by Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
(2003) In the spring of 1914, Sarnia finally shed its small-town image. It came on May 7 of that year when the community was finally given ‘city’ status. At that time, it adopted the nickname ‘The Imperial City.’
Mayor Joseph Dagan was the man behind the drive to gain the new assignation. At the time, Sarnia had been a ‘town’ for nearly six decades. In fact, its status hadn’t changed since 1857, the year the municipality dropped its ‘village’ status. For years Dagan had dreamed of creating an important industrial city on the banks of the St. Clair River. Unfortunately, there was a major obstacle in his path. In order to achieve cityhood, a community had to have a population of 10,000 people and, in the early years of the 20th century, Sarnia was a few hundred citizens short of the magic number.
In 1913 town council, at the urging of then councillor Dagan, agreed to give the Mueller Brass Co. a $30,000 grant if it would build a local plant employing at least 150 men. The facility which opened its doors in June of that year attracted the extra people that Sarnia needed to bring its population up to 10,000. The next year, with Dagan in the mayor’s chair, council applied for city status.
Historian Edward Phelps said as a city Sarnia “would be far more appealing to new industries looking for a base in southwestern Ontario. City status also meant a significant saving in revenue as a result of various rights conferred upon cities over towns.”
The elevation to cityhood was a triumph. Over the next two decades, several more industries located in Sarnia, doubling the city’s population.
The Governor General of Canada, the Duke of Connaught, was on hand for the May 7 celebrations, along with his daughter, Princess Patricia. He rode through the downtown in a horse-drawn carriage to be greeted by a sea of flags being waved by 2,000 school children and several marching bands. After planting a maple tree in Victoria Park, The Observer reported, the Governor General was “shown the principal places of interest, including the General hospital, the Imperial Oil Company’s mammoth plant, the Cleveland-Sarnia sawmill plant and then for a short drive down the river and through the Indian Reserve.
While that was going on, Mrs. Maude Hanna, who later helped establish Canatara Park, hosted a reception for Princess Patricia. Mayor Dagan announced Sarnia would be known thereafter as the Imperial City as an expression of its high regard for the Duke and the monarchy.