Forest, Lambton County, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Forest is a small town
located near Sarnia, Ontario
in Canada
. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron
and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores
and the county of Lambton
.
Forest has a high school, North Lambton Secondary School
. This facility consists of a large gymnasium, and cafeteria as well as meal preparation facilities. As well as a high school there are elementary schools in the public (Kinnwood Central Public School) and separate (St. John Fisher) school systems.
Recreational facilities include an enclosed arena for hockey or ringette /community center for dances held by the town with baseball and soccer fields, a lawn bowling club, public tennis courts and an agricultural society with grounds used for a fall fair and occasional campsites. There are a dozen golf courses within a 20-mile drive.
Forest Amphitheatre is a natural amphitheatre located at the conservation area (Esli Dodge Conservation Area) in the south part of the town. The stage is situated on a small island, and spectators sit on the surrounding hillsides on lawn chairs or blankets. Hundreds attend outdoor performances there each summer. An annual performance of a religious play (entitled: The Promise), acted in by members of the town, was held annually from 1995 until 2005. In 2006 a play entitled "Their Finest Hour" was performed, and since 2007 country music concerts entitled "Music In the Valley" have been held there.
was built through where the town now sits, the station was named for the dense forest. Hickory Creek, which meanders through the town, provided water for the station in those days when wood and water were essential to the operation of steam locomotives.
The first post office, in 1859, was then named Forest. The site was very near the junction of three township boundaries, with parts of Warwick
, Plympton and Bosanquet
townships all annexed into the town. None of these townships remain as political units due to amalgamation, with Bosanquet joining Forest in forming Lambton Shores (along with the villages of Arkona
, Thedford
, and Grand Bend
).
The industry of the town was initially tied to the abundant fruit growing operation ... there was once a canning factory and a basket factory in Forest. In more recent years the town has become a dormitory community for the city of Sarnia (and to a lesser extent London, Ontario
). Support to the extensive tourism area along the shores of nearby Lake Huron also supports several businesses. Several small factories supporting the auto industry have also opened in the past few years.
Brothers Dan and Thom Speck
of the a cappella
group The Essentials
grew up in Forest.
Emily Murphy
, one of the "Famous Five
" who fought the "Persons Case" in the 1920s, once lived in Forest where her husband was an Anglican minister.
The Ipperwash Inquiry held hearings at Forest's community centre from 2004 to 2006 regarding the death of Dudley George during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park
.
Singer-songwriter Emm Gryner
grew up in Forest. Her birth name is Mary, hence "Emm".
Dublin (Ireland) - based author Roslyn Fuller
also grew up in Forest before moving to Europe at the age of 19.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
located near Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores
Lambton Shores, Ontario
Lambton Shores is a municipality with city status in the County of Lambton in Ontario, Canada, that is on the southern shores of Lake Huron. It was formed in 2001 when the Towns of Bosanquet and Forest, and the Villages of Thedford, Arkona, and Grand Bend were amalgamated.-Weather:Lambton Shores is...
and the county of Lambton
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
.
Population
In 2001, the last year where Forest was a national census unit, the town had a population of 2,857, and the average age was about 42; five years older than the provincial average. The average earnings among Forest's residents was $27,902 (CAD) in the year 2000. In 2006, the local census unit is the town of Lambton Shores, and data for Forest itself is not available.Forest has a high school, North Lambton Secondary School
North Lambton Secondary School
North Lambton Secondary School is a Canadian public school, in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. It is operated by the Lambton Kent District School Board. It was formerly named Forest District High School. Around 549 students are currently attending NLSS...
. This facility consists of a large gymnasium, and cafeteria as well as meal preparation facilities. As well as a high school there are elementary schools in the public (Kinnwood Central Public School) and separate (St. John Fisher) school systems.
Recreational facilities include an enclosed arena for hockey or ringette /community center for dances held by the town with baseball and soccer fields, a lawn bowling club, public tennis courts and an agricultural society with grounds used for a fall fair and occasional campsites. There are a dozen golf courses within a 20-mile drive.
Forest Amphitheatre is a natural amphitheatre located at the conservation area (Esli Dodge Conservation Area) in the south part of the town. The stage is situated on a small island, and spectators sit on the surrounding hillsides on lawn chairs or blankets. Hundreds attend outdoor performances there each summer. An annual performance of a religious play (entitled: The Promise), acted in by members of the town, was held annually from 1995 until 2005. In 2006 a play entitled "Their Finest Hour" was performed, and since 2007 country music concerts entitled "Music In the Valley" have been held there.
History
Forest is situated on what was once dense forest. When the Grand Trunk RailwayGrand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
was built through where the town now sits, the station was named for the dense forest. Hickory Creek, which meanders through the town, provided water for the station in those days when wood and water were essential to the operation of steam locomotives.
The first post office, in 1859, was then named Forest. The site was very near the junction of three township boundaries, with parts of Warwick
Warwick, Ontario
Warwick is a rural township in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada, with a population of 4,025.Bisected by the Egremont Road that was surveyed to link London with the Lake Huron shoreline in 1832, the township began to attract settlers including those helped by charitable organizations, such as Lord...
, Plympton and Bosanquet
Bosanquet, Ontario
Bosanquet is a former township of Lambton County in Ontario, Canada located northeast of Sarnia.-Geography and history:Home to Native Americans for thousands of years, the first Europeans settled on the lakeshore in the early 19th century. It would not be until later in the century when the Grand...
townships all annexed into the town. None of these townships remain as political units due to amalgamation, with Bosanquet joining Forest in forming Lambton Shores (along with the villages of Arkona
Arkona, Ontario
Arkona is a community located in the municipality of Lambton Shores in southwestern Ontario near the Lambton-Middlesex county line, situated beside the Ausable River, on Former Kings Highway 79 , Arkona is roughly half-way between Thedford, and Watford...
, Thedford
Thedford, Ontario
Thedford is a small community in northwestern Lambton County, Ontario Canada, situated 8 km south of Kings Highway 21, along Lambton CR 79 . The community began in the 1860's when farmer Nelson Southworth, a native of Vermont, agreed to donate land for the construction of a Grand Trunk Railway...
, and Grand Bend
Grand Bend, Ontario
Grand Bend, often referred to as simply "The Bend" or "GB," is a Southern Ontario community located on the shores of Lake Huron and a part of the municipality of Lambton Shores in the county of Lambton.Grand Bend is home to a variety of stores and eateries...
).
The industry of the town was initially tied to the abundant fruit growing operation ... there was once a canning factory and a basket factory in Forest. In more recent years the town has become a dormitory community for the city of Sarnia (and to a lesser extent London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
). Support to the extensive tourism area along the shores of nearby Lake Huron also supports several businesses. Several small factories supporting the auto industry have also opened in the past few years.
Notable people
Forest was the birthplace of John L. McPherson, missionary and General Secretary of the Hong Kong YMCA from 1905 to 1935.Brothers Dan and Thom Speck
The Essentials (band)
The Essentials are a Canadian a cappella group founded in London, Ontario, Canada in 1993, now based out of Toronto. Band co-founder Joe Oliva attended London Central Secondary School where he co-founded a predecessor a cappella group to The Essentials, called The Humdingers.-Biography:The...
of the a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group The Essentials
The Essentials (band)
The Essentials are a Canadian a cappella group founded in London, Ontario, Canada in 1993, now based out of Toronto. Band co-founder Joe Oliva attended London Central Secondary School where he co-founded a predecessor a cappella group to The Essentials, called The Humdingers.-Biography:The...
grew up in Forest.
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. In 1916, she became the first woman magistrate in Canada, and in the British Empire...
, one of the "Famous Five
The Famous Five (Canada)
The Famous Five or The Valiant Five were five Canadian women who asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question, "Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons?" in the case Edwards v...
" who fought the "Persons Case" in the 1920s, once lived in Forest where her husband was an Anglican minister.
The Ipperwash Inquiry held hearings at Forest's community centre from 2004 to 2006 regarding the death of Dudley George during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park
Ipperwash Provincial Park
Ipperwash Provincial Park is a provincial park on the shores of southern Lake Huron in Lambton County, Ontario.Located near Grand Bend, the 56 hectare, or , park was established in 1936. It contains a long sandy beach on the lakeshore, as well as rare flowers and sand dunes...
.
Singer-songwriter Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
grew up in Forest. Her birth name is Mary, hence "Emm".
Dublin (Ireland) - based author Roslyn Fuller
Roslyn Fuller
- Education :Roslyn attended North Lambton Secondary School in Forest, Ontario. After finishing her high school diploma, Roslyn moved to Europe at the age of 19 where she learned German at the Technische Universitaet Clausthal-Zellerfeld and subsequently studied Law with a focus on Public...
also grew up in Forest before moving to Europe at the age of 19.