Cobourg, ON – August 20, 2026 – Northumberland County has officially opened the doors to its new Golden Plough Lodge long-term care home, marking a major milestone in the delivery of high-quality, resident-centred care in Northumberland.
This purpose-built, 197,000-square-foot facility has been designed around the needs of residents and the delivery of safe, compassionate care.
During a Grand Opening Ceremony this morning, attendees heard how, for more than a century, the Golden Plough Lodge has provided care for seniors and families in our community. As the only municipally owned and operated long-term care home in Northumberland, the new modern 180-bed facility is designed to support resident dignity, choice, independence, comfort and quality of life, for future generations. Watch a video to learn about the story behind the refreshed branding for our new home, representing a new era for the Golden Plough Lodge while remaining committed to the resident-centred care for which our home is known: https://youtu.be/_g2uDGfkYcY.
This new home represents the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Northumberland County. Architects, engineers, contractors, trades, healthcare specialists and County staff came together to create a home built to support residents and the staff who care for them. Its completion is the result of years of planning, design, construction, commissioning and operational preparation.
The County appreciates the investment of $4.49M in construction grants from the Government of Ontario that supported construction of a facility with 29 additional beds over the former 151-bed home, helping more local seniors access long-term care in their own community. The Province has also committed a construction subsidy of $1.35M annually for 25 years in support of this redevelopment. The success of this project could also not have been achieved without the contribution of the County’s construction and project partners, whose expertise and commitment were essential to delivering a facility of this scale and complexity.
Today’s opening marks the beginning of a new chapter for the residents who will call Golden Plough Lodge home. Residents are scheduled to move from the existing Golden Plough Lodge into the new home this Sunday, August 23, with staff, families, volunteers and a professional healthcare relocation team working together to support the transition. The new Northumberland County Archives and Museum, co-located at this facility, will open its doors Friday, September 18, 2026. Learn more at ncam.northumberland.ca/exhibitions.
For generations, the legacy Golden Plough Lodge facility has been a place of care, connection and community for Northumberland seniors and their families. The move to the new home on Sunday will mark the close of an important chapter, while carrying forward the relationships, experiences and tradition of care built at the original site.
As residents and staff begin creating new memories in the new home, the commitment remains the same: to provide compassionate, resident-centred care, and a place residents are proud to call home.
Quotes
“On behalf of Alderville First Nation, I want to congratulate Northumberland County on the grand opening of the new Golden Plough Lodge. Some of our most beloved Elders are residents here. We thank you for all the planning that went into this new facility to make all the residents cared for and comfortable. It is a sacred responsibility that we give our elders the same care they once gave us. Looking after the people who raised us isn’t a duty we choose—it’s a responsibility we honour. I’m grateful to see that truth reflected in this new home.” – Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation
“Proud to join the County of Northumberland, residents, families, and staff to celebrate the opening of the new Golden Plough Lodge. Our Government is proud to provide essential funding to this new 180-bed home, an important investment in the future of long-term care in our community that will help more local seniors access the care they need close to home. I want to thank Northumberland County, the dedicated healthcare workers and care providers, and everyone who helped bring this project to life. Our government is proud to have supported this redevelopment, and we will continue working to ensure seniors in Northumberland have access to high-quality, compassionate care for generations to come.” – David Piccini, MPP, Northumberland-Peterborough South.
“The new Golden Plough Lodge is an important investment in the future of care in Northumberland County, and I was to sincerely thank our staff, partners, and the Province for bringing this vision to reality. Our dedicated long-term care staff bring compassion, skill and commitment to their work every day. This new home gives them the environment and resources they need to continue providing the high-quality, resident-centred care our seniors deserve. We are proud to be here for our residents and their families, and proud of the team that will make this new home truly special.” – Bob Crate, Warden, Northumberland County
“This new home feels like a breath of fresh air, with more space, more opportunities, and so much to look forward to. But what makes it home is the people. The care and friendships from staff, residents and families.” – Brian McLaughlin, President, Golden Plough Lodge Resident Council
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