Lambton Shores, Ontario

A Thriving Community on the Rise

 

Expertly balancing growth, sustainability, and community spirit to become a top destination for residents and tourists alike.

Lambton Shores, Ontario, a vibrant municipality on the south shore of Lake Huron, thrives on its unique blend of natural beauty and small-town charm. Mayor Doug Cook paints a vivid picture of this idyllic locale, describing it as a place where the landscape stretches across 330 square kilometers, anchored by two iconic towns.

“Forest and Grand Bend are our largest towns,” Mayor Cook explains, noting that a 25-minute drive separates them, providing a balanced mix of urban conveniences and rural serenity. With a year-round population of about 11,500, the area transforms in the summer, swelling to two or three times its size as tourists flock to its scenic shores. “Tourism is our strongest industry during the summertime,” the mayor says.

Grand Bend is the crown jewel of Lambton Shores’ tourist attractions. Mayor Cook highlights its appeal: “It is by far our largest tourist attraction. The Pinery Provincial Park is another major draw within our borders.” The Pinery, boasting around 1,200 campsites, sees its population surge to nearly 5,000 people on a busy weekend. The area’s extensive sandy beaches, stretching 2 to 3 kilometers, attract 7,000 to 8,000 visitors on peak weekends.. The Grand Bend beach is of particular importance because of its Blue Flag designation which is a testament to Council’s, and the community’s commitment to the environment.

Transforming Downtown: Blending History and Modernity

As Lambton Shores balances its rich history with contemporary development, its downtown areas are focal points of both resident and tourist life. Mayor Cook sheds light on this evolution.

“When we talk about streetscapes, we have four towns with fairly historical downtown cores: Forest, Arkona, and Thedford are three of our smaller towns with more historical downtowns,” he explains. These areas maintain a charming, vintage feel, drawing residents and visitors to their well-preserved streets. On the other hand, while historically significant, Grand Bend has seen significant modern investments.

“Grand Bend has seen some changes over the last number of years,” Mayor Cook notes. “It’s a beach town primarily, and we’ve seen a lot of new infrastructure and construction on the main street.” The transformation of Grand Bend reflects its dual identity as a summer tourist hotspot and a burgeoning year-round community.

This shift is also driven by a growing demand for amenities that cater to permanent residents. “The population that used to be a lot more seasonal is now becoming more permanent, 12 months of the year,” the mayor says. This change has prompted a need for more dining and shopping opportunities throughout the year. “Before, especially in the Grand Bend area, many restaurants would close in the fall and not reopen until the summer. Now, we have many more year-round businesses operating in that area.”

Infrastructure Developments

Lambton Shores is experiencing a significant transformation. It is focusing on innovative infrastructure catering to its residents and the thriving tourism sector. Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McAuley shares insights into the municipality’s strategic developments reshaping the area.

“In Grand Bend, we’ve seen a real change,” McAuley states. He elaborates on the mixed-use developments that are now common in the area. “We typically see commercial use on the bottom of a three-story building with residential units on top. This is a real shift for Grand Bend.” These developments, featuring rental units and condos, enhance the beachfront theme, with shops and restaurants occupying the ground floors.

In addition to these mixed-use buildings, Lambton Shores is establishing new public amenities. “We just placed and opened one of the first self-cleaning washrooms in the area,” McAuley explains. This $500,000 investment marks the introduction of a year-round facility, a first for Grand Bend, which previously had only seasonal washrooms. “This allows us to have washrooms open to the public all year round down there. We’re excited about that.”

McAuley also discusses the ripple effect of infrastructure projects in Forest, mainly centered around the new “super school” being built by the Lambton-Kent District School Board. “It’s a school that will house students from kindergarten all the way to grade 12,” he says, describing it as a $40 million project. The construction of this state-of-the-art educational facility has spurred further development in the area, including new restaurants and retail expansions around the local grocery store.

 

New Facilities, Enhancements, Connectivity and Services

Lambton Shores is embracing a new era of infrastructure and community development, catering to the needs of both its residents and the growing tourist population. McAuley highlights the municipality’s ongoing projects that reflect this progressive vision.

“The pickleball court came out of a real need in the community,” McAuley remarks. “Pickleball has exploded in popularity across North America.” This nearly half-million-dollar project includes six pickleball courts and a tennis court, all designed with top-notch features like proper fencing, wind netting, and court coatings. Currently under construction, the community eagerly anticipates the facility, with an expected opening in mid-July.

Regarding transportation infrastructure, McAuley discusses the Connecting Link projects, which involve critical upgrades to main highways that connect provincial routes. “We’ve done a number of them,” he notes. “In Forest, we reconstructed the entire connecting link, including sidewalk, road, water, and sewer systems.” Similar efforts have been undertaken in Grand Bend along Highway 21.

“The next big project is replacing the main bridge in Grand Bend,” McAuley explains. The current bridge, built in the early 60s, is due for an upgrade to accommodate the town’s growth and increased traffic. “It’s a tricky project because of the amount of traffic we have coming through Grand Bend,” he adds, indicating that much of the work must be scheduled during off-peak times to keep the bridge open. The project is estimated to cost between $8 to $10 million and will begin in the fall.

On the building facilities side, McAuley points out the construction of a new administration building, which was the amalgamation of 3 offices. This state-of-the-art building includes office space and a new Council Chambers that houses audio video technology that allows meetings to be live streamed to the public. This energy efficient building is also a net zero building with power being supplied by solar panels resulting in significant operational savings. McAuley states “I have heard many comments both from our staff and public about what a beautiful building we have to work and do business in”

Other critical projects include a significant upgrade to the water booster station in Thedford, which is undergoing a $1 million refurbishment. “We’re rebuilding the booster station and doing some work on the water reservoir,” McAuley reports, with expected completion by the end of the year. In Arkona, efforts are focused on recoating the standpipe, with tenders currently out for this project. Lambton Shores also benefits from a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant commissioned in 2016, a $16 million investment that provides advanced tertiary treatment and efficiently meets the municipality’s needs.

Commercial Development and Community Initiatives

Ashley Farr, the Director of Community Services, highlights the initiatives supporting commercial growth and community improvement in Lambton Shores. “Forest has a Business Improvement Area (BIA), and Grand Bend has a Chamber of Commerce and Tourism,” Farr explains. These organizations play crucial roles in promoting tourism and supporting local businesses.

“Council has recently implemented a community improvement plan to support existing businesses and encourage new ones,” Farr says. This plan, stemming from a business retention and expansion study, is backed by council-approved funding. Although applications for the plan are just beginning, the initiative marks a proactive step toward fostering commercial vitality.

Lambton Shores has also excelled in the Communities in Bloom program, achieving provincial, national, and international recognition. “It’s a program any municipality can participate in, and we’ve been winners alongside places like Stratford,” Farr notes. This initiative has been instrumental in enhancing downtown areas and building community partnerships.

To support growth, the council is hiring an economic development officer. “We’ve grown enough that there’s now a need for someone to focus strictly on economic development,” Farr explains. Collaboration with the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership ensures support for new initiatives, including marketing and servicing industrial land.

The Backbone of the Local Economy: Agriculture

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Lambton Shores’ economy, with several agricultural co-ops serving as critical hubs for the community.

“We have several agricultural-based co-op type businesses in our area,” Mayor Cook notes. These co-ops are essential for local farmers, providing a place to deal with grain products and necessary supplies. They also cater to the broader community by offering bird food, pet food, and other bulk items. ” Forest Agri Services is one of them,” he mentions, highlighting a key player in the local agricultural scene.

In addition to traditional agriculture, the area is seeing growth in specialty agribusinesses such as wineries and cideries. “We have a couple of unique wineries and cideries in our area, too,” Mayor Cook says. Twin Pines Orchards and Cider House, known internationally for its award-winning ciders, and Shale Ridge Estate Winery & Cidery, a combination winery and cidery, are attracting significant attention.

 

Residential Growth and Affordable Housing Initiatives

Lambton Shores is witnessing a significant uptick in residential development, driven by an influx of new residents seeking a different lifestyle, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Cook remarks, “We’ve had significant growth in our area. The pandemic benefited us quite a bit for the folks that worked at home, attracting more people to our area.” This growth has been particularly noticeable in Forest and Grand Bend, which focus on regular residential housing.

However, addressing affordable housing remains a priority. “We are trying to find ways of focusing on affordable housing,” the mayor emphasizes, acknowledging the pressing need for more accessible housing options.

McAuley expands on this initiative, explaining that affordable housing is one of the council’s strategic priorities. The municipality is exploring partnerships with developers by offering land and easing the approvals process to facilitate the creation of affordable housing. Although the current economic climate and interest rates have slowed down development somewhat, there is optimism for a resurgence. “I expect we’ll see a pretty big boom coming our way,” he predicts.

Sustainable Initiatives and Community Recognition

Lambton Shores is also at the forefront of sustainable development and public transportation in rural areas. Farr outlines the municipality’s leadership in establishing a rural transit system in partnership with neighboring municipalities and Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

“The system covers rural routes, providing access for employees and residents commuting to and from Lambton Shores,” she explains. This system is integrated with city systems, enabling travel to nearby cities like Sarnia and London. “It’s a very well-used transit system, funded through the MTO, and we’ve just received additional funding for 2024.”

Mayor Cook adds another accolade to Lambton Shores’ list of achievements: the municipality was rated among the top 100 communities in Canada for populations over 10,000, ranking 93rd overall and 18th for retirement. This recognition highlights the municipality’s attractiveness to retirees and vibrant community spirit.

He points out that the community’s high ranking is mainly due to its robust network of volunteers and community groups. “It ties in all the volunteer networks we have across our municipality, with our service clubs, community groups, and churches, making people feel welcome when they get here,” he says. The community’s strong sense of cohesion and support is a critical factor in its appeal, contributing to its growing reputation as a desirable place to live and retire.

Looking Ahead: Priorities for the Future

As Lambton Shores gears up to enter the second fiscal quarter of 2024, the municipality is setting its sights on key infrastructure projects that promise to significantly enhance the community. Mayor Cook outlines the critical initiatives that will take precedence in the coming months.

“The two main infrastructure projects that we’re working on, especially the bridge, will be our priority for 2024-25,” he emphasizes. The bridge project is a structural upgrade and a pivotal enhancement of the community’s connectivity. “It’s a much-needed improvement to our community,” he adds, underlining its importance.

Regular infrastructure work and growth are also on the agenda, particularly in the Grand Bend area, which continues to draw investor interest. “Investors are looking at Grand Bend as more of an opportunity for the tourism side,” Cook notes. The influx of investment capital aims to bolster the community’s tourism infrastructure, further solidifying Grand Bend’s status as a prime destination.

Lambton Shores is poised for a period of robust development and strategic improvements. With major projects like the bridge and the new school on the horizon and ongoing residential and commercial growth, the municipality is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory. The focus remains on enhancing the quality of life for residents while leveraging the area’s appeal to attract new visitors and investors.

 

Featured image photo credit: Janette Baillie

AT A GLANCE

Lambton Shores, Ontario

What: A rapidly growing municipality focusing on infrastructure, tourism, and community development

Where: Ontario, Canada

Website: https://www.lambtonshores.ca/en/