Annette Hitchins
Annette Hitchins is the municipal communications publisher for the Municipality of Lambton Shores in Sarnia-Lambton, responsible for producing and distributing official news, service updates, event notices, and public safety advisories. Duties include managing the monthly Municipal Update e-newsletter, coordinating social media posts, and sharing information about council meetings, facilities, and local services to keep residents informed and engaged.
🕰️ Organization Hours:
Last updated on Apr 6th, 2026
Recent Activity
Four-season public washroom installation
A new four season public washroom is now complete at Rotary Civic Square Park in downtown Forest, supported by a $122,900 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The facility provides year round convenience for visitors using the splash pad and the Downtown Forest Parkette, and the completion was announced on 2026-08-21 with MPP Steve Pinsonneault in attendance.
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The Amazing Race Canada appearance
The Amazing Race Canada filmed a stop at Grand Bend Beach as part of its Sarnia-Lambton leg. Watch the episode on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on CTV, with the episode available to stream the next day on Crave.
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Election nomination deadline
Nominations for the municipal and school board election in Lambton Shores close on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM; completed nomination packages must be submitted to the Clerk before the period ends. Visit the official election page at lambtonshores.ca/our-government/election/ for forms and requirements.
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Reminder: first tax bill installment due August 31, 2026
Annette Hitchins reminds residents that the first installments for final tax bills are due Monday, August 31, 2026. Visit the Lambton Shores tax page for payment options, bill details, and contact information to arrange payment or ask questions.
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Splash Pad Service Announcement
Repairs at the Arkona Splash Pad are complete and it is back in service, announced on 2026-08-12 by Annette Hitchins. The update lists four splash pad locations with addresses: Rotary Civic Square 12 Victoria Street Forest; Thedford Splash Pad 92 Main Street; Grand Bend Beach Splash Pad 90 Main Street W; and Kaeden's Splash Pad 16 Smith Street Arkona.
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Conserve Water Notice Lifted and Services Restored
The Municipality has lifted the Conserve Water Notice as of August 12, 2026, allowing residents to resume normal water use. Municipal splash pads and bulk water fill stations have been reopened, and officials thanked the community and crews who helped reduce demand during repairs.
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Regular council meeting August 11
A Regular council meeting takes place tonight, August 11, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM following a closed session. The public can watch the meeting live online and a recording will be posted, with the agenda available at the municipality calendar link.
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Water service disruption notice and conservation request
The Municipality issued Update 2 to a Conserve Water Notice on August 11, 2026 at 5:19 PM for the Lambton Shores water system after unplanned impacts from work at the Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant. Residents are asked to reduce non essential water use while crews repair the issue and the Municipality provides ongoing updates.
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Regular council meeting
The regular council meeting will be held on 2026-08-11 with the public session starting at 7:00 PM after a closed session. The public may attend in person or watch online, and the full agenda is available at the municipality calendar link.
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Lambton Shores Compost Site closure notice
Lambton Shores Compost Site will be closed for scheduled maintenance on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and will reopen with regular hours on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Plan to drop off compost before the closure or after the reopen date.
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Arkona Splash Pad outage
The Arkona Splash Pad is currently out of service, with staff hoping to have parts and repairs completed by mid next week. For cooling off nearby, try Rotary Civic Square at 12 Victoria Street in Forest, Thedford Splash Pad at 92 Main Street, or Grand Bend Beach Splash Pad at 90 Main Street W.
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Election nomination deadline
The final day to submit a nomination package to be a candidate in the municipal and school board election is Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Official forms, requirements, and submission instructions are available on the Lambton Shores election page linked by the publisher.
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Monthly municipal e-newsletter announcement
The Municipal Update for August has been released by Annette Hitchins, offering municipal news, events, and reminders delivered at the beginning of each month. View this month s newsletter online and choose to subscribe using the link in the announcement to get future updates sent to your inbox.
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Arkona Splash Pad Out of Service
The Arkona splash pad is currently out of service as of August 5, 2026, and staff say they hope to have it running again by Friday afternoon. If you need a place to cool off, nearby options include Rotary Civic Square in Forest, Thedford Splash Pad on Main Street, and the Grand Bend Beach splash pad.
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Municipal office closure notice
The municipal office is closed today, August 3, 2026, and will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, August 4. Garbage and recycling pickups will continue as scheduled despite the office closure. If you need assistance, contact the municipality through the standard channels once offices reopen.
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Forest Sewage Treatment Plant maintenance notice
Routine maintenance at the Forest Sewage Treatment Plant on Brush Road is scheduled from August 3 to August 14, 2026, and may cause a temporary increase in odour for nearby residents. The Compost Site will be closed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 to support the work.
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Grand Bend North Beach Posted for Elevated E. coli
Lambton Public Health posted a warning for Grand Bend North Beach on 2026-07-28 because E. coli levels are estimated to exceed Ministry of Health guidelines. Check water quality before visiting by texting BEACH to 226-909-3003, calling 519-383-3816 or viewing the inspection map at lambtonpublichealth.ca.
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Beach water quality update
As of July 23, 2026, Lambton Public Health reports there are no longer water quality warning signs posted at Grand Bend beach. Check the inspection map online or text BEACH to 226-909-3003 or call 519-383-3816 for the latest water quality information before heading to the beach.
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Council or School Board Nominations Open
Annette Hitchins announces that nominations to run for council or school board are open through August 21, 2026, with a link available for full election details and instructions. Prospective candidates should follow the referenced link to see which offices are open and how to file before the deadline.
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Official Plan Open House
The County of Lambton is hosting its first Official Plan Open House on 2026-07-20 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 9577 Port Franks Road in Thedford. Stop by to review updates to population, housing needs, employment projections, and land supply, and to speak with county staff about the review process. Visit lambtononline.ca/opreview to learn about future open houses.
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Decker Road culvert construction notice
Decker Road is closed for culvert construction beginning July 20, 2026, with the closure expected to last through July 31, 2026. The road will remain open to local traffic only, the work site will be impassable to through traffic, and Widder Station Golf, Grill & Tap House can be reached via Gordon Road.
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Road closure notice
Decker Road will be closed to through traffic starting July 20, 2026 for a culvert replacement, with work expected through July 31. Local traffic will still be allowed, and Widder Station Golf, Grill & Tap House remains reachable by approaching Decker Road from Gordon Road. Please drive carefully in the construction zone.
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Lifeguard service suspension notice
Grand Bend lifeguards are off duty on July 16, 2026 because heavy wildfire smoke has produced poor air quality. Municipal sports facilities remain open but organizers should be contacted to confirm activities, and Lambton Shores Fire and Emergency Services has suspended all open air burn permits until conditions improve.
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Regular council meeting announcement
Tonight at 7:00 PM the regular council meeting announced by Annette Hitchins will begin, and you can watch live using the agenda page link. The agenda page includes the meeting stream and documents so you can follow discussions and decisions as they happen.
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Municipal cooling centres list
The municipality has posted a list of staffed cooling centres during the Extended Heat Warning, including library branches in Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend, Port Franks, and Thedford, plus health centres, recreation centres, and municipal buildings. Check the Lambton Public Health page for specific hours and locations to find the nearest cooling centre.
