A doctor is (back) in the house in the Municipality of Port Hope.

Northumberland County announced on Wednesday (August 14) that residents can turn to the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic as of Saturday (August 17), with the service returning to patients in the west Northumberland community.

The clinic re-opens its doors as part of a one-year pilot program, delivered in partnership between Northumberland County and the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN). The partners will then evaluate the feasibility of providing these medical walk-in services on a permanent basis.

Located at 99 Toronto Rd. on the second floor, this clinic will improve access to health care services for thousands of Northumberland residents who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, Northumberland County noted in a media release.

“The need for these services cannot be overstated,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander.

“With thousands of our residents currently without a family doctor, and the potential for that number to grow, this clinic is not just a convenience – it’s a lifeline. Health care is a fundamental right, and Northumberland County council is proud to support the establishment of this clinic and its successful integration within the local health system for greater care for all.”

Ostrander earlier told kawarthaNOW connecting residents with primary health care providers is a priority countywide.

“With a high number of unattached patients in Northumberland, it is essential that we leverage expertise and resources across partnerships to meet local needs,” Ostrander said. “Together, 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 Ontario Medical Association estimates there are 2.5 million people in the province who are without a family doctor. The organization expects that number to double in the next two years.

Locally, it’s estimated that more than 8,000 Northumberland residents — including 4,000 in west Northumberland alone — do not have a primary care provider and this number could rise to more than 20,000 by 2026, the release noted.

County council approved the pilot earlier this year following a motion by Olena Hankivsky, Northumberland County’s deputy warden, who is also the mayor of Port Hope. The initiative was originally conceived by Hankivsky, who has led physician recruitment efforts for the clinic’s operation, alongside Port Hope councillor Les Andrews, who has spearheaded fundraising efforts.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to what can be achieved when a community rallies together around a shared purpose,” Hankivsky said. “The urgent need was clear, and the response has been inspiring. We sincerely appreciate the support of our health care partner, CHCN.”

“We also express our sincere gratitude to the many local donors contributing to this undertaking, and to the medical community for their support. Together, we are expanding access to essential primary health care services for Northumberland residents.”

The clinic will open with “a soft launch” on August 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will initially operate on a limited schedule and capacity, ramping up over several weeks as clinic staff and physicians become familiarized with a newly implemented electronic medical records system, and additional physicians are onboarded, the county said.

Prior to visiting the clinic, the county encourages residents to check the website at Northumberland.ca/PortHopeClinic for the upcoming schedule or call 905-885-0062, as hours may very each week during the initial start-up phase.

By the fall, the goal is to offer services Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The county encourages residents who have a family doctor to book an appointment with their physician’s office to address their health concerns and maintain continuity of care.

Nursing support, administrative assistance, office costs, and other clinic operational expenses are being fully funded through contributions from the Port Hope and District Health Care Foundation, along with donors including the Port Hope Rotary Club, the Town of Cobourg, and Loyalist College. Physicians will be compensated through standard OHIP billing services as outlined in the Ministry of Health’s physician services agreement, the release noted.

Northumberland County will provide office set-up, IT infrastructure, logistics, communications, and administration support. The CHNC will contribute its experience and expertise in primary care service delivery, assisting with clinic nursing services, patient information technology and implementation support during the pilot.

“We are proud to support this vital local initiative to ensure our community members have access to the health care they need,” said Taryn Rennicks, CHCN’s executive director. “Leveraging expertise and resources across partnerships is crucial to meeting local needs.”

A public grand opening is being planned for later this fall to officially recognize donors and welcome community members to the clinic.

A Northumberland County resident who has been leading an effort to protect fish, the Ganaraska River, and the integrity of the overall environment is applauding a new proposal from the province that could entail significant changes during the peak of the salmon run season in Port Hope.

Over the past couple of years, a group of Port Hope residents led by Sean Carthew has become increasingly concerned about the lack of regulations around fishing in the Ganaraska River in Port Hope that results in regular issues in the fall during the annual salmon run.

Not only do some anglers catch and slaughter the breeding salmon for their eggs, discarding the rest of the fish, but they leave trash and fishing hooks behind, prompting Port Hope residents to organize a clean-up every fall.

Carthew, who started an online petition last fall that now carries more than 13,700 signatures, was pleased to see the Ontario government recently propose new fishing rules on the lower Ganaraska River.

The proposal includes a move to create a new fish sanctuary for Chinook salmon and to prohibit fishing from the CN Bridge to Jocelyn Street during the peak of the salmon run from September 1 to October 14.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is currently running a survey on the new rules, which is open for public input until August 22. The survey can be accessed at ontario.ca/page/proposed-new-fishing-rules-lower-ganaraska-river.

“I believe it’s a fair, smart proposal,” Carthew told kawarthaNOW.

“I think it will stop most of the chaos that happens along the river during the peak of the salmon run, and, in return, the MNR has offered an extension of the fishing season,” he explains. “They took away six weeks of fishing during a time when the salmon are just too exposed and gave back 10 weeks of fishing.”

The province’s proposal for new rules would impact recreational fishing rules on the lower Ganaraska River. The changes would help protect vulnerable migrating Chinook salmon during peak migration and provide extended angling opportunities for Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Pacific salmon, and rainbow trout in the fall season, the province says.

During the Ganaraska River fall salmon migration, in some years more than 30,000 Chinook salmon migrate through the lower Ganaraska River in Port Hope on their way to spawning habitat upstream. This makes the migratory run in the Ganaraska one of the largest in Ontario, according to the provincial government’s survey page.

“The lower Ganaraska River contains numerous bottlenecks that can slow down migration. The main obstacle is Corbett’s Dam and Fishway, located about three kilometres upstream from Lake Ontario.”

“While the fishway allows fish to pass, it slows down migrating fish while they learn to navigate it. This is especially true during large runs like the fall Chinook salmon migration, when hundreds of fish gather below the dam.”

The existing fish sanctuary (from the 401 to south side of Jocelyn Street) was put in place to protect migrating fish held up by the dam. Fish accumulate in engineered step pools separated by shallow limestone stretches.

During the peak Chinook salmon migration, the dam and the step pools cause thousands of fish to build up in the lower river until they learn how to find the fishway entrance. The fish that are below the existing sanctuary are vulnerable to angling.

“This sanctuary is not large enough to protect the Chinook salmon in the fall when they are at peak abundance,” according to the government.

About a month after Carthew launched his petition last fall, there was some response, with Carthew meeting with local politicians who formed a group to look at the issue, and with the MNR reaching out to the Port Hope mayor.

“A group of individuals was formed in conjunction with a representative from council and a lot of great ideas came out of it,” Carthew said. “It was very positive.”

He hopes that leads to more policing, education, and fines along the river this year.

Carthew thinks the province’s proposal “may be the best possible outcome” for the situation.

“I’d also like to see the river become barbless hooks only, all year round,” he added. “There are a lot of different opinions and various ideas as to what should happen on the Ganaraska River during the salmon run and, though we all may not agree, see a lot of passion to fix what goes on down there and that is exciting.”

Haliburton County residents and others can help address homelessness and the county’s pressing affordable housing situation by attending an upcoming benefit concert in Haliburton.

Charlie Angus and The Grievous Angels will be performing a fundraising concert for Haliburton County’s Places for People at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31 at Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve Logging Museum, which is located at 1095 Redkenn Rd. in Haliburton.

Band frontman Angus is described as an outspoken advocate for affordable housing — especially in rural communities like Haliburton — and he’s also the NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, who is leaving politics to focus on his music.

Meanwhile, Places for People creates and manages quality affordable rental housing in Haliburton County, aiming “to foster an environment” in which its tenants can thrive.

By bringing the alt-folk country band and its housing advocate frontman to Haliburton, organizers are striving to raise money for Places for People and highlight the work the group does locally to provide homes for those in need, Sean Pennylegion, event organizer, told kawarthaNOW.

“The best things that could happen as a result of this gig is that more people will become aware of the work of Places for People,” Pennylegion said. “Two, we will raise some much-needed funding for them and, three, everyone will have a terrific, end-of-summer, night out with outstanding entertainment in a very funky venue.”

“We’re also looking forward to a really spirited, enjoyable concert by a very, very good band.”

Also on the agenda for the night is a toonie auction, with various items up for grabs including a Haliburton Forest gift certificate, tickets for a “Telling our Stories Speaker Series” event, and tickets for a Haliburton County Folk Society concert.

Pennylegion hopes people consider attending the concert and supporting Places for People, which is “doing all they can to address the needs of those in our community who are at risk of homelessness.” Money raised will help fund the organization’s continued efforts.

Places for People provides affordable housing in Haliburton County through 20 residential units and has provided homes for more than 100 people in the community since 2010, a media release noted.

In 2023, through a community bond raise, the community invested $850,000, which allowed Places for People to consolidate mortgages and obtain two new dwellings with 13 units. The group’s goal is to build new affordable units to address the ongoing need in the county.

Tenants in Haliburton County spend nearly 50 per cent of their income on housing, a recent study found.

“People working full time earning minimum wage can barely survive in this community and finding affordable housing is the main reason,” the release noted. “This impacts everyone from employers to tourists and local residents.”

The upcoming event is presented by the Haliburton County Community Co-operative’s “Telling our Stories Speaker Series” and the Haliburton County Folk Society.

Tickets for the August 31 benefit concert are $40 and are available online at haliburtonfolk.com.

Organizers are also asking community members to consider making a donation to Places for People by emailing info@placesforpeople.ca or by visiting the group’s website at placesforpeople.ca.

The new draft master plan and technical studies for Peterborough’s $4.4 million Bonnerworth Park redevelopment were presented to members of the city’s arenas, parks and recreation advisory committee and accessibility advisory committee during a virtual joint meeting on Tuesday evening (August 13), including a noise study stating there would be “no significant increase” in noise from the 14 pickleball courts planned for the park with noise mitigation measures in place.

Paul Gardner, partner with Landscape Planning Landscape Architects, along with two staff (Julia Steele and Melissa Nelson) led the presentation for committee members before opening up the discussion for questions.

The meeting was also attended by city staff and — with geotechnical, noise impact, traffic impact, and archaeological assessment technical studies now completed — the two consultants retained by Landscape Planning to complete the noise and traffic studies: Trevor Copeland of Cambium Inc. and Swan Im of Tranplan Associates.

Gardner walked committee members through the process to date including public consultation, the draft master plan, the studies that have informed the design, and accessibility items.

Garner presented the main features of the draft master plan, including:

• a 14-court pickleball facility, which will be lit and include 12 standard and two accessible pickleball courts
• a lit 940-square-metre skatepark expansion
• the existing washroom building
• a paved four-stall lit staff maintenance parking lot (with two accessible stalls)
• a paved 40-stall lit primary parking lot (with four accessible stalls)
• connected lit three-metre wide asphalt walkways
• a 32-by-53-metre open lawn area
• landscaped berms that are around two metres in height
• site furnishings including accessible gathering tables, benches with pad extensions, bike rings, and litter receptacles.

With respect to the skatepark expansion, which he described as a “collaborative” effort with the Peterborough Skatepark Coalition and sub-consultants Canadian Ramp Company, Gardner said the design is “still a work in progress” and will be finalized in the next two to four weeks.

“What it does, it adds elements that currently don’t exist in the existing skate park — more of a street-style facility,” Gardner said. “It’s quite exciting.”

Gardner noted that the shade structure shown on the plan between the open lawn area and the pump track is a “provisional item,” meaning that it may go in the park if funds are available.

Julia Steele of Landscape Planning Landscape Architects shared the results of the traffic and parking technical study completed by Tranplan Associates, which projected 35 vehicular trips to the pickleball courts mid-day on weekends if all 14 pickleball courts were occupied by 56 players. The study also recommend 73 parking stalls would be required for league play at the courts, with 60 stalls required for non-league play.

Gardner noted that, while the master plan only includes 40 stalls on site, the intention would be to use 30 existing parking spaces at Hunt Terraces to complete the parking requirements for the park redevelopment.

Gardner also outlined the findings of the noise impact study completed by Cambium Inc., which in part compared existing noise levels at six receptor locations around the park (including residential areas) to projected noise levels that were determined using predictive software.

The noise impact study found that, without mitigation measures, the decibel levels at the six receptor locations would increase significantly. The proposed mitigation measures include an 3.6-metre high structurally engineered fence on three sides of the pickleball courts with acoustic noise attenuation panels, maximized setbacks to adjacent residential areas, landscaped berms with tree plantings at various heights, and buffer plantings.

Gardner noted that, to address the noise issue, the location of the pickleball courts is more in the centre of the park than in the original design.

“There is no receptor that is predicted to experience an increase in noise level greater than (five decibels),” states the Cambium report. “This would mean no significant increase (in noise) is expected.”

The setbacks from residential areas include 88 metres (288 feet) from Hunt Terraces, 77 metres (253 feet) from residential property on Bonaccord Street, 58 metres (190 feet) from Marycrest At Inglewood Seniors Housing on Monaghan Road, and 79 metres (255 feet) from residential property on McDonnel Street.

“Our predictions show that the proposed design, with mitigation, will not create a significant increase in sounds levels when compared to the existing park,” the Cambium report states.

Gardner pointed out that Cambium study did not factor in the additional noise attenuation that would be created by the landscaped berms and buffer plantings.

Gardner also outlined the accessibility features of the plan, which include two accessible pickleball courts, six accessible parking stalls (including two Type A and four Type B stalls), curb depressions with tactile warning surface indicators, benches with 1.5-metre concrete pad extensions, high colour contrast paving, a linear walkway network with no slopes larger than four per cent, and a barrier-free connection to the existing washroom building, municipal sidewalks, and transit stops.

After the presentation, Gardner opened up the meeting for questions from committee members.

Bruce Bozec, a member of the arenas, parks and recreation advisory committee who is a former president of the Peterborough Pickleball Association, asked why the number of pickleball courts was reduced from 16 to 14.

“The number of pickleball courts were reduced to 14 to allow for a more efficient configuration and to maximize the setbacks from the Marycrest Seniors Housing, from Hunt Terraces, and from the residence on the north and south of the park,” Gardner said.

After Bozec also asked why the accessible pickleball courts aren’t located closer to the Bonnacord Street parking lot, Gardner said that change would be “very easy for us to do.”

Bozec then asked how the number of pickleball courts could be reduced to 14 without city council approval.

Councillor Kevin Duguay, a member of the accessibility advisory committee, noted that council approved “up to 16” courts.

“We rely upon our consultants to arrive at an appropriate design and an overall balance,” Duguay said.

Bozec said that “the pickleball people” he has spoken to would like to see the number of pickleball courts increased to 15 by eliminating one of the accessible courts.

After it was pointed out that it would be possible to use the accessible courts as regular courts, the city’s community services commissioner Sheldon Laidman said that the design accommodates the “competing interests” for the park.

“Unfortunately, one of the things that was felt was reducing to 14 pickleball courts was a necessary element of that, within the confines of the approval from council to approve up to 16,” Laidman said.

“Trying to accommodate all the competing interests on the park — parking, the noise implications, the amount of green space, all those competing interests — it was felt that 14 was an appropriate compromise to still have a viable amount of pickleball courts for the pickleball community while trying to address all the balance of the other issues.”

Referring to Bozec’s earlier comment about the location of the two accessible pickleball courts, councillor Lesley Parnell, a member of the city’s arenas, parks and recreation advisory committee, asked members of the accessibility advisory committee whether it was more important to have the two courts closer to the parking lot or closer to the accessible washrooms.

After accessibility advisory committee vice-chair Phil Mechetuk said he believed it was more important to have them closer to the accessible washrooms, chair Sioux Dixon pointed out that the committee has not had the time to consider all the “nuances” of the master plan when it comes to accessibility. However, she noted that she visited the existing accessible washrooms at the park.

“In my opinion as an accessibility advocate, these washrooms are not sufficient for this park,” Dixon said. “They should be more centralized.”

She also said she has “a whole bunch of other questions, because I was not aware it was an accessible slash tournament court. It kind of makes me wonder why we’re calling it an accessible court, if that is not the priority for that court. I’m having a lot of challenge(s) to sort out the information.”

Dixon suggested that a separate discussion be held with members of the accessibility advisory committee to discuss accessibility issues, “so we can talk about the practicality and the necessity of accessibility, and why it is important that disabled people are included, beyond just having a court, sort of, some of the time, maybe.”

Councillor Duguay noted that the accessibility of the current washrooms at Bonnerworth Park is an “existing condition” that should be reviewed by the accessibility advisory committee.

After some additional questions and comments about accessibility, Jef Dueck of the arenas, parks and recreation advisory committee referred to Dixon’s desire to have an additional discussion at the accessibility advisory committee and asked whether a vote on the plan should be deferred.

In response, Laidman said there was no need for either committee to vote or provide a recommendation, as city council has already approved the redevelopment plan and the purpose of the meeting was only to seek feedback from the committees.

“The information that’s on Peterborough Connect or has been provided to the committee tonight, that will be open for the remainder of the week to receive additional comments from the committees,” Laidman explained. “Staff will be receiving that input and then moving to incorporating those comments into the final plan and the tendering and the construction of the project as we go forward.”

The four technical studies, including the noise study, are available for download online at connectptbo.ca/Bonnerworth-Park, where members of the public can also make comments on the draft plan until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 16th.

The public can also email bonnerworthproject@peterborough.ca or call 705-742-0050 ext. 2226 to provide feedback on the plan.

Rebound Child & Youth Services Northumberland is getting the wheels spinning for an upcoming cycling event that supports mental health wellness for Northumberland County kids, youth, and their families.

The fourth annual Ride for Rebound, a major fundraising event in partnership with Play It Again Sports Cobourg, takes place on Saturday, September 21.

For the fourth consecutive year, Cobourg Police Service Chief Paul VandeGraaf will be riding the 80-kilometre route. Community cyclists are joining him for rides ranging from 10 to 80 kilometres in length that wind through the hilly landscapes of Northumberland County.

The 10-kilometre route departs from Port Hope, the 25-kilometre route from Cobourg, the 45-kilometre route from Baltimore, and the 80-kilometre route from Brighton.

“Every kilometre we ride is a step towards a brighter future for our children and youth,” VandeGraaf said in a media release. “Mental health resources are critical, and through this event, we aim to bring attention and funding to the essential services provided by Rebound.”

Rebound said this year’s ride “promises to be an exciting day for cyclists of all levels and a crucial initiative to support the mental wellness of children, youth, and families in Northumberland County.

“This event is more than just a ride; it’s a community rallying for accessible and effective mental health support for young people.”

Rebound and the Cobourg Police Service have the common goal of fostering mental and emotional well-being for youth living in Northumberland.

The partnership “underscores the importance of early intervention and the lasting positive impact it can have,” Rebound noted.

Rebound is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health support, literacy and learning programs, pro-social skills building, parenting and family support, and youth justice diversion. The organization has been serving children and families in Northumberland County since 1997. Its services are designed with the intentions of nurturing growth and helping young people reach their full potential, the release noted.

“Investing in our youth’s mental health is investing in our community’s future,” said Carol Beauchamp, Rebound’s interim executive director. “Each ride participant and supporter is making a significant difference in the lives of young people across Northumberland.”

Event organizers encourage cyclists to join the ride by choosing a route that matches their ability and to commit to a fundraising goal. This year’s fundraising target is $25,000, with all proceeds directed towards enhancing Rebound’s counselling programs, which is a cornerstone of its mental health services.

Rebound invites local businesses and corporations to consider supporting the event by providing sponsorship.

For more details about sponsorship opportunities or to register as a participant, visit rcys.ca/ride2024.

According to the Ontario government, approximately one in five children and youth in the province has a mental health challenge. About 70 per cent of mental health challenges have their onset in childhood or youth.

Early identification and intervention “is so critical and can lead to improved achievement in school and better health outcomes in life,” the province noted. “Many children and youth will exhibit different moods, thoughts and behaviours at various times that can be part of normal childhood development.”

Some examples include:

• Getting significantly lower marks in school
• Avoiding friends and family
• Having frequent outbursts of anger
• Experiencing changes to sleeping or eating habits
• Drinking a lot and/or using drugs
• Not doing the things he or she used to enjoy
• Worrying constantly
• Experiencing frequent mood swings
• Not being concerned with his or her appearance
• Being obsessed with his or her weight
• Lacking energy or motivation
• Feeling very down

These characteristics and behaviours may be signs of an underlying mental health concern or disorder if they are intense, persist over long periods of time, are inappropriate for the child’s age, or interfere with the child’s life.

The province encourages parents and caregivers to contact a mental health agency to get help for a child or youth with behavioural, emotional, or mental health and addiction issues.

In 2023, Rebound Child & Youth Services supported over 1,500 clients throughout Northumberland County, including children and youth ranging in age from 7 to 18. The organization offers mental health and parenting support services at no cost to children, youth, and families in the county.

For more information about Rebound and its services, visit the website at rcys.ca.