Early summer in Cobourg

The forecast for Cobourg for today – Saturday June 5 – was a high of 29 although if you looked closer, it said “cooler by the Lake”.  With the forecasted warm weather, one would expect a whole lot of people wanting to come to the beach – except that it’s closed on weekends. But the temperature at the beach at around noon, was nowhere near 29 – more like 16.  A couple of blocks north on King Street it was probably 20.  The Beach is closed to keep large crowds from gathering and creating a virus spreading event.  So far, there are no large crowds.  Despite the closure, a number of young families did come anyway – one family told me they did not know the beach was closed.  I suggested they try the West Beach.  Others let their kids play in the splash pad.

Summer 5 June 2021
Beach closed – Summer 5 June 2021

There was no sign nor apparent need of enforcement people – just a closed fence and a sign.

At the bottom of Division Street, a large crane was lifting in boats that had been moved from their storage location – see the video and pictures below.  As well as the Crane operator, a good number of Yacht club member volunteers were helping make it happen and keeping spectators at bay. I don’t think Town employees were involved.

The West beach had a few hardy kids in the water but it was not popular – at least not yet.

See the photos and the short video below

P.S. Yes I know it’s not “officially” summer yet but here’s two things that are relevant – we are overdue for summer and personally, I count summer as starting June 1st.  And yes, the market was operating but that is not really a summer event – it’s on from Spring to Fall.

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James Quelch
2 years ago

“I don’t want to live in a beach town only to have to drive to another beach on the weekends”.
–         Cobourg resident with children

Every beach in Ontario is OPEN. Cobourg and Port Hope are the ONLY beaches in ALL of Ontario that are closed.

Petition to reverse the weekend beach closure.

We want the Cobourg beach open on the weekend for the physical and mental well-being of our communities and to support the tourism industry of local businesses in Cobourg.

Caregivers with children are free on the weekends, not necessarily during the week.

“There were no outbreaks linked to crowded beaches, there’s never been a Covid-19 outbreak linked to a beach ever anywhere in the world to the best of my knowledge. Beaches are NOT a hotbed for coronavirus transmission” (Professor Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh and an adviser to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies).

A misinformed Council refuses to follow the science of Covid transmission and insists on trying to appease a vocal minority that doesn’t want to use the beach on weekends, or doesn’t want others to come to Cobourg to use the beach on weekends. There are LESS cases on Covid in Ontario now then when Council OPENED the beach last year.

Cobourg Council erected a fence to control access to the beach, discussed capacity limits and created a plan to enforce social distancing measures at the last beach meeting, only to ignore the plan and close the beach on weekends.

There is no logical reason to keep the beach closed on the weekend, when the province is opening up its indoor spaces and individuals are free to travel, play sport and are encouraged to visit Cobourg’s downtown for the ‘8 weeks of awesome’ events. So people can come for some events, or to shop indoors, hang out in Victoria Park but not use the beach!?

The real fear to Cobourg residents is making individuals drive to other regions to access safe outdoor spaces and cooling areas.

If the province and cities like Toronto can listen to the science and safely open their beaches, Cobourg can too.

Last edited 2 years ago by James Quelch
Informed
2 years ago

Hi John: Do you have the dates that the Downtown is closing for pedestrian traffic only?I think its important for people to support the Downtown when it opens up again. I believe there is two or three weekends this summer.

John Draper
Reply to  Informed
2 years ago

The DBIA held a survey about closing on weekends in the summer. Since then there has been no report on its results and Council has not discussed nor approved the idea. In any case, it would be difficult given that the obvious detour route of Albert Street will be closed for the summer. It’s also made difficult given ongoing limited access to stores because of Covid-19 restrictions. I think the idea is dead for now.

Informed
Reply to  John Draper
2 years ago

Ok,thanks. I must have been misinformed 🙂

Rob
Reply to  John Draper
2 years ago

The DBIA just sent this out yesterday:

Summer Launch of Downtown Cobourg’s Pedestrian-Friendly Walkway Weekends & The Summer Solstice Shopapalooza
COBOURG, ONT. –

The Pedestrian-Friendly Walkway Weekends are returning to Downtown Cobourg for a second year! On June 25th & 26th, enjoy a meal or sip a refreshing brew at one of our many restaurants, cafes, or pubs on their extended patios. You can shop at one of our local shops in person for new summer pieces with limited capacity.
King Street will be closed to traffic from Division Street to Spring Street to provide a safe experience for the community to shop, dine and discover Cobourg’s 8 Blocks of Awesome.

Also, during the week of June 21st, Downtown Cobourg will launch their first-ever Summer Solstice Shopapalooza – an all-ages shopping activity. While there will be no road closures beyond the Pedestrian-Friendly Weekend Walkway, this will be a time for downtown stores to welcome back shoppers with Shopapalooza promotional activities.
Physical distancing and safety are our top priorities. Visitors will be expected to follow proper in-place COVID-19 protocols at each business they visit.

We look forward to seeing you all back in Downtown Cobourg!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates @downtowncobourg

Ken Strauss
Reply to  Rob
2 years ago

As John noted, Albert Street is closed. How will people travel between Division and Spring? Where will they park? Has Council approved these closures?

Last edited 2 years ago by Ken Strauss
Rob
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

[email protected] – I would find it hard to believe that the DBIA would have the authority to close a street without Council approval, but I’ve included the DBIA email if you feel the need to follow up.

I guess for 48 hours, people could travel across Buck-Orange-Spring OR Covert-Orange-Spring OR use James, Havelock or University Streets to Spring. It isn’t perfect, but what really is these days.

Support local!

Ken Strauss
Reply to  Rob
2 years ago

It isn’t perfect and is an entirely unnecessary inconvenience for those in the west end who want to shop at Smors.

Pete M
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

For those west enders who need their smors fix, might I suggest you use University Ave. To Division and then south on Division and turn left on King.
Should be able to access parking in the McGill St. Lot.
Wishing u good shopping at Smors

Pete M
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

Come on Ken. Hiw about about a little positivity. Nice to see some people shopping congregating and supporting businesses, who could really use the support from all of Cobourg. Come on out and have a beer and chill!

Informed
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

I think you need to look at the big picture and purpose. The purpose is to bring pedestrain traffic downtown to support store owners. They have been inconvenienced for 1.5 years during a pandamic. Im sure you can navigate your vehicle to any desired store you wish. Hardley an inconvience compared to what store owners have been through.

Rob
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

Ken – those west enders could shop the day before or the day after the pedestrian friend period. Perhaps those in the west end might enjoy a stroll along pedestrian friendly King Street – park near Shoppers Drug Mart and walk. Some west enders may even patronize other local businesses on their way. The Market and Smor has had the good fortunate of remaining open during most of these tough times. Its nice to see other local businesses enjoy a small piece of that good fortune; So many have had to shutter their business in the name of science – now there is a real “inconvenience”.

Wally Keeler
2 years ago

SUMMER IN COBOURG! https://youtu.be/JcquVet_UV0

This is the promo vid bought and paid for by Cobourg Tourism. I wonder how much it cost? Anyway, this professional video was produced and uploaded four years ago. Please note that in the passing four years, only 43 people have watched it. Four years is 48 months, so that means that less than one person a month viewed this vid from Cobourg Tourism. What a waste of money!

In YouTube, enter “Cobourg Tourism” and up comes three separate sites. This is confusing. Why three sites and not one? Probably due to incompetence. One site has a whopping 14 subscribers, the other two have six and two subscribers. PATHETIC! What a zero return on investment!

There is no study anywhere declaring that these videos that Cobourg Tourism produces have ever had any discernable effect on tourists to Cobourg. The number of views of each video is also pathetic compared to many of the amateur videos made by tourists themselves which sometimes gets far greater numbers of views than the ‘professional’ Cobourg Tourism videos. Cobourg Tourism might want to look at those videos by tourists and compile a montage of clips from those videos. That would be far more authentic than the pretentious professional bland gland debris bought by Cobourg Tourism. .

Informed
Reply to  Wally Keeler
2 years ago

Cobourg needs to be rebranded with less emphasis on the beach. I believe we need more patios,especially in or around the Downtown core. The patio on third street,west of the LCBO should have been jamed with patrons,entertainment etc but it was never taken advantage of. The location is superb.

Hugh Murray
2 years ago

Toronto, city of 3+ million, all beaches fully open this past weekend. Cobourg, town of 20,000, beach closed.
Makes. No. Sense.

Ken Strauss
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

According to https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/tphseu/viz/TorontoCOVID-19MonitoringDashboard/MainReportCardPublic Toronto’s weekly average is now 66.7 additional cases per 100000 population or about 13 additional cases each week for our little town of 20,000. As a “priority region” their vaccination rate is higher than ours. I agree: opening the beach to the GTA makes no sense!

Last edited 2 years ago by Ken Strauss
Pete M
Reply to  Ken Strauss
2 years ago

Ontario reports today 08 Jun 2021 469 new cases out of a population if 14 million.

So what is the target number for Ken to open the beach?

Because obviously those that have opened their beaches have made grave mistakes. They aren’t interpreting the numbers correctly.

Rob
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

Toronto beaches are open with some reasonable Covid measures in place from what I understand. Cobourg could have taken a similar approach for weekends but didn’t….maybe it will be reviewed again with a different outcome.

Susie-Q
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

Actually, it does make sense. Smart decision.

Rob
Reply to  Susie-Q
2 years ago

I suspect many people, on this site and in general, are in a state of cognitive dissonance. The same science and experts that closed beaches and businesses and placed all of us into a state of lockdown(s) now suggest reopening the Province however fear is creating a conflict that continues to perpetuate this narrative and drives anxiety. This is going to be a big problem for so many when we are all told to discard the mask from every day activities and resume our normal lives.

Hugh Murray
Reply to  Susie-Q
2 years ago

I’m guessing the beach is at least 300′ deep by 1,000′ long, or 300,000 square feet. It’s probably more like 400′ x 1,500, or 600,000 sq’. With a limit of 1,200 people, each person has at least 250 square feet; two bedrooms. Or, since people usually come in pairs, 500 sq’ per couple. A very big living room. But it’s probably double that, or 500 sq’ per person, 1,000 sq’ per couple. That’s a nice bungalow size space to lay out your towel.
No one will barge onto a crammed beach, because no one wants covid. Let sensible people use the beach on weekends, with sensible restrictions, and those people will be the better off for it. Cheers.

JimT
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

According to my measurements on Google Map, it’s 1,895 feet, west to east at its longest dimension, and 435,000 square feet in area, or almost exactly 10 acres. Varies as the shoreline changes, of course.

Myself, I think large area(s) should be discreetly fenced off and plots of 100 sq. ft. or so leased out each day to serious beachies. No traffic allowed through the area. Include picnic table and umbrella, maybe. Whatever sells. Worth a go on a limited trial basis. My opinion.

Informed
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

Have a look at wasaga beach to see what was left to ckean up after last weekend. Shameful.

James Quelch
Reply to  Hugh Murray
2 years ago

Hugh, I agree. Started a petition a couple of days ago for this reason. Please sign and share.

Sign petition here if interested
http://chng.it/qYRQfPnfZk

JimT
2 years ago

Youtube video of boats launched by cranes going horribly wrong, plus demonstrations how not to take videos of anything that moves.
Only 1:59 long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYJ-BVxEuWo

Bryan
Reply to  JimT
2 years ago

JimT:
And your point is what exactly?

jimq26
Reply to  JimT
2 years ago

Sad.

JimT
2 years ago

I think “Cooler by the Lake” should be our Town Motto.
Been saying that for years now. 

Last edited 2 years ago by JimT
cobourg Lin
2 years ago

There were lots of people sunning in groups of more than 5 and tents on the West beach Sat.. The police should be taking a walk along the boardwalk occasionally.

Deborah OConnor
Reply to  cobourg Lin
2 years ago

Relax. It’s a beach, it’s summer, suits and ties are not required. Last thing anybody needs is police wasting their time patrolling people just having fun.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
2 years ago

It was unauthorized fun and we can’t have that. Unregulated fun can lead to mischief. Fun is infectious. Before you know it, glee breaks out. It’s a fundemic! Seniors relearn how to frolic. SOMEBODY CALL THE COPS!

GEORGE TAYLOR
Reply to  Wally Keeler
2 years ago

what is wrong with people?
pun is a figure of speech that plays with words that have multiple meanings, or that plays with words that sound similar but mean different things. The comic novelist Douglas Adams uses both types of pun when he writes: “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  GEORGE TAYLOR
2 years ago

Good use of homonym.

jimq26
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
2 years ago

So, you think it’s ok for our local constabulary to ignore people breaking our laws and by-laws? Very sad.

Deborah OConnor
Reply to  jimq26
2 years ago

Who said “you think it’s ok for our local constabulary to ignore people breaking our laws and by-laws”?

Why that was you, Mr. Scared to Use his Real Name.

I said nothing of the kind. My comment was “Last thing anybody needs is police wasting their time patrolling people just having fun”. Or do you think simply having fun is somehow immoral and must be stopped?

Phunkeemum
2 years ago

So nice to see boats in the harbour

jimq26
2 years ago

And all is well in Cobourg. Thanks Mr. Draper!