Image

Petrolia Legion faces $60,000 bill for new fire alarms system

July 19, 2023

Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Initiative

The Petrolia Legion has been dealt a financial blow in the middle of an $800,000 renovation campaign.
The effort to make the Legion hall more accessible began last year and so far $22,000 has been raised.
The Legion has partnered with the Petrolia Community Foundation and the Town of Petrolia to allow the project to take in donation and give tax receipts to any donation over $25 to the Petrolia Legion’s building fund.
The work, which needs to be completed by the summer of 2025, includes updating the washrooms on both levels to make them accessible, installing an elevator which will be able to move powered wheelchairs and refreshing the exterior of the building. Members painted portions of the outside of the building in June, with also some areas inside the building seeing a new coat of paint.
But in January, officials from the Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire Department conducted a routine inspection and found the sprinkler system wasn’t adequate for the building. The inspectors said the Legion needs a complete pull station fire alarm system with a $60,000 price tag.
Because the system can’t be purchased immediately, the department reduced the capacity of the building from 390 to 150 people until it is installed.
President Robert White is frustrated, saying not only does it add another thing to the list to fix, the building can’t to function to its full potential as one of the largest spaces in Petrolia for gatherings. That will make it difficult to raise both the $60,000 needed for the alarm system as well as the $800,000 for renovations.

White says there are currently 135 Legion members in the branch, but there is only a small core of active members, like many other volunteer organizations.
White called on members to become more active, as the branch needs everyone’s talents to raise the cash needed for the renovations and the new alarm system.
The Legion remains active. First Vice President Alex Billings said the bar has been rebranded as the 216 Lounge. Karaoke is being held every Friday evening.
Fun dart nights are being held every Thursday with card groups playing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.
The Country Soft Rock Music Jamboree is held on the third Wednesday of every month. Ladies Night is being planned for Aug. 19.
White said usually these regular events take a break in the summer, but the Legion has decided to continue to help with fundraising.
Billings and White are hoping an application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation to cover the cost of the alarm system will be successful.

The Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Petrolia’s Leighton joins Red Wings

July 10, 2025

Barry Wright/The Independent Michael Leighton is heading across the Detroit River to continue his coaching career. After three seasons as goaltending coach with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, the Petrolia native has been hired as the new goaltending coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Originally a sixth round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1999, he played more than 700

Read More

Image
Front Page

Campbell House likely to stand until fall: SCRCA

July 10, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent A year and a half after Brooke-Alvinston council gave up the battle to save Campbell House from demolition, it’s still standing. And officials with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority says it probably will be until at least the fall. The fate of the historic farm house at Alvinston’s AW Campbell Conservation Area has been hanging in

Read More

Image
Front Page

Classic cars on display in Alvinston

July 10, 2025

The Independent Well over 55 cars and antique tractors lined River Street in Alvinston on Sunday for the annual car show hosted by Brooke-Alvinston and the Alvinston Royal Canadian Legion branch. Despite the high temperatures, people stopped to look at some of the classics. The event is part of the community’s Canada Day celebrations.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Packed crowd for Florence Tractor Pull

July 10, 2025

The Independent The stands were full as hundreds came out to the Florence Tractor Pull on Friday, July 4. Here’s some pictures from the event:

Read More