Pathways Health Centre for Children's Secret Santa Shoppe kicks off this Friday, November 13.

The heartwarming event is open to children in the community.

"We get just over 1,000 little shoppers in our Secret Santa shop, which is absolutely lovely. Of course, we're always striving to get more shoppers in and spend some time with us, and be able to provide holiday delights for the families," said Event Lead Marcy Draker. "We have open doors and open hearts for families in Sarnia-Lambton."

The event offers a wide selection of brand new pre-wrapped gifts that children can choose from. Each shopper is guided by a friendly Pathways Elf through the festivities to select their present.

"This is our biggest fundraiser at Pathways Health Centre for Children, so it's just so very important, and we're so very grateful that the community feels the way that they do about it. The money that is raised through our Pathways Secret Santa shop supports programs and services at Pathways Health Center for Children, so we can best help children and youth reach their full potential."

This year's event marks 21 years of Pathways creating the festive holiday shoppe.

Families are welcome to register ahead of the event or to walk in. It runs November 13, 14,15, 20, and 21.

A special "Shoppe with the Sarnia Sting Night" will be held on November 17 and does require registration.

Registration for all days is open on the Pathway's website.

Hundreds of residents, with poppies proudly pinned to their chest, stood in silence during the annual Remembrance Day service at Veterans Park in Sarnia Wednesday.

The colour party left the Royal Canadian Legion on Front Street at 10:35 a.m. for the customary march through the downtown to the park to begin the Remembrance Day service.

The November 11 address was delivered by Deacon David Cummings.

Deacon David Cummings during Sarnia's Remembrance Day service. November 11, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

"At the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, time stands still for a moment, and we remember those who died, not for war but for a world that would be free and at peace," said Cummings.

Cummings later challenged the large crowd gathered to reflect on what is asked of the living today.

"As we reflect on the cost they paid, what sacrifice are we asked to make, what cost are we willing to pay," said Cummings. "For us today, the only sacrifice we've been asked for is two minutes. Two minutes to stop from our busyness, from our own preoccupations and to remember, remember those who bought with their tomorrow, our today."

Sarnia Silver Cross Mother Pat Poland walking up to lay a wreath on Remembrance Day. November 11, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

About 100 wreaths were laid at the foot of the war memorial by government officials, various organizations and local residents.

The first wreath was place by Memorial Cross Mother Pat Poland, whose son Brent was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.

In a statement, Premier Doug Ford said this Remembrance Day is especially poignant following the devastating fire at CFB Wainwright, which claimed the lives of four service members while leaving dozens more in critical condition.

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott, federal government representative, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. November 11, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

“On Remembrance Day, we pause to remember the sacrifices made by our veterans and members of the Armed Forces to defend the values and freedoms we enjoy to this day," said Ford. "We pause not only to remember the battles our veterans fought, but also the lives they put on hold, the families who waited for them and the scars that accompanied them home."

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, founded in 1926 to create one main advocacy group for veterans’ benefits, and the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College.

Sarnia Remembrance Day 2026 - Nov. 11/26 (Blackburn Media Photo by Natalia Vega)

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 President Cathy McBride. November 11, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Investigators with the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) believe a recent string of vehicle thefts, targeting certain Toyota and Lexus models, may be connected.

Sarnia police issued a warning on Wednesday, advising the public of several thefts and attempted thefts of newer-model Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the past two nights.

"The offenders appear to be organized, travelling into the community from outside the area, and leaving immediately after successfully stealing a vehicle," read the SPS media release.

It's believed the thieves are not relying on access to the owner's keys, but are instead using sophisticated electronic methods, which allow them to start and steal a vehicle within minutes.

The SPS said it's working with other police services and law enforcement agencies on the investigation.

Residents are asked to immediately report suspicious activity to the Sarnia Police Service at 519-344-8861. Suspicious activity includes someone checking vehicle doors or using electronic devices around parked vehicles.

In the meantime, the service has released a list of tips to help prevent vehicle thefts.

• Park vehicles inside a locked garage whenever possible.

• Use a visible steering wheel lock, such as a Club-style device. Police said physical anti-theft devices are one of the most effective deterrents, as they require additional time and effort.

• Install an aftermarket immobilizer approved by insurers or vehicle manufacturers.

• Park another vehicle behind the targeted vehicle at home.

• Park in well-lit areas and ensure residential security cameras are operational.

• Keep keys and key fobs secured inside the home. While the current thefts do not appear to involve relay attacks, protecting keys remains an important theft prevention measure.

Remembrance Day ceremonies are wrapping up across the province, bringing with it a question for many: what should I do with my poppy?

The easiest answer is to leave it on wreaths at the local cenotaph, where they've been set up to honour all the veterans who've passed away.

For anyone who can't attend a ceremony, the simplest answer is to throw it away.

But Len Maynard, a 30-year veteran and the former president of the Chatham Legion, says that while it may seem disrespectful, there are no protocols asking people not to do it.

"It did its purpose. People displayed it for the right reasons at the right time," he said.

Maynard understands that some may want to avoid putting their poppies in the trash. For these people, he encourages leaving them at local legions, as many will set up collection boxes, visiting the cenotaph later in the day and placing them on a wreath, and simply setting them aside for next year.

For Maynard, one of the best ways to show your respect is to leave your poppy on the grave of a veteran.

"That would mean a lot to a lot of veterans and their families," he said.

There are several cemeteries across Ontario that have dedicated areas for veterans. This includes Soldier's Field in Chatham, Lakeview Cemetery in Sarnia, and Windsor Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Stargazers across Sarnia-Lambton and Southern Ontario were treated to a dramatic display Tuesday evening, when a brilliant fireball meteor streaked across the sky.

Local residents took to social media to report seeing a vivid blue meteor trace a path across the sky, before ending in a distinct, visible flash.

The event was widely noted across the region with reports compiled by Ontario Storm Watch indicating sightings spanning from Sarnia to Hamilton and north toward Innisfil.

The sighting was captured on video and shared on State of Emergency: Port Huron's Facebook page.

According to the American Meteor Society, the impressive display coincided directly with the peak activity from the Northern Taurid meteor shower. Unlike showers known for sheer volume, both the Northern and Southern Taurids are famous among astronomers for producing slow-moving exceptionally bright fireballs.

If you missed it Tuesday, conditions remain favourable for further celestial viewing.

According to Orbital Radar, the optimal viewing window will occur at around 12:40 a.m. Thursday, with rates of roughly four to five meteors an hour under dark skies.

To maximize visibility, residents are advised to head toward darker horizons, such as the Lake Huron shoreline north of the city.

The Salvation Army is seeking anyone with a giving heart -- individuals, families, businesses, or organizations -- to adopt a family in need this holiday season.

Christmas Coordinator Michelle Bird said the volunteers are paired with a family that best meets their budget.

"Here at the Salvation Army we take applications for Christmas [food] hampers," Bird said. "We're preparing for 500 of those this year. We had 450 last year, so we're preparing for a little bit more this year. So, you sign up for a hamper here and then we choose randomly, families that we think could maybe use a little bit extra this year and we adopt them out."

The number of families adopted out depends on how many volunteers sign up.

"Last year we had between 40 or 50 adopted out. So, we're hoping to get more this year," Bird said.

She said once you've signed up, you'll be given an information package detailing what is needed for each child.

"We give you their clothing size, their shoe size, their interests and hobbies, so you have an idea of what you can go shop for," said Bird. "We leave all gifts unwrapped, of course, so that parents can see what they're giving the children for Christmas morning."

Volunteers, who also have the option of buying food hamper items and gifts for the parent(s), grandparent(s) or guardian(s) raising the children, are asked to register by December 7.

"Our hampers start going out on December 16, so to give time for us to get them all organized, we ask that all adopts (gifts etc.) be in for December 14," Bird said.

Those interested in adopting a family are asked to contact Bird at 519-330-0594 or by email at Michelle.Bird@salvationarmy.ca.

All of the food/gift hampers are distributed in the same packaging so other recipients don't know if you've been selected.

Bird said registration for the hamper program starts next week, in the lobby at the Salvation Army Church on Confederation Street.

"We start taking hamper registrations Monday, November 16 and we're going to be taking them from Monday to Thursday for two weeks," Bird said. "So [November] 16 to 19 and the 23 to 26. We're in the office from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m."

Bird said their program is not partnered with programs run by other organizations, including the Inn of the Good Shepherd, so families are asked to only apply at one organization so there's more to go around to those in need.

OHL

Sault Ste. Marie 1 Sudbury 4

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PJHL

Mooretown 0 Essex 3

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NHL

Colorado 6 Toronto 3

New Jersey 2 Winnipeg 4

Washington 3 Ottawa 2 (OT)

Minnesota 2 Montreal 1 (OT )

Florida 4 Columbus 1

Detroit 2 St. Louis 3

Nashville 3 Los Angeles 0

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NBA

Milwaukee 85 New York 117

Boston 123 Philadelphia 101

Miami 115 Utah 109

LA Clippers 110 Phoenix 133

Orlando 107 Sacramento 100

Oklahoma City 103 Portland 123

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Wednesday's Games

OHL

Guelph at London, 6:30 p.m.

Barrie at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.

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GOHL

St. Thomas at LaSalle, 7 p.m.

Sarnia at London, 7 p.m.

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PJHL

Dresden at Wheatley, 7:30 p.m.

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NHL

Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

NY Rangers at Calgary, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Utah at Vegas, 9:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at San Jose, 10 p.m.

Nashville at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

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NBA

Washington at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at New York, 7 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Denver at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

LA Lakers at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Utah, 9 p.m.

Golden State at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Portland, 10 p.m.

Two Lambton Shores residents are facing charges following a massive bust involving tens of thousands of dollars in stolen construction gear.

The Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service (SCPS) launched an investigation in late September after receiving a report that approximately $70,000 worth of construction materials and equipment had been stolen.

The probe was taken over by the Criminal Investigation Division, leading to the arrest of a 48-year-old and a 28-year-old.

Officers recovered a significant portion of the stolen property, including a large haul of valuable copper wire.

Both individuals were charged with possession and trafficking of property obtained by crime and are scheduled to make their first court appearance in London late next month.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to reach out to SCPS at 519-245-1250.

Members of the Carney government are highlighting some of the events that may be eligible to receive funding through the 2026 budget if passed, such as Sarnia First Friday and next year's International Plowing Match.

Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez and Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu attended Progressive Auto Sales Arena (PASA) on Tuesday to highlight proposed investments in culture, arts, and sport.

Valdez said the budget represents the largest investment in culture in Canadian history at nearly $4 billion over five years, supporting events that bring people together.

"Sarnia First Friday brings people downtown to enjoy local culture, support small businesses, and connect with their neighbours," Valdez said. "These events may look different from one community to another, but they all do something important... they bring people together and give us a reason to take pride in where we live." 

Further to Valdez's example of First Friday, Gladu said organizations - like the City of Sarnia - could apply for funding to have performers set up downtown.

Part of the cultural investment also includes a new Canada 160 Fund to support events and initiatives marking the country's milestone anniversary next year.

"When we talk about some festivals we're going to support in Canada's 160th year that's next year, that's the International Plowing Match (IPM)," Gladu said. "Certainly that is going to be a huge event that's going to draw a lot of economic activity."

The IPM and Rural Expo is scheduled to take place at a family farm, just east of Petrolia in September 2027.

Other proposed cultural investments included a new Canadian creation credit for artists, support for Canadian media and local journalism, strengthening Francophone institutions, waiving admission fees at national museums for children and youth under the age of 25, renewing the Canada Strong Pass for another summer and expanding it to include Indigenous-led museums and cultural centres.

Valdez also highlighted support for recreational facilities.

Through the Build Communities Strong Fund, she said the government is proposing $1.5 billion over nine years for recreational facilities across Canada, including $750 million specifically for ice rinks.

"Places like this are where kids, like my son Kyle, learned how to skate, where friendships and healthy competitions are made, and communities come together to cheer their teams on and to dream big," Valdez said.

City of Sarnia Communications Manager Steve Henschel speaking at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. November 10, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

City of Sarnia Communications Manager Steve Henschel expressed excitement over potential funding.

"At the three city arenas alone, this one included (PASA), we accommodated over 11,000 hours of ice time just last year," Henschel said. "That's 11,000 hours of fans cheering for the home team, coming together to learn new sports, or taking those first shaky steps on the ice."

The budget, which was introduced on November 5, still needs to be debated in the House of Commons, and funds will only roll out if it's passed.

Members of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton and Sarnia Mayor-Elect Carrie McEachran were also present during Tuesday's meeting.

City of Sarnia Communications Manager Steve Henschel, Sarnia Mayor-Elect Carrie McEachran, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez, and Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu. November 10, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Cool temperatures are expected this week as Sarnia's traditional Remembrance Day services will be held.

Environment Canada is calling for daytime highs of around 16 C on Tuesday and 12 C on Wednesday, with lows of around 3 C.

A candlelight vigil will be held on Tuesday, November 10.

Participants are asked to meet at Sarnia City Hall at 6:15 p.m.

Sarnia Legion Branch 62 Poppy Chair and Remembrance Day Parade Commander Mark Colbran said with a donation, residents can purchase a candle. The march to the Legion's cenotaph will begin at 6:50 p.m., where a ceremony will follow.

Members of the local Cadet Corps will stand vigil throughout the night.

"The cadets will be sleeping at the Legion and rotating shifts on guard at the cenotaph," Colbran said.

The Sarnia Remembrance Day Parade will take place the following morning, on Wednesday, November 11.

"The parade will step off from the Legion at 10:35 a.m. We'll be at the cenotaph at approximately 10:50 a.m., and the service will start from there," he said.

Colbran said the parade route will go down Front Street, to George Street, to Christina Street, and to Wellington Street, arriving at the Sarnia Cenotaph at Veterans Park.

The City of Sarnia said to facilitate the Remembrance Day ceremonies, Front Street will be closed from George Street to Derby Lane on November 10 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Roads involved in the parade route will also be closed to traffic on November 11 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The city said it's possible nearby side streets will be closed as well.

Parade participants will include: veterans and Legion Members, the local Silver Cross Mother, cadets, members of the Legion pipe band, the Colour Party, Canadian Armed Forces, Sarnia Fire Rescue, Sarnia Police Service, Lambton EMS, Canadian Coast Guard, and Canada Border Services Agency, politicians and other wreath bearers, and organizations.

As always, Colbran said participants are welcome back to the Legion for refreshments afterward.

Colbran said recent issues surrounding certain members of the Legion's executive team have not impacted Remembrance Day Services or the number of volunteers expected to help during those two days.

A list of other Remembrance Day ceremonies being held in Lambton County can be found by clicking here.

Local workers are still falling behind, despite recent increases to Ontario's minimum wage.

According to the Ontario Living Wage Network's (OLWN) latest 2026 report, the living wage in the Southwest region, which includes Sarnia-Lambton, has risen to $21.85 an hour, up 35 cents from last year.

Unlike the minimum wage, the living wage calculation factors in real local household costs, including housing, food, transportation, healthcare and childcare.

The report focuses strictly on active employment, and does not account for seniors or retirees living on government pensions such as Old Age Security.

For local workers, that leaves a gap of nearly $4 an hour compared to Ontario's current minimum wage of $17.95.

OLWN notes that even in the province's most affordable regions, a full-time minimum wage salary is no longer enough to cover basic living expenses.

Across Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area saw the highest living wage rate at $27.60 an hour, while Ottawa experienced the sharpest increase, rising three per cent to $24.10.

The full 2026 living wage report and regional comparison rates are available on the OLWN's website.

Some services are not available on Wednesday, November 11 in honour of Remembrance Day.

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Post Office : Closed, no mail delivery.

Sarnia Transit: Regular service.

Banks & Trust companies : Closed.

Beer & LCBO stores: Open at noon Monday.

Stores: Most open regular hours.

Government offices: (Municipal-Provincial-Federal) Closed.

City of Sarnia compost site: Closed.

Garbage: Regular pickup in Sarnia

Community leaders gathered on Monday for the official ribbon cutting and unveiling of a brand new affordable and supportive housing development in Sarnia.

The three-storey building located at 471 Kathleen Avenue, has 50 one-bedroom units that are all rent-geared-to-income.

"We offered units through the centralized waitlist, following the Housing Services Act rules. In terms of the rent, it is rent-geared-income. On average, about 30 per cent of your gross income is what you would pay in rent," said Manager of Housing Services for the County of Lambton, Melisa Johnson. "We do have a maximum rent that we set, which is 80 per cent of the average market rent."

Rent is to be adjusted each year, which is when any changes in income would be recalculated. Johnson noted that residents are able to stay in their unit until they are ready and able to leave, and that people are staying in rent-geared-income units longer as market rents increase.

"The first two move-ins are on Thursday, and then starting next Monday we have two move-ins a day. So it'll take until about Christmas time."

Chosen from over 100 resident submissions, the new development has been named "The Orchard."

"The name The Orchard was chosen because it reflects growth, community resilience, and new beginnings," said Johnson.

Tree planting ceremony at The Orchard opening. Photo by Jess Munday.

At the ribbon cutting, Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott spoke about the need for more projects like this in the city.

"This is exciting. These 50 units are one of the largest (projects) we've had in recent memory. So, with the shortage of housing that is evident here in Sarnia-Lambton, this is a big step forward to closing that gap of people that need," said Marriott. "Our wait list is long, and this will take a nice bite out of it. And with the federal announcement last week in their budget that they're going to spend a few billion over the next few years, we're hoping this is a launchpad for getting more builds after this. It's not the final answer by any means, but it's going to help a lot."

More than 1,100 households are currently on Lambton County's centralized housing waitlist, with wait times averaging at four years.

Marriott and Mayor Mike Bradley noted how there is some hostility surrounding projects like these.

"There is a lot of negativity out there that's associated when you hear the word affordable housing, and I'm hoping that this project does help relieve that," said Marriott.

"In this community, unfortunately, Indwell became a negative word, supportive housing became a negative word, and they're not. Look at the March of Dimes; that's supportive housing. Look at Community Living; that's supportive housing. And they're going to put someone into a new unit and give them a shot at a better life," said Bradley.

Of the 50 total units available within the development, 14 have been specifically designed to be fully wheelchair accessible.

"I think it's very important for the community to have affordable housing," said Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Sarnia-Lambton Bob Bailey. "It's a great opportunity, especially for people with physical disabilities and mobility issues."

The final cost of the project has yet to be released, however, it was stated everything was built on time and within budget.

NHL

NY Rangers 1 Edmonton 3

Philadelphia 3 Vancouver 1

NY Islanders 2 San Jose 3 (SO)

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NBA

LA Lakers 124 Atlanta 114

Washington 111 Detroit 122

Cleveland 112 Charlotte 124

Memphis 118 Toronto 102

Indiana 122 Dallas 125

Denver 100 Houston 110 

San Antonio 122 Phoenix 96

New Orleans 87 Golden State 138

---

NFL

Buffalo 23 Minnesota 6

---

Tuesday's Games

OHL

Sault Ste. Marie at Sudbury, 10:30 a.m.

---

PJHL

Mooretown at Essex, 7 p.m.

---

NHL

New Jersey at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Washington at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Florida at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Nashville at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

---

NBA

Milwaukee at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Boston at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.

Miami at Utah, 9 p.m.

LA Clippers at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Orlando at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Portland, 11 p.m.

The Detroit Tigers now have their sixth American League Rookie of the Year in the franchise’s 126-year history.

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced on Monday evening that its members have voted Detroit infielder Kevin McGonigle the A.L.'s top rookie. He received 204 points, including 28 out of 30 first-place votes.

McGonigle beat out shortlisted pitchers Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians, who had 122 points and two first-place votes, and Payton Tolle of the Boston Red Sox, with 54 points.

He was recognized for a .278 batting average, 18 home runs, and 168 hits in 2026. McGonigle also drove in 72 runs and stole 12 bases.

The 22-year-old has already won Baseball America's Rookie of the Year Award and has been voted the same by the players in the Sporting News' version.

McGonigle was a bright spot in what had been a disappointing year for Detroit. The Tigers were expected to contend for the American League Central Division crown and reach the playoffs for the third year in a row. However, injuries to key players and others underperforming reduced the Tigers to a 76-86 record, nine games behind the champion Guardians.

The five Tigers who have won this award before McGonigle include infielder Harvey Kuenn in 1953, pitcher Mark Fidrych in 1976, second baseman Lou Whitaker in 1978, pitcher Justin Verlander in 2005, and pitcher Michael Fulmer in 2016.

Infielder Kazuma Okamoto was the Toronto Blue Jays' top vote-getter for Rookie of the Year, finishing seventh with 17 points, including one vote for third place.

In the National League, the BBWAA named infielder Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds as the top rookie. Stewart beat out finalists Carson Benge of the New York Mets and J.J. Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Town of Petrolia is planning to waive development charges on new home builds over a three-year period in order to unlock an investment of up to $2.3 million from the provincial and federal governments.

The funding commitment, through the Development Charge Reduction Program, was announced at Victoria Hall on Monday.

“This is a significant opportunity for our community. It helps encourage new housing and development while allowing us to continue planning for the infrastructure and services that growth requires," said Petrolia Mayor R. Brad Loosley. "Petrolia expects to receive $2.3 million over 10 years, helping us advance important growth-related infrastructure projects while reducing the financial burden on development.”

Subject to further approvals, the Development Charge Reduction Program will be effective from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029.

The temporary elimination of development fees is estimated to reduce the cost of building new homes in Petrolia by up to $11,695 per home.

Petrolia introduced development charges in 2024 and has collected nearly $60,000 between mid-2024 and the end of 2025.

Petrolia Mayor-Elect Joel Field speaking at Victoria Hall. November 9, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Mayor-elect Joel Field recognized the work of municipal staff to identify and apply for the funding opportunity.

"As a council, we understand that we must be thoughtful about how we manage growth and how we invest public dollars," Field said. "Programs like this help us move important projects forward while reducing the financial pressures on our community."

The provincial and federal governments agreed to a cost-matched structure in March to provide a combined $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments in Ontario through the Build Communities Strong Fund. A media release from the province also said the two governments agreed to provide relief on the full HST on eligible new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

"This funding will help Petrolia build the infrastructure needed to unlock more housing and support the growth of communities across the city," said Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu. "This includes improving the town's water system, as well as upgrading fire services equipment, building park and rec facilities, and upgrading the Public Works fleet."

Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu speaking at Victoria Hall. November 9, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

Gladu said the federal government has worked closely with the province to ensure the funding has flexibility.

"We don't want to be too prescriptive. Every community has different needs," Gladu said.

The town estimates the cost saving measures will allow for 781 new homes.

"This is a great example of what we can accomplish when municipal, provincial, and federal governments collaborate to strengthen our communities," said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. "By working together, we are creating more housing opportunities, strengthening local communities and building a more affordable future for families in the Town of Petrolia."

Sarnia-Lambton Home Builders Association President Chris Kongas said Monday's announcement "is huge" for new buyers, as well as the construction and development community.

"Development charges are one of the single largest costs in new builds and new developments, so this is a step in the right direction from the feds and province in helping make new housing more affordable," Kongas said.

Moving forward, Kongas said a relaxation on red tape would help move projects forward faster.

"Many developments take five to 10 years before they can break ground, just in studies and planning amendments and red tape," Kongas said, noting that some studies are only viable for two years and need to be redone multiple times depending on the project.

Loosley said there are currently plans for 15 housing projects in Petrolia but noted it will take years to complete.

Moving forward, Loosley said municipal staff will be in touch with developers to provide information about council's consideration of the announced agreement.

Sarnia Fire Rescue responded to two separate fires over the past 24 hours, with total damages estimated at $50,000 in each incident.

Sunday evening, crews extinguished a kitchen fire on Devine Street, west of Indian Road between Stockwell Street and Westbury Crescent.

Public Education Officer Mike Otis said the cause was determined to be unattended cooking. He added cooking fires remain the number one cause of house fires.

"We always say, 'look while you cook.' Never leave your cooking unattended," Otis said. "Always have a proper fitting lid for the pot or pan you're using, if you're cooking with oil or grease especially... then you can put a lid on it [to smother the fire] and turn off the heat. Never throw water on a grease fire."

Otis said the residents evacuated the home safely and without injury.

Then at around 3 a.m. Monday, firefighters tackled a rowhouse fire in the area of Vidal and George Streets, after a lithium-ion battery caught fire.

Working smoke alarms allowed four occupants to escape unharmed, though firefighters were unable to save a family dog rescued from the home.

"The thing about lithium-ion batteries is they have so much stored energy, so when they go into what's called thermal runaway, it's just an enormous amount of energy," Otis said. "It's instantaneous fire and almost like an explosion. The fire has tons of energy feeding it. They're very hard to extinguish. So we're constantly putting out a lot of safety tips when it comes to lithium-ion battery fires."

Residents are encouraged to test their smoke alarms regularly and use only certified chargers for battery-powered devices.

"Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for charging, storing," Otis said. "Use the proper cords that came with the device. Buy things that have a certified testing agency like CSA or ULC stamp on it. Don't just leave it charging permanently, unplug it once it's fully charged."

Otis stresses if you notice any sounds, swelling, or smoke from a battery, get it out of your home and don't plug it back in.

Lithium-ion battery fire. November 9, 2026. Photo courtesy of Sarnia Fire Rescue Services.

A physician who previously worked at Bluewater Health as an internal medicine specialist has returned with a new specialty.

Dr. Chinyere Iwuala has rejoined the hospital as a rheumatologist, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Bluewater Health said Iwuala first joined the local hospital organization in September 2018 and left to study at Queen's University in Kingston.

Her previous experience included internal medicine, with additional academic and research contributions in cardiovascular medicine.

“Having previously worked at Bluewater Health for five years, I have fond memories of the supportive network of colleagues across Internal Medicine, the Medical Telemetry unit, and cardiac investigations,” said Dr. Iwuala in a media release. “I chose to return as a rheumatologist because I recognize the longstanding need for specialized care for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders in this region. I am excited for the opportunity to make a positive difference in a community where my family has thrived for years."

Iwuala earned her medical degree from the University of Nigeria and completed her internal medicine residency at Dalhousie University, training in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Iwuala back to Bluewater Health,” said Chief of Staff and Vice-President of Medical Affairs Dr. Mike Haddad. “Her decision to return following advanced training speaks to the strong connections she has built with our hospital and community. Her specialized expertise in rheumatology will be a valuable addition to the care available locally, helping patients access the services they need closer to home.”

Rheumatologists focus on conditions affecting the joints, muscles, and immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory diseases.

Ahead of casting her first vote in support of a federal budget since joining the Liberal caucus, Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu is touting major investments for the region, despite growing concerns over global economic pressures and high deficit levels.

Gladu highlighted the $22 billion in the budget for new affordability measures.

"I think that there are lots of ways that we're trying to help Canadians through this difficult time," said Gladu. "One interesting thing that was in there for me - we have a lot of seniors in Sarnia - so there will be an eight per cent increase in OAS [Old Age Security] next year, and five per cent the year after that."

She also emphasized the Liberal government's plan to end homelessness within 10 years by building supportive housing and increasing mental health and addiction support.

Locally, the federal spending plan earmarks money from the Build Communities Strong Fund for the Bright's Grove Library expansion project, and renews available support for Sarnia-Lambton PrideFest.

The projected budget deficit for 2026-27 is $62.3 billion, which Finance Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne said was $3 billion lower than the figure in the spring economic statement. However, Canada will carry a deficit of at least $50 billion per year through 2030-31.

Gladu said while she's concerned about high levels of deficit, the challenge now is that the trade war and conflicts in Iran and Ukraine are driving costs up globally.

"And I think we just have to make sure we continue to support Canadian companies, Canadian small businesses, and Canadian individuals while we get through this tough space, and then I see a plan on the part of the prime minister to balance the operating budget by next year, and to take action over time to reduce that deficit," she said.

Gladu, who became a member of the Liberal government this past spring, said she enjoyed the experience of being in the lockup and hearing from the Finance Minister.

"I really enjoyed the experience," she said. "Certainly it's a 500-page budget, so there's lots in there and he did say it was good news and there was something in it for everyone, and I think that's true."

The Conservatives have already pledged to vote against the budget.

With files from Natalia Vega

Sales activity in Sarnia-Lambton's real estate market continues to lag behind last year's pace, but there's hope things will change next year. Last month, 121 properties sold, representing a 7.6 per cent decrease compared to October 2025.

As such, the dollar volume dropped 7.3 per cent from last October to $59.4 million.

So far this year, 1,255 homes have sold in Sarnia-Lambton, representing an 8.8 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year. According to a recent Desjardins report, home sales in Ontario are expected to improve in 2027, forecasting a modest increase of five per cent.

Sarnia Lambton Association of Realtors President April Barnard agreed with the prediction.

"I don't think it's going to be a boom. I don't think we're going to see numbers explode, but I do think we'll see slight increases over this year," she said.

Barnard also noted increases may not be seen right away. "April or May, I think we're going to start seeing slight numbers over this year. I've been predicting that for a while, and I think there are a few things that may factor into that," she said. "I was really counting on the primaries in the United States to go the way they did. I think that's going to help consumer confidence. I think we need to wait and see what the democrats are going to say about the tariffs and how that may affect our local area."

Barnard also said with the municipal election in Ontario now wrapped up, people may feel a little more settled.

According to the Desjardins report, housing starts are also predicted to increase by about six per cent in 2027, but will remain 30 per cent below 2021 and 2022 levels.

Meanwhile, prospective buyers in Sarnia-Lambton have a lot to choose from.

While the number of new listings in October decreased 1.7 per cent to 294, the number of active listings increased 13.1 per cent from last year to 715.

The median days on market was 25 days, up from 28 in October 2025.

In terms of cost, October's monthly prices remained relatively stable, but Barnard said the year-to-date figures show a modest decline for the average home.

Last month's median sale price of $455,000 was unchanged from October 2025, and the average sale price was similar to last year at $491,038.

"I feel that the mix of properties selling has influenced the average prices," said Barnard. "In October there were over seven properties that sold over $1 million, and I think that's skewing the average price."

Barnard said the current environment is favourable for buyers, also taking into account the Bank of Canada's recent rate increase to 2.50 per cent.

The Sarnia Sting edged the visiting London Knights 4–2 on Sunday in the battle of the 402. 

Despite being outshot 34 to 28, Sarnia broke through late when Carter Chadwick buried the game-winner with under six minutes left.

"It was just a great pass by [Logan] Hawery and I was lucky enough to put it in the back of the net," said Chadwick in a post game media conference. "Obviously, it was a big one to give us a two-goal lead and we just kept it the rest of the game, and it ended up being an eventful night."

Cameron Aucoin, Alessandro Di Iorio and Chase Gaughan also found the back of the net for the Sting.

Goalie Kale Osipenko made a season-high 32 saves to earn the win, while handing Knights goaltender Brian Cooke his first loss of the season as Sarnia improves to 8-11-1-0.

"The boys played unreal in front of me," said Osipenko in the post game interview. "A lot of blocked shots, a lot of second efforts, kept cutting off passes, it was great to have those guys play in front me tonight."

Up next, the Sting travel to North Bay on Thursday to face the Battalion.

You can catch the game live on Big Country 103.9FM beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m. with the puck drop at 7 p.m.

London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 8, 2026. Photo by Metcalfe Photography. London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 8, 2026. Photo by Metcalfe Photography. London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 8, 2026. Photo by Metcalfe Photography. London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 8, 2026. Photo by Metcalfe Photography. London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 8, 2026. Photo by Metcalfe Photography.

If you are planning a visit to Bluewater Health in Sarnia over the next couple of weeks, expect a few slight delays when driving onto the hospital site.

Starting Monday, November 9th, construction gets underway on a new second exit lane for the visitor parking lot.

The project aims to ease congestion and improve overall traffic flow around the hospital.

Work is scheduled to run through Monday, November 23rd, weather permitting.

While the visitor lot will stay fully accessible throughout construction, drivers should prepare for temporary delays and minor traffic pattern changes.

Hospital officials ask everyone to follow posted detour signs and pay close attention to directions from onsite personnel.

OHL

Windsor 4 Kingston 3

London 2 Sarnia 4

Niagara 2 Peterborough 3 (OT)

Barrie 3 Sudbury 6

Brampton 4 Saginaw 6

Brantford 5 Oshawa 2

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GOHL

St. Marys 6 Listowel 1

Caledonia 5 Pelham 3

LaSalle 0 Chatham 4

Sarnia 2 Elmira 6

St. Thomas 6 Welland 2

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PJHL

Walpole Island 1 Amherstburg 11

North Middlesex 5 Aylmer 6 (OT)

Picton 2 Amherstview 4

Essex 4 Blenheim 1

---

NHL

Florida 1 Boston 4

Vegas 4 Buffalo 1

Tampa Bay 3 Winnipeg 4

New Jersey 4 Toronto 0

Philadelphia 3 Calgary 4 (OT )

Pittsburgh 2 Anaheim 5

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NFL

Detroit 19 Miami 9

Cincinnati 34 Atlanta 17

Dallas 27 Indianapolis 23

NY Jets 12 Kansas City 35

Cleveland 22 New Orleans 23 (OT)

NY Giants 19 Philadelphia 11

LA Rams 20 Washington 13

Denver 26 Carolina 21

Houston 44 LA Chargers 22

Green Bay 45 New England 27

Las Vegas 17 San Francisco 38

Arizona 3 Seattle 17

Tampa Bay 24 Chicago 27

---

NBA

Philadelphia 127 Chicago 121

LA Lakers 121 Detroit 116

Utah 100 Minnesota 115

Brooklyn 93 Dallas 130

Boston 117 Milwaukee 97

New Orleans 123 LA Clippers 139

Miami 114 Sacramento 108

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Monday's Games

NHL

NY Rangers at Edmonton, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m.

NY Islanders at San Jose, 10 p.m.

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NBA

LA Lakers at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Washington at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Denver at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

New Orleans at Golden State, 10 p.m.

---

NFL

Buffalo at Minnesota, 8:15 p.m.

Irvin George is the new Chief of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

George beat incumbent Kimberly (Kim) Bressette by 25 votes, with a total of 239 votes.

The new councillors include Rudy Jr. Bressette, Summer Bressette, Stanley (Stan) Cloud, Jason Henry, Ryan W. Henry, Sara Henry, Melissa Monague, Cindi Rogers-George, and Kenneth (Ken) Wolfe.

Cloud and Monague are the only two councillors who have been voted in from the last term.

A total of 721 ballots were cast for Chief, and 720 ballots were cast for councillor.

The election took place on Saturday, and the new council and chief will be in effect until November 8, 2028.

The shelter-in-place order for all community members in Zones Six and Seven on Aamjiwnaang First Nation has been lifted.

It was issued because of poor air quality readings due to high benzene levels.

Residents are now able to resume going outside, using their homes' HVAC and furnace systems, and opening all windows and doors.

Over 1,400 pounds of food was collected for the Inn of the Good Shepherd as the food bank prepares for a busy winter season.

Weed Man franchises right across North America, including Sarnia, participated in the annual Grassroots Giving Campaign, with local donations supporting the Inn.

A total of 1,427 pounds of food and $103.90 in monetary donations were collected for the Sarnia food bank, which on average sees between 2,200 and 2,400 people a month.

OHL

North Bay 6 at Guelph 10

Kitchener 3 at Owen Sound 2

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GOHL

Elmira 5 LaSalle 3

London 2 at Strathroy 6

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PJHL

Wheatley 4 Amherstburg 5

Wingham 2 Mount Forest 7

Mitchell 4 Kincardine 2

Exeter 2 Mt. Brydges 4

Lakeshore 4 Mooretown 3

Walkerton 0 Hanover 8

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NHL

Florida 3 at Washington 4

St. Louis 1 at Nashville 3

NY Rangers 4 at Seattle 3

Montreal 4 at Toronto 2

Utah 2 at Ottawa 4

New Jersey 5 at NY Islanders 4 (OT)

San Jose 3 at Dallas 4

Chicago 2 at Carolina 9

Tampa Bay 4 at Minnesota 3 (OT)

Pittsburgh 5 at Los Angeles Kings 2

Detroit 0 at Colorado 4

Vancouver 2 at Edmonton 4

---

NBA

Denver 114 at Indiana 102

Brooklyn 121 at Atlanta 124

Washington 75 at Oklahoma City 114

New York 109 at Cleveland 97

Orlando 119 at Golden State 126 (OT)

Houston 99 at Phoenix 102

San Antonio 125 at Portland 103

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CFL Playoffs

East Finals: Winnipeg 23 Montreal 33

West Finals: BC 16 Edmonton 28

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Sunday's Games

OHL

Windsor at Kingston, 2:05 PM

London at Sarnia, 2:05 PM

Brampton at Saginaw, 5:30 PM

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GOHL

St. Marys at Listowel 2 PM

Caledonia at Pelham 2:45 PM

LaSalle at Chatham 7 PM

Sarnia at Elmira 7 PM

---

PJHL

Walpole at Amherstburg 4 PM

North Middlesex at Aylmer 8:15 PM

Picton at Amherstview 7:30 PM

Essex at Blenheim 7 PM

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NHL

Florida at Boston, 1:00 PM

Vegas at Buffalo, 3:30 PM

Tampa Bay at Winnipeg, 6:00 PM

New Jersey at Toronto, 7:00 PM

Philadelphia at Calgary, 7:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Anaheim, 8:00 PM

---

NFL

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 9:30 AM

Dallas at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM

NY Jets at Kansas City, 1:00 PM

Detroit at Miami, 1:00 PM

Cleveland at New Orleans, 1:00 PM

NY Giants at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM

LA Rams at Washington, 1:00 PM

Denver at Carolina, 1:00 PM

Houston at LA Chargers, 4:05 PM

Green Bay at New England, 4:25 PM

Las Vegas at San Francisco, 4:25 PM

Arizona at Seattle, 4:25 PM

Tampa Bay at Chicago, 8:20 PM

---

NBA

Philadelphia at Chicago, 3:30 PM

LA Lakers at Detroit, 6:00 PM

Utah at Minnesota, 7:00 PM

Brooklyn at Dallas, 7:30 PM

Boston at Milwaukee, 8:00 PM

New Orleans at LA Clippers, 9:00 PM

Miami at Sacramento, 9:00 PM

The Sarnia Sting took a tough 3-2 loss to the Brantford Bulldogs at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena on Friday.

Sarnia out-shot Brantford 27-17, but was forced to kill four minor penalties in the final period.

Sarnia Sting face the Brantford Bulldogs. November 2026. Photo from Metcalfe Photography.

Captain Alessandro Di Iorio opened the scoring in the first period with his 7th goal of the season, and Easton Walos added a power-play marker in the second period (his team-leading 11th goal).

Sarnia Sting face the Brantford Bulldogs. November 2026. Photo from Metcalfe Photography.

With just seconds remaining and Brantford on a power play, Brayden Lappalainen fired a shot that managed to make it past the goal line to break a 2-2 tie.

[tweet id="2118905866078588930"]

Sarnia Sting face the Brantford Bulldogs. November 2026. Photo from Metcalfe Photography.

Up next, the Sting are home to the London Knights on Sunday, November 8.

OHL

Kitchener 5 North Bay 2

London 5 Saginaw 3

Windsor 5 Ottawa 4

Brantford 3 Sarnia 2

Guelph 2 Owen Sound 1 (OT)

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GOHL

Listowel 6 London 2

St. Marys 6 Chatham 5

St. Thomas 5 Komoka 2

Fort Erie 7 Stratford 2

Strathroy 8 Woodstock 5

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PJHL

Lakeshore 6 Blenheim 3

Fergus 6 Walkerton 2

Mt. Brydges 4 Thamesford 3 (OT)

Dresden 5 Mooretown 3

Mount Forest 3 Hanover 2

Wingham 5 Mitchell 2

Exeter 5 Petrolia 4

Kincardine 6 Clinton 3

---

NHL

Buffalo 5 Columbus 2

Anaheim 5 Calgary 3

Minnesota 4 San Jose 1

---

NBA

Boston 119 Charlotte 80

Atlanta 139 Washington 132

Cleveland 119 Philadelphia 95

Toronto 121 Milwaukee 107

Minnesota 115 New Orleans 109

Oklahoma City 128 Memphis 97

Dallas 112 Utah 100

San Antonio 124 Sacramento 109

LA Lakers 124 Portland 118

---

Saturday's Games

OHL

North Bay at Guelph, 4:07 p.m.

Kitchener at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.

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GOHL

Elmira at LaSalle, 7 p.m.

London at Strathroy, 7:30 p.m.

---

PJHL

Wheatley at Amherstburg, 7 p.m.

Wingham at Mount Forest, 7:30 p.m.

Mitchell at Kincardine, 7:30 p.m.

Exeter at Mt. Brydges, 7:30 p.m.

Lakeshore at Mooretown, 7:30 p.m.

Walkerton at Hanover, 8 p.m.

---

NHL

Florida at Washington, 12:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Nashville, 1 p.m.

NY Rangers at Seattle, 5 p.m.

Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Utah at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

New Jersey at NY Islanders, 7 p.m.

San Jose at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Carolina, 8 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

Detroit at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Vancouver at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

---

NBA

Denver at Indiana, 5 p.m.

Brooklyn at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

New York at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.

Houston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

San Antonio at Portland, 10 p.m.

---

CFL Playoffs

East Finals

Winnipeg at Montreal, 3 p.m.

West Finals

BC at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m.

On this week's episode of Sarnia-Lambton Beyond the Headlines, host Josh Boyce talks with Sarnia Mayor Elect Carrie McEachran. She's the city's first new mayor since 1988. They chat about her campaign, the election victory and what she hopes to accomplish as mayor.

A 19-year-old Sarnia man has been charged in an incident Friday morning at Lansdowne Public School.

City police were called for a report of an altercation between two adults.

Police said an unknown man was walking past the school when he allegedly assaulted a caregiver who was dropping off a child. 

The suspect is facing an assault charge.

Three members of the Sarnia Legion Branch 62's Executive Committee, including Acting President John Surins, have resigned during an ongoing investigation surrounding suspended president Ron Realesmith.

Realesmith was removed from the role in early October pending the results of an Article Three complaint filed against him.

In a social media post Wednesday, Surins said during the last few weeks, Branch 62 has been in turmoil.

"There are two opposing sides at a time we should be united as one team. When a small group of people goes after a respected veteran and community leader like Les Jones and prompts him to resign his Life Membership with the Legion, you know there is a major problem," said Surins.

Surins claimed there's been some infighting since the latest Catch the Ace fundraiser, which generated millions of dollars, half of it being donated back to the community.

"Maybe some of you have experienced this in your own families," he said. "I did some research and found two Legion branches, Hepworth Shallow Lake and Gravenhurst, that were experiencing a similar situation: us versus them attitudes. Both of their executives resigned en masse."

When this happened, Surins noted the Ontario Command Executive said “This Executive has built this Legion back to what it is. They have been very successful with their community supporters and fundraising. Fiscally, they are responsible and are just tired because of a few naysayers and there is something wrong at every turn.”

In the lengthy post, Surins asked why the treatment of the Sarnia Legion has been different.

He said when he, Realesmith and Jones became executive members of Branch 62 over 10 years ago, the membership was declining.

Since then, he said they've worked hard to increase membership, foster community relations and fix the Front Street building.

"Instead of praising our hard work and initiatives, Ontario Command seems to be favouring the naysayers of Branch 62, a small group who led the Sarnia Legion’s earlier demise," he said. "Provincial Command suspended our President during our busiest time of the year leading into Remembrance Day, as well as Branch 62’s 100th anniversary."

Surins claims Jones' resignation was due, in part, to "rude, offensive and condescending comments made by the Provincial Command's Executive Director and the 1st Vice President."

"(Jones) and I are disgusted with this small group of backward thinkers. It’s deplorable behavior," said Surins. "Article threes, or formal complaints, have been levied against Sarnia Legion President, me, and Comrade Paul Grech, another veteran. All the complaints are petty, filled with fabrications, exaggerations and hearsay. I wonder what the Provincial Command’s agenda is and who is driving it?"

The Provincial Command said Cathy McBride has stepped up to the position of Branch President.

Surins expressed his displeasure with the move.

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil will be held at the Sarnia Cenotaph on November 10, beginning at 7 p.m.

On November 11, those participating in the parade to the cenotaph will meet at the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 on Front Street at 9:30 a.m.

The service at the cenotaph will begin at 11 a.m.

Remembrance Day services will be held across Lambton County this weekend, with several more scheduled to take place on November 11.

A list of scheduled services is posted below.

Lambton Shores

- Arkona's Remembrance Day parade and ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 7. The parade will start from the Arkona Seniors Centre at 10:30 a.m., and a ceremony will be held at the cenotaph at 11 a.m.

- The Forest Legion's parade to the cenotaph will begin at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11.

- A ceremony will be held at the Grand Bend Legion on November 11, at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

- The Thedford Legion will hold a Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph on Main Street on November 11 at 11 a.m. Refreshments will follow at the Thedford Legion.

Plympton-Wyoming

- A service will be held at the Camlachie Community Centre on Sunday, November 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A lunch will follow.

- The Wyoming Legion will hold a Remembrance Day Service on November 11 at 10:45 a.m. at the McKay Park Cenotaph.

Kettle and Stony Point First Nation

Kettle and Stony Point First Nation will mark Remembrance Day on Indigenous Veterans Day, which is on November 8. A memorial walk will begin from the administration building's parking lot at 10:40 a.m. and will travel to Veteran Monument.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation

Indigenous veterans will be recognized for their service and sacrifice at the cenotaph, located at 978 Tashmoo Ave. on November 8. People will begin to gather at 10:30 a.m. and the ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m. A lunch will be held afterward.

Dawn-Euphemia Township

A service will be held at the Florence Cenotaph on November 8 at 1 p.m.

Village of Oil Springs

A service will be held on November 8 at 11 a.m. at the Oil Springs Legion, located at 4598 Oil Spring Line. A short procession will proceed to the cenotaph for the laying of the wreaths. A light lunch will follow.

Village of Point Edward

The Point Edward Ex-Servicemen's Association will hold a Remembrance Day parade on November 8. A march from the club, located at 503 Michigan Ave., to the cenotaph will begin at 10:45 a.m.

City of Sarnia

A candlelight vigil will be held at the Sarnia Legion Cenotaph on November 10. Participants will gather at city hall and will walk to the Front Street Legion at 6:50 p.m.

On November 11, those participating in the parade to the cenotaph will meet at the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 at 9:30 a.m. The service at the cenotaph will begin at 10:50 a.m.

Warwick Township

A service will be held at the Watford Cenotaph, located at the corner of Nauvoo Road and Ontario Street on November 11 at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 172.

Town of Petrolia

A service will be held at the cenotaph, located at Victoria Park, on November 11 at 11 a.m.

St. Clair Township

A Remembrance Day service will be held on November 11 at the Clock Tower in Corunna at 10:45 a.m. The Royal Canadian Legion Leslie Sutherland Branch 447 said a cenotaph, currently in the works, wouldn't be ready in time.

Township of Brooke-Alvinston

A Remembrance Day service will be held at the Alvinston Cenotaph on November 11 at 11 a.m.

Kettle and Stony Point First Nation will hold its election for chief and council on Saturday, November 7.

Incumbent Kimberly (Kim) Bressette is seeking re-election. She was first elected as chief in 2022 and was re-elected to a two-year term in 2024.

Current Councillor David (Dave) Cloud is also running to become chief.

Other candidates include: Irvin George and Wesley Monague.

Former chief Jason Henry is hoping to secure a seat on council.

With the exception of Liz Cloud and Carla Oliver, all current councillors are seeking re-election.

In total, 35 people are vying for one of eight councillor positions.

The polling station at Hillside School's gymnasium will open at 9 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m.

Mail-in ballots were due on October 23.

The Festival of Lights, also known as Diwali, will be celebrated in Sarnia this weekend.

It is a multi-day religious festival, observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists, which commemorates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Fireworks are often set off during the festival, and Sarnia Fire Rescue wants people to stay safe.

"Diwali has been declared a special occasion day, which means you can legally set off fireworks on private property. Just follow the guidelines and bylaws," said Public Education Officer Mike Otis. "If you are going to set off fireworks, they can be set off on the day of, the day before, or the day after. Fireworks can be sold the seven days leading up to a special occasion day, and there are fines for breaking any of the rules within the bylaws. They range from $300 to $2,000."

Anyone planning to set off fireworks for the festival is also reminded that they are responsible if anything happens.

"You can't set them off in the park or on streets or anything like that. And keep in mind, you are going to be liable for any damages caused, any injuries, etc," said Otis.

All firework displays must end by 11 p.m. on the designated special occasion days.

Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Sarnia Fire and Rescue Services.

The Sarnia Hindu Society is hosting its Diwali celebration on Saturday, November 14 at Great Lakes Secondary School.

The event features a dinner, music and live entertainment.

Visit the Sarnia Hindu Society Facebook page for ticket information.

A chance to start your Christmas shopping is being offered at a couple of local high schools this Saturday.

Northern Collegiate in Sarnia is hosting its annual craft sale and showcase on November 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Over 60 vendors, including crochet and knitting, jams, sweet treats, art, candles, home decor and more, will be set up at the Michigan Avenue site.

Admission is a $2 donation.

Admission collected and profits from food and drink sales will support students at the high school.

In Petrolia, the Optimist Club of Lambton Central is hosting a craft and gift show at Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Institute (LCCVI).

Organizers said there will be something for everyone, with several vendors, a toonie table raffle and door prizes.

The event goes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

The Ontario Provincial Police has wrapped up Project Safe Haul, its focused commercial vehicle safety initiative, taking 119 commercial trucks off the road.

The campaign started on October 13 and wrapped up on November 1.

During that time, OPP officers and inspectors participated in 22 enforcement blitzes throughout the West Region. A total of 325 vehicles were inspected, and 266 charges were laid.

The project is designed to improve road safety by identifying commercial vehicles that are not safe on the road, addressing regulatory non-compliance, and ensuring drivers meet safety standards.

"The overwhelming majority of drivers recognize the importance of proper vehicle maintenance, pre-trip inspections, hours of service compliance, and safe operating practices," said the OPP in a release. "This dedication helps keep Ontario's highways safe for all road users."

"While enforcement remains an important tool, we also recognize and appreciate the many drivers and carriers who consistently operate safely and professionally," said Staff Sergeant Tara Bolstad.

Time is running out to share your thoughts on the widening on Highway 40 from Indian Road to 0.6 kilometres north of Wellington Street in Sarnia.

A Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) is available for public comment until Sunday, November 8.

A Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study has recommended several improvements for the seven kilometre widening, from two to four lanes.

Dividing the highway with a 15 metre median and intersection upgrades at Indian Road, Plank Road, Confederation Street/Line, and Wellington Street are suggested.

It's also recommended McGregor Side Road North and South intersections at Highway 40, and Chester Street at Confederation Street close and a noise barrier be constructed along the west side of Highway 40 between Confederation and Wellington Streets.

Witten comments can be submitted through the project's website www.highway40widening.ca

Once the commenting period closes, project managers will use the information to undertake a detail design of a recommended plan, then proceed to construction once that is approved.

Meanwhile, construction of the new Highway 40 overpass continues.

The new bridge has been paved and Confederation Street was closed from Highway 40 to Chester Street late last month to accommodate work near the intersection.

Sarnia’s Celebration of Lights is calling on community volunteers to help set up holiday displays this weekend.

"This Saturday, November 7, at Centennial Park. We're asking people to meet at the Agora stage for registration at 9 a.m., and we're going to deploy all the volunteers. We're asking for at least 100, and that is to set up all the displays," said Board Chair Dean Holtz.

All you need to bring is yourself, and maybe a few friends; all tools and some refreshments will be provided.

"We've already got the displays there at the park. So this will be to put them together. There's a bunch of nuts and bolts, and we have all the tools, " said Holtz. "And then we have to run the electrical and connect all that. So there's lots to get done."

If you can't make it out to help this weekend, there are several other days to help get things ready to go before the opening ceremonies later this month.

"The following Tuesday, which is the 10th, we're going to have what we call Crane Day. So Sterling Crane is going to come with their cranes for our five largest displays," he said. "The following Saturday, November 14, is our second community setup day again at 9 a.m. at Centennial, and that's just going to be to finish up what we have to do."

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, November 28 when Santa will turn on the lights for the holiday season.

More details about ways to help out and volunteer can be found on the Celebration of Lights Facebook Page. 

Unifor members at two Southwestern Ontario casinos have voted in favour of strike action to back their union's demands.

At Starlight Casino Point Edward, 93.8 per cent of members voted in favour of strike action, while at Cascades Casino Chatham, the percentage was 91.5 per cent in favour of strike action.

Talks between the union and the employers continue.

OHL

Windsor 4 Peterborough 2

Brampton 6 Niagara 3

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GOHL

St. Marys 5 Sarnia 1

Cambridge 4 Ayr 3 (OT)

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PJHL

North Middlesex 7 Petrolia 1

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NHL

Utah 4 Montreal 5 (OT)

Vegas 2 Detroit 1

St. Louis 4 New Jersey 5 (OT)

Boston 6 Pittsburgh 2

Carolina 5 NY Islanders 3

Dallas 1 Columbus 2 (SO)

Vancouver 2 Winnipeg 6

Chicago 1 Tampa Bay 4

Philadelphia 2 NY Rangers 3

Anaheim 5 Edmonton 4

Nashville 3 Colorado 2 (OT)

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NBA

Orlando 104 Phoenix 117

Miami 100 Golden State 120 

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NFL

Jacksonville 33 Baltimore 10

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Friday's Games

OHL

Erie at Flint, 7 p.m.

North Bay at Kitchener, 7 p.m.

Saginaw at London, 7 p.m.

Windsor at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Oshawa at Kingston, 7:05 p.m.

Brantford at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.

Sault Ste. Marie at Sudbury, 7:05 p.m.

Owen Sound at Guelph, 7:07 p.m.

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GOHL

Stoney Creek at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.

London at Listowel, 7:30 p.m.

Chatham at St. Marys, 7:30 p.m.

Komoka at St. Thomas, 7:30 p.m.

Fort Erie at Stratford, 7:30 p.m.

Strathroy at Woodstock, 7:45 p.m.

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PJHL

Blenheim at Lakeshore, 7 p.m.

Fergus at Walkerton, 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Brydges at Thamesford, 7:30 p.m.

Mooretown at Dresden, 7:30 p.m.

Mount Forest at Hanover, 8 p.m.

Mitchell at Wingham, 8 p.m.

Petrolia at Exeter, 8 p.m.

Kincardine at Clinton, 8:30 p.m.

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NHL

Columbus at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Calgary, 8 p.m.

San Jose at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

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NBA

Boston at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Washington at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Utah at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Portland at LA Lakers, 10 p.m.

Sarnia police say a 30-year-old woman reported missing has been found.

The woman had been seen in the Maxwell and Oxford Street area.

Investigators announced on Thursday evening that the woman was located and is safe.

Sarnia police would like to thank the public for help in resolving this matter.

The federal government has introduced a budget designed to encourage investment and fight the impact of tariffs.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the 2026 spending plan in the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon, featuring additional spending and tax breaks to address current economic challenges.

The budget has $142.1-billion in new spending and tax incentives designed to make Canada's economy more self-sufficient and less dependent on the United States.

Champagne said help is available for sectors affected most by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

"Steelworkers in Hamilton, aluminum workers in Saguenay, forestry workers in British Columbia, and auto workers in Windsor and Oshawa are affected and understandably worried," said Champagne in his remarks in the House. "Canada's new government has one simple message for them today. We will be there for you with whatever it takes for as long as it takes. To date, we've provided $44-billion to help our workers, unions, and businesses protect jobs, retool, and find new markets."

The projected budget deficit for 2026-27 is $62.3-billion, which Champagne said was $3-billion lower than the figure in the spring economic statement. However, Canada will carry a deficit of at least $50-billion through 2030-31.

Other components include a plan to encourage investment by lowering the marginal effective tax rate on new business investment from 13 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

Another $4-billion has been spent on measures to enhance Canadian arts and culture, support public broadcasting, and support local journalism.

Some $44.7-billion will be invested over 11 years to help end homelessness and expand non-market housing.

In the 2027-28 fiscal year, $1.2-billion will be used to expand agreements with provincial governments, including Ontario, for home and community care, as well as mental health and addiction.

The opposition responded to the spending plan, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pledging that the Tory caucus will vote against the budget.

Poilievre said the budget is taking money away from Canadian families who are already struggling.

"Carney’s Costly Credit Card budget adds $765-billion in new debt, meaning higher inflation and interest today and higher taxes tomorrow," posted Poilievre on social media. "Canadians will pay more for food, fuel, and homes. Budget should be named Mastered by Debt."

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The Conservatives also took issue with the Liberals' immigration plan.

"The Liberals’ plan sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000, and 370,000 new temporary residents in 2026," said Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Michelle Rempel Garner. "These are still among the highest levels in Canadian history, after the out-of-control years of 2022 to 2024 left the country no time to recover. Canadians were told to expect a sustainable plan. But based on today’s numbers, what Mr. Carney meant by ‘sustainable’ is sustainable for corporate profit models, not for workers or Canada’s social infrastructure."

Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis said the budget only benefits people with deep pockets.

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"It [the budget] talks a lot about affordability but does little to actually lower your costs," said Lewis on social media "The single biggest item in the budget is a 'mega deduction' for corporations, with a price tag of $36-billion over five years. Fifty per cent more than all of the 'affordability measures' combined. But where is the mega deduction to your grocery bill, or your rent?"

Key budget measures are available on the official government website.

After a stretch of warm weather, Sarnia-Lambton will begin to return to more seasonable temperatures.

Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Monica Vaswani said Wednesday, November 4, saw the warmest night on record for that date. 

"The previous record for the minimum [temperature] was 12.2 degrees in 1994, and we ended up having 15.3 degrees as the minimum," she told Sarnia News Today. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada began keeping track of records in 1948.

Vaswani clarified minimum temperatures represent the coldest time of the day, overnight lows, while maximum temperatures are daily highs, usually reached by mid-afternoon.

"That meant basically it was a very warm night relative to the norm," said Vaswani. 

Normally, this time of year calls for daytime highs of 10 C and overnight lows of 2 C.

"Once we move into Friday and over the weekend, we are actually getting closer to the seasonal degree mark because basically, our winds are starting to shift, bringing in that cooler air," said Vaswani.

Friday's forecast calls for periods of rain, while daytime highs will hover around 10 C throughout the weekend.

"Our overnight lows are still a tad bit on the warm side. We're still looking anywhere between 4 C and 5 C for our overnight lows. Closer to seasonal than we have been over this last week," she said.

Vaswani said for at least the first half of November, it does look to be above seasonal on average.

"I believe many of our climate models are showing that general trend for the winter," she said. "Part of that is the strong El Niño that has been a noteworthy discussion for a while; as a result of that, we do often see milder than normal temperatures."

Vaswani said that doesn't mean we won't see the occasional cold snap.

A man accused of sexually assaulting three teens and one young woman in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton in 1997 has been sentenced to 13 years in jail.

Jason Davidson, 53, formerly of Chatham, has 11.5 years left to serve after the usual 1.5 days of credit given for time already served.

He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the four women between March and August of 1997 in Chatham court two weeks ago.

He was arrested in Campbell River, British Columbia, on October 26, 2025, on 15 charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement, uttering threats, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon, and theft.

All of the women were sexually assaulted in similar manners. They were offered rides, asked to have sex for money and refused, and taken to remote spots where they were violently sexually assaulted, including being pulled out of a car by their hair, being threatened with death and harm if they didn't comply with his demands, and being punched.

Davidson was charged after a DNA hit, a genealogy match, and his car matching the description of the suspected car.

Justice Shannon Pollock told the court that the impact of the offences on the victims cannot be overstated and their trauma was a factor in her sentencing.

"The consequences for them have been devastating. As a human being, as a woman, my heart breaks for these four victims for the pain, the fear, and trauma they've had to endure, not just on the night of their attacks, but for the decades since," said Pollock.

Davidson must also provide a DNA sample, will be added to the National Sex Offender Registry for life, is banned for 10 years from attending public parks and swimming areas where persons under the age of 16 are or could be present, as well as banned from daycares, schools, playgrounds, and community centres during that period.

He's also prohibited from having a position of authority or trust towards persons under the age of 16 for 10 years and will be prohibited from possessing weapons.

Lambton Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is implementing a new Medical Priority Dispatch System.

The new system is intended to decrease wait times and direct ambulances where they're needed most.

"On November 18, the Wallaceburg Central Ambulance Communications Centre, which dispatches Lambton County ambulances, will be switching over to the new system, and the intent of that is to be able to make sure that we're able to prioritize ambulances to the highest priority emergencies fastest, and make sure that the right care is provided to the right person at the right time," said Chief of Lambton EMS Stephen Turner.

The change to the system is happening provincewide to streamline services.

"For years, the provincial dispatch system has used software to determine the priority of callers for 911 services for medical emergencies, and they are currently undergoing a process across the province to replace that system with the more universal standard that's used across North America," said Turner.

The change applies strictly to medical 911 calls only, not to police or fire services, and aims to ensure patients with the most critical conditions receive immediate response.

"The new system has a few more nuanced questions. It is able to drill down a lot quicker to what the chief complaints and medical emergencies are, and uses a variety of different tiers of triage to determine how quickly an ambulance needs to be sent," Turner explained.

The main change is the number of questions a caller will be asked to deduce the seriousness of the situation.

"We anticipate that the caller experience will be pretty similar to what it is now, but there'll just be a few more questions that the dispatcher might ask that really help to drill down to the nature of the emergency. But the ambulance call takers and ambulance communications officers at the Wallaceburg Central Ambulance Communications Centre are very professional. They're the voice you want to hear in an emergency because they're the ones who get your information, help calm you down, and make sure that the right resource is being sent to you in a timely manner."

The new system is expected to be fully integrated over the next few months.

Workers at Diamond Petrochemical Canada in Sarnia have ratified a new four-year collective agreement.

Members of Unifor Local 914 approved the deal in a vote on October 29.

It delivers wage increases of three per cent in year one, 3.25 per cent in years two and three, and 3.5 per cent in the final year.

The package also includes a $2,000 signing bonus.

Unifor National President Lana Payne commended union members for finalizing the agreement.

"Energy workers keep this country running, and they deserve contracts that reflect the value of their work," said Payne. "This agreement shows what members can win when they stand together and bargain with the strength of the energy pattern behind them."

In addition to wage hikes, the 30 members, who refine a range of chemical byproducts at Vidal Street South plant, secured a brand-new retirement benefit account, improved health benefits, and upgraded on-call provisions.

The agreement was reached under Unifor’s National Energy Pattern Bargaining Program.

Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries in a crash Wednesday night in Sarnia.

A two-vehicle collision was reported at around 8 p.m. on Murphy Road, between Somerset Crescent and Cardiff Drive.

The area was closed to traffic for over 12 hours while members of the Sarnia Police Traffic Services Unit (TSU) investigated, and reopened at around 9 a.m. Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing.

Local residents now have an option to get to downtown Toronto in just 50 minutes.

Starting this week, Aspen Air Charters is offering twice weekly flights between Sarnia's Chris Hadfield Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Flights will depart for Toronto at 7:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a return flight from Toronto to Sarnia scheduled for 5:20 p.m. both days.

The cost is $374 per person, including taxes and fees.

Another flight between Sarnia and Kitchener-Waterloo is expected to be announced soon.

They'll mark the first departures from Chris Hadfield Airport since Air Canada permanently grounded flights in 2020, partially due to declining ridership.

In a Facebook post, Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport called the service "perfect for a day of business meetings, or a relaxing weekend getaway."

For more information, and to book a flight, visit the Aspen Air Charters website.

A representative from Aspen Air was not immediately available for comment at the time of publication.

Meanwhile, the Landline Company continues to offer Air Canada motorcoach service to Toronto.

Travellers can park at Sarnia's airport for free, check in with Air Canada staff, and have their bags tagged. When they arrive at Pearson Airport, customers will go directly to the self-serve bag drop-off and through security.

The motorcoach service offers two daily round trips out of Sarnia, in the early morning and early afternoon.

The Sarnia Sting held off a late push from the Owen Sound Attack to secure a hard-fought 5-4 victory on Wednesday night.

The fifth annual Lambton College Lions Night provided the perfect backdrop for a dramatic finish.

With just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Chase Gaughan buried his second goal of the night into an empty net, providing the decisive cushion Sarnia needed.

Speaking during a post-game media conference, Gaughan emphasized his readiness to step up into whatever role the team requires.

"I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but like I said being that leader on that team, second line centre that can play in any spot, wherever the team needs me," he said.

Sting Captain Alessandro Di Iorio, Carter Chadwick and Jack Van Volsen also scored for Sarnia while Logan Hawery and Cole Emerton each added two assists.

In net, Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko turned away 28 of 32 shots, as Sarnia improves to 7-10-1-0.

The Sarnia Sting are home to Brantford on Friday, November 6. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m., live on Big Country 103.9 FM.

Owen Sound at Sarnia Sting, November 4, 2026. Photo courtesy of Metcalfe Photography.Owen Sound at Sarnia Sting, November 4, 2026. Photo courtesy of Metcalfe Photography.Owen Sound at Sarnia Sting, November 4, 2026. Photo courtesy of Metcalfe Photography.Owen Sound at Sarnia Sting, November 4, 2026. Photo courtesy of Metcalfe Photography.