Cobourg, ON (August 24, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to advise residents that the encampment located by the Cobourg West Pier has been vacated. Town of Cobourg staff will be on site in the following days to conduct cleaning and remediation of the area. Residents are asked to please refrain from visiting the area around the Waterfront Nature Park to allow crews to complete this work.

Following receipt of multiple resident complaints, on Monday, August 7^th, Municipal Law Enforcement staff attended an encampment located by the west pier. Based on their assessment of the site, Officers found that the encampment was in violation of the Parks By-law, Nuisance By-law and Trespass to Property Act. Staff have been working internally and with community supports offered through Northumberland County Community and Social Services and various community agencies on a response to the situation occurring on public lands. Partners including NHH Community Mental Health Services outreach workers, and the Cobourg Police Homeless Addiction Resource Project (HARP) team have been actively engaged with the occupants, enabling individuals to access provincial social assistance and with the goal of transitioning those temporarily sheltering on municipal park lands to community services.

Town of Cobourg Parks crews will be conducing a cleaning and remediation of the Cobourg West Pier and Waterfront Nature Park areas to allow regular use of these town park lands. The Town of Cobourg advises that residents please refrain from these areas to allow crews to complete this work.

Amendments to the Town of Cobourg Parks, Open Spaces and Facilities By-Law

At the August 21, 2023, Regular Council Meeting, Cobourg Municipal Council approved an amendment to the Town of Cobourg Parks By-law and endorsed the regular enforcement of the current Town of Cobourg By-laws and authority provided to the Town of Cobourg under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001.

As part of staff’s Report to Council, staff described the delineation of authority between the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County’s Social Services Department that allocates responsibility for  Social Services to Northumberland County as outlined in the Housing Services Act, 2011.  

Should residents have questions regarding the violation of municipal by-laws, they are advised to contact the Municipal Law Enforcement department at 905-372-8380.

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Media Contacts
Kara Euale                                                                                                       
Manager, Communications                                           
Town of Cobourg                                                         
p: 905-372-4301 x 4105                                   
e: keuale@cobourg.ca