Some facilities within the City of Sarnia serve multiple, or specialized services to citizens. If you are looking to host a concert, performance, or a small wedding ceremony/elopement you will likely be renting a specialty facility.
Public events must fill out the Event Application Form, and Event Requirement Form and submit to parksandrecreation@sarnia.ca for review, and must keep in mind there may be additional event fees associated with hosting in the park.
Specialty Facility Terms & Conditions
Special event spaces can be booked between three and 45 days in advance between the Saturday of the May long weekend and the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. One booking per day is permitted.
Locations can be used for birthdays, bridal or baby showers, weddings, City programming, festivals and events, and more.
Rental contracts are issued as confirmation of a booking and outline the Terms of Use.
Payment is due at the time of booking. We only place holds up to 1 year in advance for weddings at the Seaway Kiwanis Pavilion exclusively, provided that the non-refundable wedding hold deposit is received.
Renters must clean up after themselves at the end of their rental and leave the space as they found it.
Decorating is allowed; however, no tacs, nails, etc. can be used, including anything that could cause damage to the facility.
Food and drink are allowed, including catering, so long as all spills are cleaned up.
All events must adhere to the regulations set from the Parks By-Law, and are responsible to ensure their participants do as well.
General Park & Beach Rules
Please see below the summarized by-laws that outline the general rules of all City of Sarnia Parks. More details can be found in the Parks By-Law. Some exceptions may apply to special events and will require written permission in a permit.
Anyone found to be violating the below by-laws may be ticketed and/or removed from the Park.
Picnics and Other Permits:
- Exclusive use is granted only to those with a paid and approved permit within the constraints of the details of said permit as issued by the City of Sarnia.
- Any person may be required to show proof of said permit to any City of Sarnia employee.
Animals (Wildlife and Pets):
- No animals aside from dogs can be brought to a park.
- Dogs must be always kept on-leash, except within a designated off-leash dog park (Germain).
- Dogs are not allowed on any city beach.
- Dog faeces or “poop” must be immediately picked up and disposed of in a designated garbage can or taken home to be disposed of properly.
Garbage and Waste:
- No garbage or waste of any kind can be left anywhere in any city park, beach, or body of water.
- It is requested that individuals bring their garbage home to dispose of, to follow a “Leave No Trace” model. If this is not possible, then garbage must be disposed of in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.
- Cooking grease from BBQs and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.
BBQs and Fires:
- Residential BBQs that can be carried to a green space are allowed.
- Staff will NOT unlock gates to unload, and vehicles are NOT permitted to drive off a roadway/parking lot to unload.
- No commercial or industrial BBQs are allowed.
- BBQs and/or cooking is NOT allowed on any public beach space.
- Cooking grease from BBQs and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin. Absolutely no grease from food waste can be dumped in any park space, or in any beach space including in surrounding beach grass, etc.
- No fires of any kind are allowed in any park or beach space, unless written within a permit and within in a designated fire pit.
Vehicles and Parking:
- No vehicles larger than a standard “pick-up” type vehicle are allowed on a park roadway.
- No driving any vehicle on any area except the designated roadways that are open to the public.
- Vehicles driven on any green space without written permission will be fined and individuals will be responsible for any damage or repair fees to the parkland.
- No parking on the roadways, or in a way that blocks traffic.
- No parking on any green space, or where it is not a designated parking area.
- No parking after park hours (midnight-5am).
Recreational Vehicles (Water and Land):
- No water vehicles of any kind are allowed on Lake Chipican.
- No motorized water vehicles are permitted close to the beach shore, or where people may be swimming, including but not limited to the designated lifeguarded section of Canatara Beach.
- No camping is allowed in any park space, whether it be in a tent or a vehicle of any kind.
- No camping is allowed in any parking space within a city park.
- No recreational vehicles including RVs, Trailers Campers, etc. are allowed in the park for any reason.
Alcohol:
- No person shall have in any alcoholic beverages in any park space, unless an event/rental permit with an A.G.C.O. Special Occasion Permit has been obtained.
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
Decorating/Posters:
- No posters, notices, advertisements, etc. are allowed to be posted in any city park, unless written permission is obtained within a permit.
- With written permission, no such items can be nailed or fastened to any park space that may cause damage.
Disorderly Behaviour:
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is in violation of the Parks By-Law.
Please refer to the Parks By-law and/or any other applicable City of Sarnia Laws and By-Laws for more information.
Specialty Facilities Amenities & Fees
Facility | Amenities | Capacity | Fee 2024 (Excluding insurance) |
Seaway Kiwanis Pavilion – Photo – Park Map At Canatara Park | – Bookable May long weekend-October long weekend – Hydro access – Washroom attached – Kitchenette – Fireplace access (wood not provided) – Licensed option – Weather screens (lowered one-time only by staff at start of booking if requested) – Accepts wedding holds up to 1 year in advance upon receipt of non-refundable wedding hold deposit *Tables/chairs are not provided | 150 | Unlicensed: $395 +HST per day Licensed: $578 +HST per day Wedding hold deposit: $100 +HST |
Germain Wedding Arbour – Park Map At Germain Park | – Bookable May long weekend-October long weekend – Hydro access – Scenic space | 50 | $5.25 +HST per hour (Min. 3 hours) |
Suncor Agora Stage – Photo – Park Map At Centennial Park | – Hydro access – Back dressing room – Vacant concession stand – Sound system access – Tables/chairs provided – Large concrete pad – Licensed facility – Public washrooms attached | N/A | $119.00 +HST per hour |
Bandshell Stage – Photo – Park Map At Canatara Park | – Hydro access – Washrooms nearby – Includes pavilion nearby | 200 | $464 +HST per day |