Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
Oil Springs bid for UNESCO complete
February 2, 2017
It’s in the hands of Parks Canada.
After months of work, the application to have the Oil Springs Industrial Landscape included in a Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage Sites is complete.
Fairbank Oil Fields’ Owner Charles Fairbank has been working with Lambton County on the application after hearing from a Parks Canada representative that the government would be considering World Heritage sites again, soon.
Oil Springs is the birthplace of the modern day oil industry.
The Fairbank Oil Fields are 350 wells spread out over more than 600 acres. It is a commercial operation which uses authentic 19th century technology to pull the oil from the ground.
The area is already a National Historic Site and part of the County’s Oil Heritage Conservation District under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Securing the UNESCO designation as a World Heritage Site would make Oil Springs a major tourist attraction.
And the bid is getting some support from other corners. Local politicians met with Ontario’s minister of tourism recently to get a boost for the bid.
While the local work has been done, it will be some time before Lambton County finds out if it is even on the list to be considered. The application has to be reviewed by Parks Canada. If it is selected as one of Canada’s choices for a UNESCO designation, then UNESCO would evaluate the submission. All that could take years.
If the Oil Springs Industrial Landscape is given UNESCO status, it will be one of nine sites in Canada.
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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
July 9, 2026
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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