After more than 70 years in operation, Brookside Youth Centre is closed as of Friday, February 12, 2021.
Today’s Northumberland broke the news on Friday evening and was the only media present when the last of the youths were transferred out of the facility around 7 p.m.
Staff were notified as they arrived for work on Friday the facility would be permanently closed by the Provincial Government.
Brookside Youth Centre Administrator Rob McGucken offered “no comment” as he left the facility on Friday.
Staff at Brookside told Today’s Northumberland they were in “shock” and the news came as a surprise when told on Friday.
A total of 106 union staff worked at the facility along with other employees.
There were approximately five youths at the facility when it closed, but the capacity is 12. Due to COVID and training, they were lowering the numbers.
Staff believed the facility was to close on March 1, but a source told Today’s Northumberland, “the employer leaked information to other ministries and it got back to workers at Brookside.”
As a result the decision was made to close the facility on Friday.
The youths who were between the ages of 12 and 18-years-old at the time of the offence were transferred out in vehicles.
Today’s Northumberland interviewed MPP David Piccini at his Port Hope office on Friday night about the closing of Brookside.
The current site consists of 14 buildings taking up approximately 70 acres. The 2019/2020 budget for the facility was $10 million.
Piccini stated since campaigning in 2018 people were stating the facility was under utilized.
“In 2012 and 2014 the auditor general was very scathing in the real realities that we just don’t have the youth to warrant the number of facilities across the Province of Ontario and specifically Brookside.”
“But that’s a good thing. It’s a good thing that youth aren’t behind bars. That youth are getting the support at a young age.”
Piccini advocated to the Province that Brookside be looked at and the land be better utilized.
“With the caveat that we look after the workers. All workers will be supported. All workers that want to stay employed with the Government of Ontario will.”
The average number of youths housed at Brookside Youth Centre was eight Piccini stated.
“And that’s 70 acres not generating tax revenue for the Town of Cobourg. It can be far better utilitized.”
The facility has a plethora of possibilities including being used for housing, mental health, high school, colleges, universities to name a few.
“I’m excited about the future. Incarceration on that site is something of the past – let’s together imagine the future.”
For anyone wishing to offer input regarding the property, Piccini’ invites input at https://www.davidpiccinimpp.ca/imaginebrookside
On the Ontario’s Youth Justice System website it states that Brookside Youth Centre was a secure custody facility for males.
“It is currently operating at a capacity of 46-percent.”
“Brookside will go from a 61 to a 32 bed facility as a result of the ministry’s transformation of its youth justice system. This will affect about 55 staff.”
Brookside was established as a training school for girls in the 1930’s and became a training school for boys in 1948. Since 1985 the facility has been a youth-only secure custody and detention centre.
Today’s Northumberland reached out to Cobourg Mayor John Henderson for comment and he referred to MPP Piccini’s release.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
