The Sarnia Journal reached out to Spencer Roberts after reading his recent piece, The Shadow of Chemical Valley, published by Contingent Magazine as part of their Hometown Histories series. His portrayal of our community is both intriguing and insightful, offering a perspective that is rarely shared. At the Journal, we are committed to highlighting unique voices from our community, especially those with insights and histories that resonate with Sarnia’s deeper identity. We encourage you to read The Shadow of Chemical Valley before exploring this interview, where we examine his perspective further through his responses. We hope you find this conversation with Spencer as interesting as we did and gain new insights into the narratives that shape our city.
Sarnia Journal: Growing up in Sarnia, how did you experience the city’s identity beyond its petrochemical industry?
Spencer Roberts: I loved growing up in the Sarnia area. My family has deep roots here and I have always enjoyed the well-known highlights such as Canatara and Centennial Parks, Sting games, the Labor Day parade, boating, and beaches. I also love things known best among locals, like bridge fries, driving down the river road, and the hotly-contested best pizza places. The Valley was an inescapable part of life in Sarnia but I didn’t fully understand that relationship in my youth.
Sarnia Journal: How did choosing a path outside of the trades shape your relationships or identity within a community so rooted in industrial work?
Spencer Roberts: When I was about to graduate high school, my guidance counselor suggested that I become an engineer because I had the grades and was interested in drafting. In fact, I had already been working for an engineering firm in Sarnia as a junior draftsperson. So my initial choice of career path was familiar to most people in my life. When I changed to studying literature and history, my path might have seemed less clear but everyone was still supportive. During the summers, I worked in engineering, roofing, and insulation firms, earning my stripes, so to speak.
Sarnia Journal: In what ways did you feel the educational or creative industries were limited or encouraged in Sarnia?
Spencer Roberts: Many people in my network in Lambton County were creative, talented people involved in the music scene, theatre, and other cultural activities. The community is very supportive but most creative spaces are driven by volunteers or as side-gigs. Some of the most successful local bands and artists work other jobs to make ends meet. For most people who study any non-STEM discipline, the job opportunities in Sarnia are very limited.
Sarnia Journal: Are there aspects of Sarnia’s community that you think get overshadowed by Chemical Valley's presence?
Spencer Roberts: One of my most frequent comments to friends and family in Sarnia is that there is so much untapped potential for stronger cultural heritage organizations and leisure activities. I hope that Sarnia can someday build a museum to help tell the fascinating stories of the area. The folks at Sarnia Historical Society are doing amazing work and need more infrastructure. I’ve been glad to see the waterfronts improving on my last few visits home. The city is changing but the Valley’s shadow is long.
Sarnia Journal: How did your family’s work in the trades impact your own career trajectory and the path you eventually chose?
Spencer Roberts: My siblings and I were generally encouraged to explore all our options, including university, college, or trade school. My parents both attended university but returned to Sarnia and worked in the trades and community support services. I considered various trades but simply chose a different path.
I can appreciate the hard work of tradespeople and my experiences of that world have led me to pursue more technical and hands-on academic work. I think I’m more well-rounded as a historian because I spent a lot of time with people in the trades and service industries.
Sarnia Journal: Do you feel that people in Sarnia are inclined to stay close to home, or is there a sense of “necessary departure” for those pursuing careers outside of the trades?
Spencer Roberts: Sarnia has a strong pull on people who grow up there. I would love to move back to Sarnia but there would be no living to be made doing what I love. The infrastructure in Sarnia just does not support a wide range of specialized disciplines. Pursuing my interests in a career has required a sacrifice of where I can live. I suspect that story might be true for many people who attend university elsewhere.
Sarnia Journal: How has being away from Sarnia affected your perspective on the town’s cycle of boom and bust?
Spencer Roberts: Being so distant and working in a different field means that I’m not personally affected by the cycles, but I hear about them from my family members. Phone calls always include whether work is slow, if new plants or facilities are being planned, or when shutdowns are starting. And the generational cycle continues. In my extended family, many younger people have joined a trade.
Sarnia Journal: What aspects of Sarnia’s industrial culture would you say contribute to a sense of resilience, both personally and community-wide?
Spencer Roberts: Chemical Valley is not just refining petrochemicals—it also refines the workers. The plants are challenging and dangerous. Working in the trades in Sarnia is not for everyone. Workers who survive and thrive in that environment are some of the best in the world. History bears that out, as workers from Lambton County have built industries across the planet. And Sarnians have found ways to work more safely and more efficiently, setting high standards for training and compliance. The workers and community are rightfully proud of those accomplishments. Unfortunately, the Valley has also created health hazards that are an accepted part of life, requiring both resiliency and sacrifice.
Sarnia Journal: Do you feel Sarnia’s reputation affects opportunities for young people, especially those pursuing non-industrial careers?
Spencer Roberts: Sarnia’s identity has been shifting for a while and continues to evolve. The community seems interested in creating new opportunities, refocusing attention on the non-industrial aspects of the region. In light of those changes, Sarnia’s reputation as the home of Chemical Valley might lose significance. But without substantial investment into other fields, industries, or disciplines, many young people will still have to leave to find work.
Sarnia Journal: Lastly, if there were one misconception about Sarnia or its people that you wish to address, what would it be?
Spencer Roberts: Sarnia’s other reputation is as a retirement community, and demographics and experience support that reputation. But I’m concerned that too much emphasis on developing the retirement community will either stifle growth and opportunities or else raise prices too high for younger people. Sarnia is a great place to be raised, start a family, work a satisfying career, and then retire, all in good health.