The St. Clair Township
Issue 8
Volume 15
August 2022
T H E T O W N S H I P O F S T . C L A I R
A new heritage story board has been erected at Guthrie Park to tell the tale of the only ship ever built in Corunna, the Kate Bully. This story came as a surprise to many, and the new historical installation is a fascinating, carefully researched read. The members of Heritage St. Clair, the group responsible for the many historical boards that have been installed throughout the township, gathered in late June to dedicate the Kate Bully installation. The HSC mem- bers, along with members of the Abandoned Cemetery Committee, also dedicated their newest effort to honour the pioneers who opened up the land that has become St. Clair Township. See Heritage Corner, page 11, for more about this important work.
Above: Heritage St. Clair (MSC) member Bob Goodearle, St. Clair Township Councillor Rose Atkins, MSC/ Cemetery Committee member Bob Nicole; Paul Smith; Deputy Mayor Steve Miller; Jan Smith; MSC member Dave Taylor; MSC President Dave Pattenden; Mayor Steve Arnold. Bonnie Stevenson photo
Support local business; nominate your favourites for the OBAAs
St. Clair Township has some great businesses within its borders and now is the time to nominate some of them for a Sarnia-Lambton Cham-
ber of Commerce 32nd Outstanding Business Achievement Award (OBAA). The categories you can nominate them for include: Agri-Business; Customer Service- Business or Individual; Innovation; Cool Place to Work; Inclusivity; Young Profes- sional; Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership; Non-Profit Organization of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; Business of the Year; Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year.
Nomination forms can be completed online until Aug. 11 by logging on to: https://www.slchamber.ca/news-events/obaas .
COME ON, ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP! Let’s see some of OUR terrific business people and organizations honoured on-stage at the OBAA Gala Evening on Oct. 21!
At Thompson Gardens, residents Jean Pretty and Bob Crow visited the BEACON bin to check out their printed copy. See page 4 for more information.
Municipal Notes Pages 2-4
Works Dept. Notices Pages
5-7
Community Contact Page
15
Around the Township Pages
20-18
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 2
MUNICIPAL NOTES
Important Dates for the 2022 Municipal Election
Changes have been made to the Municipal Elec- tions Act, and as such, the Nomination Period has been shortened.
For those interested in running for a position on Council, for Lambton Kent District School Board Central Lambton School Board Trustee or for St. Clair Catholic District North and Central Lambton School Board Trustee, nominations are now being accepted at the St. Clair Township Civic Centre. The final day to file your nomination for any office not- ed above, known as Nomination Day, is Aug. 19, 2022.
Note: Mail-in ballots are expected to be received at the beginning of October.
By-Law for election signs
By-Law 27 of 2022 requires that campaign signs not be posted until Sept. 1 and not exceed 20
See More Municipal Notes, page 3
From page 2
square feet in size. No permit is required to install election signs in any zone, but they cannot be in- stalled on private land unless the owner’s permission is obtained.
Signs posted on municipal road allowances will be restricted to areas and locations that do not ob- struct vision for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, and they are subject to the consent of the adjacent land owner. They are also not permitted in municipal road allowances abutting public lands, including parks.
Any signs removed in this way will be done at the expense ($200 per sign) of the candidate, and this money will be considered part of the candidate’s own contribution to their campaign. Signs must be removed within 48- hours after the day of the elec-
The issue of allowing the installation of a new detached secondary dwelling on an existing dwelling property site was discussed at a public meeting dur- ing the July 11 meeting of council. The discussion was held in connection with a rezoning request. Sen- ior Planner Ian MacDougall cited the existing By-law of 2003 which addresses secondary dwellings: “Unless otherwise stated, no lot shall be occupied by more than one main building in any zone which permits residential uses.”
Mr. MacDouglall said three scenarios that would allow secondary dwellings included; in the basement of a pri- mary dwelling, in an attached garage or a detached garage. The proponent’s proposal to attach a modu- lar home to the existing dwelling did not comply with any of the three requirements.
More Municipal Notes, page 4
Gateway sign installed along Hwy. 402
A new gateway sign along Hwy. 402 has been erected to raise Lambton County’s profile with those traveling along this busy transportation corridor. At the ribbon- cutting on July 7, Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott noted, “We want people to know we are here and that we have a lot to offer for businesses, visitors and resi- dents alike.”
Tourism Sarnia-Lambton spearheaded the work to se- lect an appropriate location for the sign and presented potential design concepts to council for consideration.
The site and sign design were approved by council in
2016 and the consulting firm, Stantec, helped to develop the site and a design that incorporated the now-familiar County of Lambton logo and the “Discoveries That Mat- ter” community branding that makes reference to the county’s growing reputation for advancements in green energy and its Integrated Community Sustainability Plan.
Above: Present for the ribbon-cutting to commission the new Lambton County gateway sign, from left: St. Clair Township Deputy Mayor/County Councillor Steve Miller; Lambton County Warden/Enniskillen Mayor Kev- in Marriott; St. Clair Township Mayor Steve Arnold; and Brooke-Alvinston Mayor/County Councillor Dave Ferguson. County of Lambton photo
https://www.voterlookup.ca/home.aspx
August 2022 Page 4
From page 3
Mr. MacDougall cited a previous discussion sur- rounding a proposed development in Courtright. The developer asked that detached secondary dwellings be allowed on primary dwelling lots. Since the by-law clearly allows only one primary dwelling on a proper- ty, council denied the developer’s request and the proponent’s request for the rezoning.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the pro- ponent had gone to great expense to move the sec- ondary dwelling, a manufactured home (not to be confused with a mobile home), onto his property; an appeal to council’s decision may be filed.
Council agreed the township’s official plan should be reviewed and updated if necessary.
St. Clair Township residents considering the con- struction of a secondary dwelling on their property should contact the township office in advance of starting the project. By-laws and any attendant per- mits for a project need to be satisfied to ensure that such a dwelling will be allowed.
Demolition bids approved
The decades old Courtright Community Centre,
a.k.a. Silverdome, and the Sue’s Country Kitchen building at the Mooretown campground will soon be demolished after a bid for their demolition was ap- proved. No date has been set for their demise.
MSC projects/upgrades report
The Moore Sports Complex upgrades continue, alt- hough the arena project has encountered some de- lays. Rink #2 is now expected to be ready for July 31 instead of July 17. Rink #1 will not be available on Oct. 1, but is expected to be ready by Nov. 6.
The pool is in need of a repair to a cracked 144” long cast pipe below the pool deck and is expected to be closed for about four weeks, from Aug. 26 to Sept.
The paper version of the St. Clair Township Bea- con is back in limited distribution at township librar- ies and at the St. Clair Township Civic Centre. If you have an online subscription to The Beacon, or are able to access it online at www.stclairtownship.ca, please leave the paper copies for the people who do not have access to a computer or are more comfort- able reading an in-hand publication.
Those who wish to have a paper copy of The Bea- con but have no one pick up a copy for them should contact the municipal office at 519-867-2021. A friend or family member can also email the person’s full residence address to beacon@stclairtownship.ca to have a copy sent. Please do not request this op- tion if you are mobile and able to access one of the distribution locations.
Right: The pile of bins shown here were each stocked with a limited number of Beacons and township staff member Rachael Fabbri, shown with the bins that had been prepared for distribu- tion, also helped get them out on time to the dis- tribution locations. The bins will be replenished monthly with new editions.
26, while this is taking place. The project will require that the pool be drained, an 18” wide by 144” long trench be dug, and the remaining cast pipe be eliminated.
Community Services staff shortage
Staffing issues continue to plague the Commu- nity Services department. Seasonal parks and campground crews are short of personnel, and existing staff members are working hard to make up for the shortages.
Business owners and property owners are asked to maintain their frontages. Keep walk- ways clear of trash, debris, tripping hazards and branches (both on the ground and over- hanging).
CSX tracks need to be removed
For some time, a stretch of CSX track in south St. Clair Township has posed a problem for the township and for those who must cross them on foot or in their vehicles. David Neeley, St. Clair Township Coordinator of Operations, told council he had recently attended an on-site meeting with Transport Canada and four CSX representatives. The CSX reps said the crossing at Broadway and Bentpath would be rebuilt, but no written agree- ment had been forthcoming and Transport Canada is not willing to enforce the track repairs.
The CSX reps refused to discuss a length of missing CSX track, about 300-400 feet in length, and they said the bad tracks that remain cannot be removed.
Mr. Neeley says mediation is being tried to remedy the situation, but MP Marilyn Gladu will be contacted again if it isn’t helpful.
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 6
From page 5
Don’t wait ‘til it’s too late – prepare your action plan NOW!
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 7
From page 6
Sod-turning hails the start of the Corunna skateboard park
The new skateboard park being developed at the Co- runna Athletic Park (shown below in an artist’s render- ing) is expected to be ready for opening during Captain Kidd Days on Civic Holiday Weekend. The tentative grand opening is set for Sunday, July 31 at 11 a.m.
The facility was funded by a 50/50 agreement be- tween the Skateboard Park Committee and St. Clair Township, just like other community projects. The committee, as well as many of the youth who will be using the park,
have been hold- ing fundraisers to help gather their share of the $200,000 cost.
A ceremonial sod-turning, left, was held at the site on June 27 to kick off the project.
In attendance for the skateboard park sod-turning were, from left: Mayor Steve Arnold; Skateboard Park Committee member Nicki Krohn; Director of Commu- nity Services Kendall Lindsay; Councillor Tracy King- ston; Deputy Mayor Steve Miller; Committee mem- bers Chantal Dale; Geoff Dale.
Bonnie Stevenson photo
St. Clair River Trail bench sponsorships available
Benches like the one shown below are a welcome sight to a weary walker along the St. Clair River Trail.
These handsome, durable benches are fastened to custom precast concrete bases, and an engraved aluminum plaque is included in the $3,000 cost of sponsorship.
The benches can be located in St. Clair Township parks along the St. Clair River Trail or within the right-of-way of the St. Clair Parkway. Some limitations apply to park loca- tions where other benches are already in place, and right-of- way locations must meet safety and road maintenance con- siderations.
For more information, please contact Dave Cram at
dacram@gmail.com .
The Enbridge Storage Enhancement project was undertaken to allow the storage of additional natural gas and to im- prove the deliverability of Enbridge storage operations; this will help to address an increase in demand for natural gas. New technology will boost operating pressure to efficiently move the gas through existing pipeline that has been enlarged or rerouted in some areas, and replaced with larger pipe in others. The upgrading and installation of new equipment in existing stations is also planned, as well as remediation activities. Project completion is expected to take place around August of this year. Project information source: Enbridgegas.com
Lambton County Library branches offer much more than books
Summer is a great time to relax with a good book or take up a new hobby or interest. If you have a library card, you have access to the books, paper or digital, and a lot more. And if you don’t have a library card, get one. They’re free! For more information on locations, services and hours of operation visit www.lclibrary.ca
*Brigden 519-864-1142): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
*Corunna (519-862-1132): Monday through Friday, 10
Summer reading program continues
Lambton County libraries currently have a reading program in progress. This summer’s theme is A Universe of Stories and chil- dren who participate can vie for amazing prizes. Age-specific packages in English or French are available for children ages 0-12 when registered for the program, which will run through August. Online activities, games, and challenges will also be available at: www.lclibrary.ca/srp.
If
a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*Courtright 519-867-2712): Tuesday, Saturday, 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.; Thursday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*Mooretown (519-867-2823): Monday, Saturday, 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*Sombra (519-892-3711): Tuesday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
*Port Lambton (519-677-5217): Monday, Saturday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
*Wilkesport (519-864-4000): Tuesday, Saturday, 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m.; Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
computers are not your thing,
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Beacon At Your Local Library!
Ellie and Evie Stirling colour at the Corunna library.
Starter Company Plus now accepting applications
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is now of- fering grants of up to $5,000 to small business owners and entrepreneurs through the Starter Company Plus pro- gram.
Six grants totalling $30,000 are available and will provide successful applicants with capital to grow an ex- isting business or start a new one, with coaching and ac- cess to peer-led support sessions.
Intake for the 2022 Starter Company Enterprise Plus program will continue until Sept. 16 at 4 p.m., when all fully-completed applications must be submitted.
The Sarnia-Lambton Small Business Enterprise Centre has been hosting online Starter Company Plus infor- mation sessions; there is one planned for Aug. 10 from 2:30 p.m to 3:30 p.m. To register for this session, please contact kaila@sarnialambton.on.ca .
Sombra Days fun, music, and tournament excitement returns
Summer 2022 has returned to being a sun and fun season in St. Clair Township after two years of relative boredom.
A weekend of sunshine and warm temperatures set the scene for Sombra Days, held July 8 to 10.
Right: This rousing 2-pitch contest pitted The Meltons against The Perrys. One of the highlights in the game came when a scorching swing by Mel- tons batsman Brett Boersma launched the ball into the outfield, giving teammate Michelle Wal- ton (in black) a home run and completing his own dash for home plate past Perrys catcher Kayla Kline’s empty mitt.
In addition to some fantastic two-pitch and vol- leyball action, music, dancing and a host of special activities for the children, two fundraiser draws made two lucky people very happy.
The 16-foot aluminum boat, equipped with a 25
hp Mercury motor, was won by Gary DeKort of Wallace- burg. Mr. DeKort admitted to being extremely excited when he was called after the draw, and a witness con- firmed he took less than half an hour to get to the park to claim his prize.
Draw spokesperson Vince Gagner says the logos on the side of the boat, pictured right, “…symbolize the proud connection between the Building Trades and our community. The two boat draws held this year and last year raised $100,000 in revenue that all goes directly back to local projects in support of our local children and youth.” He expressed appreciation to the Sombra Days organizers for their good work. “Thanks for all you
do, Sombra Township Optimists and Sombra Sports and Recreation.”
All 2,000 50/50 tickets sold out and the $2,000 win- ner was Brandon Van Vaerenberghe. He’ll find it handy since he’s getting married this year. Money raised by the draws will help pay off the multi-purpose pad and rink project planned for the park.
Above, from left: Brian Primeau, President, Sombra Sports and Rec; Louise Reek, President, Sombra Town- ship Optimists; raffle winner Gary DeKort; and Draw Co- ordinator Vince Gagner; are shown with the boat raffle prize.
Right: The Beaver Valley wagon treated kids of all ages to a ride around the baseball field with horses ‘Rock’, in the foreground,
and ‘Star’ .
Above: Sadie Orrange, 4, decorates a paper plate as her brother, Rory, 2, supervises and mom, Megan, wonders if the paint is washa- ble. The children were doing artwork at the Sombra library craft table.
Left: Paisley Benjamin, 9, searches for ancient fossils at the Sombra Museum table. Among the ‘finds’ unearthed during the event were a fossilized tooth from an otodus obliquus (early shark-like water animal between 45-
60 million years old) to a coprolite, (the scientific name for fossilized
prehistoric animal do-do).
Early pioneers of Froomefield honoured with memorial stone
By Bonnie Stevenson
Members of Heritage St. Clair, the Abandoned Ceme- tery Committee, and several other talented volunteers knowledgeable in the history of the Moore/Sombra area, now St. Clair Township, have been working hard to honour the memories of early local pioneers.
Abandoned cemeteries, where tombstones have been left to crumble and those who lie beneath have long been forgotten, are being tidied and their residents are being identified thanks to this determined group.
The Froomefield Pioneer Cemetery at the corner of Church Street and the St. Clair Parkway in Froomefield has been cleared of the few remaining toppled, illegible stones, which now lay to the
side of the yard in a neat pile. Many hours of research by volunteers Glenda Young and Catherine Bouman were required to reveal the names of the people buried there, and those names are now etched into the back of a new memorial stone.
According to Ian Mason, one of the re- searchers on the project, there are sever- al abandoned cemeteries in the township and the committee had to make a choice as to which one would be worked on first. “We picked the one at Froomefield be- cause of its high visibility and potential viewership once it was enhanced,” he said. “The old stones suffered from time and the new stone will maintain the list of names for the future.”
Along with the memorial stone, the talents of Jan and Paul Smith were called upon to create a story board outlining the history the pioneer cemetery, once the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church.
The Smith’s also created the Kate Bully story board, which is shown on page 1 during its own dedication event.
From page 1
Corunna-built ship story board
The new Heritage St. Clair story board at the south end of Guthrie Park tells the tale of the only commercial vessel ever built in Co- runna. The Kate Bully, a 144-foot long two- masted schooner, was built just south of Guth- rie Park at a dock and stocks built specifically for the construction. The schooner’s story is one of St. Clair Township’s best kept secrets.
It was known to be a fast ship but in 1869, it couldn’t outrun a vicious Lake Michigan gale. What happened next? The story board holds the answers.
Above: The new Memorial Stone erected in the former St. Mary’s Church
grounds in Froomefield carries the names of all of the souls who were buried there. Attending the recent dedication of this stone were members of Herit- age St. Clair and the Abandoned Cemetery Committee, volunteers, and township representatives. They included, from left: HSC President Dave Pat- tenden; Doug White; Dave Taylor; Bob Goodearle; Bob Nicol; Councillor Rose Atkins; Jan Smith; Deputy Mayor Steve Miller; Paul Smith; and Mayor Steve Arnold.
Below: During the dedication of the memorial stone, a story board, which describes the building and history of St. Mary’s Church and its associated churchyard, was also dedicated. The church was built in 1840 with funds raised by Col. Froome Talfourd, who also donated the land. The cemetery is thought to have been in use from 1839 to 1878.
Stevenson photos
Heritage St. Clair page features map showing historic plaques and storyboards throughout the township
Heritage St. Clair has updated its page on the St. Clair Township web- site, and one of the features now on view St. Clair Township’s Historic Points of Interest map. This interactive map points out the locations of these colourful and educational installations and includes photographs of them so you’ll be sure not to miss them. Here’s a link you can use to go directly to St. Clair Township’s Historical Points of Interest page:
https://stclairtownship.ca/st-clair-townships-historical-
points-of-interest/
More Heritage Corner, page 12
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 12
M o r e H E R I T A G E C O R N E R
From page 11
Moore Museum volunteer dinner resumes
Another happy annual event, the Moore Museum volun- teer appreciation dinner, resumed on July 12. About 65 volunteers, staff, and township council members gathered at the Corunna United Church to enjoy a scrumptious meal catered by members of the church.
Bottom right: After many months of absence, the volun- teers were welcomed back by Museum Curator Fiona Doherty and updated by Dave Taylor on work being done at the museum site. Mayor Steve Arnold thanked the volunteers and staff for preserving local heritage for future generations. A moment of remembrance was ob- served for six volunteers who had passed away during the pandemic shutdown, including: Eva Dalrymple; June Maginn; Arnold Pole; Reta Wilson; Bryce MacPherson; and Edith Bailey.
Top Right: Museum volunteer Dennis Dudley was one of several appreciative volunteers who returned for
seconds.
New museum members are always welcome!
New members are always welcome at both St. Clair Township museums. For more information email: Som- bra Museum, sombramuseum@gmail.com or Moore Mu- seum, mooremuseum@stclairtownship.ca .
Stevenson photos
Train event at Moore Museum- from dinos to Arrows
When the Moore Museum train room caretakers reimagined the 2022 Train Room event, they decid- ed to think outside the box. From a dinosaur park to the future of aviation, this year’s event boasted two ambitious new train layouts. The kids got a kick out of the dinosaur park, where a cranky dino- saur roared and glowed red each time a train went by. For the adults, an aviation layout featured a tiny airborne Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow and a glimpse into the future of Canadian space explora- tion. About 200 people attended the event.
Above: Leon Snider, 7, watches the Dinosaur Park Express evade the attentions of a giant tyrannosaurus-rex.
More Heritage Corner, page 13
Plaque has meaning for best friends from Port Lambton
Childhood best friends Ben Randell and Mike Brown of Port Lambton went their separate ways as adults, but they both joined the Canadian Coast Guard with different roles to play.
One day, an old nameboard from the Canadian Government lighthouse tender C.G.S. Lambton, installed in the lobby of the Parry Sound Coast Guard Base, was recognized as one of the last remaining artifacts from a Canadian Coast Guard ship that met a tragic end in the line of duty.
A large memorial plaque was created to com- memorate the 100th anniversary of the loss of the lighthouse supply ship which foundered in Lake Superior during a strong gale near Caribou Island on April 19, 1922. The doomed ship was
delivering sup- plies and person- nel to light sta- tions along the lake when it sank with all 22 souls aboard.
On July 15, 2022, the plaque
was dedicated by the Union of Canadian Transport Employees, the Cana- dian Merchant Service Guild, and the Canadian Coast Guard to the memory of those lost a century ago.
In a chilling excerpt from a detailed story about C.C.S. Lambton, Mike Brown wrote, “She was last seen by the steamship Midland Prince some-
Best friends Ben Randell, Canadian Coast Guard Facility Manager, Real Prop- erty, Safety and Security and Mike Brown, Canadian Coast Guard Fleet Safety Officer, Great Lakes Sector, with the commemorative plaque.
Submitted photo
where off Caribou Island. The captain and crew reportedly watched the lighthouse tender battle with giant waves but were unable to render any assistance and, suddenly, the ship disappeared.”
According to a map of western Lake Superior that has been marked with the approximate location where the Lambton “disappeared”, it was found that the ship perished in a sector of the lake where, 53 years later, the Edmund Fitzgerald would suffer the same fate.
Sombra Museum Blueberry Social – a sweet way to pass a summer day
The museum’s 20th annual Blueberry Social on July 9 was a great success, the first major event the museum has held since the pandemic shutdown. About 65 people attended, enjoying desserts like cheesecake, coffee cake, tarts, bars, blondies and muffins, as well as the traditional social punch. A special treat came from Crystal’s Ice Cream Shack of Sombra; super scooper Dave dished out delicious blueberry cheesecake ice cream. In the meeting room, visitors also enjoyed a slideshow highlighting photos from the Social’s first 19 years.
This year, the social was held partially outdoors where visitors sat comfortably under shade tents on the Cultural Centre lawn to enjoy a concert by the Bluewater Chordsmen. Many visitors also wandered over to visit the Friends of the St. Clair information display
where items such as water bottles, fish lures and reusable straws were being given away, and they could learn more about the St. Clair River.
The museum would like to thank the St. Clair River Trail Committee for the use of their shade tents, as well as the volunteers who came to help out in the morning and afternoon, and to help put up and pack up the tents.
Photo left: Volunteer Shelley Lucier-Lord helped served up an impressive variety of luscious blueberry treats.
Right: The Bluewater Chordsmen entertain an appreciative audience during their lawn concert.
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 14
100th Lambton County Plowing Match on the way
The long-awaited 100th anni- versary of the Lambton County Plowing Match is finally on the way. The public is invited to at- tend the match free of charge on
Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1748 Rokeby Line in St. Clair Town- ship. Plowing methods from classic to antique in several classes, horse plowing competitions, youth activities, on- site vendors, a food booth, and displays of antique ma- chinery will be featured. And for entertainment, enjoy the popular Scott Manery and the Barn Burners. A grant from the Lambton County Creative County program and promotional assistance from Tourism Sarnia-Lambton ensures this will be the event of the century.
Teacher Robert Walicki, right, describes the rapport devel- oped between LCPA members and the students while the 100th anniversary brand was being established and marketing materials and strategies were being developed. Four of the students who worked on the project are shown above, from left: Logan Lambert, Ayla Goodrow, Evelyn Cole, and Benton DeGurse. Stevenson photo
The 100th anniversary was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, but Dennis Bryson, presi- dent of the Lambton County Plowmen’s Association, says community support for the event has not diminished. “We are excited to be back and have exceptional sup- port from our sponsors and collaborative partners to cel- ebrate 100 years this September,” he said.
New for 2022 is the Lambton County Plowmen’s Asso- ciation (LCPA) collaboration with a team of talented stu- dents from St. Patrick’s High School’s Technology De- partment. Their teacher, Robert Walicki, was impressed by the way the LCPA and the students worked together. “As an educator, to watch the members of our LCPA in- teract and share their knowledge with our students, and immerse themselves into learning new digital sandbox concepts, was truly inspiring. The LCPA project is a fan- tastic example of multigenerational collaborative life- long learning in action.”
The students did everything from rebranding the LCPA, including its logo (see top of page), to doing on-air promotional interviews with those associated with the event. Student spokesperson Benton DeGurse expressed appreciation for the valuable experience the group gained during the 100th anniversary project. “We would like to thank the Lambton Plowmen’s Association and Mr. Waliki for setting up the opportunity to gain real world technical and media marketing experience. We cannot wait to transfer the skills we had the opportunity to har- ness throughout the project in our future endeavours,” he said.
The 100th anniversary Lambton County Plow- ing Match is slated for Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1748 Rokeby Line in St. Clair Township. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with plowing starting at 10
a.m. For more information, call Linda Bryson at 519-828-3311 or Kody Vandevenne at 519-809-
Proposed Eastern Power Inc. hydrogen-ready power plant site
The new Eastern Power Inc. natural gas-fired/hydrogen
-fired plant planned for a site near Courtright will join the company’s existing natural gas-fired plant located nearby if approved. The company has submitted documentation to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), where it will be reviewed and a decision made about whether or not federal impact assessment will be required.
If the assessment gets the green light to proceed, it is estimated the project construction would take 21 months as well as three more months to commission the plant.
Electricity generation capacity in general is not lacking in Ontario, but green energy only contributes about 30 per cent of that capacity. According to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), wind and solar energy combined make up only 15 per cent of that capacity, with nuclear at 34 per cent, hydro at 23 per cent, and natural gas at 28 per cent. In an effort to bring Ontario closer to its net-zero goal, clean hydrogen-ready power plants are one of the new strategies being employed to significantly increase that percentage.
In the past decade, St. Clair Township has witnessed the construction of several “green” power generation fa- cilities and many positive industrial upgrades that will continue to support a cleaner environment. Mayor Steve Arnold says the new cutting-edge power plant will be a welcome addition to the township on many levels. “This
expansion of the Eastern Power plant will be on the lead- ing edge of the Canadian Hydrogen Strategy developed by the Federal government. It will be a transitional facility able to run on natural gas, or any base form of hydrogen, as the feedstock. Here in St. Clair Township, we are ex- cited to be part of the implementation of this green stra- tegic initiative. My understanding is that it will provide 25 lon-term jobs and cost hundreds of millions of dollars dur- ing construction over the next couple of years.”
Sacred Heart food bank –
help your community thrive
Summer doesn’t reduce the constant need for donations of food, personal and household supplies. Shortages are still being experienced by local food banks and the need is still great, but our neighbourhood food banks continue to come to the aid of the community. Nourishing food and daily supplies like personal hygiene items, baby needs, and household cleaning supplies, as well as grocery store gift cards and monetary donations, are always gratefully accepted. In Ward 2, The Sacred Heart Food Bank has shelves that need to be replenished on a regular basis, not just on special occasions. Please keep the Sacred Heart food bank in mind when you shop for your own groceries.
St. Andrew’s food bank continues to help those in need
The food bank at St. Andrew’s Church on Colborne Street in Corunna is open every Wednesday evening from 6
p.m. to 7 p.m. and every Thursday morning from 9 a.m. to noon. It operates in association with the Inn of the Good Shep- herd in Sarnia.
The food bank serves those in need, offering a variety of food products to help people eat healthily, including milk, eggs, bread, and meat, as well as daily requirements like household cleaning supplies, toiletries and baby needs. The fresh food supplied at the food bank costs approximately $75 per week to purchase. Anyone wishing to make a financial donation to the food bank can do so through Food Bank, C/O St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 437 Colborne Drive, Corun- na, Ontario, N0N 1G0. Gift cards to Foodland and No Frills are also welcome.
St. Joseph-St. Charles Catholic Church Community to participate in food program
The St. Joseph-St. Charles’ Catholic Community in Corun- na, along with the Catholic churches in Petrolia, Forest, and Watford, has worked collaboratively with the Boys and Girls Club of Sarnia-Lambton to extend Project Backpack, a food assistance program, into Lambton County. The program pro- vides a bag of nutritious food that can be easily distributed to people ages 14-24 who are in need of a healthy meal. Each bag also contains hygiene items and helpful information from com- munity partners. People who qualify for this program can find these bags at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish office at 346 Beresford Street in Corunna during regular office hours (Monday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Program organizers say the program will continue into the fall and they hope to continue it as long as there is a need for it.
Moore Agricultural Society membership
Interested in becoming a member of the Moore Agricultural Society or need to renew your membership? Memberships can be paid either by dropping off payment and member infor- mation (name, telephone number, email address, home ad- dress) at the Brigden Fair office or through e-transfer at Fi- nance@brigdenfair.ca . Memberships are $20 per person until further notice. For more information on the membership role, contact info@brigdenfair.ca .
Motivated youth seeking adventure
The Royal Canadian “1st Hussars” Army Cadet Corps Pe- trolia is welcoming boys and girls ages 12-18 to learn join the ranks and learn valuable skills they can use for a lifetime. Ca- dets are not required to join the military. For more infor- mation, call 519-332-6555 or visit: www.petroliacadets.com
Lambton County Junior Optimist Club invites new members to get involved
The Lambton County Junior Optimist Club invites youth from age 10 through 18 to join and discover the fantastic feeling of volunteering in the community. Members put on their own pro- grams and find creative ways to fundraise for other youth pro- grams. Hours spent volunteering with the club count toward the volunteer hours needed at school. The club meets the first Mon- day of every month at 6 p.m. Meetings are now held at the Emer- gency Services Building in Corunna at the intersection of Lyndoch and Hill Streets. For more information, call Mary Lou at 519-862- 3950.
Local TOPS weight control group meetings
Local TOPS weight control groups can be contacted for infor- mation as follows: Brigden—519-864-1865; Corunna-519-381- 5584. People of all ages are welcome to attend.
Good listeners needed by Family Counselling Centre
The Family Counselling Centre needs good listeners to staff the Distress Line, speaking with individuals who need support and need to feel connected. Volunteers are also needed to staff the Tel-Check program line, placing daily calls to seniors and persons with disabilities who live alone and are feeling isolated. To regis- ter or to find out more about this effort, call Donna at the Family Counselling Centre, 519-336-0120, ext. 251.
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 16
Corunna Legion Br. 447 supports community with donations
The Royal Canadian Legion Corunna Branch
447 recently made do- nations to three deserv- ing community groups.
Submitted photos
Left: Br. 447 President Eric Hancock presents a donation of $500 in sup- port of Mr. Core’s music department at Colonel Cameron Public School.
Right: Br. 447 Presi- dent Eric Hancock pre- sents a donation of
$500 to the U13 Corun- na Lady Giants Select softball team. Standing left: Mekah Dewhirst, Emma Gauvin, Claudia Prentice, Ella Routley, Ainsley Bennett, Haley Pepper, Paul Salisbury, Dallas Leitch. Kneeling left: Cami Leitch, Kylee Salisbury, Claire Gaul- ton, Bella Nappi.
Left: Br. 447 President Eric Hancock presents a donation of $1,000 to Captain Kidd Days. Re- ceiving the donation is Ashley Robbins and Geoff Dale.
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 17
The lotus pond is green with leaves now, but soon there will be a pond full of these.
Spring at Greenhills Gardens
Photo by drone pilot Mike Coene
Passport Challenge showcases seven Lambton County museums
The Lambton Passport Challenge invites guests to visit each participating Heritage Sarnia- Lambton Museum, correctly answer a trivia question, and collect a stamp at each site to complete their passport. Once completed, you can submit a ballot for a chance to win a $100 Tourism Sarnia- Lambton gift card and museum prize pack. Participating Heritage Sarnia-Lambton museums include: Moore Museum; Arkona Lion’s Museum; Forest Museum; Lambton County Archives; Lambton Heritage Museum; Oil Museum of Canada; and Sombra Museum.
“Many local museums have been closed over the past two summers due to the COVID-19 pandem- ic,” said Dana Thorne, Curator/Supervisor with Lambton Heritage Museum. “We thought this year was a great time to organize this type of initiative to invite our community and visitors to re-discover Lambton’s treasured museums, and for the museums to welcome back visitors in a fun, engaging way.”
Passports are available at all participating sites. Admission rates apply, where applicable. The Passport Challenge contest ends August 31, 2022.
Teen photo contest winners featured at JNAAG exhibition
The award-winning work of Lambton County teens who won the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery (NAAG) spon- sored Take Your Shot teen photo contest will be featured in a special exhibition from Friday, Aug. 12 to Oct. 8, 2022.
The upcoming exhibition, Feels Like Home: Larry Towell & Inspired Youth, will feature the work of over 20 local teens who participated in the contest, along side a selection of pho- tographs by internationally-known photographer Larry Towell, a native of St. Clair Township. Mr. Towell’s brilliant photog- raphy has covered subjects ranging from environmental issues and international war zone subjects, to human rights docu- mentation of Canadian First Nations.
The Take Your Shot contest was judged by industry professionals, who chose 26 photographs for display at the exhibition from the 58 that were submitted. The winners were: Grand prize overall and Things catego- ries – Raveena Duggal, 15; People category – Ky Hopwood, 16; Pets category – Ryleigh Siklosi; Places category – Emily Jahnke, 14. The four winners will re- ceive a professionally matted and framed copy of their winning photo.
Other selected submissions include photos by: Jas-
mine Pole, 17; Alexa Secord, 17; Alexis Sitzes, 14; Arden Mailhiot, Age 17, Ava Arndt, Age 17, Brady Long, Age 17, Dylan Hamilton, Age 17, Jarius Dowswell, Age 14, Kaira DeFreitas, Age 16, Kaydence Schere, Age 13, Lilli- an Carsell, Age 15, Madeline Lehrbass, Age 15, Matthew McDonald, Age 17, Mercy Naus, Age 13, Miranda Hurst, Age 14, Myla Bell, Age 14, and Perrin Langille, Age 17.
To learn more about the Feels Like Home: Larry Towell & Inspired Youth exhibition, go to: jnaag.ca/ feels-like-home .
Summer Splash workshops offered
The JNAAG will offer Try New Things (TNT) work- shops for youth aged 9-12 during the week of Aug.2 to Aug.5. The workshops include: Aug. 2—Zine Machine, make a self-published booklet about something you are passionate about; Aug. 3—Fiber Selfies, the art of wool felting; Aug. 4—the Big Picture, experiment with paints and modeling wax; Aug. 5—Photography Fun, photog- raphy, crafting and games will explore the art of pho- tography.
To learn more about these workshops, visit the event page on the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery website.
A plan for a familiar business in Port Lambton is taking shape as Ecarte Marine gets a new name, a new look and a new future with new owners Rob and Nadine Kraft. RiverKraft Marine was formally opened on June 24 with a ribbon cutting and a big party to celebrate the occasion.
The marina at 4729 Old River Road has already under- gone substantial exterior work, and a huge new on-site storage facility has been built to house almost any size of water craft.
The Krafts have ambitious future plans for the proper- ty, with two Airbnb rentals and transient parking already
available, plus other renovations and more rentals. And while the in-house dining establishment is being complet- ed, Brit Boys food truck is keeping hungry visitors fed.
Above: Making it official dockside, from left: New owners Rob and Nadine Kraft; former owners Brenda and Brad McDonald; St. Clair Township Councillor Rose Atkins; and Carrie McEachran, CEO Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Bonnie Stevenson
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 19
From page 20
and check out the many great classes available through WLCHC.
Please be sure to specify, on the top of the form, which program you are registering for.)
Mermaids and Mariners on the St. Clair, the new “Key West festival” type summer event coming to Brander Park, will be a family-friendly event celebrating all things nautical on the sce- nic St. Clair River. On Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Brander Park will come alive as mesmerizing mermaids mingle with mighty mariners and merry-making families.
Here are some of the things visitors can look forward to on Aug. 20: *10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Over 50 vendors; food trucks (Brit Boys Fish ‘n Chips, Dog Days Southern BBQ, Dips Soft Serve Ice Cream, Ohana Ice Hawaiian Shave-Ice & Treats; boat deal- ership displays; and collaborative painting with Cyn Fay Studio. The Sombra Museum will also be on-site with as a vendor selling
maritime-related items and doing a maritime-themed demon- stration.
*From 10 a.m. to noon, have
Breakfast with Mermaids (ticketed event)
*noon to 6 p.m., Landshark Lager “Watering Hole (licensed beverage area with bartending services by Memorie Lane
*1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Pavilion Paint Splash! (paint your own nautical pottery (Crock-a-Doodle, Sarnia)
*1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Meet the Mermaids (Pavilion Photo Ops)
*1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Southwind Boys LIVE musical entertainment; and much more.
DRESS UP FOR THE OCCASION! Visitors are encour- aged to dress for the occasion with attire fit for a pi- rate, pirette, wench, sailor, mermaid, or merman. The more “properly dressed” visitors there are strutting around the park, the more festive the day will be.
Community cooperation supports donations
COVID-19 posed health risks for many people and caused many to lose their jobs or their businesses. A volunteer group led by Charles Mortley-Wood was able to help those in the community who were going through difficult times. The group started a grocery delivery program and managed to raise $22,000 since March, 2020. The money was used to support local charities that included: the Foodbank, Circles
Canada, the Women’s Inter- val Home, and Ryan’s House. And thanks to Bluewater Foodland owner Roy Jushka, Charles says he was able to donate $1,470.00 to Ryan’s House of Bluewater Health.
Left: Charles Mortley-Wood, left, with Ryan’s House representative Laurie Hick, Bluewater Foodland owner Roy Juschka, and Blue- water Foodland Manager Laurie Ryan.
This event, conceived by Sherri DeWolf from Deeply Creative, received a grant from Lamb- ton County’s Creative County program and pro- motional assistance was through Tourism Sarnia
-Lambton. St. Clair Township staff advised and coordinated on-site logistics for the event.
More Around the Township, page 18
The Beacon of St. Clair Township August 2022 Page 20
The Brigden Fair Ambassador doesn’t need to be an expert in agriculture, live on a farm or have grown up in Brigden. They only need to be between the ages of 17 and 24 (as of August 1, 2022) and have an eagerness to learn. This program is about learning, being seen as a leader in the community, and taking on new challenges. Applications can be found at http:// www.brigdenfair.ca and completed online or download- ed. Downloaded applications may be emailed to:
office@brigdenfair.ca with Ambassador Program in the Subject line or dropped off at the Fair Office in an enve- lope marked Ambassador Contestant. A meeting will be held with contestants after the deadline to explain con- test details.
Deadline for applications is Aug. 5, 2022 and the con- test will be held on Sunday, August 14 at 2 p.m. at the Brigden Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall and everyone is invit- ed to attend.
Lambton County Plowing Match 100th anniversary
The Lambton Plowmen’s Association will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lambton County Plowing Match on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1748 Rokeby Line in St. Clair Township. Attendance will be free for everyone. For more infor- mation, see page 14.
offering “Agriculture Awareness Day” in the Coliseum area on Friday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will be an opportunity for families to come and learn together. No pre-registration is required. Fair admission: Preschool and elementary students – free; Friday Admission – $5 per person until 5 p.m.; after 5
p.m. and for the remainder of the weekend – $10. Al- ways FREE Parking on the grounds.
More Around the Township, page 19
