This Month in Lambton - November 2023

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

• Lambton Meadowview Villa celebrates 30th anniversary
• Treemendous Communities Grant program supports tree plantings at six County of Lambton locations
• Youth homelessness reduction goal exceeded
• Canada Learning Bond
• Fire safety & home escape planning with Lambton County Library
• Lambton County Library holiday hours
• Unique gift ideas for everyone in the Oil Museum of Canada gift shop
• Discover local toy history in Heritage Hour: Tinkering with Toys of Yesteryear

Lambton Meadowview Villa celebrates 30^th anniversary

Lambton Meadowview Villa recently marked its 30^th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly installed bench and gazebo at the Home. The bench was donated by the Petrolia Lions Club, and the new gazebo was constructed using funds from the Villa Auxiliary, donated in memory of Carolyn Napper.

Treemendous Communities Grant program supports tree plantings at six County of Lambton locations

The County of Lambton and St. Clair Region Conservation Authority partnered with Tree Canada, with support from sponsor LCBO, to plant 30 native trees at six County of Lambton locations through funding from the Treemendous Communities grant program.  

Trees were planted earlier this month at Lambton Heritage Museum, Lambton Meadowview Villa, North Lambton Lodge, Oil Museum of Canada National Historical site, Lambton Public Health, and Lambton County Archives. 

For more information about this initiative visit www.lambtononline.ca/trees. For more information about Tree Canada grants, visit www.treecanada.ca/grants-awards/community-tree-grants/.

Youth homelessness reduction goal exceeded

Lambton County has exceeded a youth homelessness reduction goal.

As a participant of the Built for Zero Canada community, Lambton set a goal in July 2022 to reduce youth homelessness by 25%. Between July 2022 and February 2023, the County of Lambton’s Coordinated Access System reduced youth homelessness by 38%. Since June 2022, there have been 29 youth progressed from experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. Reaching this goal demonstrates effective community collaboration in supporting our most vulnerable. 

In July 2022, under the federal Reaching Home Strategy, the Lambton County Community Advisory Board supported several new initiatives to achieve the youth homelessness reduction goal. Supported by municipally-funded supplements, the creation of two housing case manager positions with Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society (CAS) and Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent (CMHA) was the driving force behind this achievement. These positions were created to improve stability for youth with a history of homelessness and offer ongoing case management to promote progression beyond Provincially funded care. These workers, in conjunction with the youth, multidisciplinary mental health and addictions teams, and other local service providers, have been continuously helping to secure and maintain safe, affordable housing in the community.

Learn more about ongoing homelessness prevention initiatives at lambtononline.ca/homelessness.

Canada Learning Bond

November is Financial Literacy Month and the week of November 13-17 was Education Savings Week. With this in mind, it is a great time to review your own financial health!

While you are updating your own financial information, why not educate your children on finances, banking and saving for their education? This is the perfect time to work together to learn more about financial literacy as a family.

Don’t forget to look into the Canada Learning Bond to see if your children are eligible for up to $2,000 in free money for post-secondary education - including college, university, trade school and apprenticeships!

Learn more about the Canada Learning Bond, find out if you are eligible, and learn how to apply at lambtonlearns.ca.

Fire safety & home escape planning with Lambton County Library

Creating an escape plan with your household can reduce instances of death and injury in residential fires. Join guest speaker Mike Otis from Sarnia Fire Rescue to learn about fire safety and home escape plans at Sarnia Library on Thursday, December 7.

Lambton County Library holiday hours

Lambton County Library will be adjusting its hours during the holiday season. All book return bins and libraries will be closed on the following dates:

Lambton County Library’s virtual library is always open. Visit lclibrary.ca to borrow electronic books, magazines, and newspapers, listen to audiobooks, stream movies and music and more.

Unique gift ideas for everyone in the Oil Museum of Canada gift shop

The Oil Museum of Canada gift shop is stocked up for the holiday season and there are plenty of unique items for the historians, oil industry workers, or museum lovers on your list!

We have books on local and Canadian oil history, oil-scented candles, historic toys, branded items including hats and tea towels, and plenty of stocking stuffer ideas.

New to the shop this year are our Oil Museum of Canada ornaments. Each three-dimensional lacquered brass ornament comes with its own story box that tells a brief history of the Canadian oil pioneering spirit. They make a perfect keepsake or holiday decoration.

The gift shop is open during regular museum hours for all your easy last-minute gifting needs. The museum is open in December every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Discover local toy history in Heritage Hour: Tinkering with Toys of Yesteryear

For many, the holiday season brings fond memories of childhood and playtime. Although the style of play may have changed over the years, toys remain a consistent source of joy and laughter. Have you ever wondered what kind of toys were popular in Lambton County during the past 175 years?

Join Heritage Sarnia-Lambton on Thursday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. for another virtual Heritage Hour presentation titled Tinkering with Toys of Yesteryear.

In this presentation, a panel of local museum professionals will highlight toys in their collection and share the stories they hold. Heritage Hour presentations are free to attend and presented via zoom. Register online at lambtonmuseums.ca.