What are we doing wrong – this city has been stagnant

A reader critiques the marketing and lack of growth for Sarnia compared to other neighbouring cities.

I think it high time that Sarnia council take a road trip to neighboring communities to talk to their councils on how to attract new business and industries. I travel the 402 , 403 and 401 frequently and the growth in many of the towns and cities along these corridors which Sarnia is a part is phenomenal. Just 45 minutes east of Sarnia is Strathroy, the growth there over the last ten years is impressive it seems like every few months there's another huge industrial development under construction as I drive by.

Woodstock is another city smaller than Sarnia that has exploded with new industry along with Brantford, St Thomas and now Chatham-Kent. What are we doing wrong this city has been stagnant at 70-72,000 population since Amalgamation in 1991 that's been almost 40 years with no significant growth, meanwhile 40 years ago Brantford was about the same size as Sarnia but now sits at 107,000.vSomething is seriously wrong with the marketing of this city.

We have amazing advantages here we are on a 400 series highway with major rail connections to the rest of the province and the US, we are a border city with twin bridges connecting to the Interstate system in Michigan, we have direct access to the Great Lakes system, a highly skilled construction base and are already Ontario's largest Petrochemical complex but are still stagnant compared to other cities of comparable size. Its time for some major change in the leadership and marketing skills in this city.