Tag Archives: James Alexander Brown

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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