New Senior's Projects for Sarnia.

From Tara Jeffrey, The Sarnia Journal.

Two large housing projects announced last year have fueled hopes for an economic boost in the city’s south end and downtown core.

An Oakville-based retirement home company is preparing to build an assisted living complex at the Bayside Centre in the heart of downtown Sarnia.

Seasons Retirement Communities plans to build 140 to 160 suites on the 3.5-hectare (8.5-acre) property. The company has also purchased several Christina Street buildings between George and Lochiel streets as part of its “overall master plan for the Bayside Mall,” CEO Rick Smyth told The Journal, pointing to some 75 full-time and part-time jobs when construction is complete.

“I’m very excited about it,” longtime merchant Jim Hall told The Journal in November. The owner of Sarnia Coin Exchange closed a real estate deal on his Christina Street building and is preparing to vacate in February.

“Part of the reason I agreed to sell is that it’s going to be a really positive thing,” he said.

The mall opened 1982 as the Sarnia Eaton Centre, thrived for years, fell on hard times after Eaton’s closed, and slid to occupancy rates of 30% and lower.

Link to the rest here.

From their own website.

Image Credit. Seasons Retirement Communities.

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Developers Putting $4 Million into Old Drawbridge Inn.

From Cathy Dobson, The Sarnia Journal.


Two Oakville developers are investing $4 million to gut the former Drawbridge Inn and open a four-star boutique hotel on Christina Street.

One of the principals, Gord Laschinger, was involved in a defunct deal to redevelop downtown’s Bayside Centre last year.  He is no longer involved in the mall but said he is only months away from opening the new hotel venture with business partner Malvinder Singh.

The 54-year-old building requires a complete overhaul because it was somewhat neglected over the past decade and regularly ran at only 20 to 25% occupancy, Laschinger said.

“Half the population has fond memories of The Drawbridge when it was a very good hotel, but the other half may not.  It had gone downhill in the last 10 years,” he said.

Link to the rest here.

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Dirty Dash Got Some Legs.

Photos by Zach Neal.

From Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer.

Sarnia's Dirty Dash continues to have legs – and it's hoping to add a few hundred more pairs this year.

Organizers of the annual Sarnia-Lambton Rebound fundraiser have opened registration up to 1,000 people this year – up from 750 in 2016 – in order to meet growing public interest in the five-kilometre mud run through Canatara Park.

Since its inception in 2015, the Assante Dirty Dash for Rebound has sold out every year within weeks of registration being opened to the public, said Jack Poirier, fund development and marketing coordinator for Sarnia-Lambton Rebound.

Registration opened earlier this month for this year's event set for June 10.

“We have 400 people right now registered, and we're not even two weeks in,” Poirier said, noting he's encouraging anyone interested in participating this year to register early to avoid being wait listed.

In addition to more spots, Dirty Dash will see this year an update to its course with the addition of some new challenges, including a foam obstacle.

Link to the rest here.

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