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 Mahal was built as a symbol of love while City Hall was built as a symbol of taxation which is not as beloved. However, the cost was justified because the City was booming and expanding plus city staff had been in temporary offices for years over the Hudson Bay Store (where the County of Lambton Social Services are today) in downtown Sarnia.
City Hall was constructed out of silver grey Queenston limestone with fire brush hammered finish and block Canadian Granite. The Council Chambers and the public lobby were paneled with black cherry and ribbon striped West African mahogany and the Mayor’s Office with oiled American walnut. The floors in the main lobby are Italian marble. The Mayor’s and City Manager’s Offices were built side-by-side with direct access to facilitate communication with each other with the first being the CEO of the City and the latter the CAO. The new City Hall was opened by Lt. Governor of Ontario, Earl Rowe, who the Sarnia Observer reported arrived in a 12 car motorcade escorted by a team of OPP motorcycle policemen. The parade route was lined with thousands of students waving flags who were given the day off on behalf of the Queen.
The official dedication took place at the William C. Nelson Memorial Fountain in front of City Hall. The fountain was donated by the family of the late Mayor Nelson who, when he died in office, was the then longest-serving Mayor of Sarnia at eleven years. Mayor Henry Ross officiated. The three-storey building was built to have two more storeys added and the elevators indicated five floors which confused many visitors. In 1991, at the time of the amalgamation of Sarnia and Clearwater, it was discovered building up wasn’t practical and $1.5 million was spent to renovate instead to accommodate the amalgamated staff. As important as the building is to the community, it is the “people serving people” from City Hall that makes a difference in your life (and theirs) each and every day. With fewer staff, more technology, and proper upkeep, there is no reason City Hall shouldn’t serve the community for another 50 years.