The Sarnia Journal has partnered with local photographer Art Connolly to feature his captivating “Humans of Sarnia” series as he delves into the lives and experiences of everyday people in Sarnia
Doug Crosbie is 87 years old, and when you sit down with him, it doesn’t take long to realize that his life is one built on resilience, adaptability, and the kind of perspective that only comes from having lived through decades of change. Born in Sarnia in 1938, his earliest years were marked by the turbulence of the Second World War. His father was overseas for much of his childhood. “I really didn’t know him until I was about eight,” Doug says quietly. “When he came back, he wasn’t the same. He suffered from what we now call PTSD. But back then, there weren’t words for it—no one really understood what was happening.”
That absence shaped his childhood, but Doug also grew up surrounded by deep family roots in Sarnia. His grandfather had been one of the very first members of the Sarnia Police Force, joining in 1899 along with two of his brothers. Later, he became a public health inspector for Lambton County, but his most lasting legacy might be something he did outside his career. In 1928, Doug’s grandfather bought a family cottage on Stag Island, a purchase that would define Doug’s summers for years to come.
At the turn of the century, Stag Island was a bustling resort destination. By 1903, it boasted a wide sandy beach, a hotel, and cottages that drew visitors from near and far. Steamships carried families across the river, and rail lines connected travelers to the dock. But for Doug, it wasn’t about the amenities—it was about the joy of being a child on the island. “We spent every summer there until I was about 13 or 14,” he recalls. When the family eventually sold the cottage, it was a bittersweet moment, closing a chapter that had given him some of his happiest years.
Doug attended Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS). Like many teenagers, he worked part-time jobs, but one stood out. He became a delivery boy for Wadland Pharmacy, riding his bike across the city to deliver prescriptions. “I loved it,” he says with a smile. That job sparked an interest in pharmacy, and by the time he was nearing graduation, Doug had made up his mind to become a pharmacist. At the time, the requirements were manageable—two years of university followed by two years of internship.
But then everything changed. By the time Doug reached Grade 12, the qualifications had shifted to four years of university plus an internship. “That just broke my heart,” he admits. “My family didn’t have tons of money for four years of school, let alone an unpaid internship. It just wasn’t possible.”
The disappointment was real, but Doug’s story shows that sometimes the road we don’t take makes way for another path we never could have imagined. Instead of pharmacy, Doug found work in the insurance industry, where, by chance, he met his future wife, Nancy. It was through his sister that their paths crossed, and the connection quickly grew.
Doug and Nancy married and built a life together that lasted 56 years. They raised two children and later welcomed three grandchildren. Nancy passed away in 2018, but Doug speaks of her with the kind of love and gratitude that lingers long after someone is gone. One of their shared passions was travel. Over the years, they visited nearly 50 countries, exploring the world side by side.
Early in their marriage, Doug worked as a representative for Facelle paper company, a job that required him to move frequently. During his time with Facelle, Doug studied Human Resources at the University of Toronto, receiving his Chartered Human Resources Professional designation. He then became the human resources manager for three years. Their first stop was Hamilton, where Nancy found work as a nurse in Burlington. Then came London, and eventually Toronto, where Doug was promoted to the company’s head office. The couple bought their first home in Brampton, where they stayed for 21 years while raising their family.
Doug’s adaptability and steady work ethic carried him further, and he eventually became the Director of Marketing for the Kenmore division of the Whirlpool Corporation at Inglis Ltd. “I loved that job,” he says, his face lighting up with the memory. But in 1991, everything shifted. Free trade agreements reshaped industries, and companies like Inglis and Sears—once fixtures of Canadian commerce—were gone.
“At 52 years old, I suddenly found myself asking, ‘What am I going to do for the rest of my life?’” Doug recalls. The first step was a reality check. Years of working in a high-pressure environment had taken a toll on his health. “I went for a checkup and found my blood pressure was sky high. It was clear something had to change.”
After taking a few months off, Doug made a bold decision: he would no longer work for someone else. Instead, leveraging his experience and designation as a Human Resources manager, he started his own outplacement service—a company designed to help laid-off employees find new jobs and transition into new careers. For him, it was not just about running a business—it was about helping people through one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Once again, Doug had turned what could have been a setback into an opportunity to make a difference.
Doug had left Sarnia in 1957, building much of his career and family life elsewhere. But in 2023, after decades away, he returned to his hometown. Like many I’ve interviewed for Humans of Sarnia, his story follows a familiar thread: people leave, but somehow, they often find themselves back.
I asked Doug what struck him most about coming home after so many years. His answer was immediate. “The first thing I noticed right away was the sense of calmness, the slowness,” he reflects. “It’s almost like being down south. The people are so courteous and polite.”
At 87, Doug carries a perspective that’s both practical and hopeful. His life has been defined by change: by a dream deferred in high school, by a career that moved him across the province, by the loss of his wife after more than five decades together. And yet, through all of it, he’s adapted. He’s found new paths, embraced opportunities, and kept moving forward. “Life doesn’t always go the way you plan,” Doug says. “But if you can be flexible, you can make it through.”
Now, sitting in the city where it all began, Doug’s story feels complete. He has traveled the world, built a career, raised a family, and faced challenges with resilience. And after it all, he has returned home—to the calmness, the community, and the familiarity of Sarnia.
Doug’s story is a reminder that life is not always about the paths we choose, but about how we walk them. His journey, full of change and resilience, shows that even after decades of twists and turns, coming home can be the most powerful chapter of all.
Humans of Sarnia founder Art Connolly is a man fuelled by curiosity and a passion for connecting with people in Sarnia. Inspired by the renowned “Humans of New York” series, with a camera in hand, he captures the very essence of the individuals he encounters, preserving their stories through his lens. Follow his series on Instagram and Facebook.
