When: Sunday, September 30th
Time: 1PM – 2PM
Where: 140 Christina Street North (Old Taylors Building)
What: Plaque dedication for fallen Constable Jack Lewis. 
Cost: Free to the Public.  Everyone invite!

The Sarnia Historical Society has invited the entire Lewis family to attend a special plaque dedication that is 82 years in the making.  We will be unveiling the plaque in the front of 140 Christina Street South.  This is the location that Jack Lewis was fatally wounded 82 years ago. 

REFRESHMENTS AFTERWARDS at The Sarnia Legion.   

Backstory:

We hope you are familiar with the notorious story of Red Ryan.  We have covered it extensively on our website here or you can watch a movie that was filmed in Sarnia. 

Throughout that story, the unsung hero who helped end Red Ryan’s criminal escapades was a Sarnia Police officer who died while protecting the citizens of Sarnia from a robbery taking place in downtown Sarnia.  Jack Lewis died Victoria Day weekend in 1936 by the gun of Red Ryan. 

Lewis left behind a wife and two young children.      

Last year we put together a video montage to tell the story of Jack Lewis which garnered a lot of interest.  While researching our up-coming history book about The Sarnia Police Service, titled “Keeping the Peace: Policing the Imperial City” we discovered documents pertaining to a $1,000 reward for information or capture of Ryan that was never collected.  This bounty was issued by our Provincial Attorney General’s Office.  Eighty-two years later, the value of reward has appreciated to $18,000.    

The Sarnia Historical Society wanted to do something special for the Lewis family and erect a plaque in downtown Sarnia at the site that Lewis was gunned down.  We wrote a letter to the Office of the Attorney General of Ontario a few months ago requesting they issue us the outstanding $1,000 reward from 82 years prior. Our intensions with this reward money has always been to commemorate Jack Lewis and his sacrifice for our citizens.
In the links below is the letter that was sent to the AG, the response we received as well as the subsequent press release to all media.

Letter to Attorney General
Response from Attorney General
Press Release to Media about Rejection

Our local media did a fantastic job telling our story here, here, here, here, hereand here. 

Many proud Sarnians wanted to help us continue telling this story.  They reached out, and within 24 hours of the media blitz described above, the money needed for this project ($4,500) was raised, all by donors who wished to remain anonymous. To those donors (you know who you are), on behalf of the citizens of Sarnia, we thank you.