New focus on rebuilding lost tourism traffic
Water line break floods Petrolia Y
January 4, 2023
Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Initiative
Town of Petrolia officials are still figuring out how much the fix for a burst water pipe in the Oil Heritage District Community Centre will cost.
The YMCA was closed on Dec. 28 after it was discovered in the early morning a pipe had burst in the lobby of the building. Officials do not know the value of the damage as of yet, but there was enough water to flood the front lobby and the offices.
“We are not sure if the pipe froze or just failed at the elbow and union connection,” said Director of Community Services and Facilities Dave Menzies. ‘The building is 17 years old and we have not had any issues before with the sprinklers, but it happens.”
Staff reacted quickly, Menzies said. Petrolia and North Enniskillen firefighters closed the system and service technicians and staff the town and the YMCA cleaned up. The water did damage the alarm panel in the foyer.
The YMCA was reopened at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
NEXT
Can you calculate the losses, gains of Petrolia Y deal?
PREVIOUS
No dial tone: Florence residents, library have been without Bell landline service since Dec. 23
Front Page
New focus on rebuilding lost tourism traffic
September 17, 2026
Cathy Dobson/The Independent Efforts are being stepped up to revive American tourist traffic, left on life support by the pandemic and tariff threats, says Adam Veen. The new executive director of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton (TSL) has been on the job only a few weeks but had some good news for local politicians and tourism leaders attending TSL’s annual general meeting Thursday.
Read More
Front Page
Watford mourns loss of long-time firefighter
September 17, 2026
Milner served the Watford Fire Service for 60 years The Independent Keith Milner is being remembered for his life-long commitment to his community, family and friends. Milner had served as a Watford firefighter for 55 years and the caretaker of the Watford fire hall for another five years before his retirement from the department. He passed away Saturday. In a
Read More
Front Page
Dream Home lottery to support CEEH redevelopment
September 17, 2026
The Independent The Bluewater Health Foundation have kicked off this year’s Dream Home Lottery. The funds raised by the lottery for a fully-furnished $1.9 million home in Camlachie will help support the $20 million redevelopment of Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital’s emergency department and to help purchase diagnostic imaging equipment. In its 32-year history, the lottery has raised $11 million for
Read More
Front Page
The Legionnaires start fresh after difficult season
September 17, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent The first step in erasing the dubious memory of last season’s record-setting winless season comes this week for the GOHL’s Sarnia Legionnaires. With new ownership and a revamped coaching staff and roster, Sarnia takes on the Komoka Kings on Thursday (Sept. 17) at Pat Stapleton Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. Sting prospect Ethan Glavin will wear
Read More