Government services in French coming to Lambton in 2024

December 13, 2021

French speaking Lambton residents will soon be able to get Ontario government services in their native tongue – but it will take some time.

The province will expand French-language services in Sarnia starting in November 2024. The request came from two French language groups asked for the services. Their calls were supported by local federal, provincial and municipal government.

When Sarnia is designated under the French Language Services Act, the province must provide French language services – either by the government or a third party.

About 5,400 people declare French as their first language in Lambton – that’s about 4.2 per cent of the county’s population.

There are about 620,000 Francophones in Ontario while 1.5 million Ontarians say they speak French.

New Petrolia brewery wins provincial awards

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The Independent among top newspapers in Canada

September 18, 2024

The Independent The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton has won four national awards at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Newspapers of similar circulation size compete against each other and are judged by a panel of industry experts in 27 categories. There were nearly 800 entries this year. The Independent placed second in its division in the prestigious Best All-Around

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‘Opportunity to make some money’ now says wind developer

September 18, 2024

Wind project generate $500,000 a year for Brooke-Alvinston Heather Wright/The Independent Peter Budd says the crunch is on for new power sources and municipal governments have a chance to make some cash. The representative of Venfor Inc – a team of developers and entrepreneurs with decades of experience in the Ontario electricity and natural gas sectors according to a filing

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Petrolia for cash in second round of housing funding

September 16, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia is hoping the second time will be a charm. The town will again apply for the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund. The federal program was announced early in 2024 and early this summer Petrolia and Plympton-Wyoming and Warwick were shut out of funding which would have allowed the municipalities to attract more affordable housing investment in

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Town may recognize Petrolia White Rose Band with plaque

September 16, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent Norm Sutherland wants Petrolia to honour its musical history. He’s written a letter to town council asking if it will consider erecting a plaque at the new bandshell, built as a legacy project during the town’s 150th anniversary. “Mr. Percie Cox, musical director of the Petrolia White Rose Band and teacher of almost all of the youngsters