Image

No Sydenham River race in Shetland in 2025

February 4, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent

The annual spring tradition of canoes racing down the Sydenham River in Shetland has been cancelled. 

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Foundation holds the Ontario Canoe and Kayak Association sanctioned races. In the past few years, rainy weather, flooding and pandemic have halted the race.

But this year, insurance concerns have sunk the race.

In a letter to Dawn-Euphemia Township, the board of directors of the foundation said “There has been a number of changes to the safety and insurance requirements that we cannot adjust to in time to ensure that all participants remain safe.”

It’s not clear whether the race will return next year.

Councillors expressed surprise by the move. 

The races have been a tradition since 1974. Last year, at least one family, the Craigs, marked 20 years of participating in the races unique to Lambton County.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Swimmer missing in Lake Huron off Pinery Park

August 26, 2026

The Independent A man is missing in the waters off Piney Park. Eyewitnesses at the provincial park say early this afternoon a group of friends was swimming when one man disappeared. One of the man’s friends tried to rescue him, but later was himself taken from the water for medical treatment. Boats along the shoreline could be seen searching for

Read More

Image
Front Page

2027 IPM finds its new home near Petrolia

August 26, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent The Ontario Plowmens’ Association has found a new Lambton County home for the 2027 International Plowing Match. It will be at the farm of Clayton and Linda McLauchlin east of Petrolia. In a news release the OPA says, their farms provide an “open agricultural landscape” and is accessible for the show which is expected to draw upwards

Read More

Image
Front Page

‘Amazing’ opportunity to showcase Sarnia-Lambton

August 26, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent Tourism officials are hoping Sarnia-Lambton’s 15 minutes of fame during a popular CTV reality show will turn into tourism dollars in the future. Tuesday, an episode of The Amazing Race Canada which was shot in Sarnia-Lambton May 7, aired. Tourism Sarnia-Lambton Interim Executive Director, Adam Veen, says opportunity came in late 2025. “They’re always scouting for new

Read More

Image
Front Page

Doubling down on potential power generation in St. Clair

August 26, 2026

Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative With the Canadian/US. tariff war ramping up, Ontario’s Energy Minister Stephen Lecce has announced $500,000 for St. Clair Township to move public consultation ahead for new power generation in Courtright. Standing on the banks of the St. Clair River Tuesday with the U.S. in view, Lecce said the Ford government takes public consultation seriously and has

Read More