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The PowerCo project in St. Thomas, Ontario, has reached an exciting new milestone! 🚧⚡
In this update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development meets with Allan Gadd, Senior Construction Manager at PowerCo, to talk about the start of foundation work on Cell Production 1 (CP1) — the massive first phase of Canada’s newest battery manufacturing facility. Allan shares insights on: What this milestone means for the overall project timeline 🏗️ How local contractors and trades are playing a significant role in construction 👷♀️ The sheer scale of the build — 850,000 sq ft of foundations and tens of thousands of cubic metres of concrete! What will happen inside the facility once it’s complete (hint: it’s where the battery cells come to life 🔋) How this project is driving local jobs and economic impact across the St. Thomas–London region Steel installation begins soon—so expect to see the skyline change before the end of the year! 🎥 Follow along for more behind-the-scenes updates from the St. Thomas MegaSite — the future home of PowerCo and the growing EV ecosystem in Southwestern Ontario.
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We’re back at Yarmouth Yards with another on-site update — and there’s a lot to see!
From the now-complete rail bridge and track installation to the rapidly greening Uber Pond (yes, it even has its own island!), progress is moving fast across the site. Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development and Nathan from The City of St. Thomas as they walk through the latest milestones: 🚆 Phase 1 of the rail spur — fully installed and ballasted 🌿 Hydroseeding and landscaping around the Uber Pond 🚰 Sewer, water, and utility work through Phase 3 🏝 Plus… the possible naming of Bokma Island (or Nathan’s Island — we’ll let you decide ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Find out what “hydroseeding” actually means, get a sneak peek at the future multi-use path network, and catch the friendly banter that’s become a staple of our Yarmouth Yards updates. 🚜❄️ Winter is coming — and so are the plows!
In this week’s update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development heads over to 100 Burwell Road to chat with Matt Vriens, Manager of Transportation and Bylaw for the City of St. Thomas. Together, they break down everything you need to know about winter parking rules, temporary permits, and how to stay on the city’s “nice list” when the snow starts to fly. Matt walks us through: 🚗 Why overnight on-street parking restrictions exist 📅 When they take effect (December 1 – March 15, 2 a.m. – 6 a.m.) 🅿️ How to apply for temporary parking passes for guests or special occasions 🌲 A Christmas Bonus where enforcement is suspended (December 25–26 and January 1)🌨️ A new Boulevard Parking Program that may work for your street Whether you’re a new resident or a long-time St. Thomas driver, this quick chat clears up the confusion around winter parking — and keeps those snowplows rolling safely! 👉 Learn more and apply for permits 📱 Download the Honk App for convenient parking options. Do your part by following the parking guidelines to keep our roads safer for the folks who keep our streets safe. Keep your eyes out for Snow Thornton, Sir Plows-a-Lot, and Control Salt Delete this winter! Wave at a plow and you might just be waving at the Plow King, Josh Cousins. This week, we are heading to the Horton Farmers' Market to connect with Monique Clark, the EDC team's Horton Farmers' Market Coordinator, to learn about upcoming events and more!
🧡 Pumpkin Fest — October 25 at the Horton Farmers’ Market It’s the first-ever Pumpkin Fest, and the market team is going all in — costume contests, pumpkin carving and painting, baking and photography competitions, and some new fall games like pumpkin bowling and pumpkin tic-tac-toe. They've even topped up the vendor list for the day so you can shop, snack, and play your way through the market. Hours: 8am-Noon Grab the details and join in on some of the contests! ❤️ Horton Christmas Market — November 15 at the Horton Farmers’ Market The shift from pumpkins to pinecones is just around the corner with the biggest event of the year at the market — more than 105 local vendors, your favourite farmers and makers, live music, and of course, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hours: 10am - 4pm RSVP for all the updates! The season's full of warmth, community, and a little bit of market magic. But it's NOT the end of the market for the year. 💚The Horton Farmers' Market is open ALL YEAR! Winter at Horton is an indoor-only shopping opportunity to stay connected with some of your favourite farms and makers all year long. Winter at Horton runs on Saturdays from November 22 - April 25 from 9am-1pm so you don't have to disrupt your weekend routines! Want some of the market merch you see behind Monique? Come to the Market on Saturday to check it out! 📍 Horton Farmers’ Market, 10 Manitoba St. in Downtown St. Thomas Please note the market is closed on November 8 for seasonal turnaround. 🚒 A New Chapter for Station One!
Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development as he visits Station One on Wellington Street for a very special day — the arrival and pushing-in ceremony of St. Thomas Fire Department's newest pump truck! Fire Chief Gregory shares the story behind this important upgrade — from the history of the 2004 E1 pump being retired, to the fascinating tradition of pushing in the new apparatus, a ritual that dates back to the 1800s when fire engines were drawn by horses. Learn how the department keeps its fleet reliable, how older trucks find new life supporting smaller volunteer departments, and why this investment helps keep the citizens of St. Thomas safe and protected. 👀 Watch the firefighters and administration team carry out the ceremonial push-in 🔥 Get a look at the brand-new engine 💬 Hear Chief Gregory explain how the fire service balances tradition with innovation 🎥 Hit play to see the full moment Technology Trail is taking shape in St. Thomas!
In this update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Meredith Woodhouse to share the latest progress on the new arterial roadway. Here’s what you’ll see in this video: 40,000 cubic meters of fill were brought in. Curbs are in place, the road is tied into Highway 3, and top-coat paving and markings are next. Technology Trail is designed as a divided highway with higher speeds and fewer intersections, making it safer for drivers. Learn why chicanes are built into the roundabouts to slow traffic and improve flow. The road is set to open next year to support major construction traffic at Yarmouth Yards. A quick look at the city’s “new-to-us” truck and what it means for work on site. Stay tuned for more updates as St. Thomas continues to grow. Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss the next video. *Please note that updates to HWY 3 itself are under the MTO, and we will provide a more detailed update when we can. 🎥 Downtown St. Thomas is buzzing with events this week!
Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is checking in from the Elgin County Railway Museum with an update on a jam-packed six-day stretch of community celebrations: 🍻 Oktoberfest 2025 A huge thank you to everyone who came out in their lederhosen and dirndls to raise a stein and celebrate! This event wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors PowerCo, Arcadis, Magna, and many more, plus the incredible volunteers and staff who brought German flair to downtown St. Thomas. Prost to another great year! 🎤 Still Standing – Season Finale with Jonny Harris 📍 Joe Thornton Arena – Wednesday, September 24 @7pm CBC’s hit show Still Standing is filming its 2025 season finale right here in St. Thomas! Seating is first-come, first-served for up to 1,000 people—don’t miss this chance to be part of a national spotlight moment. Catch up on the show. 🥂 Bridges to Better Business 2025 📍 Elgin County Railway Museum – Thursday, September 25 An evening to celebrate entrepreneurship with: A local food showcase featuring 20+ small food businesses 🍴 The annual Small Business Awards 🏆 A live performance by Canadian jazz star Matt Dusk 🎶 More details and tickets are available. Try codes MAGNA or DANCOR for 50% off a limited number of tickets! Thanks to sponsors SEM Construction, Dancor, Magna, and Michael Clark Construction. 👏 A heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and community partners who make these events possible. You’re the backbone of St. Thomas's vibrant community spirit. 🌧️ Even when the site is a little quiet after a rainfall, there’s still big news to share from the St. Thomas Mega Site!
In this episode, Mike and Nathan take you to the top of a soil pile with a sweeping view of the Industrial Park to talk about one of the most significant stormwater projects on the site—"Pond 3," or as the team affectionately calls it, the "Über Pond." 💧 What you'll learn in this update:- Why this massive 35-acre stormwater pond is essential for the future of the site. - How it manages water responsibly by detaining and slowly releasing runoff. - The engineering behind designing for 100-year storm events while protecting downstream areas. - What the pond will (and won't!) be used for (spoiler: no water sports, but plenty of environmental benefits). This stormwater system is a crucial component in ensuring the Mega Site is prepared for industry while preserving the surrounding environment. 📍 Stay tuned for more Beehive updates as we keep building the future of St. Thomas together. All aboard for progress in St. Thomas! 🚂
In this update, we take you behind the scenes of the brand-new rail yard connecting the CN mainline to the PowerCo battery plant. Join Mike as he speaks with Wesley Sam’s from Amico Infrastructures and Phil from PNR RailWorks, who walk us through the massive undertaking of building this essential rail link. From constructing embankments and bridges to laying continuously welded rail, discover the teamwork and precision engineering that’s bringing this project to life. You’ll learn: - How Amico prepared the site, built the bridge, and placed ballast. - Why PNR skeleton-build the track before ballasting. - The high-tech machines used to lift, shift, and tamp rail into place. - How expansion, contraction, and thermite welding keep the track safe and secure. - The story behind the upcoming ceremonial “Golden Spike.” This is the first new rail laid in St. Thomas in decades—an important milestone as we prepare to welcome PowerCo’s EV battery plant and the opportunities it will bring to our community. From the Beehive E111 - Yarmouth Yards Pumping Station & a Police vs. Fire Challenge Issued9/3/2025 In this episode, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined once again by Nathan Bokma from the City of St. Thomas Industrial Development Team to share an inside look at one of the most important infrastructure projects underway at the Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park — the brand-new Yarmouth Yards Sewage Pumping Station.
📍 Located at the southeast corner of the site, this station is being built at the lowest elevation of the park to ensure efficient sanitary servicing for future industries coming to the St. Thomas Megasite. Nathan explains: Why a sewage pumping station is essential for the industrial park. How Grinder Pumps Differ from Water Supply Pumps. Safety measures, such as the shoring system, are used to protect workers operating eight meters below ground. How wastewater is collected by gravity, ground up, and pumped through a force main into the larger sewer system. Along the way, Mike shares some "classic plumbing wisdom", while Nathan walks us through the engineering details that keep the site safe and functional. This project is a critical step in preparing the Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park for the expansion of opportunity in St. Thomas. Stay tuned for a Police vs. Fire challenge throwdown between Chief Roskamp and Chief Gregory - it's sure to be a nailbiter as part of Downtown Oktoberfest on September 20, presented by the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board. |
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