Foundation aims to spur vital conversations
New community foundation report highlights how we live in Northumberland
Martha Murphy wants to get people talking about ways to improve the quality of life across Northumberland County.
To spur these discussions, the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland, led by executive director Murphy, has produced a report called Vital Signs that pulls together data about the social and economic conditions in the area.
The numbers, largely drawn from the last census in 2021, show how our communities are doing and where we need to be doing better. The sections examine various sectors and compare them to the United Nations’ goals for sustainable development.
For example, the report says that in 2023 a living wage in the county was $20.60, which is above the provincial minimum wage. A living wage is the amount someone would need to earn to support themselves in the area, paying for rent and food, for example.
As well, the report notes that the largest employer in the county is healthcare. It also says there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of farms and the amount of acreage being farmed.
“We believe that the data will provide community organizations and groups with more understanding about key indicators aligned with sustainable development, including Northumberland’s health and well-being,” Murphy says.
The local Vital Signs report is part of a national program started by the Community Foundations of Canada that has resulted in more than 100 reports across the country. In our area, foundations in Prince Edward County, Peterborough, and Kingston have done similar reports.
“Today, we see evidence from coast to coast to coast that many people are being left behind,” says Andrea Dicks, President of Community Foundations of Canada. “Programs such as Vital Signs, with its local data and community-driven knowledge, help us make bolder and better decisions that ensure everyone has the support and opportunity to flourish in Northumberland County.”
If the name of the local foundation seems a bit different than you remember, you’re right. The foundation was established in 2002 as the Campbellford/Seymour Community Foundation to oversee the $6.2 million the municipality received when the Mike Harris Conservative government forced municipalities to sell their hydro generating stations. Half the money was put into a community fund and half in a municipal fund, controlled by the municipality. Since then, the community fund has granted $4.2 million to charities in Campbellford and Seymour, while protecting the capital.
During the COVID years, the federal government wanted to distribute grants and looked to community foundations across the country to help. So, the foundation used its expertise in identifying community needs and evaluating grant proposals, to use the federals funds for projects outside Trent Hills.
Seeing a need to continue this role, last year the foundation changed its name and operating bylaws and added all of Northumberland to its area of focus.
Murphy says the foundation is trying to cultivate partners in other parts of the county as it moves forward and expands its operations. It has started a small Northumberland community fund that will be able to finance projects throughout the county and hopes it can attract more donations to make that work possible.
The foundation is planning four launch events in April and early May to highlight different elements of the report in different communities. You can sign up for the events on its website. They will be held in Brighton, April 9, Port Hope, April 18, Cobourg, April 24 and Trent Hills, May 2.
“We want to let people digest it and see how they can use it,” Murphy said. “We want to help further conversations on these issues, but we don’t what that’s going to look like.”
In addition to the 28-page report, the foundation has detailed background documents on its website that provide even more local information.
Murphy says the foundation hopes to keep the discussions flowing and intends to do an updated report in four years.