Albert Street building will reopen for the skating season

Cobourg outdoor skating rink-Town of Cobourg Facebook.

By Cecilia Nasmith

With a new outdoor ice-skating season just begun at the Cobourg Rotary Waterfront Park, council has decided they'd like to bring back an open washroom building to provide a break from the cold.

A report by Director of Legislative Services Brent Larmer made the recommendation to hire security staff for an 8 a,m.-to-8 p.m. seven-days-a-week opening of the building just for this ice-skating season for an estimated cost of $100,000 (to be funded from staff reserves).

The building has only been open on a limited basis in recent years as it has become a haven for illegal activities such as drug use and vandalism. Public-nuisance calls in relation to this building in 2025 to date have increased 437% over the previous year.

Larmer envisioned security staff “trained with clear directives and an understanding of user expectations” stationed in the main indoor area - “to control access, ensure lawful public use and, in collaboration with municipal law enforcement, address trespassing and public nuisances.”

The motion, which was passed by council, also called for staff to report back in April on the final costs and outcomes of these additional security measures.