Police have charged a registered massage therapist in Port Hope with voyeurism following an investigation launched on April 29 Police say there may be additional people who have been affected A registered massage therapist is facing a voyeurism charge following an investigation in Port Hope The Port Hope Police Service says its criminal investigative branch launched an investigation into a 32-year-old male who is a registered massage therapist at the Port Hope Sports and Rehabilitation Centre “The charge follows an investigation launched on April 29 after police received a report concerning the alleged offence,” say police Police add the Port Hope Sports Rehabilitation Centre is co-operating fully and maintaining complete transparency with the Port Hope police throughout the investigation is charged with Voyeurism under Section 162(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada and police have reason to believe there may be additional individuals who have been affected,” add police Anyone with information related to this case, or who wishes to speak with an investigating officer, is urged to contact the Port Hope Police Service at 905-885-8123 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: 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 Police have charged a 32-year-old man who worked at the Port Hope Sports and Rehabilitation Centre with voyeurism Port Hope police laid the charge against Evan Taylor a registered massage therapist who practised at the centre The charge follows an investigation launched on Tuesday (April 29) after police received a report concerning the alleged offence “The Port Hope Sports Rehabilitation Centre is cooperating fully and maintaining complete transparency with the Port Hope Police throughout the investigation,” reads a media release Police are continuing their investigation and say they have reason to believe there may be additional people who have been affected Anyone with information related to this case or who wishes to speak with an investigating officer is urged to contact the Port Hope Police Service at 905-885-8123 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        A Bowmanville man is among the eight people facing charges after a drug probe in Durham Region and Northumberland County The probe involved investigators from Cobourg police a suspect had been breaching bail conditions by trafficking Schedule I substances into the Cobourg area officers executed search warrants in Cobourg some opioid pills and around $75,000 in cash They also seized two vehicles and some jewellery described as ‘offence-related property,’ worth around $115,000 Police say the drugs have a street value of around $40,000 are each facing some gun and drug possession charges notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter ON L1J 8P5 | 905-571-1019 | newsroom@kx96.fm Port Hope photographer Lee Higginson is spreading her love for the town by selling postcards in partnership with the historic Furby House Books Located at 65 Walton Street beside The Thirsty Goose in downtown Port Hope the aptly named Furby House Books first opened in 1989 at 128 Walton Street out of what was the former home of William Furby who established the first newspaper in the town in 1831 and is known as the “father of journalism” in Port Hope the independent bookstore continues to be a beloved staple in the community “We’re so glad they’re here and it fits in with the quirkiness of Port Hope,” says Higginson Tourists were coming through asking for them fairly regularly through the summer and all year long they want to take something home that says Port Hope one of three current co-owners of the store says there has been “quite a demand for postcards” from the bookstore’s customers “Tourists were coming through asking for them fairly regularly through the summer and all year long,” she recalls “And people who don’t live here anymore they want to take something home that says Port Hope.” the post cards are a one-size-fits-all item for customers.” Already familiar with Higginson’s “remarkable” photographs given her reputation as an artist around the town Byers was certain they would make great postcards “They feel atmospheric and really draw you in,” she says “They’re just stunning and they’re so Port Hope.” Higginson describes herself as working “generally in the arts,” as she helps with community programming and supporting other creative endeavours though she notes that photography has always been one of her favourite creative outlets “The photography piece has been in my life since the minute I knew what the camera was,” she says “I’m the person that had the opportunity to see photos that my parents and grandparents took and it’s always been a high priority in my family’s life to document through photography over generations.” In addition to being a great honour and a great joy to know that those photos are out there floating around in the world it's also a way for me to say 'They may be tiny and semi-disposable but here you go if you wanted to buy my photos.' Higginson says that while she’ll photograph everything she is “obsessed with Lake Ontario” and might be best known around town as a lake photographer “I think Port Hope’s waterfront is really weird and fitting for a quirky town but people have a really hard time looking past the industrial reality of our waterfront and often complain about it,” Higginson says “But the fact of the matter is that Port Hope exists because of the industry that was built up because of it being lakeside You have to acknowledge the fact that Port Hope lives here because of its industry and its access to water and keep it to your back — because when it’s at your back “It’s my perpetual quest to make sure that Port Hope remembers that it lives lakeside and that a baby ocean is at our doorstep 24 hours per day,” Higginson adds “It’s all history and it’s all a piece of why we are living here right now.” When she was approached by Byers to create the postcards Higginson didn’t hesitate for a second recognizing that she has “probably a quarter of a million photos in my catalogue that I’ve taken over many and a lot of the last 15 years has been photos that are Port Hope centric.” While fans often ask if they can buy her photographs she has never sold them as they can be costly to print the postcards are much more accessible and affordable both for her and her audience “In addition to being a great honour and a great joy to know that those photos are out there floating around in the world it’s also a way for me to say ‘They may be tiny and semi-disposable but here you go if you wanted to buy my photos.'” It's that idea that nobody gets mail any more and nobody gets something in their mailbox The idea of a tactile greeting that's connecting communities in authentic ways really makes my heart happy The first run of postcards began with “iconic” landmarks including reflections of Town Hall scenes that are recognizable from the “IT” movies that were filmed in town and photos of the annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny boat races Higginson and Furby House Books will continue to print more runs of similar “I certainly can provide a few dozen for every season for probably the next 20 years,” Higginson jokes noting she has many photos of the annual salmon run as well “I think it could be really fun seasonal turnover.” While she loves sharing her work and her love for Port Hope Higginson also expresses how the “decidedly non-digital experiment” was one of the reasons she was so excited by the project “It’s that idea that nobody gets mail any more and nobody gets something in their mailbox,” she explains “The idea of a tactile greeting that’s connecting communities in authentic ways really makes my heart happy.” “They’re cute enough to put in a little frame and you can keep it because you want to remember what it looked like or you can mail it off There’s such a fun little thing to do that doesn’t have a barrier in terms of appreciating an artistic moment.” The majority of how this has been a success is based on Lee's enthusiasm We're just the shell and she's the running force behind it all customers have been “very excited” to see the postcards in store with many people purchasing several to gift to family and friends Though it was her idea to approach Higginson “The majority of how this has been a success is based on Lee’s enthusiasm,” says Byers “We’re just the shell and she’s the running force behind it all We’re just the ‘Go Lee!’ partners in the background.” For more information about Furby House Books, visit www.furbyhousebooks.com While you can’t order the postcards online Liberal candidate John Goheen answers questions in Port Hope Wednesday during an all candidates event for the federal riding of Northumberland-Clarke Incumbent Conservative candidate Philip Lawrence addresses a crowd in Port Hope Wednesday during an all candidates event for the federal riding of Northumberland-Clarke Green Party candidate Christina Marie Wilson answers questions during an all candidates event for the riding of Northumberland-Clarke NDP candidate Ava Becker addresses a crowd in Port Hope Wednesday during an all candidates event for the federal riding of Northumberland-Clarke Any vitriol or scorn you might expect at a pre-election debate was directed toward the U.S Wednesday evening as Northumberland-Clarke candidates met to answer questions at the Port Hope Lions Centre With less than two weeks before voters head to the polls in the April 28 federal election the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce the Port Hope Chamber and the Clarington Board of Trade hosted the event with candidates answering questions sent in from the public The main event featured questions directed to candidates with the NDP Three other candidates on the ballot — Lisa Bradburn of the People’s Party of Canada and John Wesselius of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada — were invited to set up tables and take questions from the public before and after the main event The other candidates addressed questions on topics from housing to U.S.-Canada relations to provincial trade Here’s how the candidates answered the question of how they would balance the notion of retaliatory tariffs “I think that retaliatory tariffs are certainly not the one-stop fix on this I do think it’s important to acknowledge the risks that are associated with it and that we need to focus on the bigger strategy I think the infrastructure plan and building an east-to-west clean energy grid to increase that Canadian labour and use of our own materials as well as ensuring that we’re a more self-sufficient country that has processing here in Canada ensuring our factories stay here … will just strengthen our country against the U.S economy so that we can’t be threatened by tariffs and then maybe retaliatory tariffs don’t have to be a permanent thing “I think it is essential that we have dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs but we have to apply them intelligently so that they hit their target and he will keep pushing over us unless we stand up for Canada … That being said you can craft them in such ways that you have other opportunities for Canadian businesses to supply goods that are going to be tariffed I met with and talked to many different businesses who needed exemptions because the retaliatory tariffs were going to hurt them we were able to get those exemptions by working with the government to make sure that we hit the target “While retaliatory tariffs might feel good in the moment And we can see that in what’s happening in Cobourg itself with Post having to close its doors We can see that our friends are losing jobs that have worked for Weetabix for 20 years And this is definitely affecting our community Instead of just reacting to the latest crisis the goal is to build long-term solutions and make sure that Canada’s resources work for ordinary Canadians and not just the big corporations.” “A Liberal government does support dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs We do want to ensure that those tariffs have a minimal impact on Canadians and a maximum impact on American businesses It is important that we look at opening up interprovincial trade This will help to offset the impact of tariffs … that could be anywhere from $70 to $80 billion of our GDP I believe Mark Carney has the international experience to help us to open new markets for products around the globe He is committing us to working with the European rearmament process He wants to build partnerships around the world reliable partner for other countries even though we currently are not getting along with one of our past most reliable partners.” Bill Hodgins is a news writer for Northumberlandnews.com 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.” 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 The eastbound lanes of Highway 401 between Newtonville Road and Service Centre Road were closed for several hours as the OPP carried out an investigation A driver was airlifted to a trauma hospital with serious injuries on Sunday evening following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 401 near Port Hope An air ambulance was called to take the driver of one of the vehicles to a Toronto-area trauma centre after the crash, which happened in the eastbound lanes near Newtonville Road NORTHUMBERLAND OPP IS INVESTIGATION A SERIOUS COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 401On April 20, 2025, just before 7:00 p.m., #NthldOPP responded to a collision on Highway 401, near Newtonville Road, in the Municipality of Port Hope. Two vehicles were involved. One driver was air-lifted to… pic.twitter.com/oxbqAb6QGh As a result, the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 between Newtonville Road and Service Centre Road were closed for several hours as the OPP carried out an investigation Anyone with information is asked to call Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122 A driver has been airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre with life-threatening injuries after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 401 in Port Hope — east of Oshawa NORTHUMBERLAND OPP IS INVESTIGATION A SERIOUS COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 401 On April 20, 2025, just before 7:00 p.m., #NthldOPP responded to a collision on Highway 401, near Newtonville Road, in the Municipality of Port Hope. Two vehicles were involved. One driver was air-lifted to… pic.twitter.com/oxbqAb6QGh — OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) April 21, 2025 The cause of the two-vehicle collision remains under investigation is asked to call the OPP’s Northumberland detachment at 1-888-310-1122 Incidents like this highlight the importance of understanding your rights in the event you’re injured during a motor vehicle collision in Ontario — either as a driver For those seeking legal guidance, the dedicated Oshawa and Port Hope personal injury lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP are here to support you We understand the overwhelming challenges you face after an accident and are committed to fighting for your rights Our compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyers offer free consultations to guide you through the legal process and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve Contact our knowledgeable team to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve Get Help Now Sivan Tumarkin is a Founding Partner of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and Practice Leader for the firm's Long-term Disability & Personal Injury Law Group His previous experience working for insurance companies has given him unique insight into the long-term disability claim denial and appeals process allowing him to secure strong results for his clients Toronto police are asking anyone with information on the incident Learn more about the steps you need to take after a collision involving a TTC bus and how our team can help Get the latest updates on Toronto car accidents & traffic collisions as well as news on major incidents & accident hotspots across… We are one of Canada's most experienced and trusted employment Take advantage of our years of experience and success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table Get help now Subscribe for relevant news alerts regarding employment and disability law From the significant reconstruction work in Port Hope’s downtown core to the opening of a new local child care centre in collaboration with Northumberland County the Municipality of Port Hope is encouraging residents to take a look back at some of the developments in their community over the past 12 months The Municipality of Port Hope has announced the launch of its “2024 Year in Review” webpage which is now available for the public to peruse on the municipal website The digital resource aims to capture the municipality’s key achievements and initiatives during the past year communications manager for the Municipality of Port Hope shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around what she hopes residents and the public glean from having the resource at their fingertips “The aim of the 2024 Year in Review is to showcase the key projects and decisions that shape the community while providing residents with a clear and accessible overview of municipal operations,” Ingram said “By highlighting accomplishments and initiatives the Year in Review fosters transparency and helps residents better understand the impact of municipal services on their daily lives.” This is the second year Port Hope has spotlighted its year in review on the municipal website aiming to provide an easy-to-navigate format for users to explore detailed insights into the projects and services that have shaped the community Each department’s section provides an overview of the departmental efforts from significant projects to the day-to-day operations that contribute to Port Hope’s growth and well-being “The 2024 Year in Review provides an opportunity to reflect on the hard work and commitment of our staff,” said Tonia Bennett interim chief administrative officer for the Municipality of Port Hope “It demonstrates the exceptional progress we’ve made while setting the stage for future growth and development We’re proud of our accomplishments and excited about the continued momentum in the year ahead.” the year in review includes a section dedicated to council’s major achievements The section aims to offer a snapshot of the decisions and policy advancements made over the past year focusing on initiatives that support sustainable development we recognize the many ways the municipality delivers essential services programs and initiatives that support our whole community every day,” stated Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky “Our dedicated staff play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing these services from infrastructure and public safety to community programs and environmental initiatives I’m proud of their efforts and the progress we’ve made together and I look forward to building on this momentum in 2025.” A few of the highlighted accomplishments are listed below Council broke ground on “Phase 2” of the Walton Street reconstruction in late April 2024 completing the project on time and on budget by fall The community celebrated the milestone at the Candlelight Festival council approved free transportation and allocated parking ticket revenue to the Heritage Business Improvement Area in a move to support downtown business continuity In collaboration with Northumberland County the municipality facilitated the opening of a new child care centre at the former Ruth Clarke Activity Centre providing 30 new spots for children in the community Loyalist College Port Hope campus renovation Port Hope welcomed Loyalist College students into the newly renovated Port Hope campus on Pine Street “marking an exciting chapter for the college and our community.” council supported and endorsed the re-opening of the Port Hope Walk-in Medical Clinic on Toronto Road According to Northumberland County’s director of health and human services Glenn Dees people are visiting the clinic for issues such as fever and systemic infections and skin allergies — “the typical things people would go to see their primary care provider for if they have a primary care provider.” Council passed a bylaw to remove municipal barriers for vehicle-for-hire providers like Y Drive The move targeted improving transportation options removing taxi restrictions and attracting new providers VIA Rail resumed its early train route to Toronto in the spring The 2024 Year in Review also encompasses some of the municipality’s “less visible successes providing valuable insight into the efforts that keep Port Hope running smoothly day-to-day.” To check out the year in review, visit porthope.ca/year-in-review Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter As a photographer who enjoys interacting with fish non-consumptively I’m thrilled fishing was curtailed in Port Hope I hate the justification used for implementing the ban — there was no science involved and Port Hope’s fix likely just pushed the problem to other locations that are less publicly visible and will cause more harm The Ganaraska River, which runs directly through the town of Port Hope, has the largest migration of wild salmonids on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. In the fall of 2023, more than 28,000 Chinook salmon passed the town’s dam according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and that doesn’t include an estimated couple thousand spawning before the dam or harvested by anglers along the way.  A catastrophic 1980 flood resulted in the town blasting parts of the river down to bedrock leaving shallow pools and steps of rock one-to-two feet high along the river so they congregate in the shallow pools below Easy targets also increase the chances of illegal behaviour While some Chinook salmon will chase lures and flies a fish crowded with hundreds of others or waiting in the shallows to ascend a rock step is unlikely to actively bite Snagging (hooking in parts of the body other than the mouth) and flossing (running your fishing line through a fish’s open mouth until the hook gets caught) dominate angling methods in these conditions and they are illegal under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.  to “help protect vulnerable migrating Chinook salmon.” the dam — located three kilometres upstream of the river’s mouth — slows down salmon migration in town They acknowledge the fish are also slowed because of the human-made shallow pool-and-step formations in town — but it has been this way for 40 years It takes energy for fish to jump over rock ledges and power through three inches of water hence why they gather in the pools until it rains or instinct drives them forward The fish continue moving until they reach the pool below the dam where they must wait because the fishway physically cannot pass enough fish But this pool was already a permanent sanctuary The new rule extends that sanctuary downstream during peak migration which brought the illegal fishing and problematic behaviour of anglers to the forefront These issues happen to be very visible in Port Hope After public comments on the proposed ban closed, the ministry approved it with no changes just one week later — an exceptionally fast review and assessment of the more than 2,000 pages of comments they received The ban came into force just two days after it was approved — another shocking timeline considering the speed at which government regulations usually change It would be one thing if this change only affected Port Hope. But those anglers are now going to fish in neighbouring streams that have smaller wild runs, which are harder for our few conservation officers to patrol, and which may not be able to sustain the additional fishing pressure. This is not a small problem: Port Hope anglers put in more than 24,000 hours of fishing in 2015 Yet there was no proposal to add additional enforcement or monitor the biological effects of this closure on other streams Port Hope succeeded in fixing its problem by spreading it everywhere else I’m all for science-based changes in regulations when necessary to protect wild fish But this change is not grounded in science: the biological protection is a false pretense and this regulation instead implicitly acknowledges that social issues attached to salmon fisheries are more important than the fish themselves.  I tried to sit streamside in Port Hope to photograph fish I had fishing lines thrown over me and anglers laugh at me as though I had no right to be there because I wasn’t fishing As though the fish belonged to anglers and no one else.  tourists and more all enjoying the river and fish that are I hope the Ministry of Natural Resources will step up and monitor the effects of this ban on other streams to ensure this protection doesn’t come at the expense of wild fish elsewhere Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter A $335 million funding commitment to fund.. a massive open-pit coal mine near Jasper National Park is hoping to expand.. A trade war could help remake B.C.’s food system First Nations are leading efforts to make sure lake sturgeon can find a home in.. non-profit and supported by readers like you Port Hope is hosting its first-ever sustainability expo on April 27 The Municipality of Port Hope’s environmental advisory committee is gearing up for the one-day affair and local businesses are implementing sustainable initiatives and activities in Port Hope The municipality invites residents and community partners to explore sustainable living and nature-based solutions by attending the free event Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky shared her thoughts with kawarthaNOW about the significance of the inaugural expo Port Hope council unanimously declared a climate emergency joining more than 600 municipalities across Canada in recognizing the urgency of climate change,” the mayor said “This declaration was not just symbolic — it was a commitment to protecting our economy The sustainability expo is an extension of that commitment and innovative solutions to help build a more resilient and sustainable future for Port Hope.” April 27 at Port Hope High School at 130 Highland Drive and individuals will share information about their projects and initiatives related to climate action “The sustainability expo is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and learn from one another about practical and innovative ways to support a more sustainable future,” said Port Hope councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani who also serves as chair of the environmental advisory committee “This event showcases the incredible efforts of local organizations and individuals who are leading the way in environmental stewardship,” Wadhwani added “I encourage all residents to attend and explore how small changes can make a big impact.” Attendees can expect to learn more about local initiatives from sustainable gardening and energy conservation to waste reduction and green infrastructure installation Visitors can participate in interactive displays and engage with local sustainability advocates to discover how they can contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable future the sustainability expo aims to inspire attendees with real-world examples of how local groups and organizations can tackle environmental challenges by working together highlighting the importance of community participation and the powerful role nature-based solutions play in creating a sustainable future and information on do-it-yourself green solutions The committee is asking anyone who wants to take part in the expo to complete a participant form. For more expo details and for the participant form, visit porthope.ca/sustainability-expo Port Hope’s environmental advisory committee provides perspectives and advice to municipal council relative to the preservation and sustainability of the overall landscape and natural infrastructure of the municipality Paddlers hang on tight at the finish line during the return of the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday The event is a 10-km race along the Ganaraska River to commemorate the 1980 flood that crippled Port Hope’s downtown area A spectator sprays water at paddlers at the finish line during the return of the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday The 10-km race along the Ganaraska River commemorates the 1980 flood that crippled Port Hope’s downtown area A paddler celebrates after crossing the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Rescue workers assist canoers at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers spray water at spectators near the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers race past spectators at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A spectator sprays water at paddlers at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers hang on as they race towards the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers capsize as they approach the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers approach the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A paddler surfaces after capsizing his watercraft near the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A rescue worker helps a participant ashore at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers react to the fast-moving water at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Rescue workers retrieve a capsized boat at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A participant wades ashore with his kayak at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers embrace the fast-moving water at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Spectators take in the action at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A participant churns through the waves during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A paddler avoids a capsized canoe during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A bride yells in the fast-moving water during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers navigate the fast-moving water during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers react to strong rapids during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A rescue worker frames a paddler at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers stay aboard their inner tubes at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Spectators take in the action at the finish line during the return of the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A paddler wipes out above the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Paddlers navigate the fast-moving water at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A paddler maintains her balance at the finish line during the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday A kayaker makes a splash during the return of the Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny race in Port Hope on Saturday Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny races return to Port Hope Paddlers had some wet and wild fun on Saturday as they participated in the annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny event in Port Hope The event featured a variety of watercraft and included canoes kayaks and homemade “crazy craft” floaties The 10-kilometre race down the Ganaraska River is held annually to commemorate the 1980 flood that devastated downtown Port Hope Centred around the finish area at Barrett Street Bridge and Cavan Street in downtown Port Hope the event village offered entertainment and activities as well as the chance to watch the participants navigate the last rapids section of the course as well as some additional entertainment on the water Spectators and visitors enjoyed food and drinks from one of the many vendors along the banks or made the short walk into the town for shopping or bars Prizes and trophies were awarded to canoes kayaks and floaties in a number of categories Account processing issue - the email address may already exist From family-friendly adventures to indulgent evenings of music A series of community events is running in Port Hope from April 21 to 26 Rob Kempson, artistic director of the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, has shared programming details for next week’s third-annual Summer Season Rollout — a series of community events running in Port Hope from April 21 to 26 The Season Rollout celebrates the magic of theatre with a week of original events inspired by the season’s upcoming productions featuring a performance by the pride of Lakefield Ontario — Royal Wood — plus a live auction “Our Season Rollout events invite everyone in the community to get involved and get excited for an amazing summer of theatre ahead,” says Kempson “I don’t know of any other theatre company that programs a week of accessible but also — most crucially — to celebrate our community partners Details are available here This event celebrates the arrival of Bad Hats Theatre’s “Alice in Wonderland” to the Capitol Theatre attendees will have a chance to fall down the rabbit hole with a series of Alice-themed activities Sponsored by Furby House Books and Happenstance Bakery & Coffee Roastery starting at the Capitol Theatre and ending at Ganaraska Brewing Company Details can be found here Celebrate all that’s sweet with our “Waitress”-themed twist on a pub crawl We’ll have the chance to taste sweet selections from various Port Hope institutions each with their own take on the pies that define our upcoming Mainstage production It all finishes at the Ganaraska Brewing Company with a Pie Social a pie sale and entertainment by local talent Jeff Biggar Details are available here This event promises to serve up some southern comfort and conversation as we host a cocktail reception in one of Port Hope’s most beloved salons ’80s glamour shots and a very special treat served up “shaken not stirred” — all in celebration of our upcoming production of “Steel Magnolias.” Sponsored by Studio 100 & Atelier on John Location: Port Hope Diner (68 Wellington St. Details can be found here Share in some amazing live music from today’s top Indigenous artists in an intimate setting while you enjoy breakfast for dinner It’s all served up hot in celebration of the world premiere of “Rez Gas,” a new Indigenous musical written by Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam This evening promises to be an up-close-and-personal opportunity to catch some incredible live music — with a side of syrup Details are available here Our annual Red Carpet Gala returns in 2025 Join us first for a building-wide cocktail reception celebrating the 11 productions of our largest season ever Then we’ll gather in the Rod Stewart & Masumi Suzuki Atmospheric Theatre to hear the pride of Lakefield as he performs live on stage our dynamic host Layne and some special surprises Pull out the glitz and glamour to celebrate the season ahead with the Capitol Given that construction projects and the weather were not in Port Hope’s favour during the 2024 “Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny” annual event organizers are committed to ensuring this year’s festival on Saturday That might just be possible given that this year’s festivities will see the return of the beloved Crazy Craft race as well as the all-new floaty category that was originally supposed to have debuted during last year’s festivities “Mother Nature did not cooperate last year and we didn’t have much happening on the river,” says event co-chair Barrileigh Price “Just the thought of coming back this year and being able to get the canoes and kayaks all the way down from start to finish and to be able to launch the Crazy Crafts is super exciting.” The thought of coming back this year and being able to get the canoes and kayaks all the way down from start to finish and to be able to launch the Crazy Crafts is super exciting Float Your Fanny has been an annual tradition since 1981 to commemorate a flood that devastated the downtown the year prior a torrential downpour caused the Ganaraska River to overflow and flood 66 acres of downtown Port Hope to depths up to 1.5 metres as well as part of the Walton Street downtown and its buildings and reportedly a child drowned in the flood Float Your Fanny has evolved into a 10-kilometre watercraft race with categories for canoes the family-friendly celebration includes events throughout the town and the “Fannyville” outdoor event village full of entertainment The Crazy Craft race — where participating groups trave; down the river on rafts made from a combination of different items to form a floating vessel — will see its return to the river this year following last year’s hiatus due to the closure of the Sylvan Glen Bridge The category has become one of the most beloved of the festival as participants donning themed costumes never fail to amuse spectators as their rafts fall apart “They put a lot of time and effort into their costumes and their build and a lot of them don’t test out their craft before they get there,” Price says “It’s a really great thing just to see everybody with their creativity and their excitement.” she has seen more and more older participants competing to celebrate a milestone like a birthday or retirement after having sat on the sidelines for a number of years “It’s a split of people participating that have been doing it for years — using the same craft with modifications or they bring in a new craft every year — and then you’ve got those people (with) bucket list items and are doing it for the very first time,” Price says “We’re always looking to grow it bigger and to get more and more people out Being able to go out buy some form of an inflatable and spend 15 or 20 minutes floating down — it's just a bite-sized taste of what the big adventure could be the 2025 festival will see the first-ever floaty race (anything that is inflatable is eligible) which was intended to be the replacement for last year’s Crazy Craft before inclement weather caused the floaty race’s cancellation as well “It’s a bite-sized adventure,” Price says “It could be a little daunting for somebody to have to think about building a crazy craft and then having to be on a cold river in April but being able to go out buy some form of an inflatable and spend 15 or 20 minutes floating down — it’s just a bite-sized taste of what the big adventure could be.” Also returning is the free Fannyville event village and more at the finish line at the Cavan Street and Barrett Street Bridge The village has been a feature of the race during the last 15 years ever since Price and her father Barry Adamson began to co-chair Float Your Fanny “I had a child under the age of two and a baby in my arms and it was very difficult for me to stand around waiting for the action and waiting to watch my husband come down the river,” Price recalls “We’ve spent the last fifteen years growing it — not just the river race It’s one of the things she is most proud of now that she and her father are passing on the baton retiring from chairing the event after this year’s race Those interested in becoming involved are encouraged to reach out to Price and Adamson and follow along this year to see the behind-the-scenes operations during the event A public meeting will be held for those interested in stepping into leadership roles with details to be announced after this year’s race but we're still very passionate about the event and we're going to do whatever we can to support the new leadership We're looking forward to seeing where it goes “It’s been so amazing to be a part of,” she says “The best thing about it is being there on the day and seeing so many community members coming out to just enjoy what Port Hope has to offer while having fun and cheering everybody on.” but we’re still very passionate about the event and we’re going to do whatever we can to support the new leadership We’re looking forward to seeing where it goes.” For more information about Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny and to register for the race, visit www.floatyourfanny.ca Port Hope business owners and entrepreneurs can take advantage of a free series of business workshops this spring The Municipality of Port Hope is collaborating with the Business Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) and the Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce to deliver the four-part workshop series and entrepreneurs can attend the monthly workshops to upskill or reskill and assist them in a competitive economy a media release from the municipality stated said the intent of the workshops series was “to empower local entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge and connections they need to successfully grow and thrive in today’s evolving business landscape.” “Through this collaborative effort between BECN we aim to achieve maximum capacity of attendees at each session assisting to elevate businesses through educational support,” Coupland told kawarthaNOW we aim to see increased community engagement and networking assisting with business growth opportunities while providing practical and immediate tools entrepreneurs can implement right away.” our goal is to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and support network they need to navigate challenges and contribute to the vibrant business community of Northumberland County.” March 20 with a 90-minute virtual session on business planning essentials led by BECN business consultant Julie Savard April 10 with the interactive “Market Adaptation vs Market Standardization” workshop at the Town Park Recreation Centre in Port Hope which will explore marketing strategies and how to choose the right approach for their business The workshop will be led by Karen McDonald-Hurley of Opportunity Group for Small Business” workshop at the Port Hope Community Hub in Canton will see Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power show participants how to future-proof their small business with artificial intelligence June 11 at the Port Hope Community Hub in Canton will focus on video marketing basics for small business owners The workshop will also be led by Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power “This partnership with our regional and local friends at the BECN and the chamber is just one of many ways that the municipality is working hard to support our business community,” said Desta McAdam director of development services at the Municipality of Port Hope The workshops are free to attend but registration is required, as spots are limited. Visit www.northumberland.ca/en/becn/seminars-and-workshops.aspx to learn more and to register Each workshop requires a separate registration Questions about the workshops can be directed to bizhelp@northumberland.ca Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre is celebrating its upcoming summer season with a series of fun fundraising community events from April 21 to 26 culminating with a gala celebration featuring a performance by Lakefield native Royal Wood “Our season rollout events invite everyone in the community to get involved and get excited for an amazing summer of theatre ahead,” says the Capitol’s artistic director Rob Kempson in a media release “I don’t know of any other theatre company that programs a week of accessible but also — most crucially — to celebrate our community partners This is the third year the historic theatre has hosted a summer season rollout with community partners and the week kicks off on Easter Monday with “Alice in Wonderland’s Magical Tea Party” from 1 to 4 p.m Celebrating the arrival of Bad Hats Theatre’s musical Alice in Wonderland to the Capitol from May 16 to June 1 this interactive family-friendly event features a series of Alice-themed activities Sponsored by Furby House Books and Happenstance Bakery & Coffee Roastery tickets are pay what you can ($15 suggested) the Capitol will celebrate its mainstage production of Waitress an expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage by entering a pie competition Flour: A Port Hope Pie Crawl” will see participants have the chance to partake in pies from various Port Hope establishments The pie crawl begins at the theatre and ends at the Ganaraska Brewing Company with a “pie social” that includes pie throwing The summer season rollout continues from 6 to 9 p.m on Wednesday (April 23) with an event celebrating the Capitol’s production of Steel Magnolias from July 18 to August 3 The classic play tells the story of an in-home beauty parlour and the women who frequent it so it’s only appropriate that “Cocktails & Curlers at the Studio” takes place at Studio 100 at 14 Ontario Street Attendees can enjoy complimentary sweet tea ’80s glamour shots (big hair optional) and a very special treat served up “shaken not stirred.” Sponsored by Studio 100 and Atelier on John the Capitol will be celebrating its season-ending world premiere of Rez Gas a new Indigenous musical written by well-known local musician Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam that runs from August 22 to September 7 “Hashbrowns & Harmonies” takes place at the Port Hope Diner at 68 Wellington Street where attendees can enjoy breakfast for dinner while listening to live music from today’s top Indigenous artists in an intimate setting The summer season rollout concludes at the Capitol on Saturday (April 26) with the Red Carpet Gala featuring a building-wide cocktail reception followed by a performance by Juno-nominated Canadian musician Royal Wood The gala also includes a live auction hosting by Layne For tickets to all the summer season rollout events, visit capitoltheatre.com/season-rollout/ Police clear building but say there is now no threat to the public One man was taken into custody Tuesday morning after police received a call about a suspicious package at a building on Peter Street in Port Hope Port Hope police say the Greenwood Towers residence was evacuated as a precaution The OPP Explosives Disposal Unit was notified and joined to assist with the investigation police had cleared the scene and said there is no threat to public safety Pniv castle was probably built in the second half of the 16th century The castle was successfully defended in 1621 Move is a demonstration of support and cooperation during ongoing conflict Evidence of the early settlement in the region around Nadvirna Historians believe it was probably built in the second half of the 16th century Nadvina officials were focused half a world away in Port Hope the town of Port Hope and Nadvirna officially entered into a twinning agreement establishing a formal partnership between the two communities fostering cooperation in the areas of tourism development “Twinning agreements create meaningful connections between communities allowing us to learn from one another while strengthening international ties,” Hankivsky said “By formalizing our relationship with Nadvirna we reaffirm our support for Ukraine and look forward to future collaboration in areas that benefit both municipalities.” the two mayors discussed the creation of a working group that would include representatives from both communities and the rehabilitation of Ukraine’s armed forces as their first priority followed by education and the environment as areas to explore under the new agreement’s working group various members of parliament have encouraged municipalities to consider twinning (or sister city) agreements with similar sized Ukrainian municipalities in an effort to demonstrate support and promote cooperation throughout the ongoing conflict Port Hope was approached by Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence who recommended the town consider a twinning agreement with Nadvirna It’s population of 22,500 is only a few thousand more than Port Hope Despite their geographical and cultural differences Nadvirna and Port Hope share similarities in their scenic beauty contributing to the unique character of each municipality There has been strong local support for the people of Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict that has been demonstrated both through financial assistance and support for settling those displaced by the conflict It was determined a twin city agreement between the two municipalities would further recognize and strengthen support at a local level The ongoing conflict has significantly impacted Nadvirna resulting in economic instability that affects businesses and employment opportunities the city has seen an influx of internally displaced people Humanitarian efforts supporting Nadvirna have included providing shelter Port Hope’s Fire Station 3 will be open to the public Monday from 9 a.m Brush from storm can be taken to municipal transfer station Many residents in the rural areas of Port Hope were still without power on Monday Fire Station 3 — on Ganarska Road in the north end of the municipality — will be open to the public again today from 9 a.m The Town Park Recreation Centre has re-opened The blood donor clinic that was previously scheduled has been cancelled Residents in need can also access both the Town Park Recreation Centre and the Jack Burger Sports Complex today Rural residents can drop off brush at the transfer station while clearing debris Please travel only if roads are clear and safe Northumberland OPP has charged a Port Hope resident with arson following a vehicle fire Monday morning around the 4th Line 47-year-old facing multiple charges including assault and driving while suspended Northumberland OPP has charged a Port Hope resident with arson following a vehicle fire Monday morning in an area near the 4th Line Police say fire officials were called to the area around 9:25 a.m Monday following a report of a vehicle fire they determined no one was injured because of the fire including the period leading up to and circumstances surrounding the incident police say the fire was believed to have been started intentionally one person was arrested nearby and transported to a local detachment police say the individual damaged property in the cell area a 47-year-old resident of Port Hope has been charged with: The accused was held for to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg Police did not name the accused to protect the identity of the victim OttawaNewsWoman critically injured in Cornwall Hwy. 401 crashBy William EltheringtonPublished: April 28, 2025 at 2:48PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Northumberland OPP were kept busy with separate collisions on Thursday with a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 401 between Cobourg and Port Hope claiming the life of one man while a three-car collision on nearby County Road 28 sent three people to hospital and left a family pet dead Police responded to a collision on County Road 18 in Port Hope at 9:40 a.m. with officers and emergency officials arriving to find two vehicles with heavy damage and a third in the ditch on the west side of the road Three occupants were treated by EMS and transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries The road was closed at County Road 9 and Boundary Road until midday for the investigation and clean-up crews with emergency crews immediately dispatched to the collision on Highway 401 west of Burham Street involving as many as 15 passenger vehicles and tractor trailers Five persons were taken hospital for medical treatment A 70-year-old man from Colborne did not survive the collision The highway was closed for the entire day with diversions in place at Burnham St as Technical Collision Investigation members attended the scene and the environmental cleanup got underway The highway did not open to traffic until 2:45 a.m Both investigations are ongoing and police are asking anyone who may have witnessed or has video/dash camera footage of the collisions to contact the Northumberland OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 If you are affected by these incidents or witnessed the collisions Victim Services of Peterborough and Northumberland can be reached at (705) 748-0324 Subscribe to INsauga – Ontario Headline News’ daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Toronto Eaton Centre OR Sherway Gardens we need more reliable nuclear power to drive our economic future the provincial government unveiled Ontario’s vision for new nuclear energy generation in Port Hope — a site that could host up to 10,000 MW of clean power Ontario’s energy demand is expected to grow by 75 per cent by 2050 requiring bold action to ensure the province has the affordable power it will need over the next 25 years Ontario is planning ahead by refurbishing Darlington Pickering and expanding Bruce Power’s nuclear facilities along with the launch of the largest competitive energy procurement in Canadian history Minister Lecce announced today that Ontario has directed OPG to advance opportunities for up to 10,000 MW of new nuclear energy generation at the Wesleyville site in Port Hope This is part of our government’s expansion of nuclear energy which is now underway for the first time in 30 years The Wesleyville nuclear project will provide enough power for 10 million homes and contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP over an estimated 95-year project lifespan Our government is partnering with the Williams Treaties First Nations by providing capacity funding and equity participation opportunities ensuring Indigenous communities are central partners in this transformative project Following Port Hope’s unanimous support resolution in favour of these discussions the government announced $1 million in immediate funding for Port Hope and up to $30 million for infrastructure investments tied to project milestones which burdened Ontarians with skyrocketing hydro rates Premier Ford is demonstrating leadership by delivering affordability in Ontario and fighting for families and workers nationwide Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005585/ontario-exploring-new-nuclear-energy-generation-in-port-hope Privacy Policy ∙ Accessibility Policy a circa-1851 brick house sits on more than four acres of land in the centre of the historic town an owl could be heard hooting from deep inside the woods The two-storey house was built for business magnate Henry Howard Meredith the architect and builder was William Garnett who worked on many of the town’s early buildings purchased the home and made some significant improvements a new south main entrance and columned verandas The Ralston name would become well-known in Port Hope after he served as a brigadier-general in the First World War The house remained in the family until 1985 Later the house opened as a bed and breakfast inn under the name Hill and Dale Doyle and her husband were digital entrepreneurs who purchased the property in 2013 when they moved from Toronto to Port Hope so their son and daughter could attend the private Trinity College School Doyle began meeting local residents who shared their memories of passing significant milestones at the Hill and Dale Many couples used the elegant gates bordering John Street as the backdrop for their wedding photos Another bride and her attendants held an afternoon tea on the veranda during their stay before the nuptials Others pointed out the room they chose for the first night of their honeymoon “Some of my friends had their wedding nights in my home.” Doyle wondered if returning an inn with nine bedrooms and 10 bathrooms to a single family home would be too great a challenge “I was a little bit intimidated,” she says But the couple visited a few times before they submitted an offer and decided to tackle the renovation ornate draperies and a different motif in each room did not suit the family’s lifestyle “We saw the bones of the house for what it was – a beautiful stately home,” says Ms One of the first tasks was to repaint the exterior which is protected by heritage conservation rules The couple chose historically accurate colours for elements such as the wooden shutters they removed one ensuite bathroom and stripped away the bedroom decor to create a home office they tore out a second bathroom and the owners’ suite in order to turn the space into a family room They also enclosed a former porch to create a mud room Today the house has six bedrooms and eight bathrooms The ceilings in the principal rooms are more than 10 feet high with some of the Victorian-era trim remaining trim and moulding appears to date to the Edwardian era according to Heritage Port Hope.Reid Media Agency The late Victorian detail includes the winding cherry wood staircase Some of the Edwardian-era improvements included panelled wainscotting in the dining room and new mantelpieces for some of the fireplaces the couple renovated one bathroom and combined two bedrooms to create a spacious primary suite Other bathrooms were given a facelift with new vanities and decor Wallpapers were stripped from the bedrooms and hallways to create a more uniform palette throughout the house Some areas of the floors were showing wear and tear so the couple installed faux marble tile in the front hall Doyle’s aim was to create a kitchen with all of the modern conveniences she needed and an appearance in keeping with the age of the home Doyle says the heritage home has one element she considers magical: When the sun rises in the morning it shines through the stained glass in the south-east corner “It creates rainbows throughout the entire house,” she says Being the current steward of the property has led to some interesting encounters One day some visitors from out-of-province stopped by Ralston had lived in the house during the 1970s and 80s and were keen to see the changes since that time Doyle has spent the past several years in her own home office overlooking the grounds writing her recently published novel The “biography wrapped up in a fiction story” is centred around the life of the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and written under the pen name Allison Lang Cook Many celebrated authors have made the area home and she finds the town’s cultural roots inspiring The previous owners brought in a local artisan who used traditional methods to create features in the garden.Reid Media Agency The more than four acres of land includes woods Some of the rare specimens on the property include a “cucumber tree” magnolia which is the only magnolia native to Canada and a walnut tree estimated to be more than 150 years old An aged stone wall lining the driveway has an ice hut built in Doyle figures residents in previous eras used the nook to store their perishables on blocks of ice The previous owners also brought in a local artisan who used traditional methods to create features in the garden including an arched stone bridge over the stream When the children and their cousins were young Doyle set up Easter egg hunts on the grounds The kids also spent lots of time exploring the woods and running all over the property with the family dog “It feels like such a good place to raise a family.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Wesleyville is one of three possible locations for reactors Fencing remains around the destruction of a section of Port Hope’s former file factory after fire ripped through the structure this past July Port Hope firefighters douse the remains of the historic Nicholson file factory this past July after flames ripped through the southern block of the Cavan Street heritage building Fire destroyed considerable section of historic site this past summer After a partial collapse last February and a tragic fire in July Port Hope’s historic Nicholson file factory is just a shell of what it was even a year ago its owners are eager to develop the site commercially “depending on our ability to achieve a preferred outcome.” “We are currently evaluating a number of commercial uses for the site,” Spotlight Development COO David Hanick said in an emailed response to Northumberland News on Monday “We have secured the premises and are working to clean up the debris despite the complexities of the site. Presently we have not received information regarding the definitive cause of the fire which remains under investigation Our insurance has provided limited assistance.” Development of the riverside property has proven to be a challenge for Spotlight. There were questions on the property’s future even before a fire destroyed much of the brick building a once majestic structure on the banks of the Ganaraska Firefighters from several area departments were called in to assist Port Hope Fire on the morning of July 14 last summer Fire Chief Jason Williams said since the middle section of the building had already been demolished earlier in the year they were able to contain the fire to the southern part of the property He added the historic construction of the building added to their challenge “The fuel that substantiated this fire was a lot of the timber construction … the nature of the construction and the age of the timbers and there was a lot of construction material in there as well the noncombustible exterior of the building — the brick — help stopped the fire from spreading.” Cavan Street — running in front of the building — had to be closed when part of the factory’s façade began to tumble to the roadway below That prompted Spotlight to declare its initial plans to repurpose the building as a possible brewery more of it would be demolished Spotlight’s Sherry Larjani said at the time “I cannot tell you what kind of nightmare this has been.” The historic brick structure dates back more than 170 years in Port Hope the new owners of the building announced plans to transform the factory into a mix of live-work condo lofts with a market space and a microbrewery Larjani — the owner of a Toronto-based real estate development firm that specializes in the acquisition of properties for the purpose of redevelopment into high density residential and mixed-use projects — said she bought the property from a Toronto area lawyer who himself acquired it after it had been left vacant and neglected for more than two decades But Larjani said its proximity to the Ganaraska River flood plain scuttled any notion of a residential use for the file factory And when part of the façade fronting Cavan Street collapsed to the sidewalk last February the fine line between preservation and safety caused continuous concern conducted by a Toronto structural engineering firm and provided to the municipality determined that Block 2 exhibited severe damage and a substantial risk of collapse particularly the west exterior wall immediately adjacent to Cavan Street “While closure of Cavan Street is an unfortunate outcome of the owner’s neglect adequate time should be afforded to the owner and the municipality to properly execute the work and to ensure that qualified and experienced demolition engineer and contractor are retained to execute the work,” a municipal staff report stated Hanick stated the municipality has not provided any financial or other support for the cleanup since the fire we have had to navigate a series of rules and regulations that have made the process challenging There have been no formal solutions presented by the municipality and we have not been approached by the municipality regarding its desire to acquire the property.” He says residents along Cavan Street should know the company is eager to move forward with the property however any development depends on municipal approvals we intend to begin transitioning the site as quickly as possible,” he said Parking meters have now been installed on Walton Street within the Phase 2 construction area marking the return of metered parking in this section of downtown Port Hope Newly installed smart meters offer multiple convenient payment options you couldn’t drive — never mind park — on Walton Street in Port Hope’s downtown But since the street reopened after construction the parking spots returned — but not the parking meters Parking enforcement in this area is slated to resume on Monday parking enforcement will include elements of education and reminders to support compliance Please ensure you continue to pay for parking as required to avoid penalties,” a news release from the municipality reads adding direct payment can be made via coins the meters are also compatible with the HotSpot parking app allowing you to pay and manage your parking right from your smartphone.” Shovels and equipment have been put aside for now and the footprints in freshly poured sidewalks are but a memory as the second phase of the digging and paving of Walton Street in Port Hope concluded earlier this week The municipality announced Monday (December 2) that the 2024 portion of the major reconstruction project in the municipality’s downtown has been completed and the road is now open to vehicular traffic Workers had nearly finished the work a few weeks ago but had to regroup after footprints on the freshly poured sidewalks on the south side of Walton Street surfaced over the weekend of November 16 and 17 Repair work — including the removal of some portions of sidewalk — along with the preparation and curing had to be completed as a result The work was completed in time for Port Hope’s Candlelight Walk last Friday night (November 29) that launched Port Hope’s annual Candlelight Festival Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky said it’s rewarding to have this portion of the project finished “Despite the last-minute setback of having members of the public walk on freshly poured sidewalk concrete I am incredibly proud of our staff for leading us to the successful completion of phase two of Walton Street,” Hankivsky shared with kawarthaNOW “Few municipalities can boast about finishing a large once-in-a-generation capital project such as this as being on time and on budget.” Phase two of the Walton Street reconstruction work — a project the mayor considered crucial for the future of the historic downtown — officially kicked off on May 8 and modernizing the downtown area’s infrastructure are key goals of the project “We are building more than just a road — we are building a better future for all who live and work here,” Hankivsky said in a media release issued during the construction kick-off event in May The municipality held a groundbreaking ceremony downtown and municipal officials to mark the formal start of the major infrastructure improvements Port Hope encouraged people to continue to shop locally and support local businesses The municipality waived the fees for two bus routes during the duration of construction Port Hope announced November 29 that its downtown “Heart of the Experience” project was selected for the “My Main Street Community Activator” initiative The funding is geared towards making a lasting impact on the downtown “This support will allow the municipality to deliver events and enhancements to the downtown core,” Port Hope noted in a media release creative art installations and activations have been featured throughout the area in partnership with Critical Mass Art and other local organizations inviting both resident and visitor engagement.” Further activities will support main street businesses during and after the reconstruction helping to attract residents and visitors to the area and contributing to the economic vitality of the community My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods that will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario “A community’s resilience is anchored in its main street and investing in them fosters economic prosperity and growth,” said Mary W “Projects like Port Hope’s The Heart of the Experience supported through My Main Street’s Community Activator initiative use intentional and creative placemaking to revitalize their neighborhoods and public spaces Our program’s investment provides an opportunity for local changemakers to build healthy and drive social cohesion and economic recovery where it’s needed most.” My Main Street is a $15-million investment to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario the program offers streamlined direct-to-business supports and complementary programming for community projects that encourage growth and economic prosperity Walton Street in downtown Port Hope has been undergoing a multi-million dollar reconstruction Local firm awarded tender for third phase of sewer and water main work Port Hope’s downtown is getting a slight reprieve this summer as the final phase of the Walton Street reconstruction project moves a little to the west The municipality announced Thursday that Phase 3 of the project has been awarded to Northumberland County-based Behan Construction The construction company specializes in sewer Municipal staff are currently working with them to finalize the construction schedule saying timeline details will be shared once they are confirmed The town has also promised to host a public information session — anticipated for late March or early April — to provide details on the construction process This phase will be the final piece of the Walton Street Reconstruction Project which will primarily cover the area between Pine Street and Cavan Street municipal officials stated that construction would begin this spring with major work to be finished by November the final layer of asphalt for Phase 2 — completed in 2024 — will also be applied this year This work will include milling and paving the section of Walton Street from Queen Street to Mill Street It’s been a three-year project that municipal officials knew would rankle more than a few residents and business particularly along Walton Street through the downtown the town’s main thoroughfare was ripped up and not accessible to vehicle traffic Sidewalks allowed businesses to remain in operation but many retailers felt the impact as tourists and locals avoided the area and it hosted the annual Santa Claus parade Phase 3 of the project will include major upgrades to underground infrastructure the impact on downtown businesses is expected to be much less disruptive Officials say this final phase will present new challenges such as ensuring access to a church and a funeral home the municipality will focus on enhanced planning and co-ordination to maintain accessibility and support businesses and organizations in continuing their operations during construction Most of the work for the first phase of the Walton Street reconstruction was completed in 2022 encompassing the section of Walton from Pine to Church Street The approved budget for the second phase was just over $6.4 million intended to cover the segment from Pine Street to Mill Street when the project was first put out for bids in November 2023 and it was well above the municipality’s budget council approved the cancellation of the original bid and introduced a third phase to be executed over two years The project represents a critical upgrade to Port Hope’s main street focusing on repairing outdated infrastructure and enhancing accessibility It tackles needed enhancements to old water mains and expanding capacity for storm sewers that have become inadequate over time Although replacing these underground systems present challenges the municipality maintains it also offers a chance to rebuild the roadway and beautify the streetscape 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 The Ontario government is exploring the potential of building a nuclear power plant in Wesleyville in the Municipality of Port Hope According to a media release from the province on Wednesday (January 15) both Port Hope and Williams Treaties First Nations have expressed interest in the idea located on the Lake Ontario waterfront around seven kilometres west of the Town of Port Hope was originally intended to be an oil-fired power generation station before the 1979 oil shock and a recession brought construction to a halt the site with its powerhouse and smokestack has sat dormant and has been maintained by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) whose sole shareholder is the Ontario government the 1,300-acre site could be an ideal location for a new large nuclear power plant as it is also already zoned for electricity generation and is close to existing existing transmission the site could host up a nuclear power plant producing up to 10,000 megawatts of electricity which could power the equivalent of 10 million homes “With energy demand in Ontario set to increase by 75 per cent by 2050 we are doing the early engagement and development work now that will ensure the province has options to meet that growing demand,” states Ontario’s minister of energy and electrification Stephen Lecce in the media release “I’m excited to be continuing these conversations with Indigenous and municipal leaders to explore options for new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site including new good-paying jobs and other associated benefits.” The Conference Board of Canada estimates that a new nuclear power plant would contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s gross domestic product over an estimated 95-year project life A new nuclear power plant at Wesleyville would also support 10,500 jobs across Ontario The Municipality of Port Hope would also benefit from an estimated $10.5 million in increased municipal property taxes from the site In a November 29 letter to Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky Lecce noted the Wesleyville site in Port Hope is one of three “ideal locations for future energy generation,” with the others in St Clair Township in Lambton County and Haldimand County “All of these sites are already zoned for energy generation and located in regions experiencing significant growth,” Lecce wrote adding that “immediate funding of up to $1 million will be available upon request to the municipality” to explore nuclear power generation as an option at the site “This funding could be used at the discretion of the municipality to carry out related activities such as an assessment of the municipal infrastructure improvements that would be required to support the siting of new generation; initial planning and economic development initiatives; and/or to offset the cost of municipal staff participation and other municipal expenditures incurred in the assessment of potential new generation,” Lecce noted Port Hope municipal council unanimously passed a motion on December 17 to support “continued dialogue and engagement with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) the Ministry of Energy and Electrification and local stakeholders to explore the development of clean energy generation projects at the Wesleyville site.” “We look forward to engagement with our community and partners to carefully evaluate the potential benefits of this initiative as well as any potential challenges or impacts,” Mayor Hankivsky states in the media release If the Municipality of Port Hope agrees to be a host municipality of a nuclear power plant at the Wesleyville site the municipality could also access up to $30 million of provincial funding for associated infrastructure investments and to attract co-located industries it will take up to 20 years before the plant is operational “Exploring new power generation is a complex and lengthy process that includes multiple opportunities for input and an ongoing program of public education and engagement,” OPG states on its website “Should a new generation project be approved a subsequent multi-year regulatory process is initiated with public input throughout including through public regulatory hearings.” According to OPG’s potential timeline for a new nuclear power plant at Wesleyville regulatory approvals and agreements with the municipality and First Nations would be established in the late 2020s with construction in the early 2030s to mid 2040s and the plant in operation by the early to mid 2040s Northumberland County and partners are looking to hear from area residents and others who’ve used the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic The county is teaming up with students from the Loyalist College nursing program for a survey aimed at gathering input about people’s experiences related to accessing services at the Toronto Road clinic in Port Hope which opened in August 2024 as a one-year pilot project is delivered in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN) Through the survey, the partners hope to determine the clinic’s impact in the community and explore ways to enhance its services. The questionnaire should take about 10 minutes to complete and is available online at porthopeclinic.ca Paper copies are also available at the clinic at 99 Toronto Rd The Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic is intended to help address the gap in health care access for people without a family doctor the county is aiming to evaluate the feasibility of providing medical walk-in clinic services on a permanent basis Information shared in the survey will support research for the pilot evaluation process and “will help provide valuable insight into how services could be improved,” the county noted in a media release Northumberland County’s director of health and human services shared with kawarthaNOW a few insights into the clinic’s use to date and his hopes for the survey’s findings Dees said data points to people visiting the clinic for issues such as fever and systemic infections “That’s really the intent of the clinic: to provide primary care services to those individuals who are not attached to a doctor,” he added adding that the clinic is well-used by the public and at capacity most of the time when it’s open while the partnership with the college will help collect quantitative data the county is also evaluating the quality of service at the clinic is launching the survey to capture some of that qualitative data,” he said the survey asks participants if they were able to receive care when they attended the clinic whether they felt their concerns were heard whether they were given an opportunity to ask questions and whether they were connected to the services they needed “I think what we’re hoping to see is that there’s a good need for it,” Dees said we can establish that the clinic is being very well-utilized and it’s addressing concerns (for patients) that maybe otherwise might go unaddressed.” The county is also hoping to see that the clinic is alleviating some of the pressure on emergency departments and reducing the costs associated with visiting a hospital a medical walk-in clinic was available to the community at 99 Toronto Rd with an ever-increasing need for local primary care services Northumberland County council committed to reopening a clinic at the same location for one year to assess the possibility of permanently restoring walk-in clinic services “With a high number of unattached patients in Northumberland it is essential that we leverage expertise and resources across partnerships to meet local needs,” Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW just prior to the clinic opening last summer the county and the CHCN will pilot a restoration of services via the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic as a crucial step towards ensuring accessible health care for all residents.” The Port Hope and District Health Care Foundation and other community partners are helping fund the initiative It handles medical problems that are considered non-life-threatening such as fever without a rash and vice versa moderate flu-like symptoms or cold symptoms The clinic’s hours of operation are variable and subject to change based on physician availability. For upcoming hours and additional information, visit porthopeclinic.ca The Ontario Medical Association estimates there are 2.5 million people in the province who are without a family doctor more than 8,000 Northumberland residents do not have a primary care provider and this number could rise to more than 20,000 by 2026 Film crews installed a temporary sign at the west end of Port Hope on Feb It’s the same town name used in Stephen King’s “It” movies Actors in the film production of “Welcome to Fairview” run through some rehearsals on Walton Street in Port Hope on April 15 Producer for HBO series hints at a possible Season 2 and 3 for 'It' franchise Producer for HBO series hints at a possible Season 2 and 3 for “It” franchise The film production company that spent an estimated $1.5 million in the Port Hope community last year on HBO’s “It: Welcome to Derry” television series may be considering a second and third season of the show that is based on Stephen King’s Pennywise franchise INVERSE, an entertainment focused website that covers the latest in film and television news, wrote this week that “Welcome to Derry” producer Andy Muschietti suggested the entire Pennywise story could best be told over three seasons — the first based in 1962 It’s still speculation at this point as no decision has been made on extending the series but the article references a recent trend in adding seasons when miniseries productions prove popular The film company spent parts of several months in Port Hope in 2024 hiring locals as extras and renting out municipal space often shutting down roadways for filming the nine-part television series though a release date has yet to be announced In a report to Port Hope council this past November municipal officials said they are already seeing the economic benefIts to hosting production for the HBO TV series “Welcome to Derry” is based on Stephen King’s “It” movie franchise which included multiple filming locations in the Cobourg and Port Hope area in the past decade production crews called Port Hope home for TV filming the project name changed — once titled “Welcome to Fairview” — before “It: Welcome to Derry” became the final working title Port Hope substitutes in as the fictional town of Derry it states the production team spent an estimated $1.5 million in the community primarily on location costs and accommodation services but it includes some $15,000 on lunches at local restaurants The $1.5 million figure does not include cast and crew’s personal spending on local food and beverage during prep Port Hope says the dollar figure also fails to capture the substantial tourism revenue generated during dressing and filming nor anticipated film tourism revenue after the TV show airs “Our most popular tourism asset is the It Walking Tour booklet and online map which is the most visited webpage on our tourism site after the home page while the digital booklet is the most viewed hosted digital PDF asset we have,” staff state in the report two Facebook posts were among the top five highest performing posts from our municipal channel between January and July of this year — with the same being true for our Tourism Facebook channel for posts highlighting Port Hope as a filming destination as well as a destination for “It” franchise fans,” the report reads one of the top five posts on our municipal channel was about our downtown being dressed for filming earning more than double the interactions of the more far-reaching posts.” Fairview’s filming in the first half of 2024 amounted to 17 total filming dates Staff say “It” was the most substantial and impactful production that Port Hope has ever experienced A municipal Tourism Strategy resident survey from March found a significant majority of residents (80 per cent) are supportive of filming and would like to see more in Port Hope Port Hope residents appear to enjoy the cultural and economic opportunities that filming offers to the community and would like to see those benefits continue “The productions of “It” (2017) and “It: Chapter 2” (2019) as well as the upcoming “Welcome to Derry” HBO series set to release in 2025 filmed many of its iconic scenes throughout Port Hope cementing our downtown as both a horror fan tourist destination and a desirable filming location for major productions,” staff said the Municipality of Port Hope’s chief administrative officer Candice White is leaving to become chief executive officer of Skilled Trades Ontario The Ontario government announced White’s appointment to the provincial agency on Friday (November 1) “This next chapter comes sooner than anticipated but I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead the municipality over the past year,” White said in a media release “Port Hope is a remarkable community and it has been an honour to serve its residents and businesses alongside the dedicated staff and council My time here will always hold a special place in my heart.” An agency of the Ontario Ministry of Labour Skills Trade Ontario was established by legislation in 2021 and is responsible for apprenticeship and skilled trades certification in Ontario The agency is governed and managed by a board of directors and a chief executive officer all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the minister “I look forward to Candice leveraging her executive experience within public sector organizations to build upon (Skilled Trades Ontario’s) successes as we continue to work together to grow our skilled trades workforce and develop world-class training and standards,” said David Piccini Training and Skills Development and Peterborough-Northumberland South MPP Prior to joining the Municipality of Port Hope last November White was chief administrative officer and clerk/treasurer of the Township of Asphodel-Norwood in Peterborough County for nine years She has also served on the board of directors of provincial agencies including the Ontario Clean Water Agency and the York Region Wastewater Advisory Panel White is taking over the reins at Skilled Trades Ontario from Melissa Young who was appointed the agency’s first CEO in January 2022 Young oversaw the launching of standards industry advisory committees certificates of qualification and wallet cards for skilled trades professionals White’s last day at the Municipality of Port Hope will be November 22 and she will begin her new job at Skilled Trades Ontario on November 25 The municipality is developing a recruitment process to appoint a new chief administrative officer In Port Hope there waits a quaint neighbourhood, home to a private estate with 10’ hedges shielding the entire property: welcome to 188 Dorset Street restored home represents the perfect mix of luxury and refined living this circa-1899 property offers over 6,000 sq ft of living space and 1.28 acres of well-manicured grounds the grand foyer is home to a generous count of wood accents emanating a feeling of warmth that’s perfect for welcoming guests the home’s gourmet kitchen features marble flooring and a separate galley kitchen available for additional support as needed spread throughout the property are seven functional fireplaces READ: This Sophisticated Country Home Serves Contemporary Comfort The primary bedroom is complete with essential features like a walk-in closet and a notable six-piece bath; one word can be used to describe this chamber: luxurious The space is incredibly functional too – with the abundance of square-footage all your creature comforts will fit comfortably here The finished basement features an indoor spa equipped with a pool truly serving a complete wellness experience This rejuvenating environment is the perfect place to invite friends or family to relax in while enjoying a bottle from the wine cellar a dog wash station ( – ideal for when your furry friend takes a run through the sprawling yard Accommodating all lifestyles is the purpose of a functional home so without further adieu: this property is also equipped with a double garage handymen have an opportunity to enjoy garage activities formerly known as the ‘established’ spot for wealthy Americans to build their summer estates Port Hope is a small lake-side town that also holds a rich history city-lovers are able to experience the best of both worlds With the busy lives and stressful routines of present day having a calming space to come home to is the perfect way to decompress – this is a place to detach yourself from the digital world for a while Next to impress is the open porch with plenty of room for outdoor furniture This home’s new owners will be poised to enjoy a coffee on the front porch while admiring the lush green space and colourful flowers that complete the yard Family living will be a breeze in a place as wholesome as this – a tad secluded from the city this home's floor plan took festivities of all kinds into consideration there's a little something for everyone at this stunning estate This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio. and leaders in Durham Region are just as happy with the decision from Queen’s Park to “explore” building a large-scale nuclear power plant at the ‘ghost’ village of Wesleyville as those in the host community of neighbouring Port Hope The Ontario government has asked Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to begin their due diligence for the construction of a new nuclear power station at the Wesleyville site located near all the right infrastructure and is already zoned for new electricity generation the site could host up to 10,000 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power enough to light up the equivalent of 10 million homes If the site is built to capacity it would instantly be Canada’s largest and one of the biggest in the world The Darlington Nuclear plant is just west of Bowmanville and a short drive from Wesleyville so Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster who said he was “thrilled” to hear last month that Wesleyville was ripe for a rebirth knows there will be supply chain jobs aplenty for his constituents if the project gets the green light “On behalf of nuclear communities across Canada the Ontario government and OPG for exploring new nuclear generation opportunities in Wesleyville,” said Foster who also chairs the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities “Engaging the community at the outset is the kind of collaboration that builds proud and enthusiastic nuclear host communities We’ve got a huge task ahead of us to meet Ontario’s growing electricity needs but there are incredible opportunities that come with it.” the Chair of Durham Region (“the Clean Energy Capital of Canada”) was also fully on board with the province’s decision “We know that electrification is the future; that large amounts of electricity will be needed to power this transition new technologies and growing energy demands,” Henry said “It’s great to see the province investing in new nuclear projects that will power Ontario’s economy for generations to come.” the Port Hope-based MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South (whose riding takes in a chunk of Clarington’s east side) called it a “game-changing” project” that will deliver “energy affordability “We are investing and building not only for our children but our grandchildren as well,” he said “Ontario needs more affordable and reliable energy to meet soaring demand and I am excited to work with our municipal and Indigenous leaders to explore how we meet that challenge.” Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky was also pleased calling it an “important opportunity” to look at clean energy solutions to meet the “growing energy demands” of the province “We look forward to engagement with our community and partners to carefully evaluate the potential benefits of this initiative The project needed the blessing of both Port Hope and the Williams Treaties First Nations to get off the ground and both parties have offered “expressions of interest” in the proposal Port Hope Council unanimously passed a motion last month endorsing continued engagement with OPG and the Ministry of Energy on a nuclear build at Wesleyville The Ontario government will also provide the municipality with $1 million for planning infrastructure and consultant requirements and as part of a milestone-based process toward the development of a Host Municipal Agreement Port Hope could also access up to $30 million of funding for associated infrastructure investments and to attract co-located industries Williams Treaty First Nations will be awarded capacity funding and an opportunity for equity participation in the project OPG will work with the local partners to determine support as the province seeks to expand generation to meet the rising demand for electricity OPG has been busy of late preparing for a large-scale nuclear build at the Bruce plant and four small modular reactors at Darlington as well as the refurbishment of both Darlington (nearly complete) and Pickering (in preparation phase) Now the province is looking to add a total of three electricity plants on sites owned by OPG and already zoned for electricity generation – Nanticoke in Haldimand County and Lambton in St Clair are the others – to meet skyrocketing energy demands that are forecasted to jump 75 per cent by 2050 Bringing life to the site in Wesleyville will naturally be an economic driver for the area but it will also take care of some unfinished business for OPG and its predecessor which began building the oil-fired Wesleyville Generating Station in the late 70s before the 1979 oil shock and subsequent recession brought construction to an end with its smokestack serving as a reminder for what could have been making sure it would be ready for an energy emergency With electrical demand over the next quarter century a political hot issue that emergency is now and Wesleyville is back in the spotlight The provincial utility will still proceed with caution “As we move ahead with site exploration OPG will strive to listen to the priorities and hopes of all stakeholders and rights holders involved,” OPG CEO Nicolle Butcher said “And we will only advance development with their express support.” Energy Minster Stephen Lecee and OPG workers at the nuclear announcement at Wesleyville said Energy and Electrification Minister Stephen Lecce who said the early engagement and development work will ensure the government has “options” to meet the growing energy needs of the province “I’m excited to be continuing these conversations with Indigenous and municipal leaders to explore options for new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site including new good-paying jobs and other associated benefits.” According to the Conference Board of Canada a potential nuclear development in Port Hope would contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP over an estimated 95-year project life It would also support 10,500 jobs across Ontario including 1,700 new good-paying jobs in Port Hope representing an average 15 to 20 per cent boost to overall employment levels in the local area The potential nuclear build would also provide Port Hope with an estimated $10.5 million in municipal property taxes a huge boost in these times of restraint and belt-tightening Chris Keefer wanted to expedite the build-out process by adding the nuclear capacity to Darlington (which already produces 20 per cent of Ontario’s energy needs) instead of Wesleyville but likes the idea of a large-scale nuclear power plant because that means homegrown CANDU technology “Ontario should be building full-scale nuclear plants using made-in-Canada CANDU know-how anyway instead of pushing the American technology being used in the small modular reactor project underway at Darlington,” he told INdurham recently “We’re building US-designed nuclear while Trump is threatening a trade war,” he noted “We need to be leaning into our competitive advantage.” Full-scale nuclear reactors also offer a better bang for the taxpayer buck and the economic impact of the nuclear build will go well beyond Port Hope and Clarington “There’s going to be more work for the supply chain all across Ontario.” There is no price tag yet for the project and if all goes well the province is hoping to begin construction in the early to mid 2030s for operation in the mid 2040s Workers prepare Walton Street in downtown Port Hope for paving eager to see the big dig finally come to an end arrived at work Saturday morning to see a trail of footprints through sidewalk cement Footprints can be seen in fresh sidewalk cement along Walton Street in Port Hope Municipal officials still looking into how much it will cost to fix the damage in fresh sidewalk cement along Walton Street The frustration felt by so many Port Hope residents over footprints left in fresh sidewalk cement on Walton Street has municipal officials annoyed as well eager to see Port Hope’s big dig finally come to an end arrived at work Saturday morning to see a trail of footprints through sidewalk cement that was put in place only the day before It comes at a time when construction crews and town officials are pushing hard to have the project completed before the scheduled Candlelight Festival Walk Town officials have said the evening event will mark the end of the current reconstruction phase that has shut down Port Hope’s main street since late in the spring “We share the disappointment of our residents and business owners regarding the damage to sections of the newly poured sidewalk over the weekend,” Port Hope communication manager Kate Ingram said in an emailed response to Northumberland News on Monday “Municipal staff and members of council were made aware of the issue over the weekend and have been actively assessing the extent of the damage Clearway Construction will be managing the repairs to restore the affected areas.” She said they currently do not have details regarding the repair approach or any potential costs that may be incurred by the municipality In several social media posts made throughout the weekend group members chastised the town and the construction company for not providing security to the site while the cement dried on the Port Hope Digs Walton Facebook page admin officials cautioned readers what the consequences would be if something like this happened a quick (but serious!) PSA: as tempting as it may be to leave your mark in the fresh cement or “I wuz here” means our construction crew has to tear it up and start over And we’d rather not extend this sidewalk saga While town officials deal with the damage done “We are committed to resolving this as quickly as possible and will provide updates as they become available,” Ingram said in her email crews are continuing with the removal and preparation work for the north sidewalks to keep the project moving forward.” From Aretha Franklin and Carole King to Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift many of the top-charting artists in music history have been powerhouse women local and regional female vocalists will be celebrating hits by these beloved artists and more during the first Billboard In Concert show of the year at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope Tickets are now on sale for “Billboard In Concert – The Power of Women,” with two performances on Saturday We are always looking for opportunities to celebrate the voices of women in our season and this year it made sense for us to align this program with International Women's Day “Women’s voices have defined popular music for more than a century,” says Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson “We’ve collected an incredible all-female line-up to showcase this iconic music.” The concert marks a departure from previous entries of the unique Billboard in Concert series conceived by Kempson and music director and composer Jeff Newberry which have focused on regional musicians performing Billboard hits for a given year “We knew that we’d eventually want to stray from celebrating individual years in music into some broader themes,” says Kempson “We are always looking for opportunities to celebrate the voices of women in our season and this year it made sense for us to align this program with International Women’s Day and have a real celebration with our community.” Familiar faces will return to the Capitol for “The Power of Women,” including Toronto-based triple-threat performers Lia Luz and Yunike Soedarmasto who were both in last season’s Rapunzel: A Merry Hairy Holiday Panto Tahirih Vejdani (Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors) and Capitol newcomer Alexis Raphael are also among those taking to the stage to perform iconic ballads as well as Peterborough singer-songwriter Kate Suhr and Cobourg musician Lesley Lepine The vocalists will be accompanied by the all-female band of Jasmine Jones Ball led by music director Rachel O’Brien Local singer and youth educator Kelly Perras will be the host of both concerts The women will perform both independently and as a group covering a range of artists including Jann Arden all of this incredible art that’s been performed “Seeing that power and seeing this huge group of women on stage — and the power in their performing all of this music that was also created by women — really spotlights how amazing women are.” all of this incredible art that's been performed Luz says she’ll be singing music by Kelly Clarkson an artist she already had the chance to cover at the Capitol during the holiday panto in 2024 and the orchestrations were incredible,” she says “I know it’s going to be a blast and so much fun to do.” This year’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) is “Accelerate Action” — emphasizing the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to speed up the rate of progress to achieve gender equality which is roughly five generations from now to reach full gender parity,” states the IWD website referring to data from the World Economic Forum “Accelerate Action makes me think about empowering women and putting them on stage to be seen and to be heard and this is exactly what Billboard concert is doing,” Luz says “It’s taking a completely female group of performers and a completely female band and giving us the stage to show our womanhood and be seen.” The theme will be explored in more detail during the “International Women’s Day – Accelerate Action Speaker Event” taking place at the Capitol Theatre on Friday March 7 in partnership with the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce the free and inclusive event will include a reception and a dynamic group of speakers who are working towards gender equality Registrants can “power-up” their experience after the speaker event with a catered reception followed by a special preview dress rehearsal of the Billboard concert Tickets for the optional behind-the-scenes experience are priced at $50 and can be ordered when registering for the speaker event it can be a little nerve wracking just having that first audience that’s honestly one of the most exciting performances — to finally have even just a sneak peek audience brings life to the performance,” says Luz of the preview concert “I love getting to see the people in the audience and connecting with them I hope audiences will walk away with a renewed appreciation for their favourite tunes by hearing them performed in a brand-new way by local and regional artists Connecting the Billboard concert with the Chamber’s speaker event was intentional we work hard to ensure that we are connected to our broader community with all that we do,” he says “That’s a big part of a smaller community: showing up for one another Since the Chamber of Commerce already had plans in place for this year’s (International) Women’s Day event to be held at the Capitol we thought it only made sense to collaborate.” Whether it’s the preview dress rehearsal or one of the main stage performances Kempson says the Billboard concert is just one of the “memorable performances” coming to the Capitol Theatre this season “I hope audiences will walk away with a renewed appreciation for their favourite tunes by hearing them performed in a brand-new way by local and regional artists,” he says I hope folks enjoy a great concert at the Capitol with a great mix of songs from every era and every genre.” Tickets for Billboard in Concert: The Power of Women are priced at $55 and $45 for those under 30 years old Tickets for the concert and registration for the International Women’s Day’s Accelerate Action Speaker Event are available at capitoltheatre.com by visiting the box office in person at 20 Queen Street (open 10 a.m Walton Street in downtown Port Hope is undergoing a multi-million-dollar reconstruction The second phase of the project is expected to be complete within days but Phase 3 won’t take place until next year It was just one consideration council dealt with during its recent budget deliberations The proposed budget for 2025 would see an estimated increase of $178 for the typical homeowner Port Hope council is expected to adopt a 2025 municipal budget next Tuesday that translates to an estimated increase of $178 for the typical homeowner despite concerns raised by its two rural representatives in Ward 2 and in the weeks leading up to the proposed budget bylaw council voted to forward the document to its meeting on Nov While five members voted in favour of the move its two rural Ward 2 councillors — Vicki Mink and recently elected member Darrell Toms — voted against the proposal the police and everybody did a very difficult job cutting and making cuts,” Mink told her council colleagues but when I look at (Port Hope’s residential budget survey) 50 per cent (commenting on) value for the taxes said poor or very poor.” She said 77 per cent of those rural residents indicated the value they received for the taxes they pay as fair or less The numbers in the more urban Ward 1 were much more acceptable “I hear from those 77 per cent,” Mink said this is a very difficult decision to have to make … It’s still not what I was hoping for.” including discussions on user fees and charges on Oct use of hydro and certain reserves and the library board budget on Oct the total municipal levy for 2025 would be $29.6 million they would be facing an estimated increase from last year of $178 on the municipal portion of the property tax bill The municipality’s overall proposed municipal budget for 2025 is $56 million Council did agree to fund the third phase of the Walton Street reconstruction from the hydro reserve which means there is no increase to the 2025 tax levy for capital projects Some $4 million from the reserve established through the sale of the former Port Hope Hydro will be used to offset the tax levy and utility-related costs of the final Walton redevelopment phase Staff pointed out that the tax bill increase only applies to the local municipal portion of the tax bill and does not include potential adjustments from Northumberland County or education taxes