County of Lambton celebrates opening of The Orchard at 471 Kathleen Avenue

Sarnia, ON – Local government officials, community partners, and County of Lambton staff gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony and building tours to celebrate the opening of The Orchard, a new affordable and supportive housing development at 471 Kathleen Avenue in Sarnia. Following the ceremony, a community open house was held, offering members of the public an opportunity to tour the building.

The development includes 50 deeply affordable (rent-geared-to-income) and supportive housing units, of which 14 will be barrier-free units operated by March of Dimes Canada. Construction began in June 2025, and the first tenants are expected to begin moving-in this month. The building is anticipated to be fully occupied by mid-January 2027.

"The opening of this building marks an important milestone in our efforts to address local housing needs," said County of Lambton Warden Kevin Marriott. "This development reflects County Council's commitment to increasing access to affordable and supportive housing and demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnerships and a shared vision for our community’s wellbeing."

During the event, attendees also participated in a ceremonial tree planting recognizing the building's official name, The Orchard. The name was selected through a public naming contest launched in September and reflects both the site's history as a former garden farm and its location within Sarnia's Tree Streets neighbourhood.

“The response to the naming contest exceeded our expectations” said Melisa Johnson, Housing Services Manager. “We received many thoughtful suggestions. ‘The Orchard’ and similar themes emerged repeatedly and felt like a natural fit for both the site's history and the future we envision for residents. We are proud to welcome people to a place that represents stability, opportunity, and a strong sense of community."

More than 1,100 households are currently on Lambton County's centralized housing waitlist, with average wait times of approximately four years. The addition of 50 new deeply affordable and supportive housing units will help increase access to safe, stable housing for residents in need.

For a list of all County-owned housing services buildings, please visit LambtonCounty.ca.

-30-

Please contact:

Melisa Johnson
Manager, Housing Services
County of Lambton
519-344-2062 ext. 2041
Email: Melisa Johnson