Cobourg Blog

Life in Cobourg is as near ideal as it can be. The town is small enough to be friendly and free of city problems yet large enough to have great entertainment and cultural activities as well as good stores. To add to that, the waterfront is a gem with a good beach, marina and parks. Cobourg is only an hour from Toronto and you can see the major shows without staying in Toronto overnight. Some people even like it here so much they commute every day - although there is also good employment here but at lower wages than the big smoke.

Compared to the city, Cobourg seems to have more things happening and there is better access to politicians and people who “make things happen”. I say “seems” because this may be true in the city but here you don’t have to look as hard or work as hard to get connected. The Mayor knows many people by sight and by name and it’s not hard to find a chance to talk to him. Getting action or change is another matter, like anywhere.

If you are retired, there are many volunteer organizations to suit all needs. There are social clubs like Probus; service clubs like the Lions and Rotary; special interest clubs like Bridge, Euchre, Photography, Quilting, Keep Fit, Bowling; organizations active in the Arts like the Art Gallery, Orchestra, Oriana singers, Vintage Film - the list goes on.

The only complaint anyone has relates to the weather. After all, Cobourg is in Southern Ontario and winter is a reality. Many older people become Snow Birds and spend their winters in Florida and a few leave for warmer places like Victoria, BC. But when the summer comes, nothing beats walking along the waterfront boardwalk to see the activity in the Harbour and on the beach.

The best weekend of the year is the July 1st weekend when Cobourg comes alive with the Waterfront Festival - many marquee tents are erected for artists with their work, vendors selling crafts, entertainment and a beer tent as well as stalls selling the usual trinkets. The harbour is packed with boats from all around Lake Ontario including from the U.S. across the lake. A great party!

When the world discovers us, we might have a problem coping with the growth but that’s what I would call a “high class problem”!

John Draper

More here: About Cobourg - - Cobourg History