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Cobourg couple are two of the 700 jobs lost in Northumberland due to GM closure

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Northumberland County will lose 700 jobs when General Motors Oshawa plant closes sometime before the end of the year, says the president of the union. Colin James, president of Unifor Local 222, outlined the impact within the area as he explained the repercussions of the announcement by General Motors in November to close the Oshawa operation sometime towards the end 2019, putting 2,600 workers and 340 staff out of work. He warned of the economic effect to Port Hope, Cobourg, Colborne and the rest of the region. “Local politicians should be very concerned,” he said in an interview on Consider This Northumberland. “Not just about GM, but by any large corporation who could potentially just up and leave. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Economy

Affordable housing picture stark, but optimistic, Green Wood Coalition leader indicates

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There is a possibility new affordable housing may be coming to Northumberland County, said one of Northumberland most vocal advocates on poverty and homeless issues. Green Wood Coalition Community Director David Sheffield said he is aware of discussions going on that could lead to new affordable housing projects in an interview with Consider This Northumberland on Jan. 4. “There are a number of things that are not public information at this point – developers, folks working in the affordable housing realm that are essentially projects that would turn into some housing,” he said. Things are very tentative, he added, saying many factors will have to align, including federal government funding, before a formal, public announcement would be made. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Politics

Daily life can be more interesting than big picture, says local author and historian

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It is the daily lives of everyday people that make history come alive for local historian and author Gerry Brown, which he best exemplifies in his new book Memories from a Grey Wooden Box: Cobourg stories from The Great War. As a long-time high school history teacher in Prescott, Brown felt the big picture studied in class, like Napoleon, treaties, political figures and so forth, were interesting. But it did not represent his passion. “(Historians) didn’t talk about the day-to-day stuff. How people actually live in a variety of times and places,” he said in a recent interview with Consider This Northumberland. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Arts, Community

Keeping a religious focus on the Christmas season a challenge, says local minister

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As mainstream Christmas celebrations focus more on commercialism, Santa and Rudolph, there are many Christians who are worried about the focus of the holy day is being lost. Rev. Neil Ellis, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, is not overly concerned. “I see a lot on social media where people say we need to put Christ back in Christmas. I would just say, he never left,” he said in a recent interview on Consider This Northumberland. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community

Mobile outreach program to be launched in new year, says Salvation Army leader

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Starting in 2019, the Salvation Army will operate a mobile service in Cobourg and Port Hope to serve those in need as part of a pilot program requested by Northumberland poverty groups, police, fire and emergency services. Captain Michael Simpson said beginning in the new year a retrofitted recreational vehicle will start touring through the two towns to bring emergency services and other programs directly to people in need. “If folks can’t make it into an office, maybe they do not feel comfortable going into an office, we will go out to them – to where the people are,” he said during an interview on Consider This Northumberland on Dec. 14. The mobile program is meant to be an extension of many of the things the Salvation Army already does through its offices on Swayne Street in Cobourg and Peter Street in Port Hope. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Social Justice

More cooperation needed between health care providers and women’s shelter, says executive director

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There needs to be more co-operation between Cornerstone women’s shelter, the hospital, doctors, and nurses when it comes to referring those who face domestic abuse, says the executive director of the family violence prevention centre Nancy Johnston. This is one of the key challenges in helping women who are victims of violence, said Johnson during an interview Friday on Consider This Northumberland. “A gap exists. We need to strengthen our relationships with the health sector. Often times, believe it or not, we are not seeing a lot of referrals coming in,” she said. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Social Justice

School opponent tells the ongoing tale of new school proposed for New Amherst

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The controversy over a proposed new French Catholic school continues despite a recent vote by Cobourg council. Resident and opponent Dennis Nabieszko describes how he learned about the school coming to the west-end subdivision, as well as talking about the ongoing opposition on Consider This Live, part of the Drive Time on Northumberland 89.7 FM. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Live, Community, Education