Heather Wright/The Independent

To say 2020 has been a banner year for construction in Oil Springs is a major understatement.

And Mayor Ian Veen says 2021 is going to be even better.

Many municipalities are reporting large increases in building, particularly of single family homes, in 2020. In Petrolia, the town had nearly $20 million in construction. Plympton-Wyoming had 72 homes built in 2020 with a total construction value of $32.6 million, and in Brooke-Alvinston there were six more homes built the same year, however the value of construction was lower than 2019 still coming in at a healthy $6.45 million.

But Oil Springs had by far the best year in construction, at least in percentage terms.
The village is reporting six new homes in the community in 2020, two accessory buildings, one industrial building, one institutional alteration, and two swimming pools, for a value of $2.4 million. About $2.2 million of that was for homes.

That’s a stark difference from 2019, when one small building was constructed and one demolition, with a value of construction just under $33,000.

Veen believes the boom in Oil Springs is a reflection of what is happening across the province. And he says the village has lots of space to live a quiet lifestyle, something people are craving in the wake of COVID-19.

Veen says the building boom will continue into 2021 with at least 11 homes to be constructed. Council also recently approved the development of three building lots at the corner of Victoria and Kelly Roads.

“People are figuring out Oil Springs is the best place to live and raise kids; our crime rate is down to next to nothing and you can walk down the streets at night without a problem.”