The mayor of Lambton Shores is reiterating that those who won't follow the rules should stay home.
Bill Weber, who also serves as Lambton County's warden, is concerned about the potential for more bad behavior in Grand Bend this Civic holiday weekend.
"We've had a very, very busy summer so far," said Weber. "The weather's been perfect, there's been lots of visitors. We're very concerned with the number of crowds that are coming and the behavior of the crowds. Some people seem to forget that other people are around or forget that they shouldn't be drinking and shouldn't be parking all over the place."
He said the Civic weekend will be a challenge for everyone and they want everyone to be safe.
"We've assessed the situation as we go forward and we have added more police, we've added more bylaw [officers], we're handing out more parking tickets. People just don't realize when the beach is full, the parking is full and if you park someplace else, you're going to get a ticket. Maybe you're not going to have as fun a weekend as you want and you'd be wise to stay in your backyard and enjoy it. I would really like people that don't feel they can follow the rules to stay home."
He said they've discussed implementing a mandatory mask bylaw in the Lake Huron resort community, but have yet to do so.
"We support and recommend people wearing a mask, some of the stores are putting their own policies in place and we encourage that, at this time we have not made it mandatory."
Lambton Shores Mayor Bill Weber. Image captured from Facebook video July 30, 2020.
Weber said local residents have expressed concern about visitors coming from different areas carrying the virus, so he hasn't ruled out a bylaw just yet.
"Now with Stage 3 and bars being open, it's very difficult to keep people within their bubble, or not visiting other tables and that's very disappointing."
He echoes concerns from Lambton's medical officer of health that increased social interaction may drive transmission of the virus.