This Month in Lambton - March 2021

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

• Community Safety & Well-being Plan Public Survey Online Now
• Funding Received for Modular Housing Project in Sarnia
• An Evening with Author K.L. Armstrong
• Financial Literacy with Lambton County Library
• Expand Your Garden with the Seed Library
• Read-Along Kids Books at Lambton County Library
• DigSafe
• Virtual Museum Education Programs

Community Safety & Well-being Plan public survey online now

A public survey to assist in the development of a Community Safety & Well-being Plan for Lambton County is now available online at lambtononline.ca/communitysafety. The survey will be open until March 31, 2021.

Information collected from this survey will provide a more complete understanding of the current state of well-being and feelings of safety from Lambton County residents. These results, along with community health data and information from existing plans and stakeholder groups, will be used to develop a prioritized Community Safety & Well-being Plan for the County. This Plan will help guide the actions of community organizations and stakeholders in setting policies and providing programs and services to improve the quality of life for everyone in the County.

Learn more about the Community Safety & Well-being Plan and complete the survey at lambtononline.ca/communitysafety.

Funding Received for Modular Housing Project in Sarnia

The County of Lambton has been awarded $1.3 million in funding through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative towards an affordable housing project at 993 Maxwell Street in Sarnia.

The build is scheduled to begin this spring, with residents moving in later this year. The modular build will include 24 units, 6 of which will be barrier-free. The modular build process allows the project to be completed in a shorter time frame than a traditional build. Having the physical build taking place indoors, off site prevents some potential delays due to factors like poor weather, and allows for the building process and site preparation to take place simultaneously.

The affordable housing build at 993 Maxwell Street will assist in meeting certain goals of the County's Housing and Homelessness Plan and will help increase the supply of affordable housing in the county.

An Evening with Author K.L. Armstrong

Celebrate One Book Lambton on Friday, April 9 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. with a Facebook Live Author Talk featuring K.L. Armstrong.

K.L. Armstrong is a New York Times bestselling author and the author of this year's book selection, Every Step She Takes. K.L. Armstrong will participate in an interactive conversation exploring the book and its themes and end with an open question and answer period that anyone can participate in through Facebook. Register at onebooklambton.ca/programs/ to receive a link to the event or follow @LCLibrary on Facebook. A Facebook account is not necessary to participate.

Financial Literacy with Lambton County Library

Expand your personal finance knowledge with Lambton County Library. Learn how to manage your personal finances, get weekly tips and tricks, or learn how to track your finances using Excel through courses from Lynda.com. Lynda.com is an online learning site where users can access courses that cover a variety of topics and software. Lynda.com is available for free to all Lambton County Library cardholders.

Lambton County Library is also partnering with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to host “Learning for Life – Get Ready to File Your Taxes”. Aimee Gerdevich, an Outreach Officer with the CRA will offer two online lectures exclusively to library cardholders. Aimee will discuss the new changes for filing your 2020 taxes and how to claim the various COVID-19 payments. These lectures will be offered on Tuesday, April 6 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. or Thursday, April 8 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Visit the online calendar at lclibrary.ca to register.

Expand Your Garden with the Seed Library

Lambton County Library cardholders can once again reserve vegetable and herb seeds! The Seed Library is a free, community-driven seed borrowing system that provides an opportunity for people to grow their own healthy food. Seeds can now by borrowed through Lambton County Library’s contactless curbside pickup service. Visit lclibrary.ca/seedlibrary for a full list of seeds.

Read-Along Kids Books at Lambton County Library

Lambton County Library’s collection includes VOX Books, hardcover books that read along as you go! VOX Books are narrated books for children ages 2 - 7. They capture children's attention by combining picture books with audio recordings. Inside the front cover is a permanently attached VOX Reader device which reads aloud at every flip of a page. Children simply push a button to listen while they read, which has been proven to improve reading comprehension and reading accuracy. Visit www.lclibrary.ca/vox to reserve your book today!

DigSafe

Many Lambton County residents are beginning to think about outdoor projects they want to tackle this spring.

Remember, knowing what's below the ground helps to protect you, your family, and others.  Homeowners and contractors are required, by law, to obtain utility locates before starting construction or excavation projects.

Once your property has been inspected and lines have been marked, you will know the approximate location of utilities and can dig safely.

For more information about safe digging practices, visit www.digsafe.ca   If you have construction or landscaping plans, contact Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 or visit ontarioonecall.ca to learn more.

Virtual Museum Education Programs

The Oil Museum of Canada and Lambton Heritage Museum are both now offering virtual programs for educators and their classes.

The Oil Museum of Canada, National Historic site virtual in-classroom programs include a 45 minute presentation and a 15 minute question and answer period. Presentations incorporate historical artifacts and geologic samples through this virtual experience. Book your live session with the Oil Museum at https://forms.lambtonmuseums.ca/Oil-Museum-of-Canada/Group-Booking-Form

Lambton Heritage Museum education sessions bring a museum educator into your classroom, virtually! Content is delivered directly to your class using the online platform of your choice, and the length and content of the sessions can be adjusted to suit your needs. Book your live session with Lambton Heritage Museum at https://forms.lambtonmuseums.ca/Lambton-Heritage-Museum/Group-Booking-Form