Downtown Facade Program
Petrolia’s downtown has been admired and appreciated by generations
of its residents. At the turn of the century, the town boasted one of the
finest Department Stores anywhere, run by R.Stirrett. The Iroquois Hotel
with its magnificent turrets burned down but is remembered as one of the
finest examples of Victorian architecture in the town. Some of Petrolia’s
buildings are the classic Chicago style of architecture with cast pillars.
These examples and the fact that the majority of the downtown buildings
are brick and many are three stories, is a testament to the incredible
wealth that existed here. I have tried to include as many pictures as possible
to reflect the good fortune that black gold brought to “Canada's Victorian
Oil Town”
For more Info
on Facade Grants click below on Bob Sager
-also look at the bottom of this page for some before
and after pics
If you are considering doing work through the Facade Program or having
some work done on anything you should consider the 2 links below.
Hiring a Contractor
Hiring a Contractor
-----------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE YOUR HOME
CLICK ON THE LINK TO FORMS
FORM
#1 BLANK
pdf form
FORM #2 with
instructions
pdf form
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a Designated property and want to enjoy the Petrolia Heritage
Designated 10% Tax Rebate "click on Tax rebate form below"
TAX REBATE FORM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Petrolia New Years LEVEE.
January
1/08 1PM to 3PM
The Levee was a complete
success & special thanx to Petrolia's mayor & council,the
amazing Jean&Leo Bradshaw, and Jimmy Maitland and the 75 folks that
came to Victoria Hall . Thanx to Heidi McNabb for catering the event &
the rest of Petrolia Heritage for helping. See everyone again
next year!
The crowd
seems to enjoy your Editor's Steam Gauges
A wild
bunch chat & enjoy some refreshments
A look
at Heidi's goodies table.
What is a Levee?
The first recorded levee in what is now Canada was hosted by
the Governor of New France,
Charles Huault de Montmagny, in 1646. This custom originated in Europe,
where formal
morning assemblies were held by princes or persons of distinction.
The word levée derives from
French and means rising (as from bed).
In Canada, levees are traditionally hosted by representatives of the
Crown. During the French
regime, governors greeted citizens at their residence, the Château
Saint-Louis in Quebec City,
to wish them a happy new year. This custom of hosting levees at vice-regal
residences was
continued by British governors, and later by Canada’s Governor General
and provincial
lieutenant governors. In recent years, many mayors and military commanders
have hosted
levees, on or after January 1st.
The first vice-regal levee to be held outside a capital was hosted
by then Governor General
Roland Michener in Charlottetown in 1973. Subsequent governors general
have hosted levees
at Quebec City and in cities such as St John’s and Winnipeg. The past
Governor General (the
Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson) hosted levees across the country on various
occasions. Several
lieutenant governors are now moving their levees outside their provincial
capitals as well.
In keeping with this trend, the Hon. James K. Bartleman holds his
New Year’s Levee in regional
centres outside of Toronto in alternating years. In 2003 he held the
levee in Barrie and in 2005
in Thunder Bay. His predecessor, the Hon. Hilary M. Weston, held the
2001 levee in London,
and the 1999 levee in Kingston.
For many years levees were only for invited gentlemen and members
of the military and
uniformed services. In Ontario, the Hon. John Keiller MacKay (Lieutenant
Governor 1957-63)
invited the public for the first time. The Hon. Pauline McGibbon (Lieutenant
Governor 1974-80),
the first female representative of The Queen in the Commonwealth,
began the practice of
inviting women in 1976, at the same time as then Governor General
Jules Léger.
Over the years the traditional levee has evolved into a popular public
event, attended by men,
women and children from many backgrounds and locales. Yet its essence
has remained
unchanged. For over 350 years, the New Year’s Levee has offered people
a unique opportunity
to meet Canada’s vice-regal representatives in a festive setting to
welcome in the new year.
Over
the last several years in Petrolia the Heritage Committee has taken New
Years Day as an opportunity to host a reception in honor of the Mayor and
Council along with the public to wish all the best in this New Year.
However this year being an election year you will have an opportunity
to meet a new Petrolia Municipal Government. Below are some pics from
the 2007 Levee.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veronica & Garry Myers chat with Mr.Mayor John & Mrs McCharles
Coucilors Mary Pat Gleeson & Helen Havlic looking quite posh at
the Levee
Charlie Fairbank looking through the impressive Leo & Jean Bradshaw
postcard collection& to Charlie's right is Katarina Gilespie
David Hext chatting with Pat Davidson MP.
Gord Tully talks with Heidi McNabb & councillor Liz Welsh
editor's note
The August
2004 fire pics have been removed however I still have them upon request.