Dear Northumberland County
Let me introduce myself. My name is Diane Manol. My husband and I moved to Cobourg from Brooklin, Ontario in the summer of 2022. We lived in Brooklin, in the same home for 25 years. Reestablishing in this new town has taken a bit of time.
Northumberland County is chock full of incredibly intelligent individuals. Today, I am writing to you all to harness our shared knowledge.
I began following municipal politics in both Cobourg and Northumberland County when the current Councils were sworn in. Two issues that have struck me since following local politics are:
– gaps in our community’s healthcare
– the crisis surrounding our unhoused community.
Watching the January 28, 2026 Cobourg Regular Council meeting I was compelled to involve myself in the circumstances surrounding the proposed use of Building 18, D’Arcy Street.
To date, I have spoken at 3 Council meetings and written an uncomfortable multitude of letters to Cobourg and Northumberland County Council members. I feel that I have been somewhat heard, so I shall continue with my path.
You can find my correspondence with both Cobourg Council and Northumberland County Councils on either website in either Friday Correspondence or attached to agenda items.
I have been pondering how to best serve my community.
Civic engagement is not a unique idea and it is my understanding that residents of our community have participated in government advisement many times in the past.
I believe it is important that each Northumberland Town feel a strong connection to the greater Northumberland County and that the greater Northumberland County feels connected to the 7 Towns under its umbrella.
So……here is my thought.
If you would like to participate in my initiative, Northumberland Healthcare Idea Factory or Northumberland County Unhoused Idea Factory, then this is what is required for you to participate.
Send me an email at dianelivesincobourg@gmail.com.
Include which “Idea Factory” you are participating in. If you want to speak to both….send two emails.
Include your full name and your full address.
(You must be a resident of Northumberland County to participate or an owner/operator of a business within Northumberland County).
Present your idea or solution for either Community Issue in an email that offers your explanation in 200 words or less.
I will accept ideas until June 1st, 2026.
I will compile the ideas, acknowledging the contributor(s) and submit a report to Northumberland County’s MPP, David Piccini, as well as Northumberland County Council, for our elected Municipal and Provincial governments to consider. The reports will be submitted as Community Engagement Initiative reports.
It’s time for residents to get involved in the conversations to engage and champion OUR Community.
Healing takes time, but I believe a season of restoration and rebalance is what’s needed to set our elected officials up for community success.
You can reach me at dianelivesincobourg@gmail.com, if you wish to share your thoughts. I want to hear what OUR community has to say. Your voice is very important and I will endeavour to present reasonable, sensible, actionable ideas.
Only kind regards,
Diane Manol
Northumberland County (Cobourg) Resident
(Extremely persistent wearer of rose coloured glasses)
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
