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The wait is over. St. Thomas finally has a new City Animal Services facility! In this episode of From the Beehive, Sarah from St. Thomas Economic Development takes you on a tour of the newly completed St. Thomas Animal Services shelter, stopping to chat with some of the people who helped make it happen and who know firsthand how badly this new space was needed. Mayor Joe Preston shares how his own dog, Jojo, and a few too many visits to the old facility convinced him that something had to change. Bylaw officer Mike talks about how working in animal services helped him feel at home in St. Thomas, and how one shy cat named Mollie ended up claiming him. And Animal Services Coordinator Laura Keates walks us through the incredible new features, from spacious cat condos with natural light and a dedicated cat lounge to indoor-outdoor dog kennels and a quarantine wing. This facility has been a long time coming. The old shelter was built in the 1970s as a temporary solution. The new one is everything the animals, the staff, and this community deserve. The Cat Lady Chic Art Show and Sale is coming June 21st at Elgin Harvest, in tandem with Sunset Vintage Market. Proceeds from the Cat Lady Chic portion of the event support St. Thomas Animal Services. Don't miss it. Donations to support the continued work at the shelter can also be made at any time
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The City of St. Thomas is undergoing its Official Plan Review, and it's one of the most significant planning processes the city has seen in years.
Mike from the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation sits down with Senior Planner Kevin McClure to break down what the Official Plan actually is, why it matters to residents and businesses alike, and what to expect from this review cycle. From employment lands and residential growth to transportation, heritage, and green space, the Official Plan touches every corner of how a city functions and evolves. With St. Thomas experiencing rapid growth and major legislative changes at the provincial level, the upcoming review is expected to bring substantial updates, all aimed at producing a more accessible, forward-looking document that plans through 2051. The process kicks off May 28th at Memorial Arena, 6 to 8 p.m. Expect public workshops, focused topic sessions in the coming months, and real opportunities to shape the city's long-term direction. St. Thomas residents, business owners, and community members are all encouraged to attend and participate. St. Thomas is getting a major boost to its rental housing supply, and we went straight to the source to find out what's coming.
Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development sat down with Carrie O'Brien, Planner at Drewlo Holdings, at the corner of Elm and Wilson to talk about one of the most significant residential projects in the city's recent history. On a 20-acre brownfield site that once served as a rail terminal, Drewlo is proposing six purpose-built rental buildings with 1,800 to 2,000 units. Before a single unit could be planned, the team had to address the site's complex history, excavate remnant foundations, crush the material for on-site reuse, and complete all required environmental remediation. Carrie breaks down why purpose-built rental matters for overall housing affordability, how this kind of development creates movement across the entire housing continuum, and what it means for retirees looking to downsize and first-time families looking to get into the market. She also shares what attracted Drewlo, a London-based family company, to St. Thomas, including the city's Community Improvement Program (CIP), which helped make brownfield redevelopment financially viable by offsetting development charges and parkland contributions. Groundbreaking on the first building could come as early as later this year. We took a detour into the woods this week and found something worth stopping for. Sarah from St. Thomas Economic Development wandered into the south forest at Yarmouth Yards and connected with Meredith from the City of St. Thomas Industrial Development Team, who shared what's been in the works: a 1.5-kilometre natural trail winding through one of two protected woodlots on site. The trail links to the 12 kilometres of paved recreational paths throughout Yarmouth Yards and will eventually connect to the broader St. Thomas trail network via a multi-use path along South Edgeware Road.
The forest itself isn't just a trail corridor. Conservation work is already underway for bats, birds, and sensitive plant species like trilliums, and both woodlots are protected in perpetuity. If you're looking for a place to step away from the screen and into the trees, this is it. Rebecca from the City of St. Thomas checked in with Tegan from PowerCo, whose team brought out 20 volunteers to help clear and mark the trail as part of this city-led initiative. Three public trailheads mean this space is open to everyone in the community, whether you're walking, running, or cycling. And before we leave the woods entirely: a reminder that the Horton Farmers' Market opens for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 9th, from 8 a.m. to noon at 10 Manitoba Street in downtown St. Thomas. Follow along for updates from local businesses, community initiatives, and everything happening in the Railway City. Explore Railway City Start a Small Business, we can help The one where we learn about the 2026 Municipal Election in St. Thomas: From The Beehive - E1394/22/2026 Thinking about running for council in St. Thomas? Here's everything you need to know.
St. Thomas EDC's Mike sits down with Jon Hindley, Manager of Legislative Services and Deputy City Clerk for the City of St. Thomas, to break down the municipal election process ahead of the October 26, 2026 election. In this video, we cover: Who is eligible to run for city council or mayor in St. Thomas How to file your nomination papers (Form 1 and Form 2) The nomination period: May 1 to August 21, 2026 Campaign sign rules and where signs can and cannot be placed Campaign finance rules, spending limits, and reporting requirements Where to get candidate information packages Candidate Info Session Monday, April 27 | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Carnegie Room, St. Thomas Public Library Zoom option is also available. Details on the city's website. Candidate information packages are available in person at City Hall starting Monday, April 27th. Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development chats with Danielle Nielsen, Acting Director of Social Services for the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County, to discuss the new 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan currently being developed for our community.
Filmed on location at 230 Talbot Street, this conversation covers the transition from the 2014-2024 plan into the upcoming 2026-2036 cycle, what makes St. Thomas a recognized leader among Canadian communities in its response to homelessness, and the four pillars guiding the next decade of work: End Homelessness, Build Housing, Sustain Stock, and Lead Collaboratively. Danielle also speaks to the cross-sector collaboration that has helped St. Thomas achieve something many communities are struggling to do right now: actually reducing homelessness, even as other cities see numbers climb. Want to have your say? Community input is still being collected. 1. Public Open House / Information Centre: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 4 – 6 p.m. St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services Building 230 Talbot Street, St. Thomas Community Room (main floor, Talbot St. entrance) 2. Online Feedback Form Available March 25 – April 15, 2026 Review the additional information, complete the public survey, and make your voice heard in this important planning process. We’re braving the cold at Talbot Street and Fairview Avenue for a quick on-site update on a major milestone for St. Thomas infrastructure.
In this video, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Dan to talk about the newly reopened Talbot & Fairview intersection and what’s changed since the last time drivers passed through. You’ll learn: • Why the intersection is safer and easier to navigate • How new sight lines and opposing left-turn lanes improve traffic flow • What’s coming next for Talbot Street, including a major sanitary sewer upgrade • When to expect construction impacts later this year This project is an important step in preparing St. Thomas for future growth, including increased industrial activity, while improving everyday safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. We know construction isn’t always fun while it’s happening, but the long-term benefits are worth it. Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow along for more local updates from around the city. In this week’s update from City Hall, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development ducks inside to escape the cold and sits down with Dave Kerr to talk about something that truly warms the community—Special Olympics in St. Thomas.
Dave shares his role as a regional co-coordinator and longtime coach, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the wide range of sports programs available locally and their impact on athletes across all seasons. With nearly 50 Special Olympians participating in St. Thomas, the programs go far beyond competition—building confidence, leadership, friendships, and a strong sense of belonging. We’re also joined by Julian, a Special Olympian, who speaks candidly about his experiences in basketball, bowling, and soccer, the friendships he’s made along the way, and what representing St. Thomas means to him. His story is a powerful reminder of why these programs matter—not just to athletes, but to the entire community that cheers them on.The conversation wraps up with a look ahead to Sports Spectacular, a one-of-a-kind event that brings together Special Olympians, their families, community supporters, and professional athletes for an unforgettable evening in support of Special Olympics. If you haven’t experienced Sports Spectacular before, this is the year to check it out! Get Tickets today while you still can as tomorrow is the spectacular event! What you’re looking at may just seem like a giant hole in the ground—but it’s actually one of the most important projects supporting the future of St. Thomas.
In this update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Pat Anckaert at the site of the Dalewood Water Reclamation Facility (D-WRF) to explain why the City needs a second wastewater treatment facility, how it works, and what’s being built right now. As St. Thomas continues to grow, the existing facility near Sunset and Bush Line is approaching capacity. To support new homes, schools, hospitals, and continued community growth, Dalewood WRF is being constructed to handle future wastewater needs—using a modern, multi-step treatment process. In this video, Pat walks through: ✅Why the Dalewood Water Reclamation Facility is needed ✅The seven-step wastewater treatment process, from screening and settling to bioreactors, filtration, and UV disinfection ✅How microorganisms are used to naturally break down harmful substances ✅What happens to solids, and how nutrients are returned to the natural cycle as reusable fertilizer ✅What the massive excavation on site represents, including secondary clarifiers, bioreactors, and underground conduits ✅How landscaped berms may improve aesthetics, reduce odours, and even support future recreational trails ✅The importance of using local contractors from across Southwestern Ontario This is a three-year build, with construction underway now and first flows expected around mid-2029. It’s a project most people don’t think about—but one that plays a critical role in modern life and long-term community resilience. Interested in learning more about how wastewater is safely returned to the environment?  In part one of the series, we learned more about Stormwater Management. This second installment of the series focuses on Wastewater management, which is one of the most important — and least visible — public services in any community. It works quietly beneath our streets and behind the scenes, treating everything that leaves our sinks, showers, toilets, businesses, and industries before that water ever touches the natural environment again.
In Ontario, wastewater systems are built on a simple promise: No drop of used water should return to nature without being cleaned, tested, and proven safe. To uphold that promise, municipalities like St. Thomas operate under strict provincial regulations and use a combination of advanced engineering, real-time monitoring, and ongoing investment in infrastructure. Here’s how it all works. |
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