Officials brace for unauthorized car rally in Grand Bend

Police and municipal officials are preparing for an unauthorized car rally expected Friday and Saturday in Grand Bend.

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Lambton Shores, the municipality home to the Lake Huron beach community, said in a release it’s working with Lambton OPP to get ready, ensure safety and enforce laws and bylaws.

Mayor Doug Cook said they learned from the rally on social media.

“We’re a welcoming community, but that isn’t the type of event that we want to see coming to our town,” he said.

A social media post identifying the rally as “H2OI,” indicates it’s to begin at 7 pm at a plaza parking lot on Main Street East.

“Simply park and chill,” the post says. “Any illegal activity will be reported to the police.”

Municipal officials met with provincial police Thursday morning, Cook said. “They have a full response coming this weekend.”

Similar events in the past have drawn more than 200 cars at a time, Cook said. “We don’t know how big this one will be.”

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The municipality is concerned about safety, potential damage, along with noise and disruption from modified vehicles attracted to the event.

“These are unsanctioned events and they’re not promoted by the municipality at all,” he said. “We’re not looking to have these folks come and take over our town.”

In August 2023, Wasaga Beach won a court injunction preventing a planned H2OI rally.

“People can expect to see an increased police presence on the roadways,” OPP Const. Jeanine Robertson said by email, adding officers will focus on dangerous driving and illegally modified vehicles.

“Officers will be out on patrol educating drivers and enforcing the law, keeping our communities safe,” Robertson said.

Expect traffic delays, she added.

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Lambton Shores said it’s prepared to use temporary road closings, detours and other measures to manage traffic and ensure safety during the event.

“Any violations will be strictly enforced to maintain public safety and preserve the quality of life in the community,” the release said.

The municipality will add speed bumps to deter rally participants, it added, and is looking at potential measures at local parking lots.

Rally organizers didn’t contact the municipality about their plans, Cook said.

“They’ve actually taken a lot of their posts off social media now,” he noted. “We know they are going more underground.”

A similar event was planned for Grand Bend a few years ago, Cook said.

“We put a lot of media (notices) out there and the OPP actually shut them down before they got to Grand Bend,” he said. “This is the second time they’ve tried.”

Cook urges residents “to stay safe.”

Police are reminding residents and visitors to follow the rules of the road and keep safety in mind, Robertson said. “We welcome responsible, respectful, and lawful visitors to Lambton County.”

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