This Month in Lambton - September 2023

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

• Building permit applications and by-law reporting now online
• Volunteer with Lambton Heritage Museum
• Learn about watersheds and biodiversity during October 6 PA Day event
• Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival returns to Lambton Heritage Museum
• Oil Museum of Canada Takes Part in Agricultural Awareness Day
• Halloween Treats Await at Oil Museum’s ‘Cackling Cauldrons’ Trick-or-Treat Event
• Emergencies Lambton - Flash Flooding

Building permit applications and by-law reporting now online

The County’s Building Services Department is now accepting building permit applications and by-law reports through Cloudpermit, an online, cloud-based software.

With Cloudpermit, you can apply for a building permit and submit by-law reports easily and securely online. Cloudpermit allows applicants to monitor the progress of their application or report and allows Building Inspectors and By-law Officers immediate access to information and updates while conducting on-site visits.

Applicants can also check the status of a permit, book an inspection, communicate with the Building Services Department, request changes to an existing permit application, and receive results all within the online system. This streamlined process will help increase processing efficiencies, modernize service, and provide more real-time information to both applicants and Building Services Department staff.

Online building, plumbing, and septic permit applications, as well as by-law reporting, are available through the County for residents of Brooke-Alvinston, Dawn-Euphemia, Oil Springs, Petrolia, Enniskillen, Plympton-Wyoming, Point Edward, St. Clair Township, and Warwick. Applying through the online portal is encouraged, however paper applications and inspection requests by phone will still be accepted.

Learn more at www.lambtononline.ca/building.

Volunteer with Lambton Heritage Museum

Are you interested in discovering more about your local history and sharing stories through programming, visitor engagement, or working with the collection? Lambton Heritage Museum is seeking new volunteers to join our dedicated team!

Volunteers are a vital resource to museums, as they can help with programming and special events, perform research, and document artifacts in the collection. In return, volunteers learn local history, support the Museum’s mission, and give back to their communities.

Lambton Heritage Museum needs a variety of hands and skillsets, so if you are looking for a place to donate your time and experience, we want to hear from you! Positions available include Collections Support, Gardener, Museum Guide, and Special Events and Programs Volunteer. Students can earn their community involvement hours or set up an internship or co-op placement.

We also need dedicated volunteers to assist with the upcoming Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival on October 14 and 15, and our holiday programs in November and December. For more information and to fill out an application, visit the volunteer page on the Museum website.

Learn about watersheds and biodiversity during October 6 PA Day event

Did you know that our daily habits and activities can impact the soil and water of our watersheds? Visit Lambton Heritage Museum on Friday, October 6, for a special PA Day event with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Drop-in between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and take part in fun games, demonstrations, and lessons on where our water comes from, how we can prioritize the health and wellbeing of our watersheds, and the types of species that live there.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (65+) and students, $3 for children, and children aged 3 and under are free.

Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival returns to Lambton Heritage Museum

Get your holiday shopping bags ready! The Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival returns to Lambton Heritage Museum on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Welcoming more than 3,500 visitors, this annual event is one of the largest craft festivals in the Lambton Shores area and the Museum’s biggest fundraiser. Proceeds from the festival are used to support Museum programming, exhibit renewal, and artifact conservation.

Browse handmade items from more than 65 vendors selling a range of products including home décor, candles, clothing and apparel, food and drink, needlework, jewelry, woodworking, and more. Get a head start on your holiday shopping with plenty of festive items. There’s something for everyone, and fun for the whole family. This year, children are invited to make a spooky spider web craft in our Rokeby School, and families can watch historical demonstrations including quilting and timber-framing.

Admission is $5 and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information and a list of participating vendors this year, please visit the Museum’s website.

Oil Museum of Canada Takes Part in Agricultural Awareness Day

On Friday, October 6, the Oil Museum of Canada is taking part in ‘Agricultural Awareness Day’ at the Brigden Fair.

The Agricultural Awareness Day event will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the Coliseum building of the Brigden Fairgrounds, located at 2435 Courtright Line. Admission is $5 during the program and elementary school-aged children and younger are free. The Museum is operating a booth in the Coliseum demonstrating connections between local oil heritage, industry, and agriculture.

Looking for more fun activities on the PA Day? The Oil Museum is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Located about 15 minutes east of Brigden, the Museum has many entertaining displays and several interactive components. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (65+) and students, $3 for children aged 4 to 12, and children aged 3 and under are free. For more information, visit the Museum’s website.

Halloween Treats Await at Oil Museum’s ‘Cackling Cauldrons’ Trick-or-Treat Event

Get your costumes ready! The Oil Museum’s annual Trick-or-Treat event ‘Cackling Cauldrons’ is taking place this year on Saturday, October 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This family-friendly event invites visitors to get in the Halloween spirit. Wear your favourite costume and trick-or-treat through seven outbuildings on the Museum grounds. Take part in games like ‘bobbing’ for apples (on a string) and witches hat ring toss and make Halloween-themed crafts. There’s something for everyone!

Thanks to our generous sponsors at Shell Canada, this event is FREE to attend with no registration required!

Emergencies Lambton - Flash Flooding

Flash flooding, as was experienced in east Lambton late last month, can wreak havoc on a community in a short amount of time. Roads may be closed, well water contaminated, and basements flooded within hours.

If a “Flood Watch” is issued by your local conservation authority for your community, you can prepare yourself by:

• Inspecting or preparing your home 72-hour emergency kit.
• Listen to weather radio, monitor your municipalities digital channels, and follow the news media, for updates.
• Follow the instructions and advice of local authorities.
• Make sure you have bottled water available.
• Move valuables to a higher level of your home and bring outdoor furniture inside.

If you live in a flood-prone area or believe you are at risk, evacuate immediately and move to higher ground. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately, following recommended evacuation routes.

When driving, stay away from valleys and low-lying areas, which can quickly fill with water. If water is flowing across the road, so that you cannot see the pavement, turn around and take a different route.