Neighbours Unhappy with Transition House Usage

Alyson King and Grace Lovekin made an emotional plea to Cobourg Council on Monday 25 November to do something about the problems that have happened Downtown and around the Transition House location at 10 Chapel Street since it reopened.  Instead of being a true transition house for people temporarily without a place to stay, when it re-opened in October 2018 it became a “low-barrier emergency shelter”. Alyson said that “since it has reopened, the neighbourhood has experienced increased and recurring problems with public drug use, people sleeping outdoors, verbal abuse and intimidation, disruptions day and night including physical altercations, theft, and break-ins. While Transition House may not be the “cause” of these problems, it is clearly associated with them as… Read complete articleNeighbours Unhappy with Transition House Usage

Grant Requests Well Over Budget

A few years ago, the Town of Cobourg formalized the process for applying for grants for community projects – typically cultural or charitable. The first step now is to make an application with a deadline of October 31; then applicants may make their case to Council and that opportunity happened on Monday November 25. Twenty-four applicants did just that and their total request came to $142.733.70 although the budget is $50,000 so many will be disappointed.  Not all the applicants were Cobourg based and some were new – that is, they had not previously applied for a grant from the Town.  And some presentations were more impressive with more financial detail, evidence of success in raising money from other sources and… Read complete articleGrant Requests Well Over Budget

Christmas Lights Return to Victoria Park

Not only are Christmas lights now in Victoria Park but they are also magnificent in Rotary park. In his speech to the large crowd in front of the bandshell, Mayor John Henderson said “we listened – you said you wanted lights in Victoria Park so that’s what we did”.  The details were decided by a citizen’s committee set up for the purpose last January after Bruce Moore made a presentation to Council on the subject (see links below). And once again, Cobourg showed it knows how to party and somehow, everyone in Cobourg showed up – well not really but it seemed that way – I’d guess there were close to a thousand people in Victoria Park, including lots of… Read complete articleChristmas Lights Return to Victoria Park

First 2020 Budget Session

Cobourg’s budget setting starts with each department providing a requested budget (wish list?) and six of them provided these on Thursday 21 November.  It would be probably unrealistic to expect that they would all initially come in at the targeted 1.9% increase and in that respect there were no surprises.  Budget chief Deputy Mayor Suzanne Séguin chaired the meeting and commented that the average was 10-12%.  In mid September, Citizens were given a chance to provide input on the budget but there was no noticeable impact of these (see link below).  The Departments (or Divisions) submitting at this meeting were: Cobourg Library; Art Gallery of Northumberland;  Planning and Development; General Government Services; Economic Development and Venture 13.  The others will… Read complete articleFirst 2020 Budget Session

Dramatic Presentation on Climate Crisis

At the next Committee of the Whole Meeting, Minnie de Jong, Chair of the Sustainability and Climate Change Advisory Committee (SCCAC), will make a presentation with the dramatic assertion that “We are Facing a Climate ‘Crisis’” and that the SCCAC recommends that Cobourg declare a Climate Emergency and take immediate action.  The presentation will start with the Time Magazine cover from April 3, 2006 which says “Be worried, be Very Worried”.  The presentation then goes on to say that we need to start aggressive action now and that if we fail, “human survival (is) at risk”.  And since “municipalities have influence over approx. 50% of GHG emissions in Canada”, Council must act when managing:  Land use/site planning and densities,  Buildings,… Read complete articleDramatic Presentation on Climate Crisis

Santa Parade – 2019

There was a good crowd watching Cobourg’s 64th Santa parade on Sunday – lots of families and little ones.  Organization seemed to be good despite the Lions withdrawing financial support.  They continue to help, notably with Santa’s float and providing volunteers, but in a letter to Council dated October 17, the Lions Club said they are unable “to provide financial support to the 2019 Santa Claus Parade nor to any Santa Claus parade in the foreseeable future”.  The weather this year was cold (around freezing) but sunny.  The Parade lasted about 40 minutes and featured five bands (see list and video below), a good number of floats with lots of kids, a number of sports teams and dance troupes plus… Read complete articleSanta Parade – 2019

Cobourg Couple Planning Long Trip in their Tesla

With all the interest in Sustainability and Climate change, one Cobourg resident is sold on one of the current trends – Electric Cars.  Harry Nash and his wife Linda are planning an “adventure” – they are driving their 2017 Tesla Model S from Cobourg to see family on the West Coast of the U.S. then the South Coast – see the map below.  In a way, this shows that with the right car, there is no need for range anxiety.  But since Harry is an organized person, he has mapped where he needs to stop, how long he needs to wait for recharging and how much charge there will be at any point in time.  Harry gave me his data… Read complete articleCobourg Couple Planning Long Trip in their Tesla

Report from Opioid Round Table

In early September this year, Adam Bureau initiated a Round Table discussion to determine what could be done about the opioid crisis.  The intent was that recommendations would then be brought back to Council and he now plans to do just that.  At the November 12 regular Council Meeting, Adam made a Notice of Motion that he would be reporting back at the November 25 Committee of the Whole Meeting.  He provided a number of documents from the Round Table discussion and based on that discussion, recommends actions for Council.  More details are below but in brief, he asks for a community-wide summit in February 2020, an allocation of $10,000 from Town funds and better communication with the Public on… Read complete articleReport from Opioid Round Table

Lake Ontario Hazards Discussed

On November 6, GRCA and their consultants Pete Zuzek of Zuzek Inc., and Seth Logan of SJL Engineering held an open house in the Venture 13 Lecture Hall to explain measures they were taking to cope with hazards along the Lake Ontario Shoreline from Clarington to Alnwick-Haldimand and north to the moraine. The hazards studied are flooding hazards, erosion hazards and/or dynamic beach hazards.  The intent is to have a plan to cope with these – this would primarily involve regulations that would prohibit new development where a hazard exists.  In addition, the plan would help “increase the resilience of coastal communities”,  reduce coastal hazards and maintain existing public open spaces while ensuring “sustainable coastal development (balance between environment, society… Read complete articleLake Ontario Hazards Discussed

Christmas Lights Changed for 2019

Due to popular demand, this Christmas, Cobourg will expand the lights to include Victoria Park and the lighting ceremony will be more extensive than previously.  There will be 180,000 lights stretching from Victoria Hall, through Rotary Park, along the waterfront and into Victoria Park.  The lights go on at 6:30 pm on November 22 after a countdown at Victoria Hall then everyone will be invited to walk to Victoria Park where there will be a 30 foot Christmas tree with 3000 lights and Mayor John Henderson will welcome all at the Bandshell.  Santa will then arrive for the kids and DJ Dominic will play festive music.  The walk will highlight a connection to downtown with a variety of displays throughout… Read complete articleChristmas Lights Changed for 2019