Cobourg, ON – September 29, 2026 – Northumberland County has been recognized by the Information & Privacy Commissioner (IPC) of Ontario for its leadership in making municipal performance information more accessible to residents. The County’s Performance Dashboard has been featured as part of the IPC’s 2026 Transparency Challenge – a virtual gallery showcasing innovative projects that advance government transparency, open data and public access to information.
The IPC Transparency Challenge brings together leading transparency initiatives from public institutions across Ontario, highlighting best-in-class approaches that help residents better understand government decisions, performance and outcomes. The challenge provides an opportunity for public sector organizations to share creative and impactful projects that promote open government and strengthen public trust.
“Being selected for the Transparency Challenge is meaningful recognition of the work Northumberland County has undertaken to make government information more accessible, understandable and useful for residents,” said Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate. “This acknowledgment from an independent, respected organization reinforces our commitment to going beyond legislative requirements and actively creating opportunities for residents to see how the County is performing against its goals and priorities.”
Launched in February 2024, the Performance Dashboard tracks 45 indicators aligned with the County’s 2023 – 2027 Community Strategic Plan, providing residents with a clear and accessible way to monitor progress on the commitments outlined in the plan.
The dashboard enables residents, Council, and community partners to access performance information organized under the five pillars of the Strategic Plan. Updated quarterly, the dashboard goes beyond reporting numbers by explaining what the results mean, why they matter and how they connect to community priorities. Where performance indicators are not on track, the dashboard identifies actions and next steps, helping residents understand how the County is responding and continuously improving.
This dashboard is one component of Northumberland County’s broader commitment to accountability and transparency. Residents can also stay informed through the County’s Annual Report, which provides an overview of programs, services and accomplishments along with annual Audited Financial Statements; the Join In Northumberland community engagement platform, which allows residents to share feedback on County projects and initiatives; and the County’s Council webpage, which provides access to Council and Committee agendas, minutes and recorded meetings, enabling residents to access information whenever it is convenient for them.
“Transparency is more effective when information is not only available, but also accessible and meaningful,” added Warden Crate. “We remain committed to helping residents understand how decisions are made, how resources are being used and how we are progressing toward goals identified by our community.”
“Transparency and accountability at the municipal level go to the very heart of democracy by meaningfully engaging citizens in their communities and bringing local governments closest to the people they serve,” said Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. “Northumberland County’s Performance Dashboard empowers residents and drives citizen engagement by making municipal performance data easy to find and helping residents track progress, ask better questions, and see first-hand how municipal services and decisions affect their daily lives.”
For more information about the Performance Dashboard, visit Northumberland.ca/Dashboard
More about the IPC Transparency Challenge
The IPC Transparency Challenge takes the form of an online gallery, with each exhibit represented by a unique piece of artwork. The exhibit for the County’s Performance Dashboard includes an original piece that visually captures the dashboard’s purpose: moving beyond compliance-focused reporting to embrace a more proactive approach to transparency, accountability and public engagement.
According to the Artist: “This geometric abstraction takes its structure from Cubo-Futurism, breaking the shape of Northumberland County into overlapping planes of colour, one for each of the five pillars in the County’s 2023–2027 Community Strategic Plan drawn from the County’s own palette. Where the shapes intersect, the piece speaks to how the County’s Performance Dashboard works, not as five disconnected reports, but interlocking data points brought together into one shared, legible view. A dark diagonal cuts through the geometric planes, marking Highway 28 and grounding the abstraction in the county’s actual geography. Where earlier public reporting was static, this piece treats transparency as something dynamic and layered, echoing a dashboard that pairs raw indicators with plain-language context so residents can see not just what is measured, but why it matters.”
Latest News
Stay informed about our community updates
Notice of passing of municipal-wide development charges by-law amendment
Prescribed burns scheduled for this week in Northumberland County Forest to enhance and protect rare ecosystems
County calls on VIA Rail to reverse cancellation of morning commuter service
