by Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer You might say he was the John A. Macdonald of Sarnia politicians. Or maybe the Richard M. Nixon. Thomas Forsyth was the community's first Mayor, serving from March 28, 1857 until he was forced to resign under a cloud five months later. The [...]
by Mayor Mike Bradley (2015) On May 7th, fifty years ago in 1965, Sarnia City Hall was officially opened in what was described as a spectacular ceremony. Built on the site of the former Armoury, it was viewed as a Taj Mahal at a cost of $1.5 million. The Taj [...]
by Tara Jeffrey for the Sarnia Observer (2014) The city of Sarnia has been shaped by number of notable politicians, from familiar figures like former prime minister Alexander Mackenzie, to long forgotten names like 19th century mayor Thomas George Johnston. Some notable names from the history books include: Cameron was [...]
by Randy Evans for The Sarnia Journal (2015) In the year 1891, a major controversy erupted among some of Sarnia’s leading movers and shakers over a bylaw proposed by the town’s Fire and Water Committee. Committee member and town council;;or William Weelands had vocally supported the bylaw, which proposed a [...]
By Cathy Dobson for the Sarnia Observer (2009) "When you live in these big old buildings, you become a part of the past," says Lynne Brogden, looking up at the 12-foot ceilings of the art gallery she operates at 251 Vidal Street North. "The feeling inside this space is glorious," [...]
by Mayor Mike Bradley (2015) When people pass away, their lives are usually frozen in time in our memories. If younger, then forever young. If older, over time the memories are usually nostalgically positive. Sometimes looking back at the lives of those we have lost, through the telescope of today’s [...]
by Paul Morden for the Sarnia Observer (2014) Joe Dagan believed Sarnia should be a city. As an alderman in the early 1900s, he urged town council to push for the growth needed to make that happen. As mayor, he led the celebrations in 1914 when the Duke of Connaught, [...]
by the Sarnia Observer (2003) When officials from the Imperial Oil company came before Sarnia council in 1897 seeking a tax break in exchange for expanding its refinery, town officials considered it too good a deal to pass up. So did The Observer, which praised the deal, declaring it would [...]
by Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer (2003) There were statesmen and scoundrels, war veterans, a noted investor and even a football hero. In fact, included among the 63 men who have sat in the mayor’s chair during Sarnia’s history have been some of the most colourful characters ever to [...]
by Mary-Jane Egan for the Sarnia Observer (Editor’s Note: Story written at time of Mayor Saddy’s death in 1988) No, he was no saint. Even Bishop Sherlock said so, and he ought to know. But he really was something, wasn’t he? And it’s hard to believe he’s gone. The first [...]
