The Founding of Sarnia

Photo by contributor Sarnia Heritage Committee - Posted June, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Lambton
The City of Sarnia
In Alexander Mackenzie Park
at the foot of George Street
immediately north of the Alexander Mackenzie Monument

Coordinates: N 42 58.513 W 82 24.512

Plaque Text

The French-speaking families of Ignace Cazelet, Jean-Baptiste Paré and Joseph LaForge arrived here 1807-1810. Other settlers, many of Scottish descent, came in 1832-1834 following the 1829 survey of Sarnia Township. A community called "The Rapids", renamed Port Sarnia in 1836, soon developed and among its prominent early residents were Richard Vidal, George Durand and the Hon. Malcolm Cameron. Called Sarnia after 1856, the village flourished, stimulated by regional lumbering activity, nearby oil discoveries and the arrival of the Great Western and Grand Trunk Railways in 1858 and 1859, respectively. Later, Sarnia became a significant trans-shipment port for western grain. Incorporated as a town in 1856 and as a city in 1914, Sarnia is one of Canada's important petro-chemical centres.

More
Information

More
Settlements

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted January 19, 2012
what was the origins of the settlers in sarnia

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).