It began for me when I was a teenager, and my cousins from Cornwall, Ontario came for a visit. They said our river was puny compared to theirs back home, and that the lakers going by were small compared to the ships they were used to. They also had an issue with our squirrels. Turned out, they had never seen black squirrels before. I came to the defence of our hometown. I said our river was not puny, the lakers were not small, and black squirrels were what squirrels looked like.
I was defending my hometown against the complaints from outsiders. It was an instinctual response. Later in life, living elsewhere, if someone brought up a negative complaint about Sarnia, my hometown, I became defensive.
It is said, ‘Be proud of your hometown; it plays a big part in what makes you who you are’. Our early memories do the same thing. A lot of our identity is connected to: our hometown memories, the landscape and landmarks, our early cultural identity, family. Our hometown becomes for us more of a feeling than a place.
My first response to complaints about Sarnia is: “Is that all you got?” Here are the top three, recurring complaints: 1) Poor air quality. 2) Limited job opportunities. 3) Limited cultural attractions. All together now, “Is that all you got?”
Other complaints, or cons, I’ve discovered, are almost nit-picky. They say there is little nightlife, not a lot to do for youth, our summer climate is too humid, and we have a blue-collar, conservative disposition.
In defence:
I know Sarnia’s air quality has had a bad rap over the years; there has always been this stigma/reality. Technology, government intervention, and social awareness, has improved the situation. There are groups like the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project that monitors and investigates our air pollution and any environmental ‘stresses’ from local industry. They keep us informed.
In defence:
Contrary to popular belief, there are job opportunities. One need only look, and want to work. To help in job search, there are resources like the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board, the City of Sarnia website, Job Board, Job Bank, LinkedIn.
In defence:
As far as cultural attractions, they are ever-changing. Over the years we have seen more art galleries, like the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery. We have events devoted to our artists. There is the Imperial Theatre with its wide range of exemplary entertainment. Our micro-breweries, restaurants and bars promote not only local musical talent but established names in the music world. And don’t forget, we are the Beautiful Bluewater Land.
Change and improvement are like an evolutionary process. It takes time to see the whole picture. In the meantime, we have to be unyielding in our defense.
We have a lot to be proud of. No matter where we are, where our journeys take us, the connection to our hometown is permanent. Whether or not you say it out loud, there will always be that impulse to come to the defence of your hometown, when those who’ve never lived it, want to put it down.