Residents who noticed an increased emergency services presence near the Coast Guard Station in Cobourg on Tuesday morning were witnessing a planned training exercise.
From approximately 9 to 11 a.m. on July 7, 2026, the Town of Cobourg Fire Department led a joint-agency water rescue exercise on Lake Ontario designed to improve emergency response and communications between agencies.
The training featured a rescue involving a mannequin in the water. One scenario utilized a small Coast Guard vessel, while another scenario focused on a shore-based water rescue near the Coast Guard Station.
Personnel from the Cobourg Fire Department, Cobourg Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Canadian Coast Guard, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) participated in the exercise.
A drone operated by the Cobourg Police Service was also used during the training to support the rescue scenarios and evaluate its effectiveness in emergency operations.
The exercise was intended to strengthen coordination between agencies and identify opportunities to improve emergency communications during real-life incidents.
At one point some of the firefighters taking part responded to a medical emergency.
Members of the public who were in the area saw signs indicating that the activity was a training exercise. No actual emergency was taking place.
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
