| Location | 390 King St W, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed |
| Capacity | 16 (reported capacity in 2019–20) |
| Opened | 1930s (as a training school); 1948 (boys' training school) |
| Closed | 13 February 2021 |
| Managed by | Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services |
Brookside Youth Centre was a provincial secure juvenile detention centre in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. It operated on a multi-building campus. It closed on 13 February 2021. [1]
The property includes the historic Strathmore House, which later served as Brookside's administration building. [2] The institution began as a training school for girls in the 1930s, was converted to a training school for boys in 1948, and later functioned as a secure custody/detention centre for male youth. [3] [4]
By 2019–20 Brookside had a reported operational budget of roughly CAD $9–10 million and a capacity of about 16 beds; at the time of its closure it held very few youth. [1] The site comprised multiple buildings on a large property and was managed by the provincial ministry responsible for children, community and social services. [5]
Survivors and news reporting have alleged widespread physical, sexual and psychological abuse at Brookside and at related Ontario "training schools." [6] Those include allegations of sexual assault and other criminal conduct by staff reported by former residents and referenced in litigation. [7]
A province-wide class action and many individual lawsuits have asserted that Ontario training schools, including Brookside, exposed youth to systemic abuse and negligence; these claims seek damages for physical, sexual and psychological injuries. [8]
Reporting and survivor testimony indicate the harms described were long-standing, and that some former residents faced barriers to redress, including difficulties with records and timelines; legal proceedings and advocacy groups have sought compensation and public acknowledgement of harms. [6] [9]
In August 2012 a youth escaped from Brookside. Three staff members were disciplined after chasing them as it goes against procedure to chase once the youth is outside of the property line. [10]
The Government of Ontario announced Brookside's closure in February 2021, citing low occupancy and high operating costs; the closure resulted in layoffs of staff. [1] The property was later listed for sale by Infrastructure Ontario and was reported as sold to a private developer in late 2024. [11] Since closure the site has been the focus of local discussion regarding reuse, encampments and demolition planning. [12]
