Hometown St. Thomas March 2025 Issue 67
Shop Local, Shop Canadian!
Letter from the Editor Like most Canadians, high school for me was a really mixed bag. I loved seeing my friends every day, playing football and other sports, and there were always some classes I genuinely enjoyed, like history and drama. In fact, I still talk to my history and drama teachers almost 30 years later. But, of course, there were parts of school I didn’t love — some classes weren’t my cup of tea; waking up early was never fun, and then there were the bullies. Back when I was in school, bullies were more traditional. They wanted to appear smarter, cooler, bigger, or tougher than you. Even at 6’4 and a defensive lineman, I had a bully who tried to make his mark by picking on the younger, bigger kid. In Grade 9, I just wanted to get by and get along, but I quickly learned that with this kid, if I didn’t stand up for myself, it was going to be a long first year. I put up with it for about a week before finally defending myself, and that put an end to it. Of course, this was never the best way to handle things, even back then, but those were different times. Today, bullying has evolved in ways I wouldn’t wish on any kid. Bullies still take the traditional forms, but they’ve also developed new ways to torment their peers. Unlike when I was younger, where the bullying ended when you got home, today’s bullies have access to their victims 24/7 through social media, texts, and
other digital channels. A friend of mine recently told me about their child being bullied, and I reminded them that it doesn’t matter how big, tough, smart, pretty, skinny, heavy, or popular you are — there will always be someone determined to knock you down. More often than not, it stems from their own insecurities. This is why, back in November, when I heard Chief Marc Roskamp speak about police not being allowed back into schools, I invited him to write a column on why schools and students need police presence. Since then, we’ve seen incidents of school violence right here in St. Thomas and in surrounding communities. The Chief’s story is on pages four, five and six — I encourage you to give it a read. On a different note, I love small businesses. I am a small business. Small businesses are the foundation our community is built on, which is why this month marks the third edition of my Building a Small Business feature. This series focuses on starting, growing, and improving your own business. One of my favourite quotes is from Lori Greiner of Shark Tank : “Entrepreneurs are willing to work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week.” Finally, I want to celebrate the incredible Peri Hayes, who is about to release her first-ever book of poetry! If you’ve read Hometown St. Thomas , you’ve probably enjoyed Peri’s writing over the years. Now, you can meet the woman behind the words at one of her upcoming book signings. Congratulations, Peri — what an amazing accomplishment!
Page 2 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025
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Carrying the Love Forward Local readers may recognize Peri Hayes as a writer for Home- town St. Thomas Magazine, Port Stanley Villager, or Boomers & Beyond . We are proud to introduce her first published book of poetry, Keep your heart open and your love flowing …. The collection — deeply personal and profoundly moving — explores themes of grief and remembrance, reflecting Peri’s healing journey following the loss of her mother, Jennifer Hayes (née Martin): “Welcome to my sentimental world of love and memories!” “I have aspired to be a writer ever since I was a young girl,” Peri reflects. The poems in this book are inspired by Peri’s mother and span years of the author’s life, beginning when she was 17. “Poetry, specifically, became a form of therapy for me throughout university. This has been a cathartic experience.” When the opportunity to publish through Jennifer Jacquelyn’s Picket Fence Publishing arose, Peri knew it was the right time. “I have felt incredibly connected to my mom throughout this process, which is affirming that I am exactly where I need to be.” This series of poems features a variety of lengths and styles written in a flowing, free verse format. “One piece might be several lines, while another could span two pages,” Peri details. In addition to poetry, Peri’s book is enriched with nostalgic artwork and memorabilia. “The title of my book is actually advice that I cherish from my momma,” she highlights, “I am including my own artwork, as well as a painting created by my Auntie Andi.” Family photographs will also be featured, such as favourites chosen by her brother, father and grandparents. “I want this book to be as much about family as it is about poetry.” Another unique visual element is pressed flowers from Peri’s personal collection. “They add a tangible connection to nature and memory.” For the incorporation of handmade paper, materials have been graciously donated by members of our community. “For the entirety of my life, I will treasure this heartfelt support.” The theme of this book is grief, but not in a way that dwells on loss alone. “I never feel like I have lost my mom,” Peri explains. “She is still very much with me every day. My book is about continuing with life while staying connected to her in a different way; appreciating all of the beautiful moments that we had together, and carrying that love forward.” One particularly meaningful piece in the book is Peri’s rewrite of a poem created by her mother when she was around Peri’s age. “I found it in a yellow duotang while cleaning my mom’s
dresser. After she passed away, my dad assured me that I could go through the shelves whenever I felt ready. I waited years before doing so, and when I did, I discovered this poem. It felt like such a gift.” With her upcoming book release on Jennifer’s birthday this March 28th, Peri looks forward to sharing her work and empow- ering vulnerability. Inquiries are welcome at hayesperi@gmail.com and readers are invited to connect with Peri at her book signings, as she concludes, “I know my mom is proud, and I can feel her beside me. To all of you reading this, thank you for being here.” Upcoming Book Signings March 28: St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre, 5 pm – 8 pm April 5th: Lockwood Books, 12 pm – 2 pm April 26th: Lake House Books, 3:30 pm – 5 pm May 4th: Seed Confections, 2 pm – 5:00 pm
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It’s Time to Return to Schools St. Thomas Police Service – School Resource Officer Program by Chief Marc Roskamp The St. Thomas Police Services’ School Resource Officer Program (SRO) was utilized as a collaborative, community-based initiative to promote safe environments for students, teachers, parents and all members of the educational community. This program as offered by the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) had been in place for decades. The SRO Program allowed police officers to interact and engage in the school environment, bridging gaps and forging relationships. The interactions with students ranged from preventing bullying and supporting crime prevention initiatives to mentoring and supporting students and promoting well-being. This was always the intentional focus of the SRO Program and we enjoyed our place supporting community. For years, the STPS trained SROs, who devoted professional and often off-duty personal time to support students and educators. Many of those police officers are endearingly remembered by countless students in our community. In years past, school communities would routinely recognize the relationship with police officers and publicly affirm their gratitude and admiration for the women and men who were serving to make a difference in the lives of young people in our schools. Police leaders have always listened and learned from school communities on ways to enhance our presence that consistently and with deep commitment impacted the lives of our youth. For many police officers, this was their passion – to work alongside school officials and break down barriers with our most vulnerable demographic – our youth.
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In 2020, after a number of high-profile incidents occurred involving police and racialized individuals in the US, worldwide protests against racism and racial injustice began to take hold. This movement made its way throughout North America, and in particular, throughout Ontario in somewhat inconsistent ways. As such, some regional School Board Trustees and Board Administrators were questioned about the role of police officers in schools, which is precisely what occurred in our region. In response, a regional review process was actioned, to better understand the value and need for SRO Programming. A diverse representation from our region was invited to be involved. A working committee was established as led by a consulting firm to carry out the analysis. If there were ways to improve the relationship between youth and the police in schools, this committee was mandated to find those new solutions and make recommendations for implementation. As the review progressed, it was reported that students, parents and graduates overall did not have an overwhelmingly positive experience with police in schools. We learned from some studies, that researchers argued that SRO Programs represented a “school-to-prison pipeline” approach for youth, specifically in relation to youth from marginalized communities. It was also reported that the SRO Program was a growing trend toward the militarization of school environments resulting from having a uniformed police presence in schools. The literature became wide and varied on SRO Programming during this period and focused heavily on the impact of systemic and other forms of racism on the experiences, perspectives, and educational outcomes of racialized students. In 2021, as a result of the review, a committee recommendation was made to School Board Trustees in our region to pause all SRO Programming. At this point, police officers assigned to the STPS SRO Program were reassigned to other pressing priorities and the STPS was now tasked with finding new ways to interact with youth in the community. A gap in our ability to serve the community, in particular, to interact with youth in meaningful ways was essentially created as a result of this School Board decision. Fast forward to 2024, and our region saw SRO Programming either terminated Thames Valley District School Board or com- mitted to a slow overhaul London District Catholic School Board through School Board Trustee resolutions. These decisions concerned police leaders as it was our firm belief that having police officers infrequently attend schools, had invaluable public safety benefits for the entire community. We felt that our SRO approaches had proven the concept that a police presence in schools, on an infrequent basis, had tremendously positive impacts and provided a deserved sense of safety and security for all those that use our schools. Upon the decisions to unwelcome police from attending schools for non-emergency purposes, some police leaders cautioned that behavioural issues that were already rising within schools would most likely manifest into relentlessly challenging cir- cumstances, that could see a rise in violence. Between 2021 and 2025, during the current period of police absence from schools, the STPS attended schools nearly 850 times for matters ranging from problematic and recurring behavioural issues, cyber-crimes (image distribution, threats/ bullying), theft, mischief, weapons calls (knives, replica firearms, bear spray), assaults, sexual assaults, forcible confinement
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and even a bomb threat. This equates to STPS police officers responding reactively on average - once every two days. The STPS experienced an increase of 55% for all calls to schools with 20% classified as violent events. Unfortunately, this evidence- based data confirmed the anticipated impact that we cautioned may occur with the decision to fully end SRO Programming. Many studies continue to report mixed findings on SRO Programming, that is, there appears to be both positive and negative perceptions. Very few studies have actually conducted evaluations of the efficacy of SRO programming, so there is no real definitive evidence on what extent such programs actually achieve intended goals or not. I am not sure a study will ever pinpoint that success, but our collaborative experiences have to matter. Notwithstanding that some may say relying on anecdotal evidence will lead to overgeneralization and bias by the police, we do strongly believe that our first-hand experiences and statistical data on school related incidents in recent years indeed represents evidence of a serious problem. What we can say, is that data speaks – and there should be no question, that the rise in school related violence has a direct link to the years our police officers have not been welcomed to attend our local schools. We believe that police visibility is a deterrent in all environments. We are only one player in a complex consortium in the human services realm that can impact youth in positive ways. We are not the only solution, but our traditional uniformed presence has certainly proven to support a safe school environment. It’s time to return to schools. The Path Forward Since 2021, the STPS Executive Leadership Team, the STPS
Police Services Board, St. Thomas City Council, the Aylmer-Elgin-St. Thomas Community Safety and Well-Being Integration Table, the STPS Community Inclusion Council and parent groups have all advocated for a return of the SRO Program in some revised form. For a revamped SRO Program to be effective, and more specifically for those who do not feel ‘safe’ with police presence at schools, a concerted effort, willingness and readiness to adjust by the STPS and School Boards is absolutely necessary. The STPS is actively forging new partnerships with academic institutions, qualified individuals and groups that are well-positioned to inform our service delivery obligations pertaining to youth. I have been encouraged in recent weeks, through meetings with both respective Directors of Education, that we stand aligned with our views on safe schools. I am pleased that planning for an immediate return of police officers in a non- emergent, supportive capacity is underway. The entire school community deserves a refresh that values our shared vision of safety and well-being – one that recognizes the past, the present and the future We remain committed to an immediate path to modernization ensuring safe and supportive schools, where preventable distractions can be minimized, and a trust- ing police-school relationship can be fostered once again.
Page 6 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025
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The Hungry Twist, “Love At First Bite!” by Peri Hayes Shana Bellehumeur, alongside her son, Own Nephin, and Ursula Simon celebrated The Hungry Twist’s soft launch on January 4th of this year. Serving an array of freshly twisted chimney cakes, this Hungarian delicacy is presented in the shape of a hollowed chimney and is complemented with various fillings. Their selection of flavours includes pepperoni and jalapeno for your salty cravings, with apple crisp, coconut and beyond to satisfy your sweet tooth. “The chimney cake,” Ursula delightedly details, “originated in Transylvania, which used to be part of Hungary. I grew up there with this street food, and I am a big fan. I have always been a hard-working person, so I have big dreams. I came to Canada 14 years ago all by myself to accomplish this. I found the beautiful City of St. Thomas, where I met Shana and we bonded over chimney cakes.. She has lots of knowledge in this field, and is a very kind person. Destiny brought us together, and these chimney cakes remind me of childhood.” Six years ago, Shana fell in love with chimney cakes. Following this ignition of inspiration, Shana’s beloved husband encouraged her pursuit of this passion. Raising both of her children in St. Thomas, Shana felt confident about this sentimental city being the place for her to explore this fulfilling venture. “This community means so much to me,” Shana expresses, “and I wanted to bring something special to share with the people who have been a part of my life for so long.” Shana is overjoyed to have brought this vision to life with such creative and dedicated entrepreneurs. She feels incredibly proud of her son, Owen, of whom she enthuses, “He also has a passion for making customers smile.”
With their focus on community care, Ursula and Shana communicate their appreciation for the support from their customers, employees and loved ones. As Ursula exclaims, “I am very grateful for this town, and I want to bring something made from scratch and made with love. We work with heart, as if we are welcoming our customers into our home.” Shana reveals her enthusiasm to be funneling this cherished support into the community through collaboration with local businesses, announcing their established partnership with an ice cream provider. The Hungry Twist is located at 296 Wellington Street, operating Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. Inquiries are welcomed through The Hungry Twist’s Facebook and Instagram profiles. As Shana cheerfully concludes, “There are so many more flavours and creations I can’t wait to share. Ursula, Owen and I are beyond excited to introduce the com- munity to the delicious world of chimney cakes!”
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Fun and Local March Break Activities Crock A Doodle St. Thomas Located at 364 Talbot St. This March break Crock A Doodle St. Thomas has lots of fun activities planned in studio, such as kids’ classes that will run from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm Monday to Friday. They include the pottery piece, drink, pizza, and munchies. Please visit the website for more information Located at 460 Sunset Drive. Time travel at the Elgin County Museum this March Break! Take a picture in our green screen photo booth and be put into a historic image from Elgin County! Visitors can take home a copy of their photograph for free. Guests can also decorate their own picture frame or participate in a scavenger hunt! Open Saturdays, March 8th and 15th, as well as Monday to Friday of March Break from 10 am to 4 pm. St. Thomas Public Library and to book your child(ren) spots. Elgin County Heritage Centre Located at 153 Curtis Street. The Library has a large assortment of events planned. See their column on page nine for more details and times. Railway 1856 Ultimate Mini Golf, located at the Elgin Centre, offers 18 holes of St. Thomas-themed mini golf, perfect for all ages. Whether you’re a mini-golf pro or just looking for a great time, this indoor course provides a fun and unique experience for families and friends. Joe Thornton Community Centre Located at 75 Caso Crossing. There will be Free skates on March 10th starting at 11:15 am and March 14th at 1:15 pm.
Springwater Conservatio n Located at 8059 Springwater Rd, Aylmer. Check out their annual Maple Syrup Festival. March 8th-16th from 10 am to 3 pm. Stop into their pancake house, enjoy wagon rides, demonstrations on how to make maple syrup and more. Port Stanley Festival Theatre Located at 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley. March Break Youth Theatre Camp 2025 is an awesome week of creativity and fun at Port Stanley Festival Theatre! Kids (8-11) will dive into exciting workshops, create stories, and work as a team to put on a cool show! Bonus activities include a ticket to Emilio’s A Million Chameleons performance, followed by an exclusive workshop after the show with Puppeteer Adam Francis Proulx. A pizza lunch, Dan the Music Man live performance and a free T-shirt. Port Stanley Festival Theatre Located at 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley. Direct from Off-Broadway... Wednesday, March 12 (1 pm and 7 pm), Port Stanley Festival Theatre presents Emilio & A Million Chameleons , a family-friendly musical spectacular. Emilio is excited to bring you his circus act with a million chameleons to entertain you with music, magic, and amazement. His favourite chameleon of them all is Juan... the shyest little chameleon, who needs to stop trying to blend in and learn to let their inner sparkle shine. Created by internationally- celebrated puppeteer Adam Francis Proulx. Domino’s Pizza Located at 965 Talbot St and 300 Elm St. Domino’s is letting your kids build their own pizza starting March 10th to March 14th from 12 pm until 2 pm. Let your kids make their own pizza for just $6. See their Facebook page for more details.
ELGIN COUNTY HERITAGE CENTRE 460 SUNSET DRIVE, ST. THOMAS MARCH BREAK OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 10:00 TO 4:00 PM & SATURDAYS MARCH 8TH & 15TH ELGIN COUNTY HERITAGE CENTRE 460 SUNSET DRIVE, ST. THOMAS MARCH BREAK OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 10:00 TO 4:00 PM & SATURDAYS MARCH 8TH & 15TH ELGIN COUNTY HERITAGE CENTRE 460 SUNSET DRIVE, ST. THOMAS
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Page 8 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025 519.631.1460 EXT. 193 elgincounty.ca/museum OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Make March Break Magical at St. Thomas Public Library! by Darlene Vreman, Children’s Library Services Coordinator
Oh, what to do -- March Break is coming up, and you will need to find a way to keep your children or grandchildren busy and entertained for a whole week! No need to panic – the St. Thomas Public Library has you covered! This March Break, why not make the library your go-to destination for fun, learning, and adventure? For March Break 2025, we’re bringing excitement and hands- on discovery with STEAM activities! If you’re unfamiliar with the term, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Through math and science, STEAM is a learning approach that blends artistic skills and creativity with problem- solving. Innovation and critical thinking are encouraged by using engineering and technology to find creative solutions to real-world problems. STEAM helps kids think outside the box, explore new ideas, and spark a passion for learning in fun and interactive ways. Each day of March Break, we’ll be highlighting a different part of STEAM: Science Monday; Technology Tuesday; Engineering Wednesday; Arts Thursday; Math Friday. Each day will feature a mix of drop-in programs, self-directed activities and challenges, and special registration-only programs, so there is something for everyone! Plus, we will have special guests coming throughout the week to bring even more excitement to the experience. Mark your calendars! Our full March Break schedule will be available starting March 1, so be sure to pick up a copy at the library or check out our website for details.
Whether your child is a budding scientist, an aspiring artist, or just looking for a fun way to spend the break, the St. Thomas Public Library is the place to be. We can’t wait to see you! As an added bonus, put one of our 10+ STEAM kits on hold so you can take the STEAM fun home with your -- or enjoy some of our favourite STEAM books for kids: STEAM Play & Learn by Ana Dziengel (2019) is a great intro- duction to STEAM topics geared towards preschoolers with fun, interactive and easy-to-follow activities! STEAM Lab for Kids by Liz Lee Heinecke (2018): Written by a molecular biologist after becoming a stay-at-home mom, this book is full of great for kids of all ages to work on experiments at home while still making it simple for parents to facilitate. 100 Easy STEAM Activities by Andrea Scalzo Yi (2019): As the title says, you’re going to have access to 100 STEAM activities that you can do with your children. While the book says it’s for grades 2 to 5, there’s a section on toddler activities and lots of activities designed for many ages!
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Watch live demonstrations of maple syrup production !
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FOR A FULL LIST AND CALENDAR OF ACTIVITES, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025 • Page 9
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Elgin County Women’s Leadership Conference by Peri Hayes Helen Cole discusses the upcoming Elgin County Women’s Leadership Conference. When she was on the City of St. Thomas Council 25 years ago, she recognized, “There simply were not enough women at the decision-making table. With my background in municipal government, I started thinking about women in politics, and then I ran for Council.” Helen relocated to Lambton County when she founded The Jean Collective, named after her dear friend, Jean McDougall, who lived in Port Stanley and met Helen during her time on Council. “She was a mentor,” Helen fondly reflects. Elgin County Women’s Leadership Conference debuted last year. “It is such a great feeling,” Helen exclaims, “to know that women come to the conferences and are inspired; making friends and connecting with women they did not know before they attended -- and they stay connected. Throughout the three counties of Elgin, Lambton and Middlesex, we are creating a strong network of women leaders.” As Helen passionately voices, “It seems like forever we’ve been facing barriers — even unconscious bias — and it’s been difficult to take our seat at the table. Having women in leadership is important. Conferences like this are important for learning about how other successful women have done it, building and enhancing the supportive network, and we hope to empower others to step into leadership roles.” The highly anticipated 2025 event will take place on Saturday, March 29th at CASO Station, a primary sponsor, along with Action Financial Group, Doug Tarry Homes, ERTH Power
Corporation, Elgin Business Resource Centre, Fanshawe College, St. Thomas Economic Development and Villager Publications. As Helen continues, “I would be remiss if I did not mention the Committee: Kathryn Desrosier, Morgaine Halpin, Tara McCaulley, Becky Simons and Rainey Weisler.” Their welcoming doors will open at 9:00 am, with the conference commencing at 9:30 am. The group will break for lunch around 12:00 pm, followed by their afternoon session which will conclude at approximately 3:00 pm. Helen shares, “Indira Naidoo-Harris was elected to public office and is Ontario’s first Minister of the Status of Women. She is our Keynote Speaker, and we are very excited to have her.” Moreover, Rainey Weisler will be returning as Emcee, to which Helen expresses, “I have gotten to know her well, and she is exceptional.” There will also be a diverse panel of female entrepreneurs, providing their perspectives on business and their respective journeys. This panel includes Kris Pettit, Co-Owner of Misty Glen Farms; Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director of Western Ontario’s Wardens’ Caucus; Andrea Loughlean, Manager of Emergency Management and Elgin Middlesex Regional Fire School and Maria Fiallos, Owner of Streamliners Espresso Bar in St. Thomas. The afternoon session, ‘Courage Over Armour: Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership’, will be led by Linda Morrison and Star Morrison. Inspired by the teachings of Brené Brown, this conference will explore the value of vulnerability and being courageous, ultimately stepping into authentic, whole-hearted leadership. “I think it’s going to be a perfect day,” Helen enthuses. “My hope is to leave a legacy, to blaze a trail for other women; that is really important to me,” Helen thoughtfully concludes.
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Page 10 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025
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“What excites me is that I have this opportunity to create change by working with a group of wonderful women with whom I have become friends. It’s a treasure.” Tickets for the Elgin County Women’s Leadership Conference are currently available by following the QR code on the event poster, or at eventbrite.ca/e/1093486430349. Those with inquiries are welcome to send an email, with contact information available through thejeancollective.ca.
ELGIN COUNTY WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
CASO Station March 29, 2025 9:30 am - 3 pm
Keynote Speaker: Indira Naidoo-Harris AVP Diversity & Human Rights University of Guelph
Emcee Rainey Weisler , Deputy Mayor, Bayham
Hometown St. Thomas March 2025 cover Members of our business community are proud to be Canadian! From L-R Grayden Laing, Establish Media and President of the DDB, Chris Patriquin, Simply Pure Water, Joe Preston, Mayor of St.
Kris Pettit, Co-Owner Misty Glen Farms
Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director
Andrea Loughlean, Manager of Emergency Management & Elgin Middlesex Regional Fire School
Maria Fiallos, Owner Streamliners Espresso Bar
Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus
Do you have a favourite local artist or a story our readers should read about? We’d love to know! Email Geoff@villagerpublications.com. Thomas, Tammy Bale, Nurse Next Door, Doug Vannord, Geerlinks Home Hardware, Jame Patriquin, Simply Pure Water and Paul Jenkins, CEO of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.
Afternoon session "Courage Over Armour: Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership” Led by Elgin County’s own Linda Morrison & Star Morrison: Discover how to shed your armour, embrace vulnerability, and lead with courage and authenticity to build trust and inspire others.
Inspiration & Venue Sponsor
Still only $35! Thanks to our sponsors
Doug Tarry Homes Elgin Business Resource Centre ERTH Power Fanshawe College
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St. Thomas EDC Action Financial
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The Value Proposition: Professional Financial Planning in a DIY World by Michael Moore, Sun Life Advisor In an age of readily available investment apps and online trading platforms, many Canadians are questioning whether they need a fee-based financial advisor. While the DIY approach may seem attractive due to its lower costs, the reality is that professional financial planning offers substantial value that extends far beyond basic investment management. Consider the complexity of modern financial life. Canadians must navigate retirement planning, tax efficiency, estate planning, insurance needs, and education savings – all while managing careers and families. Each of these areas requires specialized knowledge, and mistakes can be costly. A fee-based advisor brings comprehensive expertise to these interconnected challenges, providing integrated solutions that DIY investors might miss. The behavioural aspect of investing is the most compelling argument for professional guidance. During market volatility, DIY investors often make emotional decisions that harm their long- term returns. Research from Dalbar consistently shows that self- directed investors significantly underperform the market averages, largely due to poor timing decisions. A fee-based advisor serves as a behavioural coach, helping clients stick to their long-term strategy when emotions might otherwise drive poor choices. Tax planning represents another area where professional advice typically pays for itself. Many DIY investors focus solely on investment returns while overlooking tax efficiency. A skilled advisor can implement strategies like tax-loss harvesting, optimal asset location across accounts, and strategic withdrawal planning that can save clients thousands in taxes over time.
Critics often point to fees as a reason to avoid professional advice. While it is true that fee-based advisors typically charge 1-1.5% of assets annually, this cost should be viewed in the context of value received. Beyond investment management, clients gain access to comprehensive financial planning, estate planning guidance, insurance analysis, and ongoing professional support. When these services are purchased separately, they often cost more than an advisor’s bundled fee. The DIY approach can work well for individuals who have both the time and expertise to manage their financial affairs. However, as wealth grows and financial situations become more complex, the value of professional guidance typically outweighs the costs. Many successful DIY investors eventually reach a point where their time is better spent on their careers or families rather than managing their finances. For most Canadians, the choice between DIY and professional financial planning is not purely about cost – it is about optimizing outcomes. A fee-based advisor brings expertise, discipline, and comprehensive planning that can help clients achieve their goals more efficiently and with greater confidence. While the DIY approach might save money in the short term, the long-term value of professional financial planning often proves invaluable for those seeking to build and preserve wealth across generations.
Ages 18+
MORNING MAKERS
Page 12 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025 *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Advice from someone you trust. There are lots of reasons to save money for the future – and lots of ways I can help. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Advice from someone you trust. There are lots of reasons to save money for the future – and lots of ways I can help. Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Advice from someone you trust. There are lots of reasons to save money for the future – and lots of ways I can help. Advice from someone you trust. There are lots of reasons to save money for the future – and lots of ways I can help. Advice from someone you trust. There are lots of reasons to save money for the future – and lots of ways I can help. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Your local Sun Life Advisor for 23 years and counting. Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com
NEW Program at St. Thomas Public Library!
Join us to create with just your hands, eyes, brains, and spirit. We will explore skills like drawing, origami, simple pottery, anything goes! Come and learn or share a creative skill of your own with others.
Thursday, March 13, 27 10 - 11:30 a.m. Ingram Room, Lower Level No Registration Required
St. Thomas
Public Library
To advertise here, please contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale by Peri Hayes With contagious enthusiasm, Martha Burke describes her position with the St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale: “I am currently the Secretary for the St. Thomas Art Guild, as well as one of the Advertising Coordinators for the St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale. This is my second year in both roles, and I am happy to be involved again this year with the annual Show & Sale.” “The St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale has always been about community: the art community, St. Thomas, Elgin County and surrounding area,” Martha thoughtfully offers. “Our Guild strives to grow, improve and strengthen the community we share through art.” Asked for her view on what the return of this annual celebration represents in this community, Martha confidently responds, “One of the Guild’s mandates is to increase public awareness of the arts in Elgin County. For me, art encourages connections, collaborations and understanding of the city and counties of Southwestern Ontario. I think our annual show celebrates connection, which is key within a vibrant community.”
WALNUT
WALNUT As Martha proceeds to express, “I’m excited this year about our new venue – the Holiday Inn Express in St. Thomas. The space is large, bright, and the folks at Holiday Inn have been accommodating and very supportive. They also believe strongly in building community, which makes for a perfect fit for our show. The Guild has also added new members this past year, and, coupled with returning members, I’m excited to see all the fabulous new art on display.” The St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale will be held at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, located at 275 Highview Drive. This free event — with plenty of parking — will begin on March 21st from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm, continuing on March 22nd from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and concluding on March 23rd from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Martha graciously concludes, “All are welcome, all ages!” For artist member information, visit the Guild’s website at stthomasartguild.com and kindly direct further inquiries to their startguildwebsite@gmail.com email address. Left: Martha Burke’s ‘Spring in Springbank’
Refined Rentals. Refined Rentals. The 2025 St. Thomas Art Guild Show & Sale will involve an array of one-of-a-kind artworks in a variety of media, including acrylics, fibre, glass, oil, photography, 3-D sculpture, water- colour and more. Martha cheerfully continues, “We encourage visitors to celebrate the wealth of talent St. Thomas Art Guild artists have to offer.”
One of the oldest neighbourhoods in St. Thomas, the Courthouse Neighbourhood is beautiful all times of year, but especially in Spring when the magnolia trees that dot the neighbourhood are in bloom. Walnut park will offer its residents the ability to rent in an established area with tall trees, a new on-site park, walkways and steps to amenities on Talbot street. The building will only be 3 floors to blend into the area offering 1 and 2 bedroom layouts with balconies overlooking nature. MOVE-INS FOR SPRING 2025
One of the oldest neighbourhoods in St. Thomas, the Courthouse Neighbourhood is beautiful all times of year, but especially in Spring when the magnolia trees that dot the neighbourhood are in bloom. Walnut park will offer its residents the ability to rent in an established area with tall trees, a new on-site park, walkways and steps to amenities on Talbot street. The building will only be 3 floors to blend into the area offering 1 and 2 bedroom layouts with balconies overlooking nature. MOVE-INS FOR SPRING 2025 HISTORY
HISTORY
NATURE
AMENITIES
NATURE
AMENITIES
WALNUT
One of the oldest neighbourhoods in St. Thomas, the Courthouse Neigh- bourhood is beautiful all times of year, but especially in Spring when the magnolia trees that dot the
trees, a new on-site park, walkways and steps to amenities on Talbot street. The building will only be 3 floors to blend into the area offering 1 and 2 bedroom layouts with balconies overlooking nature. MOVE-INS FOR SPRING 2025
Refined Rentals. neighbourhood are in bloom. Walnut park will offer its residents the ability to rent in an established area with tall
Get involved! Like us on Facebook! One of the oldest neighbourhoods in St. Thomas, the Courthouse Neighbourhood is beautiful all times of year, but especially in Spring when the magnolia trees
Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025 • Page 13 AMENITIES
HISTORY
NATURE
Spinning Yarns at Wildflower Farms World Storytelling Day, observed annually on March 20, traces its roots back to Sweden in 1992 and by 2003, Canada had joined the international movement. Locally, you are invited to World Storytelling Day 2025, which is set to captivate audiences with an evening of spoken-word magic at Wildflowers Farm (42338 Fruit Ridge Line) on Friday, March 21, 2025, starting at 6:30 pm. Host and featured storyteller, Stephanie Holt, explains: “This theme can have many meanings -- stories in which a character is in trouble, stories about magical waters, or stories connected to deep waters like the sea, a lake, or river. “To represent our challenging times as well as the unpredictability of March weather, I have added a subtitle: Tales to Weather the Storm. ” Stephanie’s own journey into storytelling began in the summer of 2019, when she experienced the power of a live, spoken- word tale. “The teller, Jane Grass, grounded herself by settling her feet more firmly onto the wood of her deck,” she recalls. “Bird sounds, trees moving in the breeze, squirrels gathering nuts, all disappeared as Jane’s voice alone conjured the story world. A spark ignited within me.” That spark has since grown into a passion, leading her to explore and share stories in every way possible over the past six years. Attendees at Wildflowers Farm can expect an engaging lineup of five storytellers: Veronica Antipolo, Sarah Abusarar, Carol McLeod, Jane Magri, and Stephanie herself. “Folks from different walks of life and at different stages of their storytelling journey will take the stage,” Stephanie shares. “Whether telling a story to a large audience for the first time or being a world- renowned teller, every one of us comes from a place of passion for this art form.” The event promises a range of stories, from
personal narratives to traditional folktales, all told without the aid of books or scripts. Beyond the stories, attendees will have the chance to connect with friends, old and new, in the rustic charm of the Wildflowers Farm barn. A printed copy of the official World Storytelling Day artwork, created by Marianna de Munck Mortier from the Netherlands, will be on display. “And you never know what surprises might await you!” Stephanie hints. World Storytelling Day 2025: Deep Waters – Tales to Weather the Storm is made possible through the support of Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada and the generosity of Jane Magri, who has provided Wildflowers Farm’s incredible space for the evening. “Storytelling brings people together, builds community, teaches us,” Stephanie says. “And finally, I love how much fun I have with storytelling! I mean, really, why should kids have all the fun!?” Come, take a seat, and be transported by the power of the spoken word.
SAFETY LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMMERC
SAFETY LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
LED warning lights, bars & arrow sets Hi-performance LED lamps. Performance LED auxiliary lamps Safety Lighting for Commercial Vehicles SAFETY LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Story Teller Stephanie Holt invites you out to ‘Tales to Weather the Storm’ March 21st.
LED warning lights, bars & arrow sets Hi-performance LED lamps. Performance LED auxiliary lamps
AT KOOLEN ELECTRIC WE CAN DO IT ALL!
STAYWARM THIS WINTER WITHA REMOTE CAR STARTER Certified Installations by Licensed Technicians warrantied for as long as you own your car. STAYWARM THIS WINTER WITHA REMOTE CAR STARTER Certified Installations by Licensed Technicians warrantied for as long as you own your car. A GREAT GIFT IDEA! Marker lights, tail lights and kits, in various sizes, shapes, and colours Incandescent & LED LED warning lights, bars & arrow sets Hi-performance LED lamps. Performance LED auxiliary lamps
Marker lights, tail lights and kits, in various sizes, shapes, and colours Incandescent & LED • LED Warning Lights • Bars & Arrow Sets • Hi-performance LED Lamps. LED warning lights, bars & arrow sets Hi-performance LED lamps. Performance LED auxiliary lamps
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Your Auto Electronics Specia Classic Car Wiring & Repairs Electronic Installations and Repa Heated Seat Installation and Rep Your Auto Electronics Specialists Classic Car Wiring & Repairs Electronic Installations and Repairs Heated Seat Installation and Repairs
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JEFF WALLER OWNER STAYWARM THIS WINTER WITHA REMOTE CAR STARTER Certified Installations by Licensed Technicians warrantied for as long as you own your car. Jeff Waller owner Performance LED Auxiliary Lamps • Marker Lights, Tail Lights and Kits in various
shapes, and colours Incandescent & LED
A GREAT GIFT IDEA! Your Auto Electronics Specialists Classic Car Wiring & Repairs JEFF WALLER OWNER Electronic Installations and Repairs Heated Seat Installation and Repairs Your Auto Electronics Specialists Electronic Installations and Repairs Heated Seat Installation and Repairs CS shapes, and colours Incandescent & LED Your Auto Electronics Specialists Electronic Installations and Repairs Marker lights, tail lights and kits, in various sizes, Heated Seat Installation and Repairs CS 175 South Edgeware St., St. Thomas Jeff Waller owner
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sizes,shapes, and colours incandescent and LED
IN POWER. SINCE 1920
Locally Owned & Operated by Jeff Waller for over 15 years Locally Owned & Operated by Jeff Waller for over 20 years 175 South Edgeware Rd., St. Thomas 519-633-5000 175 South Edgeware St., St. Thom 519-633-5000 www.centuryservice.c CENTURY SERVICE Electronic Service, Sales & Installation 519-633-5000 www.centuryservice.ca A GREAT GIFT IDEA!
GENERATORS Power out? You can rely on a Kohler Generator!
Jeff Waller owner
Your Auto Electronics Specialists Electronic Installations and Repairs Heated Seat Installation and Repairs CS
175 South Edgeware, St. Thomas 519-633-5000 centuryservice.ca Jeff Waller owner 175 South Edgeware St., St.Thomas 519-633-5000 www.centuryservice.ca
A trusted name in Elgin County for over 50 years! 519-773-8951 or 519-631-0590 www.koolenelectric.ca
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175 South Edgeware St., St. Thomas
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Page 14 Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025
To advertise here, please contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
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