An application for World Heritage Site designation for the first commercial oil field and the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs has been submitted to Parks Canada.
A project team, led by Charlie Fairbank, is seeking to have the properties added to the Canadian nomination list for recognition through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Lambton County Corporate Cultural Director Andrew Meyer says the submission will undergo lengthy review.
"The review process as we understand it is approximately one year," says Meyer. "So, within this one year timeline we may see additional costs based on what Parks Canada comes back to us and asks for to move the process forward. So we have set aside a budget provision for that, in anticipation of further requirements on the part of Parks Canada."
The project currently has $20,000 in funding available, split evenly between the county and Fairbank.
Lambton County staff are recommending an additional $15,000 be set aside this year for any further costs associated with the process.
If the application makes the tentative list, it's estimated it will take an additional 18 months for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to evaluate it before making a final decision.
The oil field and museum property already share National Historic Site designation.
