Susan MacFarlane When I was a kid, we had a dog called Lucky. My mom would say, “Lucky to be alive.” Lucky was a black lab mix and I don’t remember how he came into our lives. He was an interesting sort of dog, one that would get loose and jump up on people as… Read more »
Phil Egan I was 15 when the phone call came from my best friend, James O’Rourke. “Turn on the TV,” he urged. “It sounds like there’s gonna’ be a war!” Like most families in 1962 we had a single small black and white television. It brought in three Detroit channels so finding a sombre-looking John… Read more »
Health Coalition fighting privatization of health care Sir: On Feb 1 Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliot stated that independent health facilities would be allowed to operate private hospitals, to help with the backlog of medical procedures and surgeries built up during COVID. “Independent health facilities” is another way of saying private, for-profit clinics. She was… Read more »
Marg Johnson I don’t recall mom buying many books; in fact, the only one I do remember was “The Power of Positive Thinking,” by Norman Vincent Peale. Apparently, it was all the rage in the late ‘50s, right up there with the child-rearing series by Dr. Benjamin Spock [available now in thrift stores everywhere]. Why… Read more »
Marg Baker The Sarnia community lost one of its pillars recently. Betty Routliffe died on Feb. 16, more than happy to meet her creator. She would have turned 98 this month. Many readers will be able to fill in the blanks and tell their own stories about her, but bear with me while I reminisce… Read more »
Councillors who failed diversity training shouldn’t run city Sir: I was quite shocked to read in The Journal (Feb. 24) that some Sarnia city councillors drove away a diversity trainer from Toronto due to their hostile behaviour. After a two-hour training session on Zoom the trainer refused to work any further with the city. The… Read more »
Really? Comparing Canada to communist China. Give me a break Sir: “F*ck Trudeau” is a flag seen at almost every Freedom Convoy gathering. Its vulgarity is often accompanied by claims the current P.M. should be tried for treason and COVID-19 mandates are tyrannical. Some placards liken Canada to “Communist China.” Interesting. How well might these… Read more »
Tali McGovern Our family dog passed away a few weeks ago after spending 14 years as a constant and loyal listener, snuggle buddy, cleanup crew, travel partner, and so much more. The operative word here is family because Mattie, a white and fluffy Bichon Frise, was uniquely important to each individual and the overall dynamics… Read more »
Phil Egan It dates from a time before Sarnia was a city, built by a man who served as its mayor. The gracious home at 115 Christina St. South was constructing in 1900 or 1901 by Thomas Doherty, the president and owner of the Doherty Stove Works on Wellington Street. But not long after Doherty… Read more »
Patricia McGee Canada’s first oil gusher exploded 160 years ago near Oil Springs, 40 minutes southeast of Sarnia. John Shaw changed the course of Canadian history when he chiseled 52 metres into the rock formation on Jan. 16, 1862. Oil gushed high above the treetops, spewing 2,000 to 3,000 barrels a day before it was… Read more »
