The Sarnia Imperials
were a football team in the
Ontario Rugby Football Union.
The Imperials appeared in
three Grey Cup championship
games, winning twice in
1934 and in 1936.
Grand Bend has many interesting places to go and things to do, like the beach, the museum, the art gallery, or the parachuting centre. It also has the campground, the Pinery. In the 1830's, by the shores of Lake Huron, British Settlers bought land from Chippewa First Nations, and began to build a mill and a town with it. Most of the people living there were families of millhands and/or fishermen. The French
Settlers called it "Aux Croches" or "At The Bends" because of the tight hairpin turn in the river, or, the Grand Bend. That name suited it best so it stayed. But its’ original name was Brewster Mills! In 1832 a Mr. Benjamin Brewster, popularly known as
"Professor", built a saw mill and mill dam. Flooding began to happen because of the dam. Some families down the river thought the mill was the cause, so after 20 years of existing, the mill was burned down, never
to be rebuilt. And as automobiles came into play, the town's businesses grew, and the city became a popular destination for summer and camping.
Stewart James was born in Courtright, 1908,
and lived most of his childhood in the big house Aberystwyth, named after his grandparents' birth place in Wales. He'd always been interested in magic
tricks, and his father who
made mechanisms for magicians, inspired
little Stewart. He had his first ever show
at the age of nine, in 1917, and his first
trick was published in 1926 when he
was 18. He started to do shows all
around Canada and in parts of
US for years. At the outbreak of World War II,
he was enlisted in the Canadian forces. He did put on some shows to entertain his fellow soldiers. Afterwards, when he returned, he cared for his mother back in his hometown. This put a hold on his public shows, so he practiced effects instead.
He became famous once he started again, and an annual gathering in Courtright was held in his honour, and his
tricks became famous too. They filled books and were taught to others. He died in 1996.