Sarnia

band shell,a solar-powered pedestrian crossing and bus shelter,and an accessible garden and playground area.The finished parkwill also feature a newpublic boat launch next to the city-owned and privately-op- erated Sarnia BayMarina.There is great connectivity between theMarina,the park,and the downtown that makes it the place to be for residents and visitors alike. All over the city,Sarnia is sprucing up and going green.Communities in Bloom is a grass roots group set up to beautify the community,and the city’s Envi- ronmental AdvisoryCommittee gives out“Go Green Awards”for residents who come upwith energy-sav- ing ideas.“Historically,we’ve been known as a heavy industry,petrochemical plant area in regards to the environment,”says Shaw.“But we’re really seeing a re- use,re-thinking,and re-engagement by the community to‘turn the leaf’for greener development.” Meanwhile Sarnia is also partneringwith the Coun- ty,the regional economicdevelopment corporation, Bluewater Regional Networks,Lambton College,and Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park to compete in theNewYork-based Intelligent CommunityForum (ICF).Sarnia Lambton has been selected fromnearly 500 communities globallyas a Smart21 Community for 3 years in a rowin this international competition. SARNIA, ONTARIO Your supplier of Personal Protection Equipment, Safety Supplies, Work Wear, Industrial Tools & Equipment. •Product Inspections and Recertification (Fall Protection, Negative Air Machines, Slings) •Fit Testing for Respiratory Gear •Product Training •Inventory Management Solutions •Vending Machines & Related Services •Seminars (Correct Product Usage, Safety Standards, Work Procedures) •Consultations and More We also offer the following services: 1392 Plank Road, Sarnia, ON, Canada N7T 7H3 telephone: 519.344.1113 • fax: 519.344.6341 toll free: 877.744.1113 • email: sales@mackenziemilne.com www.MackenzieMilne.com there’s an issue to solve.We’ve seen a lot of that happening here in the last couple of years and are excited by the prospect of seeing these places and spaces rejuvenated into productive communities that provide peoplewith adequate and needed housing,but also provide good opportunities for investment.” Sarnia has also invested in other infrastructure and energy savings projects.Currently there is a $49-million upgrade project on the city’s aging sewer collection and treatment systemwhich is a project funded by federal,provincial,andmunicipal money. Also,the City recently replaced all of its mercuryvapor andHigh Pressure Sodiumcobra head lights with energyefficient LEDs.“Historically, investment in infrastructure has been in the roads and pipes domain,”saysMisek-Evans.“But,lately, Council has turned their focus to also include parks and recreation facilities.So,we’ve been successful in getting grants for that.We got a Canada 150 grant to help restore a 16 km.trail that goes from one end of the community to the other,and to widen it to a consistent 8-foot width and refurbish it with a hard-packgranular so that it’s accessible to all ages.Accessibility is somethingwe’re known for,so anything that we do,that is baked into the mix.Long before it was a requirement,Sarniawas a leader in that.Andwith the recent purchase of eight newconventional buses and four newCare- A-Van specialized buses,the entire fleet of our transit system is nowlowfloor accessible.” There is also the city’s flagship Centennial Park,a 33-acrewaterfront sitewhere contaminants were found a fewyears back.The Cityundertookan extensive brownfield remediation project over the past 5 years totaling $13-million investment that included $10.7million for park remediation and another $2.6million for replacing thewater and sewer services.Private businesses and community groups helped by sponsoring a newcommunity