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Cobourg police chief calls for all hands on deck to fight drug epidemic

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So, for our first show of 2020, it seemed like a good idea to revisit one of the more significant stories in Northumberland: the ongoing battle with drugs across the county. Following a number of key arrests over the past few months, plus a shocking announcement regarding a more deadly form of drug suspected to be in our region, it is appropriate to talk once more about the state of the opioid situation and some of the developing issues that have come forward since July when we began examining what was going on. Certainly, a lot has happened and there is a more vocal public debate taking place since then. Back in July, then Deputy Chief Paul Vandegraff sat in this same chair across from me and we talked about opioids. It was the first of a series of interviews done by Consider This around the emerging situation. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Opioids, Police

Transition House seeks dialogue to resolve concerns in neighbourhood, board members say

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A group residents and business owners calling themselves the Good Neighbour Coalition Cobourg has started campaign to address concerns related to Transition House, the only emergency shelter for homeless people in Northumberland County. Two of the group’s representatives, Alyson King and Grace Lovekin, appeared before Cobourg council Monday night to make their case. They told councillors since Transition House reopened just over a year ago, “the neighbourhood has experienced increased and recurring problems with public drug use, people sleeping outdoors, verbal abuse and intimidation, disruptions day and night including physical altercations, theft, and break-ins. While Transition House may not be the “cause” of these problems, it is clearly associated with them as the problems did not occur at this level until it reopened”. With me in the studio are Taylor Nelson, a member of the Board of Directors for Transition House and Marsha Jones, chair of the Board of Directors for Transition House. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Politics

Safe interview room helps victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, says police

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Unless you have been through it, understanding the terror and pain of domestic abuse, it is not easy to fully appreciate what someone is experiencing. As we learned last week when I interviewed Nancy Johnston, executive director of Cornerstone women’s shelter, there are some 2,600 women and children, who seek help from their services. In many cases, these women have faced violence in the home. The first responders to these cases of domestic violence are the police. During such cases, interviewing the victims of violence, rape or sexual assault can be very hard. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Police

Yarn, poles and building community subject of film debut and guest speaker

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In 2016, Nancy Belmont, an American activist, launched a unique interactive art installation used to bring people in a community together. It quickly gained interest from around the world, including most of North America, Western Europe, India, and Australia. In September, a coalition of local organizations brought the installation to Northumberland. Located at the Farmer’s Market in Cobourg, it involved a number of polls and a lot of yarn. A film was produced and it will be premiered this coming Monday at 7 p.m. at Venture 13, along with a talk with Toronto based author Dave Meslin on his recent book ‘Teardown.’ Here to tell us about this project, the film and the presentation on Monday, I am pleased to have in-studio Megan Deyman, Coordinator – Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Drug Strategy & David Sheffield, Community director of Greenwood Coalition. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community

New provincial animal welfare system impacts local humane society, says general manager

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Since July, the Northumberland Humane Society in Port Hope took on the duties of animal welfare investigation and enforcement. With that announcement came a timeline. The province said there was some new legislation in the pipeline and the situation would be reviewed in the new year. Well, this week the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act 2019 (notice the acronym is PAWS.) was announced by the solicitor general. It means there will be some changes coming in January. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Politics

Task force on opioids to hold first meeting in September, says health unit official

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A task force led by the health unit involving local police, Northumberland Hills Hospital, and emergency services (fire and paramedics) will take place in September. It is being called the first step in addressing the opioid crisis in Northumberland County. There will also be an effort by a tri-county group tasked with formulating a drug strategy for the area to engage the community and front-line workers, addicts and families, to build a comprehensive response. Megan Deyman, the Coordinator of the Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Drug Strategy, and Catherine MacDonald, substances and harm reduction coordinator at the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Unit talk at length about these and other measures. But provincial cuts to the health unit and grants to the drug strategy group are hanging in the balance, threatening these and other initiatives to fight opioids in the community. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Health, Opioids

Green Wood Coalition reaches out, but also searching for answers to opioid crisis

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We have certainly talked to many different people over the past few weeks about Opioids in Northumberland. We have heard from a doctor, a mental health worker, law enforcement, two recovering addicts, and a politician. Their perspectives are provoking, the stories are compelling, and at times heartbreaking. But all have spoken their truth. And, we were given incredible insights into what is happening in the community around opioids from those with first-hand knowledge. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Opioids

Opioids in Northumberland County – a frontline perspective from Cobourg police

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If you live in Northumberland County, surely there has been a time when you were standing in the sunshine and looked north only to see the dark clouds of a storm. And, you may wonder, it is going to come here or is it just going to pass by. The recent headlines coming out of Peterborough related to the opioid crisis facing that community are shocking. In a single weekend in early June, 13 people overdosed and two died within a 72-hour period. Deputy Chief Timothy Farquharson said in an interview with CBC, he hasn’t seen anything like it in his 33 years in policing. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Opioids, Police, Policing

Need for services; justice for all, says Northumberland Legal Aid executive director

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Northumberland Legal Aid Executive Director Lois Cromarty unpacks the impact of the Ontario government’s cuts to services across the province and in Northumberland County specifically. While the government argues the demand for services is dropping,  Cromarty argues the need is as great as ever. Listen as she makes her case. Originally broadcast: May 10, 2019 Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Politics, Social Justice

Ontario town crier championships June 1 in Cobourg’s Rotary Park big challenge for local heralder

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Cobourg town crier Mandy Robinson talks about the Ontario Town Crier Championships being held in Rotary Park, next to the Marina, Saturday, June 1, 2019, starting at 9 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. It will then move to Grafton for the finals at the Grafton Inn. The public is welcome to watch. Robinson explains the attraction of being a town crier, along with all the challenges criers face when competing. She also explains her own approach and her preparation for the contest. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community