After two-and-a-half years of construction following a decade of planning challenges, the Canadian Canoe Museum celebrated the completion of its new lakefront location in Peterborough on Saturday (May 11) and, based on the reactions of the large crowd attending the grand opening, it was well worth it.

The world-class museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, which officially opens to the public on Monday, comprises 65,000 square feet over two storeys on a five-acre property on the shores of Little Lake and was purpose-built to house the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft, with exhibitions telling the story of the canoe and a lakefront campus offering on-water and outdoor education programming.

Streamed live on YouTube, Saturday’s afternoon opening ceremony was attended by an estimated 200 invited people, including dignitaries from all levels of government — Indigenous peoples, the Crown, and federal, provincial, and municipal governments — as well as the museum’s donors, partners, members, and volunteers.

One of the dignitaries was Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont who, prior to the opening ceremony, participated in paddling a Voyageur canoe around Little Lake, which departed from one of the seasonal docks that are part of the lakefront campus.

During the opening ceremony introduced and emceed by museum curator Jeremy Ward, attendees heard a written message from Governor General Mary Simon, who is a patron of the museum, and watched a video message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in which he referred to the birchbark canoe owned by his father that now resides in the museum’s collection.

Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont, who represents the Crown in Ontario, was the first dignitary to speak at the podium.

“It was a long portage bringing everything here from the old location, but I think everyone will agree this stunning facility has made the journey worthwhile,” Dumont said, referring to the move of the museum’s collection from its former Monaghan Road home.

She continued by acknowledging the artistry and ingenuity of the Indigenous peoples who invented the canoe and used it to explore and navigate the waterways they have stewarded throughout their own history, along with the shared history of English and French settlers and Indigenous peoples when it comes to the canoe.

“This museum will make it abundantly clear that, when it comes to the water and the environment, we are all in the same boat,” Dumont added. “Each one of the crafts and artificats inside this giant canoe has its own story, and it’s wonderful that some of the boats are being made available for people to take out on the water so that the canoe’s stories and our own will be woven together.”

The Lieutenant Governor congratulated museum executive director Carolyn Hyslop and her entire team for their “vision, dedication, and skill in steering through the low and high tides that are part of any project of this size.”

After the late Professor Kirk Wipper donated his immense watercraft collection in 1994 to the organization that would become The Canadian Canoe Museum, the museum opened its doors to the public in 1997 in the previous head office of the Outboard Marine Corporation at 910 Monaghan Road.

In 2014, the museum announced an ambitious plan to build a new facility on Parks Canada property beside the Peterborough Lift Lock and, the following year, launched an international design competition, selecting a winning design in 2016. A campaign to secure funds for the new museum followed. However, in 2020, a cancer-causing chemical was discovered at the intended site and the museum was forced to abandon both its plans for the location and the selected design for the new museum.

In 2021, the museum entered into an agreement with the City of Peterborough to purchase the Johnson Park property where the new museum has now been built. With a design by Unity Design Studio (formerly Lett Architects Inc.), construction began that fall but, because of labour and supply shortages due to the pandemic, the original opening date of summer 2023 was delayed by almost a year.

“Sometimes the journey we make is not the one we have planned, but it’s the one we discover we needed all along,” Dumont said, thanking the volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who helped to create “this unique and remarkable place.”

“You offer living proof that there’s no destination we cannot reach when everyone is paddling together.”

Via a recorded video, Ontario premier Doug Ford offered his congratulations on the opening of the new museum, recognizing museum founder Kirk Wipper and his passion for the canoe.

“I know he’s looking down on us today and he’s just so proud,” Ford said.

Other speakers included Curve Lake First Nation chief Keith Knott, Hiawartha First Nation chief Laurie Carr (via a recorded video), Métis Nation of Ontario president Margaret Froh, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount MP Anna Gainey on behalf of federal heritage minister Pascale St-Onge, FedDev Ontario minister Filomena Tassi (via a written message), Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri, Ontario culture, tourism and sport minister Neil Lumsden, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark, Weston Family foundation chair Garfield Mitchell, and museum board chair Kevin Malone.

Malone noted that the Canadian Canoe Museum was named as one of the 20 best new cultural hot spots in the world for 2024 by National Geographic earlier this year, as selected by the brand’s global community of editors, writers, photographers, and explorers.

“One of the best things about visiting the world’s largest collection of canoes and kayaks?” reads the National Geographic story. “You can actually paddle up to it. The sleek, boat-shaped facility, which has its grand opening in May, is located lakeside in Peterborough (about 80 miles from Toronto by car). After goggling at the museum’s more than 600 watercraft or taking a lesson in carving paddles from Anishinaabe artists, visitors can embark from the onsite dock on a group boat tour of Little Lake.”

The final speaker at the podium was Canadian Canoe Museum executive director Carolyn Hyslop, who was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd.

“There’s so much love in this room that I am humbled and feeling very moved,” said Hyslop. “This is probably one of the most incredible days of my life. There’s been a few, and I have joked that this (the new museum) is my third child.”

“This is a celebration of years of incredible work,” she added. “The goal was to build a home — a home for the canoes, a home for the people, and a home for the story — and, oh my goodness, I think we’ve done it. We’ve made it happen. We are in the most exquisite facility that couldn’t be more better, and this is where we are going to spend many, many more years. This is the beginning of the next chapter.”

Hyslop noted all the people who, prior to the opening ceremony, were paddling in canoes and kayaks at the lakefront campus of the museum — which was landlocked at its former location — “loving the land and loving the water.”

“I think those connections is where the Canoe Museum has potential for big change,” Hyslop said, before thanking the project team responsible for building the new museum, Indigenous peoples, those who contributed to the museum’s exhibitions, past and current museum boards, the museum’s staff, the museum’s volunteers, family members, and curator Jeremy Ward.

“We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this goal, this museum, if it weren’t for the transformational support at the government level, at the private level, at the individual five dollar level — it all as made this place come to reality,” Hyslop said, before sharing some “exciting news.”

“Our $45 million fundraising campaign to support this museum is fully funded. We did it. We get to start the museum with a clean slate and get going on all the work that we need to do, and there’s lots of work that still needs to be done.”

Features of the new museum include:

• An integrated Collection Hall that allows for the display of 100 per cent of the Museum’s watercraft in a Class “A” controlled museum environment, an artifact conservation standard.
• A 20,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall featuring a brand-new suite of exhibits, with the local Michi Saagig dialect of Anishnaabemowin used in the exhibits alongside English and French.
• The Lang Lakefront Campus with a canoe house, gathering circle, campfire pit, accessible boardwalk, a walk-in canoe launch, an adaptive canoe and kayak launch, and two expansive seasonal docks to accommodate on-water and outdoor education programming.
• An accessible Library and Research Room with Class “A” archival storage.
• An authentic Artisan Studio and Canoe-Building Studio to facilitate hands-on learning for adults and youth.
• A premier event rental space featuring a sweeping view of Little Lake.
• The Silver Bean Café with fireplace and adjacent Lakefront Terrace.

Cobourg residents will once again see American flags flying at Victoria Hall when the production company for Ginny & Georgia returns to downtown Cobourg to shoot the third season of the popular Netflix series.

American flags will also be flying on King Street West and Canada Post mailboxes on downtown Cobourg sidewalks will be transformed into American mailboxes from Tuesday (May 14) through Thursday.

A mother-and-daughter coming-of-age series starring Antonia Gentry and Brianne Howy, Ginny & Georgia tells the story of 15-year-old Ginny Miller, who often feels more mature than her free-spirited 30-year-old mother Georgia Miller.

The production company G2G Series 3 Inc. previously visited Cobourg in 2019 to film the first season of the series, which was watched by 52 million subscribers in the first 28 days after its release in 2021, and then in 2022 to film the second season, which spent nearly two months in the global top 10 in 88 countries.

There will around 120 crew members, 45 background performers, and 40 production trucks in Cobourg for the shoot. Filming preparation will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with filming on Thursday and tear-down on Friday.

Filming locations will include The El at 74 King St West, William Academy at 135 King St West, Victoria Park near the bandshell, Victoria Hall at 55 King Street West (exterior shots only), and travelling shots on downtown roads.

VIDEO: “Ginny & Georgia” season two trailer

During filming day on Thursday, Third Street between King Street to Albert Street will be temporarily closed from 4 to 11 p.m. (local access will be allowed) and King Street West between Hibernia Street and Third Street will be closed from 6 to 11 p.m. There will also be intermittent traffic stoppages on King Street West from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Production vehicles will be parking in the Marina parking lot, the McGill Street lot, and in various metered parking spaces on Third Street and King Street West, which will be paid for by the production company.

The project is supported by the Town of Cobourg and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA). Cobourg police will be working directly with the production company to ensure safety and traffic control.

When bagpiper Brodick Ewing was asked to fill in at the Port Hope Civic Awards on May 2, it was a full circle moment for the 16 year old who grew up attending them as the son of the former board chair.

But being asked to sub in as the last-minute replacement came as no surprise to Brodick, given how supportive the community has been towards his passion and new business as a performer.

“Port Hope, and this area and region in general, is a very special and supportive place,” says Brodick.

Though he is a multi-instrumentalist, Brodick — also known as The Port Hope Piper — is setting aside his piano and guitar for the summer to focus on his bagpipes, competing both solo and with the Durham Region Police Pipes and Drums.

To kick off the season, the band is heading to the Georgetown Highland Games on June 8, before Brodick competes solo right at home at the Northumberland Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Port Hope on June 15.

While Brodick began playing piano at four years old (and continues to learn from the same teacher today, 12 years later), his mother and manager Avril suggests he has been drawn to music since he was born.

“Even when he was a baby, he loved music,” Avril says. “He was that baby who cried all the time, but we would put on Chasing Pavements by Adele and he would just suddenly go quiet, and he just was in the zone. That was his lullaby.”

At 10 years old, Brodick began taking lessons with the Port Hope Legion Pipe Band to learn to play the chanter (the recorder-like piece of the bagpipe which creates the melody) and graduated to the bagpipes three years later.

“Pipes are such a physically demanding instrument to play that you don’t want to be learning on bagpipes — you learn on your chanter,” Avril says. “Even when they get a new tune, they learn it on the chanter (first) and then play it on the bagpipes.”

“It was definitely a tough start,” Brodick adds. “I think it was a month before I could make a single note.”

While Brodick continues to practise as much as he can — four hours per week with the band on top of private lessons and daily practice at home — his natural talent comes from growing up immersed in his heritage and having attended the Uxbridge Scottish Festival and the Northumberland Scottish Festival and Highland Games every year.

“My entire family is Scottish, so that’s always been a big part of my life,” he says. “My grandpa was a piper back in the day, so I just had that natural influence.”

When Brodick is not travelling for competition, he is available to be booked for private and public events, including weddings, funerals, and parties. Along with the recent Port Hope Civic Awards, he has piped in local restaurants, for his high school rugby team, for the Port Hope Panthers, and has even piped the haggis for Robbie Burns Day.

“The community of Port Hope has given him a lot of opportunities,” says Avril, noting that he was invited to pipe even before he was at the skill level he is at now. “It’s amazing the support he’s been given, but really that’s just Port Hope. It didn’t matter what a kid is doing, people get up and cheer, and I always say everyone’s rooting for you here.”

Since he is so much younger than many of his bandmates, Brodick acknowledges that getting the chance to practise at events in front of people in the community, rather than by himself in his living room, has increased his confidence.

“It’s the simple fact that I know what I’m doing and nobody else does,” he says. “When I make a mistake, I hear it, but nobody else does.”

The next event he has booked is a wedding, for which Avril is doing the ceremony. While it’s the first time the duo will have worked together, Brodick notes his piping has always been a “team effort,” with his mother managing and his father driving him to events and competitions and always being in the stands.

“I’d be nowhere with my mom — well, first I wouldn’t exist,” Brodick laughs. “But even with bagpipes, I’d be nowhere without her support.”

At each of the competitions this summer, it will be easy to spot Brodick’s and his bandmates’ parents, as they will all be sporting matching shirts reading “Band Mom” and “Band Dad” created by Avril.

“In the big grandstands at Maxville, there’s tens of thousands of people in the crowd, so we make sure they know where we are and try to position ourselves right in front of them in their big line so they can see us,” she explains.

When not representing the band, Brodick will be wearing a very special kilt borrowed from a family member that will one day be his, even if for now it must be held up by suspenders until he grows into it.

“It’s the custom kilt my grandfather got married in about 60 years ago and he wore it to all his games,” Brodick says, sharing that it’s of the Ancient MacEwan tartan.

While his nearly 88-year-old grandfather no longer plays, he continues to listen to bagpipe music as much as he can — especially if Brodick is performing.

“It’s nice that Brodick has that piece of him that he will wear for the rest of his life and then hopefully pass down to one of his children or grandchildren many years from now,” says Avril.

Alongside his parents in their matching shirts, Brodick’s grandfather will be in the stands watching him play one of his favourite tunes, “Sweet Maid of Glendaruel”. at the Northumberland Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Port Hope on June 15.

“It’s a great way to spend time as a family,” Avril says. “You only get so many years with your kids, and to be able to do this all together with him and travel and watch him grow and win and do these cool things, it’s been a really neat family experience for all of us. I’ll be 95, in my walker, and still going to the Highland Games to cheer him on.”

To keep up to date on where Brodick can be found, or to book him for events, follow The Port Hope Piper on Facebook.

The reviews are in, and Peterborough Musicfest continues to deliver an impressive economic impact.

Festival organizers recently released figures evaluating the economic impact of the festival at $4.3 million.

Looking ahead, general manager Tracey Randall aims to build even stronger links with the Peterborough community, businesses, and concertgoers through its offering of free, twice-weekly summer concerts in Peterborough’s Del Crary Park.

“This survey confirms what we’ve always known — music has the power to transform communities and economies alike,” said Randall in a media release. “We’re thrilled to see the impact our festival has on Peterborough and beyond, and we’re grateful for the support that made this assessment possible.”

While aware of the festival’s impact, Randall shared with kawarthaNOW a few surprises the survey revealed — such as the fact Musicfest maintained its $4.3 million economic impact following the pandemic, which saw the festival absent from Del Crary Park in 2020 and 2021.

“We were also surprised to learn that 85 per cent of those surveyed would prefer to purchase from a Musicfest sponsor rather than a non-sponsor,” Randall said. “This statistic highlights that our audience is aware of our sponsors and actively chooses to support them.”

According to the assessment findings, aggregate visitor spending during the festival reached more than $1.76 million, with expenditures distributed across various sectors as follows:

• Accommodations: $116,622
• Restaurants: $604,284
• Other Food/Groceries: $233,696
• Recreation/Entertainment: $173,844
• Retail/Shopping: $306,439
• Transportation: $31,392
• Vehicle expenses: $297,137

Musicfest noted the spending breakdown reflects the diverse economic activity generated by festival attendees, with accommodations and restaurants leading the expenditure categories at 18.8 per cent and 29.8 per cent respectively.

The combined spending of out-of-town attendees, participants, VIPs, and other visitors, along with the expenditures made by the event organizers, was more than $2.34 million. This infusion of funds supported a total economic activity of more than $4.3 million.

Meanwhile, nearly $1.2 million in wages and salaries were supported by the economic activity generated by Peterborough Musicfest, the release noted.

“Arts and culture experiences like Peterborough Musicfest are an enticing draw for visitors and locals alike,” said Joe Rees, director of tourism with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.

“Musicfest’s twice-weekly summer concert series are a favourite for locals and cottagers, and also bring people to experience our communities for the first time — enjoying other attractions, accommodations, dining, and recreation while they are here and generating significant economic impact for local businesses.”

kawarthaNOW asked Randall about her aspirations for Musicfest moving forward.

“Our hopes for the continued impact of Musicfest are to further strengthen our ties with the community and local businesses, expand our reach to attract even more attendees, and continue to showcase diverse musical talents,” she said.

“We aim to solidify Musicfest’s position as a cultural cornerstone, not only in Peterborough but also in the broader community,” Randall said. “Additionally, we strive to maintain our commitment to sustainability and inclusivity, ensuring that Musicfest remains a free admission festival and a welcoming event for years to come.”

Here are a few other highlights from the economic impact assessment:

• 64 per cent of attendees stated the festival was the sole reason for their visit to Peterborough
• 69 per cent of out-of-town attendees made daytrips to Peterborough for performances
• 98 per cent of respondents would recommend Peterborough as a great place to visit
• 99 per cent of respondents emphasized the importance of the festival’s annual occurrence.

Running since 1987, the festival offers eight weeks of live entertainment that showcase a range of musicians and music genres on the outdoor stage on the shores of Little Lake. Canada’s longest-running free music festival, Musicfest is a not-for-profit organization that relies on sponsorships, government funding, and donations to continue operating.

The 37th season of Peterborough Musicfest kicks off on Saturday, June 29 with a performance by Canadian country music artist Tenille Townes. Other performers already announced include indie alt-rockers Metric (July 17) and Toronto-based rap rockers Down With Webster (July 31).

The full line-up of performers for the 37th season will be announced on Tuesday (May 14).

Patios are returning to downtown Peterborough for the summer beginning Monday (May 13), with Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets once again temporarily reconfigured into a one-lane and one-way westbound street.

As part of the reconfiguration of this section of Hunter Street West, Chambers Street will also be temporarily closed at its south end at Hunter Street and will allow two-way traffic from its north end at Brock Street for the duration of the Hunter Street reconfiguration.

The temporary street changes during warm weather months are part of the City of Peterborough’s patio program, which allows for the installation of expanded patio areas and more pedestrian space in the Hunter Street café district between George and Aylmer streets.

While the city first established the patio program in 1997 to allow businesses to have bistro-style tables on the sidewalks adjacent to their building facades, the temporary changes to the downtown area originally began during the pandemic summer of 2020 to support physical distancing as well as more outdoor dining spaces for restaurants.

Under the city’s patio program, businesses without widened sidewalks will be alllowed to use the on-street parking area in front of their business for their patio operations. Expanded patios are also being planned for George, Water, Simcoe, and Charlotte streets.

City staff will be installing decorative fencing and planter boxes next to businesses that have approved permits under the program.

According to a media release, the city has received around 20 patio permit applications to date, which is five less than the same time last year. The city expects to continue to install decorative fencing and planter installations for patios throughout May and June to accommodate later rounds of patio permit applications.

“I love our downtown and look forward to the expanded patios each summer because they enhance the vibrancy and bring people together in the heart of the city,” says Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk in the release.

During patio season, reduced speed limits will be in place on streets with patios for pedestrian and customer safety. Parking spaces — including accessible spaces, loading zones, and designated waste pick-up areas — may be adjusted once patio locations have been confirmed with participating businesses.

The city will accept patio permit applications — which are required for all patios on city-owned property — until Friday, May 31st. More information is available on the City of Peterborough website.

As in previous years, businesses operating patios under the program are required to have a minimum of $2 million in general liability insurance. A recommendation by city staff to increase the minimum to $5 million was rejected by city council in February, with city staff directed to report back to council with options for the 2025 patio season.

There is no word from the city on whether the Renaissance on Hunter public art project will return for a fourth year. Last summer, the project saw road mural and artists’ gardens projects installed on Hunter Street between George and Aylmer streets.

This story has been updated to correct the start of patio installation from May 14 to May 13 due to an error in a media release from the City of Peterborough.

With the May 2 announcement that a new youth wellness centre is coming to Port Hope, Olena Hankivsky ultimately hopes “we don’t have any young person left behind” in Northumberland County when it comes to getting help with mental health and/or addiction challenges.

The mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around the province’s launch of a Youth Wellness Hub (YWH) to serve Port Hope and surrounding areas. The Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) network aims to make it faster and easier for young people across the province to connect to mental health and substance use services.

“The most exciting part is that youth are going to have a place to go in our community, and not only have access to a number of different activities — whether that be skills-building or recreational activities or a safe space to be after school or on weekends — but to basically be with other youth,” Hankivsky said.

“Also, it will be a space to allow them entry into getting help if they have a difficult moment they’re confronting, a problem they’re experiencing, a place to go (where) they’ll feel like they can walk through the door and they can get the help that they need, when they need it, without any kind of stigma.”

The Port Hope hub is one of 10 new additions to the network of 22 YWHs already opened since 2020, bringing the total to 32 across the province.

“This innovative initiative stands as a beacon of hope and support for our young people, offering a comprehensive range of services from mental health and substance use supports to primary health care and social integration,” the mayor said in a statement.

“By investing in the well-being of our youth, we are investing in the future of our community. Let’s continue to empower our young people to thrive, not just survive, in these challenging times.”

The provincial government is striving to improve mental health and addictions services throughout Ontario and support people and their families living with mental health and substance use challenges, according to Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister, in a media release.

“As we expand the number of (YWHs) across the province, young people in Port Hope can connect to the mental health and addictions care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home,” Jones said.

Beginning in 2025, the new hub will be permanently located at 15 Cavan Street in Port Hope. The goal is to connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families in Northumberland County and Alderville First Nation, to convenient and free mental health, substance use and primary care services in a safe, youth-friendly space.

Rural communities in the area will also be supported by a mobile hub model, making it easier for youth to drop in for in-person counselling or peer support close to where they live, the media release noted.

The hub will provide other services that include family support, education, employment, housing and access to community programs such as financial assistance for recreational programs and legal support. These services will focus on delivering culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care, according to the province.

“Our government realizes that there are youth across the province who need mental health supports closer to home, so they can continue to thrive in our rural communities,” said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini.

“This new (YWH) in Port Hope will serve the youth across Northumberland County and ensure they have sufficient wrap-around supports and receive better quality care when they need it most.”

Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established a provincial network of 22 YWHs that have connected 43,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for over 168,000 visits.

“Port Hope’s new (YWH) will be a place for young people to feel safe and connected to a community that supports them and helps equip them with the tools they need to face life’s challenges,” added Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions, in the media release.

In addition to the Port Hope site, the province announced four other hubs will open in Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan, and Brampton. The other five hubs that are part of the YWH Ontario program, with locations to be announced, will be funded through the 2024 budget to the tune of $8.3 million over three years.

Today, the current 22 Youth Wellness Hubs operating across the province serve more than 31 communities: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain, Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton, Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, east Toronto, Wellington-Guelph, west Toronto, and Windsor-Essex.

Overall, Ontario says it’s spending $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services, and expand programs through its Roadmap to Wellness. Roadmap to Wellness is a plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system.

“The government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs,” the release noted.

In Northumberland, Rebound Child and Youth Services will be taking the lead for the new hub.

“I am thrilled to welcome Rebound Child and Youth Services Northumberland and their network partners into the (YWHO) network,” said Dr. Jo Henderson, executive director of YWHO.

“This critical investment provides young people in Northumberland County with an inclusive, welcoming space where they can walk in and access a full range of integrated mental health, substance use health, primary care, housing, employment, recreation, and other support services that meet their individual level of need. Together we continue to work towards positive outcomes with and for all youth in Ontario.”

In a May 3 media release, Cameco announced it was supporting Northumberland County’s new YWH with a $500,000 donation. Cameco is one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel. Its donation will help with expenses associated with renovating the building to establish a safe and inviting space for individuals seeking mental health support, the release noted.

While shovels are already in the ground, Port Hope officially kicked off the Walton Street reconstruction work — a project that’s crucial for the future of the historic downtown in west Northumberland County, says the municipality’s top politician.

The Municipality of Port Hope held a groundbreaking ceremony downtown on Wednesday (May 8), which brought together residents, business owners, and municipal officials to mark the formal start of the major infrastructure improvements.

“We are building more than just a road — we are building a better future for all who live and work here,” Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky said in a media release.

“Let us come together to support one another, continue to shop local, and navigate these changes with kindness and understanding. We are all part of this journey, and the results will benefit us all.”

Port Hope CAO Candice White and Jeanette Davidson, director of works and engineering, also shared a few words at the event, highlighting the significant role the project has in enhancing the accessibility, safety, and visual appeal of the area. They also emphasized the importance of community unity and resilience during the construction phase.

With the work underway, the Municipality of Port Hope recently announced two bus routes would be free for riders. There are no transit fees on transit routes A and B within the Port Hope boundary through the duration of the Walton Street reconstruction project.

That initiative is part of the municipality’s “ongoing commitment to support local businesses and to promote environmental benefits through increased use of public transit,” Port Hope noted.

“This initiative underscores our deep commitment to community support and the enhancement of everyone’s quality of life,” the mayor stated in an earlier media release. “It presents an excellent chance for us to unite, bolster our local businesses, and make choices that benefit the environment.”

Downtown businesses will remain open throughout the project.

The municipality asks residents and visitors who do drive to consider parking at designated lots outside of the immediate downtown area and to utilize the free transit services to navigate around the downtown area. Port Hope hopes that approach will help alleviate the challenge of finding parking during the reconstruction and peak tourism times.

The CAO said the municipality is committed to ensuring minimal disruptions during construction.

“We are working diligently to keep the project on track and maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders,” White noted.

The Walton Street reconstruction project targets enhancing pedestrian accessibility, improving road safety, and modernizing the downtown area’s infrastructure. More project information is available at porthope.ca/walton or @PortHopeDigsWalton on Facebook and Instagram.

The project involves making improvements to old water mains and sanitary sewers, and expanding capacity for storm sewers that have become inadequate over time.

The first phase of the reconstruction, completed in 2023, involved the section of Walton Street stretching from Pine Street to Church Street. The second phase of the Walton Street reconstruction encompasses the portion of Walton Street from Cavan Street to Queen Street.

The construction began in April and continues through to November.

For more information on transit schedules and updates during the reconstruction project, visit the Port Hope website at porthope.ca/transit or call transit services at 905-885-9891.