Had to interrupt the vacation for this
Cobourg Tourism should be proud. In a letter to NToday.com:
Shady experience at beach
I visited the Cobourg beach on September first with my two children. My son is two and a half and my daughter 10 months old. We arrived at the beach at about 10:30. We set up our two sun shade tents and proceeded to play in the water and sand.
At around 11:10 a police officer approached us and asked us to take down the tents because they aren't allowed on the beach. It would be a $103 fine if I left them up. In embarrassment we packed up and went home, all the while my son was saying "I just want to play at the beach."
I understand if there was alcohol or something to that matter, but there wasn't. I had my two small children and my mother with me.
Nowhere was it posted or in any website I searched on to say anything about no sun shades allowed. On one of the hottest and sunniest days this year, I can't have shade for my children? Absolutely ridiculous. So much for trying to get people to visit Cobourg. I was thoroughly disappointed! I drove 45 minutes to have a beach day with my children only to be kicked off the beach an hour later.
Tara Martino Oshawa
Enough said
15 comments:
Having attended the public meeting last winter about how to improve beach relations, I am quite sure that "shade tents" are allowed under the new rules.
As long as this tent had no solid sides, it was entirely within the rules and she should not have been censured for using it.
Perhaps this distinction is too much for our Park "ambassadors" to grasp.
Perhaps it had sides and she was in contravention of the bylaw?
The woman wasn't asked to leave, she did it on her own. Who brings a "sun shade" to the beach? Ever heard of a tree? Thats like bringing ear plugs to a concert. If you are concerned about your children and too much sun, then go under a tree or into the water. Too many complainers in this world who complain about nothing, people should relax a little. No wonder people are dying so early in life.
It was in fact a tent, not a sun canopy as described. Go back to your vacation.
it's great to live in such a welcoming town. between by-law enforcement staff and the Anon posters on here, why don't we just throw the gates closed on the 401 exit and call it a day folks.
I have a young daughter who loves playing at the beach, but I prefer to not have her sunburnt or, better yet, develop skin cancer in her teen years, so a sun shade (whether that be an umbrella, tent or whatever)is a necessity when we spend the day at the beach.
Go sit under a tree? While at the beach? What a ludicrous statement.
Then don't go to the beach where the SUN is!
What colour was the woman?
"Then don't go to the beach where the SUN is!"
Seriously...
I think the reason why some of these ANON's are afraid to tag themselves is because they might just be afraid to publicly admit to some of these ludicrous statements.
Though... maybe I have been looking at this problem with the beach and park from the wrong angle. Now that we have that permanent eye-catching snow fence up on the beach, we should start to utilize it more efficiently. Here's an idea... we let all the Baystreeters Klan, their ANON and non-ANON supporters, have their private beach and park. I would think that beach area with the little park by Breakers should really suffice for this minuscule pitiful group.
"Ontario's Feel Good Town" my ass.
We finally have a candidate ready to talk about the beach.
Donna Todd has filed her nomination papers to run for Council, and I could not be more delighted.
Not only is she female, a category we need more of on Council, she also appears to see the challenges at the beach as tourism growing pains instead of an invasion of outsiders that needs to be repelled.
Echoing what I said at last January's public meeting, she wants more garbage receptacles at the park, an amazingly simple solution to that issue.
Even more encouraging, she'd like to see food kiosks offering a variety of refreshments right on or near the beach. She even mentions roti, a treat not often found around these parts.
These are the kind of beach and park solutions we need. Instead of trying to control and even discourage visitors, she is envisioning ways to both accommodate and please them.
What a concept! Let's listen carefully to all her ideas as the campaign rolls on. She may just be a dose of medicine this town needs.
BTW I don't know Donna Todd and am not related to her. This is a completely spontaneous and unsolicited comment on my part.
Northumberland Today contacted me this afternoon for some of the photos of the damage done to Victoria Park post-Ribfest. It was close to the deadline, so no promise that it will appear in the paper. Star 93.3 radio has broadcast it in its news all day today.
This is the beginning of momentum on this one issue. How much success can we ask Victoria Park to bear. 30,000 visitors this year, and this will grow.
It is time that Victoria Park declines to dance with Ribfest.
Ribfest is by its very nature a sloppyfest. This does not belong in the Crown Jewel of Cobourg.
Allow me to quote from Ben: "A trip away does put things in perspective. " The blog's author does pass on an important notion of wisdom. It helps to reflect on the incident of the tent.
In Europe people rent blue and white striped tents to change their clothes,or shelter from the sun. Only the municipal Beach tent is allowed. Lots of famous artworks reflect this tradition since centuries...
Cobourg is not progressive nor a friendly Town. Also Cobourg refuses to learn from their German sistertown. The staff decides, as nobody on council could make an effort.
As far as the off topic comments are emerging re: "anon" is concerned, allow me to remind you that Canada is a free country.
Ontario is not a role model province in its "pursuit of happpiness". People are frustrated and seek revenge in this province, more and more.
My advice through the Burd Report to "Deanno XYZ!#" : let your mind expand, grow up, and deal with real issues, rather than attacking identity.
In my view, and again I couldn't agree more with Ben, you should travel abroad, be educated abroad and let the rest of us to our own safety, joy and solitudes. Alea jecta est.
New Anonymous-
Tents take up room when there is little room now for the locals. If you are afraid of cancer then don't go out in the sun.
When an area becomes used and abused as our little beach is now, something has to be done.
$25.00 parking on a weekend for non residents should help, residents can be given tags. Maybe this would enable residents to use our our own beach for which we pay the highest taxes around, thank you very much.
"If you are afraid of cancer then don't go out in the sun".A lot of people even with cancer are enjoying swimming. Your turn will come my friend. Cobourg is not a people-friendly Town. I know that....yack....
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