Changes in council race
Giddings drops out, English seeks to move up
Trent Hills Councillor Daniel Giddings has withdrawn his nomination to run for deputy mayor in October, deciding to step away from politics to focus on his business activities.
“I realized that I need to focus and do certain things well,” Giddings said in an interview, noting that in recent weeks he has rarely made it home before 9 p.m.
In March, Giddings opened a storefront outlet in Campbellford for his kitchen and bathroom design company and partnered with Bryce Ellis in Trent Hills Cottage Crew, which is providing many services to cottage owners.
“It has really taken off and I need to focus on it,” Giddings said. “I love it here and will still be involved in the community and many projects. We have big plans for the Thunder next year.”
While Giddings has withdrawn, Councillor Rick English, who represents Warkworth, has filed his papers to run for deputy mayor. English was first elected in 2014.
He worked for Northumberland County for 36 years and retired as manager of road operations in 2013.
The only other candidates so far are Bob Crate and Ethan Armit who are running in Ward 5 (Hastings).
Candidates have until August 21 to file nomination papers for the Oct. 26 election.
April home sales lower than last year,
but median price jumped to $675,000
Fifteen homes sold in Trent Hills in April with a median price of $675,000, compared with 23 sales in the same month last year, when the median price was $525,000.
In March, 10 homes sold with a median price of $555,000. One of the homes that sold last month was a condo townhouse that went for $270,000.
The number of active listings jumped to 126 last month, from 110 in March. A year ago, there were 106 active listings while in 2024 there were only 81. The increase in listings is probably a sign that sellers hope the market will bounce back soon, while buyers remain wary.
Homes that sold last month had been on the market an average of 69 days, compared to 45 days a year ago.
Northumberland County recorded 103 sales in April, slightly up from 102 in March. The average price increased 6.5 per cent, from $670,503 to $714,267. New listings declined 1.2 per cent to 324, with homes spending an average of 56 days on the market.
In April 2025, 124 homes sold in the county with a median price of $697,250. The median price this year was $664,000.
“The Bank of Canada’s decision to hold the overnight lending rate at 2.25 per cent provides a level of stability that is helpful for both buyers and sellers navigating today’s market,” said Christine Riley, president of the Central Lakes Association of Realtors.
“As we move further into the spring market, we’re seeing increased activity across our region, with more sales and steady listing levels creating a more dynamic environment,” Riley said.
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