ICYMI: Record-breaking crowd at Alvinston Rodeo
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Wind developers invited to hold public meeting
June 18, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Brooke-Alvinston council is inviting a wind developer to hold a public meeting to talk about their project. But it’s pretty clear, municipal politicians are not going to support it. Venfor Inc, a wind development company, wants to build a project in Brooke-Alvinston and Adelaide Metcalfe. Director Peter Budd, who lives in Adelaide-Metcalfe, says 17 turbines would be
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Bluewater Health shouldn’t have been collecting SINs says privacy commissioner report
June 18, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Bluewater Health had no legal reason to collect Social Insurance Numbers from its patients. That information is contained in a just released report by Francisco Woo, an investigator in the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Woo’s 35-page report examines whether Bluewater Health, its IT provider TransForm Shared Services and the four other regional hospitals affected
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Bluewater Health should have been clear about ‘hostile encryption and its impact’ after cyber attack
June 18, 2025
Information and Privacy Commission report says patient data lock down by hackers ‘overshadows the scale of data’ stolen and sold on the dark web Heather Wright/The Independent Ontario’s Information Privacy Commissioner says Bluewater Health should have notified every single patient whose data was locked down, but not released, that their information was affected during the October 2023 cyber hack .
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Conservation foundation closes Greenhill Garden
June 18, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Overwhelmed by expenses, lack of workers, theft of equipment and homelessness encampments, the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation has closed a Wilkesport landmark. Greenhill Gardens – a once privately-owned oasis in rural St. Clair Township – closed Monday. The gardens were cultivated by Joy Robson for years. She and her husband, Bill, allowed people to come and
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St. Clair gas power plant plans major expansion
June 17, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Invenergy wants to power up the St. Clair Energy Centre across from NOVA Chemicals on Petrolia Line. Officials say they’re planning to build a new turbine at the site, increasing the power generation by about 50 per cent. The provincial government says Ontario will need about 75 per cent more power by 2050 so it’s encouraging more
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Waterville contract talks continuing after contract rejection
June 17, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Officials with TG Waterville in Petrolia say negotiations are continuing after members of UAW Local 251 turned down the company’s latest contract offer. Bill Pollock, National Representative for the union would say little about the ongoing labour talks but confirmed 85 per cent of the auto parts workers who voted rejected an offer from the company June
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OPP Cruiser damaged in Dawn-Euphemia crash: one arrested
June 17, 2025
The Independent A Lambton OPP cruiser has “significant damage” after being rammed while officers tried to stop a driver. Early Tuesday morning, police tried to stop a vehicle on Bentpath Road west of Annett Road in Dawn-Euphemia. The driver crashed into the cruiser and kept right on going. Police have arrested a 33-year-old man of no fixed address. He faces
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Greenhill Gardens closed; upkeep of six-acre garden ‘challenging’
June 16, 2025
The Independent Greenhill Gardens – a once privately-owned oasis in Wilkesport – is closed to the public. That from the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation which took over the grounds in 2024. The gardens were cultivated by Joy Robson for years and her husband, Bill, allowed people to come and walk through the gardens for free. After the death of
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Thedford EMS changes years away
June 15, 2025
The Independent Thedford residents won’t be losing their ambulance station for some time. That from Lambton County officials. Last month, Lambton Shores councillors voiced concern about a county plan which would close the Thedford station and have Forest paramedics to cover their calls. Lambton EMS also plans to move the Grand Bend station near Pinery Park hoping to provide better
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No ATV rally for Petrolia Ag Society
June 15, 2025
The Independent There will not be ATVs rumbling through Petrolia this summer. Kelly Humphrey of the Petrolia Enniskillen Agricultural Society came to council in mid-May asking if PEAS could host an ATV rally with Greenwood Park as a starting and finishing point and using Petrolia streets to get to the starting and finishing point. Julie Bullock, director of parks and
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Fair banner may not fly
June 14, 2025
The Independent The Moore Agricultural Society has some big plans for the 175th anniversary of the Brigden Fair. But not all of their plans may work out. The ag society has asked for and received several approvals from St. Clair Township council for special events at the landmark fair including allowing a low-level Canadian Armed Forces Flyby and helicopter landings
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Remembering Newell Hastings
June 14, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Sunday, Newell Hasting’s service to King and Country over a century ago was remembered in a peaceful church cemetery near Watford. Hasting was born in Petrolia and his family moved to Watford around the turn of the century. He signed up to serve in the miltia with Watford’s 149th Battalion before being called up for service. He
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