Protesters Demand Green Spaces Open in Cobourg

Pete Fisher
4 years ago
• Categories: Local

Upwards of 30 people were once again protesting in front of Victoria Hall in Cobourg on Saturday, May 1, 2020.

Tamara Ugolini was one of the organizers of the protest who were gathering signatures to petition the opening of Northumberland Forest and the municipality owned green spaces.
“Cobourg is doing pretty good,” said Ugolini.

“Most things that can be opened provincially remain open.”

“However the Port Hope municipality has roped off and in some instances fenced off pretty much all of their green spaces, river fronts beach fronts, anything municipally governed they have roped and fenced off.”

Ugolini said the magnitude of COVID-19 doesn’t warrant what is happening with the closures.

“What we are seeing now is the numbers, much lower than originally predicted.”

“We’re seeing about 20% of the population is vulnerable and at risk, so absolutely, let’s cocoon those vulnerable people, mitigate the risk for them and let the rest of us live with some form of normality. This complete, suppressive lock down is unjustified.”

Joshua Clausen has been to a number of protests and says, “the governments world wide handled this on a poor level.”

“I want all green space open. I want shores open so I can go fish because I don’t have a boat or private lakeshore to be able to access the water, yet I pay for a fishing license and I want to feed my family.”

‘I want green spaces open so I can take my dog for a walk in the park at the Cobourg Dog Park so she can play with her furry friends because as dogs become isolated they become more territorial, more aggressive and that’s not good behaviour. I want to feel the sand in my feet when the sun gets here and its 30 degrees I don’t want to be locked up inside. I don’t want to be locked up inside because we’re afraid of COVID.”

“There are other things in this world to be afraid of. COVID is manageable.”