(warning – video has coarse language)
There is no question that police, municipal bylaw officers, and private security are doing their jobs. Night after night, they have been visible throughout Cobourg’s downtown, responding to complaints and enforcing the rules.
Yet the problem remains.
For the past several weeks, Victoria Park near King Street has been largely vacant after 11 p.m., as required under the bylaw. Many people would see that as a success.
But the reality is that the issue hasn’t disappeared—it has simply moved to King Street.
That raises an important question: Where are Northumberland County’s social service resources and the other agencies that are supposed to help people in crisis?
If we truly believe in helping those experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges, we cannot pretend those issues only exist between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Crisis doesn’t operate on office hours.
While police, bylaw officers, and security personnel continue doing everything they can, the agencies responsible for outreach and support appear largely absent during the very hours when they are needed most.
Some will agree with the decision to clear Victoria Park each night, while others will disagree. Regardless of where you stand, one thing is undeniable: the amount of garbage left behind shows that the current situation is not benefiting anyone—not the community and not the people living through these difficult circumstances.
When individuals are asked to leave the park, many are clearly in distress. They don’t simply stop needing help because they have been moved from one location to another.
In recent weeks, “No Trespassing” signs have appeared outside numerous downtown businesses as property owners try to protect their buildings. Their concerns are understandable. Business owners and residents deserve to feel safe, and enforcement plays an important role in achieving that.
But enforcement is only one part of the solution.
The missing link continues to be social services and community agencies. Their work needs to extend beyond the walls of County offices and into the streets where these situations are unfolding, particularly during the evening and overnight hours when enforcement is taking place.
Many residents who live outside the downtown core may not see what happens after dark, and that’s understandable. But those who live and work in the area witness it every day. They know that moving people from one location to another does not solve the underlying issues.
Cobourg needs a coordinated response. Police, bylaw, and security cannot—and should not—carry this responsibility alone.
If the goal is lasting change, then outreach workers, mental health professionals, housing supports, and addiction services need to be present when and where people need them most.
Because homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises are not 9-to-5 problems, and our response shouldn’t be either.
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
