TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY

January 16, 2026

CANADA'S OIL BOOM IGNITES AT OIL SPRINGS

15:53 On January 16, 1862, driller John Shaw struck a gusher at Oil Springs in what was then Enniskillen Township, Ontario, marking Canada's first major oil boom. The well initially produced hundreds of barrels per day, with oil spurting more than 20 feet into the air, captivating investors and settlers alike. This early Canadian oilfield helped establish the Oil Springs–Petrolia region as the heart of the country's nascent petroleum industry. At the time, the population of Ontario was roughly 700,000, illustrating how a single well could spark rapid local development and migration. Over the next few decades, the region supplied crude for both domestic use and export, laying the foundation for Canada's long-term energy production and technological advancements in oil drilling.

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