The Independent sent a questionnaire to each candidate for Oil Springs Council. Below are the unedited responses from the candidates:

Age: 31
Work Experience:
Building Designer, WeCover Structures, Thamesville. I design steel buildings, produce the drawings they are built from, and have written my own design software to speed up that work. Sales Specialist, RONA, helping rural and residential property owners plan, price and order materials for building projects. Earlier, I managed staff at a busy Toronto restaurant and taught public workshops. Business Management diploma, George Brown College, plus Ontario Building Code coursework.

Political experience:
None. This is my first time running for office, and I would bring fresh eyes and a habit of asking questions until I fully understand an issue. My community work has been hands on. For five years I have grown 100 or more native plants from seed each year and given them away free across Lambton County to create habitat for pollinators and wildlife. I have also raised money for wildlife rescue organizations.

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs council?
This is the first council election in Oil Springs since 2010, and residents deserve a real choice. I live here, and I want the village to grow and stay affordable without losing what makes it a great place to live. Buildings are my work: designing them, working within the building code, and helping property owners figure out what they can build and what it will cost. That knowledge matters as more people look at building here. I will show up prepared, listen to residents, and explain my votes.

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?
Keeping Oil Springs sustainable. We are Lambton’s smallest municipality, and fewer than 700 people carry the cost of roads, water and fire protection. We need steady, smart growth to widen the tax base, careful spending, and shared services wherever they save money.
Right behind that is road safety. Oil Springs is a safe place to live, but not on our roads. Cars move through the village too fast, and we have no traffic calming. Road narrowing, radar speed signs and marked crosswalks are affordable fixes that protect kids, seniors and anyone walking or cycling.

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming to the area for the Oil Museum? If so, how?
Yes. People come from around the world to see where North America’s oil industry began, then most leave without spending a dollar here. I want council to work with Lambton County Museums on a native garden that tells the next chapter: turning used oil land into something beautiful. It would give visitors a reason to return every season, and I would gladly contribute plants. We also need signs guiding visitors into the village, a heritage loop linking the museum, Fairbank Oil Fields and the Old Mill Trail, and social media videos showing what is here.

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years. What more can the municipality do to attract more people to build and live in the community?
Build up, not out. Oil Springs does not have a lot of land, so we should make the most of what we have. That means welcoming townhouses, low rise apartments, units above storefronts, and second units like garden suites. Single storey townhomes let seniors downsize without leaving the village. Approvals should be clear and quick, and infrastructure must keep pace. Then we tell people about us: Oil Springs is quiet, friendly, affordable and close to Petrolia, Sarnia and Chatham. I design buildings for a living and would bring that practical eye to every development proposal.

Age:64

Work Experience: 40 years in the newspaper, print and publishing industry.

Political experience: Currently in my second term on Municipal Council with the Village of Oil Springs. During my terms, I have sat on Fire Board (first term only) and currently sit on the Cemetery Board, Historical Society Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee as well as a Member of the Lambton County Seniors Advisory Committee.

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs council?

I hope to continue serving the community through my dedication and voice. Helping to make the correct decisions for the people who live and work here

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?

I believe the most important issue facing Oil Springs is our aging infrastructure and trying to find and achieve the funding sources needed in order to update that infrastructure.

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming to the area for the Oil Museum – if so how?

The Village of Oil Springs and the Oil Museum of Canada have recently started working together through events, such as our Summer Party and Children’s Halloween Party … hosting events that coincide with each other to draw participants between to two areas. I believe this is something that can be expanded on in the future.

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years – what more can the municipality do to attract more people to build and live in the community?

The Municipality is limited by the availability of residential building lots, as we are essentially land locked. On the flip side of that, we will see a development that is in the works in the middle of the Village that consists of 11 – 2 bedroom units. The real estate market in the Village has been relatively strong the last few years and we are seeing more younger families moving to the Village. To help accommodate the younger families, baseball has come back to the community as well as the addition of hardball. Parks and Rec run movie nights, kids fun fest and other events throughout the year, that are free of charge to families. 

Age: 59

Work Experience:
I own and run my own janitorial business, so I know what it takes to serve the public every day. I handle the budgeting, quote and schedule jobs, order supplies and equipment, manage billing, and build good relationships with my clients. Above all, I solve problems as they come up, and I think that practical experience carries over well to council.

Political Experience:
I haven’t served in politics before, but I bring an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a real commitment to this community. I’ve helped at food banks and organized a fundraiser for a major community playground.

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs council?
I want to make a difference in Oil Springs. I’d like to improve our community through more investment, greater community involvement, and safer streets. I believe my practical, hands-on business experience and my willingness to listen and learn would serve residents well.

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?
Safety is the top issue, especially traffic on Oil Springs Line. We also need more variety in our community, such as a grocery store, and we need to attract investors to help local businesses grow and thrive.

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming for the Oil Museum?
Yes. I’d start with attractive landscaping and use some of the available land for fundraising and project ideas. We could expand the museum to showcase more of Oil Springs’ history. Better signage on Highway 21 would also help visitors find us.

What more can the municipality do to attract people to build and live here?
We need businesses and amenities to go with our housing. Better advertising, community fundraising events, and improved landscaping would help. I’d also work with our MPs and MPPs on support for small communities, and increase our social media engagement to attract new residents and investment.

Age: 31

Work Experience:
I have 11 years of experience in the construction industry. My work has given me experience managing projects, solving problems and working with people.

Political Experience:
I have served on Oil Springs Council for the past four years, gaining experience working with council, staff and residents.

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs Council?
I enjoy being involved in the community and want to continue helping make Oil Springs a great place to live, work and raise a family. I bring a practical approach and believe that with limited tax dollars, every dollar needs to go as far as possible.

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?
Managing our limited tax dollars while maintaining our roads, infrastructure and services. We need to be responsible with the money we have while continuing to improve the community.

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming to the area for the Oil Museum – if so how?
Yes. We have already worked on improving signage and have continued to work with the Oil Museum and local businesses. We need to keep building on what we have started and find more ways to encourage visitors to spend more time in Oil Springs.

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years – what more can the municipality do to attract more people to build and live in the community?
Continue making it easy and affordable to build here, promote available lots and maintain good services and infrastructure.

Age: 37

Work Experience: Utility operator for GL. Hobby farmer

Political Experience: None

Why do you want to run for Oil Springs council?

Oil Springs is my home and I would like the opportunity to help make it grow and prosper.

What is the most important issue facing the village?

The most important issue facing the town is the need for continued residential growth and new business growth. Growth brings more tax money and possibly more funding to help keep our village running.

Can Oil Spring do more to capitalize on the Oil Museum?

Oil Springs should be capitalizing on the oil museum visitors. Village events should coincide with museum events.

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years what more can the town do to attract more people to build here?

We need to attract businesses back into our town. I’d like to see Oil Springs attract a variety of small businesses to cater to the needs of all of our residence. Like a daycare, health and wellness opportunities, small manufacturing anything that will create jobs to keep our residence from needing to travel to neighbouring towns.

Age – 41

Work Experience – 
Executive Director of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton, with a professional background in tourism, marketing, communications, community development and small business. My work includes organizational leadership, budgeting, strategic planning, government relations, grant funding, community partnerships and regional economic development.  

Political experience –

Oil Springs Village Councillor since 2018, currently completing my second term. My Council experience includes municipal budgeting, infrastructure and capital planning, policy development, strategic planning and community development. I also bring experience in emergency management and volunteer fire service.  

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs council?

Oil Springs is my home, and after two terms on Council I remain excited about what we can accomplish as a community. I am seeking another term because I believe my municipal, professional and community experience can continue to provide a valuable perspective at the Council table. I want to help ensure we plan for the future while protecting the small-town character that makes Oil Springs a great place to live. My focus is on achievable priorities, responsible decision-making and finding opportunities that allow us to improve our community without placing an unnecessary burden on local taxpayers.  

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?

Our biggest challenge is balancing infrastructure needs with the financial realities of a small municipality. Roads, sidewalks, drainage, water, wastewater and municipal facilities require ongoing investment, while our local tax base has limits. Our Asset Management Plan gives us an important foundation for understanding those needs. I want to build on it with a clear four-year priority plan, maintain assets before replacing them wherever practical, build reserves and aggressively pursue provincial and federal funding. Good planning will allow us to make steady improvements while keeping Oil Springs financially sustainable.  

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming to the area for the Oil Museum – if so how?

The Oil Museum preserves the site of North America’s first commercial oil well and attracts visitors to a story with international significance. Our opportunity is to encourage visitors to spend more time in the Village itself. Council’s role should be to ensure our community is positioned to benefit from visitors already coming to Oil Springs. We’ve made progress through downtown beautification and historical signage that better connects our heritage story throughout the Village. The next opportunity is strengthening our downtown commercial area. We need to encourage commercial properties to remain available for business use, support the retention and expansion of existing businesses, and create an environment that welcomes new investment. More shops, services and experiences would complement the Museum and give visitors more reasons to stop, explore and spend within Oil Springs.

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years – what more can the municipality do to attract more people to build and live in the community

We should encourage new housing while ensuring growth doesn’t come at the expense of our small-town character or existing taxpayers. That means making Oil Springs welcoming to appropriate development and redevelopment, while planning ahead for the infrastructure that growth requires. Our Asset Management Plan recognizes that growth can expand the assessment base but can also require expanded infrastructure and services. We need to pursue funding for future infrastructure needs, including wastewater capacity, support property improvements and redevelopment, and continue practical improvements to our parks and public spaces. Growth should strengthen the community we already have.  

Age: 66 

Work experience – Vulcan Industrial Pkg Petrolia, Waterville Petrolia, Equipment Detailer at Podolinsky Equipment 

Political experience: 13 years Oil Springs Councillor 

Why do you want to serve on Oil Springs council?

Help maximize the value of every taxpayer dollars and maintain municipal services 

What is the most important issue facing the Village of Oil Springs?

Government grants are hard to get for a small rural municipality without federal and provincial funding it’s hard to find the funds for any major projects 

Can Oil Springs do more to capitalize on visitors coming to the area for the Oil Museum – if so how?

They could capitalize if there was a restaurant and shops in town for people to stop into. It is hard for small businesses to operate and stay afloat without having the people to support it as more people shop online and at major box stores 

There has been residential growth in Oil Springs in the last four years – what more can the municipality do to attract more people to build and live in the community

There has been some new homes built but there are still some vacant lots and not a lot of lots available. The Municipality would have to have upgrades to the water and sewer which would be hard to find the funds without federal and provincial support.