Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley, off on medical leave since the spring, is back on the job.
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Loosley attended a Lambton County council meeting Nov. 1, his first day back as mayor since the leave was approved April 11 and extended June 12.
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Deputy Mayor Joel Field served as acting mayor during the leave.
“I’m happy to be back,” Loosley said. “My doctor gave me a letter basically saying I’m back to work without any restrictions, so I’m really pleased with that.”
Loosley declined to speak about the cause of the medical leave.
“I had a few complications, so it lasted longer than I expected,” he said.
“I’m feeling good,” he added. “There are still a few things I have to be careful with, a little bit, but I’m full speed ahead.”
Loosley said he was involved in town meetings this week, including county council, “and things are starting to fall back into place.”
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He thanked Field for filling in. “He really kept me informed, which was really nice,” Loosley said.
“It was an honor to fill the seat of Mayor Loosley while he was away. . . ,” Field said in a statement on the town’s website, adding, “I am very glad to see him return to head of council.”
Loosely is set to chair his first council meeting following his return in the council chambers at Victoria Hall at 7 pm Nov. 14.
Loosley was elected mayor of the town of 6,000 in 2018 after 35 years in municipal administration, including as Petrolia’s chief administrator and Sarnia’s deputy clerk. He was re-elected in 2022.
Loosley said this week he hasn’t decided whether he will run in the 2026 municipal election.
Petrolia, which traces its history to the late 1800s oil boom in central Lambton County, marks its 150th anniversary as a town in 2024 with a year of events and celebrations, starting with Jan. 1 flag raising and gala at Victoria Hall.
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