The city of Sarnia marked a milestone Wednesday.
Hundreds were on hand as the community marked its 100th birthday and Ivy Shultz has seen it all...literally.
The life-long Sarnian will also turn 100 this year and she was among nine centenarians given special honour as the city celebrates its centennial.
Shultz says some of her fondest memories are of growing up in the community.
"As children we used to get a street car ride up to the beach twice a week," she says.
Keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor David Onley says the milestone is a great opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors.
"At the founding of the city 100 years ago today, the governor general of the day, the Duke of Connaught, officiated along with his daughter Princess Patricia and and that's where the nickname the imperial city came from," says Onley.
But as proud as the city is of its history, the mayor says this day is also very much about the next 100 years.
After 26 years steering the ship Sarnia, Mike Bradley says they keep sailing forward.
"Sarnia's changing, it's evolving from being the Chemical Valley of Canada, moving into biofuels, alternative fuels. We've got a very strong college here. We've got a research park. We've got the dynamics to be a true cluster city here where we are going to develop this new economy."
The ceremony attracted a standing room only crowd to city hall, the young and young at heart celebrating as one.
"I feel very privileged to have lived here all my life," says Shultz with a smile.
