Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit

Summary Report April 17, 2004 Prepared by Michael Rowland

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i I. INTRODUCTION 1

Summit Objectives 1

Participants 2

Approach to the Summit 2

This Report 3 II. STRENGTHS OF THE COMMUNITY 4

III. CHALLENGES FACING THE COMMUNITY 7

IV. FUTURE VISION 11 V. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 14 VI. NEXT STEPS 18 APPENDIX A – List of Participants

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

On April 17th, 2004 the City of Sarnia Council, Federal M.P. Roger Gallaway, Provincial M.P.P. Caroline Di Cocco and the Aamjiwnaang Band Council sponsored a Community Summit for the Sarnia-Lambton Community. About 135 individuals from a cross-section of the community attended the event. They provided their input on Sarnia-Lambton’s strengths and challenges, their vision for the community, and strategic directions that governments and community partners should pursue to realize this vision. The key themes from people’s comments on each of these topics are summarized below. They are listed by the frequency with which they were mentioned by participants.

Strengths and Challenges

The community has many strengths. Participants listed a diverse range of strengths which make Sarnia-Lambton a great place to live. As well, people recognized a number of wide ranging challenges facing the community.

Strengths Frequency of Mention Challenges Frequency

of Mention

1. Community spirit and involvement

2. Location, location, location 3. Bluewater country 4. Quality of life 5. Solid economic base 6. Skilled workforce 7. Tourism and recreation assets 8. Attractive natural environment 9. Social, community and

municipal services 10. Educational institutions 11. Transportation hub 12. History and culture

74

50 34 34 32 28 25 17 14

13 11 5

1. Economic development and diversification

2. Access to health care services 3. Aging and declining population 4. Poor external image 5. Social services and community

development 6. Community leadership and

governance 7. Environmental concerns 8. Aging infrastructure 9. Fiscal challenges 10. Transportation 11. Downtown revitalization

68

46 45 44 40

28 19

15 12 7 7

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Executive Summary

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Vision and Strategic Directions

Where should Sarnia-Lambton be heading? People’s vision for the community was clear. To achieve this vision, participants identified the need for a series of focused planning efforts leading to action on several fronts.

Vision Frequency of Mention Strategic Directions Frequency

of Mention

1. A strong and diversified economy

2. A safe, supportive and healthy community

3. Strong environmental stewardship

4. Community collaboration and leadership

5. A growing and diverse population

6. A leading tourist destination 7. A positive external image 8. Reduced poverty and greater

social services 9. A financially stable and debt-

free municipal government 10. Greater access to health

services 11. Expanded education and

training opportunities 12. A revitalized downtown 13. Improved infrastructure

67

47

29

27

22

19 18 13

10

10

9

6 6

1. Develop a community strategic plan and community networks

2. Facilitate area-wide economic development

3. Develop a community brand and marketing and promotion strategy

4. Strengthen social support systems and services

5. Improve health care and access to services

6. Develop an environmental improvement plan

7. Develop a tourism plan for Sarnia-Lambton

8. Develop a strategy for achieving fiscal stability

9. Improve community infrastructure

10. Invest in youth and youth retention

11. Advocate for a university in Sarnia-Lambton

53

53

35

23

22

22

19

17

16

10

10

Next Steps The session generated a great deal of energy and interest. People wanted to see the results shared broadly and a process defined to turn ideas into action. There was also strong interest in having future Community Summits.

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I – INTRODUCTION

On April 17th, 2004 the City of Sarnia Council, Federal M.P. Roger Gallaway, Provincial M.P.P. Caroline Di Cocco and the Aamjiwnaang Band Council sponsored a Community Summit for the Sarnia-Lambton Community. The session was held at Lambton College. Following a welcome to participants from Ann Tuplin, City Manager, Roger Gallaway, M.P., Caroline Di Cocco, M.P.P., and Chief Phil Maness of the Aamjiwnaang Band Council, the Community Summit facilitator, Michael Rowland of the Randolph Group, reviewed the objectives for the session. SUMMIT OBJECTIVES The half-day Community Summit was an opportunity to take stock of the community and to begin the process of developing a collective vision and future strategic directions for Sarnia-Lambton. Specific objectives were to: u Take stock of the Sarnia-Lambton community – its strengths, image and

challenges u Define our vision for the community u Identify strategic directions that government and community partners should

pursue in the future to achieve this vision u Discuss how to use this community input u Benefit from working together as partners in our community’s future

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Introduction

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The goal was to produce the following results: u A better collective understanding of our community’s strengths, image and

challenges u A community that is participating in defining an overall vision and directions for its

future u A sense of key needs and desired directions to guide the priorities, decisions and

actions of government and community partners u Information to shape communications with groups within and outside of our

community about our vision, image and directions for Sarnia-Lambton PARTICIPANTS The Community Summit was well-attended and participation levels were excellent. Over 125 individuals attended in the session, representing a broad cross-section of community sectors and organizations as well as the general public. A list of participants is included in Appendix A. APPROACH TO THE SUMMIT The session was designed to allow people to provide as much input as possible in a short period of time. The agenda included two breakout sessions, each involving five breakout groups of about 25 participants. In Session 1, each group discussed two questions: u What are the Sarnia-Lambton community’s key strengths that should be

sustained or further developed in the future? u What major community challenges or concerns exist that should be addressed

in the future?

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Introduction

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In Session 2, the discussion looked to the future, with each group answering the following questions: u What key words or phrases best describe your vision of the Sarnia-Lambton

community 10 years from now? u What strategic directions should government and community partners pursue to

work towards this vision over the next 3-4 years? In the breakout groups, people were asked to note three ideas on stick-it notes in response to each of these questions. These ideas were then posted and sorted into themes. Each group then reported back to the main group on their findings. The breakout groups were ably facilitated by five volunteer facilitators from the Sarnia-Lambton community:

u Don Cook

u Jim Elliot

u Brian Morris

u John Payne

u Jason Vailllant THIS REPORT This report was prepared by the overall facilitator for the Community Summit, Michael Rowland of The Randolph Group. It presents the summary results of over 1,500 ideas put forward by participants at the session.

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II – STRENGTHS OF THE COMMUNITY

The first discussion question was - “What are the Sarnia-Lambton community’s key strengths that should be sustained or further developed in the future? The summary conclusions from an analysis of all answers to this question are shown in priority ranking below.

1. Community Spirit and Involvement (74 mentions)

In the view of participants, Sarnia-Lambton’s greatest strength is the level of community spirit and involvement. A total of 74 individuals commented on this in the various discussion groups. Levels of volunteerism, charitable-giving, and concern for others show that Sarnia-Lambton is a caring community. Many people commented on the cultural diversity and harmony within the community, the cooperative relationships between different sectors and groups, and the fact that there is strong and involved community and government leadership.

2. Location, Location, Location (50 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton’s location affords the community many advantages. Most prominent among these are the waterfront and the surrounding natural environment. Sarnia-Lambton’s proximity and access to the U.S. offers advantages for tourism and trade. The location of the community also means that there are opportunities for growth and development.

3. Bluewater Country (34 mentions)

The scenic views, recreational opportunities, and tourism and commercial value of Sarnia-Lambton’s access to Lake Huron, the St. Clair River and the Great Lakes system are seen to be huge community assets.

4. Quality of Life (34 mentions)

Many people commented on the quality of life offered in Sarnia-Lambton. The community is highly livable in scale and is seen as safe, affordable and family-oriented.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Strengths of the Community

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5. Solid Economic Base (32 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton has a diverse economic base centred on the petro-chemical industry, agriculture and tourism. The local economy has growth potential and many economic assets which can be further developed.

6. Skilled Workforce (28 mentions)

People saw Sarnia-Lambton’s workforce as another community strength. Technical and engineering skills are strong, education levels are high and skilled labour is readily available.

7. Tourism and Recreation Assets (25 mentions)

In the view of participants, few communities can match Sarnia-Lambton’s tourism and recreational opportunities. The waterfront provides beautiful views, sand beaches, swimming, boating, sailing, fishing and other recreational and tourism opportunities. As a major border crossing, tourism potential is high. Local recreational facilities are well developed. There are many local sports programs, recreational facilities and clubs, golf courses, entertainment facilities, bike trails and public amenities. One individual noted that on top of all this, The Sarnia Sting are in the playoffs!

8. Attractive Natural Environment (17 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton is seen as having a beautiful natural environment beyond the obvious appeal of the water. The surrounding farmland, many parks and green spaces, moderate climate, and numerous lakes and rivers, make for an attractive and scenic natural environment.

9. Social, Community and Municipal Services (14 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton is thought to have a well-developed array of social, community and municipal services. Specific mention was made of charitable organizations, social service agencies, multicultural organizations, and municipal government services such as police and fire.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Strengths of the Community

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10. Educational Institutions (13 mentions)

Participants highlighted the excellent educational institutions in Sarnia-Lambton. Lambton College in particular is seen as a key community resource. Local secondary and primary schools offer a variety of programs and excellent learning opportunities. While Sarnia-Lambton is not home to a university, the University of Western Ontario and the University of Windsor are close by and are well-connected with the community.

11. Transportation Hub (11 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton is a transportation hub with well-developed highway, rail, air and water transportation networks to the rest of Ontario and Canada and to the United States.

12. History and Culture (5 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton has an important and interesting history. People pointed out the community’s role in the evolution of the country’s oil and petrochemical industry, its shipping and naval history, and the history and culture of its First Nations communities. The community’s other cultural assets – its orchestra, art galleries and theatres for example – were also highlighted.

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III – CHALLENGES FACING THE COMMUNITY

The focus of discussion then turned to the community’s challenges. Participants responded to the question – “What major community challenges or concerns exist that should be addressed in the future? The summary conclusions, drawn from an analysis of all answers to this question, are shown in priority ranking below. 1. Economic Development and Diversification (68 mentions)

The need to diversify and strengthen the local economy was the most frequently identified challenge. This issue was mentioned by 68 individuals during the discussions. Some of the common threads within this theme include the need to:

• Diversify the economic base, focusing on growth sectors

• Attract higher paying jobs

• Strengthen and diversify the workforce (skills, composition)

• Find jobs for youth

• Further develop tourism assets (particularly the waterfront) and tourism marketing strategies

• Ensure an environmentally sustainable economy Several participants pointed out that without economic diversification and growth, the tax base will erode, creating a vicious circle with implications for municipal services and infrastructure.

2. Access to Health Care Services (46 mentions) The challenge of accessing health care services was identified by 46 individuals during the discussion process. This challenge has several dimensions including a shortage of family physicians, the shortage of other health care professionals, and the need for better hospital facilities, Several participants also noted the need for improved mental health and addiction services.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Challenges Facing the Community

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3. Aging and Declining Population (45 mentions) The changing demographic makeup of the community, specifically the loss of youth, an aging population, and overall population decline, was noted as a challenge by 45 individuals. People discussed the importance of finding employment, educational, recreational and social opportunities that will keep youth in the community. They pointed out the implications of an aging population for the competitiveness of the labour force, and the demand for health care and social services.

4. Poor External Image (44 mentions)

Participants felt that the Sarnia-Lambton community’s external image is poor. People felt that the primary source of this poor image relates to the environment. Environmental incidents and the resulting media coverage have, in the mind of many participants, created a distorted perception of the community. People saw the need to develop a compelling vision for the community and to market the community’s many strengths more effectively.

5. Social Services and Community Development (40 mentions)

Forty participants focused in on the need to strengthen social and community services to respond to growing and changing human service needs. The need for more affordable housing, services for children and youth, and supports for single parent families were all identified as key needs in the community. The lack of recreational facilities for youth was also flagged as a key gap in community services. People are concerned about increasing poverty and a polarization of income levels in the community. Greater community and government support to the charitable sector is required as one-way of addressing these needs. More funding, volunteer support, promotional support and community collaboration is required to enable the volunteer sector to meet these needs. Increased support for the arts and cultural sector was also identified as an important future focus for community development.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Challenges Facing the Community

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6. Community Leadership and Governance (28 mentions)

The need for stronger community leadership and more effective governance arrangements was noted by 28 individuals. For them, the community does not have a clear vision of its future and a common set of priorities. More cohesive, collaborative leadership is desired across the full spectrum of government and community stakeholders and organizations. Greater community involvement is desired. People expressed concern about negative attitudes and apathy in the community. The challenge of addressing rural and urban needs in a two-tier government structure also received several mentions.

7. Environmental Concerns (19 mentions)

Issues with the quality of the environment in Sarnia-Lambton were identified by 19 individuals. Chemical spills, air pollution, contaminated land sites, and other environmental concerns, both real and perceived, are seen as an important challenge for the community to address.

8. Aging Infrastructure (15 mentions)

The state of roads, sewers and other hard infrastructure is seen to be in decline. A total of 15 people at the Community Summit identified the need to address aging infrastructure and growing maintenance and replacement needs as a key challenge for the community.

9. Fiscal Challenges (12 mentions)

Fiscal concerns relating to taxation levels, downloading of service responsibilities to local government, growing municipal debt load, and a shrinking tax base were voiced by 12 people.

10. Transportation (7 mentions)

Several different transportation related challenges were noted. These related to the need to improve public transit, improve utilization of the 402 Highway, concerns regarding ease of cross-border movement, and the need to accommodate the transportation needs of people with special needs and an aging population.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Challenges Facing the Community

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11. Downtown Revitalization (7 mentions)

Several participants recognized the need to revitalize the downtown. They recognized that the health of the downtown affects the community’s economy, vitality and image.

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IV – FUTURE VISION

The next round of discussion focused on people’s vision for the future. Participants answered the question “What key words or phrases best describe your vision of the Sarnia-Lambton community 10 years from now? The results are summarized below: 1. A strong and diversified economy (67 mentions)

People would like Sarnia-Lambton to strengthen and broaden its economic base. A more diversified industrial sector and a greater emphasis on tourism were two commonly mentioned aspects of this vision. People’s economic vision also included a greater mix of sizes and types of employers, more and better paying employment opportunities, greater investment in and facilities to support research and development, and a diverse and skilled workforce. Many people recognized that the economy must be environmentally sustainable.

2. A safe, supportive and healthy community (47 mentions)

People would like Sarnia-Lambton to continue to offer a high quality of life. This was most often expressed in terms of safety. People want a safe community in which to live and raise a family. They also want Sarnia to be a caring and supportive community with a strong level of community concern and involvement by residents. In this vision, the community promotes and pursues healthy lifestyles.

3. Strong environmental stewardship (29 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton should have a clean environment and be recognized for its environmental commitment and action. In this vision, environmental issues are addressed and the area has an economy and environmental practices which are sustainable. Sarnia-Lambton’s external image in this area changes from one of environmental challenges and issues, to one of commitment, action and accomplishments.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Future Vision

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4. Community collaboration and leadership (27 mentions) People’s vision for the community includes strong collaboration and leadership across a wide range of community partners. Government, business, labour, the social services sector, First Nations, urban and rural areas and others are working together effectively to define and pursue future directions for the community. Community leadership is strong and has the support of and representation from all sectors. The sense of one, integrated community taking responsibility for its future is pervasive.

5. A growing and diverse population (22 mentions)

People’s vision has Sarnia-Lambton as a growing community with a diverse population in terms of age and cultural diversity. Youth want to stay in the community because of the opportunities it affords them. The community is larger than today with a population of 100,000 or more in the City of Sarnia.

6. A leading tourist destination (19 mentions)

Tourism plays a central role in many people’s future vision for the community. Building on the strengths of its blue water and waterfront, Sarnia-Lambton becomes a much better known and leading destination for tourists.

7. A positive external image (18 mentions)

The community’s image changes dramatically in people’s future vision. The external image of Sarnia-Lambton becomes a positive one, one that is better matched to the reality of the community’s many strengths. A concerted marketing effort has changed public and media perceptions about the community.

8. Reduced poverty and greater social services (13 mentions)

People would like to see poverty reduced through a stronger social safety net and more employment. Equally important to this vision is a better range of social services in the community. Services should be accessible and well-coordinated.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Future Vision

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9. A financially stable and debt-free municipal government (10 mentions)

The community should be financially stable, and debt-free in the future. Funding levels for government and community services are stable and reflect the community’s needs and realities.

10. Greater access to health services (10 mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton should have excellent community health care facilities and services. In the future, the community hospital is completed and operates as the finest community hospital in Ontario. People have ready access to family physicians.

11. Expanded education and training opportunities (9 mentions)

Greater access to education and training opportunities within the community is part of people’s vision for Sarnia-Lambton. A number of people would like to see a university established in the community, or greater access to university level courses as a means of retaining youth and promoting life-long learning.

12. A revitalized downtown (6 mentions)

In the future, downtown Sarnia would be revitalized. The area would be vibrant with retail and entertainment opportunities attractive to residents and tourists alike.

13. Improved infrastructure (6 mentions)

The community would have greatly improved infrastructure in the future. Roads, sewers, water mains and other infrastructure would be well-maintained.

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V – STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

The final discussion question at the Community Summit focused on strategic directions for the future. Specifically, people were asked “What strategic directions should government and community partners pursue to work towards this vision over the next 3 - 4 years?” The conclusions demonstrate participants’ interest in continuing to be involved in community strategic planning, action plan development and implementation. 1. Develop a community strategic plan and community networks (53

mentions)

Participants expressed great interest in using the Community Summit as the impetus for greater community mobilization. People want to work together in a multi-sectoral forum to develop a clear and common vision for the community and to frame strategic directions and concrete actions. The participation of different levels of government was seen as important to this process. All stakeholders should be involved and should define their accountabilities to the community. Beyond the planning process, people saw value in creating and supporting ongoing forums for community input and cross-sectoral dialogue. Cross-sectoral partnerships should be encouraged and supported. The idea of a community report card was also proposed. The report card would be a way of monitoring progress towards common objectives.

2. Facilitate area-wide economic development (53 mentions)

Participants want to see increased efforts to attract new industry and to diversify and enhance the area’s economic base. An economic development and marketing plan should be developed as part of this effort. People suggested that financial and other incentives be offered to attract new employers and that a pro-business climate needs to be established. Promotion and support for research development and workforce development should be part of an area-wide

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Strategic Directions

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economic development strategy. The strategy should pursue sustainable economic activity.

3. Develop a community brand and marketing and promotion strategy (35

mentions)

Sarnia-Lambton should develop a brand and a marketing and promotion strategy to shift the community’s image across the province and country. The strategy should results in a concerted marketing campaign. A small group of leaders from across the community should guide the development of the strategy.

4. Strengthen social support systems and services (23 mentions)

There is a strong community desire to ensure that those less advantaged are cared for and do not “fall through the cracks”. Social service agencies and support systems need to be strengthened and well-networked so that social service needs are effectively met. A strong social safety net needs to be maintained and affordable housing created to give low-income residents an affordable place to live. One specific proposal that emerged was for the creation of a Social Planning Council for the community.

5. Improve health care and access to services (22 mentions)

A concerted and collaborative effort should be made to attract family physicians and other health care professionals to the Sarnia-Lambton area. Strengthened community and government support is also required for the re-development of the community’s hospital. Existing health services need to be well-promoted and coordinated. Wellness and health promotion efforts should be enhanced and strategies put into place for dealing with the health care needs of an aging population.

6. Develop an environmental improvement plan (22 mentions)

A plan to improve the state of the environment in Sarnia-Lambton should be developed. The plan should be developed with input from a community forum such as this dedicated to the environment. The plan should strengthen and focus the community’s awareness and commitment to the environment and address issues head on, rather than treating them only as an image problem. It should set out the environmental expectations and accountability of area

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Strategic Directions

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industries. It should focus on creating viable, economically sustainable industry. On-going environmental assessments could be used to monitor progress in chemical valley.

As a practical first step, a community clean-up day should be organized. A broader promotional initiative focusing on environmental issues and publicizing current initiatives should be launched. Sarnia-Lambton should consider becoming a Centre of Excellence in environmental research and stewardship.

7. Develop a tourism plan for Sarnia-Lambton (19 mentions)

Participants would like to see a comprehensive tourism development plan created for Sarnia-Lambton. In addition to a focused promotional strategy, the plan should explore tourism development opportunities on the waterfront, in the arts and cultural sectors, and attractions related to the area’s history and culture. The strategy should focus on how to gain maximum advantage from the border traffic entering and leaving Canada via Highway 402 and the Bluewater Bridge.

8. Develop a strategy for achieving fiscal stability (17 mentions)

Various fiscal imperatives and associated strategic directions were identified by participants. The common goal is to get the City and the community on a stronger, more stable fiscal footing over the longer term. This should involve reducing debt, ensuring that services are affordable and within the community’s means, prioritizing capital spending, advocating for more provincial and federal investment and operating funds to meet community needs, implementing user fees where appropriate, reducing taxes and allocating funds wisely.

9. Improve community infrastructure (16 mentions)

Aging “hard” infrastructure such as roads, sewers and water distribution systems needs to be replaced or better maintained. The same need applies to the area’s “green” infrastructure of parks and open spaces. A financial plan to achieve this needs to be developed with the support and participation of all levels of government.

10. Invest in youth and youth retention (10 mentions)

The community should devise a strategy for ensuring that Sarnia-Lambton can offer youth the recreational, educational and employment opportunities that would keep them in the community.

Sarnia-Lambton Community Summit Summary Report Strategic Directions

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11. Advocate for a university in Sarnia-Lambton (10 mentions)

Several participants felt that having a university in Sarnia-Lambton is critical to retaining youth in the community and supporting the area’s economic development. They would like to see an organized advocacy effort to bring a wider range of post-secondary educational opportunities to the area.

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VI – NEXT STEPS

The session ended with a discussion of how best to build on and use the input from this session. Sharing the Results As a starting point, the group felt that the summary report should be circulated to all participants and to the media. The results should be compared to the results of past community forums such as this. Turning Ideas into Actions A number of participants reinforced the importance of turning the ideas put forward today into some kind of strategic action plan. The results should be used by City Council and other community partners in their strategic planning. The question of accountability was raised. Who is accountable for ensuring that the process of planning continues and results in defined community strategies and action plans? Future Summits People were very interested in seeing this kind of Community Summit take place again. Various suggestions were made about the desired frequency of such events, from quarterly to annually to once every three years. Media coverage and participation is seen as an important aspect of a Community Summit. It was suggested that future summits should also involve more youth and that Community Summit results could become the basis of a kind of community report card.

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APPENDIX A – LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

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