The City of St. Thomas is updating its Official Plan to recognize parks and recreation as essential municipal infrastructure and a key component of complete communities.The process is the subject of a public meeting this coming Tuesday (Oct. 13) at 6 p.m. in the council chamber at city hall.
A proposed amendment would align the Official Plan policies and the Parkland Dedication Bylaw with the 2026 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and current provincial requirements.
It would repeal current Parks and Recreation policy direction and introduce new policies supportive of the recommendations in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, approved in February of this year.
According to the report to be presented to city council at Tuesday’s meeting, “The proposed changes represent a modernization of the city’s parkland planning and dedication framework that considers the city’s anticipated population growth, changing community needs, and demographic forecasts.”
The Official Plan would be updated to:
Recognize parks and recreation as essential municipal infrastructure and a key component of complete communities.
Establish a target of 1.8 hectares of growth -related parkland per 1,000 additional residents between 2026 and 2051.
Support an improved distribution and accessibility of parks across the city.
Use a 500-metre walking distance as a general planning consideration for assessing access to parks.
Support a connected network of parks, trails, pathways and public open spaces.
Encourage parks to be delivered concurrently with growth and development.
Recognize the different roles of neighbourhood, community, regional and other types of parks.
Support accessible, inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient parks and recreation facilities.
A key policy change would be to prioritize land for parks over cash-in-lieu, where suitable land is available
and needed. This will give the city a greater ability to secure parkland in areas where new residents need it.
The proposed policies would establish that land provided for parks should be:
appropriately located;
adequately sized and configured;
publicly accessible;
connected to the surrounding neighbourhood;
capable of supporting recreational use; and
suitable for long-term municipal ownership and maintenance.
The report stresses, “New parks would generally be expected to be at least .5 hectares, while recognizing that smaller parkettes or strategic public spaces may be appropriate in certain circumstances.“The intent is to avoid receiving small or constrained parcels that technically satisfy a dedication requirement but provide limited recreational value.”
The city would use the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and development review process to identify:
areas with parkland deficiencies;
areas experiencing significant growth;
areas with limited access to parks;
opportunities to expand existing parks; and
strategic locations for new parks and trails.
The report states, “This allows parkland contributions to be directed toward identified community needs, rather than simply accumulating parkland wherever development happens to occur.
“The updated framework would recognize that infill and higher-density development create different parkland needs from greenfield development.”
This framework would enable the city to prioritize:
expansion of existing parks;
acquisition of strategically located properties;
urban parks and parkettes;
improved pedestrian and cycling connections; and
targeted use of cash-in-lieu for eligible park improvements or acquisitions.
In summary, “The objective is to create a connected parks and recreation system, rather than treating individual parks as isolated parcels.”
HEADING INDOORS
An indoor sports dome facility is on the agenda for Tuesday’s (Oct. 13) meeting, with members asked to approve an application for provincial funding and the hiring of Oakville-based landscape architecture firm, Baker Turner Inc., at $91,000 to study the proposed facility.
A study presented to council in March of this year determined an indoor sports dome as a priority project to address the community’s need for year-round indoor field sport opportunities.
According to a report to council from Adrienne Lacey Griffin, Director of Parks and Recreation, the study identified “A significant gap in year-round indoor recreation space for soccer, football, field hockey, rugby, lacrosse, and other turf-based activities.
“Through stakeholder engagement, user group consultation, and recreation needs analysis, the study identified a need for increased indoor field sport capacity and found that local organizations currently rely on facilities in London during the winter season due to the absence of indoor turf infrastructure within St. Thomas.”
The proposed facility includes:
Two small-sided indoor turf fields.
Convertible court space accommodating basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
A perimeter walking track.
A support building including change rooms, washrooms, storage and meeting space.
The projected cost is $14 million, with estimated annual operating profits as high as $160,000.
The facility would require about three hectares of land, with the vacant municipal lands north of Fire Station No. 2 on Silver Street as the preferred location for further evaluation due to its proximity to 1Password Park.There is a rather significant consideration related to that site.
The report to council cautions that “the available Silver Street parcel is approximately 2.5 hectares and may be further constrained by recent property transactions.”
The report continues, “Should the full concept not fit, the consultant team will identify site constraints, evaluate alternative development configurations, determine any additional land requirements, and recommend a site-compatible concept with updated cost estimates to support the CSRIF (the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund) application.”
A key takeaway from the report: Staff are not recommending a funding application for the proposed community/aquatic centre.
Staff note that, “A preferred site has not been identified or secured, and the council-approved feasibility study noted that no municipally owned lands are currently available to accommodate the recommended program.”
CANDIDATE PROFILE: HEATHER JACKSON, CITY OF ST. THOMAS
Former councillor and mayor, Heather Jackson, is bidding to return to city hall after an unsuccessful mayoral run in 2022. She also sought a third term as mayor in 2018, but finished second to Joe Preston.
The obvious starting point in the conversation was what influenced her to return to the public spotlight.
You know, I’ve had that question quite a few times from a lot of different folks, and it was, as you will note, a very late, last-minute getting my nomination papers in. It was the second-to-last day.
“And that was due to a lot of thoughtful conversations, especially with my husband. It was just four years ago that he underwent cancer treatment. So we’ve been through a lot in a very short time. I said, I’m not going to do this unless you’re the first one to sign my nomination papers. And he did. So, you know, a lot of conversations, not just with family, but with the public as well.“And a lot of people saying, 6.1 per cent tax increase, are you kidding me? What are we getting for this? And there were a few items that really, really got under my skin, I’d say in the last six months, and enough to kind of spur me on to say, okay, that’s it. I’m going to put my name in, and we’re going to see what happens come October.”
It should come as no surprise, then, that a key platform issue this time around is fiscal responsibility.
“Absolutely. Like I just said, a 6.1 per cent tax increase this year is absolutely insane, especially for anyone who is on a fixed income. I know of many people who have reached out to me who are in a really bad spot. They’re on fixed incomes. They don’t have any way to get any increased income.
“And they’re actually looking at having to sell their homes because they can’t afford this kind of an increase. Everything else has gone up in cost. We know our groceries cost more, putting gas in our vehicles, our electricity, our utilities. So we need to be very mindful of those in our community who have lived here and worked here their entire lives. And right now, they are facing really difficult situations about what their next steps are going to be.
“And that really concerns me. As a homeowner, as a taxpayer in this city, I’m really concerned that we saw a 6.1 per cent tax increase this year and what is going to come down the pipes, what’s going to happen. And so we need to be very fiscally responsible with the funds that we have.”
Jackson adds that a big concern is what are the next significant budgetary items the city will face.
“Right now, if you drive around some of the streets in the core of the city, they’re in deplorable condition. And I see signs that are up that say, you know, fresh tar and chip. And I think, great, are we back in 1995 rural Ontario? Because that’s what they did to the road I grew up on, tar and chip. It’s making the roads impassable in certain areas.
“We had a good working relationship when I left the city in 2018. We had a great working relationship with the county, with Central Elgin, with Southwold, and that blew up.”
“I know I won’t drive down certain roads because they’re so bad. And it’s that wear and tear that’s going to be another cost for people. You’re putting that wear and tear on your vehicle just driving to get groceries or to get to work. And that’s just another added expense.
“So asset management plans are a great thing brought in by the province and help us to track where we need to be. But we all know that municipalities all across the country are way behind on infrastructure needs. And that makes the projects cost a lot more. So I think we need to evaluate what roads could be resurfaced now and extend that lifetime so that we can plan for some of those bigger projects that need to happen.”
Jackson continued, “I said it years ago that we need to be working better with our neighbours.
“We had a good working relationship when I left the city in 2018. We had a great working relationship with the county, with Central Elgin, with Southwold, and that blew up. And that’s unfortunate because, you know, one of the other issues that really drove me to get back involved and to put my name forward was around our waste management issues.
“I hope the public is aware that the Green Lane landfill we rely on, which is owned by the City of Toronto, it will reach capacity in 2035. Every landfill in the province is reaching that same deadline of 2035.
“There’s a report put out last year that details all of this. And I saw on local news that Mayor Joe Preston said we’re going to wait and see what Toronto’s doing before we move.
“That really bothered me because to get any permits, whether it’s to expand Green Lane, whether it’s to look for a new facility, a new landfill or other options that are out there, you’re looking five to eight or nine years just to get the permits and the permissions in place to be able to do the work. So what happens in the meantime?
“We should be planning for our future and not waiting to see what the City of Toronto is going to do. Because I can pretty much guarantee they don’t care about what we do with our garbage.”
“If the City of Toronto decides they do not want to do an expansion at Green Lane, which is highly likely, then we’re going to be stuck. And we won’t have enough time to be able to get those permits and find a landfill or a space for a landfill.
“Or if we wanted to do another route, like energy from waste and incineration, which I know Toronto’s looking at. And we should be planning now for our own future and not waiting to see what the City of Toronto is going to do with their garbage.
“The Green Lane Public Liaison Committee meets quarterly, and the city has a representative on that committee, and they should be asking for a report after each meeting as to what was discussed because at the most recent meeting, there was a staff report presented.
“It was a great report, and it outlined where the City of Toronto is at in the process. And what they have done: a feasibility study at the existing landfill, and it is feasible to do an expansion, but it will really come down to whether or not the City of Toronto council decides that that’s what they want to do and what our local community – those that live near the landfill, our conservation area, our friends at Oneida – what they want.
“I think we all should be working a little more toward finding solutions for ourselves. And in this instance, that should involve the County of Elgin and the lower tiers and having that discussion. We should be planning for our future and not waiting to see what the City of Toronto is going to do. Because I can pretty much guarantee they don’t care about what we do with our garbage.
“I’m surprised that the response here is let’s wait and see what Toronto does, instead of having contingency plans.”
Jackson admits she is also passionate about housing and homelessness.
“My experiences at the United Way certainly opened my eyes to those with lived experience and the benefits of having those folks at the table when we’re making decisions and making plans. The city’s made great strides. I think back to 2016 when I attended a Tamarack Institute (a registered charity dedicated to ending poverty in all its forms) conference in Edmonton about homelessness.
“City staff were there as well. It was such a great way to spark those discussions and the planning, and to see where it has gone. It’s a good feeling to know that there’s been so much good work and so much help to some folks, but we’re not there yet. We know there’s lots to do.
“And, we know that it’s not all housing with supports that’s needed. We need housing that people can afford. And affordable doesn’t have to mean just folks who are homeless. It’s about affordability for everyone.”
“And I think that we need to do better, and everybody deserves a safe, warm roof over their head at night that they can afford and a community that supports them.”
This allowed Jackson to transition to a related issue, on-street parking.
“In certain neighbourhoods where you’ve got multi-generational families living in the home. And so there are extra vehicles. And I know that parking, especially in the winter, is difficult. So there are some areas where I think we can improve the on-street and overnight parking system throughout the winter.
“I think we have to be a little more flexible when we’re looking at communities or areas in the communities that have multi-generational households. They need more places for their vehicles.”
As to the anticipated growth of the city in the coming decades, Jackson pointed out, “We thought we were growing at record speeds 20 years ago. But it’s nothing compared to what’s happening now. So it’s really about making sure that we’re planning appropriately, that we’re putting in the right policies, and that we’re attracting the right kind of industry to our community.
“Years ago, we spoke about diversifying and the need to diversify our economy. Are we achieving that? Are we really diversifying the type of industry that’s in our community so that if there is a 2008 again where we see all kinds of automotive factories closing, that we’re not going to be in that situation again where half the community is out of work because they relied on one industry? So, you know, those are important checks and balances that we need to have.”
As for Jackson’s campaigning, she stresses, “I want to meet people where they’re at. If that means, you know, you want me to come to your house or you’re in a building where there’s a community room, I’m happy to come at any time.
“I have experience. I love this community, and I am St. Thomas proud. I want to see our community thrive. And I think that we need to do better, and everybody deserves a safe, warm roof over their head at night that they can afford and a community that supports them.”
Jackson can be reached through email at heather_jackson76@outlook.com
CANDIDATE PROFILE: STEVE OGDEN, CITY OF ST. THOMAS
UPDATE AS OF OCT. 10
Steve Ogden has advised that he has withdrawn from the municipal campaign. He explained, “A couple of the other candidates are terrific, so I don’t want to dilute their chances of getting in. And, I will shortly be taking off for Australia, so it is a combination of a few things.” There are now 18 candidates vying for a spot on city council on Oct. 26.
For St. Thomas city council candidate Steve Ogden, this is technically not his first run at municipal politics. Several decades ago, he was a trustee on the Elgin County School Board.
A top-of-mind issue for the retiree is homelessness.
Ogden wants to get to the bottom of why individuals are out on the streets, and what the city can do to deal with those causes.
He stressed that it’s not just that they can’t find a home or they can’t find a job.“We’re at the forefront of providing housing, and there are all kinds of wonderful things. We’re attracting publicity to the city over our approach, but I’m more concerned about the underlying, you know, what gets us there?
“And is there anything that the city can do to help deal with those causes?”
If elected, Ogden would push for turning vacant downtown spaces into accommodation or shelter for homeless individuals.
“When there are people lying on the streets during the winter, we’re in southwestern Ontario, we probably have the mildest winters in the whole country, but it’s still not easy to sleep on the street during the winter. I would like to see, and I’m not suggesting that all of these things be turned into accommodation, but I want to incentivize the people who own them to either bring in a business of some sort so that people will be employed and the economy will be helped, or create accommodation or a shelter.
“At the event that the Kinsmen put on, somebody approached me afterward and was concerned about doing this in the downtown core. I think she was thinking that it would be better to move people like this to the edges or somewhere away from downtown.”
Asked about the rapid industrial growth and the impact on infrastructure, Ogden responded, “I have a sort of a sideways approach to help in those areas.
“I don’t think we should be ignoring the problems that we have right now. I think they should figure into our planning. Otherwise, we’re likely to keep repeating the mistakes. And there are mistakes.”
“One of the ideas that I really want to work with counsel on is approaching, especially the big businesses like the multi-billion dollar corporations that are setting up here in town, and saying, if you’re going to be here in St. Thomas, then you need to understand that we are community focused.
“And so your business needs to show somehow that you are creating or connecting with terribly important resources to help people, to help build a community, to make us all happier as citizens.”
He continued, “Being a good corporate citizen is not just about, you know, talk. Let’s put some tax manipulation in there to make sure that they understand their responsibilities.”
Looking at the city’s transit system, Ogden noted it is fine to plan for decades ahead; however, there are issues that need to be resolved now.
“I don’t think we should be ignoring the problems that we have right now. I think they should figure into our planning. Otherwise, we’re likely to keep repeating the mistakes. And there are mistakes.”
Ogden added, “Now, you would think it’s important, and I guess the city does, because it’s part of their planning to make direct routes to these new companies, but what about the existing companies? What about the people who just want to go shopping or want to support small businesses?
“We don’t have a great transportation system right now. Now, is that because people aren’t using it? Or are people not using it because it’s not a good system?
“Transit is getting people out of their cars.”
“Let’s be serious about bike paths and pedestrian walkways. Let’s not just talk about a section of the city.”
With the current focus on the railway lands and the Elgin County Railway Museum, Ogden would like to see a central park incorporated into any plan.
“Basically, they’re talking about almost tearing it apart just to make sure everything’s going to be rebuilt properly. But they are going to rebuild it, and that’s very important. But I think, just as important, that’s a very central area, and that land was designated, as I remember, for a park.
“And what’s a more central place to put a park than there? And yet we sold off some of it so we could build high-rises. And there’s lots of areas all over the place where we could build high-rises.
“I want to make sure that whenever we are taking away something, that really will benefit the community or stop planning in those directions. I want to be part of understanding very clearly or helping other people on council understand why this is not a good direction.
“I would like to see parkland, and I would like to see it orchestrated. I’d like to see, you know, trees planted so that it becomes a place where people can go to exercise. Let’s be serious about bike paths and pedestrian walkways. Let’s not just talk about a section of the city.”
His campaign will hinge around door-knocking.
“That’s always interesting. I will do that. And that is very useful for finding out more issues or what the shades are on some of the issues. I sort of do that in a way like I go to karaoke and a couple of other social events and things. And, you know, I talk people up in those places as well.”
FOR THE CALENDAR
The voting period opens up at 10 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 13) and runs until 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, using internet and telephone voting.
If you require assistance in person or need to submit an Application to Amend the Voters’ List, you can visit one of the following Voter Assistance Centres:
- Thursday, October 15 – 1to 7 p.m. – Elgin Centre, 417 Wellington Street
- Wednesday, October 21 – noon to 4 p.m. – St. Thomas Seniors’ Centre, 225 Chestnut Street
- Saturday, October 24 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Elgin Centre, 417 Wellington Street
- Monday, October 26 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – St. Thomas Public Library, 153 Curtis Street
THE ECHO CHAMBER
Dave Mathers emailed this corner with two points to consider from MP Andrew Lawton’s concerns related to the PowerCo announcement about a two-year delay in the production of EV batteries at its St. Thomas facility.
“I have walked over to the construction site several times, and there is a LOT of work being done.
“And, U.S. President Trump has attacked the EV industry with ferocity. As a result, investments have been delayed but not cancelled. Upon completion of Trump’s second term, I firmly believe the EV industry will be reinvigorated along with the wind and solar sectors.”
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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.
