News

Tribute for Former Councillor John Bickle

With great sadness, the Municipality of Port Hope acknowledges the passing of former Councillor John Bickle who died on Monday, March 9, 2026.

A life-time resident of rural Port Hope, Mr. Bickle was a passionate advocate for agriculture and rural life. His commitment to public service spanned many years, including his tenure on Hope Township Council from 1997 to 2000, and later the Municipality of Port Hope Council from 2018 to 2022. In addition to his elected roles, Mr. Bickle also served on...

New In-person Engagement Drop-ins for the Ward Boundary and Council Composition Review

In 2025, the Municipality began the process of reviewing the current Council composition and ward boundaries. This work examines how effectively the existing structure and ward divisions work for our community. It considers several key factors, including population size, geography, community history, shared interests, and representation of minority groups. In the fall of 2025, the project consultant Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., conducted research and worked with municipal staff on the...

Transit Update: Cobourg Express Shuttle

We are very pleased to share that our new transit buses have officially arrived! With all required paperwork and safety checks now complete for one of the vehicles, all services (Routes A, B, and C) have returned to their regular schedules.

You’ll continue to see the same friendly, familiar drivers behind the wheel, but you may notice that the new bus does not yet feature its exterior branding. That will be added in the coming weeks, as our priority was restoring full service to the community as...

Bell Canada Infrastructure Upgrades – Walton Street

Bell Canada will be completing telecommunications upgrades on Walton Street, tentatively starting March 9. This work involves replacing aging copper lines and updating some newer lines that were installed during the Walton Street Reconstruction. During the reconstruction, most of Bell’s work focused on upgrading the underground infrastructure that supports their cables, they are now returning to update the actual lines.

Directdore Inc., working on behalf of Bell Canada, is anticipated to be on...

Port Hope’s Signature Events Recognized Among Ontario’s Best 

For Immediate Release 
Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Port Hope, ON   

For the fourth year in a row, the Municipality of Port Hope’s flagship events, the Candlelight Festival and the Arts Festival, have earned spots on Festivals & Events Ontario’s (FEO) 2026 Top 100 Festivals and Events list.  

This distinction considers events that have community impact, originality, economic benefits and overall popularity. Being named on the Top 100 list recognizes these festivals as exceptional leaders in the industry.