1,500 Rescued as River Float-Down Goes Awry.

Photo courtesy Shelley Ambroise.

From the Sarnia Observer, staff writers.

Hundreds of Port Huron Float Down participants had to be rescued after strong winds pushed them to the Canadian side of the St. Clair River late Sunday afternoon.

Sarnia-Lambton first responders – along with the RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard water units – spent several hours Sunday assisting float down participants stranded along the river from Sarnia down through to Corunna.

Read more here.

From Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer

Canadian Coast Guard officials knew Sunday's unsanctioned St. Clair River Float Down was a disaster in the making.

Sarnia Police said in press release a convoy of Sarnia Transit buses carried approximately 1,500 U.S. citizens over the Blue Water Bridge Sunday evening after they were blown to the Canadian shore while taking part in the annual float down the river on inflatable rafts, from Port Huron lighthouse to Marysville, Mich.

“It's exactly what we saw coming,” said Peter Garapick, superintendent of search and rescue for the Canadian Coast Guard.

He was on the water, along with crews from the coast guard, fire departments in Sarnia and Point Edward, the OPP and RCMP, as well as their counterparts in the U.S. side of the border.

The float down is a summer tradition going back several decades and has continued despite attempts by U.S. officials to scuttle it, and despite the drowning of a U.S. participant in 2014.

Sunday's weather conditions were “almost the worst-case scenario,” Garapick said.

Read the rest here.

Minor injuries reported from folks climbing the seawall. (Photo Shelley Ambroise.)

From Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer

It cost the City of Sarnia $8,181.77 in total to help rescue approximately 1,500 Americans who participated in Sunday’s Port Huron Float Down event, but Mayor Mike Bradley doesn't expect the city will be able to recover those costs anytime soon.

The total cost, which includes overtime costs and additional expenses incurred by various city departments, was released Tuesday afternoon.

A media release says city services that incurred costs included Sarnia Police Service ($3,405.92), Sarnia Transit ($1,977.97), Public Works ($712.40), Sarnia Fire Rescue Services ($1,435.88), and Parks and Recreation ($649.60).

Sarnia officials are expected to meet later this week to review the operation that saw approximately 1,500 U.S. participants in the annual unsanctioned event who were blown off course from the Michigan side of the river and landed unexpectedly in Sarnia.

They were helped from the water, over several hours, gathered up by Sarnia police, and loaded on Sarnia Transit buses called in to carry the stranded “floaters” over the Blue Water Bridge and back to the U.S.

Read the rest here.

Photo by Shelley Ambroise.

Additional Coverage

Cost Frustrates Mayor. (CBC)

Floaters Washed Ashore. (CBC)

END

Jazz and Blues to Return to the Park.

Stock photo courtesy Long Cool One Books.

From Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer.




The 13th annual Jazz and Blues in the Village fundraiser for the Sarnia Organ Donor's Awareness Group is set for Sept. 16 and 17 at Sarnia's McGibbon Park.

The lineup of performers expected inside the heated tent in the park next to the Lochiel Kiwanis Centre includes The Michael Schatte Band, Paul James, The Bettys, Robb Sharp and Lit'l Chicago, Yasgurs Farm and the Johnny Max Band.

Committee member Connie Ellis credits a “great organization, terrific volunteers and top-notch entertainment” for the fundraiser's longevity.

“I think we have an interesting and exciting group coming in on Saturday afternoon,” Ellis said.

The Bettys are a Toronto-based female trio, backed by a four-piece band.

“They are sort of like the modern-day Andrews Sisters,” she said.

“They do all the oldies, and they dress in costume and they look like they're just a whole lot of fun.”

They will be followed by local favourite, Lit'l Chicago.

Schatte, originally from Chatham, is an up and coming guitar player, Ellis said.
James is an award-winning Toronto-based musician. Yasgurs Farm is a 12-piece band with a six-piece horn section from Toronto that plays soul, funk, jazz and rock.


Link to the rest here.

END

Exploring Tall Ships Festival for Sarnia.

Phot by Remi Jouan - Photo taken by Remi Jouan, CC BY-SA 3.0,

From Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer.


Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is floating the idea of a new tall ships festival to anchor on a regular basis in the St. Clair River.

“Sarnia's modern tourism future is focused on the waterfront and it needs more activities and events similar to Bayfest,” Bradley said in an email Friday.

In a letter sent Thursday, Bradley suggested to Tourism Sarnia Lambton that it consider approaching the community to see if there's an interest in developing an annual or bi-annual tall ships festival.

More than 100,000 people attended this year's Tall Ship Celebration in Bay City, Mich., two hours northwest of Sarnia, in mid-July.

Twelve tall ships docked in Bay City for this year's festival, opening their decks up to the public along the Saginaw River and competing in races as part of the travelling Tall Ships Challenge.

“Bay City, Mich. probably holds the biggest festival, which means that many of the ships pass by Sarnia on their way to that particular destination,” Bradley wrote in his letter. “Sarnia is the largest city on Lake Huron and it's a mid-way point.”

Sarnia last hosted the Tall Ships Challenge – an annual race series – back in 2003. More than 100,000 people turned out for the Sarnia event, which featured a festival complete with a dragon boat race and a performance from the Doobie Brothers.


Link to the rest here.

Related coverage.




END

Sarnia's Canatara Beach: Clean Sand, Clean Water.

Photo by Zach Neal.

From Marissa Anwar, Chic/Darling


As Canadians, we appreciate our summers like no other country. And rightfully so- we live in the frozen tundra 8-9 months of the year. And while we can get the odd break from winter weather by flying down south, having access to world renowned beaches right in Southwest Ontario is such a bonus.

If you haven’t grown up in the Southwest Ontario region, chances are that you might not be familiar with the wonderful offerings we have right in our own backyard- all within a short drive!

One of our favourite beach getaways in Southwest Ontario is Canatara Beach in Sarnia-Lambton. Take a quick 3-hour drive from Toronto and you’re immerse into a whole other world.

This Blue Flag Beach is what beach dreams are made of- clear water, beautiful sandy beaches, and access to Canatara Park where you can take a break from the sun and enjoy nature.


Link to the rest here.

Go Wit Ventures: Rooftop Solar Gaining Ground in Sarnia-Lambton.

Go Wit Ventures: Rooftop Solar Gaining Ground in Sarnia-Lambton.: Solar Coordinates, (Wiki.) From Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer More Sarnia-Lambton homeowners are now plugging their very own ro...

Rooftop Solar Gaining Ground in Sarnia-Lambton.

Solar Coordinates, (Wiki.)

From Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer

More Sarnia-Lambton homeowners are now plugging their very own rooftop solar panels into Ontario's energy grid after a growing Ontario solar start-up has expanded its reach into the region.

About 20 Sarnia-area homeowners have signed up for renewable energy contracts so far this year through Unconquered Sun, said Sean Moore, founder and director of operations for the Tecumseh-based solar energy company.

“We're increasing that number by leaps and bounds,” he said Thursday. “This is the first year we've really marketed in Sarnia.”

Expansion efforts come after Sarnia's Bluewater Power became the first Ontario utility to buy a renewable energy company with its purchase of Unconquered Sun in 2015.

Moore said Sarnia is an ideal location for rooftop solar projects because the area has transmission lines capable of accepting the additional solar generation.


Link to the rest here.

Qualtiy of Life in Bluewaterland.

Just another day in Bluewaterland.

Staff writers.



What makes a town a community?

There are a number of factors.

There are the amenities. The infrastructure. There is prosperity, and certain social values.

There is the scenery, and then there is the cost of living.

What really makes a community is its people, of course.

Sloops beating up the St. Clair River under engine power.

It's all about lifestyle, and security, and opportunity.

Sarnia-Lambton, Bluewater if you will, is all about quality of life.

That lifestyle can be as peaceful, active, elegant, or as healthy as one could wish, as Zach Neal's pictures attest.

Zach grew up in Sarnia, and he remembers the tennis lessons, sailing lessons and swimming lessons he had as a child.

It's the sort of childhood one doesn't forget.

Some like it healthy. Paddle-boards on southern Lake Huron.

We call it Bluewaterland because of all the water. Kind of a no-brainer, but there it is.

Sarnia, in terms of its small population and large area, is one of the most diverse and extensive municipalities in Ontario.

Much of that is rural, much of it is suburban, and our parks are just one set of jewels in the crown.

A saxophone on a beach. You got to like that.