Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
Memorial planned for Petrolia woman who died in a fire in Ottawa
December 17, 2013
Charmaine Collins
Friends and family are reeling after a 23 year old Petrolia native died in a house fire in Ottawa.
Saturday Charmaine Collins died when the two-story duplex she shared with a number of young women caught fire in the early morning hours. Collins’ 21 year old roommate from Perth also perished.
Reports say a number of the roommates were able to get out of the home. They told firefighters Collins and another young woman were still inside. The firefighters went in to find them, but were forced out by flames minutes later.
Collins, the daughter of Jaime and Karen Collins, owned her own photography business in Ottawa and worked in the retail sector.
Family and friends were expressing shock and sadness about the young woman’s death online, including former high school friends and people from the Ottawa area.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Needham-Jay Funeral Home Petrolia Friday at 1:00 p.m. The family is asking expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made by cheque to Zibonele High School in South Africa where Collins had visited.
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Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
July 10, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was edited July 10 to include comments from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Two men are facing immigration and criminal charges after Lambton College tipped authorities off about a student immigration scam. College officials called the Canada Border Services Agency in February 2025, about students who had dealt with immigration consultants.
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OPP look for missing Crime Stoppers sign in Thedford
July 9, 2026
The Independent It may not be a good sign for Crime Stoppers. Lambton OPP were called to the intersection of Highway 70 and Arkona Road after a large Crime Stoppers sign at the entrance of the community was stolen. It’s valued at $800. Police are investigating, adding if you have tip about the stolen Crime Stoppers’ sign, you can call
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Whoops: Local plowing match officials back track, confirms Brigden will host 2027 IPM after all
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Heather Wright/The Independent The Lambton 2027 International Plowing Match Committee says they were wrong; the 2027 event will be in Brigden. A local committee landed the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in April 2025. The group attracted hundreds of volunteers and planning was well underway. In late May, Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) officials came to Brigden, working with the
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Integrity Commissioner dismisses complaint against Dennis’ ‘woke’ art tirade
July 9, 2026
The Independent The Integrity Commissioner says a Sarnia councillor’s comments about an Indigenous mural at City Hall were “a political argument” and has dismissed the complaint. In March, Sarnia unveiled a mural depicting the relationship between Sarnia-Lambton and The Council of Three Fires Confederacy; the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi people. The project included the $5,000 mural, a new wall honouring
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