The deputy mayor of Lambton Shores is looking forward to the Victoria Day long weekend.

Dan Sageman said it's considered the unofficial start of summer in Grand Bend, so he encourages anyone heading to the beach to arrive early.

"Our parking lots do fill up pretty quick in the summer months," said Sageman. "As of May 15, we started our pay parking for the season and that will go through to Labour Day this year. Which, is a bit of a change. We've usually taken it past Labour Day, but it's going to end after Labour Day this year."

Sageman said there's been a lot of buzz across the municipality about the province easing alcohol restrictions in provincial parks.

"I think it's important to note that change is only within the boundaries of provincial parks. So, in terms of public beaches, public spaces within the municipality, all of the rules are still in place in regards to the consumption of alcohol," he said.

Alcohol will no longer be limited to individual campsites at provincial parks and park-goers will be able to enjoy a drink in most public areas, including beaches and picnic spots.

"Traditionally our bylaw officers are well trained to look out for alcohol infractions in our public spaces and especially on the beach," Sageman said. "There will be some confusion, people may think [the new rules] apply to all beaches, but I know that our highly trained staff will keep them informed."

The beach is also smoke and vape free.

Sageman said about 55 seasonal staff have been hired by the municipality.

"We've got about a dozen bylaw enforcement officers, we've got our beach patrol staff, we've got our beach maintenance staff that looks after making sure our beach stays clean and retains its Blue Flag status. We have our general maintenance staff, that looks after grounds and we've got our harbor staff that greet boaters that come into the harbour and also help launch boats at the boat ramp," he said.

Sageman reminds visitors the second phase of the Ontario Street Grand Bend Bridge project will not be completed until the end of June.

"For the May 24th long weekend, that will still be a two lane intersection... which will cause traffic tie up for sure," he said.

Sageman said while they're always excited about the beach and the crowds they get in Grand Bend, there are a lot of other things to do in the municipality.

"Especially when the May 24th long weekend sometimes is cold, chilly, and sometimes wet, we've got a lot of great hiking trails," he said. "We've got things to do in Forest, we have a great theatre in Forest and we've got lots of hiking in Port Franks and Arkona at the conservation area. So, I think it's important also to highlight that in addition to the beaches, we also have a lot of great things to do in Lambton Shores."

The rollout of the new Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) also continues as the busy Lake Huron resort area prepares to welcome visitors.

"We're focusing right now on educating and working with property owners through the process, and like anything new we've had some challenges, but the municipality has a really good relationship with the cottage owners and our traditional accommodation providers. Staff really has been working well to ensure that the questions from those people have been answered in terms of collection etcetera," Sageman said.

The four per cent tax applies to hotels, motels, Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts.

The MAT program is expected to generate up to $500,000 for the municipality each year.

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is recognizing Ontario Parks for its creation of Pinery Provincial Park in the 1950s.

This year, the ABCA is celebrating its 80th anniversary with the presentation of an award for each decade since its founding in 1946.

During the 1950s, the Ausable River Conservation Authority began a land acquisition initiative that formed the foundation for the provincial park located along Lake Huron south of Grand Bend.

The province established Pinery Provincial Park in 1957 and has maintained this important natural area since then.

It's a tourist destination and important natural ecosystem, and protects almost half of the Oak Savanna on the planet.

“We are pleased to receive the Decade Award from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority during its 80th anniversary year,” said Superintendent of Pinery Provincial Park Mark Custers.

“Pinery Provincial Park has long been a place where nature, community, and conservation come together. This recognition honours the early work that established the park in 1957 and affirms the importance of continuing to safeguard its unique ecosystems for the people who enjoy it today and those who will discover it tomorrow," he said.

Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors Ray Chartrand commented on the award, which was presented during a ceremony this week.

“During ABCA’s 80th anniversary year, we are pleased to present our second Decade Award,” he said. “We are honoured to recognize Ontario Parks for its creation of Pinery Provincial Park in the 1950s and the care and stewardship of this amazing nature area since that time.”

The award for the decade of the 1940s recognized the vision and leadership of municipalities, having formed Ausable River Conservation Authority (Ontario’s first conservation authority) in 1946 and their continued partnership since then.

Plaques will be displayed at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office, featuring all of the award winners.

Thursday's games:

NHL playoffs

Montreal 6 Buffalo 3 (Montreal leads series 3-2)

Las Vegas 5 Anaheim 1 (Las Vegas wins series 4-2)

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PWHL Finals

Montreal 3 Ottawa 2 (OT) - Montreal leads series 1-0

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MLB

Pittsburgh 7 Colorado 2

Cincinnati 15 Washington 1

New York Mets 9 Detroit 4

Minnestoa 9 Miami 1

Milwaukee 7 San Diego 1

Seattle 8 Houston 3

St. Louis 5 Athletics 4

Philadelphia 3 Boston 1

Chicago Cubs 2 Atlanta 0

Chicago White Sox 6 Kansas City 2

L.A. Dodgers 5 San Francisco 2

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WNBA

Minnesota 90 Dallas 86

New York 100 Portland 82

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Friday's games

MLB

Toronto at Detroit 6:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 6:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Washington 6:45 p.m.

Cincinnati at Cleveland 7:10 p.m.

Miami at Tampa Bay 7:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at New York Mets 7:10 p.m.

Boston at Atlanta 7:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox 7:40 p.m.

Texas at Houston 8:10 p.m.

Kansas City at St. Louis 8:15 p.m.

Arizona at Colorado 8:40 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at L.A. Angels 9:38 p.m.

San Diego at Seattle 9:40 p.m.

San Francisco at Athletics 9:40 p.m.

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NBA Playoffs

Detroit at Cleveland 7 p.m.

(Cleveland leads series 3-2)

San Antonio at Minnesota 9:30 p.m.

(San Antonio leads series 3-2)

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WNBA

Las Vegas at Connecticut 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Indianda 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Los Angeles 10 p.m.

Chicago at Phoenix 10 p.m.

Lambton OPP are asking for help to identify those responsible for the theft of telecommunication wire in St. Clair Township.

Officers were called to an area on Highway 40 on May 6, where three utility boxes had been damaged and telecommunication wires had been cut and stolen.

In a news release issued about the crime on May 14, OPP said the investigation is continuing.

"Theft and damage to telecommunication infrastructure are not simply property crimes," it read. "They can create serious public safety risks. These networks support essential services such as 911, emergency response, medical alert systems, internet access and telephone connectivity. When communication lines are disrupted or compromised residents and emergency responders may face delays in communications."

Lambton OPP are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the suspects.

Officers are also urging the public to report any suspicious activity near telecom infrastructure to help protect the services.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

A Canadian senator is inviting Sarnia-Lambton business leaders to Windsor next week, for an information session on the federal "Buy Canadian" policy.

Sandra Pupatello is collaborating with chambers of commerce in Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex, as well as WEtech Alliance, and the Construction Association to host sessions focused on unlocking opportunities available through the new policy.

"The federal government, and all other levels, they spend about $300 billion a year in contracts, and there's no reason we shouldn't get a part of it," said Pupatello. "Because our region is harder hit than most, given the trade war with the U.S., given the changes in the auto sector, etcetera, we really need to find every opportunity that our companies can have to do business."

The investment of nearly $186 million for the new policy was announced last November.

The sessions aim to provide business leaders, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and suppliers with insights into how the federal procurement strategy prioritizes Canadian suppliers, Canadian-made materials, and domestic production.

Pupatello, a former MP and MPP in Windsor, said they want to help small and medium sized businesses better position themselves for federal contracts.

"In particular, the sectors that they're working on, that the feds are looking to include local content, [include] infrastructure and construction, defence and security, manufacturing, transportation, information [and] communications technology, health and pharmaceuticals, professional and technical services and producers of Canadian materials. So, all of those sectors have an opportunity," Pupatello said.

Officials will be there from all of the sectors to educate businesses on what they have to do in terms of registering, and getting information to see how they can be in that procurement chain.

Pupatello asks businesses to RSVP by 5 p.m. on Friday May 15 by emailing her at Sandra.Pupatello@sen.parl.gc.ca

"The event is Thursday, May 21, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor, which isn't too far to go if you're coming in from the Sarnia-Lambton area. Hopefully, a lot closer than getting up to Ottawa," she said.

Pupatello said you can also RSVP by calling the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce or Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu's office.

The Ace of Spades is still hidden in one of the remaining envelopes locked away in a cabinet at Sarnia's Royal Canadian Legion.

The progressive jackpot, for the weekly playing card based lottery, is estimated at $2 million this Thursday.

Branch 62 President Les Jones said the pot has grown beyond his expectations.

"Most of us were hoping to hit the million dollar mark, just to outdo our last [Catch The Ace Lottery], but it's kind of a pleasant surprise, I guess, that it's reached this level," said Jones.

Once again, thousands of people are expected to snake around the Front Street site, lined up to buy a $5 ticket for a chance to win.

Jones said the lottery has become a community event.

"We have different organizations that have been showing up. We had Lambton College last week handing out water, we had a business handing out bagel bites, we have buskers, a lot of people offering to volunteer from other organizations -- because I think they realize how exhausting it is for our volunteers," he said.

Jones said they've done their best to keep the line moving, but patience is needed.

"I have seen a lot of people knitting, crocheting, a lot of people reading, a lot of people just socializing, listening to our buskers. I think last week there was five different musicians. Everybody seems to be happy and entertained, even on days that it rains, people seem to be in good spirits," Jones said.

He's even heard from people who've made a day trip out of the event.

"I've talked to people from the Windsor area," Jones said. "Last week, I talked to some people from the Tecumseh legion and I've talked to people from London as well. Of course, I see all kinds of other legion members supporting us from legions within our county as well."

Jones said area legion members have also shadowed them as they run the event, to learn how the logistics are handled.

A sign advertising the estimated $2 million jackpot for the Catch The Ace lottery. April 23, 2026 Photo via Sarnia Legion Branch 62 Facebook.

The Sarnia branch keeps half of weekly ticket sales and while a major portion is donated back to the community -- through different charitable organizations within Lambton County -- some of the money will be used to resurface the legion's parking lot and pay for a new roof.

In addition to attracting attention from ticket buyers, Jones said the lottery also raised some eyebrows at Square -- a company that operates contactless payments.

"Square did call us and wanted to know, 'Hey, what's going on in Sarnia? You're showing up on our radar here. What's happening at the legion in Sarnia?' The number of transactions that we made obviously piqued their interest. So, a huge part of Ontario is watching to see what's going on. So, it's kind of nice," Jones said.

Ticket sales start at noon and end at the 7:30 p.m. cutoff required by the legion’s provincial lottery licence.

Shuttle buses run between Christina Street and the Centennial Park parking lots from 1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Free parking is also available in nearby city/county lots after 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday's Games:

NHL Playoffs

Colorado 4 Minnesota 3 (OT)

(Colorado wins series 4-1)

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MLB

Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 3 (10 innings)

New York Mets 3 Detroit 2

Baltimore 7 New York Yankees 0

Cleveland 4 LA Angels 2

Washington 8 Cincinnati 7

Colorado 10 Pittsburgh 4

Boston 3 Philadelphia 1

Atlanta 4 Chicago Cubs 1

Chicago White Sox 6 Kansas City 5

Miami 9 Minnesota 5

San Diego 3 Milwaukee 1

Texas 6 Arizona 5

Houston 4 Seattle 3

Athletics 6 St. Louis 3

L.A. Dodgers 4 San Francisco 0

----

NBA Playoffs

Cleveland 117 Detroit 113

(Cleveland leads series 3-2)

----

WNBA

Toronto 86 Seattle 73

Las Vegas 98 Connecticut 69

Chicago 69 Golden State 63

Indiana 87 Los Angeles 78

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Thursday's games

NHL playoffs

Montreal at Buffalo 7 p.m. (series tied 2-2)

Las Vegas at Anaheim 9:30 p.m. (Las Vegas leads series 3-2)

PWHL finals

Ottawa at Montreal 7 p.m. (Game 1)

---

MLB

Colorado at Pittsburgh 12:35 p.m.

Washington at Cincinnati 12:40 p.m.

Detroit at New York Mets 1:10 p.m.

Miami at Minnestoa 1:40 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee 1:40 p.m.

Seattle at Houston 2:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Athletics 3:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Boston 6:45 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Atlanta 7:15 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago White Sox 7:40 p.m.

San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers 10:10 p.m.

---

WNBA

Minnesota at Dallas 8 p.m.

New York at Portland 10 p.m.

The jury participating in an inquest into the death of a Sarnia tennis pro has ruled Justin Bourassa's death a homicide.

The 29-year-old was shot and killed by London police nearly five years ago.

The inquest, which started on May 4, was mandatory under the Coroners Act.

Members of the jury have made ten recommendations to the London Police Service, the London Police Service Board, and the Ontario Police College aimed at preventing similar incidents.

The recommendations include developing scenario-specific guidelines to support de-escalation and conflict prevention in investigative detentions, training to address the potential effect of prior use-of-force experiences, and mandatory post-incident psychological and fitness-for-duty assessment following any police use-of-force resulting in death or serious bodily harm.

Murray Segal was the presiding officer of the seven day inquest that examined the circumstances surrounding Bourassa's death.

The inquest heard from seven witnesses.

Bourassa died on October 28, 2021, during an interaction with officers from the London Police Service early that morning. Two officers wrongly suspected him of being involved in a nearby break-in.

In 2022, the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) cleared London police of any wrongdoing.

Lambton OPP are on the lookout for a break and enter suspect, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt that said "I (blue heart) My Crazy Girlfriend" on the front.

Officers were called to a business on Ontario Street in Grand Bend at around 11 a.m. on Monday, May 4.

Their investigation revealed an unknown individual had gained entry to the business at around 4 a.m. and a quantity of cash and undetermined amount of other goods were stolen.

In addition to the sweatshirt, police said the male suspect was wearing a mask and gloves.

Anyone who can identify the individual is asked to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The investigation is ongoing.

Hospitals in southwestern Ontario are feeling the effects of underfunding, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

The report was presented to reporters on Wednesday morning at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre. It indicated that there is still a significant gap between hospitals' financial positions and the funding provided by the Ontario government.

Andrew Longhurst, who handled the study, said health systems in the region are trending toward deficit.

"All of the hospitals in the Erie-St. Clair region, which includes Windsor, which includes Bluewater [in Sarnia], all hospitals were in a deficit position," said Longhurst.

The study showed that emergency room wait times remain an issue provincewide and, according to Longhurst, are the "canary in the coal mine."

In fiscal year 2020-21, when Ontario was dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total time spent in emergency departments for admitted patients was 29.1 hours. In 2024-25, it was 44.4 hours.

This graph shows the rise reported in emergency room wait times in hours from 2020-21 to 2024-25, from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

"People get sick," said Longhurst. "People need health care, and the fact that we're seeing these wait times increase over the last five years, emergency departments are that window into how the health care system is performing. And right now, it's not in a good place."

For example, the data showed that emergency room wait times at Windsor Regional Hospital were up by 72 per cent over five years. At Bluewater Health in Sarnia, they were up by 43 per cent.

Longhurst said closing the gap between provincial funding and the hospital systems will go a long way toward solving the problem.

"We need to see $3.2-billion in additional funding to the hospital sector, to address the funding crisis that we're seeing," said Longhurst. "Deficits for the majority of the hospitals for the last three years are putting them in an increasingly precarious position."

This bar graph shows the share of Ontario hospitals in surplus versus deficit, from 2022-23 to 2024-25, from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The report also recommended that Queens Park develop a health care workforce strategy and capital plan, to ensure that infrastructure planning aligns with any future workforce expansion.

The CCPA is a non-partisan policy research organization. The complete report is available on its official website.

A new apartment building on Afton Drive is just about move in ready.

The six-storey building has 90 one and two-bedroom rental suites that include amenities such as in-unit laundry, a workout space, a pickleball court, and a guest suite.

"We'll also have community garden beds. So the big thing we found is that people want an outside space. If someone likes gardening, we're going to have some outdoor exercise equipment as well. We've got a resident life coordinator who is so excited to plan events," said Lauren Pomerleau, vice president for growth and performance at Vensuris Group. "We have an open house on May 22. It's by appointment only, but anyone can go on our website and book an appointment to come and view the entire building. So we'll be showcasing all of the amenities at that point."

Every unit includes parking, and there is an option for covered parking.

"We're now in full leasing. We started off with pre-leasing, just being able to show our three model suites, and we're already over 10 per cent leased, which is really exciting. We're happy for the response that the community's had, and now we're excited to move into the full leasing stage," Pomerleau said.

The building at 1100 Afton Drive was a precast building.

"It's called total precast, which means the entire outside is built in concrete slabs. So the walls came pre-installed with the windows on it. The exterior already had its first coat of paint, and they brought it, shipped everything to the site, and then basically put it together like a Lego on the outside," said Pomerleau. "The building itself was built in 42 and a half working days. We had the actual physical structure up, which was wild. And now, it's 13 and a half months from the time we broke ground to the time we're going to be done with construction, and within 15 months moving people in."

Those who would like to take a look at any units can contact for a walkthrough on the building's website.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding the public golf carts are to be exclusively operated on private property and are not permitted to be driven on Ontario roads.

Cst. Tyler Campbell said they've received several recent complaints, specifically in Lambton Shores and St. Clair Township.

He said it presents safety concerns for riders, pedestrians, and drivers.

"Members of the public can expect to see an increased police presence throughout these areas as officers continue providing education and enforcement surrounding the improper use of golf carts," said Campbell. "Officers may also issue fines to individuals operating golf carts unlawfully on public roadways."

Police said those caught driving a golf cart on a highway could face charges including operating a motor vehicle on a roadway with no insurance, operating a motor vehicle with no vehicle permit, and operating a motor vehicle on roadway with no driver's licence.

In Ontario, you could face a minimum $5,000 fine for operating a motor vehicle on a roadway without insurance.

Charges can apply for operating without a proper permit, lack of proper equipment, and license violations if underage.

Anyone found to be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs could face impaired driving charges while operating a golf cart on or off the roadway.

More information can be found on the Ontario government's website.

Police said traffic safety is everyone's responsibility and we're being urged to do our part to keep Ontario roads safe.

Southwestern Ontario recorded the country's first tornado and downburst of the year.

Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) determined an EF0 downburst was produced during an intense storm near Lucan last Saturday. 

A downburst is a powerful downdraft of air that spreads outward rapidly upon hitting the ground. It materialized around 4 p.m. It had an estimated maximum wind speed of 130 kilometres an hour, which was powerful enough to peel the roof off a barn.

Five minutes later, an EF0 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 110 kilometres an hour appeared south of Granton. Damage in that area included an overturned truck and trailer, toppled solar panels on a pedestal, and snapped large tree limbs.

"Due to limited damage indicators in the area, the information available is insufficient to accurately estimate track details, though the tornado path was likely at least 1 kilometre long and tornado motion was from the west," NTP stated in an event summary.

Neither the tornado or downburst resulted in any injuries.

Investigators made the determination after conducting a ground and drone survey of the areas last Sunday. A satellite imagery review is still pending, NTP said.

EF0 is the weakest rating on the enhanced Fujita scale.

Drone image showing the solar panels and pedestal that were toppled by the EF0 tornado on May 9, 2026. Photo provided by Northern Tornadoes Project.

Local and provincial unions are condemning proposed layoffs at the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB).

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1238 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) issued a news release on Tuesday, saying 22 custodial jobs were at risk.

CUPE 1238 President Carrie Hopper called the cuts devastating for their members and for the schools they work in every day.

"Custodians are essential frontline workers who keep schools clean, safe, and functioning for students and staff," Hopper said. "Eliminating these positions will increase workloads, create more stress and injuries for workers, and ultimately impact the learning environment for students."

The unions claim the board has indicated its plans to create 12 new custodial positions at a higher rate of pay, but current workers will be required to apply for those positions.

"Our members are being told their jobs are disappearing, only to be asked to compete for fewer positions," Hopper said. "That creates uncertainty and anxiety for workers who have dedicated years of service to this board and their school communities."

CUPE 1238 said it represents a broad spectrum of education workers across the LKDSB.

"Across all classifications, members are already facing rising stress and heavier workloads. These cuts will place additional pressure on the custodial staff who remain and will impact the cleanliness, maintenance, and overall condition of schools across the district," a news release read.

OSBCU President Joe Tigani said these cuts reflect a broader pattern driven by chronic underfunding of education in Ontario since 2018.

"Education workers are being asked to pay the price for underfunding," said Tigani. "These are the people who support students with special needs, maintain safe schools, and ensure schools function every day. Cutting these workers hurts everyone."

The unions are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the LKDSB to immediately reverse the proposed cuts.

"Students deserve safe, supported learning environments," Tigani added. "That starts with investing in the workers who make that possible. The OSBCU stands behind CUPE 1238 members as they fight back. We are united in defending good jobs, protecting vital services, and pushing back against a system that continues to undervalue education workers and the students they serve."

In an e-mail to Sarnia News Today, LKDSB Public Relations Officer Caress Lee said the board "consistently looks a systems board wide to streamline operations across our 64 sites."

"This has resulted in a reduction of 10 custodial positions board-wide, and we are committed to managing as much of this change as possible through natural attrition," Lee said. "We value the important work our custodial staff do every day to support safe, healthy learning environments. These decisions are never taken lightly. Our focus is on long-term sustainability, operational efficiency, and ensuring that resources are aligned to support students and classrooms."

MLB:

Tampa Bay 7 Toronto 6 (10 innings)

N.Y. Mets 10 Detroit 2

Cleveland 3 LA Angels 2

N.Y. Yankees 6 Baltimore 2

Pittsburgh 3 Colorado 1

Washington 10 Cincinnati 4

Philadelphia 2 Boston 1

Atlanta 5 Chicago Cubs 2

Chicago White Sox 6 Kansas City 5

Minnesota 3 Miami 0

Milwaukee 6 San Diego 4

Texas 7 Arizona 4

Seattle 10 Houston 2

St. Louis 6 Athletics 4

San Francisco 6 L.A. Dodgers 2

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NHL Playoffs:

Buffalo 3 Montreal 2

(Series tied 2-2)

Vegas 3 Anaheim 2 (OT)

(VGK leads series 3-2)

---

OHL Finals:

Kitchener 4 Barrie 2

(Kitchener wins championship 4-0)

---

PWHL Playoffs:

Montreal 2 Minnesota 1

(Montreal wins series 3-2)

---

NBA Playoffs:

San Antonio 126 Minnesota 97

(San Antonio leads series 3-2)

---

WNBA:

Atlanta 77 Dallas 72

Minnesota 88 Phoenix 84

Portland 98 New York 96

---------------------

Wednesday's Games:

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Detroit at New York Mets, 7:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Cleveland, 1:10 p.m.

Washington at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

Colorado at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Boston, 6:45 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Miami at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 7:40 p.m.

Arizona at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

San Francisco at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

----

NHL Playoffs:

Minnesota at Colorado, 8 p.m.

(Colorado leads series 3-1)

----

NBA Playoffs:

Cleveland at Detroit, 8 p.m.

(Series tied 2-2)

----

WNBA:

Seattle at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Las Vegas at Connecticut, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Golden State, 10 p.m.

Indiana at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

The Town of Petrolia has ratified a new agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2393.

The agreement is for four years and involves nine full-time staff and between seven and sixteen part-time staff and students.

They include Petrolia's Public Works department, parks, and arena staff.

In an email, the town said the negotiations concluded after seven meetings, and both parties are pleased with the outcome.

The agreement, also ratified by CUPE, runs from January 2026 to December 2029.

Deputy Mayor Joel Field said some minor housekeeping changes are included in the agreement and include a total 12.45 per cent wage increase over four years.

"Council is pleased that our CUPE employees have worked with our management team to develop this new agreement and would like to extend appreciation to the staff for their outstanding work to contribute to the success of Petrolia," said Field. "We look forward to continuing these positive working relationships."

The Lambton Shrine Club's highly anticipated Vidalia onion fundraiser will be held this week.

Speaking with 99.9 The Fox, club member Rob Donald said they're on their way.

"The onions are coming up from that special region in Georgia where Vidalia onions are grown," said Donald. "They're sweet, sometimes a little strong, but I've heard that you can even peel them like an apple and eat them raw. I really like them grilled up or thrown on burgers, salads and all of that. They taste really good."

Donald said a truckload is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, May 13, at 8 a.m.

"We will be set up under the bridge, the south parking lot in Point Edward, no construction to deal with I don't think this year. Last year we had some construction challenges with the road closures, so look for the big transport," Donald said.

He said you'll also see a big sign saying "Lambton Shrine Club Vidalia onions this way."

"There will be lots of Lambton Shrine Club members ready to bring you your bag of onions. It's cash only, so $20 gets you a 10 pound bag of onions," Donald said.

Funds raised are used to support projects at the London Shriners Clinic and the Montreal Shrine Hospital.

The sale goes until 5 p.m. on Wednesday and continues on Thursday if there are any left.

In 2025, the onions sold out in record time on the first day.

Walpole Island First Nation Council says OPP will conduct historical investigations, beginning on May 13.

A community advisory was posted to Facebook on May 7.

"The team consists of investigators with specialized training, and their work will focus on reviewing and advancing a number of historical occurrences that are incomplete," said the statement. "The investigators will be using a trauma-informed, victim-centred approach throughout this process."

The post said the process is intended "to ensure outstanding historical matters are addressed in a respectful, professional, and compassionate manner."

It also said in some cases, investigators may need to speak with community members.

Sarnia News Today reached out to Lambton OPP for more information, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Sarnia-Lambton Rebound has partnered with Sarnia Ford to raffle off a Grabber blue metallic 2026 Ford Mustang convertible sports car.

The Wheels of Summer car raffle will kick off on Tuesday, May 12.

"We're only going to sell 1,500 tickets, so the odds are very good," said Fund Development Coordinator Beverley Horodyski. "We're really, really pumped about it. It's a beautiful car!"

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased through Rebound's website.

Proceeds will support Rebound's 21 programs geared to youth between the ages of eight and 24.

"The programs vary in respect to what's being provided to the youth. Some of them focus on resilience and growth, others are school support and reengagement, some focus on wellness and stability, and then inclusion and expression," Horrodyski said.

Since general programs do not receive government funding, Rebound said fundraising plays a "vital role" in sustaining the work they do.

The winning ticket will be drawn on July 29 at 12 p.m. at Sarnia Ford, previously Finch Ford Lincoln. Horodyski said the draw will be livestreamed on social media.

“As general manager of Sarnia Ford, I can’t think of a more iconic and desirable car like the Mustang to feature in the raffle,” said Reg Hanlon in a statement. “We’re honoured to contribute to an initiative that makes such a positive impact on local youth.”

Horodyski said the organization held a similar raffle in 2021 with MacFarlane Chevrolet Buick GMC in Petrolia.

"It was very successful then, and we thought it's time to bring it back," she said.

Over the past 40 years, Rebound has supported over 42,000 youth and their families in Sarnia-Lambton.

NHL Playoffs:

Colorado 5 Minnesota 2

(Colorado leads 3-1)

---

NBA Playoffs:

Cleveland 112 Detroit 103

(Series tied 2-2)

Oklahoma City 115 LA Lakers 110

(OKC wins series 4-0)

---

MLB:

Tampa Bay 8 Toronto 5

LA Angels 7 Cleveland 2

Baltimore 3 NY Yankees 2

Arizona 1 Texas 0

Seattle 3 Houston 1

San Francisco 9 LA Dodgers 3

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Tuesday's Games:

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Detroit at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore, 6:35 p.m.

Colorado at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Washington at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Boston, 6:45 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Miami at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 7:40 p.m.

Arizona at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

---

NHL Playoffs:

Buffalo at Montreal, 7 p.m.

(Montreal leads 2-1)

Anaheim at Vegas, 9:30 p.m.

(Series tied 2-2)

---

OHL Finals:

Kitchener at Barrie, 7 p.m.

(Kitchener leads 3-0)

---

PWHL Playoffs:

Minnesota at Montreal, 7 p.m.

(Series tied 2-2)

---

NBA Playoffs:

Minnesota at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

(Series tied 2-2)

---

WNBA:

Atlanta at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

New York at Portland, 10 p.m.

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) is accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program until the end of this month.

Local graduating high school students pursuing careers in environmental fields are encouraged to apply for four different scholarships.

Two scholarships valued at $1,000 and two valued at $500 will be awarded to students continuing their education in disciplines such as biology, ecology, geography, forestry, agriculture, and fish and wildlife studies.

The eligible students must reside within the SCRCA watershed or attend secondary schools in the following communities: Sarnia, Forest, Petrolia, Wallaceburg, Dresden, and Strathroy.

The scholarships, established in memory of Archibald W. Campbell, Tony Stranak, and Mary Jo Arnold, are made possible through generous donations to trust funds managed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation.

SCRCA General Manager Ken Phillips said the scholarships are an investment in the future of our region.

"By supporting students who are passionate about the environment, we're helping to foster the next generation of conservationists who will protect, restore, and sustain our natural environment for years to come," said Phillips.

Applications can be obtained by contacting the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority or by visiting the SCRCA website.

The deadline for applications is May 31, 2026.

The provincial government is again expanding the number of ailments pharmacists can treat and vaccinate against.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced on Monday that Ontario pharmacists will be allowed to administer six additional publicly funded vaccines as of July. The six vaccines are for tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, pneumococcal, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and shingles.

Pharmacists will also be allowed to begin assessing and prescribing for calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headache, nasal congestion, ringworm, and warts this summer. This is on top of 19 other conditions pharmacists are already permitted to treat.

“Ontarians have experienced firsthand the convenience of pharmacist prescribing and [Monday's] announcement continues our progress to reduce wait times and let more of our province’s health-care professionals work to the full extent of their expertise," said Jones.

She added that the province is planning to add up to five more ailments to the list early next year. That would bring the total number of common ailments that can be assessed and treated by Ontario pharmacists up to 33.

Ontario first began expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists in January 2023.

Regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists have now been directed by the Ontario government to begin developing a similar framework to expand those professions' scope of practice

"These future expansions will unlock additional capacity across the system by enabling professionals to deliver treatments and perform more procedures, helping people get faster access to care... while reducing wait times and easing pressure on primary care and emergency departments," according to the provincial government.

The Sarnia Police Service says a motorcyclist has died in a head on crash with a car on Plank Road.

Police and other emergency crews responded to the area, east of Kimball Side Road, at around 9:17 p.m. Sunday.

Police said the motorcycle was travelling east when it collided with a westbound car. A 26-year-old Petrolia man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reconstructionists from the Sarnia Police Traffic Services Unit were called in to investigate.

The road remained closed overnight but has since reopened.

Further details, including whether charges will be laid, will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

A long-awaited housing development in Point Edward is finally moving ahead.

Local Developer Alan Merrington said he has signed a subdivision agreement with the Village of Point Edward for 21 new homes at 1600 Venetian Blvd.

He said it's be a long process to get to this point.

"The development started almost eight years ago," said Merrington. "The property was bought of S&R developments, and then when we got into the process of planning there was a few snakes there, Butler's Gartersnakes which were an at risk species. That took us at least five or six years to get a permit for that, then we could move on. At the other end, the northwest side where the bridge ends, it's archeological land. That took us a little while to get through archeological assessments."

Plans for 21 dwelling subdivision at 1600 Venetian Blvd. Courtesy of Alan Merrington.

Merrington said site servicing is expected to begin the week of May 11, with hopes to see construction started on the one floor villas within a month.

"There's a canal at one end which will have a boardwalk," said Merrington. "At the other a portion of the property has been given to Point Edward and that will be a greenspace and the subdivision will be enclosed with a fence."

The one-level villas will go for anywhere from $600,000 to $700,000.

"I think with the government's, tax rebate on the HST for new homes, which will save people $100,000 we hopefully might sell out."

Sarnia-Lambton's real estate market continued its upward trend for the year in April.

A total of 144 homes were sold, valued at $76.3 million. That's a jump from March when 120 homes changed hands, totalling $63.6 million.

The average sale price is holding steady at around $530,000.

Sales were down 15.8 per cent compared to last April while dollar volume fell nearly 19 per cent over the same period.

Sarnia Lambton Association of Realtors President Jeremy Guerette said there were 309 new listings last month which is down five per cent from April 2025.

"We are sitting at a historically high level of listings so that part was maybe a positive thing for the market," said Guerette. "We're still at a good, healthy number of listings so there's no issue there. Seeing them down year over year, I would say if it continues month over month then I'd maybe get a little more concerned."

There are approximately 565 active listings in Lambton County.

This is considered a high number, but it is down almost eight per cent compared to this time last year.

Meanwhile, as of April 1, the province has temporarily removed the 13 per cent HST on new homes valued up to $1 million.

Guerette said it might take a few months to tell what impact that will have on the resale market.

OHL Finals:

Kitchener 4 Barrie 3 (2 OT)

(Kitchener leads 3-0)

---

PJHL - Schmalz Cup Final:

Fergus 4 Tavistock 3 (OT)

(Fergus wins series 4-1)

---

OLA Jr. B Lacrosse:

Point Edward Pacers 15 Welland 9

---

NHL Playoffs:

Montreal 6 Buffalo 2

(Montreal leads 2-1)

Anaheim 4 Vegas 3

(Series tied 2-2)

---

PWHL Playoffs:

Ottawa 4 Boston 3 (2 OT)

(Ottawa wins series 3-1)

---

WNBA

Seattle 89 Connecticut 82

New York 98 Washington 93 (OT)

Las Vegas 105 Los Angeles 78

Golden State 95 Phoenix 79

---

NBA Playoffs:

New York Knicks 144 Philadelphia 114

(NY wins series 4-0)

Minnesota 114 San Antonio 109

(Series tied 2-2)

---

MLB

LA Angels 6 Toronto 1

Detroit 6 Kansas City 3

Miami 5 Washington 2

Philadelphia 6 Colorado 0

Tampa Bay 4 Boston 1

Baltimore 2 Athletics 1

Cincinnati 5 Houston 0

Minnesota 5 Cleveland 4

Chicago White Sox 2 Seattle 1

Milwaukee 4 NY Yankees 3

Texas 3 Chicago Cubs 0

San Francisco 7 Pittsburgh 6 (12 innings)

Arizona 5 NY Mets 1

San Diego 3 St. Louis 2 (10 innings)

Atlanta 7 LA Dodgers 2

------------------------

Monday's Games:

NHL Playoffs:

Colorado at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

(Colorado leads 2-1)

---

PWHL:

Minnesota at Montreal, 7 p.m.

---

NBA Playoffs:

Detroit at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

(Detroit leads 2-1)

Oklahoma City at LA Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

(OKC leads 3-0)

---

MLB:

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7 p.m.

LA Angels at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Baltimore, 6:35 p.m.

Arizona at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

San Francisco at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

The Lambton Heritage Museum is inviting the community to learn more about local waterways.

The new exhibit "Bluewaterland: Dive Into the Depths" is an in-depth exploration of how the lake and St. Clair River have impacted life in Lambton County.

“There are different aspects of the history of the two bodies of water that we'll be looking at, but pulling a lot of different artifacts from the museum collection, there are some interactive activities if people want to bring their families, and things that kids can enjoy as well," said Curator/Supervisor with Lambton Heritage Museum, Dana Thorne. "We have some artifacts from shipwrecks that are kind of off the coast of Lambton County, and pictures taken of shipwrecks as well. I know that's a topic that people get really excited about. We're also talking about the rum runners. So these were individuals who were smuggling alcohol across the St. Clair River during Prohibition."

The exhibit also explores early nautical navigation techniques that were used when people first started to explore the great lakes.

"We also talk about early mapping of the Great Lakes area and early navigational techniques. And we even have a section about the surf culture here in Lambton shores, something people are sometimes surprised to hear about, about the surfing that happens here in Lambton County, but we highlight that as well."

To add to the artifacts on display, there will also be a selection of speakers to accompany the exhibit.

"It's going to start in mid July and run for on Thursday nights for four months. And some of the topics in the speaker series include shipwrecks and turtles that you'll find in the area. We have one about the great storm of 1913 and one that focuses on the rum runners as well. So a good selection of speakers if people want to dive into those topics with a bit more detail," said Thorne.

The Exhibit opens on May 13 and runs until October. More details about who is speaking and when can be found on the Lambton Heritage Museum website.

A Sarnia-Lambton volunteer and long-time advocate for Catholic education has received the 2026 Trustee Award of Merit from the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA).

The award, presented to Linda Ward, reflects a lifetime of service rooted in faith and leadership, said the St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB).

"It has been a true privilege to serve alongside what I fondly call The Dream Team, my fellow trustees who have been so supportive of my efforts, and to work with dedicated educators who share a deep commitment to our students," Ward said in a statement. "I strongly believe in the importance of ensuring that the voice of Catholic education continues to be heard across our province, so that future generations of students are supported, inspired, and grounded in faith as they prepare to make a positive difference in the world."

The SCCDSB said Ward joined the Lambton County Roman Catholic Separate School Board in 1991 as a trustee.

She later served as OCSTA director for Region 5, covering London and St. Clair Catholic school boards, from 2007 to 2024.

Ward continues to support initiatives such as Irish Miracle at St. Patrick’s Catholic High School.

“Linda’s faith-filled leadership and selfless service have left an enduring impact on Catholic education and our community," said SCCDSB Chair John Van Heck. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations and sincere thanks for her remarkable legacy.”

The school board also noted Ward's work within the community with the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton, Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce, and the Bluewater Health Foundation. 

NHL Playoffs

Carolina 3 Philadelphia, 2

Colorado 1 Minnesota, 5

---

NBA Playoffs

Detroit 109 Cleveland, 116

Oklahoma City 131 LA Lakers, 108

---

WNBA

Dallas 107 Indiana, 104

Phoenix 99 Las Vegas, 66

Atlanta 91 Minnesota, 90

Chicago 98 Portland, 83

---

MLB

LA Angels 1 Toronto, 14

Athletics 6 Baltimore, 2

Houston 1 Cincinnati, 3

Tampa Bay at Boston, POSTPONED

Washington 7 Miami, 8

Colorado 3 Philadelphia, 9

Minnesota 2 Cleveland, 1

Chi Cubs 0 Texas, 6

NY Yankees 3 Milwaukee, 4

Detroit 1 Kansas City, 5

Seattle 1 Chi White Sox, 6

NY Mets 1 Arizona, 2

St. Louis 2 San Diego, 4

Pittsburgh 13 San Francisco, 3

Atlanta 7 LA Dodgers, 2

----

Sunday's Games

OHL

Kitchener at Barrie 6 p.m.

---

PJHL

Tavistock at Fergus 3:30 p.m.

--

NHL

Buffalo at Montreal 7 p.m.

Vegas at Anaheim 9:30 p.m.

---

PWHL

Boston at Ottawa 3 p.m.

---

WNBA

Seattle at Connecticut 1 p.m.

New York at Washington 3 p.m.

Las Vegas at Los Angeles 6 p.m.

Phoenix at Golden State 8:30 p.m.

---

NBA

New York Knicks at Philadelphia 3:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Minnesota 7:30 p.m.

---

MLB

Washington at Miami 12:10 p.m.

Athletics at Baltimore 1:35 p.m.

Colorado at Philadelphia 1:35 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston 1:35 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Toronto 1:37 p.m.

Houston at Cincinnati 1:40 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland 1:40 p.m.

New York Yankees at Milwaukee 2:10 p.m.

Seattle at Chicago White Sox 2:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Texas 2:35 p.m.

Pittsburgh at San Francisco 4:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Los Angeles Dodgers 4:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Arizona 4:10 p.m.

St. Louis at San Diego 4:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City 7:20 p.m.

Environment Canada has ended a severe thunderstorm warning.

The notice included a risk of tornadoes, loonie-sized hail, and up to 90 kilometres per hour winds.

The alert was in place Saturday afternoon for, Goderich, Bluewater, Chatham-Kent and Southern Huron County.

According to Environment Canada, the warning came as a line of thunderstorms has developed in Michigan, which is expected to move east.

A tornado warning, which has since ended, was also issued for Southwestern Ontario.

At 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, Environment Canada issued the alert, warning people to take cover when threatening weather approaches.

A crew member aboard an incoming freighter had a medical emergency and has been transported to Bluewater Health.

Just after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sarnia Fire Services responded to Cestar Dock in Sarnia after reports of a medical emergency.

The crew member was able to get off the ship's deck with the help of their peers.

Lambton Emergency Medical Services completed a brief assessment at the dock before transporting the person to the hospital.

The crew member's injuries, as well as the nature of the medical emergency, have not been disclosed.

Kids have an opportunity to do something affordable and fun this Mother's Day weekend.

Saturday and Sunday represent another first free fishing weekend in Ontario. Those wanting to take Mom fishing can do so without first buying a licence or Outdoors Card.

"Fishing is a great way for families to make unforgettable memories while enjoying the outdoors," said Mike Harris, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources. "Free fishing weekends are an opportunity to check out Ontario’s top‑notch fishing and take part in a timeless tradition that brings people together right across the province."

You're still responsible for any catch and possession limits, along with restrictions in sanctuaries and conservation areas as laid out by the provincial fishing regulations.

Anyone participating in a free fishing weekend must carry a government-issued ID with their name and date of birth.

According to the Ministry, there are 1.3-million licenced anglers in Ontario, spending about $2.4-billion a year.

Free fishing weekends in Ontario are also set for Father's Day weekend in June, and Family Fishing Week from June 27 to July 5.

Friday's Games

OHL Finals

Kitchener 4 Barrie 3 (OT)

(Kitchener leads 2-0)

---

PJHL

Schmalz Cup Finals

Fergus 6 Tavistock 5

(Fergus leads 3-1)

---

NHL Playoffs 

Montreal 5 Buffalo 1

(Series tied 1-1)

Vegas 6 Anaheim 2

(Vegas leads 2-1)

---

PWHL Playoffs

Ottawa 2 Boston 1

(Ottawa leads 2-1)

Minnesota 3 Montreal 1

(Series tied 2-2)

---

NBA Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

New York 108 Philadelphia 94

(New York leads 3-0)

San Antonio 115 Minnesota 108

(San Antonio leads 2-1)

---

WNBA

Washington 68 Toronto 65

New York 106 Connecticut 75

Golden State 91 Seattle 80

---

MLB

Houston 10 Cincinnati 0

Colorado 9 Philadelphia 7

Athletics 4 Baltimore 3

Toronto 2 LA Angels 0

Washington 3 Miami 2

Boston 2 Tampa Bay 0

Cleveland 6 Minnesota 4

Kansas City 4 Detroit 3

Milwaukee 6 NY Yankees 0

Seattle 12 Chicago White Sox 8

Chicago Cubs 7 Texas 1

NY Mets 3 Arizona 1

St. Louis 6 San Diego 0

LA Dodgers 3 Atlanta 1

San Francisco 5 Pittsburgh 2

---

Saturday's Games

NHL Playoffs

Carolina at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

(Carolina leads 3-0)

Colorado at Minnesota, 9 p.m.

(Colorado leads 2-0)

---

NBA Playoffs

Detroit at Cleveland, 3 p.m.

(Detroit leads 2-0)

Oklahoma City at LA Lakers, 8:30 p.m.

(OKC leads 2-0)

---

WNBA

Dallas at Indiana, 1 p.m.

Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Portland, 9 p.m.

---

MLB

LA Angels at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.

Athletics at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.

Houston at Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 4:10 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 4:10 p.m.

Colorado at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Chi Cubs at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

NY Yankees at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.

Seattle at Chi White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

NY Mets at Arizona, 7:15 p.m.

St. Louis at San Diego, 7:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at San Francisco, 9:05 p.m.

Atlanta at LA Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.

On this week's episode of Sarnia Lambton Beyond the Headlines, host Josh Boyce chats with Preferred Towing owners Gary and Tammy Vandenheuvel.

They talk about the company's storied history, their involvement with Ohana Landing, and their popular television show Heavy Rescue 401.

Members of OPSEU/SEFPO Locals 124 and 125 are raising concerns about the growing impact of staffing cuts, program reductions, and deteriorating working and learning conditions at Lambton College.

Members said cuts are hurting students, and at the current level of underfunding, there's no end in sight to what programs and jobs will be suspended or cut entirely.

"The reality is, there's a number of pressures on the post-secondary system, with regard to the reduction in international students, the ZIP code eligibility being reduced to only a number of programs. We're seeing an increase in domestic enrollment, but that's not the case all over, but not significant to what they were. We've seen campus closures, program suspension, and I don't think the public is aware of what's actually happening, " said Michelle Arbour, President of Local 125, the faculty union at Lambton College.

Arbour said underfunding, changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) by the provincial government, along with many other factors, put the public college system in a position where things can only get worse, and staffing levels and enrollment only go down.

"The number of offerings of programs is going to be significantly reduced. The level of services that they're going to receive is also going to be reduced. We're seeing a lot of support staff and faculty that are no longer going to be at the college due to reductions in staffing and layoffs. So we have a lot of seasoned faculty as well as support staff that are not at the college and will not be at the college," said Arbour.

Several programs at Lambton College have already been suspended, including the Office Administration program, the Culinary program, and the Hospitality and Tourism program.

"Our community relied on a lot of the graduates from those programs that won't be available any longer because it's not an option, so they will have to go elsewhere to take those programs outside of our local area, which is not feasible for some of our students, especially with the reductions in OSAP funding," she said.

Arbour said the cuts from all angles put pressure on staff and students, and the lack of communication from the college and the Ontario government puts them in a position of unease.

"I feel like the college system is really being dismantled in real time," she said. "We're seeing job losses across the college system. Which will be in excess of 12,000 faculty and support staff now, and there's no end in sight, like when we ask about, when do we see this? When are we going to reach the max? There are no responses, there's no answers to when we're going to see the end to cut the programs, and we're going to see the end to cuts, and to lay-offs."

Union members are calling on Lambton College leadership to be transparent in their plans for the future and address their concerns.

Bird Friendly Sarnia will host a World Migratory Bird Day event at Canatara Park this weekend.

The annual event is a chance to experience spring migration firsthand and learn how local actions can support birds travelling thousands of kilometres.

"World Migratory Bird Day is an international event that's being celebrated across North America, and it's sort of to recognize the migration pattern that goes on every spring, and to bring awareness to migrating birds and to celebrate the fact that they're migrating and coming up north to nest and raise their young and keep the cycle going," said John Cook, chair of the Sarnia Bird Team. "We have some information booths. Actually, Lambton wildlife will be there, the bird team will be there, and the Blue Water Raptor Rehabilitation Center will be there."

The event will have several hands-on activities for families and children.

"We hope to get other people there as well who are coming just to learn about Migratory Bird Day, and perhaps to learn about a bird-friendly city," he said.

This year’s theme for the day is “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”, highlighting the importance of community science in bird conservation.

"Lambton Wildlife is also sponsoring a kids' hike to go out and look for migratory birds in the park. We will have binoculars there for people to borrow and to use to help them look for birds, and we'll just be providing information about how to be a bird-friendly city and what you can do personally to be bird-friendly," said Cook.

The family-friendly event takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Carriage House in Canatara Park.

One person was killed in a single vehicle crash Friday morning in Sarnia.

Sarnia police, Sarnia Fire Rescue and Lambton EMS responded to reports of a single vehicle crash on Guthrie Drive near Edgewood Street at around 12:25 a.m.

Police said a vehicle had slammed into a support pillar for the Murphy Road overpass.

Emergency responders located a man with no vital signs inside the vehicle, and immediately administered CPR and first aid.

Police said the 28-year-old man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The Traffic Services Unit (TSU) continues to investigate, and anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has residential camera footage of the area is asked to contact police at 519-344-8861.

Fatal crash May 8, 2026. Photo courtesy of the Sarnia Police Service.

Canadian icons Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were centre stage Thursday night, at the Bluewater Health Foundation Gala.

The Olympic gold medalists were the guest speakers for this year's event, in support of renewal and investment at Bluewater Health.

The pair shared their story as skating partners, the challenges they faced and the support they received from each other, from their family and Canadians across the country.

"It's communities like this across Ontario and Canada that really have made a difference in our careers," said Virtue. "So, to be able to come back here in this format and in this capacity, giving back in a meaningful way and seeing the community thrive and come together is really important."

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir with Bluewater Health Foundation members. May 7, 2026. Blackburn Media photo by Natalia Vega.

Moir said it was an honour to be invited as the special guest speakers.

"We're just a quick shot up the 402 to our hometown so it's important for Tessa and I to be able to be back in the community and to be able to give back a little bit," said Moir. It's an important matter for people here in Sarnia so we're excited to be asked and excited people still know our names."

Moir said although they've retired from competition, the pair loves to give back any way they can, including involvement with the special Olympics.

"We're community people as Tessa said, we got a lot of support from all over the country so it's a big, important thing for us and now we have young families of our own, so kind of doubling down on that community."

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. May 7, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Virtue told Sarnia News Today that they visited Sarnia often throughout their career.

"We trained in Michigan for 10 years and we would cross the border, immediately go to a Tim Hortons and then we could carry on down the 402," she said. "So I feel like it certainly was a big part of our career and our paths as we came up the ranks, and competed here quite a number of times."

Since the foundation gala started in 2013, over $800,000 has been raised in support of local health care.

Funds raised this year will go towards investment in diagnostic imaging, which includes mammography, CT, x-ray and MRIs.

On average, Bluewater Health completes around 12,000 MRI scans annually.

During Thursday's gala, Medical Director, Diagnostic Imaging at Bluewater Health Dr. Youssef Almalki announced the Sarnia hospital would be getting a second MRI machine, with the province providing $800,800 in annual operational funding.

“The addition of a second MRI machine will significantly strengthen our ability to provide timely, high-quality diagnostic imaging services for patients in our region,” said Dr. Almalki, in a news release. “As demand for imaging continues to grow, this investment will help support earlier diagnosis, faster clinical decision-making, and improved access to care for patients across Sarnia-Lambton.”

The news release stated that planning for the second MRI is already underway.

Following renovations and installation, the unit is expected to become operational by mid-to-late 2027.

With files from Natalia Vega

Tessa Virtue signing a book. May 7, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)Scott Moir signing a book. May 7, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Community members are being encouraged to show their support and appreciation for hometown hero Tyler McGregor during a couple of upcoming events.

The Forest athlete was named co-captain of the Canadian men's Para ice hockey team at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, his fourth Paralympic Games.

The Forest Legion held a watch party in March to cheer on McGregor, and now, the Paralympian will be in town for a meet and greet on Saturday, May 9.

With help from community members, Crystal Pembleton has organized Saturday's event to take place at the Legion, beginning at 2 p.m., but doors will open at 1 p.m. 

Spokesperson Brian Richardson said it's a way to recognize McGregor's athletic career.

"It's long overdue, actually, in terms of the town recognizing what he's achieved," he said. "It's pretty amazing, his personal life story and then of course, his athletic story as well. It's really something unique for anyone, let alone a little town like Forest, to have this happen."

Richardson said it's kind of a win-win scenario as McGregor would also like to speak with community members.

"I know he wants to thank the Town of Forest as well. He's often mentioned that Forrest has been very supportive of him," Richardson said.

There will be an opportunity for autographs.

It's free to attend, but donations will be accepted for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Proceeds from a live auction, featuring a signed painting of McGregor, will also support the non-profit.

An informal parade will take place before the meet and greet, where community members can line the sidewalk on Albert Street and cheer for McGregor.

"It's unique in the sense that he's going to be transported from his home to the Legion on the old, antique fire truck," Richardson said.

Meanwhile, McGregor will meet with local youth on Tuesday, May 12, during an outdoor ball hockey event, organized by the North Lambton Community Health Centre.

Community Developer Kandis Tieman said the public event is being held in hopes of reaching more youth.

"Here at the health centre, we actually have an Inspire Youth program where we are working with youth ages 11 to 12, up to the age of 18," she said. "We're working to get those kids active after school. We want to introduce them to sport and recreation, we want to teach them about healthy eating, and why it's so important to take care of themselves now so that they can become healthy, active adults."

It's also an opportunity for youth to hear from McGregor.

"It's going to be a very casual event. Tyler will be speaking, he will be sharing a little bit of his story, but he's also going to play ball hockey with the kids and that's what he's really excited about," Tieman said. "So we will have ball hockey games going on as well as he is going to do photographs and autographs."

The Forest Optimist Club will also hold a barbeque. Tieman said the money raised will go back into youth programs in the community.

There's no admission fee to attend the after-school event.

Tieman said this event was part of a community effort with local businesses and individuals donating time and resources.

The event will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Shores Recreation Centre. Tieman said McGregor will likely start his speech at 3:30 p.m.

It is an outdoor event, but if it rains, activities will be moved inside. 

The annual Paint Ontario Art Competition, Exhibition and Sale continues in Grand Bend.

It's being held at the Legion Hall on Municipal Drive until May 17.

This weekend from noon to 4 p.m., on both Saturday and Sunday, a 'Skool of Rock!' outdoor jam studio is planned.

It's being run by the Backroad Collective, which partners with the Grand Bend Art Centre to offer summer camp and school year programs for kids and youth throughout the region.

Children will be invited to dress in costumes, have their face painted, get temporary tattoos and make their own band merchandise (buttons & posters). 

Kristyn Watterworth and Ed Platero will also speak about digital painting.

A few extra events have been added on Sunday for Mother's Day, including a magic show and a tattoo demonstration, using practice skin.

Events highlighting Mexican culture are planned next weekend, May 15 to 17.

International student demonstrations showcasing music, dance and visual art are planned in the main gallery and on the grounds.

The calendar of events can be viewed here.

Paint Ontario is organized each year by the Grand Bend Art Centre, a registered not-for-profit community group. The event provides a unique opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work and an unmatched opportunity for buyers to view and acquire it.

NHL Playoffs 

Carolina 4 Philadelphia 1

(Carolina leads 3-0)

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PWHL Playoffs

Montreal 2 Minnesota 1

(Montreal leads 2-1)

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NBA Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

Cleveland 97 Detroit 107

(Detroit leads 2-0)

LA Lakers 107 Oklahoma City 125

(OKC leads 2-0)

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MLB

Texas 2 NY Yankees 9

Minnesota 5 Washington 7

Cleveland 8 Kansas City 5

Cincinnati 3 Chicago Cubs 8

NY Mets 2 Colorado 6

Pittsburgh 4 Arizona 2 

Baltimore 3 Miami 4

Athletics 12 Philadelphia 1

Tampa Bay 8 Boston 4

St. Louis 2 San Diego 1

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Friday's Games

OHL Finals

Barrie at Kitchener, 7 p.m.

(Kitchener leads 1-0)

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PJHL

Schmalz Cup Finals

Tavistock at Fergus, 8:30 p.m.

(Fergus leads 2-1)

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NHL Playoffs 

Montreal at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

(Buffalo leads 1-0)

Vegas at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m.

(Series tied 1-1)

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PWHL Playoffs

Boston at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

(Series tied 1-1)

Montreal at Minnesota, 8;30 p.m.

(Montreal leads 2-1)

---

NBA Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

New York at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

(New York leads 2-0)

San Antonio at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m.

(Series tied 1-1)

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MLB

Houston at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Colorado at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Athletics at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 7:15 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 7:40 p.m.

NY Yankees at Milwaukee, 7:40 p.m.

Seattle at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

NY Mets at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

St. Louis at San Diego, 9:45 p.m.

Atlanta at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

The provincial government has announced $1.5 million in funding to help protect the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River Basin.

According to the province, the money will support the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Cities Initiative’s new Local Blue Economy Growth Fund Program. According to a government statement, that program is meant to "help communities across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin protect water, strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable growth."

The fund will provide small grants for municipalities and First Nations communities to help implement "innovative approaches" aimed at improving water quality and public safety.

Projects that the fund will benefit include small-scale stormwater management technologies that capture plastics and other harmful pollutants before they enter storm drains, and green infrastructure such as buffer strips and rain gardens to help improve water quality.

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy made the announcement Thursday at the Cities Initiatives’ 2026 Annual Conference.

"Ontario is proud to support the Cities Initiative to implement local, high-impact projects that will protect vital resources and improve community resilience to extreme weather," he said. "This investment empowers municipalities and First Nations to put innovative water solutions in place, safeguarding their communities against major flooding events and ensuring these vital waterways remain healthy for generations to come."

Over 40 exhibitors will be at Lambton College this weekend for the 15th Emergency Preparedness Day Sarnia-Lambton family-friendly event.

The free function, organized by Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability (BASES), made a comeback last year following a brief hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was really well received," said Senior Communications Advisor Tracy Krull, who said it was also switched from a weekday to a weekend event.

"We really wanted to make it a family event and include the decision makers in the home to receive the emergency information, to make sure it was a family conversation," said Krull. "We had, we figure, between 1,700 and 2,000 people that showed up."

This year's event will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Emergency Preparedness Day Sarnia-Lambton outdoor display. (Photo courtesy of BASES/ EP Day Sarnia-Lambton via Facebook)

Krull said they're expecting to have more exhibitors, stationed inside Gym D and out in parking lot 13.

Representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada will be there to discuss the new colour-coded weather alerting system, Mammoet will have crane demonstrations, and the Ontario Clean Water Agency will have a mobile unit for attendees to fill their water bottles.

Local emergency responders will also be present.

"The focus is to raise awareness of local risks and put the local responding agencies in front of [attendees] to be able to raise some awareness on the resources, training and equipment we have locally," Krull said.

There will also be some kids' activities.

"We have inflatables, there's temporary tattoo artists, face painting by The Painted Cat. There's going to be gifts and giveaways. A lot of different booths have some swag items that people can collect," Krull said. "The first 500 people who show up will also get an EP Day bag, and we have a little surprise for the first 100 moms who show up. Since it's Mother's Day weekend, we wanted to recognize them as well."

The Rotary Club of Sarnia-Lambton will hold a charity barbeque.

"It's $5 for a hamburger or hot dog combo, that comes with chips and a drink as well," Krull said.

There will be golf carts at the event to help shuttle guests to and from the exhibit space.

Emergency Preparedness Week is observed across the country from May 3 to May 9.

Sarnia's Emergency Management team is encouraging families to take this time to prepare a safety plan.

Emergency preparedness includes knowing escape routes, important contact information, having an emergency kit readily available, and reviewing responses to incidents such as floods, chemical spills, fires, and infrastructure disruptions.

The city's home emergency preparedness guide can be found online.

Three more Lambton County mayors have indicated they're running again in October's municipal election.

Warwick Township Mayor Todd Case is seeking another term. He was elected in 2022 after a break from municipal politics in 2018.

Warwick Township Mayor Todd Case. Photo courtesy of the County of Lambton.

In Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Alan Broad is running again. He was first elected to lead council in 2014. In 2018 and 2022, Broad ran unopposed and was reelected by acclamation.

Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Alan Broad. Photo courtesy of the County of Lambton.

Gary Atkinson is running for a second term in Plympton-Wyoming. He filed his nomination papers on Thursday.

Case, Broad and Atkinson join a several other incumbents who have already announced their intentions, including St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar. In Petrolia, Deputy Mayor Joel Field is seeking the mayor's seat.

In Sarnia, Mayor Mike Bradley has not yet indicated whether or not he would be seeking a 12th term in office.

The deadline to file is August 21, and voters will cast their ballots on October 26.

Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Gary Atkinson. Photo courtesy of the County of Lambton.

Nearly 4,000 new housing units will be needed in Sarnia-Lambton over the next 10 years.

That's according to findings from Tim Welch Consulting.

The housing research, planning, and development firm recently conducted a housing needs assessment that will be part of a new housing and homelessness plan going before Lambton County Council in June.

President Tim Welch said the study is a building block for future planning.

"As part of the work done in preparing the assessment, there was both a survey of community residents and an interview with a range of stakeholders and different service providers," said Welch. "We had a very good in-depth session with municipal planners from across the county and of course a very deep dive into a lot of data to help produce the assessment."

Senior Housing Policy Constultant Frazier Fathers said the study determined there are about 700 suppressed households across the county. That includes residents who want to have their own home, but can't afford to.

"So those may be adult children living with their parents, it could be folks who have roommates who would rather live on their own, etcetera and so forth," he said.

The study also found that to meet local needs, Sarnia-Lambton will need an additional 3,600 housing units by 2035.

"To restore affordability though, you would have to go above and beyond that number," said Fathers. "We estimate about 700 suppressed households in the community right now, well that's latent demand in the community. So, if you were to build 3,600 plus 700, you would actually unlock the broader affordability within the community, and all those people who want to get into the housing market, in theory would be able to."

It's estimated that 75 per cent of housing will be built in Sarnia, St. Clair Township, and Lambton Shores.

Fathers adds there are almost 5,000 homes across the county that are considered non-permanent, such as cottages, cabins, and other seasonal dwellings.

"Some work that we've done in other communities, is exploring how could some of that non-regular habitation be brought back into the regular rental or housing market, to access and create additional units to increase affordability."

Findings from study are available on the County of Lambton's website.

The Sarnia Sting have signed Wyatt Herres to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement.

The 2007-born right handed defenceman spent the 2025-26 season with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he recorded three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 28 games played.

Standing at 6' 2'' and 181 pounds, the Neenah, Wisconsin native is known for his combination of size, mobility, and defensive awareness.

In a news release, the Sting said Herres showed strong progression throughout the season in Chicago while continuing to develop the offensive side of his game.

"The Sting believe his ability to defend with his feet, move pucks efficiently, and play in all situations will make him an important addition to the team’s backend moving forward," it said. "Herres has a reputation as a culture driver and leader within the locker room. The organization sees him as a player capable of mentoring younger teammates while helping establish the identity and standard the Sting want to play with next season."

“Wyatt is a player we feel can become a big part of our backend both on and off the ice,” said Sting General Manager Dylan Seca. “He brings great character, leadership qualities, and a really well-rounded game that we’re excited to continue developing.”

Herres is committed to UMass Lowell River Hawks for the 2027-28 season.

The Mooretown Flags have hired Kevin Devine as their new general manager and head coach.

Devine takes over the GM role from John Baker who retired after 12 years in the position. Former Head Coach Mark Davis and Assistant Jeff Perry have also stepped aside.

The Flags said Devine is a High Performance 1 (HP1) certified coach.

He brings 30 years of coaching experience at various levels in Point Edward and Sarnia Minor Hockey as well as Lambton AAA program from 2013 to 2023 with various bantam and midget teams culminating in 2023 with the U18 program.

Devine has served in coaching and management roles with junior teams in Sarnia and Petrolia beginning in 2000 to 2004 returning again to Sarnia in 2024.

Devine served as an associate coach with the Sarnia Legionnaires during the 2024-25 season.

He also briefly served as the club's general manager.

The team said Mark Phillips will be joining Devine as part of his bench staff. Further additions to the staff will be announced at a future date.

A test of Alert Ready, Canada's National Public Alerting System, will take place on Thursday.

Test messages will be sent out over radio, television and compatible wireless devices at 1:55 p.m. on May, 7.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecom (CRTC) requires broadcasters and wireless service providers to send at least one test alert per year, either in May during Emergency Preparedness Week or in November.

Participation in the testing is at the sole discretion of each provincial and territorial emergency management organization (EMO).

The test message will simulate an emergency alert, beginning with the alert tone, known as the Canadian Alert Attention Signal.

The message will indicate that it is a test and does not require action from the public.

OHL Finals

Barrie 2 Kitchener 5

(Kitchener leads 1-0)

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PJHL

Schmalz Cup Final

Fergus 7 Tavistock 4

(Fergus leads 2-1)

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NHL Playoffs 

Montreal 2 Buffalo 4

(Buffalo leads 1-0)

Anaheim 3 Vegas 1

(Series tied 1-1)

---

NBA Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

Philadelphia 102 New York 108

(New York leads 2-0)

Minnesota 95 San Antonio 133 

(Series tied 1-1)

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MLB

Toronto 0 Tampa Bay 3

Milwaukee 6 St. Louis 2

LA Dodgers 12 Houston 2

San Diego 5 San Francisco 1

Chicago White Sox 2 LA Angels 8

Atlanta 1 Seattle 3

Athletics 3 Philadelphia 6

Boston 4 Detroit 0

Baltimore 7 Miami 4

Minnesota 2 Washington 15

Texas 6 NY Yankees 1

Cincinnati 6 Chicago Cubs 7

Cleveland 3 Kansas City 1

NY Mets 10 Colorado 5

Pittsburgh 1 Arizona 0

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Thursday's Games

NHL Playoffs 

Carolina at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.

(Carolina leads 2-0)

---

PWHL

Montreal at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

(Series tied 1-1)

---

NBA Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

Cleveland at Detroit, 7 p.m.

(Detroit leads 1-0)

LA Lakers at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m.

(OKC leads 1-0)

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MLB

Texas at NY Yankees, 12:35 p.m.

Minnesota at Washington, 1:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Kansas City, 2:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

NY Mets at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 3:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Athletics at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

St. Louis at San Diego, 10:10 p.m.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Point Edward Arena on Wednesday for the Age Friendly Expo.

The expo highlighted different supports and programs for different stages of life.

"A lot of people are interested in finding information. They might not be at that point where they're ready for long term care, or they don't have a loved one that's currently ready to take part in a day program, but they're curious about it, and they want that information for the future, and yet, some people are coming in, they're ready, so it's actually a bit of everything," said North Lambton Lodge Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Giorgini.

The free event featured dozens of information booths and vendors, including home cleaning services and health supports, as well as community organizations.

"People love it. They're very happy with all the information about all the services, and there's a lot of groups that come to display things, everything you need for from health care to funerals to all of it," said Volunteer Evelyn Weiler.

Age-Friendly Sarnia-Lambton began in 2015, focusing on supporting those aged 55+, and expanded in 2023 to include all ages. It intends to help those at all stages live a fulfilling life, whether that means health supports and care or finding space in the community to feel a sense of belonging.

"Huron House is here today so that the community can learn more about what we do and connect with our team and see how we're supporting youth in our community," said Executive Assistant of Huron House Denise McMillan.

There was also a chance for those looking to join any local clubs to meet groups and see what they are about.

"We like to make ourselves better known within the community," said Sarnia-Lambton Golden K Kiwanis member Rob Carins. "I ask a lot of people if they know about us, and they say they do, so that's a good sign that our name is getting out in the community, and that we're doing good work."

Those who attended the expo were able to connect with different organizations based on their interest and needs, as well as enter to win prizes.

Age Friendly Expo 2026. Photo by Jess Munday.