Today, the Lamont Sports Park is about to become one of the most elite sports parks in southwestern Ontario, but the land has a long history.
In 1943, William Turner Lamont and his wife, Irene, purchased 150 acres and, for the next 25 years, it became a mixed-crop farm where they raised their family.
Then, in 1966, they passed the family farm to their sons, Wilmer and Joseph.
Early in the 1970s, the farm was leased to E. C. King, not for farming but to become a gravel pit. It was also the beginning of Douglas Point nuclear plant, a project that required copious amount of cement and, to meet the need, King constructed a concrete plant.
Once Douglas Point project was completed, the land was reverted back to the Lamont sons who continued to operate it as a gravel pit until 1995 when it was sold to Harold Sutherland Aggregate Ltd.
The concept of a sports park for ball had been in the works for a considerable time by the Town of Saugeen Shores and, in 2018, Sutherland sold the land on Concession 6 behind the WalMart store in Port Elgin, to the Town for $1.5 million. Before selling however, Sutherland also donated $250,000 to have the land restored from a gravel pit and also stipulated that the sports park was to be named after the original owners, the Lamont family.
When the community won the Kraft Heinz play cross-Canada competition and secured a $250,000 prize, it was the first step to realizing the park’s development.
On a windy fall day, Saturday October 8th, the Lamont family got a first-hand glimpse of the park that bears their name, as fundraising co-Chairs Mike Myatt and Rob Stanley conducted a tour for the family. “This is simply amazing,” said Daryl Lamont. “I wish my dad Joe could be here to see this. (Joe Lamont died in December 2021). It is very humbling to have this incredible family legacy.”
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Co-chair Mike Myatt explained that the clay material for infield had been chosen as a least harmful surface for players and that it was also a pervious material for rainwater. He added that the grass turf outfields are being allowed to establish before play begins in 2023.
The Lamont family presented a donation of $5,000 which will go toward one of the 18 bleachers where a plaque recognizing the family and it’s contribution will be installed and that will also commemorate the family’s long history of the land and the park that now bears their name.
