Cobourg, ON – January 22, 2026 – The Golden Plough Lodge & Northumberland Archives and Museum (GPL&NCAM) redevelopment project has reached a major construction milestone. The new facility has successfully passed building inspection, is fully up to code, and has now transitioned into the care and control of the County—known as ‘full occupancy’.
With construction approvals complete, focus now shifts to final operational readiness for the Golden Plough Lodge. This includes on-site staff training and the regulatory approvals required before residents can move into the new long-term care home in the next few months. At the same time, NCAM staff are preparing to relocate the collection this spring and begin welcoming the return of in-person researchers. Minor remaining construction items – typical at this stage of a project of this size – continue to be addressed in coordination with the contractor.
“Northumberland County remains focused on delivering a facility the community can be proud of,” states Warden Bob Crate. “A modern long-term care home that responds to growing demand and supports the well-being of residents, families, and staff, alongside a new archives and museum that preserves, celebrates, and shares Northumberland’s history for generations to come.”
Over the coming weeks:
- The County will continue working closely with the Ministry of Long-Term Care to complete the remaining requirements to obtain approval and receive Ministry license to operate the new Golden Plough Lodge as a long-term care home. This includes reviews of operational plans, policies, staffing models, and infection prevention protocols. On-site inspections will be conducted to ensure all Ministry standards are met prior to residents moving in.
- To support enhanced operations in the new home, the County has been upstaffing and preparing care teams in advance of the move to accommodate enhanced operations. Staff training and orientation at the new facility is now underway, with more than 300 staff participating in education on new equipment, systems, procedures and health care environments.
- Regular information sessions for residents and families are ongoing to ensure everyone remains informed and prepared for the future transition.
- A specialized health care relocation firm is supporting detailed move planning, and a mock resident move exercise is scheduled for mid-February to test procedures and confirm readiness.
The official resident move-in date will be confirmed in the coming weeks, as staff work through the Ministry approvals process and schedule.
The new Golden Plough Lodge is a 197,000 -square-foot facility with 180 long-term care beds –significantly larger than the former home – which was approximately 100,000 square feet with 151 beds.
The building includes:
- Six Resident Home Areas, including a dedicated memory care unit
- Interior courtyards accessible from each home area
- Fireside lounges, a large auditorium and chapel, hair salon, and a greenhouse supporting resident wellness
The building also includes 6,000 square feet dedicated to the Northumberland County Archives and Museum (NCAM). This unique co-location allows NCAM to expand beyond its former space in the Cobourg Library while continuing to preserve and share Northumberland’s history for future generations.
Once established in the new facility, NCAM staff will advance work for its inaugural exhibit, announced in 2025. Supported by Cameco, along with a donation by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Stewart Richardson, and designed through collaboration and partnership with e wiindmaagzijig – a circle of Elders, Knowledge Keepers and leaders in language revitalization – this first exhibit will celebrate Anishinaabemowin, also known as the Ojibwe language – the first predominant language spoken on this territory. Details on timing for this exhibition will be released later this year.
“Reaching this stage reflects years of planning and collaboration across multiple County departments, contractors, consultants and partners,” states Director of Public Works Denise Marshall. “This milestone brings us within sight of the finish line – welcoming residents into a modern, safe, and purpose-built long-term care environment, and the community to a new archives and museum that preserves and celebrates our shared history.”
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