From the Beehive E 62 - From Megasite to Tiny Site: Bridges to Oktoberfest + Project Tiny Hope9/11/2024 Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development for an action-packed update on what's happening in St. Thomas! 🚧
🚧On the Megasite: - The pedestrian bridge is going in under the railroad bridge, and curb work is underway on the YYES1 project. - The Power Co parcel grading is complete and ready for the next phase. - There are big changes on Highbury! Traffic has switched from the west side to the east side and the roundabout at South Edgeware is open for use. 🎉September is a busy month for local and community events! 🎶 The Elgin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre is hosting Bridges to Better Business on September 26. This event offers a local food showcase for guests to enjoy a creative approach to their dinner for the evening, a small business awards celebration, and a special live music performance by Steven Page! Tickets are available to the public. Don't miss out! 🍻 Oktoberfest in September?! YES! Just like in Munich! The Downtown Development Board is kicking off the Fall with a fun-filled festival on September 21 with food, games, and over $3,000 in prizes through a Goosechase Scavenger Hunt launching September 14-21. This is a FREE admission event, and many activities are free to enjoy, including TRAIN RIDES! More details on the Downtown Development Board’s Facebook and website! 🚧 On the Tiny Site: 🏠 Project Tiny Hope: A community collaborative creating 40 affordable tiny homes will be making enormous progress soon! Doug Tarry Homes is leading a blitz build event on Sept. 24-26, with over 100 volunteers from other Home Builders constructing eight tiny homes in just three days! Follow along with Project Tiny Hope Don’t miss out on these fantastic events that celebrate the spirit of St. Thomas.
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From the Beehive E61 -Â Highbury and South Edgeware Roundabout Update + United Way 3M Harvest Lunch9/4/2024 In today’s update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is on-site at the new roundabout at the intersection of Highbury and South Edgeware. He is joined by Pat Anckaert from The City of St. Thomas Industrial Development Team for an exciting progress report. Tune in to learn about the installation of base asphalt, upcoming milestones like traffic switching, and what to expect next, including an art installation coming this November!
Another Michael joins us this week as Mike Brix, also from the St. Thomas Industrial Development Team, shares progress on the YYES1 portion of the project. It's a main event. At St. Thomas Economic Development, we are also big fans of the community, so Mike also caught up with Chris McKinnis from United Way to talk about the upcoming 3M Harvest Lunch at ECRM on Wednesday, September 18th. Get all the details on the delicious menu and learn how this event supports local initiatives, benefiting 39 agencies right here in St. Thomas. Welcome back to another From the Beehive update!
Today, we are checking in to see the construction progress at Hospice of Elgin! In this video, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is on location with Laura, the Interim Executive Director of Hospice of Elgin. Together, they walk us through the exciting progress of this vital project, which has been over a decade in the making. This 17,000-square-foot facility, set to open its doors in summer 2025, will be Elgin County's very first hospice, offering expert specialized palliative care in a warm, community-focused environment. Laura explains what hospice care truly means—it's not just about the end of life but about creating a space that honours what matters most in those final days. Construction is moving swiftly, thanks to the hard work of their general contractor, Graceview Enterprises, and the tremendous support from the local community. While incredible strides have been made, there's still more to be done. The Hospice of Elgin team calls on our community to help furnish and equip the hospice to make it a true home for those in need. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. If you’d like to participate in this special project, please visit Elgin Hospice's website to learn more about how you can contribute. From the Beehive E58 A Brief History with Steve Peters: The Auto Industry Comes to St. Thomas8/14/2024 🚂 The Evolution of St. Thomas: From Railways to Automobiles & Beyond 🚗
In this episode, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Councillor Steve Peters, a local historian, to learn more about the economic impact of the arrival of the Automotive Industry in St. Thomas. St. Thomas, Ontario, owes much of its identity and development to the railway industry. However, by the 1930s, changes in rail technology began to slow down this once-thriving sector. But St. Thomas didn’t stop there—it adapted and thrived by shifting its focus to the automotive industry. With the arrival of major companies like Timken Roller Bearing, Weatherhead, and Singer Controls, the city quickly became a hub for producing automobile parts for Detroit's assembly plants. The pivotal moment came in 1965, when the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact led to the establishment of the Ford St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Talbotville. This plant became the community’s largest employer and sparked economic growth throughout southwestern Ontario. Despite the closure of the Ford plant in 2011, St. Thomas has remained a key player in the automotive industry. In this video, we explore the fascinating transition from railways to automotive manufacturing and how St. Thomas is once again at the forefront of technological change with the rise of EVs. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next update! Welcome back to another update from the St. Thomas Megasite!Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is diving into the sewer details happening right now as part of YYES - the Yarmouth Yards Earthworks and Servicing Project.
🔧 In This Video: We're on-site at the installation of a massive storm sewer pipe. Joined by Gerald deVries, CAO of Blue-Con Construction, and Ryan McFarland, Supervisor at Blue-Con Construction. Discussing the scope of this large-scale project and its significance to the development of the Yarmouth Yards. Key Highlights: - This storm sewer pipe is one of the largest in the project, set to drain a substantial portion of the 1,500-acre Yarmouth Yards. It underscores the importance of understanding the terrain, grading, and future use when designing the intricate underground systems that keep communities flowing. - Insights into the installation process, including grading, bedding, and backfilling. - The meticulous steps taken to ensure the pipe is properly installed and sealed. Stay tuned for more updates on the St. Thomas Megasite and the incredible work being done to support our community's growth and development! Welcome back to another interesting update from the St. Thomas Megasite! 🏗️
In this week's update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development takes us on-site to the rail bridge construction area. Paul, a foreman from AMICO, dives into the details of this significant infrastructure project. Paul shares insights into the current phase of the bridge construction, including: - Pouring of the footing for the center pier of the rail bridge crossing HWY 3. - Using up to 35m stainless steel rebar for enhanced durability. - Installation of 80-foot deep pilings to support the bridge structure. - The impressive volume of concrete required for the pours, with the north footing taking 92 meters and the current pour needing 60 meters. Paul also explains the next steps, including the construction of a pier and a pier cap and the placement of the steel train bridge on top. Stay tuned for more updates as the rail bridge continues to take shape! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay informed about all the latest developments from the St. Thomas MegaSite. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next update! Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development as he gives an exciting update from the St. Thomas Megasite.
In this video, Mike and Rob from Hayman Construction, a family-owned company from London, delve into the details of the ongoing expansion project near the existing water storage station. Rob explains the significant work being done to install a booster pumping station that will serve St. Thomas, London, Aylmer, and surrounding communities. This project is crucial for future businesses of Yarmouth Yards and involves extensive excavation, shoring, and installation of reinforced concrete structures. Learn about the complex construction processes, including installing caissons, grade beams, and tiebacks designed to ensure safety and structural integrity. Get an inside look at the detailed planning and hard work behind this critical infrastructure project. Welcome back to another update from St. Thomas City Hall! Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development as he dives into the fascinating rail heritage of St. Thomas with Councillor Steve Peters.
In this episode, we explore the historical transportation connections that shaped our city, starting with Colonel Talbot's creation of the Talbot Road in 1809. Learn about the pivotal role of the railways, beginning with the arrival of the London and Port Stanley Railway in 1856 and how the railway boom in the 1870s transformed St. Thomas into a bustling economic hub. Councillor Peters shares intriguing insights into why major rail lines chose St. Thomas as their divisional headquarters and the impact this had on our local economy and population growth. Discover how the advent of diesel engines in the 1940s marked the decline of the railway era and the subsequent challenges faced by city economic developers. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our future videos! Key Topics: Early Transportation and Talbot Road Arrival of the First Railway Railway Boom and Population Growth in the 1870s Economic Impact of the Railways Decline of the Railway Era in the 1940s Why Major Rail Lines Chose St. Thomas Notable Figures Passing Through St. Thomas Please leave a comment below with your thoughts and any questions you have about St. Thomas's rail heritage. See you in the next update! We've got another exciting update From the Beehive today!
Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Nathan Bokma from the Industrial Development team to share an exciting progress report from the South Edgeware extension. In this video, we dive into the latest developments: 🔧 Booster Station Project: Groundbreaking commenced a few months ago, and the rig on-site is currently boring into the ground to install a safe trench for contractors to lay the foundations and connect large-diameter pipes to the Elgin Middlesex pumping station reservoir. 🚧 South Edgeware Extension: The road network is taking shape! Contractors at Blue Con are on schedule to install sanitary and storm sewers and build the road. The current gravel road will eventually be paved, complete with curbs and multi-use paths (MUPs) for enhanced connectivity. Don't miss Nathan's insights on the project’s progress and what’s next for the site. Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development and Pat Anckaert from the City of St. Thomas Industrial Development Team on-site to learn more about the Highbury Ave Widening Project's current status.
Highlights from today's update: Sanitary Trunk Main: Connecting to the Harper Road pump station to manage flows from Yarmouth Yards to the pollution control plant on Sunset. Water Main Installation: A 750mm diameter main, one of the largest in the city, feeding Central Elgin and Southwold. Highbury Progress: Widening to the east with curb installation coming soon. - Granular A, asphalt, and line markings to follow. - Traffic flip to the east side of Highbury is anticipated by the end of July. - Ongoing works at Ron McNeil and Highbury roundabout, Centennial, and Highway 3. 🛣️ Looking ahead: December 2024: Expected completion of the base coat asphalt on Highbury. Spring 2025: Final surface coat, line markings, hydroseeding, and signage. |
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