Orange banner hanging from a lightpost

Welcome To Our Community!

Yes, you can see Forest for the trees… but take our word for it, this town has more than just trees!

Located halfway between Sarnia and Grand Bend, Forest has long been known as the shopping destination for both our rural and urban communities. It also serves the needs of the numerous campers, cottagers, and day trippers who frequent Bluewaterland.

Visit Forest and you will experience the best of small town Ontario. Our charming, historical architecture pays homage to our past while our retail businesses and restaurants provide personal and friendly service. The recently and beautifully upgraded Kineto Theatre, one of the oldest continuously operating movie theatres in the world, draws in patrons from all over. We are also very proud to showcase the talents of local artists as well as the town’s heritage and vision of its future with the addition to our streetscape of “The Mural Walk”.

If recreation is what you are after, the beckoning beaches of Lake Huron are nearby and The Shores Recreation Centre provides modern facilities, housing an arena, gymnasium, fitness centre and indoor walking track. Be sure to also explore our easily accessible trails, including one along the old Grand Trunk Railway line.

We hope you now have a sense of just some of what awaits you in Forest… besides our trees that is! Be sure to pay us a visit soon and enjoy our hospitality!

Landmarks

Library

The Station Library

Forest’s first railway station was built in 1860. it was a simple frame building and was destroyed by fire in 1898. A new, elegant station opened in 1901. The last train ran in the 1970’s and the station eventually closed and was torn down. In 1985 a unique public library was built on the site of the Grand Trunk Railway Station. Using architect’s drawings acquired from the National Archives, a modified replica of Forest’s second station was created.

Rotary Place Building

North Lambton Community Health Centre

The North Lambton Community Health Centre provides quality primary health care and health promotion and disease prevention programs and services to the community. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social worker, dietitian, physiotherapist, provides primary health care services to rostered clients.

Rotary Park Collage

Rotary Civic Park

This picturesque park is located in the downtown area. It was a joint project of the Rotary Club of Forest, the Business Improvement Association and the former Town of Forest with a grant from the Canada Ontario Infrastructure Program. The entire area behind King Street originally contained the railway tracks, a grain elevator, grain warehouses, freight shed, pickling vats and cattle pens.

The Shores Building

The Shores Recreation Centre

The Shores Recreation Centre opened its doors to Lambton Shores in 2007. The facility houses an arena, gymnasium, meeting space, fitness centre, indoor walking track and the local food bank.

Arena

  • Ice Surface
    • 1 NHL size rink (200 ft x 85 ft) (available September – March)
  • Seating capacity of 700, standing room for several hundred more
  • Concrete Pad has a full capacity of 425 (available mid-May-August only)
  • Concession Booth – Operated by the Optimist Club of Forest during the ice season
  • Sports and Recreation User Groups 

Indoor walking track

Fall/Winter Operating Hours

  • Monday to Friday – 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Access through the YMCA prior to 8:00 a.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Hours may differ on some statutory holidays.
  • Elevator access available. Arena staff assistance may be required when the YMCA is closed.

Gymnasium 

  • 1 full size basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickle ball courts 
  • Tumble equipment and some sports equipment available to use
  • Can be split into 2 by a curtain wall

Meeting room

  • Lower meeting room has a capacity of 30
  • Tables and chairs provided

 

Field with river running through it

Esli Dodge Conservation Area

Are you looking for a nice quiet picnic area? Look no further than the Esli Dodge Conservation Area. This is a beautiful scenic area ideal for fun-filled family picnics and weddings. There are also theatre and concert events that take place outside.

The park is open from 6 am-11 pm. The space features an Amphitheatre, picnic shelter, tennis court, stage, trails and open space. This is an ideal space to spend a hot summer day.

Kineto Theatre

The Kineto Theatre

The Kineto Theatre is one of the world’s oldest operating theatres.
  • The concession opens 45 minutes before the movie…come early to beat the rush
  • KINETO MOVIE PASSES can be used for Ticket Purchases at the Door
  • Click on the MOVIE POSTER to purchase tickets
  • Tickets can only be purchased from this website using a Credit Card
  • ONLINE TICKET PURCHASES CLOSE 2 HOURS before each show
  • Please come 30 minutes early to buy walk-in tickets
  • All tickets are FINAL SALE…sorry no refunds or exchanges