This Month in Lambton - June 2025

The June 2025 edition of This Month in Lambton includes the following news, service updates, programs and events:

• Black Gold Fest returns to Oil Museum of Canada bigger than ever
• Local Immigration Partnership supports Arts in the Street Fundraiser Night
• Emergencies Lambton: Power outages
• Celebrating Lambton College’s ECE-Fast Track Program graduates
• “Wild Wonder” Summer Reading Challenge Starts on Wednesday, July 2
• Teen Photo Contest submission deadline fast approaching
• North Lambton Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show on now at Lambton Heritage Museum
• Lambton Shores Farmers’ Market returns to Lambton Heritage Museum
• Lambton County House of Refuge records now available on the Lambton County Archives’ website
• County donates vacant land on George Street to Indwell Community Homes for supportive housing build
• Seaway Kiwanis donates to Lambton Circles
• Strengthening connections through collaboration
• Upcoming JNAAG programs and events

Black Gold Fest returns to Oil Museum of Canada bigger than ever

Join us at the Oil Museum of Canada on Saturday, July 19 for Black Gold Fest, a free, family-friendly celebration of our region’s oil heritage! This year’s event will be bigger than ever as we team up with the Village of Oil Springs to celebrate their 160th anniversary.

Drop in at the Oil Museum between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to watch historical demonstrations, meet heritage exhibitors, enjoy live musical entertainment and more. There will be food and drink vendors, as well as a historical interpreter playing Charles Nelson Tripp, one of the Tripp brothers whose bitumen business began the oil interest in Enniskillen Township in the 1850s. Kids can enjoy activities, crafts, and free face painting.

On the same day, the Village of Oil Springs will host a parade at 11:00 a.m., a kids fun fest with inflatables and games at 1:00 p.m., and lawnmower pulls at 2:00 p.m. Additional food vendors and musical entertainment will round out the experience. Learn more by visiting the Black Gold Fest webpage at oilmuseum.ca.

Local Immigration Partnership supports Arts in the Street Fundraiser Night

The Arts in the Street Fundraiser Night is taking place Friday, June 27 at Imperial City Brew House.  Don’t miss out on a night featuring a live latin band, dinner by Taco House Co., prizes and raffles, and a dance lesson – no experience needed!

Tickets are $35 and includes dinner and soft drink. Reserve your ticket now by texting 226-886-5252 – Limited tickets available! Learn more on the Arts in the Street Fundraiser Facebook event page.

Emergencies Lambton: Power outages

Whether it’s because of a storm, increased demand during heatwaves, or a technical problem, power outages can leave you in the dark for hours, or even days.

Make sure you are prepared:

• Store flashlights with fresh batteries in several places throughout your home and check them regularly
• Acquire a portable charger for your cell phone or tablet.
• Note that wireless service may also be lost during an extended power outage.
• Try to keep your car's gas tank at least one quarter to half-full. Many gas stations may not be in operation during a power outage

During an outage:

• Listen to a battery-powered or “crank” radio tuned to a local station to find out what is happening.
• Do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages. If you need to report an outage, contact your local electricity provider.
• Monitor power outages, but do so sparingly:
  • Bluewater Power
  • Hydro One
  • Cell phone towers may be tied up with calls. You may however be able to text friends or family because texting requires less data.
  • Do not open your fridge or freezer unless absolutely necessary. Discard any thawed food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours.
  • Check on elderly or disabled neighbours.

For more information, visit EmergenciesLambton.ca.

Celebrating Lambton College’s ECE-Fast Track Program graduates

Congratulations to this year’s Early Childhood Education fast-track program graduates!

Over the past few years, the County’s Children’s Services Department has partnered with Lambton College to develop and operate a one-year Early Childhood Educator (ECE) fast-track program. This initiative was designed to support individuals already working in Lambton’s child care and early years sector by providing them with the opportunity to earn their ECE diploma without leaving their permanent positions. The program was delivered during evenings and weekends, allowing students to continue working while pursuing their studies. Lambton College’s leadership team has been a valued and collaborative partner, playing a key role in the development of the fast-track program to help address local labour market needs by retaining ECE’s within Lambton County.

Visit our Careers in Child Care page to learn more about available programs, supports, and career development opportunities.

Some of the Early Childhood Educator fast-track 2025 Graduates with Diane McCahill (Manager, Lambton EarlyON Child and Family Centre & the Parent and Professional Resource Centre) (back row, left) and Kim Godin (Manager, Children’s Services, County of Lambton), Bev Hand (Lambton County Councillor and Mayor of Point Edward), Dana Petko (Lambton College Early Childhood Education Program Faculty), Kerri Finnigan (Lambton College Coordinator, Early Childhood Education Program) and Nicole Domonchuk (Lambton College Associate Dean of Fire Sciences, Health and Community Services at the Lambton College Of Applied Arts and Technology) (front row left to right).

“Wild Wonder” Summer Reading Challenge Starts on Wednesday, July 2

Kids, teens, and adults can participate in the Summer Reading Challenge by registering on Beanstack or at any Lambton County Library location. Complete activities and reading goals for a chance to win prizes. All logged reading will contribute to the Community Reading Goal.

This year, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority will plant trees for every 1,000 books read, up to a total of 50 trees.

Visit LCLibrary.ca/SRC for more information about prizes, programs and events.

Teen Photo Contest submission deadline fast approaching

The deadline to submit photos for this year’s Teen Photo Contest is Sunday, July 6. Participants aged 13 to 18 can submit up to five photographs based on this year’s theme, “Stories in Focus.”

 The Teen Photo Contest is brought to you by Lambton County Library, the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery (JNAAG), and Lambton College. Category and grand prize winners will be announced on Saturday, July 19.

Learn more and submit your photo on the Lambton County Library website.

North Lambton Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show on now at Lambton Heritage Museum

The North Lambton Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show is now open at Lambton Heritage Museum!

Visit the Museum to see examples of the North Lambton Quilters’ Guild’s skill, creativity, and experience. This year’s exhibit includes traditional quilts, as well as other handmade items like clothing, wall hangings, table-toppers, and accessories. The display will also divulge quilters’ inspirations and memories associated with their projects, including why they chose certain patterns or techniques.

Included with regular Museum admission, this exhibit is available until August 31.

Lambton Shores Farmers’ Market returns to Lambton Heritage Museum

The Lambton Shores Farmers’ Market has returned to the grounds of Lambton Heritage Museum!

The market operates every Wednesday morning between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. from now until October 8. Visit and find a selection of fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and more from area farmers and artisans.

For more information, visit the Lambton Shores Farmers' Market Facebook Page.

Lambton County House of Refuge records now available on the Lambton County Archives’ website

Lambton County Archives has added more historical records to its growing online collection of virtual books and research resources. The patient resident registers for the Lambton County House of Refuge, an early predecessor to modern long-term care facilities, are now available on the Lambton County Archives website.

The facility was built by the County of Lambton in 1889 and opened in 1896 to house the destitute, elderly, and infirm, as well as single women from homes, jails, and hospitals. The records detail the original residents of the House of Refuge from 1896 to 1924, offering a unique glimpse into the region’s social history that is now accessible to researchers and the public from anywhere.

County donates vacant land on George Street to Indwell Community Homes for supportive housing build

The County has donated a piece of vacant land on George Street in Sarnia to Indwell Community Homes for Indwell to build up to 50 permanent supportive full-service apartments.

Indwell will develop the project, and an interdisciplinary Indwell team will provide residents with housing, social and health supports.  The Indwell team will include social workers, nurses, addiction and mental health counsellors, and housing support workers working together to provide an enhanced level of support that meets each resident’s unique needs and goals. This results in high levels of housing stability for the residents, and community benefits associated with addressing chronic homelessness.

For more information on Indwell and supportive housing projects like this development, visit www.indwell.ca, and visit www.lambtononline.ca/housing for more information on Housing Services in the County of Lambton.

Seaway Kiwanis donates to Lambton Circles

Thank you to Seaway Kiwanis Club for their generous donation to Lambton Circles’ children’s summer program!

Left to right, Martine Creasor (Lambton Circles Coordinator), Cheri Roberts (Seaway Kiwanis Club member) and Jillian Parker (Lambton Circles Coach).

Strengthening connections through collaboration

The Ontario Works Department was pleased to host two successful collaboration events this spring, the first in March, followed by a dynamic follow-up in May. These sessions brought together staff from Ontario Works and Employment Ontario service providers with a shared goal: to strengthen communication, encourage collaboration, and explore new ways to support community members in reaching their employment goals.

These events were made possible through funding from the Windsor Regional Employment Network (WREN) and served as an opportunity to bring together service providers from across Lambton County to share insights, align efforts, and inspire innovative approaches to employment service delivery.

In addition to rich conversations and practical information-sharing, participants also enjoyed creative team-building activities that brought plenty of laughter and connection, reminding us the value of working together in new and engaging ways.

We’re proud of the enthusiasm and collaboration shown by everyone who participated and look forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead!

Upcoming JNAAG programs and events