It’s not just a new park for St. Thomas, it’s an active community hub that will provide a much-needed recreational space in the city’s core.
That was the promise back in June 2020 when Andrew Gunn and Maddie King of Andrew Gunn Consulting and young & free press unveiled plans for what would become Westlake-Evans Park.
On Tuesday of this week, the park was officially opened and it lived up to its billing of three years ago.
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston praised the park as the result of “incredible collaborative efforts.”
The recreational and cultural hub is located in the city’s core, on the site of the former Colin McGregor Justice Building, giving residents another reason to come downtown, stressed Preston.
“Mostly, it used to be just shopping or services along Talbot Street. Some people came to city hall, and some people were coming to the library, but it was a quick trip in with their family and a quick trip out.
Tag Archives: Royal Canadian Legion
Leaving ‘bookmarks as to how we can move forward’ – St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston
After a much-enjoyed two-week Christmas hiatus, City Scope returns eager to document what transpires in the new year and what got us to this point over the past 365 days.
When looking back at 2022 – the fourth and final year for the previous municipal council – St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston lists housing as the top story. And Preston is quick to add growth in the city is not going to stop any time soon.
“We’re excited with what we’ve been able to accomplish on housing and have left bookmarks as to how we can move forward.
“Yes, it’s probably the Number 1 story across Ontario and we feel very comfortable with St. Thomas at all ranges, from the homeless side to the single-family homes side, have made incredible progress.”
Preston goes on to note the work undertaken in the past four years paves the way for what needs to be accomplished on the housing front by the recently elected council.
In reflecting on other accomplishments of city council in the past year, Preston turns to the acquisition of 800 acres of farmland east of Highbury Avenue.
Share this:
Proposed cuts to healthcare funding will result in more downloaded costs to municipalities: Ontario Health Coalition
Planned provincial cuts and the closure of public healthcare services will lead to the Doug Ford government offloading more costs associated with these services to every municipality in the province.
That is the message Melissa Holden will deliver in a deputation to city council on Tuesday (Nov. 12).
Holden is a member of the Ontario Health Coalition in London whose mandate “is to protect and improve our public healthcare system for all.”
In addition, the organization advocates “to protect services as public and non-profit and to protect local accessible service on the principles that underlie our public healthcare system . . . principles of compassion and equity.”
Holden warns rural communities already suffering from a shortage of services will be particularly hard hit “as dispatch services and the governance of ambulance services would move further away.”
Share this:
MPP Jeff Yurek’s winding down decree has conservation authorities winding up pushback efforts
Is another provincial backtrack in the offing?
On Aug. 16 MPP Jeff Yurek, minister of the environment, conservation and parks, noted in a statement, he is working “to improve public transparency and consistency” in dealings between municipalities and the conservation authorities.
Yurek continued, “The legislative changes we’ve made ensure conservation authorities focus on delivering core services and programs that protect communities from natural hazards and flooding while using taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively.”
Last week in this corner, we questioned the impact this legislation would have on events such as the maple syrup festival hosted by the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority (CCCA)at Springwater Conservation Area.
Well, what should appear in the agenda package for Tuesday’s (Sept. 3) city council meeting but a letter from Rick Cerna, CCCA board chairman and Ward 3 councillor in Malahide Township.
Ian's City Scope 