Welcome
TO THE TOWNSHIP OF
Dawn-Euphemia
New to Dawn-Euphemia?
Dawn-Euphemia is a rural community located in southern Lambton County that is easy to call home. It is an agricultural area with a population of 1,967, one rural school, two libraries, and a fire hall, flush with rustic charm, featuring an old-time feel with friendly neighbours and beautiful landscapes. The Township has several service groups in the community that are always active and planning events for all ages. Don’t forget to catch the SWOTPA Sanctioned Truck/Tractor Pull and Grande Ole’ Power Days during the summer months, both hosted at the Fair Grounds in Florence.
As you travel through Dawn-Euphemia Township, you may notice the new colorful barn quilt trail. These colourful, decorative murals based on quilt block designs act as markers to signal historical and other points of interest. The quilt blocks are painted on an eight foot square wooden frame hung on the side of a barn or farm building or set on free standing posts. The Southwest Ontario Barn Quilt Trails, which run through the Counties of Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Norfolk and Brant as well as the City of Brantford, tell the stories of the communities, families and events that comprise the region’s rich heritage. The map for the barn quilt trail for Dawn-Euphemia Township can be seen here: https://barnquilttrails.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Into-the-Dawn-Map.pdf
Discover
Views along the Sydenham
The Sydenham River meanders through the township and provides plenty of fun activities from early spring to late fall. During the summer visitors can be found canoeing in the river or camping along its banks. Nature walkers won’t want to miss out on the beautiful sights of the Sydenham River. The Shetland Conservation Area is another popular destination along the river’s shore for families and campers who admire nature and appreciate solitude. With only 20 serviced sites and 10 unserviced sites this park provides an intimate setting for those looking to get away from the hubbub of their busy life.
Shetland Conservation Area
Experience the natural heritage features and solitude that the Shetland Conservation Area has to offer. Located at 6632 Bentpath Line, the grounds are situated on 14 acres of paradise and intersected by the Sydenham River and is part of the Annual Sydenham River Canoe and Kayak Race.
Quiet Family Camping
The Shetland Campground is a small, family-friendly campground, perfect for campers who want a quiet camping experience. We offer seasonal rates, as well as weekly or weekend camping along. The Shetland Campground offers private, spacious campsites (20 serviced and 10 un-serviced lots), parking, washrooms, picnic areas, a pavilion and a boat launch.
About Dawn-Euphemia
The Township of Dawn-Euphemia is a municipal corporation that commenced operations in 1998. The Township is comprised of the former Township of Dawn and the former Township of Euphemia. Within the community there are a number of small hamlets including Florence, Shetland, Oakdale, Edys Mills, Rutherford, Cairo and Bentpath. The largest Hamlet is Florence with a population of approximately 150 persons. The current population of the Township is 1,967.
The Township of Dawn-Euphemia has a land area of 445 square kilometers and is located in south western Ontario, in the south east portion of Lambton County. The Township is bordered on the north by the Township of Enniskillen and the Municipality of Brooke-Alvinston, the east by the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex, the south by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the west by the Township of St. Clair.
The Township is characterized by many scenic country roads and the meandering Sydenham River that bisects the Township.
The Township is primarily agriculturally based with a thriving agricultural community employing 29% of the labour force. The Township has developed around an economy based primarily on agriculture, particularly cash cropping. There are several agricultural based businesses that service the agricultural community including Sollio Agriculture (Rutherford & Shetland) and Haggerty Creek Ltd.
The Township is home to the Dawn Operations Centre and includes the Dawn Compressor Station and underground storage pools. Enbridge Gas Inc. formed on January 1, 2019 from the amalgamation of Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Distribution, is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with a more than 170-year history of providing safe and reliable service to customers. The distribution business serves about 3.7 million customers, heating over 75 per cent of Ontario homes. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas Inc. is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution.
The Township is also home to Larry Towell, an internationally recognized and award winning photojournalist who has traveled the world to document international issues and global conflicts.