One person can make a difference for Lake Huron
We can make positive changes, for streams and rivers and Lake Huron, with individual local action. We can look to a few examples at the Sloman Memorial Park, Clinton, Ontario to be reminded that one person can make a difference.
From a water quality perspective, one interesting feature of the park is the rain garden.
The rain garden was installed in 2017 to capture stormwater runoff from Victoria Terrace and surrounding area. Native species of plants attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators while the roots take up nutrients and pollutants and help to keep the Bayfield River and Lake Huron clean.
Thanks to local volunteers this rain garden recently received a transformation. Krystal Brideau and her family were instrumental in working with Ausable Bayfield Conservation in weeding this rain garden and improving the overall look and functionality of this garden in time for the 100th Year Anniversary of the CNR School on Wheels.
Fred and Cela Sloman and family were examples of individuals making a difference. They traveled in a classroom train car to teach children in remote communities in northern Ontario, starting in the 1920s and continuing until the 1960s. These children would not have had this educational opportunity otherwise.
The School on Wheels is available for viewing at Sloman Memorial Park. To learn more and for hours of operation please visit the museum web page.
Another example of people making a difference, at the Sloman Park site, is the Celebration Orchard, created in 2025, to honour memories and milestones.
Residents purchase fruit trees and dedication plaques through this program. These fruit trees become living legacies. The fruit on the trees also provide increased access to food for some people who may not have access to fresh fruit.
Central Huron’s Community Improvement Coordinator, Angela Smith, was an individual whose vision made this orchard possible. Inspired by a funeral home’s memorial tree program, she initiated the idea to make a celebration orchard and Central Huron made it possible.
To learn more about Krystal’s love of native plants, check out the Huron County Backyard Ecosystems Facebook page, an online resource where Krystal shares her experiences with native plants.
A photo of Sloman Park rain garden:
