The meeting is being held on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 4 p.m. to consider the following items:
• In accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, Council will meet in Closed Session regarding advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose (s. 239 (2) (f)).
• a motion from Mayor Cleveland asking for full support of allowing people to sleep in the warming room.
Please be advised that pursuant to section 5.7 of the Town of Cobourg Procedural By-law an Emergency Meeting has been called for the purposes of part of the meeting being held in Closed Session. The Public will see a Closed Session screen on the livestream (available at www.Cobourg.ca/escribe) of the Emergency Meeting indicating Council is in Closed Session.
Join Zoom Meeting Information for Speakers
Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85849666064
Meeting ID: 858 4966 6064
Phone: 647 374 4685
Correspondence from
• Theresa Rickerby
• Tony Mercieca
• Jeannie and Dr Jack de Vries
• Marie-Lynn Hammond
• Nancy Blakely
• Pamela Spitzer
• Tracy Woods
• Valerie Rhodes
• Joy Doncaster
• Ron Hyatt
• Sylvia Godfrey
• Kathy Couch
• Susanne Glover
From:
To:
Theresa Rickerby
Nicole Beatty; Adam Bureau; Aaron Burchat; Brian Darling; Miriam Mutton; Randy Barber; Lucas Cleveland; Clerk
Cobourg
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Stop the cruelty and allow people to sleep in the Town of Cobourg
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 8:38:42 AM
Subject:
Date:
Mr. Mayor and Council
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you all with a request that shouldn’t even need to be
spoken.
I am writing to request that you remove the barriers, put in place by Cobourg’s ECE Bylaw,
that have handcuffed County Social Services and require them to not allow people to sleep in
the warming room.
I encourage you to read the letter and research sent to County Council by Brighton Councillor
Jeff Wheeldon ( read it here Letter to County Council) as it is an excellent example of
leadership and community.
When the ECE Bylaw passed with a unanimous vote I am not sure if all of you were aware of
how this Bylaw would be used for such pettiness and cruelty. If you are not aware of how
bylaw interacts with County social services I would encourage you to reach out and do your
research. What I am learning makes me feel sick and as a tax paying citizen I DO NOT
support my tax dollars going to enforce the ECE bylaw.
Recently I was told by a Cobourg Police Officer that they are genuinely scared that someone
will die on our streets this winter due to lack of sleep and the elements.
This is Cobourg’s legacy under this current administration. Your silence is your support of
what is happening.
I understand that there is an election coming up and soft campaigning has started. The politics
of homelessness is keeping councillors quiet but please know that there is a very large
contingent of Cobourg residents who do not support this administration of cruelty and shame.
Remove the barriers that allow people to sleep now!
Theresa Rickerby
From: tony mercieca
To: Clerk Cobourg
Subject: (EXTERNAL SOURCE) Homeless
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:21:15 PM
Please mayor and council have a heart and let the homeless have a place to sleep and be
warm.
They are human beings. Also they are also God’s children.
Change your hearts because one day you all will be accountable to God for your actions.
Please reconsider and help them.
Tony
Mercieca
From: Jeannie De Vries < >
Sent: Monday, December 1, 2025 4:04 PM
To: rebeccacarman@northumberland.ca; Lucas Cleveland <lcleveland@cobourg.ca>;
nbetty@coburg.ca; Randy Barber <rbarber@cobourg.ca>; mmuton@coburg.ca;
aburchat@coburg.ca; Adam Bureau <abureau@cobourg.ca>; david.piccinico@pc.ola.ca;
jennifercooper@cobourgfiredepartment.ca; pfischer@eagle.ca
Subject: (EXTERNAL SOURCE) Our homeless
First of all let me begin by thanking our police force that secured a massive amount of
narcotics at the transition house—-keeping the narcotics off our street…for now.
Hopefully those responsible have been arrested and carted out of this town!!!
Secondly, thank you town of Cobourg and northhumberland county for providing the
Transition House for at least 35 vulnerable people. And thank you for opening up a
warming hub. BUT……
But the warming hub is not practical nor suitable! First of all it at the opposite side of
town, meaning those accessing it, have to make their way along snowy sidewalk and
cold temperatures to get there. But more seriously, is the lack of comfortable seating
where those who access it, can rest their eyes. They are from what I understand, are not
allowed to sleep there!!! Well, how silly is that? Where are they to sleep? I realize it is
not a shelter, but it is sheltering them from the cold temperatures and providing a safe
space. Why would it matter if they sleep? And I understand it is a fire regulation—which
makes no sense. We have three security people on duty. I’m sure if there was a fire, they
would have no problem ushering out the guests!!!!! Sleeping “guests It is a win win; for
them and the town. they are not out causing problems and lets them have a safe and
comfortable place to relax. Would we rather they inhabit bank entrances, and curl up in
doorways in the town? Where constantly again, the police are chasing them out? To go
where????
Also the warming hub doesn’t open til 8 at night (which is quite late) and at 8 in the
morning they get ushered out; rain or shine, blizzard or below freezing temperatures!!!
Seriously? have you been out last night? My husband I were!! We went to the warming
hub to provide some nourishment and refreshments, but barely anyone showed up
(while we were there), because according to the homeless—-they are not allowed to
sleep and are harassed constantly if they close their eyes!!! How inhumane to expect
people to stay awake at night when they have been displaced all day. We even treat our
pets with more humanity and do not leave them outside!! One of the men we met in our
walkabout was complaining that he is not allowed to sleep in the current Warming Hub.
He told us that when he doesn’t get enough sleep he finds himself resorting to narcotics.
What can we do to help a man like that get out of this vicious cycle? We gave him warm Page 3 of 19
food and a hot drink, but what this man needs even more is sleep. So we are basically
paying how much per night to have a virtually empty warming hub? I think our tax paying
dollars could be better used!
And if they find a place to shelter and put up a tent or a shelter our bylaw officer is quick
to chase them away. Again. Why? If they are in a secluded spot, not bothering anyone
why can’t they set up a shelter??? Do you have any idea the mental and emotional toil
they are feeling when they are constantly told to move on!!!
And where? Where do they move on to?? Some will say, “well we have transition
house”. But it houses only 35, and yes, if they mess up, they get evicted. I again realize
rules need to be in place but where do you want them to go?
We spoke to one gentleman last night as he was going to the warming hub, he said he
hadn’t slept in three days, and was going mental. Can you imagine not having a place to
sleep? Again, I ask, would we leave our pet out? And would we constantly prod them to
stay awake. This is not a communist country, surely we can show compassion.
Some will say, “well get your life together, and get off of drugs”. Well, not all use drugs
for one thing. And once they are introduced to drugs (and believe me when life is tough
and they feel unwanted and uncared for, maybe drugs has enabled them to shut out
some of the pain) once you start addiction is hard to break. And where can they go for
drug rehabilitation?? We have one public bed that the town pays for. It is good for one
month. I’m sorry, but I am quite familiar with drug and alcohol addiction, and it takes
more than one month to overcome an addiction!
I know some of you have struggled with addiction yourself, but thankfully you also have
had good family support. Many of these do not!!! I spoke to one young woman at St
Peter’s at the community meal, every Thursday evening (thanks to Jan Stapleton). I sat
opposite her and asked her about her life. She is studying at college to be able to work
with homeless youth. She lives with her mother. I asked her why she was eating at St.
Peter’s and she said, “my mom is crazy and we have no food in our house!” Another
young man was also eating at St Peter’s. He said he has been in 17 schools. That tells
me a lot about his life. He was staying at transition at the time, but on the weekend we
saw him outside. I asked why he wasn’t at Transition anymore, and he said messed up
on his curfew. Again, I understand rules need to be followed…but where does that leave
this young man who obviously has an unstable home.
I know when Transition had their warming hub they had recline chairs where people
could rest (I know, I know they weren’t allowed to sleep—-ridiculous) but at least they
were shown some compassion. So I ask, no I plead with each and every one of you on
the board and council to show compassion. Let them sleep! Provide a warm and safe
place where they can sleep. Sleep deprivation adds its own mental health issues.
Come meet some of those who are doing life tough. Come with us on a cold, windy,
freezing night and meet these people and hear their stories. They are mostly kind, and
respectful and ever so grateful for human kindness. Do they have issues! Yes, most
likely, but they are still worthy to be loved and respected.
Come on Coburg!! We can do better. My husband and I absolutely love this town,
including the homeless and the vulnerable, and want to help make a difference!!!
Jeannie and Dr Jack De Vries
Cobourg
From:
To:
Marie-Lynn Hammond
Adam Bureau; Randy Barber; Mayor Cobourg; Miriam Mutton; Brian Darling; Nicole Beatty; Aaron Burchat; Brent
Larmer
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) re the warming room
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 5:28:23 PM
Subject:
Date:
Dear Mayor and Councillors:
I keep reading about the warming space in the county building and the
fact that people are not allowed to sleep there. That they get woken up by
security guards if they fall asleep. I find this very disturbing. Sleep
deprivation does no one any good and does most people harm. Exactly
WHERE are these unhoused individuals supposed to sleep in the winter?
It’s worth noting that Ajax is opening a “crisis centre” they are also calling
a “sleep space”: https://www.durhamregion.com/news/not-officially-ashelter-durham-region-plans-to-open-a-crisis-care-centre-indowntown/article_5d9478d7-c222-5b71-ac84-307f0a5ec72c.html At this
time, we’re calling it a sleep space, a hub, a place where people come in and we can
work with them toward the goal of independence,” said commissioner of social
services Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou.
Can our town not do something similar rather than cruelly enforce sleep
deprivation?
Yours truly,
Marie-Lynn Hammond
—
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From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Nancy Blakely
Mayor Cobourg; Nicole Beatty; Adam Bureau; Brian Darling; Aaron Burchat; Miriam Mutton; Randy Barber
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Sleepless nights in the Warming Room
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 5:11:13 PM
To Cobourg Mayor and Council Members
I want to add my name to the list of people who find it absolutely abominable that people are
not allowed to sleep in the warming room!
I am ashamed to be part of the human race that is so insensitive as to make this ruling that
would torture people and deprive them of sleep in order to give them warmth in a Canadian
winter. This truly is a form of torture.
I am truly disappointed in those that made this decision.
Please advise what action you will be taking to reverse this decision.
Thank you,
Nancy
PS. There is a large building with pergola near the 401 and HY28 in Port Hope. What is this
building used for? Could it be used to house the homeless?
Thank you for your consideration.
—
Nancy Blakely
From: Pamela Spitzer
To: Clerk Cobourg; Clerk
Subject: (EXTERNAL SOURCE) Urgent Concerns Regarding the Cobourg Warming Room and Restrictions on Sleep
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 10:54:15 AM
Dear Members of Council,
I am writing today out of deep concern for the well-being, safety, and dignity of our
community’s most vulnerable residents. As you know, the Cobourg warming room has opened
for the winter season but with a critical and harmful restriction: individuals are not permitted
to sleep.
This decision stands in stark contrast to the way warming spaces in our community have
always operated. Historically, people were allowed to rest and sleep when the warming room
operated at St. Peter’s Church, during the pandemic at Cobourg Collegiate Institute, and even
at 310 Division Street before enforcement action was taken under the Ontario Fire Code. In
each of these environments, sleep was understood as a basic need, essential for survival,
stability, and safety.
In reviewing other municipalities and warming centre models, Cobourg appears to be the only
community where people are prevented from sleeping in a warming room. This is not only
unusual, it is dangerous.
Sleep is a basic human need. Without it, individuals experience deteriorating mental and
physical health, increased vulnerability, and heightened risk of crisis. Expecting exhausted,
freezing, chronically unhoused people to remain awake all night in hard plastic chairs is not
only unrealistic it is inhumane. Forced wakefulness is widely recognized as a harmful and
destabilizing condition.
Moreover, when people are deprived of rest, it becomes significantly harder for them to
reduce or stabilize substance use. This creates a barrier to accessing higher-threshold shelters
and services—precisely the opposite of what we need as a community working toward longterm stability, recovery, and housing.
A warming room is not a shelter, but it is a lifesaving space intended to prevent frostbite,
hypothermia, overdose, and death. Allowing people to sleep is not a luxury. It is part of
keeping them alive.
Hard plastic chairs, upright only seating, and enforced wakefulness do not reflect Cobourg’s
values, nor the compassionate community we aspire to be. The people using the warming
room are members of our community, our neighbours and many of whom are already
experiencing significant trauma, illness, or disability. A warming room that forces people to
remain awake all night is not meeting its purpose.
I am urging both Town and County Council to work together immediately to:
1. Allow sleep within the warming room, with appropriate and safe sleeping
accommodations.
2. Review the current setup to ensure it meets basic humanitarian standards and does
not contribute to further harm.
3. Consult with frontline outreach workers, individuals with lived experience, and
service providers to ensure that the warming room truly functions as a life-preserving
resource during the coldest months.
We are a community that prides itself on compassion, dignity, and care. Ensuring that people
have a safe, warm place to sleep should not be controversial, rather, it should be the
minimum standard.
I ask that this issue be addressed with urgency. The nights are long and cold. People are tired.
People are struggling. People are suffering. And this is something we can change.
Thank you for your attention and for your leadership during this critical time. I look forward to
your response and to meaningful action to protect those who need our help the most.
Sincerely,
Pamela Spitzer
From: Tracy Woods < >
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 6:15 AM
To: Lucas Cleveland <lcleveland@cobourg.ca>
Cc: Randy Barber <rbarber@cobourg.ca>; Brian Darling <bdarling@cobourg.ca>; Aaron Burchat
<aburchat@cobourg.ca>; Miriam Mutton <mmutton@cobourg.ca>; Nicole Beatty
<nbeatty@cobourg.ca>
Subject: (EXTERNAL SOURCE) Warming room
Councillors,
It is outrageous and inhumane to forbid people from sleeping in the warming room. We
are literally sending exhausted, vulnerable people back into the cold, knowing full well
the harm this causes. This needs to stop. Please reconsider this cruel policy.
Tracy Woods
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Valerie R
Clerk Cobourg
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Support for the ECE By-law
Thursday, December 11, 2025 10:35:11 AM
Dear Cobourg Council,
I am writing to express my support for the ECE by-law and to commend the council for its
dedication to keeping our community safe.
I want to support Mayor Cleveland and his efforts in leading our town. It has come to my attention
that there have been recent attacks directed toward him, and I find this behavior very concerning. We
must all address any issues respectfully and constructively.
I appreciate the hard decisions and actions taken by the council to uphold the welfare of our town.
Valerie Rhodes
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Joy Doncaster
Clerk Cobourg
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Town of Cobourg chaos
Thursday, December 11, 2025 10:04:10 AM
I’m not too sure about what all is happening in this town regarding our Mayor and the closing of the warming room
at 310, but I think closing it was the right thing to do!
These people (addicts) brought this on themselves! They completely ruined it for themselves by their actions in and
around the neighbouring areas!
As far as the Mayor being to blame…how is this all on him? We, the people of Cobourg are part of this as well…we went to him with our problems…and he looked after them!
For all the County Councillors who have disagreed with our Mayor…well shame on you, because you are not dealing with the issue Cobourg is…you sit back and feel for these people who cause nothing but chaos in our town!! How about looking into rehab for them!!!!
They have been given a place to go…if this doesn’t please SOME people in town (and councillors)… then open up your home (or towns) and take them in…let’s see how that goes!!! Quit enabling and get them help…rehab works!!!!
I support the ECE law!!!!
Thank you Mayor Cleveland and the Councillors who are trying to stop this chaos!!!!
Joy Doncaster
Sent from my iPhone
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Ron Hyatt
Clerk Cobourg
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Warming room
Thursday, December 11, 2025 2:41:17 PM
I am writing in regards to the motion coming before council to from the mayor to support allowing the
individuals at the warming room to sleep.
I fully support the ECE by-law because it protects everyone. I support the mayor at county council.
I along with the majority of residents want the drug use in the streets to stop.
I’m asking that the ECE bylaw to stay in tact as there are families in cornerstone that rely on a safe space I support the displaced individuals at 310 who are trying desperately to get their lives back on track their
safety and security is also important.
Thank you for your time
Ron Hyatt
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Sylvia Godfrey
Clerk Cobourg
Support our Mayor Cleveland
Thursday, December 11, 2025 6:47:04 PM
For the meeting on Friday December 12, about the homeless people. I support our Mayor
Cleveland on his decision and keeping us safe. He is doing a great job. I have lived in
Cobourg for 45 years.
Sylvia Godfrey
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Kathy Couch
Clerk Cobourg
(EXTERNAL SOURCE) Support for ECE by-law and Mayor Cleveland
Thursday, December 11, 2025 3:41:01 PM
Good afternoon,
Firstly, I would like to express my strong support for the ECE by-law regarding emergency
shelters within the Town of Cobourg. This by-law helps protect ALL citizens, the residents in
shelters, transitional housing and the broader community alike. The recent drug bust on the 4th
floor of 310 Division is plenty of evidence that the displaced people utilizing 310 to stabilize
their lives and move forward in a positive way, need this protection as well. They require a
safe, secure, supportive environment in order to succeed, and they deserve that respect. We
have already seen what happens without the by-law and the vast majority of citizens and 310
residents have no desire to repeat that exercise and expect a different outcome.
I am also writing out of concern for the behaviour of drug activists within the community. The
vitriol directed specifically at the Mayor, is alarming, unacceptable and should have
consequences. The use of social media is sending a very loud message and much of it is
disinformation, especially in regard to the ECE by-law and rules regarding sleeping in
the COUNTY’s warming room at 555 Courthouse Road. The Town does not run the warming
room and the by-law does not disallow sleeping. Concerns about rules within the warming
room environment should be directed appropriately. This type of advocacy seems to
have become a vendetta. I hope fellow councillors at both the Town and County level,
recognize that and do what they can to discourage this type of harassment.
Lastly, I fully support Mayor Cleveland in his continued efforts to inform and protect the
rights of the citizens of Cobourg, to live in a safe, friendly community, free of open drug use,
dangerous drug litter and the abusive, erratic behaviours of the drug-addled, which affects us
all.
I genuinely hope that ALL the councillors will vote in an unbiased way, putting the good of
Cobourg and its citizens who elected them in the forefront, thinking of the businesses
struggling, and our truly most vulnerable, our children and the elderly.
Think of children that couldn’t frolic at a playground during covid. Now, they can’t because of
needles and drug residue.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Kathy Couch
From: Sue Glover
To: Clerk Cobourg
Subject: (EXTERNAL SOURCE) Special meeting letter to council
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025 3:53:26 PM
Good afternoon Cobourg Council
As you ponder whether sleeping should be allowed at the County run Emergency warming
room I ask you to ponder a few facts:
The ECE bylaw serves no purpose except to stop consideration of support for vulnerable
people. The bylaw should be removed and the County should be able to perform their
responsibilities as they deliver Social Services for the County.
310 Division is a state of the art facility that since closed (along with our parks at night) has
resulted in this public health crisis that sees unhoused community members pushed into
doorways, alcoves and bank vestibules to get sleep and protection from the elements. Shame
on you Cobourg Council for passing it – with two abstains for conflict. No one said no. No one
said this is unacceptable.
It’s seems inevitable that someone will die this winter in our streets. Can you, council, live with
that? What of your common law duty of care obligation? You ARE putting these citizens in
imminent threat. This is fact.
But even if the meeting room at the county allows sleeping it will not change that 310 Division
must be re-opened to provide wrap around services. We are the county seat. Where is our
leadership? The Mayor has made his stances clear and has no problem using strong mayor
powers to maintain control but you councillors also have an obligation to stand up for what’s
right, it’s your job. We need you now. We need councillors with voices for the citizens.
Cobourg is ashamed. No one feels like this okay.
Please allow sleeping. I honestly can’t help even I had to type that, it saddens me.
Please eliminate the ECE bylaw.
Please declare a housing emergency.
Please allow the re-opening of 310 Division as a full service Homelessness Hub.
Susanne Dingsdale-Glover
Cobourg Resident, Fundraising Partner & Volunteer
Author: Pete Fisher
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