Daily Living

Emergency information and calling helplines

It is important to know where you can find information on community resources that will ease your transition to your new life in Northumberland. 

In case of an emergency, dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire services. Only dial 911 if you, a family member or friend is in serious danger or a life-threatening situation. 

• To contact police, paramedic or fire services about non-emergency matters, look for their local office phone number in your phone book.
• Helplines are phone numbers to put you in touch with people who can help.
  • 211 Ontario is a free, confidential, province-wide helpline that helps you find support and community services. 
• There is no cost to make a phone call to any phone number that starts with “1-8” as in 1-8XX-XXX-XXX.
• TTY is a special phone system for people who have a hearing loss. You need a special machine to type what you say.

Applying for Canadian citizenship

Normally, within five years of becoming a permanent resident of Canada you may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. However, there are several requirements that you must first meet. For example, Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires that as a permanent resident you must have physically lived in Canada for a required number of days. This means that if you spent a significant portion of your time outside Canada in the previous four years, this may delay your eligibility to apply for Canadian citizenship. You must also meet specific requirements in the following areas:

• Age
• Permanent resident status
• Residence in Canada
• Language abilities
• Criminal history
• Knowledge of Canada

Check whether you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship and/or prepare for your citizenship test. If you are eligible, visit Canada.ca to learn why you should think about applying for Canadian citizenship.

Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada if you are unsure whether you are Canadian or not, and may already be a citizen.

Other helpful resources

• Residence calculator
• Canada's Citizenship Study Guide

Applying for a Canadian passport

There are three ways by which you can apply for or renew your Canadian passport:

• Adult simplified renewal application (Adults in Canada or in the USA)
• Adult application (16 years of age or over)
• Child application (under 16 years of age)

Learn how to apply for Canadian passports for you and your family and pay the application fee.

Child care and parenting

As a parent in Ontario, you are in charge of your children’s safety and well-being until they are 18 years old. You must give reasonable supervision and care.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is against the law to abandon a child. This applies to any parent who leaves a child alone under the age of 10, exposing the child to possible danger.

Other helpful resources

• Kinark Child and Family Services 

• Northumberland Child Development Centre 
• YMCA Northumberland 

Newcomer parents

Many newcomer families face stress when they start their new life in Canada. Some newcomers might find a new lifestyle and learning new languages very challenging. There are special challenges when you look after the care of very young children in a new environment as well. The Best Start Resource Centre has a booklet for parents of children 0-6 years old called "Growing Up in a New Land".

You can also find important information on child care in different languages at the Ministry of Education website. 

Child care in Northumberland

Do you need financial assistance for child care or want to know about child care providers available in your community? Visit the Northumberland County Child Care webpage.

Drinking water and wastewater

In urban areas, drinking water is usually treated and supplied by a municipal water treatment plant and wastewater is treated and disposed of by a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The source of water for municipal drinking water systems in Northumberland County is groundwater, local rivers or Lake Ontario.

Treated wastewater is discharged into Lake Ontario or local rivers. Many municipal programs and policies are in place to ensure residents have a safe, plentiful source of drinking water and that wastewater is appropriately treated.

Water conservation

Local residents are fortunate to have access to clean and plentiful water. However, water should not be taken for granted. Make it a daily exercise to reduce the amount of water you use, including:

• In your home - run the washing machine or dishwasher when you have full loads.
• In your yard - install a rain barrel to capture rainwater for use in your gardens.
• In the future - consider installing a grey water system to help recycle your water.

Faith and worship

Freedom of religion in Canada is protected by the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

You have the right to observe your religion unless it interferes with the rights of others or is a safety or health concern. You are entitled to the same opportunities as others and you must be treated with equal dignity and respect.

Finding a place to worship

Having your own place to worship in your community can provide a great deal of joy. Many places of worship in Northumberland provide children and family events and celebrations. They might provide food or clothing for people in need or help newcomers get settled.

Finding a job

There are many services in Northumberland County to help you look for work. There are services available to:

• Help you decide what type of work you want to do
• Help you with your resume and cover letter
• Teach you how to do a job search
• Help you get ready for a job interview

Cost for services

Many public organizations provide services for free or for a small fee. Other private organizations may charge you for their services (for example $100 to $1,000 for a resume). 

It is good to keep in mind that a resume that costs you money is not always better than the one you get for free.

A good way to start your job search is by making an appointment with a Settlement Counsellor at Northumberland Settlement Services.

Employment Ontario provides free employment services funded by the government. These services provide free workshops, resume and cover letter assistance, job postings as well as counselling services to help you to find work.

For information about job training, government assistance, and more resources, visit the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Employment Ontario page.

Your safety matters

The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the rights and duties of workers, supervisors, employers and others for safe and healthy workplaces.

As a worker, you have the right to:

• Know about workplace hazards
• Refuse unsafe work
• Participate in addressing workplace health and safety issues

Some examples of employer duties are to:

• Provide basic health and safety awareness training to workers and supervisors
• Provide information, instruction and supervision to workers on how to work safely
• Do everything reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers from being hurt or getting a work-related illness

There are a series of training tools available to help you learn how to work safely at Ontario's website. Several of the tools are available in different languages.

For more information about workplace health and safety:

Visit Ontario's website
Email: webohs@ontario.ca
Call: 1-877-202-0008.

Information for physicians

If you are a physician planning to relocate to Northumberland County, visit the physician recruitment website to learn more about physician opportunities and the medical community in Northumberland.

To learn more about how to become a practicing physician in Canada, visit Physicians Apply website.

Food and shopping

There are many places to buy food and household items in Northumberland County. They range from grocery stores to international food stores and farmers' markets.

Community food banks help families who are in need of food but struggle with affordability.

Garbage and recycling

Northumberland County manages the disposal of garbage, recycling, leaf and yard waste and household hazardous waste in Northumberland.

Most areas in Northumberland receive curbside waste collection. For curbside collection, household waste can be placed at the end of your driveway for pickup on the specified day of the week for your area. Garbage must be bagged with a bag tag attached. Recycling must be properly sorted into blue and grey boxes. 

Visit the Northumberland County Garbage and Recycling page for more information about curbside collection, how to properly dispose of your waste, and where to dispose of bulky or hazardous waste.

Government

There are three levels of government in Canada:

Federal government

The federal government is responsible for things that affect the whole country, like citizenship and immigration, national defence and trade with other countries. Visit the Parliament of Canada website and discover how Canadians govern themselves.

Provincial government

The provincial government is responsible for things like education, health care and highways. Visit the Ontario provincial government website to learn more about their programs and services.

Municipal (local) government

Oversees the cities, towns and villages that make up their area. They are responsible for firefighting, city streets and other local matters. Visit the Association of Municipalities in Ontario website to learn about the differences between 'lower-tier' and 'upper-tier' municipalities.

Upper-tier government

Your local or municipal government provides many services that affect you every day. Northumberland County is the upper-tier municipal government in our area. Some of their services include:

• Garbage collection/bag tags
• Recycling collection
• Maintenance of some larger roads
• Community and social services
• Northumberland Paramedics
• EarlyON child and family centres
• Long-term care
• Northumberland County Archives and Museum
• Northumberland County Forest
• Emergency planning
• Economic development
• Tourism
• Settlement services
• Job search and training

Lower-tier government

In addition to the services provided by Northumberland County as an upper-tier level of local government, you will also be served by the lower-tier local government for your town, village or community, depending on where you live in Northumberland. These member municipalities are part of the Northumberland County area. Visit their websites to learn more about the services provided by each of our member municipalities:

• Municipality of Alnwick/Haldimand
• Municipality of Brighton
• Town of Cobourg
• Township of Cramahe
• Township of Hamilton
• Municipality of Port Hope
• Municipality of Trent Hills

Health care

Northumberland County has excellent health care. There are two community hospitals, as well as skilled doctors, dentists, optometrists and other medical service professionals.

For more information on how to apply for your OHIP Card visit the Ontario of Ministry of Health and Long-time Care website.

Housing

Housing in Northumberland County costs less money than housing in larger Canadian city centres like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Ottawa. Northumberland is generally very safe since the surrounding communities are so peaceful.

Some housing options in Northumberland include:

• House: A building for human habitation, especially one that is lived in by a family or small group of people.
• Apartment: A suite of rooms forming one residence, typically in a building containing a number of residences. Apartments are often rented rather than purchased.
• Townhouse: A two- or three-storey house built as one of a group of similar houses, usually attached in a row.
• Condominium: A building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually-owned apartments or houses.

To check which apartments or houses are available to buy or to rent in your area, search the online listings at Realtor Canada or check the listings in the classifieds section of your local newspaper.

Important documents

You will need to fill out some documents to get some important cards that should be carried with you when you live in Canada.

Living near water

Does your property have a wetland, river or lake on it? Do you live close to a body of water? If so, a permit may be required to construct a home, shed, driveway or deck, or to alter a stream pond or wetland. Permission is required so that your property is protected from floods or erosion, and the environment is protected from your activities.

Contact your local municipal building department or conservation authority to learn more.

Money and banking

The Canadian banking system is regarded as one of the most effective and secure in the world, though not always free.

Check the Just for Canada Website for important information about:

• How to open a bank account
• Types of bank accounts
• How to build your credit history
• Sending money abroad
• List of Canadian banks

Northumberland Newcomers Network

The Northumberland Newcomers Network provides access to resources, support and mentorship while helping to promote diversity in our community and providing an inclusive and welcoming space for other newcomers. The also offer programs to support women and youth.

Prosperity for Woman Network

The Prosperity for Woman Network supports immigrant women in Northumberland County by providing an opportunity to share stories and suggestions, and to consult with local stakeholders to improve prosperity for  newcomer women in the County.

The Youth Network Core

The Youth Network Core is a dynamic platform for youth engagement that can serve to unite individuals of varied backgrounds toward a common goal.

The Youth Network Core is a program dedicated to growing young newcomers’ connections and allowing for networking with one another through numerous events held throughout the year.

Their mission is to provide young newcomers with an atmosphere that facilitates learning, growth, as well as meeting amazing people during the process. They believe that youth newcomers  have a profound effect on the community.  In partnering with other non-profit organizations will facilitate learning and growth among peers better. They believe in the synergy created by bringing people, partnership and possibilities for a strong and vibrant Northumberland County. 

• Sharing resources and life skills training with a closed cohort with a variety of programs.
• Offer a broader enrolment and rely upon the voluntary participation of members to advocate for policy and practice changes based on shared goals.
• Members of youth networks will have numerous personal gains as a result of their involvement.

Severe weather

Local conservation authorities maintain a flood forecasting and warning system. The purpose of the system is to reduce risk to life and damage to property by providing local agencies and the public with advanced notice, information and advice so that they can respond to potential flooding and flood emergencies. There are four types of flood messages: flood safety bulletin, flood advisory, flood warning and Lake Ontario shoreline hazard warning.

Environment Canada warns residents of severe weather. There are 22 types of weather events that can trigger an alert. An alert is a transmitted signal that is used to heighten awareness and/or initiate preparation for action. Alerts are issued by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service (MSC) for weather or environmental hazard events that are either occurring, imminent, or forecast to develop. Alerts are currently issued as special weather statements, advisories, watches and warnings.

Specialized health and learning services

There are many support services for people who have special learning needs or health needs in Northumberland County. Children, adults and the elderly can benefit from these services. In some cases, these services are subsidized by the government, reducing or eliminating fees to the individual.

Transportation

Northumberland County is an hour east of Toronto along Ontario’s major highway, the 401. There is also easy access to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal by Via Rail Train. The local bus system is a good way to get around Cobourg and get to and from Port Hope. In Northumberland County’s other small communities, you can drive, take a taxi, or cycle.

Car

To drive a car in Northumberland (and in Canada), you will need to get an Ontario driver’s license.

Buying A Car?

There are many things to consider before you buy a car. Do you want a new or used car? Be aware that there are many costs involved in owning a car. Aside from the ownership costs including applicable taxes, you will need to pay for your car insurance, car loan, gas and maintenance. To learn more about what it really cost to own a car in Ontario visit Settlement website.

Connecting Northumberland Transportation

Community Care Northumberland offers door-to-door, rural-to-urban and specialized transportation services to residents in Northumberland. These programs help transport residents who are unable to drive themselves to medical appointments, social outings and other activities. For more information about these programs, visit the Community Care Northumberland website or call 1-866-768-7778.

Bus

The Town of Cobourg provides two fully accessible bus routes in the urban area of Cobourg, an express shuttle between Cobourg and Port Hope, and WHEELS, a door-to-door service for those unable to use conventional transit. Visit the Town of Cobourg website for more information and to view the bus schedule.

The Municipality of Port Hope provides two bus routes in the urban area of Port Hope, an express shuttle between Port Hope and Cobourg, and ROLLS, a door-to-door service for those unable to use conventional transit. Visit the Municipality of Port Hope website for more information and to view the bus schedule.

Taxi

Here are some taxi services in the area:

• Cobourg Cab: 905-373-9449
• First Choice Taxi: 905-375-8816
• King Taxi: 905-373-2993
• Ganaraska Taxi: 289-829-3636
• Van Air Taxi (to and from Toronto airports): 905-373-8850 

Train

Cobourg and Port Hope provide VIA Rail service, connecting residents and visitors to destinations across Canada.

The closest GO Transit station is located in Oshawa, approximately 30 minutes to an hour west of Northumberland.

Volunteer and get involved

Volunteerism is the act of helping out in your community without being paid. It is a great way to get experience, build a network and meet new friends.

Many Canadians formally volunteer for non-profit organizations, or informally with schools, faith groups or sports leagues. Other areas to volunteer include hospitals, shelters, food banks, arts groups and on behalf of community fundraising efforts.

Newcomers volunteer for many reasons:

• to learn and practice English skills
• to meet people
• to gain work experience
• to give back to their community
• to support a personal cause
• to support their child’s school
• to remain active

Interested in volunteering?

Ask yourself the following questions. They will help you to decide where you want to volunteer. 

• What part of the community can I travel to easily?
• What skills can I offer?
• Who would I like to work with (children, seniors, youth, etc.)? 
• What experience would I like to gain?
• How much time can I give?

Here are some helpful websites to get started:

• Volunteer Northumberland
• Volunteer through Community Care in Northumberland
• Volunteer at local YMCA branches in the County
• Volunteer at Campbellford Memorial Hospital
• Volunteer at Northumberland County
• Volunteer at Northumberland Hills Hospital
• Volunteer at Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
• Volunteer at Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
• Volunteer at United Way Northumberland

Well and septics

In rural areas drinking water is usually supplied by a well and wastewater is treated and disposed of in a septic system. Aquifers (areas underground where water is found) are widely distributed and generally will supply enough water for household and/or farm needs. Groundwater quality is generally good although treatment is sometimes necessary to reduce hardness and remove iron. Many household installations include treatment systems to remove bacteria which may be present. If a new resident is buying existing property, they should have the well and septic system tested/inspected.

For more information, please visit the Northumberland County Plumbing and Septic page.

Youth programs

Young people up to the ages of 18 have unique needs when they come to live in a new place. Northumberland is a welcoming community with lots for youth to do.

Getting settled

There are activities and programs to help with the following:

• improve English language skills
• improve social networks
• adapt to the education system
• assist with learning
• help find a job or get volunteer work
• help voice needs and concerns
• connect other to youth resources

Visit the community centre nearby to find programs adapted for young people. 

Newcomers youth

The Northumberland Settlement Services helps newcomers students and their families reaching the education their children’s needs. Call 1-800-354-7050 ext. 6256 or email us to be referred to a Settlement Workers in School (SWIS).

You can also visit New Youth website for daily life, school, health, work and immigration resources.

Local programs and services