Heritage

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Heritage Week Banner

This year, heritage week takes place from February 20 – 26, 2023. The Town of Cobourg Planning Department invites the community to appreciate Cobourg’s built heritage through participation in a new, Heritage Hunt activity. Developed by Heritage Planner, Marina Smirnova, this family friendly activity takes participants on a journey into Cobourg’s past, while providing education and insights into key design elements and architectural attributes of some of Cobourg’s historic residences and landmarks. Participants will be promoted to answer questions at points of interest along the way, then submit their answers for a chance to win fantastic prizes.

In addition to the Heritage Hunt, follow the Town of Cobourg on social media as we celebrate and showcase local heritage and the organizations, volunteers, and residents who work hard to protect what makes Cobourg special.

Submit Your Answers for the Chance to Win!
Completed submission forms are to be submitted to the Municipal Office at Victoria Hall (First Floor, Clerk’s Office) by Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Participants who submit the correct answers will be entered into a contest to win one of four (4) $50 gift cards to a local Downtown Cobourg business of their choosing.

Booklets are available for pick-up at Victoria Hall, the Cobourg Community Centre and the Cobourg Public Library beginning February 17, 2023. Completed submissions are due by Wednesday, March 1 to the Municipal Office at Victoria Hall. Submissions can also be scanned and emailed to msmirnova@cobourg.ca.

If you are completing the Heritage Hunt with the digital file, click here for a fillable Answers PDF (note you may need to use a computer to use the fillable option).

James Cockburn Banner

February 13, 2023, is James Cockburn's 204^th Birthday! From his law office in Victoria Hall to his position as First Speaker of the House of Commons, James Cockburn is Cobourg’s “Father of Confederation.”

To learn more about James Cockburn, view this educational slide show created by the Town of Cobourg, Cobourg Library and County Archives in 2021.

Heritage resources are important to the identity of our community and our quality of life.

The Town of Cobourg has a rich history and a lot of important heritage resources. A heritage resource can be a place, landscape, building, monument, or artifact that has cultural heritage value to the community. You can see these heritage resources throughout the Town, including impressive educational and civic buildings, many 19th century residences and grand summer homes, and places like the harbour, waterfront and rail corridors.

We help to conserve these resources for the community through designations, heritage permits and guidelines for heritage property owners. The Heritage Master Plan sets out the overall visions and goals for heritage conservation and management throughout the Town. The Heritage Master Plan can be reviewed on our Heritage Master Plan page. Additionally, each Heritage Conservation District has its own Plan that provides direction specific to that area.

Is your property a designated or listed heritage resource?

The Heritage Register is a list of properties identified as having cultural heritage value or interest. Properties are listed because they are individually designated, located in a Heritage Conservation District or have potential heritage value or interest. Each of these have a different level of protection under the Ontario Heritage Act and you may need heritage approval for any work associated with these properties.

ACO Canada 150

These buildings were standing in 1867.

Celebrating 150 years: discovering Cobourg's heritage

Walk Cobourg Heritage Tours

Did you know that we have unique and interesting heritage walking tours throughout our Heritage Conservation Districts? Click on any of the story maps below to get started!

Commercial Core Heritage Conservation District