The Independent

People in Petrolia will have a chance to learn more about those who served the nation with a new sign program.

The Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee and the Petrolia Legion recently received funding for a project which places the history of local veterans on lawn signs. 

In 2025, 25 Petrolia veterans will be recognized with a sign close to the street the veteran once lived.

The signs will be placed in the boulevard and will remain up until after Remembrance Day. Homeowners on the street will be asked to take the sign in and return it in 2026.

Petrolia Heritage Committee hopes to expand the program next year and is looking for information and photos of veterans to continue making signs honouring those who served.

The Creative County grant also allows the committee to explain the importance of Ignatiefna Street.

After the Second World War, Ignatiefna St. was designated as part of a federal plan to support returning veterans.

Eligible veterans were granted parces of land along the street. They could build a home there and sever up to three lots as a way to earn some extra money. 

The properties were offered to the veterans on a first-come, first served basis.

The only condition of the program was that the homes could only be sold to other veterans with the approval of the federal government.

The program was eventually discontinued and the homes are now sold to non-military residents as well.