Oil Museum Plans New Exhibit with Support of Alix Foundation

Wyoming, ON - The Oil Museum of Canada National Historic Site is undertaking a major renovation to improve the visitor experience, thanks in part to the generosity of The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation.

Plans include the development of new museum exhibits and interactive learning experiences, improved visitor amenities, interpretation and signage. The Alix Foundation has committed $81,100 toward the project, which will provide the important heritage destination with enhanced learning opportunities for Lambton County school groups and residents.

This work will be complemented by a significant capital investment in facility renewal by the County, which will see accessibility upgrades, the replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and energy efficiency improvements including lighting replacement and new windows and doors for the 60 year old facility. In early 2020, the County engaged A+Link Architecture Inc. through a public tender process to lead the planning and design for the new exhibition space and facility renewal work.  

"The County is grateful for the support of The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation with the redevelopment of this important National Historic Site", says Lambton County Warden Bill Weber. "This funding builds on the Alix family's strong legacy of support for cultural institutions in the community, and will allow us to reimagine how we share the story of Lambton's proud oil heritage."

The enhancements to museum exhibitions and interactive educational experiences at the site will facilitate innovative educational programming related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The intent of this programming is to involve youth audiences through partnerships with area school boards. In this way, the museum will expose students in Lambton to the importance of STEM as part of Lambton's history of oil innovation, and emphasize the importance of STEM to the economy of tomorrow.

The Oil Museum of Canada is a designated National Historic Site, situated on the world’s first commercial oil field. Located in Ontario’s first designated Industrial Heritage District, and designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, the museum preserves and interprets the important history of Lambton’s contributions to the worldwide oil industry.

The ten-acre site features four historic buildings with reconstructed spring-pole and three-pole derricks dominating the property. A series of jerker lines, pumping stations, storage tanks and oil wagons combine with the material in the museum collection to bring the fascinating story of the oil industry to life. The main exhibition centre, constructed in 1960, houses over 9,000 artifacts that interpret the international influence of Lambton’s proud oil heritage.

While the facility remains closed to the public under the current provincial emergency orders, planning continues in preparation for the renovation work, which is expected to commence in the fall of 2020.

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Please contact:

Andrew Meyer
General Manager, Cultural Services
County of Lambton
519-845-0809 ext. 5236
Email Andrew Meyer