This Month in Lambton - March 2022

The March 2022 edition of This Month in Lambton includes the following news, service updates, programs and events:

• Bowen's Creek Habitat Management Area designated as Protected Area
• Council approves 2022 County Budget
• Shelter-in-place & evacuation advisories
• One Wave at JNAAG
• Petrolia Library temporarily closing for renovations
• Author Talk with Perdita Felicien
• Rhythms of Lambton
• Lambton Circles participates in International Women’s Day luncheon
• Seaway Kiwanis Club TV Bingo supporting local community programs
• Lambton Public Health hosting rabies vaccination clinics

Bowen’s Creek Habitat Management Area designated as Protected Area

The County of Lambton, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and Ontario Nature are pleased to announce that the Bowen’s Creek Habitat Management Area now qualifies as a Protected Area, and is contributing to Canada’s target to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025.

The Bowen’s Creek Habitat Management Area, located along the St. Clair River, is among the first municipal conservation lands confirmed to be managed to the national standards for protected and conserved areas. As of December 2021, these 154 hectares of managed lands at Bowen’s Creek now count towards the federal target based on assessments conducted by Ontario Nature.

The area’s wet prairie and mature deciduous forest provides refuge for more than 15 locally rare Carolinian flora and fauna and four Species at Risk (Riddell’s Goldenrod, Shumard Oak, Hooded Warbler, and Climbing Prairie Rose) that thrive within the property boundaries, each with distinct habitat requirements. Numerous community partners have contributed to enhancements on these lands through restoration projects including native tree and wildlife shrub plantings, wetland creation, and tall grass prairie planting.

The County of Lambton owns more than 640 hectares of natural heritage lands that it jointly manages with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. To learn more about the Bowen’s Creek Habitat Management Area and other managed lands in Lambton County, please visit www.lambtononline.ca/managed-lands.

Council approves 2022 County Budget

Lambton County Council approved a net levy rate increase of 2.5% to the County property tax levy, finalizing the County's 2022 Budget earlier this month.

In total, the budget calls for spending $246.9 million in 2022, $85 million of which will be raised through local property taxes.

Spending across the various Divisions of the County will be allocated as follows in 2022:

• Office of the Chief Administrative Officer - $752,000
• Corporate Services Division - $8.1 million
• Cultural Services Division - $12.5 million
• Finance, Facilities and Court Services Division - $15.9 million
• Infrastructure & Development Services Division - $35.2 million
• Long-Term Care Division - $44.3 million
• Public Health Services Division - $33.5 million
• Social Services Division - $82.2 million

County Council made several valuable strategic investments during 2022 budget deliberations, which included:

• $1.2 million for new affordable housing
• $2.3 million for Long-Term Care capital
• $0.5 million for future planning related to Lambton Shared Services Centre
• $1.0 million for technology modernization 

The County of Lambton operates a wide variety of programs and services available to the public such as land ambulance, provincial offences court, three Long-Term Care Homes, 25 library branches and related digital resources, two museums, an art gallery, archives, local roadways, public health services, housing services, social services, building services and planning and development services. The Corporation employs approximately 1,200 employees across over 40 sites.

A final version of the County's 2022 Budget will be available online at lambtononline.ca/budget. Hard copies can be requested by contacting the Finance, Facilities and Court Services Division at 519-845-0809 ext. 5321.

Shelter-In-Place & Evacuation Advisories

Often in a hazardous materials release, it is safer for individuals to stay inside rather than being potentially exposed to dangerous chemicals in the air while they are trying to leave.

This is called "sheltering-in-place".

If you are instructed by emergency officials to shelter-in-place, stay inside: most buildings will seal well enough to hold enough air supply for several hours while vapours dissipate.

In addition, close and lock all windows and doors, turn off HVAC systems that draw air from outside, get out your emergency supplies kit and tune your radio to 1070 AM/103.9 FM CHOK to listen for further instructions.

If you are advised to evacuate, it likely means it is more dangerous for you to stay in place, than it is to leave.

Listen to your radio and follow the instructions of local emergency or municipal officials.

Be sure to take your emergencies kit and pets with you, wear durable shoes and long-sleeved clothes, lock your home, and use travel routes identified by authorities.

For more details about what to do and how you can prepare for either of these scenarios, visit EmergenciesLambton.ca.

One Wave at JNAAG

The Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of One Wave, an exhibition of photography by Newfoundland-based artist Ned Pratt. The exhibition is now open and will continue until September 10, 2022.

In a place known for its changing weather, artist Ned Pratt searches for moments of quiet. This exhibition is a ten-year retrospective featuring over thirty large scale photographs and represents a period of dedicated focus on Pratt’s home island of Newfoundland. His works are carefully considered compositions that are the result of both chance encounters and patience.

One Wave is organized by The Rooms, St. John’s, NL. For more information about the exhibition and the artist or to book your free timed entry ticket, visit jnaag.ca.

Petrolia Library temporarily closing for renovations

Lambton County Library, in partnership with the Town of Petrolia, Ontario, will begin a renovation project at the Petrolia Library on Sunday, April 3, 2022. The project was made possible with the support of a donation from the estate of Otto and Kathleen Morrow Schuldt and will upgrade the children's area, improve accessibility, and create better traffic flow, ergonomics, and customer service. The anticipated reopening date is Saturday, May 7, 2022.

This project will include new shelving, flooring, paint, upgraded access to technology, and the installation of an Early Literacy Station in the children’s library. Renovations will also include a new accessible service desk and adjustments to the floor plan including relocating the public computers and service desk. In addition, the Town of Petrolia will take this opportunity to refinish the hardwood floors throughout the library and make needed repairs to exterior doors and electrical

This temporary closure will include all in-person services and programming, curbside pickup and book return bins. During this time, materials can be renewed or borrowed by visiting neighbouring library locations including Brigden, Wyoming, Oil Springs, and Alvinston or by using our eLibrary services at lclibrary.ca.

Author Talk with Perdita Felicien

Celebrate the culmination of One Book Lambton with this year’s selected author Perdita Felicien as she visits Sarnia for an interactive conversation exploring the book and its themes. This Author Talk will end with an open question and answer period.

Perdita Felicien is a television host, sports broadcaster, two-time Olympian, ten-time National Champion, and the first Canadian woman to win a World Championship gold medal in track and field. During her career as a 100-metre hurdler, she earned many honours, including Canada’s Athlete of the Year and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Felicien retired from professional sports in 2013 and is now a broadcast journalist. She was part of CBC’s broadcast team at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, and was inducted into Athletics Canada's Hall of Fame.

“My Mother’s Daughter” is a memoir about the power of a parent’s love to transform their child’s life. Before the fame and success, Perdita and her mother Catherine would experience racism, domestic abuse, and even homelessness, but Catherine’s will would always pull them through. “My Mother’s Daughter” is available to borrow by using the online catalogue at lclibrary.ca or through the Iguana Library app, or by calling or visiting a Lambton County Library location to reserve a copy. eBooks and eAudiobooks are also available to borrow through cloudLibrary or Libby using your Lambton County Library card.

Rhythms of Lambton

Have you been looking for a night out? Rhythms of Lambton is the perfect way to ease back into live concerts. Lambton County Library will celebrate the rich local music culture with a series of concerts through March and April at the Sarnia Library Theatre. After the performance, browse the History of Community Concert Bands in Lambton County exhibit located in the theatre lobby. This exhibit, provided by the Lambton Concert Band in partnership with Lambton County Archives, combines artefacts, stories and photographs of various local concert bands throughout history. Pre-registration is required for all events.

Wednesday, March 30 – 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Great Lakes Secondary School
Sarnia Library Theatre
Listen along to the music of the local high school concert band, jazz band and choir from Great Lakes Secondary School.

Wednesday, April 6 – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Bluewater Chordsmen
Sarnia Library Theatre
Experience the music of the all-male acapella singing group, the Bluewater Chordsmen.

Wednesday, April 20 – 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Brothers Wilde Workshop
Sarnia Library Theatre
Learn how the country rock duo, Brothers Wilde, entered the music industry and how you can too. This workshop led by Brothers Wilde will be followed by an acoustic concert.

Wednesday, April 27 – 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. – Lambton Concert Band
Sarnia Library Theatre
Celebrate the local history of concert bands with Lambton Concert Band.

Lambton Circles participates in International Women’s Day luncheon

Martine Creasor, Lambton Circles Coach was one of the esteemed speakers at this year’s International Women’s Day luncheon held at the Dante Club. Martine’s inspirational presentation highlighted the importance of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion, amplifying the event’s theme of “Breaking The Bias”.

To learn more about Lambton Circles, visit lambtoncircles.com.

Seaway Kiwanis Club TV Bingo supporting local community programs

Kim Godin, Supervisor Children’s Services & EarlyON hosted Seaway Kiwanis Club TV bingo in partnership with YOUR TV on March 8^th. Proceeds from the event are invested into community programs such as Lambton Circles, The Inn of Good Shepherd, and many others.

Lambton Public Health hosting rabies vaccination clinics

After a two year hiatus, several low-cost rabies vaccination clinics will be held across Lambton County beginning in April and continuing into May.

The clinics are open to all cats and dogs, three months of age and older. Animals must be in good health and not vaccinated within the last year. Only rabies vaccine will be offered.

Animals must be leashed or contained. The cost is $25 per animal (cash only).   

All COVID-19 protocols relevant at the time of the events will be followed. 

Clinic locations include:

• Rutherford: Public Works Garage, 4590 Lambton Line.
  April 2, 9:00 a.m. - noon
• Florence:  Dawn-Euphemia Community Centre, 6213 Mill Street.
  April 2, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Cairo:  Public works Garage, 1345 Cairo Road.
  April 9, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• Alvinston: BAI Community Centre Arena, 3310 Walnut Street.
  April 23, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Oil Springs: Fire Hall, 4589 Oil Springs Line.
  May 7, 9:30 a.m. - noon
• Enniskillen: Township Garage, 4465 Rokeby Line.
  May 14, 9:00 a.m. - noon

Rabies is a fatal, viral disease spread by the saliva of an infected animal such as a dog, cat, fox, raccoon, bat, livestock, etc. Saliva can enter the body through a bite or scratch. Owners of dogs and cats are required by law to vaccinate their pets against rabies. Vaccinating pets is important to prevent the spread of rabies.

For more information call 519-383-8331, toll free 1-800-667-1839, or visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca.