The Story Behind Our Foundation

As the visionary and founding father for The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation, Norman was always of the mindset, “Whenever we’re able, we like to give back to the community.” Establishing the Foundation was his realization of that dream.

In 1977, Norman began Steeplejack Services Ltd., an industrial and commercial construction company based in Sarnia. It grew to have eight offices and 130 employees. Norman served as president of the company until he retired in 2010.

Norman had a passion for the visual arts. In his spare time, he enjoyed the challenge of learning to paint, using a variety of different mediums such as oils and water colors. He was a self-taught artist, and his love for the arts helped shape his decision to donate $1.5 million to the construction of the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery.

Norman and his wife Judith lived most of their life in Sarnia. It’s where they raised their family – children Joe, Tara and Mike – and where they felt they could, through their Foundation, leave a lasting legacy of good works that bettered the community at large and the people who call it home.

Judith is not only one of the namesakes of The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation, she also serves as its Treasurer. She oversees all operating expenses and takes an active role in the decision process regarding which projects the Foundation will fund.

From 1977-2010 Judith worked at the construction company that she and her husband Norman owned, Steeplejack Services. Prior to that position, from 1963-1975, she worked as an RN mainly in Petrolia, Newmarket and Sarnia.

Judith has a grade 12 diploma from Petrolia District High School and graduated from St. Thomas-Elgin Hospital, where she became registered in 1963.

She and husband Norman, who passed away on June 8, 2014, raised three children, Mike, Joe and Tara.

Judith sees the Foundation’s role as “planting seeds” that the community, working together, can then use to grow a garden that thrives and changes lives.

“It gives me great pride to see what has been accomplished with the donations we’ve made to date,” Judith said. “By paying it forward, we can help build a strong community for the betterment and enjoyment of all.”

Judith is realistic in her expectations for the Foundation. “We look for the greatest needs, the projects on which we can do the most good. We don’t have the resources to solve every problem or fill every need. But we can make a difference by shining a light on important causes and setting an example for others to get involved in their community.”

Adam serves as Vice President of The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation. He is also Judith and Norman’s nephew. He reviews grant applications to ensure the projects undertaken by the Foundation provide the best possible benefit to the community of Sarnia Lambton and align with the family’s wishes.

Since 2008, Adam has served as a board member with St. Clair Child & Youth Services. He attended St. Patrick’s High School and received his marketing diploma from Lambton College. He resides in Sarnia with his wife Aisling and their daughters Briar and Bronwyn.

“It’s an honor to be part of a Foundation focused on making Sarnia Lambton a better, more beautiful place to live,” he said. “I’m excited to help fulfill my family’s wishes to ‘give back’ to the community and to steer the Foundation into the future.”

As President of The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation and son of Judith and Norman, Joe oversees the operation of the Foundation. He participates in the selection process for the projects to fund and is hands-on in seeing projects through to completion.

From 2002 to present, Joe has worked in the family’s construction business, Steeplejack Services. He graduated from Northern Collegiate High School and completed two years at Lambton College for business administration.

Joe resides in Sarnia with his wife Tiffany and their children Malaika, Alexxa, Norman, and Jude.

“I am a person who loves to give,” Joe explains. “This Foundation gives me a way to accomplish my greatest desire — to help people. It’s very fulfilling to be a part of my family’s life work and to know that my own children are growing up in a community filled with compassionate people who care about others.”

Aisling joined the foundation's board of directors in 2023. Her vision and passion for progress in Sarnia Lambton has helped the foundation with funding on several projects since her arrival. Aisling was born and raised in Sarnia, gaining many life experiences from living, learning, and working in other communities such as Windsor, London, and Ottawa.

Today, Aisling resides and works in Sarnia, raising a family of two daughters with her husband Adam. Her education and life experience will provide a unique perspective on how the foundation engages with our community.

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Tiffany joined the foundation's board of directors in 2023. Along side her husband Joe, Tiffany shares a vision for progress in Lambton County and enjoys working with our community partners to identify opporturtines that the foundation should consider supporting. She is also a strong advocate for youth development in our community, building partnerships with severl youth-focused agencies in Sarnia-Lambton.

Tiffany brings a lot of life experinces and education from her upbringing in Malawi, Africa as well as from raising her family here in Sarnia. Her unique perspective will help guide our foundation to do amazing work in Lambton County.

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