This Month in Lambton - April 2023

The April 2023 edition of This Month in Lambton includes the following news, service updates, programs and events:

• Emergency Preparedness Week 2023
• Lambton County Library hosting emergency preparedness workshop
• Do you know how to shelter-in-place?
• New look for local community notification service
• Lakeshore Road closure
• Notice to residents and property owners regarding noxious weeds
• Recycle your used batteries with Lambton County Library
• Upcoming events at JNAAG
• Lambton Heritage Museum launches Machinery Masterminds program
• Lambton Heritage Museum hosts PA Day Event: Spring Stretch Kids Yoga
• Gentle yoga at Lambton Heritage Museum
• Oil Museum of Canada hosts PA Day Event: Pollinators and Plants
• Volunteer with the Oil Museum of Canada
• International Astronomy Day stargazing event
• Creative County Grant funding helps publish Into The Dawn Barn Quilt Trail guide book
• One Seed Lambton hosts food insecurity panel discussion
• Take Your Shot in the 2023 teen photo contest

Emergency Preparedness Week 2023

Do you know what to do when disaster strikes?

As Emergency Preparedness Week approaches (May 7-13, 2023) consider how you can be prepared for the onset of an emergency and what to do next.

Readying your family to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours after the onset of an emergency is critical to your own personal needs and safety, while waiting for first responders to arrive.

You can prepare in advance by:

• Knowing the risks in your community
• Making a plan for your household
• Assembling a 72-hour home preparedness kit
• Signing up to receive free emergency alerts.

Lambton County Library hosting emergency preparedness workshop

Join Lambton County Library, Lambton County Archives and local Emergency Management Coordinators for an Emergency Preparedness Workshop at the Sarnia Library from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3.

Participants will learn how to create their own personal emergency plan, assemble a 72-hour emergency supplies kit, how to shelter-in-place and evacuate, and subscribe to public safety alerts.

Lambton County Archives will discuss the history of emergencies in Lambton County and the surrounding area and local Emergency Management Coordinators will outline emergency planning principles for both families and municipalities.

This workshop will close with a Q&A and a draw for a starter Home 72-Hour Emergency Supplies Kit, generously sponsored by Lambton BASES.

Learn more and register online through the event calendar at lclibrary.ca.

Do you know how to shelter-in-place?

The Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability (BASES) is organizing a community-wide Shelter-in-Place awareness campaign as part of Emergency Preparedness Week 2023, which runs nationally from May 7-13, 2023.  

Local businesses and community members are encouraged to review their Shelter-in-Place emergency plans and schedule a Shelter-in-Place drill on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. to align with the testing of the local emergency sirens.  

There are several different scenarios that may prompt a Shelter-in-Place advisory, including: 

• Natural disaster 
• Biological or chemical release 

• Threat to personal safety 

If it is deemed safest to go and remain indoors, a Shelter-in-Place advisory will be issued by your local municipality. If you are told to Shelter-in-Place, it is recommended that you SHELTER, SHUT & STAY TUNED. 

SHELTER 

• Bring all people and pets inside and STAY INSIDE 

SHUT 

• Close all windows and secure doors – locking provides a tighter seal 

STAY TUNED 

• Sign up for Sarnia-Lambton Alerts to receive important notifications 
• View active notifications at lambtonbases.ca 
• Call the Community Awareness Hotline 226-778-4611 

• Connect with your local municipality for further instructions 
• Tune in to local media 

There are 15 emergency sirens in Point Edward, Sarnia, St. Clair and Aamjiwnaang that are used to alert the public in the event of an emergency when public action is required, including a Shelter-in-Place advisory. These sirens are tested every Monday at 12:30 p.m. for 30 seconds. It is important to know that in the event of a real emergency, the sirens will have a sharper tone and will sound for 9 minutes.  

To receive more information about Shelter-in-Place planning visit lambtonbases.com.

New look for local community notification service  

MyCNN (My Community Notification Network) has been renamed Sarnia-Lambton Alerts. 

After nearly 10 years, the name was changed to reflect the evolution of the Everbridge notification system and further identify 'Sarnia-Lambton Alerts' as a primary source for community notifications in the region. 

What does this mean for existing subscribers? 

• New name 
• New logo 

• Same alerts 

Sarnia-Lambton Alerts uses the Everbridge emergency notification system to alert the community about a variety of events, ranging from severe weather, to traffic, and public safety. Subscribers can customize their communication preferences by selecting which notices they want to receive and how they want to receive them. Notifications are sent to subscribers via their preferred method — mandatory emergency notifications can be sent by home phone, mobile phone, and SMS, in addition to the informational notification methods of email and the Everbridge app — to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information.  

Registration for Sarnia-Lambton Alerts is easy and free! Sign up online or download the Everbridge app to receive notifications directly to your smart phone.  

For more information, please visit the BASES Facebook page or lambtonbases.com.

Lakeshore Road closure

Lakeshore Road (County Road # 7) is now closed between Aberarder Line and Hillcrest Road in the Town of Plympton-Wyoming for major rehabilitation of the Bonnie Doon Creek bridge. The work is expected to be completed by late September 2023, weather permitting.

Detours routes are posted. No through traffic is permitted during construction. Please visit www.municipal511.ca and www.lambtononline.ca/roadclosures for more road closure information.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this project.

Notice to residents and property owners regarding noxious weeds

The main purpose of the Weed Control Act R.S.O. 1990 is to reduce the impact of noxious weeds on the industries of agriculture and horticulture.  Primarily this act applies to agricultural and horticultural lands that generate income or other benefits to agriculture; this excludes lawns, gardens and private areas for personal enjoyment and leisure.

Under the Weed Control Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter W.5 Sections 3, 13, 16 and 23, you are requested to destroy all noxious weeds on your property.

In Urban Areas

Sections 3, 13, 16, and 18 do not apply to noxious weeds or weed seeds that are far enough away from any land used for agricultural or horticultural purposes, as they do not interfere with that use.

All properties within the County of Lambton are hereby requested to be in compliance with the Weed Control Act by June 2, 2023 and throughout the season.                      

Recycle your used batteries with Lambton County Library

Lambton County Library has partnered with Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. to host battery recycling collection boxes in select library locations, to encourage the proper disposal of used batteries. Lambton County residents can drop off their used single-use and rechargeable household batteries (weighing up to 5 kg each) at the following 12 Lambton County Library locations:

• Alvinston
• Brigden
• Bright’s Grove
• Corunna
• Forest
• Grand Bend
• Mallroad
• Petrolia
• Point Edward
• Sarnia
• Watford
• Wyoming

Call2Recycle adheres to the most rigorous standards in the world for the safe collection, transportation, recycling, and management of batteries. This includes protecting collection boxes with a flame-retardant liner for an added layer of safety. Call2Recycle currently partners with major retail outlets across Canada for battery recycling including Lowes, Home Hardware, and Best Buy.

Upcoming events at JNAAG

Art & Ideas

This series of presentations complements current exhibits by drawing connections to themes found in the exhibitions and by featuring discussions with specific artists and experts. The Art & Ideas series is redesigned each season to entice creative thought and encourage new perspectives.

Future Imagining with Mark Reinhart
Thursday, May 25, 7:00 p.m.

Join artist and instigator Mark Reinhart for conversation and collaboration. Using a mix of materials and guided by the community insight that was collected as part of the Future Community Blueprint project, we will work collaboratively to build a physical representation of what we imagine downtown Sarnia to be in the future.  

Registration is required and can be completed online at jnaag.ca.

Family Saturday Studio Drop-in

Families and members of the public are invited to join us in the art studio every Saturday afternoon for engaging, art-based programming. Drop-in anytime between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for a short, artist-facilitated studio activity inspired by current exhibitions. New activities will be offered every month, with the same activity running weekly for the entirety of that month.

Upcoming Family Saturday dates:

Selfies in Place
May 6, 13, 20, 27, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

What places inspire you? Drop in and use digital media to create a self-portrait placing you in your favourite spot.

Family Holiday Drop-in

May Flowers Close Up with Riley Shortt
Victoria Day, Monday, May 22

April showers bring May flowers. Drop in to JNAAG on Victoria Day, Monday, May 22, to examine flower anatomy and its influence on creating art. Participants will examine flowers close-up with magnifying glasses then use inks and pens to create beautiful abstract artworks influenced by those magnified views.

Lambton Heritage Museum launches Machinery Masterminds program

Lambton Heritage Museum is pleased to announce the launch of Machinery Masterminds, a program to teach aspiring minds how to service and maintain antique machinery using artifacts from the Museum’s collection.

Over the course of four sessions, participants will learn about antique machinery maintenance while supporting museum staff in the servicing of the Museum’s historic Rumley Tractor. Activities will include pulling and cleaning pistons, replacing gaskets, and changing the oil. The tractor is expected to be fully operational at the end of the program.

Sessions will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday mornings on April 22, 29, May 6, and 13. Interested parties may register through the Heritage Museum website or by phone at 519-243-2600. All participants will be required to register and sign a volunteer agreement with the museum to take part in the program. There is no cost to participate.

Lambton Heritage Museum hosts PA Day Event: Spring Stretch Kids Yoga

Celebrate spring with nature-inspired yoga poses!

Visit Lambton Heritage Museum on Friday, April 28 for their PA Day Event Spring Stretch Kids Yoga. The museum is hosting four, half-hour long kids’ yoga sessions for school-aged children. Led by Linda Weir of Expedition Inner Wisdom, sessions will be spring-themed with nature-inspired poses that encourage children to reflect on the changing world outside.

Sessions will begin at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Drop-in for the session of your choice, no registration is required. Yoga mats and equipment will be provided, and no prior yoga experience is necessary. Regular museum admission rates apply.

Gentle yoga at Lambton Heritage Museum

Gentle yoga sessions will return to Lambton Heritage Museum in May. The new series, titled Gentle Yoga: Native Plant Celebration Series, will take place on Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on May 4, 11, 18, and 25. The 60-minute classes are led by Linda Weir of Expedition Inner Wisdom. This series’ theme will celebrate local plant life. Each class will feature a special display of botanical artifacts from the Museum’s collection. 

Bring your own mats or use one provided. No prior yoga experience is necessary. Registration is not required, drop-in before the class of your choice. Attend one class or more. Each class is $15 per person.

Oil Museum of Canada hosts PA Day Event: Pollinators and Plants

Did you know that bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beetles are all pollinators found in Ontario? Visit the Oil Museum of Canada on Friday, April 28, and learn about these amazing creatures and the important role they play in Ontario’s ecosystems!

Hear Larry Cornelis, Naturalist and Horticulturalist, give a nature talk at 11:00 a.m. as he explains the pollinator species and native plants found here in Lambton County. Children can participate in pollinator-themed crafts and take home a special wild bergamot plant while supplies last.

Drop in to the Museum between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to participate. Regular museum admission rates apply. Visit the event page on the Oil Museum website for more information.

Volunteer with the Oil Museum of Canada

The Oil Museum of Canada, National Historic Site, is seeking volunteers to assist with museum activities. Volunteers are a vital resource to museums, as they can help with programming and special events, perform research, and document artifacts in the collection. In return, volunteers learn local history, support the Museum’s mission, and give back to their communities.

The Oil Museum needs a variety of hands and skillsets, so if you are looking for a place to donate your time and experience, we want to hear from you! Students can also earn their community involvement hours or set up an unpaid internship or co-op placement. For more information and to fill out an application, visit the volunteer page on the Oil Museum website.

International Astronomy Day stargazing event

Celebrate International Astronomy Day at the Oil Museum of Canada! On Saturday, April 29 the Sarnia Chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is presenting a special stargazing event. Drop-in between 8:30 and 11:00 p.m. as the group shares their observations of the night sky. At 10:00 p.m. the group will host a ‘Laser Tour of the Sky’ highlighting spring constellations and other stellar objects.

This event is free to attend. The Museum will remain open with admission by donation for the duration of the evening. This event is weather permitting and may be subject to cancellation if visibility conditions are poor. Visit the Oil Museum website for more information.

Creative County Grant funding helps publish Into The Dawn Barn Quilt Trail guide book

The Into The Dawn Barn Quilt Trail is a volunteer community initiative by the Dawn-Euphemia Barn Quilt Trail Project - Volunteer Group, the Rotary Club of Dresden and the Catherine McVean Chapter I.O.D.E.

Through funding received from Lambton County’s Creative County Grant Program, Enbridge Gas Inc. and the Judith & Norman Alix Foundation, traditional quilt block patterns and unique quilt block designs have been drafted, primed, painted, and installed at host properties along the trail. Thanks to the funding received, the group has now published a guide booklet to accompany the trail tour.

The booklet lets you read the stories behind the blocks, found at over 50 sites along the trail, relaying the area’s history one quilt block at a time. The books are available to purchase at Tourism Sarnia-Lambton, 1455 Venetian Blvd., Point Edward for $20.00 each, including tax.

Learn more about Into The Dawn Barn Quilt Trail by visiting www.barnquilttrails.ca/trails/into-the-dawn/, and learn more about the Creative County Grant Program by visit www.lambtonline.ca/creativecounty.

One Seed Lambton hosts food insecurity panel discussion

Listen and learn during a moderated panel discussion exploring food insecurity in our community at the Sarnia Library Theatre on Thursday, May 11 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The group of panelists are community experts from various human services fields:

• Lana Smith BSc, MSc, RD - Public Health Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian
• Margaret Capes B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., M.Ad.Ed - Barrister and Solicitor, Community Law School; Volunteer with The Salvation Army Food Van
• Daphne Bourque - The Salvation Army
• Kelly Chappell - Lambton Circles Coach
• Ashlee Cousins - Lambton College Student

The panel will examine food security and insecurity, how it impacts individuals' physical and mental health and the community, and will provide concrete recommendations on how we as a community can help.

The program is a part of the One Seed Lambton initiative.

One Seed Lambton is a program to encourage everyone to grow their own produce and save their own seeds for next year’s planting. Each year, a single seed variety will be announced and available at no cost to all participants. Throughout May to October, programs and workshops that explore the life cycle of a plant from planting to harvest will take place throughout Lambton County. All levels of gardening experience are welcome, from those who have never grown a single plant to those who have green thumbs.

Take Your Shot in the 2023 teen photo contest

Lambton County Library and the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery are inviting submissions for the Take your Shot: Teen Photo Contest, an annual event open to teens ages 13 – 18 in Lambton County.

The theme for the 2023 contest is “Humans of Lambton” and participants are encouraged to take creative photographs of people in one of these three categories:

• Groups - Photographs of two or more people. These can be families, couples, or friends. Think beyond rigidly posed photographs and explore creative ways to photograph groups.
• Candid/Environmental - Chance encounters with humanity, consider capturing the subject and the environments inspired by the subject’s passions or culture.
• Creative/Fine Art - Play with shadows, light, costumes, props, make-up, and digital post-production. Make a photograph that is different from anything you've seen before.

All photo subjects must be aware that their photograph is being taken and must have granted permission for the picture to be submitted to the contest and included in a public exhibit.

Each artist can submit up to 5 photographs. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 9, 2023. All contest entries must be submitted online at lclibrary.ca/teenphotocontest. Winning photos will be selected by a jury and announced on Friday, July 21, 2023. The selected photographs will be displayed in the exhibit “Humans of Lambton” at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery, from August 4 to October 14, 2023. At the conclusion of the exhibit, all show participants will receive a copy of their photograph printed in archival quality. Category winners will receive their photographs professionally matted and framed. The grand prize winner will receive an additional prize, valuing $100.