December 5, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent

Victoria Park in Petrolia was filled with the sound of the season, the smells of chili and a whole lot of excited children as the town flipped the switch on the Christmas display Friday.

The annual Christmas in the Park event brings families from the community downtown to watch as the light display is turned on for the first time, marking the official start to the Christmas season.

Service clubs provided free chili in the hopes of winning the annual Chili Cook-Off and the IODE provided hot chocolate and cookies to the crowd.

Saturday, Santa makes an appearance in Petrolia. This year, the annual parade’s theme is Christmas in the Park. It winds its way down Petrolia Line starting at 2 pm and ends at the Petrolia Y where kids have a chance to visit with Santa.

Lambton churches teamed up to provide music at Petrolia’s Christmas in the Park Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
The lines for chili were long as the Petrolia service clubs vied to win the annual Christmas Chili Cookoff.

Share This

Image
Front Page

LCCVI’s Stek heading to OFSAA

October 15, 2026

The Independent LCCVI tennis player Matt Stek will be going to the provincial championship. Stek won all three tennis matches at SWOSSA Wednesday defeating the WECESSA champion in the finals 8-3 to bring home the gold. Stek will head to OFSAA Oct. 26 to 28.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Trustee candidate calls for the return of ‘true’ history

October 14, 2026

Audience member calls the messaging ‘quite alarming’ Heather Wright/The Independent A candidate for the Lambton-Kent public school board says she will “stand strong against the progressive heists of the Canadian education system” including returning to the “history we all grew up with” so students can be proud to be Canadian. Cynthia Workman’s words raised some eyebrows at the Brooke-Alvinston All-Candidates

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lambton College to open more seats in health, STEM, trades

October 14, 2026

The Independent There will be space for about 300 more students in Lambton College next year. Lambton College is among the post secondary institutions which submitted a proposal for more classroom spots for in demand fields. Friday, the province announced 2,077 new spaces across southern Ontario, including 297 at Lambton College; 160 in Health programs, 90 in the STEM field

Read More

Image
Front Page

Worker injured after falling through Sombra greenhouse roof

October 14, 2026

OPP, Ministry of Labour investigating The Independent A worker at a Sombra greenhouse was taken to hospital by air ambulance Wednesday morning after crashing through the roof. St. Clair Township fire officials say the department was called to the Envirofresh Produce greenhouses near CF Industries on the St. Clair Parkway just after 9 am. Chief Richard Boyes says a man

Read More