All Petrolia News

Heather Wright/The Independent Lambton County’s skies are smokier Thursday as the wind shifts blowing smoke from wildfires in Northern Ontario to our region. The smoke moved into southern Ontario Wednesday, causing hazy skies and health concerns. Environment Canada has issued an Orange Air Quality Alert saying during heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or

$2.5 million raised for elevator project Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia council has given the green light to prepare to tender the $3.7 million additions to Victoria Hall. That could pave the way for construction on the first of two elevators and public washrooms possibly before the end of the year. In 2023, council gave Victoria Playhouse Petrolia approval to begin

Barry Wright/The Independent Tyler Coene recently completed one the most rare shots in golf. He used a nine-iron from 148 yards away to hole his second shot on the par 5, 18th hole at the St. Clair Parkway golf course in Mooretown. The PGA says the odds of an amateur player successfully holing a double eagle, or an albatross as

Second mayoralty candidate in Brooke-Alvinston Heather Wright/The Independent A former LCCVI principal has thrown his hat into the ring for Petrolia council. Greg Nemcek filed to run for a councillor’s position Monday. Nemcek retired last year and currently is the chair of the Lambton OPP Detatchment Group board. He’s one of five people running for the councillor seats – only

FROM LAMBTON PUBLIC HEALTH Lambton Public Health is encouraging residents to take precautions following an ‘Orange Warning – Air Quality’ issued for Sarnia-Lambton by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Environment and Climate Change Canada. This warning is issued when the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is forecast to reach, or has reached, the ‘very high-risk’ category

FROM LAMBTON PUBLIC HEALTH: Following Environment and Climate Change Canada’s issuance of a Heat Warning for Lambton County for July 13 that is expected to continue through Wednesday or Thursday evening, an Extended Heat Warning has been issued for Lambton County by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karalyn Dueck. Environment Canada issued an extended heat warning with maximum temperatures

Cathy Dobson/The Independent Eighteen years after she took on the chairmanship for Petrolia’s annual Art in the Park, Carol Graham runs a well-oiled machine in the Hard Oil Town. “It’s become a coveted event for artists because it’s juried and is so well-attended,” Graham said as the crowds arrived Friday for the two-day event in Victoria Park.   This year, a

Barry Wright/The Independent Brian Dobbin has joined the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s St. Mary’s Lincolns as an assistant coach. The Petrolia-born former Mooretown Flag most recently was the head coach of the Elgin Middlesex U18 AAA team in 2024-25. Dobbin, 59, was a fifth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984. He was inducted into the Hershey Bears

Heather Wright/The Independent The Lambton 2027 International Plowing Match Committee says they were wrong; the 2027 event will be in Brigden. A local committee landed the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in April 2025. The group attracted hundreds of volunteers and planning was well underway. In late May, Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) officials came to Brigden, working with the

Cathy Dobson/The Independent The Clark family of Petrolia has donated nearly a quarter of a million dollars to three local groups they call the driving forces of their community. Together, two Clark family funds administered by the Sarnia Community Foundation are supporting the “Reaching New Heights” capital campaign at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP), the Bluewater Health Foundation’s fund to expand

Lambton IPM committee announced Friday it will not host the event Heather Wright/The Independent A representative of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association is still hopeful Brigden will host of the International Plowing Match in 2027. In a news release today, the Lambton committee said it has withdrawn its offer to host the event which had the potential to draw upwards of

Committee says it couldn’t reach a hosting agreement with IPM officials Heather Wright/The Independent The 2027 International Plowing Match will not be in Brigden after all. In a news release today, the committee spearheading the massive event says it has withdrawn its offer to host the event which had the potential to draw upwards of 50,000 people to the Bridgen