Forest, Lambton County, Ontario

From Wikipedia, the free 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.

[edit] Population

In 2001, the last year where Forest was a national census unit, the town had a population of 2,857, and its 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) and elementary schools in the public (Kinnwood Central Public School) and separate (St. John Fisher) school systems.

Recreational facilities include an enclosed arena/community center 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 is a privately owned golf course in the town (Forest Golf and Country Hotel) and more than a dozen other courses within a 20 mile drive.

There is a natural amphitheatre in the conservation area in the south part of the town, where an annual performance of a religious play (entitled: The Promise), acted in by members of the town, has been held annually since 1995. The stage is situated on a small island, and spectators sit on the surrounding hillsides on lawn chairs or blankets. Hundreds attend the outdoor performance each summer.

[edit] History

Forest is situated on what was once dense forest. When the Grand Trunk Railway was built through where the town now sits, the station was named for the dense forest. The first post office, in 1859, was then named Forest.

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, ON). Support to the extensive tourism area along the shores of nearby Lake Huron also supports several businesses. Several small plants supporting the auto industry have also opened in the past few years.

[edit] Local claims to fame

Singer-songwriter Emm Gryner grew up in Forest.

Forest was the birthplace of John L. McPherson, missionary and General Secretary of the Hong Kong YMCA from 1905 to 1935.

The inquest into the shooting death of native protestor Dudley George is being held in Forest's community centre. The town was chosen as the location due to its proximity to Ipperwash where the shooting took place.