COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM 2018 CONTENTS Welcome to Lambton Shores Mayor and CAO’s Message 2018 CIB Committee 2018 CIB Partners 2018 Municipal Partners 2018 CIB Goals & Achievements 2018 CIB Continuing Projects Community Grant Community Vibrancy Funding Past Achievements Tidiness Environmental Action Heritage Conservation Urban Forestry Landscaping 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. QUICK FACTS Incorporated in 2001 by the amalgamation of Arkona, Bosanquet, Forest, Grand Bend, and Thedford Approximately 12,000 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, seven tennis courts, 30 parks, and 12 km of trails In 2018, we are celebrating our 10th consecutive year of owning and oper- ating three Blue Flag designated sites: the Grand Bend Marina, Port Franks Marina and the Grand Bend Beach. This designation is proof of staff and Council’s commitment to excellence. A M E S S A G E F R O M THE MAYOR AND CAO Welcome to Lambton Shores, Bob and John! Bill Weber On behalf of myself, Council and the residents of Lambton Shores, I would like to extend a warm Mayor welcome to the Communities in Bloom judges. We hope that your stay here is an enjoyable one and that you will see the many attributes that make Lambton Shores a special place with our natural beauty and community minded citizens . Lambton Shores has overcome the many challenges that come along with the amalgamation of five very diverse communities. The Communities in Bloom program has played an integral role in the unification of the communities without sacrificing their unique personality. Lambton Shores' council, staff and residents take great pride in the fact that we were national winners in the 2012 competition, the winner of the Class of Champions competition in 2013 and most recently, International Champions in 2016 - a direct result of everyone working together towards a common goal. This is apparent in the gardens that are planted, the community events that are organized, the historical preservation taking place, environmental awareness applied to our lives and the maintenance practices used within our organization The Lambton Shores Committee is very proud of what has been accomplished. After taking a year to recharge, we are ready to show you what we have accomplished since our last year of competition. As a member of this committee, I have witnessed first-hand how this group works with the entire community to display the very best we have to offer. I look forward to welcoming you personally during your tour. Welcome John and Bob! Kevin Williams On behalf of all staff, I am thrilled to welcome you both to Lambton Shores! CAO The 2018 Communities in Bloom Organizing Committee, comprised of both staff and local volunteers have worked hard to ensure that you experience the beauty and infectious spirit of our special place on the shores of Lake Huron. From expansive farmland to vibrant communities, and from Carolinian Forest to idyllic beachfront, Lambton Shores covers just over 330 square kilometres, is home to 12,000 residents, and many thousands of seasonal visitors. Since our first entry into the program…10 years ago!...the Communities in Bloom initiative has brought our composite community together; citizens sharing in a common sense of purpose, and working cooperatively to improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike. These efforts have been recognized not only with the achievement of 5 blooms, but also through special recognition awards for Community Involvement, Tidiness, and Floral Displays. We are proud of our accomplishments, and proud to support such a wonderful program…we are the better for it! The vision and support of our Council cannot be understated. An evolving focus on branding, recognition of our unique natural environment, and support for our volunteers all drive our municipality forward. In the parlance of horticulture, we are truly growing together! I know your time “on tour” is busy, but for the short time you are here, please take a moment for yourselves…a walk on the beach, a stroll through a museum, share a smile, shake a hand…and consider yourself “home”. Thank you for visiting. 2018 COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMMITTEE CHAIRS Catherine Minielly - Phone: 519-786-3329 Grace Dekker - Phone: 519-243-3058 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRS John Cook - Native Trees Darlene Lacey - Garden of the Week Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Grace Dekker - Adopt a Pot and Adopt a Plot; Judges’ Tour Walter Michielsens - Community Gardens Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Joanne Eastman - Fundraising Catherine Minielly - Judges' Tour Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ruth Illman - Trash Bash Events, Shannon Prout - Marketing/Communications Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBERS Shirley Andraza Lorie Scott Ruth Anne Cook Glen Starkey Marianne Janes Jan Williams MEMBER OF COUNCIL Mayor Bill Weber - [email protected] LAMBTON SHORES STAFF LIAISONS Ashley Farr - Phone: 519-243-1400 ext. 8313 Shannon Prout - Phone: 519-243-1400 ext. 8310 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2018 COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM PARTNERS Arkona Home Hardware Thedford Garden Club Arkona Lions & Lioness Club Thedford Spirit Club Arkona Seniors Thedford Presbyterian Church Arkona Weed Warriors Through Windows Past Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Tourism Sarnia Lambton (Ontario-s Blue Coast) Ausable Port Franks Optimist Club Windsor Park Association Centre Ipperwash Community Association PHOTOS COURTESY OF CIBC, Forest Alf Rider Forest Agricultural Society Beni Van Haaren Forest BIA Betty Ann Kerrigan Forest Community Foundation Bill MacDonald Forest Fair Board Ladies Captured Innocence Photography Forest Garden Club Forest Garden Club Forest Glen Herb Farm Forest Library Forest Kiwanis Club Frank Beattie Forest Lambton Museum Friends of the Pinery Park Forest Rotary Club Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce Forest United Church Grand Bend Farmers’ Market Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce Grand Bend Horticultural Society Grand Bend Community Foundation Jeanette Baillie Grand Bend Horticultural Society Joanne Eastman Healthy Kids Community Challenge—Lambton Partners Judy McLellan Huron Stewardship Association Lambton County Developmental Services Jacobs—CH2M Linda Hillman–Rapley Knox Presbyterian Church Lou Sprenger Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation Municipality of Lambton Shores Lake Smith Conservationists Port Franks Area Camera Club Lakeshore Eco-Network Port Franks Garden Club Lambton County Developmental Services Ruth Illman Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group Susan Smith Lambton Shores Nature Trails Committee Standard Guide Advocate Lambton Wildlife LIBRO Financial Thedford Garden Club Municipality of Lambton Shores Tourism Sarnia Lambton North Lambton Community Health Centre Tracy Rogers North Lambton Secondary School Sarah Wil- Old Ausable River Channel Association liams Port Franks Garden Club Port Franks Seniors Rotary Club of Grand Bend Royal Canadian Legion Branch 176 Forest Royal Canadian Legion Branch 498 Grand Bend St. Clair Regional Conservation Authority Sarnia—Lambton Business Development Corporation South Western Ontario Steam Threshers TD Canada Trust, Forest The Forest Standard 2018 COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM MUNICIPAL PARTNERS MUNICIPAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Mayor Bill Weber Steve McAuley, Director of Community Services Deputy Mayor Doug Cook Allan Little, Transportation and Drainage Manager Councillor Dave Maguire Randy Shaw, Parks & Facilities Manager Councillor Dan Sageman Nick Verhoeven, Engineering Specialist Councillor Gerry Rupke Rebecca Moser, Engineering Technician Councillor Rick Goodhand Jodie Poland, Public Works Assistant Councillor Ronn Dodge Ashley Farr, Facilitator of Recreation & Leisure Councillor James Finley Lisa Brown, Special Events and Marketing Councillor Jeff Wilcox Coordinator Shannon Prout, Recreation & Leisure Assistant ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT Ashlee Brown, Project Coordinator- Healthy Kids Community Challenge Kevin Williams, CAO Yvonne Desjardine, Grand Bend Beach Manager Stephanie Troyer-Boyd, Clerk Josh Majerle, Grand Bend Marina Manager Karen Cameron, Administrative Assistant to CAO Becky Chalmers, Port Franks Marina Manager Alda Bongers, Administrative Assistant Roberta Brandon, Administrative Assistant COMMUNITY SERVICES OPERATORS BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT Gerald VanGrinsven, South Area Lead Hand Steve Bell, North Area Lead Hand BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT Mike Stanlake, Grand Bend Lead Hand Will Nywening, Planner Bryant Thody, Shores Recreation Centre Lead Hand Randy Lovie, Building Inspector Kevin Miller, Legacy Recreation