From the Beehive E58 A Brief History with Steve Peters: The Auto Industry Comes to St. Thomas

🚂 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.

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