Category Archives: 2026 municipal budget

08.08.26
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‘Public safety is the foundation of every healthy community’ – St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp

A comprehensive report from St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp on public safety is included on the agenda for Monday’s (Aug. 10) city council meeting.
We sat down with the chief last week for a lengthy discussion on the report and related matters, including Bill C-14,  the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act.
More on that later in this post.
Roskamp’s report to council was initially presented to the Police Services Board last month and addressed the 2025 Crime Severity Index values as reported by Statistics Canada.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) is a measure of police-reported crime that considers both the volume and relative seriousness of criminal offences. Unlike a traditional crime rate, which counts all offences equally, the CSI assigns greater weight to more serious offences based on sentencing patterns established through Canada’s criminal justice system.

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07.18.26
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Re-purposing 53 Hiawatha Street in St. Thomas ‘represents another meaningful step toward a future where everyone has access to housing that allows them to thrive’ – Lindsay Rice, YWCA

As the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin puts the finishing touches on its Project Tiny Hope at 21 Kains Street – now officially christened Hope Crossing – the organization is not resting on its laurels.
The YWCA announced this week its proposed development at 53 Hiawatha Street in St. Thomas to support its vision of affordable seniors’ housing.
To kick-start the undertaking, the City of St. Thomas is donating a parcel of land adjacent to the Scott Street Municipal Parking Lot.
This will be paired with a contribution of $2.7 million through the Affordable Housing Grant Program and Housing Accelerator Fund.
The proposed 40-unit apartment development will build upon the YWCA’s ongoing investment in creating safe, inclusive, and affordable housing solutions that foster independence, connection and dignity for residents, according to a media release.

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02.21.26
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Nurtured in St. Thomas, The Wellness Navigation Project is ‘A mission to normalize mental health in law enforcement’

The roots of The Wellness Navigation Project can be traced back to the fall of 2022, as Marc Roskamp prepared to take over the helm at the St. Thomas Police Service.
At the time, Roskamp was a 25-year veteran of the St. Thomas Police Service with 16 years in uniform patrol before moving up to the Criminal Investigation Branch and then being appointed Deputy Chief in 2018.
In an interview with the incoming chief, he shone a light on a critical focal point as he prepared to assume the duties of the outgoing chief, Chris Herridge.
“From a public safety perspective, I believe so strongly in the health of the community and its citizens. And one of my main priorities will also be to build up the resiliency of our members of the police family.

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01.24.26
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The Parks and Recreation Master Plan: ‘Working to keep the residents of St. Thomas in St. Thomas and playing in St. Thomas’

The early feedback on the city’s draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Community and Aquatic Centre Feasibility Study appears positive, based on the steady stream of residents who attended the drop-in open house this past Thursday (Jan. 22).
Held in the lower level of the Joe Thornton Community Centre, it was an opportunity to read through and ask questions about the two documents that will help guide future decisions related to parks, recreation facilities, and services across the community.
A considerable amount of attention was directed toward the aquatic centre, an ambitious undertaking that is likely eight or ten years down the road.

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