Without a doubt, this is an exciting time to be a resident of St. Thomas.
Exciting that is if you are not averse to change of epic proportions.
And as Sean Dyke, CEO of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation pointed out a presentation to city council on May 13, exciting because his organization gets to share “the really good news stories.”
Dyke continued, “I recall being here 15 years ago at the height of a pretty negative time in St. Thomas talking about a lot of businesses that were leaving.
“And, it’s so nice to be here at a time when we can talk about the complete opposite. The strides we’ve taken as a community to push this forward.”
To indicate just how busy the EDC has been, Dyke noted over the past fiscal year ending in March, they have had 856 consultations with different businesses.
From that, 256 new jobs were created in the community, which includes all of Elgin county.

In that period, 86 new businesses were started 56 were expanded and $110,000 in grants were awarded through the Elgin-St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre.
Dyke noted 2023 was “the best year we’ve ever had, with the exception maybe of one year.”
Reflected in $192 million in building permits issued, which does not include institutional permits or anything related to the PowerCo EV battery facility.
That compares to $96 million the previous year.
The brunt of that is residential growth and in 2023, there were 483 housing starts, second only to 628 in 2000.
Over the past five years, there have been more than 2,000 housing starts, which includes apartments and townhouses.
What the city is experiencing is growth in apartment units as only 85 single-family homes were built last year, the lowest number in the past decade, primarily due to interest rates.
Last year 207 semis and townhouses were constructed, again the highest number in the past decade.
So how is 2024 looking after the first quarter?

“In the last six months, we’ve actually done more housing in St. Thomas, from a housing unit standpoint, than we have done in any other year other than 2023 and 2020.”

Just shy of $150 million in building permits so far, that is better than many entire years.
Dyke noted the city has experienced more industrial growth in the past three months than any year in the history of St. Thomas.
“This is massive for a community that hasn’t even seen some of the largest growth that is going to happen.”
In the first quarter of this year, there have been 235 housing starts.
“In the last six months, we’ve actually done more housing in St. Thomas, from a housing unit standpoint, than we have done in any other year other than 2023 and 2020.”

“We’re in a very good position across the province. There are not many communities that can offer what we’re offering right now.”

As stated above, much of that is due to apartment growth including Alma College Square and The Highlands.
Industrial growth is led by Element5, Amino, Vicano, Magna and Maxill.
“Great new growth from existing companies,” stressed Dyke.
On the institution side is Hospice for Elgin and the Indwell housing project The Station.
And of course, the Holiday Inn opened this year adjacent to The Elgin Centre.
And once the PowerCo facility begins to evolve, the building permit values will be in the billions of dollars not millions.
“Absolutely game-changing for the city,” stressed Dyke.
And there are still about 800 acres available for businesses in Yarmouth Yards, the city’s new industrial park.
“We’re in a very good position across the province. There are not many communities that can offer what we’re offering right now.”

THOU SHALT AMEND

A frustrating development for members of city council this past week.
A decision they unanimously made two years ago has been overturned by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
In June 2022, JEG Home Solutions sought a zoning amendment to support a six-townhouse development at 30 South Edgeware Road.
A public meeting was held on May 16 of that year, and approximately 20 neighbours had submitted written comments on the application before the public meeting.
Concerns cited in the correspondence included vehicle and pedestrian traffic and safety, loss of green space and trees, disruption of neighbourhood and natural environment, noise, drainage, parking, building lot coverage and lot size, density, potential devaluation of existing homes, water and sewer issues, snow removal, and garbage.
Four individuals spoke at the public meeting, raising concerns about the loss of green space, the potential for a heritage designation for the existing structure and issues raised by parents whose children use this section of Woodward Cres. as a drop-off point for Lockes Public School.
City staff acknowledged the concerns but recommended the application warrants consideration.
Council instead unanimously turned down the zoning amendment.
JEG appealed council’s decision and in December of last year, the tribunal sided with the developer.
So the city must – with no opportunity to appeal – amend the zoning bylaw to allow the development to proceed.
As expected, grumbling in the council chamber about an unelected body overruling a decision by elected officials in the municipality based on the concerns of city ratepayers.

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROTOCOL

The YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin is actively working toward reducing youth homelessness in collaboration with a group of community partners.
The efforts are coordinated through the Taking Action on Youth Homelessness Committee, explains the YWCA’s Shannon Wagner.
The purpose is the prevention, diversion and housing of youth who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness in Elgin county.
“A big part of the committee is prevention and diversion. Trying to keep youth out of the adult system and then creating a wrap-around system using all of the partner agencies to work together to try and provide resources to eliminate the barriers.”
To commemorate 10 years of youth homelessness and housing instability prevention, a free event open to the public will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 29 at the Elgin County Railway Museum.
It is an event guaranteed to be filled with hope for the future and plans to address and end youth homelessness in St. Thomas and Elgin county.
The Taking Action on Youth Homelessness Committee has assembled guest speakers to address the benefits and challenges of a youth homelessness protocol.

“There is a lot of stigma attached to being a young person out of the home looking for somewhere to live.”

Wagner explains the format for the free event open to the public.
“We’re opening at three o’clock for everyone to mingle and the presentation will start at 3:30 and it should run until approximately 4:30.
“And then there will be time to mingle. We will also have resources available from the different services and agencies that are part of the protocol that people can access.”
Through the Youth Homelessness Protocol at the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, housing-based case managers assist youth in finding or maintaining housing and achieving an optimum quality of life.
Case manager Jenny Sager talks about the challenges these youth face.
“There is a lot of stigma attached to being a young person out of the home looking for somewhere to live.
“That stigma comes with a lot of ‘No’s’ when you go to look for places and the competition these days – I’ve been one of the front-line workers involved in the protocol for the 10 years – and the change in the youth we’re working with and the change in the housing atmosphere and affordability, all those things have played into the factors that create these barriers for these youth.”
Wagner advises they are seeing an increase in the number of younger teens accessing their services.
“Unfortunately, it’s difficult for youth. We’re finding a big increase in 16 and 17-year-olds who are coming through.
“They don’t have identification, they don’t have the credit they might need for housing. And, there are a number of youth who actually access the YWCA youth housing because we do have youth homes and we work with Family and Children Services and with foster care.”
These young people often have not been exposed to basic life skills.
“A lot of these individuals haven’t been taught. They don’t know how to do basic life skills. And so, by getting connected with us, they get connected with a housing base case manager and then they are able to work with them to develop those skills.
“Work with them on how to pay rent and how to pay a bill.”
The housing protocol assists young people in:

• Developing plans
• Enhancing life skills
• Addressing health and mental health needs
• Engaging in meaningful activities
• Building social and community relations
• Accessing education and employment

If you are a youth 16-24 years old or know of a homeless youth in need of support, access the Youth Homelessness Protocol by calling 519-631-9800 ext. 237 during business hours 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, or by calling 2-1-1 evenings and weekends.

THE ART OF RECOVERY

It’s an event that the organizers admit will involve some tough conversations.
The Art of Recovery is a presentation of Somerset Recovery, a Canadian non-profit organization supporting mental health, recovery and the arts.
It was founded by Canadian singer/songwriter Michelle Titian who is also a mental health advocate and recovery coach.
Their event is coming up on May 31 at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre and features live music, entertainment and a community mental health panel.
We spoke this week with program director Sarah Patriquin from Oneida Nation of the Thames about the St. Thomas event, the second such event held in the city.
Their first gathering was held last October at the CASO station to raise awareness about mental health, break the stigma around mental health and addictions, celebrate music and the arts, and carry a message of hope.
The mental health panel includes psychotherapist Tisha Summers, Stephanie Preston and a youth author.
“Mental health doesn’t start after we turn 20,” reminds Patriquin, “teenagers have to be having these discussions and supported as well.”
The panel members will be asked a series of questions about their mental health, how it has affected them and how they deal with it.
“And we get the conversation going about mental health,” adds Patriquin, “because we are trying to kill the stigma around mental health and addiction.”
And Patriquin has travelled that path.
“I got involved with Somerset about two years ago. I am a recovering addict/alcoholic.
“During the pandemic, things got a little bit crazy and Women of Recovery is a group on Facebook that Michelle (Titian)started and she offered weekend retreats.
“And the first one I went to was 12-step based with Indigenous elements throughout the weekend and a lot of time with fellow women who have the same struggle as me.
“It changed my recovery and it changed my life. It got me back on track as to the zest for life.
“And I was able to go back for another retreat which was a self-love retreat. It was based on learning about ourselves and how to accept and love ourselves. And how to grow within ourselves.”
Somerset Recovery won $10,000 in the 100 People Who Care-Elgin County Chapter community grant event, organized by the Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation.
“That led to us being able to serve three retreats for women of Elgin county,” notes Patriquin.

Likewise, The Art of Recovery is a free event thanks to financial support from Doug Tarry Homes, Simply Pure Water and Rocky’s Harley-Davidson.
“Ultimately, everyone has struggled,” stresses Patriquin, “and the important factor is that you know you are not alone.
“There are going to be some hard conversations, but at the end, it is so powerful how our community comes together and embraces all of the struggles and talks about it.
“From what we’ve gathered from our previous events, everyone leaves with a sense of community and empowering each other.”
Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by Titian, Preston and Summers along with Port Stanley comedian
Emerald Hill.
The event – which begins at 6:30 p.m. May 31 – is open to everyone with free admission, however, you are asked to register at somersetrecovery.com.
And if the name Somerset Recovery sounds familiar, it is the organization whose grant request to help fund this event was denied last month by city council.

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.