VICTORIA PLAYHOUSE PETROLIA RECIPIENT OF GENEROUS DONATION FROM PETROLIA RESIDENT JOYCE HAMILTON

Petrolia, ON –  Today, the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia was a humbled and grateful recipient of $10,875.00 from Joyce Hamilton, a long-time Petrolia resident and patrons of the arts.

During a cheque presentation at Victoria Hall this morning, Mrs. Hamilton was joined by Mike Barron, Executive Director of the Sarnia Community Foundation and Petrolia Community Fund Administrator, Ginny Newman, a Board Member for the Sarnia Community Foundation, Town of Petrolia Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer Rick Charlebois, and Co-Artistic Director for the Victoria Playhouse, David Hogan.

Mrs. Hamilton talked about the wonderful life she has enjoyed in Petrolia and added “…this theatre is a very important place to me.  I remember the Lion’s Frolics in the parking area, and dancing in the ballroom upstairs as a teen.” She added that she is “…so glad we have the theatre in town, and that she already has her tickets for next year.”

Barron said, “it is an honor to take part in Mrs. Hamilton’s fund direction to the Victoria Playhouse; hearing about her passion for the Victoria Playhouse and the Town of Petrolia is inspiring!”

Director of Marketing Arts and Communications, Laurissa Ellsworth thanked Mrs. Hamilton for her kindness, and for her “…vision for the future of the theatre and for the town that she loves so very much.”

Co-Artistic Director David Hogan,  touched by Mrs. Hamilton’s generosity said, “knowing part of Mrs. Hamilton’s life has been so impacted by the arts and the VPP is extraordinary.  It is with gratitude and love that we accept this generous gift.”

The Sarnia Community Foundation hosts a Fund, called the Petrolia Community Fund where financial gifts can be shared with Petrolia in either a specific way, or in a non-specific way to better the community.  These financial gifts are provided to various organizations throughout the year, and through a micro-grant program each winter. For those interested in learning more about the Fund, or how you can support Petrolia please visit https://sarniacommunityfoundation.ca/kinds-of-funds/ .

The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia’s 2023 Season – So Much to Celebrate! was announced last week.  Jesse’s Country Jubilee, featuring VPP favourite Jesse Grandmont,  will run May 2-21, followed by an original Canadian musical, Where the Heart is, on stage June 6-25.  We pay tribute to the VPP’s golden jubilee with Yesterday Once More: 1973, running from July 4-23 and renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s Jonas and Barry in the Home will run from August 8-27.    Following 2018’s sold out run, Mark Payne brings his east coast flair back to the VPP stage for Mark Payne’s Kitchen Party Leftovers, on stage from September 5-24, and the season concludes with a spectacular production of Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, running from October 10-29.  Further casting announcements will be made at a later time.

Starbright Christmas 2023 will run November 24-December 10 and The VPP Holiday Jamboree will run December 15-17. These performances go on sale January 10, 2023. 

VIP to the VPP members, Group Tickets and Subscriptions are now on sale.  Single seats go on sale Monday, December 12.  To purchase tickets, visit www.thevpp.ca or call the Box Office at 1-800-717-7694. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with both matinee and evening options available. 

This evening was the final meeting of the 2018-22 Petrolia Council and the inaugural meeting of the 2022-26 Petrolia Council was sworn in. Technology did not work with us this evening, so there is no recording of the sessions.
Our sincere thanks to outgoing members Wade Deighton, Grant Purdy, Marty Souch and Don Welten. Gifts to each of the outgoing Councillors – a framed photo of Victoria Hall with a service plaque – were presented. Sam Welten, was present on behalf of his father Don to accept the recognition.
This evening, Piper Tom Rankin piped in the new Councillors, and Town Crier Les Whiting cried a cheer of all the very best wishes, and Pastor Tim Brown spoke about the pink tray, a treat tray that he brought to symbolize peace and community among Council as they face tough decisions throughout the term, he then provided a blessing.

We welcome the 2022-26 Petrolia Council – Mayor R. Brad Loosley, Councillor Bill Clark, Councillor Chad Hyatt, Councillor Joel Field, Councillor Ross O’Hara, Councillor Debb Pitel, and Councillor Liz Welsh.

The Town of Petrolia trails system has been subject to a lot of work to re-establish nature trails through Bridgeview Park area over the past couple of years. A volunteer committee has been working with the Town of Petrolia to develop walkable trails with points of interest for users of all abilities since 2020. Recently, trail signs have been added that offer route information and distances along with some basic information for using the trails safely and respectfully.

The Margaret Stokes Chapter of the I.O.D.E. dedicated a trail this afternoon in honour of former monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in acknowledgement of her Platinum Jubilee.  The group of community volunteers applied for a Platinum Jubilee Grant from Canada Heritage and for a grant from the Waste Management Green Leader Program.  Both applications were successful and led to the development of “The Jubilee Trail” at the Northeast area of Bridgeview Park.  The trail comes with signs celebrating their partners in the project, and with benches for those to stop and rest awhile, and with a tree planted in honour of the memory of the former monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

Although there was some rainfall at the dedication, it did not dampen the spirits of those who came to celebrate the ribbon cutting.  Representatives including the President of Ontario I.O.D.E., Margaret Stokes I.O.D.E. members, Warden Kevin Marriott, Mayor R. Brad Loosley, Trail Committee Chairperson, Terry Syer, and Director of Community Services, Dave Menzies spoke about the trails and shared their gratitude for the efforts and support of the trails project.

Margaret Stokes I.O.D.E. President, Wendy Loosley said, “…We are pleased to be here with all of you to celebrate this new trail.  Our group of ladies has enjoyed working with the Trail Committee and the Town staff and would like to thank everyone for their help to make this happen.”   

As we continue to engage with the public, we are sending the attached postcard to community members and property owners along the route alternatives between Municipality of Chatham-Kent and St. Clair Township, as a way to encourage participation and to ensure their feedback is captured in the planning process.

We are committed to listening and incorporating community feedback every step of the way. Once built, this line will add about 400 megawatts of power to the region – enough to power a city the size of Waterloo! This added capacity will support economic growth in the broader Windsor-Essex region, in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. 

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Ani Bekmezian

Hydro One Community Relations

Phone: 1-877-345-6799

Email: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com

Two Petrolia Homes Celebrate Heritage Designation

The Town of Petrolia is home to 38 Ontario Heritage Designated properties, which works out to one property for every 158 residents. Petrolia is known for a well-maintained, historic downtown and for a variety of architecturally and historically important homes and places of business and has the most designated properties per capita in Ontario – outnumbering Stratford by 2 to 1.  Properties that are designated for cultural or historical significance are preserved and maintained in such a way, that they will continue to be an important part of the community for many years.

The following two properties have been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for their architectural and historical value and for their cultural significance.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest:

4233 Emma Street, located in historic Crescent Park is Italianate style home built during the Victorian Oil Boom in 1870. This two-story largely brick home is in Crescent Park has a low-pitched roof projecting eave supported by corbels, bay windows, glazed door, and tall windows.

Built by Henry Warren Lancey, the home was first owned by Charles Jenkins (Petrolia Crude Oil and Tank Company) and was later owned by Frederick Edwards (prominent oil driller who was purported to have been rescued by Lawrence of Arabia in the Middle East.

 The home features many heritage attributes:

• the original wrap around porch and front stairway

• Arts and Crafts style tiled fireplace

• Butler’s Pantry

• Unique radiators with lattice design on top (E&C Gurney Company)

• Original stained glass around front door and in dining hall

• various wood ceilings throughout the house

• original high baseboard and crown molding

• decorative corbels around porch

• two sets of bay windows

• original sunroom sliding doors

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest:

425 Chestnut Street, Ellsworth Manor is a two-story brick structure that is built in the Italianate Villa style.

 It was constructed in the early 1880’s and completed in 1885 and located on Chestnut Street at the corner of School Street and Hickory Street. Built in the Victorian period, in the Italianate Villa style, and constructed largely due to the oil boom. It was built near the historic Van Tuyl oil lands, and adjacent to Crescent Park, and a block from National Heritage site – Victoria Hall.

 John MacDonald was a well-known oil man in the area that served on Petrolia Council, the school board and issued patents, he founded the boiler works and produced oil.

He was one of the first oil barons to import casing and tubing for oil wells from England. He was one of the largest oil producers in Petrolia and was engaged in the refining business.

He built a refinery which he operated for over 20 years under the national Oil Company.

 It is an outstanding example of Italianate architecture, with the common attributes including a low-pitched roof, projecting eaves supported by corbels, floor to ceiling windows on the front of the home (one of very few known homes with this characteristic in Petrolia), and a cranberry transom window above the front door. Inside, the home features an original slate fireplace with a faux marble finish with an original tiled hearth. The kitchen ceiling features a coloured plaster decorative medallion featuring fruit, birds, a basket, and plants that features the original finish. Original porch with decorative corbels, unique radiators with pierced cast iron covers and marble tops, and high baseboards, wide door casings and window trim. A second original plaster medallion is featured in the dining room ceiling with a harvest vegetable design. A third plaster medallion that features thistle plants is on the ceiling in the entry. The front door is original to the home – made from wood and glazed glass inserts. Ceilings on both floors of the two-story home are 11′ respectively. The basement features a built in safe, with the original builder’s name visible on the door. The home features its original slate roof. The home is a butter brick coloured exterior – a popular colour of the time. The home features a quarried stone foundation and has the decorative roof cresting typical of the era. The home also features four bay windows, two with plaster decorative corbels.

Liz Welsh, Chairperson of the Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee said, “Both the Emma Street property, and the property on Chestnut Street are architecturally significant, and both have been loving restored.  We are pleased to have these two homes added to the distinguished list of historically important properties in Petrolia.”

An official designation, and plaque presentation for both properties took place on Sunday, July 24, 2022, with Terry Syer providing a dedication on behalf of the Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee, with several committee members present.  Mayor R. Brad Loosley was pleased to bring best wishes on behalf of Council.