As a border town, Sarnia sees a lot of through traffic. After all, about 14,000 vehicles use the Blue Water Bridges every day.
Although there are no actual RV resorts within Sarnia, RVexy shows that there are eight such RV parks within 50 km of Sarnia. Many RVers stop at one of these eight RV parks and then continue their travels across the border. Of course, as the popularity of RVs in Sarnia increases, it stands to reason that some of those RVers will stop here for a visit. Some of them might even stay for a longer while.
Prior to 2004, the bylaws in The Imperial City were quite restrictive. Back then, the bylaws stated that RVs could be stored either in an enclosed building or on a lot in zones UR1, UR2, or SR1. "UR" stands for urban residential, and "SR" stands for suburban residential. In these zones, the rule was for one recreational vehicle to be allowed storage. In rural zones, the limit was four recreational vehicles. One couldn't park an RV in the driveway during the summer months. It would either have to be in the backyard or along the edge of the property line in the side yard. It also couldn't be closer to the property line than 3 meters.
In 2015, however, there were the first inklings of a shift in policy as several RVers told the Sarnia Observer that the rules were both very old and very unfair. They pitched an idea to the Sarnia City Council that would allow RVers to park their RVs in their driveways during the summer. The idea went nowhere in 2015.
However, on June 22, 2020, the Sarnia City Council finally approved the suggested change to the city's zoning bylaw. From May 1 until October 31 each year, it was then allowed for RVers to park their rigs in their driveways as long as the vehicles didn't create a nuisance or hazard. For the period each year from November 1 until April 30 of the next year, the owner would have to park the RV either in the rear or side yard as it had been previously required.
There was one additional provision: If there was no space on the property to store the RV safely, or at all, then the owner would have to find somewhere off of the property to store the RV until the following May, such as a private garage. Changing bylaws should have a positive effect on the changing RV culture in Sarnia.
In Sarnia, there are many vehicle shows where RVers, particularly those with GMC Class A motorhomes, have begun to show off their vehicles. Many of the shows are run by two groups: Sarnia Street Machines and Sarnia Street Cruisers. These shows happen all over Lambton County. "Vintage in the Village" is a show that takes place in Point Edward. "The Clarence Field Memorial Car Show," "Cruise in the Park," and "Pop's Car-B-Que for Hospice" all take place in Sarnia. There are others in many towns in Southwestern Ontario, including Blenheim, London, Windsor, Chatham, and even Ailsa Craig. Although most of these shows were, and are, for classic hot rods, RVers are welcome now. One Sarnia man named Shawn Bryan began this trend. One day, he thought that he'd take his 1977 vintage GMC Class A motorhome to one of these shows. His opinion was that, because his motorhome had a 455-cubic inch racing engine, it qualified as a hot rod.
Bryan is a Sarnia native who truly enjoyed showing off his motorhome during the time that he had it. At shows, a lot of the hot rodders wouldn't allow anyone to touch their vehicles, but Bryan let people enter his motorhome, sit on the benches around the GMC's dining table, and enjoy a cold cola, a freezie, or both on a hot day during the summer. Bryan also took his rig to Canatara Park on many Thursday nights to join the Sarnia Street Cruisers. He said that he enjoyed the ambiance of these shows and that other RVers in the area began calling him and asking him about how to get involved. He told them it was as easy as contacting the show's organizers and asking permission to show up.
Now that the bylaws have been changed, and RVers have begun expressing interest in both the RV parks and resorts in the area and in attending vehicle shows during the warmer months of the year, it remains to be seen if the people of Sarnia begin embracing the RV lifestyle and culture more wholeheartedly than they have before. In fact, with more opportunities to display their vehicles and connect with other enthusiasts, RVers in Sarnia may soon find that their culture becomes a staple of the community’s summer events