112
renovations and interior design,
and sometimes I wonder
if that might be my next calling.
I guess we’ll see!
Your name?
Greta Podleski
Home (or adopted) town?
I’m from St. Thomas, Ontario,
but I’ve lived in Waterloo for
21 years. For the past five years,
I’ve spent weekends at my cottage
on Lake Huron in my adopted
hometown, Sarnia.
Population?
Sarnia, Ontario: population 73,001
Years in residence?
Five years, most weekends and more
often during the summer months
Where do you live now?
My full-time residence is in
Waterloo, Ontario.
Favourite hangouts?
Big Fish, John’s for breakfast,
Skeeters in Bright’s Grove and the
beach in my backyard.
Best french fries?
The food trucks under the
Bluewater Bridge; the sweet
potato fries at Bad Dog restaurant.
Favourite nature walk?
Canatara Park.
Best swimming hole?
Lake Huron, of course! Last year
I swam on July 1st, when the lake
was 64°F. My screams could be
heard across the border in Port
Huron, Michigan.
Best place to get in trouble?
Refined Fool Brewery.
Nicest road for a hike/bike/drive?
The Howard Watson Nature Trail, for
hiking and biking (no cars allowed).
And I never get tired of the drive
from Bright’s Grove (a popular,
beachy suburb) to downtown Sarnia
along Lakeshore Road.
Your town’s claim to fame
(before you)?
The Wealthy Barber and astronaut
Chris Hadfield.
Unofficial/suggested town
slogan?
“Sarnia, the most underrated city
in Canada!”
What part of this place do you
wish you could bring with you on
the road?
The lake! Lake Huron is like an
ocean and I’m really drawn to
water. In the morning, when the
lake is calm, there’s nothing quite
as tranquil as paddleboarding into
the sunrise.
Last time you were home?
I’m in Sarnia most weekends. On
Saturdays, people will often stare
at me at the grocery store and
say, “You look just like that blond
Looneyspoons sister!” and I reply,
“Yeah, I get that all the time!”
Sometimes I fess up that I am that
sister. People are so nice, I usually
end up chatting, taking selfies and
helping them choose the perfect
avocado or the ripest pineapple for
the recipe they’re making.
How has this place contributed to
your career?
My cottage in Sarnia is where I
recharge when work is super-busy
or stressful. I instantly feel more
relaxed when Rico (my dog) and
I step through my front door andSMALL PONDS