Nathan Colquhoun

Nathan Colquhoun, a former city councillor in Sarnia, is known for his involvement in community and politics. He owns the Sarnia Journal and has co-founded several businesses including Refined Fool Brewing Company, Burger Rebellion, Storyboard Solutions, and Listenology. He is dedicated to building just systems within Sarnia and remains actively engaged in various initiatives.

A culture of yes: what Sarnia can learn from Hamilton

December 17, 2024

In Nathan's latest column, he highlights how Sarnia’s red tape and outdated mindset hold back small businesses. Drawing on real examples, he calls for a cultural shift to help the…

Who are our councillors representing?

December 2, 2024

Sarnia is a city without wards, a unique setup where councillors aren’t tied to specific neighbourhoods. Theoretically, this means every councillor represents the whole city equally. But in practice, councillors…

Do we really need $6 million to make Sarnia “business ready”?

November 25, 2024

In the latest chapter of “bureaucracy gone wild,” the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is asking the city to set aside $6 million to get our industrial parks to a so-called…

Rethinking emergency housing: Why are we so obsessed with tiny homes?

November 21, 2024

In his latest column, Nathan Colquhoun questions the public’s obsession with tiny homes and offers a bold, practical alternative to addressing Sarnia’s housing crisis—one that challenges local leaders to take…

Local storytelling: the foundation of a strong Sarnia

November 7, 2024

Keeping the Sarnia Journal going has been a deeply personal commitment. In a world where community stories often get pushed aside for corporate priorities, I believe Sarnia deserves more. Our…

Why Sarnia’s downtown businesses need to think bigger

October 30, 2024

In a recent turn of events, Sarnia's downtown business community has made its voice heard loud and clear: they want to preserve parking over supporting affordable housing in the heart…

Waiting for action: Downtown Sarnia’s BIA needs a motion to move forward

October 25, 2024

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the potential for a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in downtown Sarnia. The idea keeps coming up, and the city recently released another…

We can’t wait: Why municipal housing programs need to prioritize construction over compliance

October 18, 2024

In the face of Sarnia’s mounting housing crisis, the introduction of the Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program seemed like a much-needed step toward increasing affordable housing. But several months…

Opinion: Why council needs to act on de-centralized housing solutions now

September 12, 2024

In September 2023, I proposed a solution to Lambton County Council: de-centralized housing, an approach that could dramatically address Sarnia’s affordable housing shortage. Council unanimously supported a motion for staff…

OPINION: The vital role of young professionals on Sarnia’s boards of directors

August 8, 2024

In Sarnia, the vitality of our community is deeply intertwined with the organizations that serve us. These organizations, ranging from non-profits to community groups, play a crucial role in making…