Presentation by Charles Fairbank
Fairbank Oil Properties, Oil Springs, Ontario
In this fascinating lecture, Charles Fairbank of Fairbank Oil—the world’s oldest oil field and a National Historic Site—shares the early history of a key economic sector.
The modern oil industry began in Oil Springs, Ontario in 1858, when oil was produced, refined, and sold as kerosene for lamps. John Henry Fairbank’s “Jerker Line System” still operates today at Fairbank Oil in Oil Springs: a property passed down through four generations.
As the oil field matured in the 1870s, experienced Fairbank drillers began bringing their technology to eighty countries, helping to open new fields. Today, Fairbank Oil pumps 24,000 barrels each year from its 350 wells, using the traditional methods of industry pioneers. Can Canadian oil be exploited in sustainable and environmentally conscious manner? Find out through this unique look at an important part of Canada’s industrial heritage.
