Tara Jeffrey Dawn Cote is honouring her sister’s memory the best way she knows how — by giving back to a family in need. “I know she would be happy,” Cote said of her late sister, Sue Spano, who died last June after a brief battle with cancer. This month, Cote will host the Sue… Read more »
Troy Shantz A group of local activists wants Sarnia’s political leaders to look at the big picture and declare a climate emergency. Making such a declaration municipally would emphasize that climate change poses a threat to everyone, while encouraging City Hall to make environmentally sustainable decisions, said entrepreneur and educator Leslie Pullen. Pullen and the… Read more »
Troy Shantz Advocates were jubilant when city council agreed last week to declare June a month of Pride in Sarnia. In a 6-2 vote, council also decided to fly the rainbow flag on the waterfront and illuminate City Hall in rainbow-coloured lights, decisions that brought cheers from many of those in the gallery. The celebration… Read more »
Journal Staff On May 6, city councillors approved a group of largely symbolic gestures designed to show support for Sarnia’s LGBTQ community. After hearing from eight speakers, all in support of the Sarnia Pride and Transgender Association, they voted 6-2 to: * Recognize June as Pride month in Sarnia * Fly the pride and transgender… Read more »
Cathy Dobson “It was crazy.” That’s how lead guitarist Kurt Brown describes the moment The Down River Band learned they’d beaten 115 others to win The Bout, a high stakes battle of the bands in Toronto. “We went in thinking we wouldn’t win because most of the other bands were bigger ones from Toronto,”… Read more »
Tara Jeffrey When Michelle Parks learned London is preparing to stock free menstrual products in public facilities, the Sarnia woman asked, ‘Why not here?’ She began researching initiatives like Tampon Tuesday — an event launched a decade ago in London that invites participants to an evening of food, drink and networking. Admission is a box… Read more »
Troy Shantz Art enthusiasts can relax: the two mosaics mounted on a Canatara washroom and slated for demolition have been saved. City workers safely removed the decorative works last week from the decommissioned structure, located just west of Lake Chipican. Using a masonry saw and some heavy lifting they carefully removed the mosaics, which stayed… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Starting July 1, Sarnians will be required to use paper bags to collect yard waste for composting —for the rest of this year, anyway. City council agreed last week to temporarily ban the use of plastic leaf bags following four months of public debate and a convoluted series of votes. “It’s obvious to… Read more »
A competitive knife thrower from Sarnia broke a world record at the 2019 Blade Aces World Championships. Brett Dewhirst scored 87 of a potential 90 points in head-to-head elimination knife throwing at the Las Vegas event, held April 26 – 28. Eighty-five was the previous record set in 2006. Dewhirst, who teaches knife throwing at… Read more »
Troy Shantz She’s the Canadian championship that almost wasn’t. Two years ago, Sarnia’s Kaitlyn Clark had walked away from boxing, seemingly forever. Today, she’s one of the very best in Canada. The 64-kilogram fighter became a 2019 elite gold medalist last month at the National Championships in Victoria, defeating boxers from Quebec and British Columbia… Read more »
