This Month in Lambton - July 2023

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

• Stay up to date on road closures
• Introducing the new Lambton Seniors Advisory Committee
• Connection Cube now available at Sarnia Library
• 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements
• Canada Learning Bond
• Summer Reading Program
• Used Book Sale
• Explore the New Exhibit Gallery and Woodland Heritage Trail at Lambton Heritage Museum
• Quilt Show at Lambton Heritage Museum
• Stargazing Party
• Explore the Grounds of the Oil Museum of Canada
• Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery events
• Shelter-In-Place & Evacuation Advisories

Stay up to date on road closures

Temporary closures and detours on County Roads are required due to seasonal construction and other events, like severe weather or emergency road work.

Did you know the County posts information on planned and upcoming road closures at lambtononline.ca/roadclosures? Also included on this page is a real-time map from Municipal511 that includes upcoming and current planned closures, as well as emergency road closures from the County and local municipalities.

Check your route before you go!

Introducing the new Lambton Seniors Advisory Committee

The Seniors Advisory Committee reports to the Warden and County Council on issues that affect seniors in Lambton County. Committee members include one senior representative from each of the eleven municipalities in Lambton County, one County Councillor, and one member from Navigating Seniors Care Lambton.  The new Committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month in Wyoming.

To learn more, visit www.lambtononline.ca/SAC. 

Connection Cube now available at Sarnia Library

People looking to access private meeting space for in-person and virtual appointments with government agencies and community organizations are now able to reserve a Connection Cube at Sarnia Library. The installation of the Connection Cube was funded by the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team.

The Connection Cube is a private meeting space that comes equipped with an iPad,
Wi-Fi, and phone connectivity. 

The Cube is free to book and can be reserved by visiting Sarnia Library or calling the Library at 519-337-3291. While a library card is not required to book the space, identification and contact information is required to complete the booking.  

2022 Consolidated Financial Statements

The Corporation of the County of Lambton's Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been completed and audited.

Copies of the Financial Statements are available from the Finance, Facilities and Court Services Division by calling 519-845-0801, toll free 1-866-324-6912 or online at lambtononline.ca/budget.

Canada Learning Bond

Kids have big dreams - help them achieve their goals with the Canada Learning Bond!

The Canada Learning Bond is free money from the Government of Canada for your child’s education after high school that is deposited into an RESP. This can include college, university, trade schools and apprenticeships! You do not need to deposit any of your own money to get the Canada Learning Bond.

Is your child eligible for the Canada Learning Bond? Depending on family income, your child is eligible if they are:

• Born on or after January 1, 2004
• A Canadian resident with a valid Social Insurance Number
• Named a beneficiary in an RESP

There’s over 12,000 children in Lambton County who are eligible for this government grant who have not applied!

Learn more about the Canada Learning Bond, check if you’re eligible, and apply quickly and easily online at www.lambtonlearns.ca.

Summer Reading Program

There’s still time to take part in the Summer Reading Program!

Kids, teens, and adults can all participate in activities, complete reading challenges, and enter to win prizes! Use Beanstack to create an account and join Lambton County Library’s Summer Reading Program. Beanstack is an electronic reporting software that can be used with a mobile device, a computer or with the help of library staff at any library location. See lclibrary.ca for the full list of Summer Reading Program events, activities, and reading recommendations.

Used Book Sale

Lambton County Library is hosting its annual Used Book Sale on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (or while supplies last) at the Wyoming Fairgrounds, 595 Main Street, Wyoming.

The Used Book Sale features a variety of books, audiobooks and DVDs in all categories that have been withdrawn from the library collection due to age, low circulation, wear, and other factors. Items are priced to sell at $1 for adult titles, and $0.50 for children’s titles. Alternatively, shoppers can fill their own standard-sized shopping bag for $5, with a limit of six bags per person. Only cash payments will be accepted and all proceeds from the sale will go towards offsetting the library’s operating costs.

Building capacity limits will be enforced, please prepare for the weather in case it is necessary to wait in line outdoors.

Explore the New Exhibit Gallery and Woodland Heritage Trail at Lambton Heritage Museum

Experience the new permanent exhibit at the Lambton Heritage Museum! The Lambton Gallery has been completely reimagined, with fun interactive elements and fascinating artifacts from the collection that have never been on display. Touchscreens and hands-on activities have been integrated throughout the exhibit, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the history through touch and sound.

You can also tour our historic buildings and outdoor exhibitions on the museum property while they are open for the summer and further explore the rich history of Lambton County. The summer weather is ideal for enjoying the Woodland Heritage Trail behind the Museum. Walking poles are available for use on the trail, just ask at the service desk.

General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors (65+) and Students, $3 for Children (4-12), and Children 3 and under are FREE. The Museum is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Quilt Show at Lambton Heritage Museum

Lambton Heritage Museum is hosting the bi-annual North Lambton Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show from June 29 to September 2 in the museum’s new temporary exhibit gallery. The 2023 show will include dozens of beautiful quilts alongside other handmade items like clothing, wall hangings, table toppers, and quilted accessories. A selection of historic quilts from the Museum’s collection will be displayed alongside the Guild’s creations, highlighting old and new techniques.

Stargazing Party

Members of the Sarnia Astronomical Society will offer telescopes and guidance for observing constellations, planets, and navigational stars at Oil Museum of Canada on Saturday, August 12. The event will take place from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m., with a tour of the night sky scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Please dress appropriately for cool weather and bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Be prepared to navigate in low light conditions. In case of unfavourable weather, the event may be rescheduled for a later date. Organized by Lambton County Library as part of their Summer Reading Program, you can register online at lclibrary.ca.

Explore the Grounds of the Oil Museum of Canada

In addition to an incredible experience inside the museum, there is plenty to explore outside at the Oil Museum of Canada National Historic Site as well! General admission to the Museum includes access to our seven historic outbuildings and outdoor exhibits. Consider bringing a picnic and enjoying the summer weather in our shaded pavilion with wooden picnic tables. Take advantage of our water bottle refilling station inside the Museum and keep hydrated on hot days. Once you’re done at the Museum, you can walk the Old Mill Trail or take our Audio Driving Tour. Maps for the Driving Tour are included in the price of admission.

General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors (65+) and Students, $3 for Children (4-12), and Children 3 and under are FREE. The Museum is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Large gatherings and family reunions are asked to contact the Museum at 519-834-2840 to reserve the pavilion for events.

Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery Events

Upcoming Exhibition: Humans of Lambton

Stephen Livick’s photographs served as the inspiration for this year’s Teen Photo Contest which challenged teens in Lambton County to respond to the theme ‘Humans of Lambton’.

In this exhibit, Livick’s portraits appear alongside a juried selection of the teen’s photographic responses – carefully considered and selected by guest jurors based on submissions that excelled in the following categories: group, candid, and creative portraits.

This initiative is in collaboration with the Lambton County Library and is a continuation of the Take your Shot Teen Photo Contest which began in 2019.

Visit the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery website to see who was selected for inclusion in the exhibit and details on the prize winners.

Program: Family Saturday Studio Drop-In 

Every Saturday afternoon, JNAAG offers a free workshop for all ages from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Families are welcome to drop-in for a short, artist-facilitated studio activity inspired by the current exhibitions. During July, the theme is “Thinking in Pixels,” where you’ll create images with pixels in the real world. Using fusible beads, participants will design and create their own pixelated artwork.

On Saturdays in August, participants will create Cyanotype Portraits, one of the oldest photographic printing processes in the history of photography. Layer objects to create unique, blue and white photographs.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Current Exhibitions 

The gallery is open Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., and Friday, Saturday & Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Many Lives Mark This Place 

In 2014, Ontario-based painter and printmaker John Hartman embarked on a project to capture the intimate relationship between more than thirty leading Canadian authors and the places that inspire them. The result was a body of large-format portrait paintings that celebrate the richness of Canada’s literary fabric. This exhibit will be on display until Saturday, September 9, 2023.

Biskaabiiyang | Returning to Ourselves

Nico Williams, ᐅᑌᒥᐣ is Anishinaabe and member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation community and is currently working in Tiohtià:ke | Mooniyang | Montréal. He began experimenting with beadwork in 2015 using Japanese glass Delicas (beads), natural materials and seed beads. He has actively been focusing on the revitalization and evolution of this medium. This exhibit will be on display until Saturday, September 9, 2023.

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 monitor updates from your municipality, either through Sarnia-Lambton Alerts or through their web and social media channels. Tune your radio to 1070 AM/103.9 FM CHOK.

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

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.