Petrolia Town Crier incoming president of Ontario Guild xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Petrolia Town Crier Les Whiting is the incoming president of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers and will serve a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

In a verbal report to Petrolia council last week, Whiting brought councillors up to date on his recent activities, which included placing a Petrolia sign at Watson Lake, in the Yukon, when he travelled up there this year.

There were some 10,000 other signs at Watson Lake's world famous signpost forest — a well known tourist attraction — but Whiting said :
 "...it just wouldn't be right to not have a Petrolia sign there."

Although he's the town's official crier, Whiting has also cried to help open major events in Sarnia and Point Edward and suggested the city and village need a town crier too.

A retired LCCVI teacher, Whiting, 64, wears a crier's uniform and is a goodwill ambassador for the town, promoting the town and its attractions and events at local and regional events or at provincial or international competitions.

Whiting's cries at special events are ceremonial but he commands attention and silence with his booming voice and deportment.

"The job of a Town Crier is to be an enthusiastic and positive promoter of his home town," said Whiting, who officially opened Petrolia council's Aug. 23 meeting at Victoria Hall with a cry.

To help smooth his way into the position of president of the 63-member Ontario Guild of Town Criers, town council re-appointed Whiting as Petrolia's official Town Crier.