PETROLIA INSTALLS NEW DOCK AND KAYAK/CANOE LAUNCH IN BRIDGEVIEW PARK

Working with the Finn Marine Group, the Town of Petrolia Parks and Recreation Department has installed a new Jetfloat molded dock and canoe and kayak launch in Bridgeview Park North. 

This new dock is made from molded recycled high-grade plastic and will not splinter, disintegrate, or degrade. The dock is easy for staff to install each season and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Users will find the dock and launch to be cool to the touch even on the hottest days and will appreciate the non-skid surface and smooth edges.

Acting Mayor Joel Field said, “This is an amazing addition to our beautiful park, and I am pleased to welcome users to the new “Port of Petrolia”!

As part of the Town of Petrolia’s green initiatives, the dock and launch material are non-polluting and after the thirty-year lifespan, the material can all be recycled.

The launch will allow users of all ages to safely enter and exit the waterway.  The Town of Petrolia recommends that a life jacket is worn when participating in water activities.

TENTH ANNUAL PETROLIA PIZZAFEST A CHEESY GOOD DAY!

Petrolia Pizzafest organizers are celebrating a resounding success following Saturday’s event in Victoria Park, Petrolia.  Six pizza vendors were in the park and served a staggering amount of pizza.  Line ups were stretching across the park, at times, while attendees waited for a slice from the vendor of their choice, and empty pizza boxes could be seen piling up between deliveries. 

More than 6,700 slices were sold at the event, that started at noon and wrapped up at 7:00 p.m.  Proceeds from the event will be presented to the Petrolia Community Fund at the June 26, 2023, Town Council meeting.  The donation to the fund is estimated to be more than $1600.00 this year.  The Petrolia Community Fund awards grants to Petrolia organizations that support the town’s goals and initiatives for a safe and healthy community.

Petrolia is not short on pizza restaurants looking to fill hungry bellies, and event organizers were pleased to host six participants for 2023 – Domino’s Pizza, Bud’s Family Pizza, Johnny G’s Premium Pizza, Petrolia Pizza & Subs, Pizza Hut, Petrolia, and Wise Guys Inc. 

Four bands, including Jesse & Brian, Electric Popsicle, The Geoff Masse Band and Painkiller Jane rocked Victoria Park all day as part of the free entertainment; residents enjoyed the music from the comfort of their lawn chairs set down in the shade of the giant maples throughout the park.  The First Petrolia Scouts sold cold treats, the Petrolia Lions Club tempted visitors with Pizza Poutine, The Rotary Club of Petrolia sold 50/50 tickets, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members and Petrolia and Area Kiwanis Club members sold pizza tickets, and the Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club offered cold drinks.

Young people were able to bounce and play all day in the bouncy houses, and attendees of all ages were encouraged to try their hand at cornhole – a fun game that was brought to the park by The Santiago Pinto Financial Group – Co-operators Insurance.

David Menzies, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities estimates that, “More than 2,500 people enjoyed the pizza, family fun and ice cream.”  The estimated economic impact in Petrolia for an event such as this is around $118,000.00 for the seven-hour event using the TREIM model. 

The event was generously sponsored by The Santiago Pinto Financial Group – Co-Operators, Riverside Print & Signs, Bourque Renovations, MIG Engineering, Rick and Barb Charlebois, Lambton College Employment Services, and Black Gold Brewery. The crowd was well cared for by the Support Operations Response Team (SORT).

“Events like this don’t happen without a very long list of volunteers.” Said Acting Mayor Joel Field, who added that “…Petrolia is rich because of the commitment and selflessness of our volunteers.  We are so blessed to have so many passionate people in our community who participate and make the community signature events a huge success!”

2023 GREEN LEADER PROGRAM Recipient Announcement
In partnership with Waste Management of Canada and the Town of Petrolia

The Green Leader Program is part of Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia’s ongoing efforts to encourage the development of local community engagement and environmental solutions that build sustainable communities. The program is centered around a grant opportunity that is available to applicants living, working, and learning in the Town of Petrolia or benefiting Petrolia and its residents.

Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia are pleased with the number of businesses, organizations, and institutions that applied for this funding opportunity in the 2022 intake. The program is designed to support initiatives that highlight the following sustainability goals:

Environmental Goal:

• The Green Leader program supports organizations and initiatives that preserve and/or enhance natural resources and/or help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Goal:

• The Green Leader program focuses on local initiatives that support employees, enhance our environment, promote education, and improve the safety and livability of our communities.

Each year, a committee of community members look over the applications and grade each application on the above criteria and rank the applications with assigned dollar value recommendations. There is an available funding amount of $15,000 available for the projects. Each applicant may request up to $15,000 in program/project funding. This funding is a one-time, non-repayable, fully funded grant. Applications are due each year on March 30. Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia would like to thank our volunteers for their assistance in the selection of this year’s recipients.

“Earth Day is the perfect day for this annual announcement as it brings community attention to the issues facing the earth and through this program, it is a nice opportunity to do our part. Residents are encouraged to visit earthday.org to learn more about what they can do for our planet. We are very grateful for this partnership with Waste Management for the betterment of our community and for our earth.” Said, Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer Rick Charlebois.

2023 Successful Projects:

KERR PARK PROJECT
Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club
$3000
Project Summary
To place soft surface under the small playground equipment using recycled rubber material in the fall area for youth safety at Kerr Park.

EXPANSION OF PRESCHOOL GARDENING PROJECT
Petrolia & Area Kiwanis Club
$4000
Project Summary
Our project which started in 2021, provided eight preschool and school-aged summer programs with the necessary materials and tools needed to create hands-on learning opportunities about gardening and composting. We plan to expand to four additional preschool programs.

QUEEN E GOES GREEN
Queen Elizabeth II School, Petrolia
$5000
Project Summary
The project is a school composting initiative that will see an outdoor school garden, composting buckets in each classroom, and 2-3 outdoor composters in the garden. This project also includes an indoor Hydroponic Grow Tower near the library, and one that travels from classroom to classroom.

NATIVE SPECIES WELCOME GARDENS
St. Philip Catholic School
$3000
Project Summary
The purpose of this project is to plant two welcoming gardens at the front of the school created from plants that are native to south-western Ontario. The students will work with the nursery to choose, plan, create, and maintain the gardens (as a legacy to their school and community).

Previous Successful Applicants:

2022
Hillcrest Public School (School Council) – $5,000.
The Rotary Club of Petrolia – $5,000.
Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee – Special North Street Cemetery Project – $2,500.
IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter – $2,500.

2021
The Petrolia Discovery Foundation Inc. – approved for – $10,000.
The Petrolia and Area Kiwanis Club – approved for – $5000.

2020
Parents For-Parks – approved for – $15,000.
St. Clair Conservation Authority – approved for – $10,000.
The Petrolia and Enniskillen Agricultural Society– approved for – $5,000.
(2020 was a double intake year)

 In 2024, Petrolia will celebrate a major milestone – the Oil Town will celebrate 150 years of incorporation.  Known affectionately by volunteer Committee members as a Sesquicentennial Celebration, the 150^th, our big birthday and more, a team of community members have been hard at work since 2018 brainstorming, discussing, surveying, planning, and figuring. 

Hampered only slightly by some online event applications being closed in late 2020 through to late 2022 or early 2023, the Committee has continued to meet monthly and plan activities, events, and reasons for people to celebrate together.  “Our committee has taken a clear approach from the very first meeting, and that is to involve as many people in the planning and execution of our events as we can, and to create events and activities that pull as many residents and former residents together as possible.” Said, Denise Thibeault, Chairperson for the Petrolia 150 Committee.

At the regular meeting of Petrolia Council this evening, the Council heard the Committee’s recommendation for a Legacy project for the community.  As some background, the Committee identified their approach, which included that the Petrolia 150 Committee identified the goal of creating a Legacy Project that would benefit the community for many years.  The Committee believed that this project should meet the following guidelines: 

1.            Be available for use for all.

2.            Be fully accessible.

3.            Be an item that is a low-cost/no-cost option for use, that is not limited to one age group.

4.            Take a prominent physical position in the community.

Although many projects were discussed, none of the projects fit all four of the required parameters. However, recently, the Petrolia 150 Committee became aware of a community need and discussed the option at the Sub-Committee level as an item for consideration for the Legacy Project.

Through recommendation to Council, the Committee was delighted to receive approval to replace the existing bandshell in Victoria Park, Petrolia with a new fully accessible one that addresses the following:

•             Meets AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians for Disabilities Act) Compliance

•             Available for use by all members of the community as an outdoor stage space or for outdoor gathering for music, etc.

•             Permanent accessible washrooms

•             New sound and lighting for events (Christmas in the Park, Art in the Park)

•             Continued use by churches, services clubs, Town of Petrolia events (Pizzafest, Art in the Park, and Christmas in the Park) and many other groups and organizations

The expected project cost is approximately $250K, with $200K in the 2023 Town of Petrolia Capital Budget and the remaining expenses to be fundraised through the Petrolia 150 Committee with Coin Set, clothing, and souvenir sales.

The expected timeline is that the existing unit would be removed in early September 2023, (after the scheduled community use for Art in the Park, Pizzafest, and the non-denominational church activities planned throughout the summer).  Work would take place in the fall of 2023, and the bandshell would be open with a celebration in the late spring of 2024.

The Committee was also pleased to bring the first glimpse of the 2024 activity plans to the public and look forward to furnishing a detailed list later in 2023.  “…It’s a reminder to “Save the Date” and to reach out to family, friends and other to do the same.” Said, Laurissa Ellsworth, Director of Marketing, Arts and Communications for the Town of Petrolia.

The Committee will look to launch a website and social media presence in the coming months as they prepare for some “…really big announcements!  You only turn 150 once!” Added Ellsworth.

SAVE THE DATES

JANUARY

Monday – 1 — Petrolia 150 Event 1-3pm, 730pm-1030pm

FEBRUARY

Fri-Mon 16, 17, 18 & 19 — Family Fun Days Weekend

MAY

Sat & Sun – 25 & 26 — Two Day Petrolia 150 Event – Greenwood Park

Saturday – 25 –Farmers’ Market Grand Opening

JUNE

Saturday – 1 — Pizzafest

Fri-Sun 14, 15 & 16 — Three Day Petrolia 150 Event – around Petrolia

JULY

Monday – 1 – Canada Day Celebrations

Fri & Sat 12 & 13 — Art in the Park

Saturday 13 – Barn Dance

AUGUST

Thurs – Sun 15, 16, 17 & 18 — Four Day 150 Event – Around Petrolia, and Greenwood Park

SEPTEMBER

Saturday – 14 — Harvestfest – Farmers’ Market

DECEMBER

Friday – 6 – Christmas in the Park, Chili Cook Off

Saturday – 7 – Christmas Market, 10-3

Saturday – 7 – Santa Claus Parade – 2pm “Celebrating Petrolia 150”

Tuesday – 31 — Petrolia 150 Closing Event

PETROLIA TO HOST FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING APRIL 26

Town of Petrolia residents will have a new way to connect with elected officials, starting on April 26.  To connect directly with residents and hear ideas, answer questions and be generally available to the community, two Town Hall Meetings are scheduled for 2023.

Residents are invited to meet the Mayor and Council, share in conversations, ask questions, and learn about what projects are taking place in the Town.  This relaxed format is to allow for “…open dialogue with out the structure of a Council meeting.” Said Mandi Pearson, Clerk for the Municipality. 

The idea is simple, residents are invited to attend Victoria Hall, at 411 Greenfield Street in Petrolia between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.  There is no need for residents to register for this opportunity, and all are welcome.

There is a second Town Hall planned for Wednesday, October 25, 2023, and will proceed with the same format and timing.