James Cockburn Day is Back
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council has passed a proclamation declaring Aug. 2 as James Cockburn Day in the Town of Cobourg.
With Aug. 2 falling on Wednesday this year, it will be celebrated Aug. 7.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was celebrated in Cobourg every Civic Holiday in honour of the Father of Confederation who once practiced law in Cobourg. He won recognition as a Father of Confederation and, in Canada’s first session of Parliament, served as the first Speaker.
In Victoria Hall, a little office on the ground floor in the west wing is preserved as a reproduction of his law office to commemorate and celebrate his life and achievements.
Prior to the pandemic, Cobourg’s Manager of Planning Services Rob Franklin would dress up as Cockburn and perform a biographical one-man play. Beatty asked if Franklin might be intending to reprise this role, but no one seemed to know.
Councillor Randy Barber said that Franklin had recently done something similar at the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre, so maybe the observances have had a change of venue.
