 The name " Sarnia " is Latin for Guernsey , which is a British Channel Island . In 1829 Sir John Colborne , a former governor of Guernsey , was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada . In this capacity , he visited two small settlements in 1835 that had been laid out on the shores of Lake Huron . One of these , named " The Rapids , " consisted then of 44 taxpayers , nine frame houses , four log houses , two brick dwellings , two taverns and three stores . The villagers wished to change its name but were unable to agree on an alternative . The English settlers favoured the name " Buenos Aires " and the Scottish " New Glasgow " . Sir John Colborne suggested Port Sarnia . On 4 January 1836 , the name was formally adopted by a vote of 26 to 16 , and Colborne also named the nearby village Moore after British military hero Sir John Moore . Sarnia adopted the nickname " The Imperial City " on 7 May 1914 because of the visit of Canada 's Governor General , H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught , and his daughter Princess Patricia . 
 The name " Sarnia " <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>Latin for Guernsey , which <a href='drop_aux' title='2'><mark>is</mark></a>a British Channel Island . In 1829 Sir John Colborne , a former governor of Guernsey , was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada . In this capacity , he visited two small settlements in 1835 <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> been laid out on the shores of Lake Huron . One of these , named " The Rapids , " consisted then of 44 taxpayers , nine frame houses , four log houses , two brick dwellings , two taverns and three stores . The villagers wished to change its name but <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> unable to agree on an alternative . The English settlers favoured the name " Buenos Aires " and the Scottish " New Glasgow " . Sir John Colborne suggested Port Sarnia . On 4 January 1836 , the name was formally adopted by a vote of 26 to 16 , and Colborne also named the nearby village Moore after British military hero Sir John Moore . Sarnia adopted the nickname " The Imperial City " on 7 May 1914 because of the visit of Canada <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>Governor General , H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught , and his daughter Princess Patricia . 
The name " Sarnia " Latin for Guernsey , which a British Channel Island . In 1829 Sir John Colborne , a former governor of Guernsey , was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada . In this capacity , he visited 2 small settlements in 1835 done been laid outt on the shores of Lake Huron . One of these , named " da Rapids , " consisted then of 44 taxpayers , nine frame houses , four log houses , tw2rick dwellings , two 2erns and three stores . Tdavillagers wished to change its name but was unable to agree on an alternative . The English settlers favoured thdaame " Buenos Aires " and the Scottish " New Glasgow " . Sir John Colborne suggested Port Sarnia . On 4 January 1836 , the name was formally adopted by a vote of 26 to 16 , and Colborne also named the nearby village Moore after British military hero Sir John Moore . Sarnia adopted the nickname " The Imperial City " on 7 May 1914 because of the visit of Canada  Governor General , H.R.H. thedake of Connaught , and his daughter Princess Patricia .