Image
File Photo

July 18, 2025

Bourassa tournament to held this weekend

The Independent

An estimated 60 tennis players from across Canada and the United States will be competing for $6,000 in prize money and national ranking points this weekend at the second annual “Love All” Justin Bourassa Memorial Tennis Tournament at the Sarnia Tennis Club this weekend. 

“Building on the success of last year’s event, the tournament is a community celebration, bringing together players and supporters to remember Justin Bourassa’s impact and legacy,” said tournament organizer Matt Mueller of Petrolia.

The weekend will include an OTA Sanctioned Men’s Open 350 draw, as well as club-level singles and doubles draws.

“Justin was an incredible influence and friend. It was always his dream to have a high caliber tournament in Sarnia and doing this honours him and his dream,” Mueller added. 

“I want to continue to build this tournament to show people the impact he had on the local and greater tennis community.”

Play begins on Friday at 5 p.m. and continues through Sunday.

All proceeds will go directly to “Love All” a non-profit endowment fund created in memory of Justin Bourassa, a beloved local tennis pro who tragically passed away in 2021.

The mission of the fund is to grow youth tennis in the Sarnia-Lambton region by providing financial support to young athletes who embody the values Justin championed—dedication, inclusivity, and a passion for the sport.

“Through this fund, we aim to honour his legacy and inspire the next generation,” Mueller concluded.

Share This

Image
Front Page

One person injured in transport crash on Highway 402

June 16, 2026

The Independent Traffic is backed up on Highway 402 on the westbound lanes at Kerwood Road. Lambton OPP say just before 6:30am, the police, paramedics and Warwick firefighters were called to a crash involving two tractor trailers in the westbound lanes in Warwick Township. One of the drivers has been sent to hospital with what police say are non-life threatening

Read More

Image
Front Page

Province sets aside $6M for abandoned wells, like last year

June 16, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent The Province of Ontario says it will spend another $6 million in 2026 to help cap abandoned and leaking historic oil wells. Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris made the announcement in Essex County last Tuesday, touting $10.8 million in spending; $6 million for capping wells, $3 million for municipalities to purchase equipment to deal with emergency situations

Read More

Image
Front Page

Ag Hall of Fame to honour Lassaline, Helps and Birnam Orchards in July

June 16, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent Warwick’s Birnam Orchards, Wyoming’s Scott Helps and the late Tom Lassaline of Alvinston will be inducted into the Lambton Agriculture Hall of Fame in July. The organization announced their choices to add to the hall which already contains 24 members. Lassaline was active in the beef industry in Lambton, and was one of the driving forces behind

Read More

Image
Front Page

One trip to Haiti led to a lifetime of helping as Rayjon celebrates 40 years

June 16, 2026

Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Initiative What started as a learning opportunity, became so much more. In January 1986, Ray Wyrzykowski and John Barnfield, two Sarnia neighbours, led 28 people from Sarnia to Haiti. Rayjon Share Care, a Sarnia-Lambton based non-profit was born. The founders have passed away – Wyrzykowski in 1989 and Barnfield, just last January – but their legacy lives

Read More