Municipality of Lambton Shores
COVID-19 Update, June 3, 2020

Please continue to watch for frequent updates on our website, Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep you informed of what is happening in Lambton Shores during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Message from the Mayor

Hello everyone,

Since the start of COVID-19, we have taken every step necessary to prioritize the health and safety of residents, community members and employees.  Keeping in line with recovery measures taken by the Province, the municipality is cautiously transitioning into a recovery phase. You will notice recovery is beginning to take place with the reopening of tennis courts, issuance of building permits and construction projects and the planting of our gardens and hanging baskets in our communities.

The municipality will continue to follow guidance from the Province of Ontario and Lambton Public Health, as recovery continues in the coming weeks. We will ensure that all appropriate measures are in place to reopen safely while limiting risks to public health. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over and the health and well-being of residents, community members and staff remain at the forefront of every decision being made. Although we are transitioning into recovery, we are still under a State of Emergency and must continue to approach recovery cautiously.

I have been, and continue to be a strong advocate for the “stay home” message. I think this has been extremely effective in the early weeks of this emergency. As we slowly enter recovery phases, with some businesses and public spaces beginning to reopen, and employees slowly returning to their workplaces, the message of "stay home" is transitioning to “Stay Smart and Stay Safe”. While staying home remains a highly effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we must shift to our message to one that encourages us to protect ourselves when and if we do go out. Please stay safe and take precautions for yourself and those around you.

May we never again take for granted a hand shake or a hug, full shelves at the stores, the school rush each morning, or coffee with a friend. We are all in this together.

Stay healthy, safe and positive.

Mayor Bill
Updates for Lambton Shores Residents
Please visit our COVID-19 Information Hub for up-to-date information on municipal services. You will find links to information for community and business supports. You will also find reliable COVID-19 information sources.

Council Highlights
Lambton Shores Council met via electronic participation on Tuesday, June 2. For more information, visit our  Council Highlights.

Municipal Tennis Courts
The municipal tennis courts at the Esli Dodge Conservation Area and the Port Franks Community Centre are open for public use. Players are asked to review and abide by the newly posted rules that have put in place to keep everyone safe. If you have a key to the Port Franks courts from last year, you may continue to use that key this year. If you need to purchase a key for $10, please call 519-243-1400, option 2 to make arrangements to pick one up.


The court at Whyte Park remains closed at this time.

Mulch
Mulch is now available at our Compost site for Lambton Shores' residents during the site’s regular operating hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please bring your own shovel and container as you will have to load your own mulch. We ask that you follow the direction of the site operator, be patient and respectful to everyone onsite as we continue to practice physical distancing by allowing only one vehicle in at a time. Note: Compost will not be available at this time.

Lambton Public Health Telephone Survey
Lambton Public Health will be conducting a COVID-19 related telephone survey to randomly selected adults in Lambton County in the coming weeks. Ipsos Public Affairs will be completing the calls on behalf of Lambton Public Health and calling from a 416 area code. For more information on this survey .

Welcome Back Seasonal Residents…and Thank You!   
With the arrival of the warm weather, many seasonal residents are returning to open their Lambton Shores properties. The Municipality welcomes our seasonal residents back, and would like to extend our gratitude to those residents for respecting the public health guidelines when moving between properties. Measures such as shopping before you come to your seasonal property, staying at your property when in Lambton Shores, and not inviting guests to your property are making a difference. Together, we are all helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Outdoor Recreational Amenities
At this time all municipal outdoor recreational amenities remain closed. This includes, but is not limited to: playgrounds, sports fields, basketball courts, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, park shelters and outdoor exercise equipment. 
Gypsy Moths

Are you noticing a large number of tiny black caterpillars on your property?  Lambton Shores is not immune to the gypsy moth infestation that is severely weakening trees across North America. Photo courtesy of Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program.

What happens during an infestation?

Gypsy moth outbreaks occur every 7 to 10 years. Gypsy moth caterpillars (“larvae”) will chew holes in leaves, and may partially or totally strip a host tree of its leaves.

During outbreak years, nearly all broadleaf (hardwood) trees may be completely defoliated. This can harm and even kill otherwise healthy trees. Caterpillars appear everywhere and their droppings ("frass") will fall from the trees. 

This species is known to infest trees in woodland or suburban areas. They prefer to infest hardwood species, such as oak, birch, poplar, willow, maple and others.

Find out more information:


What can you do to control gypsy moths?

Homeowners are responsible for managing gypsy moths on their property.

Here are some general recommendations for dealing with gypsy moths on your property:

  • Keep your trees in good health.
  • Install sticky bands to monitor and control caterpillar populations and/or install pheromone traps in trees to lure and trap male moths to prevent them from mating with female moths. Consult your local nursery or hardware store for information on these bands/traps.
  • Physically remove and destroy egg masses. This is one of the best ways to reduce the infestation - every egg mass removed will reduce the population by several thousand!  Use a small paint scrapper or other gentle tool to remove the egg masses. Soak the egg masses in soapy water overnight to kill them, and then they can be bagged and sent to the landfill. Don’t drop them on the ground or put them in your composter as the caterpillars will still emerge.  The best time to remove the masses is in the fall after the leaves have fallen.
  • Caterpillars can be successfully trapped. To make a trap, wrap a 45-cm (roughly 17-inch) wide strip of burlap around the tree trunk at chest height. Tie a string around the centre of the burlap and fold the upper portion down to form a skirt, with the string acting as a belt. The caterpillars will crawl under the burlap to escape the sun and become trapped. Later in the day, lift the burlap. Pick off the caterpillars and dispose of them.
  • Caterpillars and pupae can be handpicked and crushed. The long hairs of the caterpillar can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. To be safe, wear gloves when handling them.
  • Contact an arborist if you think a tree on your property is being heavily defoliated by gypsy moths. Insecticide treatments may be necessary.
Things To Do
Although physical distancing and gathering restrictions remain in place, there are still ways to participate in community activities! Visit the links below for more information. Please visit the Lambton Shores events page as additional virtual (and non-virtual) activities become added.

The Province of Ontario is encouraging increased COVID-19 testing. For those who wish, testing site information can be found by visiting Lambton Public Health’s website .
Stop the Spread Business Information Line
Businesses who have questions about closures of at-risk workplaces or how emergency measures impact their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. Help is available from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 a.m.―5:00 p.m.
Supporting Local Businesses
Many other local businesses are adapting operations to continue to serve the Lambton Shores community. The  Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism  has compiled a list of Chamber member business information. Other business listings can be found online through the  Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership  and the  Forest BIA . Please connect directly with businesses to confirm availability and services offered.  


For local restaurants visit  Shoreline ToGo .

To find out more about local business services and hours visit  Shop Lambton Map .
COVID-19 Enforcement
Will I get a ticket?
You could. All measures or restrictions are in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Now isn’t the time to test these orders.
We encourage everyone to voluntarily comply with all Provincial Emergency Orders which are short-term restrictions. Our preferred method to deal with contraventions are through education, awareness and compliance. However, OPP or Municipal Law Enforcement officers will apply discretion on whether to launch any enforcement actions such as:

  • Offences relating to non-essential businesses that remain open in contravention of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. (EMCPA).
  • Offences relating to gatherings of more than five people in contravention of the EMCPA.
  • Offences relating to the illegal use of closed facilities, parks or beaches.

Complaints for less serious incidents can be reported online at opp.ca/reporting or by calling the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122. 
Staying in Touch
While offices may be closed to the public, municipal staff are still available by telephone or email. To reach us, visit our Staff Directory.
Lambton Public Health
The best place to access reliable health information
For reliable up-to-date information on COVID-19 visit the Lambton Public Health Page.
The Municipality of Lambton Shores
7883 Amtelecom Parkway,
Forest, ON, N0N 1J0
519-243-1400 | 866-943-1400