others this session provides an opportunity to hear directly from a certified financial planner about making strategic RRSP contribution This session is on January 29 from 4 to 5 p.m in Venture13’s lecture hall at 739 D’Arcy St This semi-annual series features post-secondary programs and resources that are available for local companies to leverage industry research and/or hiring the series will feature Trent University’s Co-op Careers and Experiential Learning Department Attendees will learn about this hiring and career placement program and how their company can tap into its service offering The presenters are Jessica Gordon and Emily Bojda on February 11 through hybrid and in-person in the NSSL seminar room at Venture13 The Funding Forum will explore the key elements of a h3 funding submission to help participants build successful applications In collaboration with the Northumberland Manufacturers Association the economic development team has brought together a group of experts from National Research Council’s IRAP Program on February 19 and available through hybrid and in-person in Venture13’s lecture hall StrikeUP is Canada’s digital conference that convenes women entrepreneurs and the women entrepreneurship ecosystem The one-day program is an accessible and free program focused on growth Venture13 will host an exclusive viewing party for eastern Ontario Prizes will be given out to attendees throughout the day from local businesses the InspiHER event is in celebration of International Women’s Day “This session is a unique opportunity to gain insights and connect with Cobourg’s community of resilient and innovative women who are making a difference in the local business landscape,” states the release The moderator is Lydia Marciano of the RBC Financial Group The session is on March 7 from 8:30 to 10:30am in the Venture13 lecture hall This new series provides innovative tools and techniques to accelerate business revenues Delivered by local digital media strategist Erin Law of Story Unlocked) it will delve into the innovative digital tools that can be used to effectively build and develop a brand on March 18 in the lecture hall of Venture13 To register for upcoming 2025 scheduled programs or events, visit linktr.ee/venture13 The Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre is described as serving as “a vital regional catalyst for emerging businesses and innovative ideas.” Venture13 has emerged as a hub for knowledge-based ventures powered by a collaborative ecosystem of visionary partners and Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association In collaboration with community partners and industry thought leaders Venture13 provides flexible co-working space and educational programming designed “to equip entrepreneurs and local business professionals along their growth pathway.” Four Cobourg residents have been arrested and are facing multiple drugs and weapons charges after a multi-jurisdictional drug bust on Thursday (January 30) As part of an ongoing enhanced enforcement strategy targeting illegal drug activity affecting Northumberland County Cobourg police began an investigation into illegal drug activity at 351 and 353 John Street in the Town of Cobourg members of the Cobourg Police Service Criminal Investigations Bureau — with the assistance of the Port Hope Police Criminal Investigations Bureau Ontario Provincial Police Tactical Response Unit and Emergency Response Team and special constables — simultaneously executed two search warrants at the two addresses police located and seized drugs with an estimated street value of $240,625 which police say is equivalent to 3,445 potentially fatal doses Police also seized around 125 grams of cocaine four Cobourg residents — two 36-year-old men and a 29-year-old women — were arrested and jointly charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000 The two 36-year-old men were also jointly charged with three counts of possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl production of a Schedule I substance (opioid other than heroin) and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose Each of the men was also charged with possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order All four of the accused were held in custody for a bail hearing Richard Green has been calling Cobourg’s Brookside encampment his home for the past month but soon he and others will be forced from the provincially-owned property once the land sale is complete Temporary fences have been erected around the Ministry of Transportation grounds in Port Hope The property is for sale with the province seeking $3.9 million Part of the growing encampment at the former Brookside Youth Detention Centre in Cobourg forcing those at the encampment to seek shelter elsewhere Eviction imminent for occupants of provincial Brookside property in Cobourg Richard Green is ready to move on from his home that home has been a tent on the edge of the former Brookside Youth Detention Centre on King Street in Cobourg it means he will be leaving the community where he has spent most of his life about 40 minutes northeast in the village of Warkworth “They might as well shut it down,” he said looking out across dozens of tents near the fence of the gated Brookside encampment “I’m happy to go … I’ve talked with some friends here who don’t know what they are going to do.” Last month, Northumberland­­—Peterborough South MPP David Piccini told Cobourg council a tentative sale date had been set to turn the Brookside property over from the province to a private company “My understanding is closing conditions are Nov “We’ve been laser-focused on realizing the potential of the Brookside property Our focus as a province has been on disposing our surplus assets (the ministry patrol yards) that are in Port Hope It was held for negotiations with the upper tier for over a year and no formal offer was given to the province We have been very anxious to dispose of the property to put it into the hands of the private sector.” the Brookside property may be the last vestige for the community’s homeless population falling outside the purview of the town’s encampment bylaw reach the municipality has been unable to clear dozens of people living at Brookside encampment established on the grounds of the former detention centre that closed in 2023 But the issue of encampments has confounded local officials for a while now According to Northumberland County documents a private residence was vacated in the summer of 2023 and residents were required to leave the premise due to safety concerns flagged by the Haliburton Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Town of Cobourg authorities Officials made attempts to house some of those in need including the offer of temporary hotel accommodations but many moved on to establish an encampment in Cobourg’s West Beach area The Town of Cobourg issued a no-trespass order for that property and many then relocated to a property on William Street near a food distribution centre and the encampment occupants migrated to the provincially-owned Brookside property on King Street As Brookside is an established Crown property the town could not pursue a no-trespass order And that same loophole has led to speculation in Port Hope as to why the provincial patrol lands — referenced by Piccini in his address to Cobourg council — just recently saw fencing erected around the Hope Street property Like the Brookside property, it is Crown land the province is looking to unload The site consists of 14.62 total acres across three separate parcels of land two of which are immediately adjacent across Beamish Street and the third also adjacent across Hope Street North The properties are primarily designated within the Town of Port Hope’s official plan as low to medium density residential with a significant portion regarded as a major intensification area Piccini told Northumberland News on Monday the Ministry of Transportation property was declared surplus as a part of the Government of Ontario’s review of underutilized land The sale process goes through multiple steps request for interest from other levels of government and then finally goes to open markets if all prior steps do not lead to any sale Some in the Port Hope community have speculated as to whether the recent fencing of the property was a result of the pending closure at Brookside and whether there was a concern its occupants would choose to set up tents there “I heard from a neighbour a couple of doors down that the fencing going up around here is to potentially ward off some of the people that are being evicted from Brookside,” he said not wishing to see an encampment established so close to his home Northumberland News asked Piccini if there was any truth to that speculation “I am not aware of why they would have put up fencing but do know that it would likely be to avoid trespassing,” he said Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Ontario municipalities to work together on a plan to address the encampment issue provincewide The Toronto Star reported that mayors of 12 of Ontario’s largest cities — including Oshawa Pickering and Oakville — want the province to enact tougher laws to help them deal with encampments homelessness and addictions and “where necessary use the notwithstanding clause” to ensure any efforts won’t be overturned by the courts Around the same time, an Abacus public opinion poll conducted a survey of 997 eligible voters in Ontario exploring the topic of encampments The results indicated that 84 per cent of Ontarians believe encampments are a problem with 54 per cent thinking they are a big problem The poll data showed that most Ontarians (62 per cent) think the provincial government is not doing enough to help municipalities deal with encampments Another five per cent think they are doing more than enough while 17 per cent think they are doing enough Asked which approach people would prefer to see taken to address encampments in Ontario 80 per cent of respondents preferred a more compassionate approach while 20 per cent want to see them removed and laws enforced Infrastructure and Communities Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith announced a $19.5-million harbour rebuild during a news conference Tuesday at Cobourg’s waterfront The entrance to Cobourg’s harbour is seen Tuesday afternoon the town and federal government announced a $19.5 million investment to rebuild the harbour and the adjacent seawall Rising water levels in Lake Ontario are posing a challenge to the town’s waterfront Cobourg’s historic harbour will undergo a multi-million-dollar multi-year rebuild to counter rising water levels in Lake Ontario brought on in part by climate change Mayor Lucas Cleveland announced at a news conference held Tuesday at the town’s marina Cleveland said the rising waters have been intensified by climate change and the investment is necessary to ensure the area remains safe The town has committed $14.5 million toward the project with the federal government promising $5 million from its Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund “The harbour and Monk’s Cove area are two of our most cherished landmarks here in Cobourg,” the mayor said “They are a place where our residents go to sit and reflect as they appreciate nature and where we have greeted guests to our community for over 100 years.” Officials said there is no clear timeline for the project It is not expected to affect marina use this summer the harbour led to the growth of Cobourg as a waterfront destination Cleveland said it was through the efforts of previous councils that Cobourg saw the transformation of its harbour from a shipping port to a stunning tourist destination “I remember throughout my (mayoral) campaign two years ago one of the most consistent questions we received from residents was ‘What is council going to do to protect and repair our harbour?’” Both the town and the federal government expressed concern over the accelerating impacts of climate change putting the harbour at a higher risk of shoreline erosion and flooding Work to update the breakwaters will include removing the concrete cap of the pier and replacing it with limestone below the waterline and granite above It’s anticipated the new rock armour will weather wave action and storm surges for decades An updated double layer seawall at Monk’s Cove Park — west of the harbour — is expected to make the structure more resilient and reduce the displacement of stones Any limestone and granite used in the project will be sourced within a 100-kilometre radius of Cobourg with old stone being reused where possible The next priority was to find partners and additional funding and we can move forward with that,” he said Geerts added that Monk’s Cove Park has a couple of concept designs that could be considered as part of the greater project we’re talking about two major pieces of infrastructure … the harbour itself and Monk’s Cove Both of those are at different stages of development.” Erskine-Smith said it was for this the type of project that the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund was initially envisioned just the challenges of flood risks and erosion to our shoreline … Since 2015 I’ve been the member of Parliament for Beaches—East York and the east end of Toronto and the entire south end of my riding is waterfront and waterfront communities We know very well the importance of our shoreline,” he said “It’s important to tourism in our communities It’s important to ensure the protection of our homes So this fund is vital for all sorts of reasons but it’s incredibly vital to protect the shoreline Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Ontario Men’s and Women’s Provincial Championships Event features Ontario’s best curlers competing for provincial titles in multiple categories features Ontario’s best curlers competing for provincial titles in multiple categories Curling Ontario selected the West Northumberland Curling Club to host the event Fans can purchase tickets early by visiting ontariocurlingchamps.ca and prices range up to $175 for a full event package For more information about the 2025 Men’s and Women’s Curling Provincial Championships, visit ontariocurlingchamps.ca a former encampment resident at the Brookside site in Cobourg told Metroland this past year that he was concerned where the people living there would go once the site was sold An aerial view of the Brookside property in Cobourg Mayor says new developer has promised to clean up site Through a Facebook post Wednesday morning Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland announced the sale of the King Street Brookside property calling for patience from residents curious as to the potential plan for the controversial piece of land “I am thrilled to share some exciting news that marks a new chapter for our vibrant community,” Cleveland posted the sale of the Brookside property at 390 King Street East has officially closed and it has been purchased by Terraco Development Inc. He said the completion of the sale not only reduces costs for provincial taxpayers but also opens the door for economic growth and a more diverse tax base for the community I ask that the public give them opportunity and time to present their plans prior to passing judgment or demanding action from council.” the Brookside location was home to a provincially-run youth detention centre While Infrastructure Ontario listed the 30-acre property for sale this past February at $9.1 million final details of the sale have not been released Meeting with Cobourg council in October, Northumberland—Peterborough South MPP David Piccini told town council closing conditions were imminent “We’ve been laser-focused on realizing the potential of the Brookside property” he said at the time “Our focus as a province has been on disposing our surplus assets (the ministry patrol yards) that are in Port Hope and Brookside here We have been very anxious to dispose of the property to put it into the hands of the private sector.” Terraco Development — a developer Cleveland noted has not worked with Cobourg before — describes itself on its website as a leading construction development company with more than 25 years of combined industry experience “We specialize in land and property development where we bring urban living to life through our innovative designs As recently as a week ago, local historians were calling for special designation to some of the structures on the property that date back to the 1800s The sale also ends the issue with the homeless encampment established at Brookside more than a year ago A municipal bylaw prevented encampments on municipal property but provincial lands were out of the reach of Cobourg’s bylaw enforcement the property was fenced and on-site security set up to deal with concerns from nearby residents and businesses A police report sent to council in September put Cobourg’s “starting point” costs of policing the Brookside encampment at more than $81,000 for 2024 the mayor acknowledged those who were “illegally encamped” on the property “While we understand that the new Transition House accommodation is not yet operational at present both a new warming room operating at 310 (Division Street) and 10 Chapel Street remain open,” he said I have been in direct communication with the developers and they have assured me personally that once their new fence goes up they will immediately begin with cleanup efforts of the property.” He called on residents to “give Terraco Development an opportunity to share their vision “I look forward to a bright future for Cobourg filled with growth The Town of Cobourg is postponing its planned New Year’s Eve family celebration due to the unseasonably warm weather and rainy conditions The town announced on Monday (December 30) that it is “regretfully” moving the First Night in Cobourg event on December 31 to a future date in January that will be determined soon First Night in Cobourg typically involves an evening at the Rotary Harbourfront Park that is filled with music “seasonal magic,” and community spirit As a result of the warmer weather and rain the outdoor skating rink at the Rotary Harbourfront Park is currently closed “The Town of Cobourg will update the community on a new event date as soon as temperatures stabilize and staff are able to get the rink operational,” noted a media release In addition to skating to the music provided by a live DJ First Night in Cobourg usually includes horse and wagon rides under the stars through Cobourg’s scenic streets fireworks display over the harbour to celebrate the new year the town invites community members to join Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland and Cobourg council at the traditional New Year’s Levee The levee is on Saturday (January 4) from 2 to 4 p.m “New to the schedule this year are activities to be enjoyed by community members of all ages,” the town noted in a media release The evening features live music by the concert band of Cobourg’s jazz group along with a special performance by Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG) The evening also includes family-friendly activities There will be a proclamation by Cobourg Town Crier Cobourg’s new elevated tank and booster pumping station uses ‘first-of-its-kind’ technology incorporating a booster pumping station within the pedestal The top of the tower was hoisted into place Thursday morning Premier Doug Ford announces a $25-million investment in water infrastructure to help enable the construction of new homes in Cobourg on Sept New tank has capacity to store about 5,000 cubic metres of drinking water Calling it the completion of a construction milestone Cobourg community members were invited to watch Thursday morning as workers hoisted a steel tank atop the town’s newest water tower located just behind the Cobourg Community Centre Construction began on the elevated tank and booster pumping station in September of 2023 with a target completion date of August 2025 significant progress was made with the foundation putting the concrete support structure into place crews began to hoist the tank up the structure early Thursday morning the tank will have the capacity to store about 5,000 cubic metres of drinking water The elevated tank and booster pumping station is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ technology in Canada “This innovation significantly reduces not only the footprint and cost of construction initiated a study addressing capacity limitations in Cobourg’s drinking water system was to identify the preferred location for a new elevated tank and booster pumping station Various potential locations were identified for the new water tower “Each location was evaluated based on its impact on the natural environment technical merits and financial cost.” The preferred site was identified on D’Arcy Street The Cobourg Drinking Water System is owned by the Town of Cobourg and operated by Lakefront Utility Services Inc supplying drinking water to the Town of Cobourg and some areas of Hamilton Township and it is projected that the population will grow from 89,000 in 2021 to 122,000 by 2051 Last month, Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited Cobourg to announce an investment of up to $25 million for water infrastructure to help enable the construction of 2,266 new homes in the Cobourg The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop wastewater and stormwater infrastructure that will enable the construction of more homes The Town of Cobourg will use the funding to expand its wastewater system and water mains to deliver clean water to residents in the community “This is one of the largest grants the Town of Cobourg has received in its history,” Mayor Lucas Cleveland said at the time “The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund will directly finance the installation of trunk sanitary sewers and water mains which is the critical infrastructure required for housing development in the Cobourg East Community Secondary Plan.” The water tower project received more than $3.6 million combined from both the federal government and the provincial government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s (ICIP) Green Infrastructure Stream “The critical new infrastructure will add to the reliability and safety of Cobourg’s existing water distribution system for generations and support continued growth and new development in the community,” officials said The Wesleyville power generation station is seen on the shores of Lake Ontario There are plans to locate a new nuclear energy facility on the site Meeting offered county officials opportunity to showcase what the area offers ahead of Wesleyville power plant project With the redevelopment of Wesleyville into a full-fledged nuclear generation station on the horizon Northumberland County is focusing on the infrastructure needed to make it a success County officials recently met with members of the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities to explore key sites across the community including the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre in Colborne housing development and industrial parks in Cobourg and Northumberland County infrastructure projects “With nuclear technology playing an increasingly important role in Canada’s clean energy future it is essential for communities like ours to engage in meaningful discussions about its potential impact,” said county councillor and mayor of Cobourg Lucas Cleveland “Hosting CANHC members allowed us to showcase the strengths of Northumberland County while learning from the experiences of other nuclear host communities.” Two months ago, the province announced plans for a new nuclear generating station along Lake Ontario in Wesleyville — one that would be more the double the size of the nearby Darlington station and “one of the largest nuclear generating stations in the world once complete.” Provincial Energy Minister Stephen Lecce made the statement at Wesleyville standing alongside Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini “I’ve directed Ontario Power Generation to explore and advance new nuclear energy generation here in Port Hope to help meet a soaring demand for energy,” Lecce said “This site is already zoned for electricity generation it’s close to growth that’s taking hold in this region there is potential of up to 10,000 megawatts of new nuclear generation right here in Port Hope.” Lecce said that is enough power for 10 million homes “This would make it one of largest nuclear generating stations in the world once complete more than two times larger that of the current Darlington station and that could go a long way to meet our growing demand with the affordable energy families and businesses are looking for today and over the future.” Northumberland — Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said he sensed the excitement in his riding while campaigning ahead of the recent provincial election “At countless doors … our community has been shaped by OPG “Parents are clutching their five-year-olds and saying ‘my son or daughter can now work in our community and can retire in our community We need it for a clean future and for affordable energy.” CANHC represents a cross-section of communities with a common interest as a host (or potential host) of nuclear technology it aims to help communities build essential infrastructure while aligning with their local missions and visions As the county awaits the potential development in Wesleyville near Port Hope the role of CANHC will help with exploring and assisting with informed decision-making and resource-sharing Northumberland County is exploring the potential opportunities and challenges associated with hosting nuclear infrastructure and it feels engaging with CANHC will provide insights and connections to ensure informed discussions about the region’s future as a possible host for nuclear expansion the province immediately made available $1 million for Port Hope to support early planning and said the town is eligible for up to $30 million more in funding to support infrastructure upgrades Piccini said there is a new collaboration between Port Hope and province both intent on moving ahead with this new project It could take up to five years just for initial environmental and other assessments for the project and final construction could take as much as 15 years Hankivsky said with the $1 million of initial support from the province Port Hope will start the process of assessing the feasibility of clean energy projects at Wesleyville Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland was in Washington on Wednesday as part of a summit representing communities involved with the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Initiative announced a $19.5-million harbour rebuild during a news conference Tuesday at Cobourg’s waterfront ‘Potentially the greatest threat to Canada in my lifetime’: Lucas Cleveland Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland joined several of his counterparts in Washington hoping to bring a message of collaboration and advocacy the day after U.S President Donald Trump implemented wide-reaching tariffs on Canadian imports “I’m here for the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Initiative … to work with mayors from across the Great Lakes and of course our Indigenous partners,” Cleveland said in a Facebook reel posted Tuesday afternoon currently the co-chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Economic Transformation for the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Cities Initiative said he was there “to bring a message of collaboration as we enter a very tumultuous time in relations between the United States and Canada.” At a news conference on Tuesday in Cobourg Cleveland said his participation in the group allows him the opportunity to advocate to various Liberal and Conservative MPs at various events on behalf of Cobourg and on behalf of the Initiative The visit to Washington was allowing him to advocate even louder He said if you were to take the gross domestic product of all the communities in the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Basin and you add them all together it would make it the third-largest economy in the world if it were a country (more than US$6 trillion) “As we move forward in a spirit of collaboration I believe it is of vital importance from every elected level to engage in what is potentially the greatest threat to Canada in my lifetime,” he said Tuesday of which Cobourg was a founding member dating back to 2010 represents more than 280 member municipalities along the Great Lakes in the Saint Lawrence River basin Cleveland’s visit comes the day after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. with energy limited to a 10 per cent tariff Canada levied an initial 25 per cent tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S with a promise to extend them to $125 billion in American goods at the end of March