It was nearly a year later than expected, but the Oil Museum of Canada’s redesign is complete and officially open for visitors.

The County of Lambton approved an $800,000 renovation project and construction started in February 2021. The project would return the museum to its original design, with large windows overlooking the working oil fields. It would also update the exhibits to make them interactive.

The project was supposed to be complete by June 2021. But the pandemic slowed construction to a crawl at times, with the June opening date being pushed back a number of times until the work was officially complete and the doors opened in February. The cost grew to $1 million.

Friday, dignitaries cut the ribbon to the newly renovated space. Here, Laurie Webb, Manager for Museums, Archives and Art Gallery; Lianne Rood, MP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex; Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey; Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott; Oil Springs Mayor Ian Veen; Erin Dee-Richard, Oil Museum Curator/Supervisor ; and Andrew Meyer, Lambton County General Manager, Cultural Services Division officially open the building.

The museum is now operating on summer hours Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and until 8:30 pm Thursdays.