New Northumberland Warden and Deputy Warden are the Old Warden and Deputy Warden

In City Hall, Local

By Cecilia Nasmith/Northumberland 89.7 FM/Today’s Northumberland
December is the time when Northumberland County council elects a new warden and deputy warden.

Not so much with this week’s meeting – Warden Brian Ostrander and Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky were nominated to return to their respective offices, and welcomed back by acclamation.

Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland put forth Ostrander’s nomination, saying he had requested the opportunity to be the one to do so.

“Brian Ostrander leads with knowledge that every problem – every battle, if you will – is not won or lost by brute force. It’s not won or lost by a narrow vision that leaves so much on the table,” Cleveland said.

“We haven’t always seen eye to eye. We don’t have a working relationship built on capitulation, but one that is built on knowledge that the warden doesn’t put his on interest above the best interest.”

Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate made the nomination for Hankivsky, describing her as a “very level-headed and thoughtful person that thinks of all the situations and tries to evaluate them.”

Minutes after removing his chain of office, Ostrander took it back to address council following his swearing-in.

In the coming year, he said, some transformative projects will be completed, such as the rural broadband expansion and the opening of the new Golden Plough Lodge.

Significant challenges also loom.

“Rising costs and financial pressures upon our residents require us to prioritize efficiency and innovation at everything we do,” the warden said.

“Our actions must include strong partnerships, prudent spending and embracing new approaches.”

He decried the current funding model – in place since before Confederation – that does not recognize the kind of big-city challenges member municipalities are facing, such as addiction, mental-health issues, infrastructure maintenance, lack of affordable housing and the climate crisis.

Municipalities were never meant to provide health care, Ostrander continued, but the county has had to establish walk-in clinics, mount costly and ambitious physician-recruitment initiatives and maintain a paramedic force that has branched out into paramedicine services.

Lobbying efforts through the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus will continue, he said, advocating for recognition that municipal governments deserve a better funding formula instead of being sandwiched in as a footnote.

Cecilia Nasmith
Author: Cecilia Nasmith

Join Our Newsletter!

Want to keep up to date on news and events in Northumberland? Subscribe to newsletter!

You may also read!

In My Opinion – Is It Really That Difficult for Cobourg Police to Keep The Public Informed?

So many questions - like always with the Cobourg Police Service. And also like always, little to no communication to

Read More...

St. Thomas Police – Two Suspects Wanted for Multiple Distraction Thefts

As a result of an investigation by the St Thomas Police Services’ Property Crime Unit, in collaboration with the

Read More...

Update – Cobourg Police (Finally) Issue Press Release Concerning Lottery Tickets

https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2025/09/13/video-suspect-walks-away-with-hundreds-of-dollars-in-stolen-lottery-tickets/ Three days after Today’s Northumberland released information and nearly two weeks after it happened, Cobourg Police have issued a

Read More...

Mobile Sliding Menu