NuSarnia Foundation
NuSarnia Foundation is a small, volunteer-driven nonprofit in Sarnia-Lambton that works year-round to make streets, trails, and public spaces safer, more welcoming, and more people friendly. The organization runs resident-informed research and community surveys, publishes candidate questionnaires and election resources, and delivers small-scale placemaking projects and stewardship activities such as trail cleanups, public art, and bike infrastructure. NuSarnia’s work is funded entirely by donations and community support, and it partners with local organizations and sponsors to amplify resident voices and enable neighbourhood-led initiatives.
🕰️ Organization Hours:
Last updated on Feb 8th, 2026
Recent Activity
Municipal election candidate economic-development Q&A
NuSarnia published a municipal election candidate Q&A on October 22, 2026, compiling candidate answers about what types of jobs and economic activity Sarnia should pursue and the biggest municipal barriers for small businesses. Read complete candidate responses and compare proposed municipal actions at nusarnia.org/municipal-election.
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Community Conversations — Downtown Sarnia discussion
NuSarnia Foundation's Community Conversations spotlights downtown Sarnia with Amy, owner of Urban Escape, discussing family friendly streets, entrepreneur attraction, and how City Hall decisions affect local business. With the municipal election on October 26, 2026, the piece links to Community Survey findings and candidate responses at nusarnia.org/municipal-election so residents can weigh in before they vote.
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Candidate transit commitment ask
The NuSarnia Foundation asked local candidates whether they will increase Sarnia Transit service frequency and expand evening and weekend service, offering response options of YES, NO, or DEPENDS ON COST. Candidates were also asked which specific improvement they would prioritize first and how they would fund it, and readers are invited to swipe to compare their answers.
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Call to vote and community conversations ahead of municipal election
NuSarnia Foundation is sharing community conversations and survey findings ahead of Sarnia's municipal election, featuring an interview with Allison from Rayjon Share Care. Review candidate responses and the Community Survey at nusarnia.org/municipal-election, and remember to vote on October 26, 2026.
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Candidate priorities questionnaire and responses publication
NuSarnia Foundation published candidate responses on 2026-10-21 showing which three municipal priorities each candidate would protect in the budget and what they would delay or reduce to fund long term investments. The piece focuses on Sarnia infrastructure, master plans, and municipal affordability, with full answers available at nusarnia.org/municipal-election for residents comparing candidates before voting.
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Support nuSarnia - general donation appeal
NuSarnia, a small community nonprofit in Sarnia, is asking supporters to donate to keep its civic projects and election coverage going. The appeal highlights that the group's work is fully funded by donations and includes a direct CanadaHelps link, with the message timed around election day on October 26, 2026.
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Support nuSarnia — ongoing donation appeal
NuSarnia, a small community nonprofit, is asking readers who value its election coverage and year round projects to donate via the link in their bio. The appeal notes that the group is 100 percent funded by donations and ties the request to local civic engagement around the October 26 election.
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Summary of candidates' responses on balancing public opposition and long-term interests
NuSarnia Foundation presents a concise comparison of how municipal candidates would weigh public opposition against long term interests in Sarnia, published 2026-10-19. The briefing frames a nuanced question for voters and directs readers to nusarnia.org/municipal-election to read each candidate's full response.
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Resident-led neighbourhood projects survey and candidate questionnaire
A NuSarnia Foundation survey finds fewer than half of residents report a strong sense of belonging, and that the ability to influence neighbourhood decisions is linked to belonging. The foundation asked municipal candidates whether they would back a city program offering small grants, guidance, and municipal support for resident led neighbourhood projects, and published full responses at nusarnia.org/municipal-election.
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Candidate survey on reducing municipal parking minimums
The NuSarnia Foundation published a candidate survey on October 17 asking whether candidates would support lowering municipal parking minimums when developments can safely function with fewer spaces. The post explains that parking requirements use land and raise building costs, and links to full candidate answers at nusarnia.org/municipal-election/ for a side by side comparison.
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Internet voting announcement
NuSarnia Foundation says internet voting in Sarnia is officially open through October 26, 2026, allowing eligible voters to cast municipal ballots online. Review community survey results and candidate responses at nusarnia.org/municipal-election, and check the City of Sarnia's election website for official voting instructions and eligibility details.
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Candidate housing policy Q&A and link to full responses
NuSarnia Foundation published a side by side Q&A with every participating candidate on October 14, 2026, asking for one specific action to increase affordable and attainable housing in Sarnia and the outcome they expect by the end of a four year term. Read each candidate's complete answer at nusarnia.org/municipal-election to compare proposals directly.
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Survey findings on age-based differences in municipal priorities
NuSarnia Foundation's Community Survey, published October 13, 2026, finds generational differences in municipal priorities in Sarnia. Younger residents aged 18 to 34 named Housing and Affordability as a top two priority at 22 percent, while residents 65 and older named Property Taxes and City Services more often at 23 percent. The survey also notes broad agreement across residents with different senses of belonging, and the foundation plans to ask candidates about housing tomorrow.
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Active transportation survey results and candidate question
NuSarnia Foundation published survey results on 2026-10-12 showing 43% of residents feel somewhat or very unsafe getting around their neighbourhood, and asked municipal candidates whether they will support completing a connected citywide walking and cycling network even if that reallocates road space. Candidate answers are presented with response options YES, NO, or DEPENDS, and full responses are available at nusarnia.org/municipal-election/ for Sarnia voters to review.
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Thanksgiving community message
NuSarnia Foundation offers a warm Thanksgiving message honoring neighbours, friends, families, volunteers, and the parks and trails that help Sarnia feel like home. The short note encourages everyday connection and closes with a heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving from the organization.
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Community safety survey results summary
The NuSarnia Foundation survey, published October 11, 2026, finds 52% of residents feel somewhat or very safe getting around neighbourhood streets and sidewalks, while 43% feel somewhat or very unsafe and about 1 in 5 feel very safe. The summary notes the analysis did not find a reliable relationship between safety and belonging, and it frames the results as a prompt for the next Council to consider safety-focused actions.
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Public space usage survey and candidate questionnaire
NuSarnia Foundation published a survey on 2026-10-10 showing 55% of Sarnia residents use public spaces at least weekly, and included a candidate questionnaire about easing municipal barriers for community groups to activate City owned spaces. The report links frequent public space use with more face to face interaction while noting the pattern was not statistically confirmed.
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Community survey results and candidate positions summary
NuSarnia Foundation reports that fewer than half of Sarnia residents say they feel a strong sense of belonging, with that feeling similar across age groups. The foundation asked municipal candidates whether the city should actively create places, programs, and policies to boost connection, and collected one specific municipal action from supporters; full answers are available at nusarnia.org/municipal-election.
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Community survey results on intergenerational face-to-face interaction
NuSarnia Foundation survey results published on 2026-10-07 show that only 31% of residents ages 18 to 34 frequently interact face to face with neighbours, compared with 47% of residents 65 and older. The analysis finds the gap is statistically meaningful, even though overall sense of belonging is similar across generations, and asks whether the city is creating enough everyday opportunities for cross generational connection.
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Community survey results and candidate engagement question
NuSarnia Foundation published a community survey showing 44% of residents agree they can influence neighbourhood decisions, 41% disagree, and 14% are unsure. The foundation asked every participating candidate what specific change they would make to Sarnia's public engagement process, and full responses are available at nusarnia.org/municipal-election.
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Midtown Trail Clean-Up Volunteer Opportunity
The NuSarnia Foundation needs volunteers for a Midtown Trail Clean-Up on October 24, 2026 from 9 AM to 12 PM, meeting where the Midtown Trail meets the Howard Watson Nature Trail behind Swiss Chalet on London Road. Supplies are provided and Blackwater Coffee will serve refreshments; sign up online to join for the morning or drop in for part of the session.
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Sarnia 2026 municipal election candidate questionnaire
NuSarnia published a community informed questionnaire for Sarnia's 2026 municipal election, with 24 of 43 candidates replying. Read complete candidate answers on nusarnia.org/municipal-election to compare positions on housing, mobility and safety, public spaces, economic development, and resident participation.
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Community survey findings on influence and belonging
A NuSarnia Foundation survey published on 2026-10-03 finds 44% of residents agree they have opportunities to influence neighbourhood decisions, while 41% disagree and 14% are unsure. The study shows those who feel they can influence decisions report much higher levels of belonging, with 71% of strong believers reporting strong belonging compared with 38% among strong disbelievers.
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Sarnia community survey findings on belonging
NuSarnia Foundation and Liaison Strategies surveyed 812 Sarnia residents and found 49% report a strong sense of belonging while 45% report a weak sense of belonging. This post is the first in a multiweek series that will unpack these findings and use them to frame questions for municipal candidates.
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Community engagement to shape municipal questions
NuSarnia Foundation turned resident feedback from community events, a Community Survey, a Wish Wall, voting boards, and online conversations into the questions candidates will face in Sarnia. Topics residents prioritized include housing, getting around, parks and public spaces, jobs, things to do, and community connection.
