Celebrating Small Business in St. Thomas by Amelia Bainbridge, Communications & Donor Relations Coordinator, St. Thomas Public Library Small businesses are at the heart of what makes St. Thomas such a special place to live. Our city is home to a wide variety of restaurants, service providers, shops, and makers, and new entrepreneurs are starting businesses here all the time. Shopping local is about more than buying something you need. It’s about discovering new favourites and supporting people who live and work in your community. From handmade gifts to one-of-a-kind tasty treats, local businesses offer unique options you won’t find everywhere else. When you spend money locally, it stays closer to home and helps strengthen our local economy. A strong small business community gives us more choices and helps build a creative, lively city. Local businesses bring new ideas, energy, and character to St. Thomas. They also create jobs and help our community grow in a healthy and sustainable way. These values are important to libraries, too. At St. Thomas Public Library, we work to support small business owners and people who are thinking about starting a business. The library is a place where ideas grow, skills develop, and learning is always available. If you’re starting a business, the library can help. STPL offers books on writing business plans, marketing, and calculating taxes. We also have quiet study rooms where you can think, plan, or work without distractions. Our Maker Lab is another Get your on! Our Pancake Shanty is open every weekend in March!
great resource, allowing you to create useful items like posters, stickers, vinyl clings, and packaging labels for your business. Your library card also gives you free access to LinkedIn Learning. This online platform offers thousands of courses on topics like marketing, bookkeeping, website building, staff management, and networking. Courses range from short videos to full programs and often include certificates when you finish.
Once your business is running, you can also join the STPL Plus partner program. Local businesses offer a small discount to customers with a library card and receive promotion through
the library’s website and marketing materials. By supporting small businesses and using library resources, we can all help build a stronger, more connected St. Thomas. REGULAR WASTE COLLECTION ON GOOD FRIDAY
Community Recycling Centre is closed Good Friday. There will be regular waste collection on Good Friday for those who are regularly scheduled for Friday pick-up. www.stthomas.ca (519) 631-1680
Visit us for a tour, learn about how we make our delicious Maple Syrup and stop in the shanty for some pancakes or waffles!
PROUDLY CANADIAN LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED
SAVE $ 5 on any purchase of $30 or more Valid for sale once per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Taxes Extra. Valid only at Global Pet Foods in St. Thomas. EXPIRES MARCH 31st, 2026
Saturdays and Sundays 9-2
(519) 769-0007 34308 Lake Line Port Stanley
for every $20 you spend, before taxes, per purchase.
Hometown St. Thomas • March 2026 • Page 39
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