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A Pioneer of the Pipeline Landowners Movement Passes Stu O’Neil was a teacher and a conservationist who would not back down. tu O’Neil was not only a pioneer in the fight for property rights but forged the first landowner association that inspired the formation of Canada’s only national property rights organization. He passed away June 9, 2020. He was 84. “The Book that Inspired CAEPLA” was a headline story in our Summer 2016 Pipeline Observer. Peter Lewington’s 1991 memoir, No Right-Of-Way: How Democracy Came to the Oil Patch, told the story of how Peter, along with his wife Jean Lewington and their neighbours, started the pipeline landowner movement. Peter and Jean Lewington and their neighbours Stu and Jocelyn O’Neil mortgaged their farms and families’ futures in the best interests of all Canadians — and ultimately, of the pipeline industry — and went to court. They understood the economic benefits of fossil fuel and the need to transport it by pipeline, but they
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suffered the consequences in the damage done to their farmland from the pipelines forced through their properties. The Lewingtons and O’Neils can be credited with some of the biggest environmental progress in the pipeline industry. Their efforts and those of the many people they inspired have helped make pipelines the safest way to transport oil and gas. Pipeline construction practices on agricultural land changed drastically as a result of their dedication and continue to improve today with CAEPLA’s input and lobbying. Though Peter died shortly after writing his groundbreaking book, Stu O’Neil continued his efforts. Born and raised on the soil of London Township, Ont., the farm was in Stu’s blood from the beginning.
He was educated at the University of Guelph, one of the most respected agricultural universities in Canada, and began his career as a science teacher at a number of post-secondary schools in London. This prepared him well for his lifelong passion for land conservation, and his dedication to the movement.
Founding president of the Ontario Pipeline Landowners Association In 1993, when an application was made to convert an oil pipeline to gas and create a new easement agreement and power of attorney for the company behind it, Stu decided to take action. Together with his wife Jocelyn and with much help from Marg and
“Stu was a positive influence…he mentored everyone who followed in his footsteps, not by doing things for them but by giving advice then expecting you to follow through.”
