This Month in Lambton - August 2024

The August 2024 edition of This Month in Lambton includes the following news, service updates, programs and events:

• Unlock Lambton County’s past with Doors Open Lambton County
• Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste collection events
• Emergencies Lambton - Tornadoes
• Reap the benefits of a Lambton County Archives membership today
• Canatara Cabin Reconstruction Phase moving along
• Discover Lambton hockey history in “When the Wings Came to Town”
• Score some fun at Lambton Heritage Museum’s PA Day Event: Hockey Day at the Museum
• Extend your visit to the Oil Museum with an audio driving tour
• Heritage Sarnia-Lambton Passport Challenge ends September 30
• Lambton 175 Show & Tell events
• Sports Kits now available from Lambton County Library

Unlock Lambton County’s past with Doors Open Lambton County

Step into history and celebrate Lambton County’s 175^th anniversary with Doors Open Lambton County, taking place on Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Join us as we unlock the doors to the past, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access to historical sites, cultural institutions, and civic buildings across our 11 municipalities. Explore over 25 fascinating sites, including museums, nature reserves, historic businesses, private residences, and more. Immerse yourself in the stories that have shaped our community for the past 175 years; there’s something for everyone, so bring your friends and family for a day of discovery and excitement! For more details, visit the Doors Open Lambton County website.

Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste collection events

There are three more Household Hazardous Waste collection events taking place in the 2024 season. Upcoming events include:

• Saturday, September 21 – Clean Harbors Canada, St. Clair Township
• Saturday, October 5 – Forest Public Works Depot, Lambton Shores
• Saturday, October 26 – Clean Harbors Canada, St. Clair Township

You can bring your household derived hazardous waste to one of the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Day events and it will be disposed of by experts, at no cost to you!

Corrosive, toxic, reactive and flammable materials will be collected. These items should never be placed in a regular landfill because they have the potential to injure sanitation workers and damage our environment.

Other accepted items include pharmaceuticals (expired prescription medications), pesticides and herbicides, fertilizers, aerosols, pool chemicals, used oil, oil filters, propane cylinders, fluorescent lights (tubes and compact), fire extinguishers, paint thinner, and oil based and latex paints and stains.

Items not accepted include: PCBs, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or radioactive wastes, electronics, and explosives (flares and ammunition).

The County’s Hazardous Waste Collection Events are for household derived hazardous materials only. Commercially generated hazardous waste, including industrial and agricultural, will not be accepted.

For more information visit lambtononline.ca/hhw or call 519-845-0801.

Emergencies Lambton - Tornadoes

Lambton County is no stranger to tornadoes. Several tornadoes have touched down in locally in recent years and a number of significant tornadoes have impacted Lambton historically.

Often, tornadoes form unexpectedly, leaving forecasters little to no time to issue official warnings.

You can stay alert by monitoring the conditions around you. Watch for:

• Thunderstorms that grow steadily worse, with heavy rain and extreme thunder and lightning.
• Large hail (hail larger than a nickel is evidence of a strong storm).
• An extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by rotating green or yellow clouds. Sometimes wisps of cloud will be seen swirling upward toward a low point in the clouds.
• An eerie calm at the end of a severe storm – the sun might even be visible.
• A rumbling sound like a freight train, or a whistling sound like a jet.
• A “wall of white” coming toward you – many tornadoes are hidden by heavy rain and a funnel might not be visible.

If you observe any of the above warning signs, take cover immediately, preferably in the lowest level of a sturdy building.

Stay away from windows and exterior doors and walls. Flying glass and debris blown into a building are extremely dangerous.

For more information on severe summer weather, visit EmergenciesLambton.ca.

Reap the benefits of a Lambton County Archives membership today

Jumpstart your genealogy journey today with a membership to Lambton County Archives. As a member, you receive the following key benefits: free admission to the Archives, discounted fees on photocopies and digital copies, and a complimentary hour of free research by Archives staff. You also receive free admission to other sites in the Heritage Sarnia-Lambton network, and a subscription to Lambton Musings, Heritage Sarnia-Lambton’s quarterly publication with local history stories, museum news, and community heritage events. An Archives membership costs $25.00 annually. Learn more at lambtonarchives.ca.

Canatara Cabin Reconstruction Phase moving along

Lambton Heritage Museum is excited to announce recent progress in the reconstruction phase of the Canatara Cabin Restoration Project. After contractors completed the installation of the log walls, work commenced on the cabin roof. Deteriorated shingles were removed, as well as underlying black tar paper so the condition of the roof’s base could be inspected. After a thorough investigation into the status of these boards, new tar paper and a venting system were installed. New cedar shingles were then installed over top.

Lambton Heritage Museum is still seeking donations to reach the fundraising goal of $100,000. Every contribution plays a key role in ensuring the completion of this project and safeguarding Lambton County's history. To find out more about the Canatara Cabin and to donate, visit heritagemuseum.ca today. To find out more about the cabin’s history and to donate, please visit the Canatara Cabin page on the Museum’s website.

Discover Lambton hockey history in “When the Wings Came to Town”

Spend an evening with hockey history at Lambton Heritage Museum. Join us on Thursday, September 5, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and hear the exciting tale of how NHL legends like Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, and more came to Forest for a series of exhibition games in the 1950s. Presented by Davind McLean with Forest Museum and his special guest, former Detroit Red Wing Bill Lochead, “When the Wings Came to Town” explores how good connections, a romance, and a little horsing around made it all happen! Reserve your spot today online at heritagemuseum.ca.

Score some fun at Lambton Heritage Museum’s PA Day Event: Hockey Day at the Museum

Drop in at Lambton Heritage Museum on Friday, September 20 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for the PA Day Event: Hockey Day at the Museum! Join us for a hat trick of hockey-themed activities including exploring our feature exhibit “Hockey,” a photo scavenger hunt through the exhibit, and making your very own hockey card to take home!

Remember Lambton County residents receive free admission to the museum in 2024 in celebration of Lambton’s 175^th anniversary. “Hockey” is available until November 9, 2024.

Extend your visit to the Oil Museum with an audio driving tour

Did you know that the Oil Museum of Canada has an audio driving tour that’s included with your admission? After exploring the unique history of the museum, including North America’s first commercial oil well, extend your visit with a scenic drive to look at the local historic oil fields. Hosted through the app Stqry Guide, our audio tour explores landmarks and historic sites, as well as Lambton County’s crucial role in Canada’s oil industry through images and behind-the-scenes video. Experience history inside and out with a trip to the Oil Museum of Canada!

Heritage Sarnia-Lambton Passport Challenge ends September 30

There’s just over one month left in the Heritage Sarnia-Lambton Passport Challenge! From now until September 30, visit all 8 Heritage Sarnia-Lambton sites, correctly answer a trivia question, and collect a completion stamp/sticker for your chance to win our grand prize. Hand in your completed passport and you could win a heritage swag bag and a $100 gift certificate from Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.

Find more info, including links to all the sites at heritagelambton.ca.

Lambton 175 Show & Tell events

Do you own journals, letters, diaries, or artifacts connected to Lambton’s past? Come to a Lambton 175 – Show & Tell event and share your local history items. A team from Lambton County Museums will digitize and photograph your local history items to preserve their stories for future generations. Learn about donating historical items and explore local history displays. Join us in celebrating 175 years of Lambton County’s rich history!

Sports Kits now available from Lambton County Library

Lambton County Library is introducing brand-new Sports Kits, now available for borrowing! They're perfect to learn new skills and stay active.

What's Included:

• Basketball Kit: Basketball and pump
• Pickleball Kit: Two paddles and balls
• Baseball Kit: Four bases, a pitcher’s marker, bat, and ball
• Soccer Kit: Ball, cones, and pump

Reserve any Sports Kit for a seven-day period with your Lambton County Library card at lclibrary.ca. Try out a new sport, practice your skills, or have a friendly game with family and friends!