The History of Sarnia's Art Movement
Elderly citizens of Sarnia who can recall the days of the old Carnegie library in what is today known as Veterans Park will have fond memories of a lady named Sadie Knowles. The children’s librarian, Sadie would read to youngsters gathered around her on Saturday mornings. Sadie, however, will always be remembered in the city for another significant contribution. Sadie Knowles was one of ten women who formed Sarnia’s Women’s Conservation Art Association (WCAA). The story of the multimillion dollar collection of Canadian art housed in the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery in downtown Sarnia began more than a century ago when a group of volunteers went to work recycling items for Sarnia-Lambton’s war effort.
Men and boys were signing up to fight the Kaiser in 1914, while women were making hospital supplies and taking jobs in munition factories Committees formed, including one led by Sadie Knowles, that collected rags and scrap paper to sell to recyclers and raise money for the Red Cross. The 30 or 40 women, along with five men involved in the effort, rented the basement of an old railway station as a warehouse and used horse-drawn wagons to collect bundles of rags. At war’s end, ten of the women from the conservation committee teamed up with Norman Gurd, a member of the Sarnia Library Board, to collect art for a public art gallery that they hoped to see opened in the city someday.
Norman Gurd was a visionary. He believed that a country does not become a nation until it knows and produces art.” Using the Carnegie Library as their base, Gurd and the WCAA made a decision to push boundaries and reach for the stars, to bring some of the best contemporary art to the region.
The women were recycling paper and using the proceeds to buy and collect paintings, including work by the Group of Seven. The Sarnia association members were fans and supporters of the ground-breaking artists before many Canadian art critics and collectors were familiar with their work.
Among the 20 paintings on display during that first exhibition were works by Tom Thompson and other members of the Group of Seven. Building on the success of that early show, Gurd and the WCAA worked tirelessly to bring more modern, contemporary art to Sarnia. The group managed to procure some wonderful pieces of art for the Carnegie Library. The paintings purchased during those inaugural years became the core of the collection of the gallery today. The WCAA became the architects of a burgeoning and eclectic collection and they were pioneers when it came to community outreach programs.
In 1950, the three remaining members of the association donated their collection of approximately 25 pieces of Canadian art to the Sarnia library, where the collection continued to grow. Sarnia was the first community in Canada to have an active program to have an appreciation of art and the purchasing of art. Sarnia has one of the best collections of Canadian art for a city of its size.
In 1961 the Sarnia Public Library and Art Gallery was built and included a large space to further engender a greater appreciation of the arts.
By the early 1990s the facilities at Sarnia Public Library became untenable to support an art gallery. Finally, shortly after 2007 and spurred on by a financial incentive offered by the federal government, the gallery moved into its current location. The Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery was open to the public in October 2012 and now serves as the cultural cornerstone of downtown
Want to Lean More? Register for a Tour!
Pedal Through the Past is a guided cycling tour that brings Sarnia’s history to life! Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this unique experience offers a fun and active way to explore the city’s landmarks, hidden stories, and rich heritage—on two wheels.
Each tour includes historical stops, expert storytelling from our local guide, and a chance to see Sarnia through a new lens. The ride is beginner-friendly, about 2 hours long, with an additional hour at the final stop to socialize and enjoy some light snacks and refreshments.
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