Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to congratulate the city of Sarnia on its centennial.
One hundred years ago today, the Duke of Connaught, then Governor General of Canada, arrived with his daughter Princess Patricia to lend royal prestige to Sarnia's inauguration.
Grain elevators, lake-going ships, and trains defined life in the early 20th century in the city. The timber, oil, and agricultural sectors were major parts of its early culture. Sarnia's port was one of the busiest in Canada.
The Great Western Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway played important roles in Sarnia's growth and eventually led to the expansion of Imperial Oil. The Polymer Corporation was created in 1942 to manufacture synthetic rubber during the war, which established Sarnia as a major petrochemical centre.
Today, Sarnia still stands as a bastion of innovation. The biofuels sector leads a renaissance of the petrochemical industry, and new eco-friendly projects are commonplace. Also, our mayor, Mike Bradley, is one of the longest-serving mayors in all of Canada.
Today, on behalf of all members of the House, I commend Sarnia on its centennial.