A welding inspector from Camlachie plans to take a Disney vacation after winning $1 million with an instant lottery game Kerry-Anne Hudgins recently picked up her winnings from the prize centre in Toronto after she won the Instant Millionaire Multiplier's top prize The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) said the mother of two only occasionally buys lottery tickets and picked up the instant​ tickets around the holidays “I was pretty excited and may have used a few choice words as I wrapped my head around the reality of winning $1 million," Hudgins laughed “I shared the good news with my friends and family Hudgins said she plans to pay off her mortgage and visit "all the Disney theme parks.” The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K on Indian Road South in Sarnia Point Edward Fire and Rescue is reminding boaters of the importance of carrying all safety equipment onboard Lambton OPP said first responders were called to the intersection of Brigden Road and Petrolia Line at 2:20 p.m proposed the public-private partnership during a city council meeting on April 29 asking members to support the pilot project and designate nine areas to be used as parking locations The Huron Shores Optimist Club has decided to pull out of a proposed outdoor ice rink in Plympton-Wyoming due to skyrocketing costs Emergency plans are being developed in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in case the sewage treatment facility fails Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry scored the winning goal 16:10 into double overtime for a 4-3 game seven victory Sunday over the St We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Bear Creek Terrace in Petrolia, Arlene Mae Casier (nee Lowrie) slipped away peacefully to reunite with the love of her life, Albert. Arlene was a loving mother to Julie and Bill Fairbairn, Janis and Joe Kerrigan,... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Arlene Casier created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Construction is set to get underway Monday on a section of Lakeshore Road in Plympton-Wyoming as part of a Lambton County construction project that will include a three-week closing of the intersection at Fleming Road beginning July 22 We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLakeshore is being resurfaced from the roundabout at Mandaumin Road to Egremont Road but more extensive work is planned for the Fleming Road intersection drivers should expect delays and temporary lane closings on Lakeshore Work on the project is expected to be completed by late September The $1.9 million contract was awarded to Lavis Contracting Co said this year’s work on Lakeshore Road will complete improvements that began a few years ago and continued in sections along the busy county road “This is the last section that will tie in basically” from Modeland Road in Sarnia and “all the way up to Kettle Point,” he said The work this summer includes adding partially paved shoulders a culvert extension and a turning lane at Fleming Road “It warranted a turning lane,” Hamill said about the intersection providing access to new housing development nearby especially with all the growth in Camlachie,” he said There are also plans to add illumination at the Fleming Road intersection once the road project is completed The work at the intersection will include extending a culvert along with the turning lane and resurfacing The intersection is scheduled to be closed to traffic for three weeks from July 22 to Aug The detour route will follow county roads and send traffic to London Line while the intersection is closed but local traffic will be able to use Egremont Road and other local roads Hamill said the county is asking drivers to be patient during the project “We’ll try and get it done as soon as possible,” he said “I know it’s an inconvenience but when it’s all done it will look really nice going out to Camlachie.” Lambton County adopted a policy of adding 1.4 metres of partially paved shoulders when upgrading its roads identified as part of the Lambton County Regional Trails Network aimed at improving infrastructure for cyclists and other non-motorized “active transportation” uses The improvements to Lakeshore Road in recent years 180 km of county roads included in the regional trails network had received partially paved shoulders and is expected to rise to 236 km by the end of 2028 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Sign In Register Due to numerous traffic complaints regarding speeders and drivers failing to stop at stop signs the Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has initiated enforcement measures on Egremont Road in Camlachie “The increase in traffic is attributed to ongoing construction on Lakeshore Road which has resulted in more vehicles utilizing Egremont Road as an alternative route,” OPP said in a news release the Town of Plympton-Wyoming has deployed a community directed speed display sign on Egremont Road to remind and encourage drivers to adhere to the 50 km/h speed limit.” Drivers can expect to see heightened police presence in the area as officers conduct traffic enforcement operations More Top Stories > A division of Sarnia Media Group Inc.Locally Owned and Operated The Bluewater Health Foundation showed off the grand prize in its 30th annual dream home lottery during an open house Friday. This year's home is located at 6923 Shoreside Drive in Plympton-Wyoming while the lottery also offers over $2.1 million in prizes The four bedroom home is fully furnished and has a bonus loft Forbroad Custom Homes was chosen to build the home and it was designed and styled by Jen Sottosanti Design "We were selected in March to be the dream home builder so there was some activity to getting building permits finalizing the design," said Forbroad Custom Homes Owner and President Pat Maaten Construction of the home started in May and it was completed by September 1 Maaten said she's feeling fantastic that people are able to tour the home "It's really nice to get some positive feedback from people that are walking through At the time you're trying to add features of your own and people notice it Jen Sottosanti Design got involved to design and stage the home Owner Jen Sottosanti said her goal was for it to feel welcoming you'll see some line wash and even a plaster looking hood and then it's all of the little details and patterns too that make it all come together," she said Sottosanti said she has always wanted to work on a dream home in her city "It was a pinch me moment as I was writing the speech it all came back to me just looking at all of the homes and thinking to myself (that) it would be so cool to one day be able to stage and decorate and even help design the dream home in Sarnia," she said Tickets for the Dream Home start at $50 for two tickets Open houses will take place for the dream home every Saturday and Sunday there are vacation prizes for those who purchase their tickets early The final deadline to purchase tickets is February 5 and the winner will be drawn on February 20 A portion of the proceeds will go towards the redevelopment of the Emergency Department at Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital in Petrolia Anyone looking to purchase tickets can do so on the Bluewater Health Foundation website. Corn, Soybeans and Wheat all finished lower to begin the week. On May 8, thousands of students in grades 5 to 8 from across the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will gather for an unforgettable day of motivation, inspiration, and excitement at this year’s Empowerment Day. Owen Sound City Council will formally address the province’s Strong Mayor powers at its upcoming May 12 council meeting. 100 Women Who Care Grey Bruce proudly launched their 2025 giving season by presenting their largest donation to date — an impressive $33,200 — to Victim Services Bruce Grey. The township is encouraging residents to join the "no mow May" movement, which leaves dandelions and clover for pollinators to feast on while other food sources are low. Over $300,000 is being shared among five different festivals and events in Perth-Wellington. The hall at the Camlachie Community Centre has been named in honour of retired Plympton-Wyoming politician Lonny Napper We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentNapper who began a long career in municipal politics when he was elected to the former Plympton Township council in 1988 was surprised with the honour at a gathering at the centre Tuesday evening municipal staff and friends gathered for the announcement by Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Gary Atkinson and the unveiling of a “Napper Hall” sign over the doors of the centre’s event space Atkinson said the honour recognizes “a man who has given so much to our community with over 36 years of municipal service.” Napper was involved in talks leading to amalgamation with neighbouring Wyoming in 2001 He later became deputy mayor and mayor of Plympton-Wyoming serving as mayor until his retirement in 2022 Atkinson spoke about Napper’s involvement in creating a health and wellness centre in Wyoming and the many hours he spent volunteering at the community centre as a member of the Huron Shores Optimist Club The naming of its hall is “a tribute to a man who has given so much of his life and time to his community and to recognize the time he spent at this facility so future generations will appreciate the past,” Atkinson said and that’s a hard thing for me,” Napper said calling them “a great bunch of guys that I’m proud to say I’m a part of.” The community centre opened in the summer of 1979 about two years after the service club was formed “there was a whole lot of busy Optimists building this building,” he said Napper “did a lot of great things for the club as well as the community” and naming the hall after him “is the least that could be done,” Verwegen said “It is an honour to be here to recognize somebody who has contributed a lot to county council,” Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott told the crowd Napper served as a county councillor and was elected to a term as deputy warden pmorden@postmedia.com No injuries are reported in a fire Wednesday night in Plympton-Wyoming The Plympton-Wyoming Fire Department's Camlachie and Wyoming stations responded to a structure fire on London Line near Kerrigan Road at around 9 p.m Fire Chief Will Davidson said firefighters arrived to find visible flames coming from the roof of the two-storey home Davidson said the occupants were able to exit the home safely after being alerted to the fire by a passerby The blaze was quickly brought under control and the majority of the damage was contained to the attic space Davidson said the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined and a damage estimate was not immediately available Lambton OPP and Lambton EMS also responded Davidson reminds residents of the importance of smoke and CO alarms He said both devices provide early warning and are crucial life safety devices A meeting was held in Dresden where officials with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent shared what's being done to fight back against the project A fatal crash on Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent has claimed the life a motorcycle rider CK Public Health has reported four more measles exposure sites in Chatham and Dresden Chatham-Kent police are asking for the public's help to find a missing 14-year-old girl Emergency Preparedness Week is underway and Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue is asking the public to be prepared to protect themselves in case of an emergency Chatham-Kent police say it was a drink and not a dog that caused a Sarnia woman to drive into a ditch in Dover Township The Dream Home Lottery is back for its 30th year offering an incredible opportunity to win big while supporting healthcare in Sarnia-Lambton a stunning home built by ForBroad Custom Homes in the brand new community of Waterside Estates But it’s not just about the Dream Home—there are over $2.1 million in prizes up for grabs making this year’s lottery the most exciting yet.  Buying a ticket does more than give you a chance to win Every purchase helps fund essential services at Bluewater Health supporting upgrades like new CT scanners and improved cancer care the Dream Home Lottery has raised more than $10 million for the hospital making a lasting impact on patient care.  and purchasing early increases your chances of winning additional prizes offering a Disney World family vacation or a Costa Rica getaway Other early bird draws offer luxurious trips and a chance to win a 2023 BMW X1 or $45,000 in cash.  Secure your ticket today at bwhfdreamhome.com or call 1-844-667-3251 Every ticket purchased directly supports Bluewater Health ensuring our community continues to receive top-quality care and access to the latest medical technologies.  This is more than just a lottery—it’s about giving back and strengthening the healthcare system that serves our families Don’t miss your chance to win big while making a meaningful difference for Sarnia-Lambton!  See the stunning dream home for yourself every Saturday and Sunday between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm ● VIP Draw: Win a Disney World family vacation or a Costa Rica getaway ● Loyalty Draw: Experience Switzerland by Rail or the Soul of Africa adventure ● Early Bird Draw: Win a 2023 BMW X1 or $45,000 cash They’re also introducing the Dream Calendar - the latest addition to the Dream Home Lottery you have the opportunity to participate in daily draws for two exciting months enter weekday daily draws for over $167,000 in cash and nine incredible vacations Imagine yourself soaking up the sun in the paradise of Cancun embarking on a thrilling Game of Thrones adventure in Ireland or exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland's Land of Fire and Ice once-in-a-lifetime Fiji trip worth nearly $50,000 Don't let this chance slip away.  Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased on our website at bwhfdreamhome.com .  remember that the VIP deadline is approaching on October 16 Don’t miss your chance to win incredible prizes while contributing to a vital cause!  The memory of a local soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice 17 years ago will live on at the elementary school he once attended. Errol Village Public School (EVPS) in Camlachie has dedicated a playground to Corporal Brent Poland. Poland and five other soldiers were killed when the armoured vehicle they were in drove over a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on April 8, 2007. "A beloved alumnus of LKDSB, Brent attended Errol Village Public School before moving on to the former St. Clair Secondary School (now Great Lakes Secondary School). After graduating, he went on to obtain two university degrees before following 'his heart and his passion' joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 2002 and becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment 2nd Battalion, which worked to bring stability to Afghanistan," the Lambton Kent District School Board said in a news release. The board said the playground creates a space where children can play and learn, symbolizing the joy and vitality that Brent embodied in his youth. In addition to the playground, the Camlachie school has presented the Corporal Brent Poland Eagle Award at its Grade 8 graduation ceremony each year. "This prestigious award is given to an intermediate student who exemplifies the qualities Brent is remembered for: persistence, strength, and a positive outlook in the face of challenges,” said EVPS Principal Chris Coyle. “The recipient of the award is someone who approaches life’s obstacles with the same determination and resolve that Brent showed in his service. The award is a fitting tribute to a young man whose courage and character continue to inspire.” Poland was buried at the Brigden Bear Creek Presbyterian Cemetery. He has been remembered in the community during past dedication ceremonies and Remembrance Day services. Cpl. Brent D. Poland, of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Forces Image Gallery/ Canadian Virtual War Memorial) Point Edward Fire and Rescue is reminding boaters of the importance of carrying all safety equipment onboard, including personal floatation devices. Lambton OPP said first responders were called to the intersection of Brigden Road and Petrolia Line at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Cory Tukeli of Current Inc. proposed the public-private partnership during a city council meeting on April 29, asking members to support the pilot project and designate nine areas to be used as parking locations. The Huron Shores Optimist Club has decided to pull out of a proposed outdoor ice rink in Plympton-Wyoming due to skyrocketing costs. Emergency plans are being developed in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, in case the sewage treatment facility fails. Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry scored the winning goal 16:10 into double overtime for a 4-3 game seven victory Sunday over the St. Louis Blues. who will be sentenced later this summer in criminal court after pleading guilty last week to failing to stop after a collision A Sarnia-area cyclist injured in a hit-and-run crash with a pickup has filed a $5.7-million lawsuit against the driver was charged with failing to stop after a collision Craig pleaded guilty last week in a Sarnia courtroom to the failing-to-stop charge but no facts were heard and the case was adjourned to August to get a pre-sentence report The other charges have yet to be dealt with of Camlachie – has launched a civil suit against both Craig and Sentry Fire Protection Services the Sarnia-based company that owns the white 2020 Chevrolet Silverado pickup allegedly involved in the crash The statement of claim seeks $5 million in pecuniary damages and any further costs the court deems just No statement of defence had been filed as of Thursday Statements of claim and defence contain allegations not yet tested in court The statement of claim says Ross was cycling in a careful and prudent manner east on Lakeshore Road near the Mandaumin Road intersection wearing protective equipment including a helmet It alleges Craig was driving the pickup in the same direction when while Ross sustained serious and permanent personal injuries as a result of the collision His list of injuries include: a complex pelvic fracture; vertebral column fractures; a rib fracture; teeth fractures; a right foot ligament injury; right adrenal contusion; a kidney laceration; and multiple abrasions to his chin He’s sustained permanent and serious impairment of important physical suffers from ongoing pain and loss of enjoyment of life has incurred out-of-pocket expenses and will face more He also has lost a competitive advantage in the workplace The collision and damages were caused by Craig’s negligence It alleges Craig failed to avoid him; was speeding; failed to keep a proper lookout or sound his horn; failed to have the brakes lights and steering in proper working order or failed to apply them properly at all; was an incompetent driver; failed to exercise due care; was distracted using a cellphone or other electronic device; permitted himself to drive when intoxicated; failed to wear prescription eyeglasses; drove carelessly and recklessly; and created a dangerous situation Ross couldn’t avoid or escape Craig could not be reached for comment and Sentry Fire didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Ross has participated in the Great Cycle Challenge fundraiser for kids cancer research in the past raising just over $1,000 while pedalling 604 kilometres in 2023 though it’s unclear if he was cycling in that event at the time of the crash tbridge@postmedia.com Those interested in pursuing a career in child care are being invited to check out the opportunities at an upcoming job fair Lambton Rural Child Care is expanding in May to Errol Village Public School in Camlachie and is looking to hire for multiple positions They include early childhood educators (ECEs) in partnership with the Lambton Works Centre It's open to the public to network and learn more about careers within the industry bring a resume and be prepared for an on-site interview Lambton Works Centre staff will be on-site to review resumes provide job search advice and offer on-going employment supports after the event for those who are interested and eligible Program Supervisor Lisa Jacaruso said there's a shortage of ECE workers right across Ontario "That's impacting the ability of childcare operators to run at full capacity and hindering the expansion of new spaces," said Jacaruso "That's why events like this are so very important to underline the significance of childcare in our community and encourage people to enter this rewarding career to support the development and growth of our future generations." Jacaruso said applicants often don't need extensive qualifications "We recommend that people dress for success and bring their updated resume," she said "The most important qualifications are for people to be patient professional and passionate about providing top quality childcare Many positions do not require any specialized education or certifications we'll work with people to explore how to get them job-ready." Lambton Rural Child Care Executive Director Lori Veroude said these events are critical for the sector “These career fairs help our organizations attract and recruit high-quality staff to help children grow and thrive," said Veroude we are all working together to support the overall child care workforce expansion across all of Lambton County." Lambton Rural Child Care is hoping to open four additional spaces this year For more information on Lambton Works Centre services, visit www.lambtonline.ca/LWC That’s the motto Huron Shores Optimist Club president Bruce Moulton pitched to members of Plympton-Wyoming council recently during a presentation detailing plans for an outdoor “We want to build it,” Moulton said of the proposed $1.6 million venue that includes an outdoor community ice rink will you come along for the journey and help us strengthen the community and provide this multipurpose facility that the residents greatly deserve?” The project — first proposed a few years ago but sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic — is designated to complement the area in the village that includes a library “The whole idea of it Is that it will be part of that ‘hub,’” said Moulton who pointed to Camlachie’s growing population is that recreation and leisure activities are very important as well as community and socialization,” he added multi-seasonal facility that can be used by people of all ages and all abilities.” The proposal was first ‘approved in principle’ at an April 2022 council meeting where staff were directed to work with the Optimist Club to develop a plan for council’s consideration in the 2023 municipal budget 27 presentation included updated plans for the facility 60x120 concrete slab that will serve as a refrigerated ice pad from December through March; modelled after what’s known as the The Century 21 Rink in Sault Ste It will be converted during the remainder of the year for a variety of uses “What we would be asking for is $1 million and we would pay that back in the next ten years,” Moulton said of the estimated $1.6 million project adding that $200,000 is needed to add a required accessible washroom facility at that location Operating costs are estimated at between $60,000 and $70,000 a year The committee plans to hit the ground running with fundraising for the remaining $400,000 — but they’re just waiting for the green-light from council “We will not put a shovel in the ground until we’ve raised that $400,000,” he said They’ve partnered with Wellington Builders with plans to begin construction during the fall and winter months so not to interfere with use of the nearby ball diamonds “The completed facility will be turned over to the Town to operate for the benefit of the community,” the proposal states you and your team have done a great job pulling this together,” mayor Gary Atkinson said at the meeting “I know council has some questions… we’re going to sit down with our staff and you guys and try to get those answers back and forth so we know what we’ve got “As a resident I would love to turn-key this right now,” said Coun we’ve got to have more discussions… but I do look forward to the ongoing partnership.” “I do have more questions than answers at this point…it’s bigger and more ambitious than I thought On Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at Bluewater Health –Mitton Site, Sarnia. ALBERT CASIER, 68 years, of Camlachie. Loving husband of 48 years to Arlene (nee Lowrie). Beloved father of Julie and Bill Fairbairn of Sarnia, Janis and Joe Kerrigan of... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Albert Casier created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories It's now hoped a long planned and much-needed expansion at Errol Village Public School in Camlachie will be complete by March of 2025 The Ontario Ministry of Education has topped up funding to the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) to $6.14 million A $3.8 million investment was made by the province in April of 2022 as part of an Ontario-wide commitment which will address increasing student enrolment at the school will include two classrooms with accommodations for 46 students as well as a three-room child care addition providing 49 licensed daycare spaces This is hoped to eliminate the need for portable classrooms at the school Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey commented on Monday's announcement "The Ontario government continues to make historic investments across the province to create new student and child care spaces," said MPP Bailey "The investment in Erroll Village School is great news for the Sarnia-Lambton community and will provide choice and flexibility for growing families in Camlachie." Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province is determined to build schools and expansions faster part of its commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities state-of-the-art expansion at Errol Village Public School for Camlachie families staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading writing and math skills to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers," said Lecce with the goal of moving into the refreshed space during the March Break A Camlachie hunter has pleaded guilty to careless use of a firearm after killing a moose in October of 2022 Remo Iacobelli was also issued a fine for $7,000 had his hunting license suspended for two years and is now required to retake the hunter education course A conservation officer initiated an investigation after a moose was found killed by Shanty Road near Ear Falls it was found that Iacobelli fired several shots at a bull moose while he and the moose were on the road "Iacobelli failed to take reasonable consideration for people in the area and anyone that could have been travelling on the roadway," read a news release from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Justice of the Peace Jerry Woods heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice Peacefully, surrounded by family on Saturday October 22, 2022 at Vision Nursing Home, Sarnia, Joan King (nee Esseltine) passed away at the age of 78. Beloved wife to the late Bill King (2017). Loving mother to Carolyn King, Vicki (Patti Dobbin)... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Joan King created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Richard Thomas Somerville passed away at the age of 82 Loving father of Jeffrey Somerville (Murlena) Predeceased by his father Thomas Somerville and hockey in his younger years and in his later years Richard was a lifelong dairy farmer and member of the Camlachie United Church He was the secretary/treasurer of the Camlachie Odd Fellows for over 30 years a Chartered member of the Huron Shores Optimist and he served as the secretary/treasurer of the Lambton County Holstein Club for 26 years A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held at Camlachie United Church Sympathy may be expressed through donations to Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice (cheques only at the funeral home please) Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home The Sarnia Malayalee Association marked its official inauguration over the weekend with a spectacular Onam festival held at the Camlachie Community Centre Organizers said the event “brought the spirit of Kerala to Sarnia.” Kerala is a state in southern India and Malayalam is the primary language spoken there "Our aim is to create a sense of belonging and to share the beauty of Kerala's culture with our fellow Sarnians,” said Liju Zachariah president of the Sarnia Malayalee Association — a not-for-profit organization that aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Malayalee community “The turnout and enthusiasm we have seen today are truly heartwarming.” Festivities included a traditional lamp lighting ceremony — symbolizing the dispelling of darkness and the triumph of light — followed by an exquisite floral carpet or 'Pookkalam,' crafted by community members took park in an Onam Sadhya (feast); the Sadhya a grand vegetarian meal served on banana leaves Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu was also on hand for the event and commended the association for its commitment to preserving and sharing the unique cultural heritage of Kerala "I am truly honoured to be here today to celebrate Onam with the Sarnia Malayalee Association," she told the crowd "It is events like these that showcase the rich diversity of our community and bring us all together." The Onam celebration also featured a performance of traditional Kerala dance forms including the graceful Bharathanatyam and the energetic Thiruvathirakali captivating the audience with their intricate movements and vibrant costumes A traditional 'Vanjipattu’ or boat race song added an element of excitement and showcased the association's commitment to preserving the cultural traditions of Kerala “The inauguration of the Sarnia Malayalee Association and the Onam celebration will undoubtedly be etched in the memories of all who attended reinforcing the value of cultural diversity and community in Sarnia's tapestry,” organizers added “Their successful inauguration and Onam celebration serve as a testament to the power of cultural preservation and community cohesion bringing people of all backgrounds together to celebrate the rich and diverse traditions of Kerala.” The Lambton Kent District School Board has been given extra funding for the expansion at Errol Village Public School The renovations were originally supposed to start in the spring of 2023 The Ontario Ministry of Education has granted the school board $6,144,624 toward the project, up from the $3.8 million they received in 2022 “We were granted the addition and the addition of the childcare and when we moved to the next stages of planning and architectural design,” John Howitt “The pricing was coming out greater than the original amount allocated so we went back to the ministry and requested additional funding for the project.” The approximately 190-student school will add two classrooms and a new daycare space with 49 licensed daycare spaces for infants the school board hopes the new addition will be ready to open next March.  “This is one of our growing communities within the Sarnia-Lambton area and the population has increased beyond the current capacity of the school As more families are moving into the area there’s been an increased need for childcare,” explains Howitt Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account SARNIA — Two dozen bear sightings in Lambton County in recent weeks are likely linked to two bears The ministry has received reports of 22 bear sightings in Lambton Shores Erin Barrett White posted photos and a video of a black bear in a farm field at the corner of Highway 81 and Elginfield Road south of Parkhill in Middlesex County “Never thought I would see this in Parkhill,” she said in the Facebook post Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience where the majority of bear sightings in Lambton County have occurred Two sightings have been reported in the Camlachie area of Plympton-Wyoming “The ministry believes these could be two different bears as reports have detailed two unique size descriptions during the same time period,” the ministry’s Dino Alic said by email “The ministry continues to monitor the situation and advice residents on strategies to manage attractants to reduce the potential for human-bear conflicts.” If bears can’t get access to non-natural foods the ministry has the ability to capture and move bears but “trapping and relocation is not appropriate at this time” in Lambton Shores Residents should call in sightings to the toll-free BearWise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 bird feeders and ripe fruit from trees and the ground There were bear sightings in London and Goderich in June 2020 the ministry said some young male black bears will travel more than 200 kilometres in search of a home but bear sightings this far south are rare “The response has been incredible so far and our community reflects an appreciation and respect for this majestic animal,” she said The contest closes July 16 and the winner will be named July 23 Prizes include a guided tour of the museum’s Nnigiiwemin – We Are Going Home summer exhibit exploring the relationship between colonialism and the loss of land by the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Visit the Needham Jay Funeral Home website to send your condolences and support Peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday She was the loving wife to the late Jack Berkers (2009) She will be missed by her children Mary (the late Tony) Huybers of Camlachie She will also be missed by her grandchildren Ryan (Sarah) Huybers and David (Haley) Berkers and her twenty great grandchildren She will be remembered for always sharing her interests and passions with her grandkids they all could have had unlimited tennis lessons if they wanted They have so many memories of strawberry sandwiches and playing at the farm in Camlachie We can’t count the number of sewing projects she helped us with and we will all treasure our amazing quilts Alberta is survived by siblings Ted (Dorothy) Donkers and Martin (Mary) Donkers and predeceased by Sister Huberta Maria Exciting plans for a new outdoor rink are on the drawing board in Camlachie Safety concerns surrounding a Camlachie intersection will go to Lambton County for further discussion after a letter was issued to Plympton-Wyoming's mayor and council which spoke about the "dangerous intersection" of Egremont Road and Lakeshore Road was briefly discussed during this week's council meeting Concerned residents Anne and Mike Stewardson said the intersection remains unsafe while traffic continues to increase as the community grows The public letter suggested the possible installation of a roundabout to improve traffic flow and community safety "It's not the first time that we've had concerns from our residents about that intersection," said Mayor Gary Atkinson "I'm sure probably all of us have had near misses there as well." Councillor Alex Boughen said he regularly drives through the intersection and said the safety concerns are largely speed-related "You do notice a difference in terms of safety it's a safer intersection for about a month or two and then people start picking it up again," Boughen said The intersection is managed by the County of Lambton Plympton-Wyoming approved a motion to bring the matter up to the county level ALLANAt the North Lambton Rest Home, Forest, on Saturday, October 11, 2003. Doris Elizabeth (McEwen) Allan (nee Minielly), 84 years, formerly of Camlachie. Beloved wife of the late Jack Allan (1992) and Les McEwen (1955). Dear mother of Jim... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Doris Allan created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories A spate of recent bear sightings in more than a dozen locations in Lambton County are now believed to be two separate animals Following a mid-June report of a total of 16 bear sightings over the previous two weeks in locations around Lambton Shores Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development Natural Resources and Forestry said there have been six additional reports in the community between June 17 and 30 plus two reports on June 20 in the Camlachie area of Plympton-Wyoming We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“The ministry believes these could be two different bears as reports have detailed two unique size descriptions during the same time period,” ministry spokesperson Dino Alic said in an email “The ministry continues to monitor the situation and advise residents on strategies to manage attractants to reduce the potential for human-bear conflicts.” When bears can’t gain access to non-natural foods Alic said the ministry also has the ability to trap and move problem bears when all other means of preventing conflicts with residents have proven unsuccessful “The ministry is continually monitoring and assessing the situation in the Lambton Shores area and trapping and relocation is not appropriate at this time,” Alic said The ministry said it encourages residents to report sightings to the BearWise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 All of these sightings involved enticements such as garbage and bird feeders so residents were advised to remove those items as well as any ripe fruit from trees and the ground “The black bear came to our area at an emotionally difficult time as people across Canada struggle with the discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites,” said museum curator-supervisor Dana Thorne. She said some participants have said it is “a spirit bear that has come to our area to promote healing and give people strength.” Most of the suggestions posted to the museum’s Facebook page have been in the language of local First Nations, Thorne said. “The response has been incredible so far and our community reflects an appreciation and respect for this majestic animal,” she said. The Name the Bear contest closes July 16 and the winner will be named July 23. Prizes include a guided tour of Nnigiiwemin – We Are Going Home, a summer exhibition at the museum co-curated by Summer Bressette and Monica Virtue, exploring the relationship between colonialism and the loss of land by the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, as well as original artwork by Jeffrey “Red” George and a family pass to the museum. The Lambton County bears aren’t the only Southwestern Ontario sightings in recent years. There were bear sightings in both London and Goderich in June 2020. At that time, the ministry said some young male black bears will travel more than 200 kilometres in search of a home, but bear sightings this far south in Ontario are rare, averaging one or two every couple of years. A Sarnia woman reported a bear sighting near the city in May 2019 and several were reported during the summer of 2016 in Lambton Shores, Enniskillen Township and St. Clair Township. and a score no golfer had carded at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa as local pro Dan Bowling turned in a 59 during the Camlachie-based course's 10th annual pro-am The 21-year-old Mooretown native shot 31 on the front nine while playing with amateurs Emilio Rocca and 28 on the back nine to finish 12 under par “I was just hitting the ball right down the middle of the fairway all day and then hitting an iron in there within 10 feet and making the putts.” He set a new competitive course record at Sawmill bettering his 10-under 62 at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club (SGCC) Bowling shot eight-under 64 at Huron Oaks Golf Club – he moved to Bright's Grove last year and plays out of that course He finished with red numbers at SGCC one day prior 11 and Bowling exploded off the tee with four straight birdies “And then missed a couple short putts for birdie on the next two and then went birdie 10 to secure his ninth birdie and the sub-60 score The pro-am's format was one gross and one net best ball along with stroke play for the professionals Bowling won the individual-pro portion by seven strokes over runner-up Mike Woodcock – from Chatham's Maple City Country Club Bowling is a touring pro who frequently competes in PGA Tour Canada Monday qualifiers and his goal is to attend Web.com qualifying school at the end of this season Bowling already has four years of experience as he turned pro at age 17 becoming one of the youngest golfers in the history of the PGA Tour Canada to earn the status “You really have to be 18 but they gave me a special exemption at 17,” he said “It's been a really big learning experience “Back then I was playing the game I thought it was just fun and there wasn't much to it but once you get to the professional level you see how the guys take it to that extra level and a little bit more serious and how much the little things come into play He credited Florida-based sports psychologist Dr Bob Winters with helping him improve his thought process on the course “He's got my mental game pretty strong,” he said when you get to that nine-under mark (and) you've still got seven holes to play a lot of nerves and a lot of things going through your head So he's definitely helped me and helped me go through that feeling and know what to do in that situation.” local coach Chris Dickson – one of the previous Sawmill course record holders – has been helping Bowling hone his game since 2013 “Huge appreciation to them both,” Bowling said tbridge@postmedia.com @ObserverTerry To send flowers to the family of Bill Gray please visit our Sympathy Store Winners of the Bluewater Health Foundation’s 2024 Dream Home Lottery are set to be announced this week Officials will be on hand at the site of the $1.2 million grand-prize Camlachie home for the announcement where the winner of the fundraiser’s  50/50 draw will also be revealed The winner will have the choice between the fully furnished home at 7012 Blue Coast Heights Camlachie resident Larry Lawlor was announced the winner of the Dream Home Lottery’s third early bird prize — earning the choice to take home a brand new BMW from BMW Sarnia valued at $64,295 or $30,000 in cash Bluewater Health Foundation’s Dream Home Lottery has raised more than $9 million for Sarnia-Lambton’s community hospitals Bluewater Health and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital Proceeds from the Dream Home Lottery have contributed to the purchase of much needed equipment including: an MRI A portion of proceeds from this year’s Dream Home Lottery will help to fund the redevelopment of Bluewater Health’s cancer clinic Last year, a group of four co-workers known as ‘St. Clair Crew #2’ won the Bluewater Health Foundation’s 2023 Dream Home Viewers can watch the announcement live on Facebook Long before he invented the phonograph, perfected the incandescent light bulb, or created motion pictures — indeed, long before he was celebrated worldwide as one of the greatest inventors of all time — Thomas Alva Edison was a simple telegraph operator who spent some of his formative years in Lambton County. Members and guests of the Plympton Wyoming Historical Society investigated the light bulb inventor’s Camlachie connection with Bob Nix, Sarnia antique collector and past president of the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society. Born in Milan, Ohio in 1847, Edison and his family moved to Port Huron when he was a young boy. Considered a ‘unruly dunce’ by one of his teachers, the 11-year-old dropped out of school after three months and began selling newspapers, snacks and vegetables on trains that took railway passengers from Port Huron to Detroit. Edison’s entrepreneurial flair was fostered in Port Huron, as was his interest in inventing. Barely a teen, he created a mobile chemistry lab to conduct experiments during the long train trips. Plympton Wyoming Historical Society members got the chance to see antique phonographs and music players. (CARL HNATYSHYN/ POSTMEDIA NETWORK) In 1856, the section of the Grand Trunk Railroad from Sarnia through to Toronto was completed. The tracks ran through Sarnia, down what is now Cathcart Boulevard — “That’s why it’s so wide,” Nix said — and through to Camlachie on its way to Stratford. At 17, Edison got a job as a telegraph operator on the Canadian side of the border, working for a period of time in Camlachie. Nix said Edison earned approximately $25 a month as telegraph operator, and the work was taxing. Three to four passenger trains went from Camlachie to Stratford daily, while freight cars passed through day and night. Edison had inscribed his initials on one of the walls of the old Camlachie depot but the building was demolished several decades ago, Nix said. In 1863, Edison began working the night shift at the Grand Trunk Railroad in Stratford, where an invention he was working on showed off his early ingenuity but ended his career with the company. “He was at an early age into doing experiments already,” Nix said. “He would work long hours during the daytime. And then at nighttime when he was supposed to be working as the telegraph operator he was falling asleep. So he rigged up a self-made device to send ‘all-clear’ signals so the trains would (avoid collision). “And of course he messed up one night. He fell asleep on the job and two trains nearly collided,” Nix said. “The two engineers luckily saw each other and tragedy was avoided.” Having one of the most intelligent, inventive minds of his generation, even as a teen, Edison quickly realized his failed experiment was known as a ‘career-ending move’. His reaction? Run for the border. “He knew was going to get fired from his job, so he packed up and took off and went back to the States again,” Nix said. And so ended Edison’s time in southwestern Ontario. Nix spoke about one of his interests — antique phonographs. Aside from being a collector, Nix also ran his own business, The Gramophone Doctor, repairing and selling phonographs following his retirement from Dow Chemical in 1998. While the business no longer exists, the Sarnia man spent years fixing and selling antique phonographs for customers from as far away as Mexico, India, Zimbabwe and Australia. Nix and his wife Mable brought a vast and functioning array of phonographs and music players from different eras to the presentation, including cylinder phonographs from the early 20th century, an Edison disc music box that plays one-sided records with a diamond needle, and a portable, corrugated cardboard phonograph that was distributed to developing nations around the world to spread the Christian gospel. Speaking after the presentation, Nix said his interest in phonographs stemmed from his childhood on a farm near Stevensville, just outside of Niagara Falls. “When I was a boy and went up to the attic, I found this old phonograph there. I was really really excited about that. I just took a liking to it and begged and begged and begged my dad to please give it to me,” he said. Nix’s father promised he would eventually pass down the phonograph to his son, just as his father had given it to him. Nix eventually got his beloved phonograph — a Berliner Type B, patented in 1897 and made in Montreal — shortly after he moved to Sarnia in 1966. He still has it. “I inherited the phonograph from my parents in about the 1970 area,” he said. “Before I retired from Dow Chemical, I was looking for something to do as a hobby and started tinkering around with phonographs. So that’s how I got started — doing crude repairs and stuff.” Lambton County has always been a hot spot for phonograph collectors, according to Nix. “There are a lot of people here who have phonographs. They want them, they like them, they buy them and then they have a house full of them. It just happens that way.” So while Edison spent a brief period of time working in Camlachie, his legacy in Lambton County lives on through one of his most popular inventions, the phonograph. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Edward Eves has stories to tell about many of the trees growing on two large lots he owns on the Lake Huron shoreline The roughly five acres at Blue Point was an investment made a dozen years ago because of his unease with the ups and downs of the stock market it has become a place where Eves stays busy feeding his appreciation of the natural world We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“It’s sort of a quiet little nature reserve,” he said. Eves was born in Sarnia and lived there until he left to study science at the University of Waterloo. Now practising optometry in Burlington, he returns regularly to a cottage at Bonnie Doon. The only building on his land at Blue Point is a shed sitting on a concrete pad dating back to before the farmland was divided into residential lots. As well as keeping Eves busy during his downtime, the site has become a memorial project. He planted a line of trees in memory of those who died in the Sandy Hook school shooting in the U.S., maple trees for Canada’s 150th birthday, and trees for folks he has known. “When you plant a tree, the world benefits – every living creature,” he said. Walking around the land, Eves pointed to trees and told their story. One was planted for a young man who battled cancer, and another for the young man’s father. “His dad was chief of police in Halton” and “a real grouch, but I loved him,” Eves said. “Memorial trees are everywhere – that’s what it’s all about.” The largest memorial is for those impacted by the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, and is intended to grow to become visible from airplanes passing overhead. “I really got choked up when it happened,” Eves said. “It was just terrible.” Eves planted a row of Norway spruce trees in the shape of a hockey stick that points West to Saskatchewan. “I put a little curve on the stick,” he said. There’s a tree for each person killed and injured in the crash involving a hockey team bus on its way to a game, plus a blue spruce at the end in honour of all those who risk going on road to take part in sporting events, Eves said. “You’ve be able to see it from 10,000 or 15,000 feet in the air,” he said. Near the hockey stick’s blade, a pond with a round island in the centre is intended to look like a puck from above. “Eventually, we’ll put a plaque with all their names,” Eves said. He also planted trees this year in a horseshoe shape as another memorial for the Humboldt Broncos. “It’s a quiet place for someone who wants to go and reflect,” Eves said. “I think the idea is to let them know we do care – we do think about it.” Eves has cut paths through the site where neighbours enjoy walking. This year, he also planted sunflowers for the “thousands and thousands” of migrating monarch butterflies who rest at the site during their journey south. “The monarchs love this stuff,” Eves said. “They’re just all over it.” The butterflies are expected to be at their peak at the site in about a week, he said. The pond is also full of fish, muskrats have moved onto the island and the land attracts birds and other wildlife. “It will be very pretty, down the road,” Eves said. “I’ll take care of it as long as I’m around.” “It’s way more fun to have people to endure it with,” said the Camlachie marathoner currently ranked third in Canada following a bronze Canadian finish at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon last month “There were three of us working together throughout the race I started to pull away around the 39 kilometre mark,” said Cooper who put up a personal best time of 2:18:00 behind two-time Olympian Reid Coolsaet (2:17:37) and a Canadian record-breaking performance by Cam Levins with 2:09:22 “By having people to work with throughout the race pushing me — and hopefully I can push them — the end of the day we’ll have a better performance than doing it all on our own.” The 32-year-old software developer and married father of two says he’s at the peak of his career — and no goal is off limits That includes the 2019 World Championships in Doha “I figure if I just keep focusing on my own improvement hopefully I’ll be in a good position to try for some of these cool opportunities,” he said This marked Cooper’s eighth marathon in five years including a first place finish at the Glass City Marathon in Ohio last spring He describes himself as an ‘off and on’ runner in his early years — doing cross country at Errol Village school and St Clair Secondary — and running in his last two years at the University of Waterloo I wanted to check off that bucket list item,” he said “I just started with a training plan off the Internet and after running consistently for about three months He finished fourth overall at his very first race in Niagara on the Lake just two minutes shy of the Boston Marathon qualifying time for his age group that year “The goal is really just to see what I’m ultimately capable of,” said Cooper His family plays a huge role in his success noting it’s not easy to fit it all in with two young kids and relying on grandparents to take on some of the childcare duties “They’re a huge reason why I am able to do this.” Dustin Jeffrey has played in some of the top hockey leagues in the world But he's never represented his country on the ice before Now Jeffrey will get to pull on the red and white jersey for the first time next week as the 28-year-old forward from Camlachie will play for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup “I did a couple of things when I was younger with tryouts for like under-16 but this is the first time I'll be putting on a Canadian sweater,” Jeffrey said Wednesday over the phone from Lausanne Switzerland where he plays for the local pro team in the Swiss A league Hockey Canada made the announcement official Tuesday by releasing its 23-player roster for the six-day tournament beginning on Boxing Day but Jeffrey knew he'd be on the team for the last six weeks as long as he stayed healthy After all that was partly why he opted to sign with Lausanne HC this past summer after wrapping up the 2015-16 season with the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins “Coming to play in this league I was hoping to be asked,” Jeffrey said while completing some last-minute shopping with Christmas music playing in the background the amount of Canadians that play in this league there seemed to be a good opportunity for me to make the team “It's an old tournament that has a lot of history so it's a good opportunity Dallas Star and Arizona Coyote knows a handful of his Canadian teammates mostly through opposing them throughout his career including St Some other familiar names on the roster include ex-Boston Bruin Gregory Campbell and former Toronto Maple Leafs Mason Raymond and Nick Spaling The group was assembled by general manager Sean Burke and will be coached by Luke Richardson Finalizing the team can be a bit tricky for the management group with the holidays factored in but it worked out well for Jeffrey as his wife has some of her family visiting them throughout the Christmas season Flying nine-month-old son Nash home wasn't really part of the plan “To come home for four days it just doesn't make any sense “It was just an opportunity where I'm going to bring everybody (to the tournament) and we're going to really take it in as an experience for everybody.” then the family will drive to Davos – the site of the Spengler Cup – on Christmas Eve Jeffrey will practice with Team Canada on Christmas Day followed by a family skate including an on-ice Santa Clause then it's right into the fire as the tournament opens Dec Canada is pitted against HC Dinamo Minsk at 2:15 p.m Balancing family and team time in late December is nothing new for the ex-Lambton Jr “I've played Boxing Day and I've had practices on Christmas before so it's not too out of the ordinary,” said Jeffrey who first played pro hockey in the spring of 2008 but only five players are back from the 2015 group “The turnover's obviously big from year to year because guys go to different leagues and retire or come back to North America,” he said Lausanne won Tuesday night – Wednesday morning for Ontarians with the six-hour time difference – to improve to 18-12-0-1 “Our team didn't make the playoffs last year so it's a good step for us,” Jeffrey said “We've only got 20 games left so we're just kind of building now towards the playoffs.” but his recently-expanded family plans to return home to Camlachie between the seasons @ObserverTerry The Lloyd Gibson Juried Exhibition on now at the Lawrence House offers a glimpse of work by some artists new to our area This year’s winner moved to Camlachie from Mississauga in 2017 and is slowly being introduced to the local arts scene John Lightfoot is a professional illustrator and graphic designer who picked up a paintbrush four years ago and is creating vibrant landscapes and streetscapes at his home studio Lightfoot’s “Camlachie Shores” was chosen by the show’s three judges – Jane Hunter Glenn Ogilvie and Ian McLean – for its ability to balance technical control and unexpected moments of colour “We were intrigued by the sense of mystery in this landscape,” wrote the judges Lightfoot’s acrylic on canvas features a lot of reds It’s impressionistic and measures 24” X 48.” The large size is typical said Lightfoot who is represented by Crescent Hill Gallery in Mississauga and Artopia in Sarnia A trip to Italy inspired him to resume painting after a 25-year hiatus Even before he and his wife made their move to Camlachie he entered a painting in a juried show at the Gallery in the Grove and won an award of merit That was enough to encourage him to continue painting and enter another juried show “I’d like to be known in the community and get to know the other local artists,” he added The Lloyd Gibson Show is named for the late educator and watercolour artist who volunteered at the Lawrence House until his death in 2008 It’s the only juried show mounted by the arts centre each year and draws a range of professional The City of Sarnia provides cash prizes of $250 to the winner “The prizes often draw out the best of Sarnia’s artistic community,” said Segall “It’s important to show the breadth of this community and provide a venue to show their work.” The winners were announced during First Friday festivities on Jan Lightfoot placed first; Cathy Earle placed second for her watercolour “Market Day Bouquet;” Regina Gudelis placed third for “Melissa’s Horse,” and Laura Manzano Arias earned an honourable mention for her mixed media “From the Air.” All 29 pieces in the show are available for sale with the Lawrence House taking a 25% commission WHERE:  The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts Judges Ian McLean and Jane Hunter view a watercolour by Cathy Earle “Market Day Bouquet," that was the second-place winner in the juried show.Glenn Ogilvie Saxophonist Sarah Robertson hopes her experience with the Canadian Armed Forces musical regiment in France during Vimy Ridge ceremonies will resonate with her future students “I’ve always found that the teachers that’ve been inspirational to me and inspirational to others they’ve always had a repertoire of experiences,” said the former Camlachie resident who hopes to become a music educator herself “They’ve had a lot of background to themselves and I thought that being a part of the military and the music would be a great learning step for me.” The Northern Collegiate grad is one of 60 musicians taking part in a series of ceremonies at Vimy Ridge in France on the battle’s 100th anniversary April 9 and another Canadian Forces ensemble from Edmonton will spend two weeks in Europe participating in events marking the historic battle Four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time on April 9 resulting in one of the most important Western Front victories of the First World War Vimy has become known as “the battle that forged a nation,” and saw four Sarnians killed in action: Frederick Johnson I know you see it on the movies and you hear about but it’s a different thing to see it there,” Robertson said She’s been with Canadian Forces the past year living and working on CFB Valcartier in Quebec City Prior to that Robertson was a familiar face locally gracing stages and concert halls she has performed at Lambton County Music Festivals and was part of the popular jazz band the Dominant 7 That group drew from four area high schools and played at Art Walk Robertson played with the ceremonial guard at Western University and was one of 13 saxophonists to audition for the Canadian Forces position She took the compulsory training of all Canadian recruits including leadership “I never thought it was something I would be doing but to have the opportunity to play saxophone and to be getting paid for it The Forces band plays at parades and ceremonies and stages regular concerts through the winter we can split up into a brass quintet or a wind quintet Not only will concert-goers attending the Scott Woods Band’s upcoming Camlachie concert be treated to an evening of first-rate, fiery fiddle playing and top-notch tunes ranging from Scottish-influenced Cape Breton jigs to ear-pleasing eastern European polkas. They might also get to see some serious acrobatics, too. Scott Woods and his ensemble of award-winning musicians, dancers and entertainers will be making their way to the Camlachie United Church on Mar. 27, the second concert of the band’s Fiddling In The Key of Eh national tour. The tour is a blend of distinct Canadian fiddling styles from across the country, Woods said, reflecting the rich multicultural nature of the country. “It’s a real cross section of Canadian fiddling,” Woods said. “It’s a mix of Métis, French, Irish and Scottish influences. Further west there are lots of eastern European styles, such as Polish or Ukrainian polkas. They’ll be in the show too.” “The settlers brought them here from the old world. And because the country is so big, the stylistic cues have come from all over the globe,” he said. “We’re exploring that and putting it together in a two hour show.” The idea for the pan-Canadian fiddling show came from Woods’ numerous appearances at the Grand Masters Fiddling Competition that takes place in Ottawa each year. Woods, a two-time national champion, spent much of his time at the competition listening to other talented fiddlers from across the country. The annual competition dictates that fiddlers are required to play four songs for the panel of judges including a waltz, a jig and a reel. But the musicians are free to choose their own tune for the fourth song. While the first three songs are often played “clean and accurately”, Woods said and thus fairly identical, competitors’ fourth songs reflected the wildly unique and original fiddle styles from every regions of the country.   “They really showed the diverse style of fiddlers from across the country,” Woods said. “So we started collecting these tunes. Sometimes there are subtle differences but they are distinct styles from across the country. That’s really what spawned this tour.” For the 44 year-old Woods, a sixth generation musician who has been playing and performing since the age of four, the challenge of developing an entertaining, engaging concert showcasing both traditional favourites and new tunes the audience might not be familiar with was a challenge that he relished. “The show will be different and fresh but won’t go outside the realm for our audiences. It’s a bit of a stretch for me as a fiddler, but sometimes that’s a good thing,” he said. And along with Woods’ dazzling, distinctive fiddle, the veteran violinist will be joined onstage by a plethora of peerless performers, including Cape Breton vocalist Tommy Leadbeater, guitarist Bruce Timmins, guitarist/bassist Steve Piticco, Strathroy percussionist Ron Dymond and 16 year-old superlative step dancer Mitchell Patrick Linton. Typical of the Scott Woods Band ethos, part of the money raised at the Camlachie show will go towards the United Church in supporting the various services it offers to the community.   Over the years, the band has donated a portion of its concert money to various churches, service clubs and local charities in communities across the country. Woods estimates that his band’s shows have raised over $2 million for organizations over the past number of years. “Our shows aren’t huge, so the amount (we donate) isn’t always large, but we do what we can,” he said. “It’s a win-win for us and for the organizations.” And then there’s the acrobatics. Or ‘tricks’ as Woods puts it. “While it’s a different show musically from past shows, one thing that does carry on from show to show is that I have some tricks,” he said.  “I do things like play behind the back, and I do a running somersault.”
Woods’ aerial contortions were such a crowd favourite over his nearly 30 years on the road that when he decided a few years ago to try and stop the acrobatics, a throng of about 50 audience members approached him after one show demanding that he bring them back. Which he promptly did. “I’ll be doing for a while,” he said with a laugh. This will be the band’s seventh year coming to Camlachie, where the band’s concerts helped fund the construction of the new United Church.   “For us, the Camlachie concerts are just great,” he said. “They prepare us a hot meal before the show and we have some social time. Then after we play the show, the audience has some goodies and we mingle and sign some CDs.” Playing music in churches and community halls in small towns and big cities alike still drives Woods’ passion, even after nearly three decades on the road. “It’s just a real dream job for a musician. You’re not playing in bars to a crowd of drunks, you’re playing for people who love what you’re playing, who love listening to old romantic tunes,” he said. Fiddling In The Key of Eh takes place at the Camlachie United Church at 6784 Camlachie Road on Friday, Mar. 27. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for children 10 and under. Tickets can be purchased by phoning 519-899-4720 or by contacting Terry Mason at 519-869-4103 or by email at Tmason@cogeco.ca. For more information about the Scott Woods Band, visit www.scottwoods.ca. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy A Camlachie man has been charged in connection with a collision Sept 1 on Lakeshore Road that sent a cyclist to hospital We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLambton OPP said a collision between a cyclist and vehicle happened at 8:45 p.m The cyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries and the driver of the vehicle fled the area before police arrived Lambton OPP said an arrest was made Monday following an investigation is charged with failing to stop after an accident failing to report an accident and careless driving causing bodily harm Police are asking anyone with information about the incident or dashcam footage from the area on the evening of Sept to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 A two-storey brick home and three-car attached garage in Plympton-Wyoming was destroyed by fire Wednesday night One of the first questions Amy Jewell asked after she and a group of seven other Bluewater Health nurses won the Dream Home Lottery Friday was the number on the winning ticket “My dad passed away probably 10 years ago and in the lotto he always used 427,” said the 42-year-old Camlachie woman “So when I was purchasing that ticket I bought the one that was closest.” Jewell's name was on the grand prize-winning ticket drawn at noon Friday in the Bluewater Health Foundation's 19th annual Dream Home Lottery The prize: a $400,000 home at 482 Autumn Breeze Dr Jewell said she's been buying Dream Home Lottery tickets since she started working at Bluewater Health 14 years ago “It's funny because all these years I've never even won a $100 ticket,” she said It's likely she and the other prize winners — Christine Biggers “I think I would have taken the cash anyways,” she said explaining the group ticket was one of four she had in the draw; she'd bought three on her own She wasn't sure yet how to spend her winnings “I haven't even thought about it,” she said Jewell found out the good news while caring for patients at the hospital “I was actually in a patient's room and one of my co-workers came in and said 'I think you just won the dream home,'” she said Asked how she was feeling after winning the prize The foundation had 7,800 tickets up for grabs this year Tickets were 95% sold out for the draw and netted Bluewater Health $250,000 to help pay for its MRI machine The foundation is almost to it's $2.8-million capital campaign goal “So stay tuned for a big announcement with that,” Alexander said And the community response for the foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year was great “Every year things get harder and we always hope to sell 100% of the tickets,” she said really pleased with the 95% sale this year.” Expect a big event at next year's 20th anniversary A complete list of winners is posted at bluewaterhealthfoundation.ca tyler.kula@sunmedia.ca The auditorium of Aberarder Central Public School was a sea of swaying, smiling and singing teens and tweens on a rather atypical Tuesday afternoon, as singer/songwriter and motivational speaker Sara Westbrook provided students and staff with a powerful and melodic message of hope, resilience and respect on Nov. 4. The diminutive yet bursting-with-energy Westbrook is the creator of the motivational UPower concert series, a powerful concoction of music, movement and message promoting student self-respect and encouraging a healthy respect for others, even in the face of adversity.   “I’m a human too, I have emotions that come up,” she said. “I would just say it doesn’t matter what happens to you, it’s who you choose to become after something like that happens to you.” Westbrook also found time to address many of the challenges and pressures facing adolescents today, providing practical advice and counsel on issues ranging from bullying to dealing with disappointment or a chaotic home life to the 75 or so students in the audience, advice underlined by her twin themes of respect and resilience. “One of the biggest, most important character traits for me is respect,” Westbrook said. “Respecting ourselves, others and our dreams and finding a way to bounce back from challenging times.” “I think that young people face a lot of negative opinions and challenging circumstances,” she continued. “The message resonates with them, because they can see a connection that they’re not alone. They can take some of these skills and apply them to their own unique situation.” Regardless of a child’s upbringing or current circumstances, Westbrook said, her presentations aim to send the message to kids that they ultimately have control over their own fate. “Even though they may not have control over their circumstances, which can be frustrating and upsetting, they do have control over the choices they make and who they choose to become,” she said. “That’s where their power lies, and that’s why I call it U Power. You have the power to choose how to react.” The crowd remained abuzz well after Westbrook took her final bow at the end of her presentation. Groups of eager students swarmed the singer, in hopes of taking a picture with her, exchanging emails or just having a quiet chat. Westbrook has performed to over 100,000 students over the past 15 years, but still takes the time to answer questions and provide sage advice for all the kids who are in need of some motivation, she said. Advice that she still lives by. “The confidence that I have today, I had to work on. Everything I shared with them today, all those skills and tools, are things that I used and still use in my life,” she said. Grade seven student Sarah Wilson, 12, said that she was inspired by the presentation, which taught her a lot about the importance of respecting others. “It taught you to always respect people and not let people down. And to always be yourself,” she said.   Principal Cindy Kramer said she had seen the UPower presentation before and she knew that Westbrook would be a hit with the students at Aberarder. “I think because Sara shares her personal stories with the students, that gets them thinking,” Kramer said. “She also gets the message across that every child is unique and that everyone is valued, and teaches them how to value themselves.” Eleven year-old Cody Donkers, a recipient of a colourful UPower board, said that he particularly enjoyed the singing during the presentation. As for Westbrook’s positive message, the grade seven student said that he had already committed to making some tangible steps towards becoming a more respectful person. “(The presentation) taught me not to make fun of people and be more friendly,” he said, proudly holding his new prize. “I’ll probably try to share more, because I am pretty bad at sharing.” For more information about Sara Westbrook’s UPower concerts, visit www.sarawestbrook.com.   Big Wreck’s Brian Doherty says being on the road suits him just fine and his bandmates will play the Rustic in Sarnia on Thursday Oct 23 before heading south of the border for the rest of their tour Big Wreck released its fourth album in June and embarked on a cross-Canada trek to play to live audiences from Vancouver to Toronto I think Ghosts has set a new bar for us and we’re gaining some new audience.” Ghosts debuted at Number 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart selling 4,000 copies in its first week The album also debuted at Number 4 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the U.S. outstripping any of the band’s previous albums Doherty is an original member of Big Wreck They disbanded in 2002 for about eight years Big Wreck put out its Albatross album just before they played at the 2012 Bayfest in Sarnia That’s the last time the band was in Sarnia and Doherty said he will relish playing guitar in front of a home audience again Doherty is originally from New York and studied classical music graduating from Boston’s Berklee School of Music During the years Big Wreck was apart Doherty played guitar with Death of 8 Working with Thornley and the other members of Big Wreck – Paulo Neta Dave McMillan and Chuck Keeping – is proving very satisfying The band’s sound on Ghosts is being compared to early Police There are so many influences that come through I hear Bono in some songs while others have something similar to Black Sabbath There’s also a lot of guitar-based rock to highlight the band’s skills The tour has taken Big Wreck to bigger venues like London Music Hall But it’s also included a lot of theatres and bars like Rustic “The smaller venues are kinda neat,” said Doherty “I’m looking forward to Sarnia and seeing everyone pumping their fists in my face.” TICKETS:  $35 + HST. Online at ticketscene.ca In the basement of a suburban Camlachie home Caleb Winder is recreating the internal workings of the sun a vacuum chamber and 35,000 volts of electricity the 15-year-old has built a nuclear fusion reactor that he’s entering in the Lambton County Science Fair Winder culled the reactor’s parts from eBay hardware stores and obscure websites frequented by retired nuclear engineers and the thing is driven by a dental X-ray power pack he scrounged and keeps in the garage a wire having shorted out in a shower of sparks Lead shielding provides protection from what Winder assures a visitor is “not very much” radiation there are very few ways of sustaining a nuclear fusion reaction,” explains the St but the neutrons produced can be used for radio isotopes in medical treatment.” This year’s science fair is April 10-11 at Lambton College with more than $7,000 in prizes up for grabs but the science itself is fun,” says Winder “It’s a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone.” The best projects from the senior and intermediate categories advance to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton NB The local fair organization covers all expenses for up to five students to attend and provides chaperones to ensure their safety Sarnia has a robust science fair thanks to more than 30 sponsors organizations and a veritable who’s who of Chemical Valley companies “There’s a good science background in this area,” said fair spokesperson Peter Smith Winder advanced to the national fair with a small prototype of this year’s project and brought home a bronze prize a telescope and a scholarship to Western University Parents Matt and Deb Winder say their son comes by it naturally There amid crayon drawings of satellites and robots five-year-old Caleb has scribbled the words: “The sun is made out of nuclear fusion.” A proposal to spend $3.8 million to expand Errol Village public school near Camlachie has been approved by Ontario’s Ministry of Education We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentPlans are to add two classrooms to the school were enrolment is growing, as well as three childcare rooms, said Brian McKay, superintendent of business for the Lambton Kent District school board. “The new addition at Errol Village public elementary school is great news for our community,” Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said in a news release. “This investment will provide choice and flexibility for families and new opportunities for the children of Camlachie,” he said. McKay said the two new classrooms will “address increasing student enrolment at the school.” Currently, there is one portable classroom and a second planned at the site on Egremont Road. While the building has a 190-pupil capacity, it’s projected to have 248 students in the fall, McKay said. “We work with the County of Lambton on childcare needs . . . and they’ve identified a need for the three rooms in that area,” he added. The two classrooms will increase the building’s capacity by 46 pupils, and the childcare rooms are expected to provide 49 licensed daycare spaces. “The additional student spaces will greatly benefit the community and enhance access to available childcare for families, which will further support home-to-school connections,” board chairperson Randy Campbell said in the news release. “We’re happy to get that announcement from the ministry, and now it’s on us to design and build it,” McKay said. The board plans to work on the “design phase” of the addition over the summer and seek bids from builders in the fall, he said. “My guess is we’ll probably be in the ground next spring,” and construction is likely to take 10 to 12 months to complete, McKay said. The school board recently released a 2022 capital plan that notes the local English public school system is facing marginal declining enrolment overall in the coming years. Total enrolment in its schools for the current school year is 21,572 students but is projected to decline by approximately 308 students by 2032. The board has said it also expects to break ground in spring 2023 on a new school building in Forest that will be its first kindergarten to Grade 12 school. The more-than-$27-million project is expected see a school built with room for more than 1,000 students to replace North Lambton secondary school, Aberarder Central school, Bosanquet Central school and Kinnwood Central school. Construction is expected to take about two years once it begins. Earlier this year, the school board completed the purchase of approximately 7.8 hectares (19.5 acres) in Forest next to the Shores Recreation Centre for the project. The province approved $4.7 million in November for the land purchase.