The village of Colborne could be home to additional affordable housing units if Northumberland County council approves a proposal from the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC).

Council will review a proposal at its August 14 meeting that suggests expanding the number of affordable housing units at 123 King St. E.

The decision will be before council following a recommendation that came forward during a meeting on Tuesday (July 31) of the county’s social services committee. After hearing a presentation from the NCHC, the committee is recommending county council approve the release of funds for NCHC to proceed with preliminary designs for the redevelopment of rental units at this location.

Mandy Martin, mayor of Cramahe Township and county councillor, said an approval would be good news for Colborne.

“This development builds on not only our Cramahe Township municipal commitment, but also our partnership with the seven municipal members of Northumberland County, to consider housing needs across the spectrum of needs,” Martin told kawarthaNOW.

“Cramahe is a small municipality with ‘can-do’ determination to honour and welcome all who understand strength in community.”

Northumberland County, in partnership with NCHC, purchased the King Street East property in 2023, when it came up for sale, to preserve the local stock of “deeply affordable housing” in Colborne.

The redevelopment proposal is for construction of up to 60 units at this location — 38 more than are currently on site — “to address the escalating need for affordable and attainable housing in Northumberland,” Northumberland County noted in a media release.

The new units would be a mix of rent-geared-to-income and market rent housing, serving residents with low-to=moderate incomes, including seniors and people with special needs.

“The release of funds being recommended by the social services committee will support pre-construction activities, including preparing a building design and budget,” the release noted. “The redevelopment will aim to replace the 22 aging rental units currently on site, while increasing density.”

“A phased approach to construction will ensure current tenants are able to continue living in their existing units until the new units are built, at which time all tenants in good standing will transition to the new accommodations.”

NCHC chair Victor Fiume said, “the approval of funds for preliminary planning for the King Street redevelopment will be a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing in Northumberland.”

“This effort will not only enable us to replace aging units for the benefit of current tenants but also expand the number of affordable rental units available, meeting broader community need,” Fiume added. “As the largest provider of community housing in Northumberland, the NCHC continues to assess new opportunities to sustain and increase affordable housing options, building a stronger, more inclusive community.”

Like elsewhere, Northumberland is seeing a growing need for affordable housing supports. County residents face one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in Ontario, at just one per cent, and higher rental costs compared to neighbouring communities, the county noted.

An initial feasibility study at 123 King St. E. determined the site could support construction of up to four three-storey buildings. The county said the new development will offer a variety of unit types, including smaller and larger apartments to accommodate different needs.

York Regional Police have located human remains near Kirkfield during their search for a 57-year-old Markham woman who police say was attacked and kidnapped last week.

Ying Zhang, 57, went missing under suspicious circumstances last Thursday morning (July 25) from the wellness centre where she worked at Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham.

On Saturday, York Regional Police arrested 26-year-old Changlin Yang of East Gwillimbury and charged him with kidnapping, forcible confinement, and aggravated assault.

After Yang’s arrest, police released his mug shot as well as photos of a white Ford van with Ontario licence plate BZ43851 that was seen in the area where Zhang went missing, along with a photo a large green wheeled bin similar to one the suspect was seen with during the time of Zhang’s disappearance.

Police also said they had information the suspect vehicle travelled to the Village of Kirkfield in the City of Kawartha Lakes on Thursday afternoon.

On Monday, police conducted a ground search in the area of Palestine Road and Fenel Road south of Kirkfield, where they found the remains at around 5 p.m.

Although investigators are awaiting identification of the human remains from the Office of the Chief Coroner, police said they were found in a large green wheeled bin.

Investigators are seeking additional witnesses who may have seen the accused man or suspect vehicle in the area of Kirkfield in Kawartha Lakes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865 or homicide@yrp.ca. To remain anonymous, contact call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.1800222tips.com.

A Cobourg business pitched in recently to support Habitat for Humanity Northumberland by offering hands-on construction work at one of Habitat’s build sites in Northumberland County, and is also sponsoring its first charity golf tournament in support of the non-profit organization.

Habitat for Humanity Northumberland said it’s grateful for the support of Rusco Windows & Doors, a privately owned Canadian company with its showroom located at 180 Willmott St. in Cobourg, which recently helped the organization complete the interior vapour barrier, cut bottom plates, and move stairwells to prepare for drywall installation at Habitat’s multi-unit housing development in Baltimore.

Located at 4751 Highway 45, the Baltimore site encompasses seven affordable townhouse units that will provide “hope for families,” Habitat noted. Habitat for Humanity Northumberland acquired the land in the spring of 2022 and has since been working on development plans and construction.

Not only will this be the largest single development project for Habitat Northumberland, it is also the first time the organization is planning to pursue a net-zero development, the organization noted on its website.

Having also teamed up with Habitat Northumberland as its inaugural charity partner, Rusco Windows & Doors will be hosting its first charity golf tournament for the organization, which it expects to become an annual event.

“We could not be more excited,” Habitat for Humanity Northumberland said in a social media post. “Thank you to the team at Rusco Windows & Doors for supporting our build program. There are a few sponsorships left and there is still room for you to register your foursome for this fun-filled day at Ashbrook Golf Club.”

The 18-hole scramble tournament has a shotgun start of 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the club, which is located at 7215 Dale Rd. in Port Hope. Registration includes lunch, prizes, swag bags and more — all while helping a neighbour, coworker or friend obtain the dream of home ownership, organizers said.

The cost is $150 per person, with all proceeds supporting Habitat for Humanity Northumberland. For more information about the tournament, email kareek@ruscomfg.com.

In its announcement on social media about the golf tournament, Rusco said “Come and join us for a fantastic day. Support an amazing cause.”

Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity Northumberland is partnering with ZON Engineering and Community Power Northumberland for the Baltimore site and is hoping to build the largest Habitat net-zero development in Canada.

“The board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland has developed a three-year strategic plan for 2023-2025 with an overarching goal to broaden our impact and reach more people by adapting our service model, thereby facilitating housing stability, security, and empowerment across our region,” said David Lester, chair of the board for Habitat Northumberland, in a statement on Habitat for Humanity Northumberland’s website.

“We plan to do this by responding to the affordable housing shortage, by being an effective community partner, and by committing to maintain a strong, resilient, and sustainable organization. This dream project is the ideal example of how we hope to put our strategy into action.”

For more information about Habitat for Humanity Northumberland, visit www.habitatnorthumberland.ca.

Peterborough police are looking to identify a suspect who broke into a downtown business early Monday morning (July 29) and stole items valued at around $34,000.

Officers were informed of the break and enter on Monday and, after arriving at the business, learned that someone had entered and ransacked the business before leaving with about $34,000 in merchandise, computers, studio lighting, audio equipment, gym equipment, and other items used by the business.

Through investigation, police identified a suspect and have released video surveillance footage showing the suspect climbing stairs in the Chambers parking lot off Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer at 3:16 a.m. on Monday.

The suspect is described as a white man with a thin build, wearing a black hoodie with “American” up the back and “Eagle” on the hood, black pants, and black sneakers with white soles.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 ext. 555.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at stopcrimehere.ca.

VIDEO: Suspect in July 29, 2024 break-and-enter

Hospital workers belonging to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gathered outside Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith’s constituency office on Chemong Road in Peterborough on Tuesday morning (July 30) to protest the Ontario government’s use of privately owned clinics to deliver publicly funded health care services.

Last January, Premier Doug Ford first announced his government’s plan to move tens of thousands of publicly funded cataract surgeries, hip and knee replacements, MRIs, CT scans, colonoscopies, and endoscopies out of hospitals and into for-profit and not-for-profit community facilities.

“We aren’t accepting a status quo that leaves too many people waiting too long for care,” Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones said at the time, adding that such services would “always be paid for with your OHIP card, never a credit card.”

In June, the Ford government issued a call for applications for new licences for clinics to offer publicly funded MRI and CT scans — a move the government said would allow 100,000 more scans to be provided each year and reduce the existing wait times for scans by around two months.

“Increasing the number of MRI and CT scans being done each year is the next step we’re taking to reduce wait times for more publicly funded surgeries and procedures, ensuring people get the care they need, when they need it,” Jones said in a media release at the time.

Ontario already has more than 900 private clinics, many predating the Ford government, that mainly provide publicly funded X-rays and other diagnostic services. Seven clinics currently provide MRI or CT scans or both. In 2023, four new clinics opened to provide cataract surgeries for around 14,000 patients who have been on waiting lists that grew during the pandemic.

Later this summer or fall, the province plans to launch two more calls for applications for private clinics to offer publicly funded endoscopies and orthopedic surgeries.

Critics have argued that moving publicly funded health care services into for-profit clinics will result in the over-billing of patients as well as the “upselling” of patients to encourage them to pay out-of-pocket for add-on services (such as an upgraded lens in a cataract surgery), and will result in a lower standard of care as clinics process patients as quickly as possible and cut corners to maximize profit.

Some of this is already happening, according to an April 16th report from the Ontario Health Coalition called Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics, which claims private clinics are illegally billing patients up to $8,000 for medically necessary services in violation of the Canada Health Act.

“The Ford government says the status quo isn’t working, but it’s a status quo of their own making,” said Michael Hurley, president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, in a media release. “They have been underfunding and starving the public system and dangling privatization as a solution. But privatization is twice as expensive and comes with longer waiting lists. We are calling for real solutions to the hospital crisis, like concrete measures to attract and retain new staff and the addition of new beds.”

“Premier Ford famously claimed that Ontarians would never have to pay with their credit card, only their OHIP card,” said Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. “People have been told they can either pay for medically needed surgeries or face extreme wait times.”

Pam Parks, president of CUPE 6364 (the union representing workers at Lakeridge Health), said health care workers are concerned the Ontario government is shifting public funding to private health care operators while at the same time not investing sufficiently in the public health care system.

“How is it justifiable that most hospitals in Ontario are facing deficits due to underfunding while public money is being funnelled to private clinics?” she asked. “Staff in public hospitals are overwhelmed, overworked, and under-resourced, but somehow the government has found more money for the much more expensive private clinics — it’s baffling.”

Parks pointed out the existing public hospital system has the capacity to deliver these services, given that many operating rooms across the province remain closed on evenings and weekends.

“You would think that if the main concern was improving surgical wait times, they would make better use of existing capacity in public hospitals,” Parks said. “They are moving in the wrong direction. Health care workers know that the surge of demand for surgeries and diagnostics can best and least expensively be delivered in public hospitals.”

CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions represents about 50,000 hospital and long-term care workers in Ontario.

With a multicultural collage of different types of music, dance, and customs, diversity was showcased and celebrated recently in Northumberland County, while also raising funds for the Northumberland YMCA.

The Municipality of Port Hope’s Memorial Park set the stage for the July 20th Northumberland Diversity Festival, which was presented by the county in collaboration with the Northumberland Hispanic Cultural Club.

The event was a celebration of multiculturalism and inclusivity for new Canadian citizens, residents, and visitors. The festival aimed to promote community spirit and embrace the many different nationalities within the communities of Northumberland.

There were a variety of live performances, food trucks, and activities for kids. YMCA Northumberland staff and volunteers offered guests the chance to participate in an Arriba fitness class.

“We’d like to thank Northumberland County, the Northumberland Hispanic Cultural Club, and Northumberland 89.7 FM for acknowledging the YMCA and championing donations to our Strong Communities Campaign during the festival,” said Eunice Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of YMCA Northumberland, in a media release.

“At the Y, we embrace diversity and inclusion, recognizing that our strength comes from welcoming people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Together, we create a community where everyone feels valued and inspired to reach their full potential.”

The YMCA collected donations that resulted in more than $1,200, which is being directed to the YMCA’s ongoing Strong Communities Campaign. The campaign aims to help change lives by offering special support programs and making YMCA services accessible to more people.

“Your donations made a difference in funding essential services like support for new mothers, mental health resources for youth, recreational programs, kids’ summer camps, swimming lessons, and health and fitness memberships for all ages. Moreover, the festival also served as a collection point for food donations to benefit Food4All, a vital organization committed to addressing food insecurity in the Northumberland region.”

The non-perishable food items were collected and donated to help support families in need after the event.

The Diversity Festival is an annual event in Northumberland.

“Partnering with the Hispanic Cultural Club to present the Northumberland Diversity Festival is about creating opportunities for people to learn more about the myriad cultures that form the fabric of our community, through the universal languages of food and music,” Dan Borowec, director of strategic initiatives for Northumberland County, recently told kawarthaNOW.

Festivities kicked off with a citizenship ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Capitol Theatre, which welcomed more new Canadians to Northumberland and surrounding communities. During the ceremony, participants took their oath of citizenship, marking their final step in becoming Canadian citizens.

“The Diversity Festival is a testament to the strength and unity of our community,” YMCA Northumberland noted. “It highlighted the importance of embracing cultural differences and demonstrated the power of coming together for a common cause.”

“As the community looks forward to future events, the spirit of unity and generosity showcased at the festival will undoubtedly continue to inspire and strengthen Northumberland County. Together, we have positively impacted the lives of those in need in our community.”

As a charity, YMCA Northumberland provides community services that have a positive impact on pressing social issues from chronic disease to unemployment, social isolation, poverty, inequality, and more.