Page 1 - May 11, 2017

Vol. 4, Issue 36
An objection to the OMB is dropped
Free of Charge ~ Read and Enjoy!
DISCOVERING THE NEW NATURE RESERVE
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Road block to apartments at Fairbank House removed
Heather Wright
The Independent
One of the main road blocks holding up the plans to build an apartment on the grounds of the Fairbank House has been removed.
An objection to the Ontario Municipal Board of the Com- mittee of Adjustment’s decision, that allows two buildings on the property of the historic home, has been dropped.
The owner of Sunnyside Mansion or Fairbank House
as it is known locally, wants to build a 16-unit apartment building on the grounds. The idea sparked concern among historians and over 2,000 people signed a petition against the move.
But David Burnie’s plans cleared the rst hurdle after Petrolia’s Committee of Adjustment gave permission for two buildings to be sited on the property. The Petrolia resi- dent Andy Hart led an objection to the Ontario Municipal Board in February saying the committee was not aware in 2003 the town led for a heritage designation for the home.
Naturalists could hardly wait to pull on their hiking boots and get a look at Canada’s newest nature reserve. Ontario Nature, Lambton Wildlife and the Sydenham Field Naturalists welcomed about 135 people to the Sydenham Nature Reserve Sunday - almost 200 acres of forest south of Alvinston. See more on page 8.
Heather Wright Photo
Finally coming home: Syrian refugee family to land in Petrolia in June
After a year and a half of planning and waiting, family of seven approved to come to Canada
Heather Wright
Everything has been waiting for the family for some time. The home they will live in has been secured and furnished for over a year.
The Independent
Rev. Elise Chambers is excited but cautious.
The baby joins his parents and siblings aged 2, 3, 6 and 7 for the trip.
The refugee committee has been able to rent it out to save some money while they waited.
Chambers says the family’s life here will be far different than what they’ve experienced after eeing Syria for Lebanon.
The pastor of Christ Church, Petrolia and a member of the Lambton Anglican Refugee Committee says they nally have
By January, they had a house and all the supplies needed for their family of six ready and waiting.
“The family had to prove the new baby was theirs and that was all extra leg work,” she says
Car seats have all been secured including a brand new one that
SEE SYRIAN PG 2
SEE FAIRBANK PG 2
con rmation the Syrian refugee family they have been waiting for will arrive in Petrolia in early June.
But the waiting was endless. Then, last week, the father called
adding the family would have to travel three hours by bus to get all the paperwork in order.
was donated after they found out the family had grown.
“Part of me is ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ because it has been so long with so many stops and starts.”
the interpreter in Sarnia to say the United Nations had approved their travel and the now family of seven would arrive in Toronto June 8 and likely come home to Petrolia the next day.
“But it looks like we’re nally there.
The father, who is licensed as a cab driver, will likely be able to get his Ontario driver’s license fairly quickly so the committee is now trying to nd a van which will seat seven for the family.
The church rst announced
its intention to sponsor a Syrian family in December 2015 when the Liberal government announced it would accept 25,000 Syrian refugees to help ease the crisis spawned by ve years of war in the Middle Eastern country.
“When we rst heard from them they had four children, there are now ve. The newest baby they have is a year in June,” says Chambers.
“I’m very, very excited but also cautiously optimistic because we have so many set backs,” says Chambers.
Chambers says the father will begin English lessons right away and three retired English as a Second Language teachers will tutor the mother in her new home while she cares for the children.
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