L A M B TO N S H O R E S C O M M U N I T Y A S S O C I AT I O N

To the Attention of

The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Lambton Shores Council members & the CAO.

At our Lambton Shores Community Association fall executive meeting many issues concerning the
North Beach were on our agenda.

We believe the issue of greatest concern is that staff and some Councillors believe that Council can
approve the use of the North Beach by outside organizations for volleyball or other events.

It is our organization’s continued contention that these activities are NOT appropriate uses of the
North Beach for the following reasons:

1. The History of Beach Volleyball in Grand Bend has been very contentious, we do not need a
repeat

2. North Beachfront Owners easements in their deeds offer unimpeded ingress and egress to
and from the water’s edge and should be respected. This was clearly outlined in an opinion
by the LSCA’s legal council in 2010

3. Loss of the Main Beach due to high water is redundant to the argument since as much of the
North Beach has been lost as on other beaches and resulted in considerably reduced space.
Because of the loss of beaches in other areas, more people have come to Grand Bend and
caused unprecedented over crowding (See photos)

4. Free play on the extra space on the North Beach is extremely popular (e.g. pick up volleyball,
frisbee, bocci, touch football, baseball catch and throw, soccer, horseshoes etc.), however this
space is getting smaller and any large, organized activity would prevent this use.

5. Municipal By- Laws and Policies discourage the sanctioning of large, organized activities on
our beaches

i) By Law 11, for example, states that “no person shall engage in any activity to interfere
with … the general public using the park or facility “, and volleyball clearly interferes
with that use

ii) Policy 064 states that Grand Bend beach is” a place to protect the natural beauty of
the beach, and preserve the key focal use of the beach …being a venue for
unscheduled, spontaneous, active and passive recreational activities “

P.O BOX1016, 47 HILL ST., GRAND BEND, ON, N0M 1T0

• EMAIL LSCommunityAssoc@gmail.com
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iii) Policy 063#1 states that “sports tournaments and large-scale sporting events not be
permitted on Grand Bend beach during prime time”

iv) Mrs. Eccleston, owner of the North Beach, who deeded it to the Municipality in 1981,
supported the concept that it always remains open to the public as a “beach” and
implicitly not as a sports field for private use

Recommendations
1. The Municipality abide by its own By Laws and Policies.
2. The Municipality respect Mrs. Eccleston’s wishes for the use of the North Beach.
3. The Municipality respect the North Beach easements which were clearly outlined in an
Opinion by the LSCA Legal Council in 2010
4. No volleyball tournaments or other large, organized events be scheduled on the North Beach
in the future
5. Our local tax paying population, seasonal and short time renters, and beach using visitors
be a priority over transient organized events which take up a large portion of our beaches

The argument that such events bring spin off to the food and lodging businesses is questionable,
since most players and supporter day trip to the event and bring the bulk of their food and drink
with them.

Mrs. Eccleston’s Deed of the North Beach to the Municipality in 1981 states” that
no commercial enterprise of any kind whatsoever shall be conducted on the land hereby conveyed
“and “that no erection, building or obstruction of any kind whatsoever shall be erected, built, or
placed upon the said strip”
The many volleyball courts along with equipment, tents and supplies clearly constitutes an
obstruction.

It is imperative that the North Beach remain available for cottagers, visitors & the people of Grand
Bend.

Consequently, we are attaching to this letter the legal opinion provided to us by Lerners LLP,
Barristers & Solicitors.

We ask again that NO use of the North Beach be permitted by outside organizations for volleyball or
other events.

Sincerely

Sharon Weitzel per Lambton Shores Community Association.

P.O BOX1016, 47 HILL ST., GRAND BEND, ON, N0M 1T0

• EMAIL LSCommunityAssoc@gmail.com