For the first time since 1979, Ontario will be in the path of a total solar eclipse this spring and southern Northumberland County is a prime viewing area.

Northumberland County officials and partners held a media briefing on Monday (March 4) to highlight what’s expected on the day of the eclipse — Monday, April 8 — and how to safely enjoy the celestial phenomenon.

Northumberland, together with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU), and local municipalities are teaming up to ensure residents are prepared.

Assuming favourable weather conditions — a sunny day with few clouds in the sky — residents will witness the eclipse beginning just after 2 p.m. With southern Northumberland County — including Brighton, Colborne, Grafton, Cobourg, and Port Hope — being in the path of totality, residents will see darkness for a period of one to two minutes, the county told media during the Zoom call.

“As we approach the date of the solar eclipse, it’s crucial for everyone to plan ahead and be prepared,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a statement following the briefing.

“Residents intending to view the eclipse should consider a suitable viewing area ahead of time. Also, with the potential for a high number of visitors to our area, we are reminding residents about the importance of having necessary supplies, including those for a complete emergency kit.”

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the earth’s surface. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun, casting a shadow on the earth — visible to people in what is called the “path of totality.”

Southern Northumberland County is in the path of totality, along with Hamilton, Brantford, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls as well as some communities in southwestern Ontario. Reporters heard how Niagara Falls is seeing an influx of hotel reservations as people plan to take in the once-in-a-lifetime event.

While a total solar eclipse is visible from somewhere on Earth around every 18 months, any particular spot on the planet will only experience one around once every 400 years. The next total solar eclipse visible from Northumberland County will not happen again until 2399.

The path of totality for the 2024 eclipse will only be approximately 180 kilometres wide. Because of its rarity, many people will be eager to catch a glimpse, Northumberland noted. However, watching the eclipse without proper eye protection at any point other than during the brief period of totality, when the moon completely obscures the sun, can damage your eyes.

“It is important to remember that looking at the sun anytime is dangerous, and without certified glasses that contain specialized filters your eyes could suffer retinal burns, blurred vision, and vision loss,” said Bernie Mayer, manager of environmental health with the HKPRDHU.

“By securing proper eye protection, you can safely experience this rare solar eclipse event. Sunglasses — even high-quality ones — will not suffice. Although this can be an exciting and memorable time, please remember that your personal safety comes first.”

VIDEO: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Northumberland County

The total eclipse will be visible in the lower part of Northumberland along the shores of Lake Ontario as the moon’s shadow travels along the path of totality. Residents further north, above Baltimore and Brighton, will witness a partial eclipse of the sun.

Glasses with specialized filters, adhering to the ISO 12312-2 international standard, should be worn throughout the eclipse, regardless of your location in Northumberland County, county officials said.

“Certified solar eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses,” they noted.

The eclipse will begin at 2:06 p.m. in western Northumberland and at 2:07 p.m. in eastern Northumberland and will last for about two and a half hours. Totality, where the moon completely obscures the sun, will start in western Northumberland around 3:20 p.m. and in eastern Northumberland at 3:21 p.m.

Depending on where you are, totality will last for up to two minutes. In Northumberland County, Brighton will experience the longest period of totality at just under two minutes.

During the eclipse, residents can expect a gradual dimming of natural light and a temporary drop in temperature as the sun is blocked by the moon’s shadow. During totality, complete darkness will occur. Both animals and plants can change their behaviour during a total solar eclipse and, for many people, it is an emotional experience.

County officials said residents can expect busy roads on April 8, if the weather conditions are ideal. With the projected influx of visitors, especially from Toronto which is not in the path of totality, residents should be prepared in the case of an emergency, the county said.

“While unlikely, (if an emergency were to happen in our community during this period), the increased number of people in the area could put a strain on our road network, emergency and health care services, and other infrastructure.”

“It is important for people to have the resources in place to be self-sufficient during the first 72 hours of an emergency, to enable the most effective deployment of emergency resources during such an instance.”

The county has shared these precautions for viewing the eclipse:

• Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, even during partial phases of the eclipse.
• Certified glasses adhering to the ISO 12312-2 international standard should be worn to prevent eye damage.
• Inspect glasses for damage before use, and discard if scratched, punctured, or if they are older than three years old.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable viewing experience, residents are encouraged to identify a safe and unobstructed location, check local viewing times, and arrive early to set up equipment and come prepared with supplies.

The county, local municipalities, and the HKPRDHU have developed a webpage with safety tips and more. Visit Northumberland.ca/NoCoEclipse for additional details.

The Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough is under new ownership.

After almost six years at the helm, current owner Desmond Vandenberg and his wife Maria have sold the popular eatery and live music venue at 450 George Street North — but he assures patrons that the new owners will continue the pub’s legacy including live music.

“Maria and I are pleased to announce it will be business as usual at the Black Horse as the business transitions to the new owners,” Vandenberg says in a media release. “We look forward to introducing Sajen (Ganeshalingam) and his family to the Peterborough community.”

“The new owners are young energetic entrepreneurs who plan to continue The Black Horse’s long-standing legacy of supporting the Peterborough arts scene,” Vandenberg adds. “Sajen has expressed his intention to have music remain a key part of the restaurant.”

Vandenberg and his wife purchased the Black Horse in May 2018 for close to the $850,000 asking price from then-owner Ray Kapoor, who was retiring with his wife Nancy Kerr. A graduate of Trent University, Vandenberg bought pub after Parkview Home’s bid to purchase the property for redevelopment fell through.

Last July, Vandenberg put the property on the market with an asking price of $1.2 million.

“It has been five years,” Vandenberg told kawarthaNOW at the time. “A couple of those years were COVID, which was a real challenge, but we have done some things. The way the music gets played, how people can hear it and enjoy it.”

“So five years later, we’re thinking ‘Yup, we’ve done a lot.’ Now it feels like the right time for somebody else to come in and bring some fresh ideas to another level.”

The final selling price of the property is unknown.

“Peterborough is an amazing community and we want to thank all of those who have supported us during this adventure,” Vandenberg says. “Our customers, staff, and performers have all contributed to making the last six years more rewarding than we possibly could have imagined. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time at The Black Horse, despite the challenges that COVID presented.”

“The Black Horse has been and will continue to be a friendly, charming place to enjoy a meal, drinks and live entertainment. Maria and I intend to continue our appreciation of the atmosphere and camaraderie of The Black Horse, albeit from more relaxed seats.”

The Black Horse Pub is located in the historic Morrow Building at George and Brock streets, which was built by local architect John Belcher in 1875 and designed in the French Second Empire style. While the post office was an early tenant, subsequent tenants included the Peterborough Club, the YMCA, the Inland Revenue Service, George Mathews Meat Packers, and the Peterborough Light and Power Company. In 1995, the building was restored by Mark Porter.

One summer when the Warming Room in Peterborough shuttered the windows and locked the doors for the season, Christian Harvey learned some people who dropped in had nowhere to go until winter came again.

While they had a place to rest and find respite from the cold when temperatures dropped, they would be on the streets for the remaining months when the centre was closed. It was about seven years ago when One City Peterborough realized it needed to expand its scope beyond providing the Warming Room and outreach services.

“We needed to start to get into housing,” said Harvey, executive director of One City Peterborough, in a recent interview with kawarthaNOW.

“We had, at that time, a generous landlord who was wanting to work with us to make this happen. So (the landlord) basically bought a house and allowed us to use it to house people and that was sort of our beginning,” he said. “Since that time, we’ve grown quite a bit.”

One City Peterborough is non-profit charitable organization supporting people who have experienced homelessness and/or criminalization towards their full inclusion into the community. The organization now owns seven houses, five of which are designated for people transitioning from homelessness, and two that serve people upon their release from prison.

One City’s supportive housing program is designed to provide housing and community for people struggling with chronic homelessness and disengagement.

“We also started basically a non-profit property management business (which is) part of who we are,” Harvey explained. “There were landlords who wanted to be involved in the quest of ending homelessness but didn’t have the resources and/or skillsets to provide housing supports for tenants.”

“We partner with those landlords, and they hire us to property manage their homes. When we take those over, we focus those on individuals coming out of homelessness.”

One City Peterborough now manages six houses through arrangements with landlords.

In total, at the time of the interview, One City provided housing for 49 people. In addition to providing its tenants with a range of supports, One City also works with external organizations, including Fourcast Addiction Services, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, as well as volunteers.

They collectively provide residents with help maintaining housing, connecting with the community, accessing health services, furthering their education, increasing their well-being, and supporting their individual goals.

“Everyone who is in our house is supported by someone,” Harvey said. “Some of them are supported by our staff, and (for) some of them we manage the properties but we partner with other agencies to offer the supports.”

The houses are somewhat like a rooming house but they’re more intimate — most of them are four-bedroom homes or smaller. Harvey said they began with larger properties but quickly realized those weren’t as ideal. Since the organization strives to provide a sense of belonging and a community for its residents, this worked better in smaller houses.

“We don’t want people to feel warehoused in their house,” he noted.

Residents have their own bedroom and share the amenities such as the kitchen and washrooms.

“Each home is a little bit different,” Harvey said. “We really try to have the homes …. self-determinant in a lot of ways. We may start with an individual and then build that home around the individual. That will set the tone.”

The “rules” vary from home to home, as tenants set their own boundaries that work for their particular homes.

“We focus on individuals who are coming out of homelessness, many of whom are coming from outdoors, who are living outdoors …. and allow them to have a say about who’s living in those homes.”

There’s no set time limit for how long residents can stay in the homes. While One City used to consider the program as transitional housing, the organization realized there weren’t places people could transition into in the current rental and housing market.

One City Peterborough’s supportive housing program works for a few reasons, Harvey said. The fact that One City owns the properties and provides the supports avoids some of the issues that can arise between service providers and landlords.

Secondly, since One City owns homes, “it takes houses off the market” and makes them available for those needing housing, said Harvey about the benefit of the model.

“So many of those who we support are left out of the market entirely. They will never be competitive in a rental market that has such low vacancy rates.”

“By removing these houses from the market, we are focusing them on individuals, and it becomes less about making a profit and more about making sure people are housed,” Harvey explained.

“We believe housing is a right,” One City states on its website.

One City’s supportive housing program is currently at capacity. When vacancies arise, the organization looks to existing tenants who may want to move to another house, and/or to other people who need somewhere to live and are accessing other One City supports, such as the winter overnight program and daytime drop-in program at Trinity Community Centre or outreach services.

Harvey said One City would love to be in a position to buy a house a year, but it doesn’t receive government funding to pay the wages of the people who provide supports to the homes’ residents.

“We do it all through our own fundraising,” he pointed out.

The average cost of supporting an individual in the supportive housing program is approximately $250 per month.

To learn more about One City’s supportive housing program or to make a donation towards the costs of running the program, visit www.onecityptbo.ca/housing.

Landlords interested in leasing a property to One City for the supportive housing program can contact One City’s housing director Michael Vanderherberg at mvanderherberg@onecityptbo.ca to learn more about how the program works.

In a move to prepare people who have disabilities for careers in the skilled trades, partners have unveiled an accessible welding program at Fleming College in Peterborough.

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) and the Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) recently announced the launch of the accessible welding program, which is aimed at increasing opportunities for people who have disabilities to pursue work in the trades.

The program launched last Tuesday (February 27) at Fleming College.

In partnership with Employment Ontario and Fleming College, the goal is to expand the number of people with disabilities employed in the trades, by providing them with accessible training and support.

“By breaking down barriers to entry, the program aims to empower community members with disabilities to secure meaningful employment in the skilled trades industry,” a media release noted.

“We are thrilled to launch this innovative program in partnership with the CPD, Employment Ontario, and Fleming College,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. “By fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the skilled trades, we can unlock the potential of individuals with disabilities and strengthen our workforce.”

The accessible welding program is a collaborative effort between JA-NEO and CPD, and leverages “their respective expertise in workforce development and disability advocacy.”

The program encompasses a specialized curriculum and tailored support services. It’s intended to equip students with both the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the welding profession.

“We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their career aspirations, regardless of disability,” said Rachel Quilty, CPD representative, in the media release.
“Through the accessible welding program, we aim to dismantle barriers and create pathways to success for individuals with disabilities in the trades.”

The partners said the accessible welding program represents a significant step towards building a more inclusive and diverse workforce in the skilled trades sector.

“By fostering collaboration and innovation, JA-NEO, CPD, Employment Ontario and Fleming College are leading the way in creating opportunities for all individuals to thrive in the workforce.”

Overall, in Ontario, there are 144 skilled trades. There were 91,634 apprentices active in the province as of April 3, 2023, according to the Ontario government.

The province announced in December 2023 a substantial investment in key programs to prepare young people for in-demand jobs in the skilled trades, which includes welding. According to an article published by Immigration News Canada, welding is among the 20 most in-demand skilled trade jobs in Ontario.

Previously known as JA Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka, JA-NEO aims to inspire young people to realize their potential and make a positive impact in their communities. JA-NEO collaborates with educators, volunteers, and organizations to deliver hands-on, immersive, and digital learning experiences.

The organization is committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity through programs that help youth build transferable skills in work readiness, financial health, and entrepreneurship.

A former Cobourg public school principal, who had previously been convicted in 1993 of a sexual assault against a student, is facing an historical sexual assault charge from the same time period.

Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested and charged 78-year-old Douglas Kennedy of Peterborough with sexual assault related to an incident alleged to have occurred between 1988 to 1991 while the accused man was a principal at Camborne Public School north of Cobourg.

Police began an investigation on November 16 last year after the victim, who was a student at the school at the time and known to the accused man, reported the incident to police.

More than 30 years ago, Kennedy was convicted of sexually assaulting a male student at the school over a three-year period from 1988 until 1991. According to media reports at the time, the boy was assaulted at Kennedy’s school office, his home, and his cabin. In June 1993, Kennedy was sentenced to two years less a day to be served in a provincial institution.

While prosecutors had asked for a sentence of three to five years in a federal penitentiary, the justice hearing the case said “exceptional circumstances” affected the final sentence, referring to a beating with a baseball bat that Kennedy had received from the student’s stepfather, resulting in two broken legs.

In relation to the historical sexual assault charge, Kennedy is due to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a future date.

“There is no stature of limitations on sexual offences and a report can be made to police at any time, regardless of how much time has passed,” reads a media release from the Northumberland OPP. “If you do not wish to make a report to police or need more time and support to make that decision, there are community partners available to help.”

Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to call the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.