This Month in Lambton - October 2023

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

• Creative County Grant Program 2024 application intake now open
• Upcoming Lambton County Library events
• Tool to support mental health promotion at work available in Lambton County
• Lambton Heritage Museum presents Holidays @ Heritage
• Oil Museum of Canada holding Holiday Open House

Creative County Grant Program 2024 application intake now open

Lambton's Creative County Grant Program is now accepting funding applications for arts, culture and heritage initiatives occurring in Lambton County in 2024.

The Creative County Grant Program invests in new and innovative projects that build cultural capacity, strengthen the creative community, and enrich the quality of life of all residents. Organizers of new or expanding initiatives are encouraged to apply online for funding to cover up to 50 percent of project costs.

Applications for the Creative County Grant Program are accepted online only at lambtononline.ca/creativecounty until Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. The County of Lambton has allocated a budget of $75,000 in available funding for the 2024 program year.

Upcoming Lambton County Library events

Visit lclibrary.ca to view the full event calendar and register for events.

Preserving war-related heirlooms with Archivist Nicole Aszalos

This presentation will share best practices for preserving letters, medals, photographs, or uniforms and what to watch out for when it comes to the deterioration of these materials. Learn how to preserve your family heirlooms on Tuesday, November 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Sarnia Library.

Lambton Remembers – Researching Local Veterans

Commemorate Remembrance Day at Sarnia Library on November 10 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. by researching a local veteran who served in one of the World Wars.

Participants aged 10 to 12 will work together to hone their research skills and produce a summary that will be displayed at the Sarnia Library. Registration for this free program is required.

What is a Treaty? – Treaties Recognition Week

Learn about treaties, what they mean, and who they impact in this activity that uses resources created by the Anishinabek Nation. Participants will explore the significance of treaties for everyone who lives in Canada with this interactive activity that involves watching short videos, discussion, and art. 

• Monday, November 6 - 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Corunna Library
• Tuesday, November 7 - 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Forest Library
• Tuesday, November 7 - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Petrolia Library
• Wednesday, November 8 - 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Sarnia Library 
• Thursday, November 9 - 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Bright's Grove Library 

Tool to support mental health promotion at work available in Lambton County

Lambton County workplaces have a new resource to support their employee’s mental health both at work and at home.

Created in collaboration with more than 10 local agencies, the website Minds Connected is aimed at connecting individuals, businesses, and organizations with resources and tools to promote and maintain positive mental health.

According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, more than 500,000 employees are absent from work each week due to a mental health problem or illness.

Businesses in Lambton County may also be seeing this impact, with 56% of respondents surveyed in 2021 indicating that their mental health had worsened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minds Connected offers quick and easy access to a variety of ready-to-implement resources for businesses that may have already identified a need for improved mental health supports.

The website provides access to the C.O.M.P.A.S.S. worksheet, a tool that can be used to support employers with focusing their efforts on creating a mentally healthier space. By walking employers through the phases of Commit, Organize, Map, Plan, Act, Share, and Sustain, the C.O.M.P.A.S.S worksheet suggests resources listed on the Minds Connected website for implementation in the workplace.

Lambton Public Health has identified these evidence-based strategies to support organizations on their path to greater mental wellness at work.

To learn more about how Minds Connected can benefit your workplace or other local initiatives aimed at promoting positive mental health, contact Lambton Public Health at 519-383-8331 or email Maggie Elliott.

Lambton Heritage Museum presents Holidays @ Heritage

Drop-in to Lambton Heritage Museum on Friday, November 17 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to take part in the festive fun at our PA Day Event: Holidays @ Heritage! Try your hand at crafts and activities exploring holiday traditions brought to Canada from around the world. Receive a warm welcome in the Tudhop House, where a historical reenactor will show you how Lambton's early settlers prepared for Christmas. You can also travel through time on a hayride around the Museum property.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors (65+), $3 for children, and children aged three and under are free. Visit heritagemuseum.ca to learn more.

Oil Museum of Canada hosts Virtual Talk about historic air pollution

On Thursday, November 2 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the Oil Museum of Canada is hosting the online presentation The Local and International Politics of Sarnia's Airborne Chemical Pollution During the 1960s and 1970s with Dr. Owen Temby.

During the 1960s, Sarnia had some of the dirtiest air in Ontario. Chemical Valley executives were civically active, donating to public causes, dominating the local chamber of commerce, and working closely with provincial and municipal officials to ensure a friendly business environment. They also maintained a monopoly on information about local air pollution levels. However, a rise in negative publicity about the chemical industry, including Chemical Valley, led to the U.S.-Canadian International Joint Commission launching an investigation. The resulting reports and binational policy initiatives throughout the 1970s represented a new era of pollution control in the region.

In this presentation, Dr. Temby illustrates how powerful people in Sarnia initially prevented the regulation of air pollution, and how heightened public anxiety over the issue eventually attracted the scrutiny of the U.S. and Canadian federal governments.

This presentation is presented via Zoom and is free to attend. Interested participants can register on the Oil Museum website.

Oil Museum of Canada holding Holiday Open House

Kick off the holiday season by taking in the sights and sounds of the Oil Museum of Canada’s Holiday Open House during the November PA Day. On Friday, November 17, drop-in to the Oil Museum between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and enjoy fun holiday activities. Santa will be there and ready to listen to children’s holiday wishes. There will be candle dipping, holiday-themed crafts, cookies, and warm wassail (apple cider) to drink too! 

Admission is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.

Learn more at oilmuseum.ca.