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Heather Wright Photo

Santa and Camlachie firefighters spread Christmas joy

December 23, 2025

The Independent

Santa got a huge hug from Caleb Verberk when he and the Camlachie firefighters stopped at Lakewood Christian Campground Saturday. The firefighters were taking Santa on a tour of the community and collecting canned goods along the way. The community donated five grocery carts full of food, which was matched with a cash donation from Camlachie businessman Brian Schoojans.

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Petrolia candidates talk keeping taxes down, important issues new council will need to address at all-candidates night

October 16, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent It’s a question municipal councillors likely hear a lot; what are you going to do to lower my taxes. It was one of the questions at the All-Candidates Night for the 12 Petrolia council candidates Oct. 15 at Victoria Hall. All 12 candidates, Ethan Brown, Bill Clark, Miranda Cole, Chad Hyatt, John McDonald, Marty Souch, Paul Stilwell,

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Climate Action group disappointed with campaign claims 

October 15, 2026

Cathy Dobson/The Independent Climate Action Sarnia-Lambton members are smarting from mayoral candidate Bill Dennis’ claims that climate change is not real, says co-chair Allan McKeown. “We were really not surprised by Bill Dennis’ comments.  I know he considers us an enemy,” said McKeown, who has represented the Green Party several times in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent. “But I think it’s absolutely

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Feds give $300K to help build new sidewalks in Petrolia

October 15, 2026

Blake Ellis/The Independent The Town of Petrolia received $300,000 from the federal government to go towards sidewalks.  Sarnia-Lambton Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu made the announcement today in Petrolia. The Town of Petrolia will be contributing $200,000 to the project bringing the entire project to $500,000, which will see one kilometre of existing sidewalk replaced as well as an extension of two kilometres of additional sidewalk.  In 2023,

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Brooke-Alvinston candidates talk taxes, roads

October 15, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent Raising taxes, finding grants and opening up council meetings to public questions were among the topics at the only All-Candidates debate in Brooke-Alvinston. About 200 people were in the Community Centre Oct. 7 to hear from the four mayoral and six council candidates. The event started with a surprise, when candidate Tom Scott announced he was withdrawing

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