Section 1 - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

Communities
in Bloom
COMMUNITY
PROFILE BOOK
2012

Contents
Welcome to Lambton Shores
Mayor and CAO’s Message
2012 CIB Committee
2012 CIB Partners
2012 Municipal Partners
2012 CIB Goals & Achievements
2012 CIB Continued Projects
Tidiness
Environmental Action
Community Involvement
Heritage Conservation
Urban Forestry
Landscaped Areas
Floral Displays

Welcome to Lambton Shores…
Naturally the Best Place to Thrive!
The network of communities in Lambton
Shores comprises expansive golden beaches,
popular campgrounds, parks, cycling, hiking
and cross-country ski trails, indoor and
outdoor theatres, rural farms, and
marketplaces. Historic towns and villages
are a shopper’s delight. Naturalists enjoy the
area for the abundance of wildlife, birds and
butterflies found in the Pinery Provincial
Park, at the Lambton Heritage Museum,
Port Franks Wetlands and Forested Dunes,
and along the Rotary Nature Trail.
Lambton Shores Quick Facts:
Incorporated in 2001 by the
amalgamation of Arkona, Bosanquet,
Forest, Grand Bend, and Thedford
Approximately 11,000 people reside in
Lambton Shores, with many cottagers
and campers returning each summer
The Community Services Department
maintains over 30 passive and active
parks, which total 43 hectares
Lambton Shores offers residents and
visitors eight baseball diamonds, eight
sports fields, three tennis courts, 30
parks, and 12 km of trails
Lambton Shores owns and maintains two
of three Blue Flag designated marinas in
Canada. Grand Bend Harbour and Port
Franks Marina were first designated with
the Blue Flag in 2009. The Grand Bend
Main Beach also first received Blue Flag
designation in 2009.

A Message From the Mayor and CAO
I am pleased to extend a warm Lambton Shores welcome once again to the Communities in Bloom judges on behalf of
myself, council and the residents of the wonderful community. We hope that your stay here is an enjoyable one and
that you discover the natural beauty that is Lambton Shores during this time.
In 2001, the Municipality of Lambton Shores came to be as a result of an amalgamation of five diverse communities;
Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend, Ipperwash/Port Franks and Thedford. Over the past eleven years, Lambton Shores has
grown as a unified community, with each community still maintaining its own unique piece of the puzzle.
I believe Communities in Bloom has played a significant role in bringing the people of Lambton Shores together and
for improving the quality of life of this community. We began tentatively at first, entering the Provincial level
“Communities in Bloom” contest thinking that the program was about pretty parks and gardens, only to learn that it
was much more than that, for us it was literally about seeing our sense of “Community” bloom. Communities in
Bloom has become a part of our Community’s way of life for those who live here and work for it, with many of our
maintenance practices following their guidelines.
The Lambton Shores Communities in Bloom keeps setting the bar a little higher each year but rather than being
daunted by the challenge, we have been motivated by it. We hope what is obvious to us with this new pride of place,
this new synergy of communities working together and the great strides we have made in making Lambton Shores
naturally the best place to thrive.
I look forward to welcoming you all personally during your tour.
Bill Weber, Mayor
Welcome Communities In Bloom
It is once again my pleasure to bring greetings from the staff of Lambton Shores to the Communities in Bloom judges.
Established January 1 st 2001 from the amalgamation of five diverse communities, Lambton Shores has been
recognized as one of the most innovative and dynamic municipalities in Ontario when it came to municipal service
delivery and while that is a great reputation to have, we recognized what we lacked was a sense of “Community”.
Creating a sense of community was a far greater challenge than we anticipated and it was believed that it could take
decades to accomplish that.
It wasn’t until Lambton Shores first became involved with Communities in Bloom at the Provincial level, that we
realized that “Communities in Bloom” was much more than plants and gardens and pretty landscapes. It soon became
clear to us that although plants and gardens and pretty landscapes may have been part of CIB, it was much more than
that. We found that Communities in Bloom, was just what it’s name implied, the blooming of community spirit, and it
is that spirit that I have been most impressed with. As I said, we brought five separate and distinct communities to
form one new municipal unit, but it was a unit without a heart or spirit, we were more aware of our differences than
what we had in common. Communities in Bloom helped us see that our community in a different light, it helped us
see that although we may live in different communities we had lots in common, lots to be proud of and that if worked
together as one unit than what we could do far more than what we could do separately.
The results speak for themselves, Communities in Bloom has inspired the people of this community to come together,
to celebrate our successes our differences and our commonalities. From the outset the Lambton Communities in
Bloom Committee has been community driven, with Council and the staff playing more of a supportive role and I think
that is key. We as staff, know that the community expects more from us, and we are happy to partner with our
Communities in Bloom Committee in trying to reach and exceed the expectations of the CIB judges. We look at your
feedback and suggestions as an affirmation of our efforts and motivation to strive harder.
So in closing, welcome to Lambton Shores, a great community made even better because of its involvement with
Communities in Bloom, enjoy your visit
John Byrne, Chief Administrative Officer

2012 Communities in Bloom
Committee Members
Catherine Minielly – Committee Co-chair and Forest Area
Phone: 519-786-3329
Grace Dekker – Committee Co-chair and Port Franks/
Ipperwash Area
Phone: 519-243-3058
Joanne Eastman – Arkona Area
Phone: 519-828-3307
Jessica Bos-Landry – Forest Area
Phone: 519-786-2632
Mary McGregor – Forest Area
Phone: 519-786-4126
Astrid Underwood – Forest Area
Phone: 519-786-4229
Pat Morden – Grand Bend Environment Committee
Phone: 519-238-6732
Harlie Johnston – Grand Bend Environment Committee
Phone: 519-282-6625
Shirley Andraza – Grand Bend Area
Phone: 519-238-8928
Chris Bregman—Grand Bend Area
Phone: 519-243-4015
Linus Kuntz – Grand Bend Area
Phone: 519-238-5892
Ruth Anne Cook—Kettle and Stony Point Area
519-243-1986
Darlene Lacey – Thedford Area
Phone: 519-296-4274
Ruth Illman – Municipality of Lambton Shores
Councillor, Ward 4
Phone: 519-786-2814
Lorie Scott – Municipality of Lambton Shores
Councillor, Ward 3
Phone: 519-243-3005
Shannon Prout – Municipality of Lambton Shores
Staff Liaison
Phone: 519-243-1400
Heritage Marker and Doors Open Subcommittees
Glen Starkey
Phone: 519-786-5070
Louise Thompson
Phone: 519-786-3333
Chris Bregman
Phone: 519-243-4015
Patti Bonesteel
Phone: 519-238-1799
Ron Van Horne
Phone: 519-786-6538
Guidance from Arkona Historical Society
Noreen Croxford
Phone: 519-786-4677
Adrian Koolen
Phone: 519-786-5218
Native Tree Subcommittee
John Cook, Horticulturalist
Phone: 519-899-4372
Rick Doyle, Arborist
Phone: 519-243-1995
Greenwood Nurseries, Thedford
Phone: 519-296-4665
Tree-Mendus Nurseries
Phone: 519-243-1920
Westland Greenhouses, Grand Bend
Phone: 519-238-1321

2012 Communities in Bloom Partners
Arkona and Area Business Association
Arkona Beautification Committee
Arkona Community Foundation
Arkona Home Hardware
Arkona Lions & Lioness Club
Arkona Seniors
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
Bluewater Ford
Centre Ipperwash Community Association
CIBC Forest Branch
Darlene Richter
Forest Agricultural Society
Forest BIA
Forest Community Foundation
Forest Fair Board Ladies
Forest Garden Club
Forest Glen Herb Farm
Forest Kiwanis Club
Forest Rotary Club
Forest United Church
Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bend Environmental Committee
Grand Bend Horticultural Society
Huron Stewardship Association
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
Lake Smith Conservationists
Lambton County Developmental Services
Lambton Wildlife
LIBRO Financial
Municipality of Lambton Shores
North Lambton Community Health Centre
North Lambton Secondary School
Old Ausable River Channel Association
Port Franks Community Police Committee
Port Franks Garden Club
Port Franks Seniors
Riverbend Bar & Grill
Rotary Club of Grand Bend
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 176 Forest
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 498 Grand Bend
Sarnia—Lambton Business Development Corporation
South Western Ontario Steam Threshers
TD Canada Trust, Forest
The Forest Standard
The Lakeshore Advance
Thedford Community Foundation
Thedford Garden Club
Thedford Spirit Club
Thedford Presbyterian Church
Town of Minto
Windsor Park Association
Photos Courtesy Of:
Alf Rider
Arkona Beautification Committee
Beni Van Haaren
Betty Ann Kerrigan
Captured Innocence Photography
Forest Garden Club
Forest Library
Friends of the Pinery Park
Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bend Farmers’ Market
Grand Bend Horticultural Society
Heather Jennings
Judy McLellan
Lambton County Developmental Services
Lou Sprenger
Port Franks Area Camera Club
Port Franks Garden Club
Ruth Illman
The Forest Standard/Hayter-Walden Publications
The Lakeshore Advance
Thedford Garden Club
Tourism Sarnia Lambton
Tracy Rogers

2012 Communities in Bloom Municipal Partners
Municipal Council
Mayor Bill Weber
Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Davis-Dagg
Councillor Dave Maguire
Councillor Doug Bonesteel
Councillor Lorie Scott
Councillor John Russell
Councillor Doug Cook
Councillor Martin Underwood
Councillor Ruth Illman
Administration Department
John Byrne, CAO
Carol McKenzie, Clerk
Karen Cameron, Administrative Assistant
Alda Bongers, Administrative Assistant
Jackie Mason, Administrative Assistant
Roberta Brandon, Administrative Assistant
Patti Richardson, Planner
Randy Lovie, Chief Building Official
Kevin Emery, Information Technology
Glenn Bell, By-Law Officer
Keith Crawford, By-Law Officer
Community Services Department
Brent Kittmer, Director of Community Services
Bill Bentley, South Area Manager
Nick Verhoeven, North Area Manager
Allan Little,
Construction Insp./Drainage Superintendent
Jeff Wolfe, Infrastructure Manager
Ashley Farr, Facilitator of Recreation and Leisure
Shannon Prout,
Acting Facilitator of Recreation and Leisure
Jodie Poland, Administrative Assistant
Tanya Howley, Administrative Assistant
Yvonne Desjardine, Grand Bend Beach Manager
Becky Chalmers, Port Franks Marina Master
Bob Roney, Grand Bend Marina Master
Community Services Operators
Gerald Van Grinsven, South Area Lead Hand
Paul Martin, North Area Lead Hand
Rob Nickles, Shores Recreation Centre Lead Hand
Randy Shaw, Legacy Recreation Centre Lead Hand
Steve Bell
Paul Bossenberry
Chris Bryce
Scott Core
Dale Elliott
Aaron Frayne
Brad Hodgins
Bryce Kadlecik
Chad Maw
Kevin Maw
Corey Turk
Doug Ulrich
Mike Stanlake
Tim Cann
Matt Legault
Treasury Department
Janet Ferguson, Treasurer
Wendy Jennison,
Tax Collector/Deputy Treasurer
Julie Wiseman, Administrative Assistant
Karen Werden, Administrative Assistant
Marilyn McCandless, Administrative Assistant
Carrie Snell, Administrative Assistant
Mandy Vandergunst, Administrative Assistant

2012 Communities in Bloom Goals
and Achievements
Annually, the Lambton Shores CIB committee and the
Municipality have included Judges’ recommendations
in plans for each budget year. Evaluations over the
years have resulted in some of the following: Parks
Management Plan, street furniture purchases,
recycling depots, Green Cone Awareness, Native Tree
project, Heritage awareness programs, partnerships
for community improvements.
1. Tidiness
Municipal staff continue to experiment with weed
treatments. The replacement of interlocking brick, for
enhanced safety and reduced maintenance, continues
with Arkona as the focus in 2012. Lambton Shores
CIB and community groups such as Thedford Spirit
Club, Forest Community Foundation and Arkona
Lions continue street furniture additions—garbage
containers, cigarette dispensers and recycling units.
Parking at West Ipperwash is a complex issue related
to court settlements. The municipality will partner
once again with the First Nations and community
groups to host the West Ipperwash Beach Aquafest.
Murals on buildings will be a future objective.
Community Gardens continue to be a Lambton Shores
objective. 2012 projects include: Grand Bend
Environmental Committee’s garden at Klondyke,
Forest Demonstration garden at the Minielly home,
North Lambton Community Health Centre/North
Lambton Lodge/One Tomato partnership at the
Lodge.
2. Environmental Action
The Municipality is working with Bluewater Recycling
to implement automated recycling for 2013 and plans
are in place for increased public education.
The Lambton Shores CIB Native Tree Project
continues with funding from many community groups
throughout Lambton Shores as well as a grant from
TD Friends of the Environment. Tree planting will
occur at Forest Fairgrounds, Forest Library, Coultis
Park, Port Franks Community Centre, The Legacy
Recreation Centre , Klondyke Park, the Northville

2012 Communities in Bloom Goals
and Achievements
Municipal Centre, and the Bosanquet Public School.
Arkona entry signs will be landscaped with native
plantings as well.
A volunteer Phragmites working group is active in
Lambton Shores, providing public education and
implementing test sites along the lakeshore and
Centre Ipperwash Community Association continues
stewardship programs annually. The municipality has
no authority to implement by laws on West Ipperwash
Beach but can encourage partnerships.
3. Natural and Cultural Heritage
The municipality has provided a second community
grant for the Heritage Awareness Plaque Program.
The first ten successful applicants in 2012 will receive
one hundred dollar grant toward the cost of the
plaque.
The Lambton Shores CIB Heritage Subcommittee is
organizing the Lambton Shores component of Doors
Open Lambton. This County program is a result of
discussions with Lambton Shores CIB and County
staff. Information about the history of bog farming
has been added to the Profile Book in addition to
being highlighted during the judges’ tour.
Our partnership with the First Nation, and in
particular with Hillside Green Thumb Gardeners,
continues to thrive.
4. Urban Forestry
Annual tree planting projects are continuing as
already noted. 10 Community groups in Lambton
Shores have either donated dollars or planted native
trees in 2012. Children’s play areas at Coultis Park,
Klondyke Park, the Port Franks Community Centre
and at Legacy Centre Nursery School will benefit this
year. The native tree coupon and theme tree program
is promoting the planting of: Tulip trees, Tamarack
and Red Bud for 2012. The committee has made
several community group presentations and
distributed our Tree Brochure throughout the
community. It is also available at local nurseries and
on the municipal website.

2012 Communities in Bloom Goals
and Achievements
5. Landscaping
All municipal site plans for new projects have a
landscaping requirement. Horticultural supports are
as follows: Municipal staff will be hiring summer
students with horticultural background; staff will
pursue co-op education as another source of
expertise; the CIB committee continues to have
volunteer experts; Forest Garden club has hired a
horticultural expert to develop the library gardens
master plan; staff obtain advice from a contracted
arborist.
The Centre Ipperwash Community Association with
the support of CIB co-chair is developing a Memorial
Garden at Centre Ipperwash. This garden, designed by
University Horticultural students will be a
community demonstration site. The Arkona entry sign
project will also serve as an education site for native
plantings.
Lambton Shores Nature Trails Committee has begun
to look at trail connections throughout Lambton
Shores.
6.Floral Displays
The 2012 colour theme is: red, purple and orange.
The CIB committee, all the local garden clubs and the
Horticultural Society as well as the Municipality will
support the colour theme. It is posted on the
municipal website and is also available at the
Lambton Shores Municipal offices.

2012 Communities in Bloom Continuing Projects
Theme colours throughout the Municipality - Red,
Purple and Orange
Trash Bash on April 22 - schools and community
involvement
Trash Bash Week in July
Continuation of Adopt-a-Pot and Adopt-A-Plot
Lambton Shores “In Bloom” Contest
Youth partnerships - youth gardening
First Nations Partnership
Promotions - PowerPoint, brochures, signs in stores
Native Tree Project
The native species brochure has helped to educate the
residents of Lambton Shores of native species and
native trees and promotes the planting of such species.
A fundraiser was completed — Birch branch planters
and candle holders were sold at the Garden Show
Support for Lambton Shores Community Design Plan
Improvements
The Heritage Marker Program - ten $100 grants
available for 2012
Century Farm Signage project—the Committee donates
fifty percent of the cost of the signs to the farm owners.
Develop municipal heritage policies in Official Plan
Review
The Heritage Sub-Committee has organized a Doors
Open tour in conjunction with the County
Municipal parks management policies and plan
regarding tree management and turf and groundcover
Support the Recreation and Leisure Master Plan
recommendations for enhanced parks and recreation
staffing

Tidiness
Municipal
Municipal Parks and Playgrounds
Lambton Shores Community Services Department maintains
approximately 30 parks and playgrounds by ensuring grass is
cut, garbage and litter containers are picked up and emptied,
picnic tables and benches are set out, and playground
equipment is regularly inspected and maintained. Recent
playground installations and upgrades include:
Klondyke Park, Grand Bend (Accessible)
Grand Bend Optimist Park/Lion’s Park
Grand Bend Beach (Accessible)
Thedford Village Complex (Accessible)
Legacy Recreation Centre (Accessible), Thedford
Municipal staff developed the Lambton Shores Parks Green
Plan for its parks operations which included items such as
increased garbage and recycling depots.
2012 Park Improvements include:
Pavilion Roof Replacements, Port Franks Marina and
Arkona’s Utter Park
Grand Bend Lion’s Park Baseball Diamond Upgrades
McRae and Coutis Park Backstop Upgrades, Forest
Eilber Park Washroom Upgrades, Grand Bend
Grand Bend Municipal Beach
The Grand Bend Beach is one of our most important assets.
The beach facility consists of approximately 11 acres of sandy
beach and public parking lots. The Beach House facility
contains public washrooms, change rooms, a concession
booth and observation deck. Daily tasks at the Grand Bend
Beach include:
Cleaning and raking of the beach
Garbage receptacle service
Servicing of washrooms and change area
Operating concessions
Providing information for tourists
2012 upgrades include the Beach House washroom facility
fixtures and countertops.

Grand Bend Marina & Port Franks Marina
Tidiness
Municipal
Lambton Shores operates and maintains two marinas one
at Grand Bend and the other at Port Franks. Both marinas
are key components to tourism, with over 120 seasonal and
37 transient sites. Seasonal staff ensure cleanliness and
services to boaters. The pavilion at the Port Franks Marina
will upgraded with a new roof in 2012.
The Grand Bend Marina was featured as the cover for
Lambton Shores in the Attractions Ontario Passport
Magazine in 2008.
Community Services Staff
The Community Services Staff at Lambton Shores work
diligently to ensure our community is tidy and maintained.
Year-round staff:
Maintain six community centres, including two arenas
Maintain 350km of roadways
Place 30 thousand tonnes of granular annually, and add
dust control measures for granular areas
Maintain 43 hectares of parks and open spaces
Complete roadside grass cutting twice per year
Maintain trees including trimming, removal and
planting
Sweep streets
Place floral baskets and seasonal decorations
Support community clean-up efforts, events and
festivals
Provide snow-removal service for roads, sidewalks and
parking lots.

Tidiness
Municipal/Business/Community Groups
Street Furniture/Community Improvements
Lambton Shores Community Improvement Plans have had a
significant impact on the beautification of downtown areas. The
Plans have identified consistent street furniture designs
including garbage and recycling receptacles. The purchase of
street furniture has been incorporated into new construction
such as the Grand Bend Main Street. Many community groups
have invested dollars to purchase street furniture:
Thedford Spirit Club has donated benches, planters, garbage
containers and cigarette disposal units to enhance the
downtown core and Village Green. The Spirit Club also
designed and purchased banners for the light standards in
Thedford and have enhanced this project by adding
Christmas decorations and banners.
Thedford Seniors have purchased benches for the cenotaph
in Thedford.
Thedford Garden Club has donated benches, picnic tables
and concrete planters to Main Street and Village Green.
Forest BIA partners with the Forest Community Foundation
to purchase benches and garbage containers for the
downtown area. The Forest BIA, with the support of an
economic development grant, has purchased new Christmas
decorations for all the heritage light standards in Forest.
Communities in Bloom has partnered with the Forest
Community Foundation to purchase a recycling unit and
benches for the Forest Library garden renovations.
Arkona Lions have purchased benches for Arkona
Port Franks Garden Club has purchased a bench for the
memorial garden in Port Franks.
Many groups, including CiB have also approached Council
with funding requests for street furniture, thus incorporating
this into the capital budget.

Tidiness
Municipal/Community Groups
Community groups throughout Lambton Shores have partnered with the municipality to tidy and
improve our parks, public open spaces and recreational facilities.
Arkona Lions and Lioness designed and funded the playground equipment at the Arkona
Municipal Building. The same groups raised money to enhance the bridge and trail that
connect Ann Street to Rock Glen. The Arkona Lions and Home Hardware partnered to fund the
gardens and native tree planting at the Arkona Medical Centre.
Arkona Recreation Committee and ball associations have assisted with the maintenance of the
ball diamonds.
The Kaeden Brown Foundation, Arkona Community Foundation, Arkona Lions and Arkona
Lioness are partnering with the municipality to install a new splash pad behind the Community
Centre in Arkona.
Forest Optimists and Minor Ball have donated labour and thousands of dollars over the years
towards the enhancements of Coultis and McRae Parks in Forest. These improvements are
continuing in 2012.
Lake Smith Conservationists partnered with Lambton Shores for the construction of the
Klondyke Pavilion at the Klondyke Sports Park.
The Optimist Club of Ausable Port Franks partnered with Lambton Shores for the construction
of the Port Franks Skateboard Park and for a pavilion scheduled for 2013. The municipality has
also budgeted for renovations at Optimist Hall as well as the resurfacing of the tennis courts at
the community centre. The Optimists have also partnered with the Northville Fire Department
to purchase benches for the Country Manor in Thedford and also Bosanquet School for various
projects and initiatives.
Forest Tri-Sport event and committee has contributed thousands of dollars to the community
over the years. The Forest Optimist Club, Forest Curling Club, Forest Legion, Forest Lawn
Bowling and Forest Dragons Baseball Club all received money for improvement projects thanks
to their roles in assisting with Tri-Sport. The committee also funded the sound buffering in the
Shores Recreation Centre lobby.

Tidiness
Municipal/Community Groups
Forest Garden Club sponsors an annual Garden
Accents Show every spring. The group used their
community grant to build and landscape a garden
shed on the library grounds. They received funds
from the Forest Community Foundation for landscaping
around the refurbished caboose, and they
partnered with service clubs to repaint the caboose.
In addition they have purchased new hanging
baskets and window boxes for the garden shed at
the library and new benches for the grounds.
Forest Agricultural Society received a Forest
Community Foundation grant for planting trees and
re-landscaping at the Forest Fairgrounds.
North Lambton Lodge used a Foundation Grant for
gardens at that renovated facility.
The Forest Legion partners with CIB annually for improvements
around their building.
Plans are underway for a Species at Risk garden at
the Port Franks Community Centre depending on
funding.
ABCA staff applied for a Species at Risk grant for several
projects in the Port Franks area. The money was
used to pay the wages for the ABCA staff, plant material,
and labour. ABCA is partnering with Lambton
Shores CIB in this project. For 2010, a school project
was developed and ABCA is sponsoring a turtle
monitoring program.
Centre Ipperwash Community Association plants
dune grass and Purple Sand Cherry. Lake Smith
Conservationists awarded CICA as the 2010
Conservationists of the Year.

Tidiness
Municipal/Community Groups
Thedford Spirit Club has signed an agreement with
the municipality to lease, maintain and operate
the Thedford Lawnmower Racetrack at the Legacy
Centre. This project has been another source of
community pride in Thedford.
The Thedford Spirit Club purchased Christmas
lights to create a spectacular winter scene at the
Thedford Village Green. The Club has also
purchased additional playground equipment,
spring riders, for this park.
Grand Bend Beach Enhancement Committee
fundraised $1.5 million towards the cost of the
Beach Project. This project helps secure Lambton
Shores position as a major tourist centre and a
leader in beach management.
The Grand Bend Community Coalition is a
partnership of the Grand Bend Community
Foundation and Service Clubs who have matched
municipal dollars for several projects such as:
Optimist Skateboard Park and Basketball
Court
Rotary Clean Water Now project and Rotary
Nature Trail
Beach Elevator—some of the funding for the
Beach House elevator was provided by the
Grand Bend Community Foundation and the
Rotary Club of Grand Bend
Grand Bend Baseball Project revitalization of
the Grand Bend Lions Park—This local
community group has renewed the interest
in youth baseball in Grand Bend and has
assisted with municipal support in major
enhancements to the ball park.

Tidiness
Municipal/Community Groups
Grand Bend Optimist Club revitalization of
the Grand Bend Optimist Children’s Park in
partnership with the Grand Bend Area
Horticultural Society. Design includes the
addition of a pergola, planting areas,
stonework and upgrades to the existing
playground structure
Recreation and Leisure Master Plan and
Related Projects
Each year community groups, community foundations
and the Municipality
partner to plan, fund and
develop Recreation and
Leisure projects that will
continue to enhance the
quality of life for all
residents and visitors to
our communities. The
Recreation and Leisure Master Plan and the Beach
Study Plan generally provide the direction for
these various projects and those that are a direct municipal
responsibility are accounted for in the 10 year
capital plan. Many 2012 improvements are a direct municipal
responsibility through the capital budget and include:
Arkona Utter Ball Diamond Pavilion, Port Franks
Harbour Pavilion renovations, Port Franks Community
Centre Renovations, Port Franks Tennis Court resurfacing.
Recent major enhancements that have been made
possible by community partnerships and fundraising
include Grand Bend Lions Park and Grand Bend
Baseball project , Grand Bend Optimists Park and the
Horticultural Society, and the Kaeden Brown

Tidiness
Municipal/Community Groups
Foundation/Arkona Splash Pad Project, Arkona
Medical Centre Gardens-Lions Club and Home
Hardware.
In some cases, the municipality will provide
support such as grant writing and flow through
tax receipts as a the local organization undertakes
a major fundraising drive. The Forest Curling
Club raised $400,000 for their phase one
renovation in 2011 and the Forest Kineto Theatre
has surpassed their community fundraising goal
of $100,000 for the digital projection equipment
they needed to stay in business. With the
additional dollars raised, the Kiwanis are
installing a new theatre sign and completing the
second floor “heritage room”.
In 2012 other improvements have included
Thedford Village Green enhancements such as
the addition of Christmas lights and spring riders
for the children, funded by the Thedford Spirit
Club.

Tidiness
Business/Institutional
In 2006, three Lambton Shores communities
participated in the “First Impressions” program.
Business owners who participated in the program are
taking special interest in tidiness and the condition of
buildings and façades.
In 2009, Grand Bend participated in a “First
Impressions” exchange with the Town of Wasaga Beach
and there are many recommendations which have been
implemented with the Main Street Enhancement project.
Participation in community clean up activities and
interest in the Communities in Bloom program was one
of the outcomes of the First Impressions program. As a
result, we have:
Forest BIA weekly clean up
Riverbend Bar and Grill have partnered with
Lambton Shores CIB Committee to organize the
Grand Bend Trash Bash
Façade improvements to several businesses in each of
our urban centres
Forest BIA has developed a
façade incentive program
Creation of Community
Improvement Plans for each
Lambton Shores community
“Communities in Bloom
Supporter” signs in the store
windows throughout Lambton
Shores.

Tidiness
Residential/Community Groups
The residents of Lambton Shores take great pride in the
appearance and cleanliness of our community. In 2007,
the Communities in Bloom Committee conducted its
first annual “Lambton Shores Trash Bash”. Volunteers
from all of our communities and North Lambton
Secondary School students pitched in to clean up
roadsides, ditches, park areas and walkways. In 2012,
Lambton Shores Trash Bash was held on Earth Day with
increased participation from businesses, schools and
community groups. We have added a second
municipal-wide Trash Bash in the month of July.
Lambton County Development Services partnered
with the Forest volunteers by assisting with the
cleanup and by providing refreshments to conclude
the event. The North Lambton Secondary School
Key Club participated in the 2012 event in Forest.
Centre Ipperwash Community Association
conducted a clean up at Ipperwash with
approximately 17 volunteers coming out to help out
Port Franks Community Police Committee partnered
with Lambton Shores CIB and the Port Franks
Garden Club to organize the Port Franks Trash Bash.
The group has researched the fact that the biggest
single source of litter in Port Franks appears to be
Tim Hortons’ packaging which accumulates at the
rate of 5-8 items of litter, per kilometer, per day—
winter & summer, on days that this was recorded.
The committee petitioned Tim Hortons’
management to put in place an in-store promotion
campaign, at their Lambton Shores locations to help
promote “Trash Bash 2010 and 2011”.
The Lambton Shores Nature Trails Committee
cleaned up Outer Drive in 2012
Riverbend Bar and Grill partnered with CIB and
conducted the Grand Bend Trash Bash.

Tidiness
Residential/Community Groups
Other community groups and service clubs also conduct
clean-up programs at other times throughout the year.
These include:
Arkona Community Clean Up—Arkona Weed Warriors
Centre Ipperwash Dumpster Day and Community
Clean up
Chicken Island Clean Up
Forest Kiwanis Adopt a Highway Clean Up
Garden Clubs and Horticultural Society Clean Up
(Spring and Fall)
Grand Bend Rotary Club Clean Up
Windsor Park Beach Clean Up
Grand Bend United Church Beach Clean Up—after
every long weekend on the Grand Bend Beach
Lambton Shores encourages the “Adopt a Road” program which families, businesses or community
groups can adopt a road for which they are responsible.

School Partnerships and Youth Programs
Tidiness
Institutional/Community Groups
A goal for Lambton Shores Communities in Bloom is the
enhancement of our school partnerships.
North Lambton Secondary School has supported Trash Bash
and students from the horticulture class have assisted with
planting the Adopt a Pots. In addition, NLSS students have
adopted the King Street parkette, and are planning a
community garden and native tree planting area at the
school.
This year all elementary schools were invited to participate in
the Trash Bash. Hillside School of Kettle and Stony Point
conducted Earth Week with a Trash Bash, purple, red and
orange planting project and community initiatives.
Grade Three science curriculum—Growth and Changes in
Plants. Catherine Minielly has presented to all grade three
students in Lambton Shores elementary schools and at
Hillside School in Kettle Point. The young students were
introduced to species at risk. The lesson was developed in
partnership with ABCA. Students planted a variety of seeds
and were given a journal to record the growth and changes of
their own plants.
Students from Grand Bend Public School assisted municipal
staff with planting dune grass at the Grand Bend Beach.

Tidiness
Residential/Community Groups
Community Garden Projects
The Grand Bend Environment Committee established their first
community garden in 2011 at the Community Health Centre in
Grand Bend. After a moderately successful year at that location,
they were asked to move the community garden to a new location.
The group found an ideal location at the Klondyke Sports Park
that will provide the group with ample space if there becomes a
need to expand in the future.
Thedford Knox Presbyterian Church established a community
vegetable garden on site in 2009. Produce is used for local food
banks and local family donations. The community-minded Knox
Church was built in 1877. The community has a number of lowerincome
families in a non profit housing complex, some of whom
expressed a desire to have the opportunity to grow a vegetable
garden. The property behind the church was spacious and
suitable for a garden.
North Lambton Community Health Centre is an incorporated non
profit organization that provides primary health care and health
promotion programming to population groups facing access
barriers. In the past, some flower gardens were replaced with
vegetables at the Forest site and the Kettle Point site. Volunteers
and program participants looked after the gardens. Produce was
used by the CHC dietician in nutrition programs for youth, and
young moms (Meet me in The Kitchen), and for a local
“Community Kitchen”.
North Lambton CHC and One Tomato Project - In 2012 The One
Tomato Project, in coordination with Sarnia Gives and the
Sarnia Community Foundation, received funding to create four
large community vegetable gardens in Lambton County. The
funding covers: soil, mulch, some tools, plants, and even an
energetic group of high-school-aged youth to help put it all
together. The funding program is called "Change The World" and
its intent is to encourage youth to volunteer in their communities.
The builds are planned to occur in spring 2012. The North
Lambton Community Health Centre is partnering with the One

Tidiness
Residential/Community Groups
Tomato Project and North Lambton Lodge to develop vegetable gardens at the NLL site and
plan to involve North Lambton Secondary School students.
The Minielly Project—CIB Committee Co-Chair, Catherine Minielly and husband Jim, are
experimenting with raised beds at their Forest home. This will be a “pilot” project for the raised
bed concept and is intended as a model for other interested residents. It is hoped that this
garden will generate enough interest for it to be expanded to a larger area for many families in
the Forest area to enjoy.
The Arkona Community Garden was established in 2012 near the water treatment plant by a
local man who thought it would be an ideal location for a garden. He has gathered a small
group of eager volunteers who are determined to make the project a success.