by Tara Jeffrey for the Sarnia Observer

(2014) The city of Sarnia has been shaped by number of notable politicians, from familiar figures like former prime minister Alexander Mackenzie, to long forgotten names like 19th century mayor Thomas George Johnston. Some notable names from the history books include:

Cameron was already an energetic member of the Upper Canada legislature when he moved to Sarnia in 1834 in search of new opportunities. The 27-year-old quickly found them. Before he was through, Cameron helped launch The Observer, named Lambton County, built a shipping empire and laid down the first road from Sarnia to London. He named most of Sarnia’s streets between George and Wellington: Christina after his wife, Euphemia after his mother, Lochiel for his clan chief. Cameron is rightly regarded, along with Alexander Vidal and George Durand, as one of Sarnia’s founders. The Honourable Malcolm Cameron also made his mark in Canadian politics, serving as Postmaster-General and Agriculture Minister.

Thomas George Johnston: Born in Sarnia in 1849, Johnston graduated from McGill with a degree in medicine, then returned home to take over his dad’s practice. He started as a school trustee, chairman of the board of health, mayor and, later, as Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton. He even joined the local militia and participated in the Fenian raids of 1866-71.

In the late 1890s, Johnston lured Imperial Oil to town by giving the company a five-year tax exemption. The move transformed a sleepy little 19th century market town into a booming 20th century metropolis. Johnston was elected mayor twice and served three terms as a Liberal MP before dying in office on July 4, 1905 at age 56.

Alexander Mackenzie: The Sarnia stonemason defeated John A. Macdonald in the 1874 election to become Canada’s second prime minister, and went on to establish the Supreme Court of Canada, the Royal Military College and the secret ballot. In Sarnia, the community Mackenzie represented and helped build, there is a street and a high school named after him.

When sworn-in as Ontario’s lieutenant-governor in 1974, McGibbon was the first woman to hold a vice-regal post in Canada or the Commonwealth. By the time she left the post in 1980, McGibbon (had) entertained more people, (given) more speeches and had more visitors that any of her predecessors. The Sarnia native and SCITS graduate was also a former national president of the IODE and former president of the Dominion Drama Festival. She also served on the board of directors of IBM and IMASCO and was co-chairperson of the du Maurier Council for the Performing Arts.

In 1967, she was named an officer of the Order of Canada.

She stayed busy after leaving office, including serving as director of Massey Hall, chairing the Toronto International Film Festival and serving as honourary chairperson of the Sarnia Kiwanis Foundation, as it converted her old elementary school into the Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre.

She was there to officially open the building in 1986, and it was there that friends and admirers gathered for a memorial after McGibbon’s death at 91 in 2001.

Bud Cullen: One of the most successful politicians to ever come out of Sarnia, Cullen was the city’s first federal cabinet minister since Alexander Mackenzie.

The Sudbury-area born Cullen moved to Sarnia in 1956 to found a law practice, and soon became president of the Sarnia Education Authority and Kinsmen Club.

In 1968 he was elected a Liberal Member of Parliament. His work in Ottawa soon caught the attention of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who appointed him parliamentary secretary to three ministries: National Defence, then Energy, Mines and Resources and finally Finance. Cullen became Revenue Minister in 1974 and the following year Minister of Employment and Immigration. During his federal cabinet years he sponsored rules to protect Canadian publications threatened by intense U.S. competition and introduced the Unemployment Insurance Act.

In August, 1984, he was appointed a judge of the Trial Division of the Federal Court of Canada and remained there until he retired in September, 2000, at age 78, of an Alzheimer’s-related disease.

Marcella Brown: The Sarnia journalist and civic politician was one of the few female students of London’s University of Western Ontario in the 1930s. She earned a degree in secretarial science before embarking on a 27-year career as a reporter at the Sarnia Observer. At the time, (she) was one of the first female reporters at The Observer and the only mother in the Russell Street neighbourhood that worked outside the home.

Brown moved on to a career in politics and served as a city councillor for more than 15 years. In 1978, she was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal for her contributions to the community. Brown died in 1998.

Michael A. Brown: The Sarnia-born politician was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2005 to 2007. The Western University graduate and former funeral director sat in the legislature representing the northern riding of Algoma- Manitoulin for the Ontario Liberal Party from 1987 to 2011.

Narceil Saddy: Sarnia’s 65th mayor was deemed one of the most successful municipal politicians of the modern era, in a 2008 Observer editorial. The former journalist and newspaper editor served as mayor from 1980 until his death in 1988.

Working with senior government officials, he helped secure Sarnia Bay Marina and a new Sarnia Airport terminal. He also had a hand in a dramatic upgrading of the city’s Via Rail train station. During his time at the helm, council also built a new police headquarters and converted the old Lochiel Street School into a community centre. He also played a crucial role in the development of a senior citizens’ home on the St. Clair River in 1981.Saddy established the Mayor’s Honour List, a tradition to celebrate those instrumental in improving the quality of life in the community.

Caroline Di Cocco:

The former Sarnia-Lambton MPP and Ontario Minister of Culture immigrated to Canada from central Italy at age six. She worked as a music teacher before entering politics, first as a city councillor from 1997 to 1999. Di Cocco was elected MPP for Sarnia-Lambton in 1999 and became Liberal critic for culture and heritage for the next four years. In 2002 she called for overhaul of Ontario’s Heritage Act to better protect historical buildings.

In 2003, Di Cocco received a knighthood from the Italian government and official title of Cavalieri for years of multicultural involvement, particularly in the Italian community. On April 5, 2006, she was named Minister of Culture by Premier Dalton McGuinty – – a position she held until she was defeated in the 2007 provincial election by PC candidate Bob Bailey.

Mike Bradley:

Sarnia’s longest serving mayor entered politics in 1980 when he was just 23. That year, he managed the local Liberal campaign of former MP Bud Cullen. When the Liberals won, Cullen named Bradley his executive assistant. Three years later, he successfully ran for Sarnia council. Mayor Marceil Saddy was soon grooming him to take over the mayor’s chair, which he won comfortably in 1988 in a race against three experienced candidates, becoming the 66th person to hold the office. Currently serving his eighth consecutive term, Bradley is Ontario’s third longest-serving mayor.

During his time the city amalgamated with the Town of Clearwater, the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre was built, and the UWO research park was established.

Bradley has served on countless boards and committees in Sarnia, and is a frequent media commentator on local, provincial, national and international issues. He has been awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, among many other honours.

Andy Brandt: Alderman, mayor, MPP, cabinet minister and leader of the PC party – Brandt’s political contributions spanned 20 years and had a significant impact on Sarnia. He is the man behind the approval of Highway 402 and the revitalization of Sarnia’s downtown, among other accomplishments. Later, as MPP, Brandt was responsible for signing the deal with the province to establish Sarnia Bay Marina , an attraction that has generated millions of dollars for the city over the years. He also convinced the Minister of Health to finance Sarnia’s first CAT scan machine at the old Sarnia General Hospital, despite the fact the city was considered too small for one. Brandt was also the CEO of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario for 15 years, turning the publicly-owned corporation into a huge success story. During his tenure, the LCBO generated close to $9 billion that was directed back into public coffers.