Oil Museum of Canada hosts Virtual Talk about Canada’s first oil gusher

Oil Springs, ON – The Oil Museum of Canada will be hosting the Virtual Talk: Whodunit? The Shaw Gusher Question on Thursday, February 17 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Museum has partnered with Lambton Heritage Museum to share the story behind who uncovered Canada’s first oil gusher.

In this talk, Lambton Heritage Museum's Curator/Supervisor, Dana Thorne, will share details surrounding the confusion between John Shaw and Hugh Nixon Shaw. She will discuss which Shaw uncovered Canada's first oil gusher in 1862 and how historians got it wrong for so long.

“There was a time when one Shaw’s legacy seemed destined for obscurity and the other would get all the credit for striking Canada’s first oil gusher. Through Dana Thorne’s research, we have been able to decipher and clarify who actually brought in the first oil gusher,” said Erin Dee-Richard, Curator/Supervisor with the Oil Museum of Canada. “After a successful launch of Virtual Talks in 2021, we’re looking forward to expanding this year and exploring additional topics related to oil history.”

Virtual talks are free and preregistration is required. You can register for this virtual event online.

The Oil Museum of Canada recently reopened after undergoing a significant renovation. Hours of operation are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Book your visit online at oilmuseum.ca.

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