If you are thinking about launching or expanding your business to Lambton Shores, you are making a great choice! Lambton Shores offers a unique opportunity for the location of urban amenities that can serve both the local population, as well as the influx of the seasonal residents and tourist populations.
The area provides endless opportunities, whether you are looking for a relaxed rural backdrop or the excitement of an adventure-focused coastal lifestyle. With our business associations, plentiful space, and a strong sense of community with a support-local mentality, the Municipality of Lambton Shores is the perfect home for your business.
Lambton Shores at a glance:
- Six unique communities that provide an economic mix, strong sense of community, and a support local mentality
- Over 30km of Lake Huron coastline with internationally recognized Blue Flag marinas and beach, historic sites, and cultural assets
- Extraordinary tourism and seasonal population increase to provide significant economic opportunity
A closer look at why you should choose Lambton Shores:
| Community Profile |
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Fast Facts:
- Population: 10,631
- Total area: 331.2 km²
- Private dwellings: 7,008 (and growing!)
Population and Demographics:
Lambton Shores is home to approximately 10,600 full-time residents and welcomes an influx of seasonal residents in the summer months who call Lambton Shores their home away from home. Our residents include young families, retirees, and everyone in between.
Location:
Lambton Shores is conveniently located close to London and Sarnia, with the convenience of easily accessing Highway 402.
Major Economic Sectors:
Tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing are the leading drivers of our growing economy.
Tourism
The beaches, forests, and natural attractions in our area attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. This provides a unique opportunity for local businesses in the arts, entertainment, food and drink services, hospitality, and recreation sectors.
Agriculture
We have a heavy concentration of businesses in the agriculture sector. Our major agriculture sub-sectors include:
- Soybeans
- Wheat
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Beef and dairy cattle
- Hogs/pigs
Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector also plays a large role in our community, with several businesses involved in food and beverage, chemical and plastics, and equipment manufacturing.
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| 6 Unique Communities, Infinite Opportunities |
| Arkona |
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Situated beside the Ausable River, the Village of Arkona is a small but mighty community rich in history. They might be one of the smallest communities in Ontario, but they have a lot to offer!
Arkona is a vibrant area well known for its local shops, scenic waterfalls, and bountiful orchards. The beautiful blossoms on fruit trees decorate the town throughout the month of May. The Rock Glen Conservation Area also offers a beautiful and peaceful location for hiking, exploring, and fossil hunting. It's also home to Rock Glen Falls, a 30ft spectacle!
It remains an active centre of business and life in Lambton Shores, with a strong sense of pride for supporting local. Visitors and day-trippers quickly recognized that if you’re looking for small town hospitality, you’ll find it in Arkona.
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| Forest |
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Forest is the largest community in Lambton Shores. It is situated on what was once a dense forest before the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway in the 1800s.
Forest is a thriving retail community lined with historic architecture. The community is located on Highway 21 and has been long known as a shopping destination, offering a blend of quaint shops, services, and restaurants. From day-to-day items to major purchases, Forest’s thriving retail community meets the needs of the local urban community and the numerous tourists who visit the area.
The Amphitheatre at Esli Dodge Conservation Area hosts a full day of Canada Day celebrations, attracting thousands from the surrounding area. The Kineto Theatre is also one of the world's oldest movie theatres - operating since 1917!
The area is also home to a cluster of industrial manufacturing companies, the Forest Industrial Park development, and the Forest Business Improvement Area (BIA), which comprises of local downtown businesses and provides incredible business support.
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| Thedford |
| Thedford is another small but mighty community in Lambton Shores. The rural surroundings and agricultural roots create a perfect home for many farmgate markets. The community is also fitted with a downtown area, golf course, event venue, orchards, a taphouse, and winery and cider houses. Thedford is chosen as a location for new residents and businesses because of the loyal and tight knit community, but with its quaint shops and businesses, it is quickly becoming a popular destination for tourists and day-trippers. |
| Ipperwash |
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Ipperwash is a small beach community located on the shores of Lake Huron, adjacent to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The community is comprised of full-time residents and an influx of seasonal residents and those looking for a cottage country escape.
The area is home to one of the longest freshwater beaches in Ontario, which welcomes beach enthusiasts during the summer months, and is lined with charming cottages and campgrounds to support its seasonal residents (not to mention one of the world's most beautiful sunset spots!). The Ipperwash Dunes and Swales Nature Trail offers a beautiful hike through a Carolinian Forest - in the spring, the trail is the best place to see wildflowers in full bloom!
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| Port Franks |
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Port Franks is a residential community nestled amongst a series of wetland areas and wooded dunes, making it a nature lover’s paradise. As a community of tight knit residents with a passion for supporting local, Port Franks is well known for its small businesses and shops, marina services, and restaurants.
Folks will flock to the area for fishing and boating, and Port Franks is host to the popular Bluewater Anglers Annual Salmon Derby. Residents and visitors alike will also take to the extensive trail system to hike through the wetlands, forests, and sand dunes.
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| Grand Bend |
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Grand Bend is the tourism hotspot of Lambton Shores. The community has a year-round population of approximately 2,000 residents but swells considerably in the summer months. Grand Bend’s main street boasts a mix of restaurants, shops, and nightlife destinations. At the end of main street awaits the internationally recognized Blue Flag Beach and Marina.
Grand Bend is also a regional cultural centre with art galleries, museums, a playhouse, winery, Motorplex, and plenty of outdoor activities at the Pinery Provincial Park.
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Business Retention & Expansion Study and Action Plan
The Municipality of Lambton Shores conducted an extensive Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) study with the goal of identifying specific action items to support economic development within a 10-year period. The study included engagement with local business owners and managers in order to develop a stronger understanding of the business environment in Lambton Shores.
As a result of the BR+E, a number of proposed actions are being recommended to assist and support the business community in Lambton Shores.
View the Lambton Shores’ BR+E Report
