Image

 

If you’ve seen an unusual bird in the skies of Petrolia, it may not have been a bird at all.

Remote controlled drones equipped with cameras are becoming more popular and they’re being seen in the skies in Petrolia and Central Lambton.

When the Town of Petrolia was inspecting the water tower, they didn’t have to send people into the tower, according to Deputy Clerk Mandi Pearson.

“The engineer had a drone that’s how they did some of the inspection…the engineer did the inspection operating it up and down around inside the tower,” she says. “They are a good tool. Think of the benefit of doing an inspection you can get up there without the trouble of the scaffolding,” says Pearson.

The town is not the only one harnessing the trendy technology. Hugh Clouse of Clouse Photography has drones for sale and has one of his own which he is renting out for all kinds of uses.

One of the biggest demands so far is roof-top inspections.

“St. Paul’s United Church was going to have to pay $1,000 to put up scaffolding to check the roof and inspect it for repairs and we were able to do it for them,” says Clouse says the drone also inspected the roof at Mid Valley Apartments and with the photos and video contractors were able to estimate how many bundles of shingles would be needed for reroofing without ever setting foot on it.

And he says emergency responders would be able to make use of the drones. The former OPP officer can see police inspecting accident scene in the air or starting a quick aerial search for a child lost in a cornfield or looking for a suspect in a bank robbery.

Firefighters in the US have used it to inspect burning buildings containing explosives. “They wanted to know if it was safe to go in,” says Clouse.

While there are a host of uses for drones, there are questions surrounding them also. There is little regulation over the unmanned planes in Canada. Businesses need a license from Transport Canada but if you’re using it for fun no permit is required.

And there are concerns about privacy. Critics are concerned people may try to spy on neighbours with the tiny devices.

Pearson says so far municipal associations have issued no guidelines for drone use. “The only thing I think could be a problem when they fly over is privacy issues,” she says adding that could be covered by existing privacy regulations.

Clouse believes those concerns are overblown. “Airplanes fly over your house all the time,” he says. “Heck, Google takes pictures and you can zoom in at ground level. There are cooks everywhere but I don’t see it as a large problem.”

 

 

Share This

Image
Front Page

OPP, Ontario Fire Marshal investigate Wyoming house fire

July 15, 2025

Lambton OPP are investigating after a house fire in Wyoming. Wyoming firefighters, paramedics and the OPP were called to a home on Zone Street Saturday just after lunch. There were no injures because the homeowners were away at the time. No details were given about amount of damage done. Police say the fire is suspicious and the Crime Unit is

Read More

Image
Front Page

Iced Out: Petrolia rec leagues say new ice times offside, could end league play

July 15, 2025

Petrolia ice times to get second look Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia will take a second look at the way its divvied up ice time this year after complaints senior hockey leagues are not being treated fairly. Recently, Julie Bullock, director of parks and recreation, completed the schedule for all the ice users. The town had received a request from Petrolia

Read More

Image
Front Page

Art for All at Petrolia’s Art in the Park

July 15, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Victoria Park was a busy place as visitors came for the annual Art in the Park Friday and Saturday as people came from all around to take in the artists and artisans. Here’s some of what we saw:

Read More

Image
Front Page

Crocheting senior of the year

July 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When she was in her 30s, a neighbour offered to teach Ruth Anne Mater to crochet. It looked fun, so she picked up a hook. It seems to many as though her hands have not been idle since. Monday, Mater was honoured as Dawn-Euphemia’s Senior of the Year. Mayor Al Broad says Mater “has been a quiet

Read More