From There to Here: Elle Crevits For many, moving to a new city can be a leap of faith. For Elle Crevits, owner of The Atrium in downtown St. Thomas, that leap has led to a sense of purpose, connection, and a thriving community. “I grew up in Delhi, on a tobacco farm,” Elle recalls. “Then I spent years living in Ottawa and Kitchener before making my way back to St. Thomas.” While in Ottawa, Elle worked with food banks and non-profits, running social enterprises before joining the City of St. Thomas as a business advisor for the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) during the pandemic. “At the time, still living in Ottawa,” Elle says, “I was looking for something more challenging. When the opportunity came up with SBEC, I thought it would be a great fit. As COVID shifted how and where people worked, she was able to take on the role remotely. Family also played a big part in Elle’s decision to move closer to home: “My sister was expecting her first baby, and I wanted to be near family again, but honestly, St. Thomas just stuck me in. I fell in love. I got to know so many small business owners and helped them start their dream projects. You can make such a bigger impact here than in a big city.” Before officially moving to St. Thomas, Elle had moved from Ottawa to Kitchener and had planned to stay in Kitchener, but fate intervened: “Someone local texted me out of the blue about an apartment. It was perfect and affordable, so I just thought, okay, I surrender. I’m coming to St. Thomas.” Elle acknowledges that it was ‘just meant to be’. As a young, single professional, Elle admits the move came with challenges: “It’s scary. There’s so much opportunity for my career here, but on the personal side, it can be hard to find other singles. Still, everything has its season, and I couldn’t resist the career opportunities.” That drive eventually led her to The Atrium, a co-working and creative community space downtown. “Most of our members
aren’t originally from here,” she points out. “They’re transplants, people looking for connection. I really relate to that. The Atrium is like a subculture of St. Thomas, and I think that’s what makes it special.” Now, after two and a half years, Elle feels firmly rooted. “I still see so much opportunity here,” she says. “Our downtown is growing, and the community support is incredible.” When she’s not at The Atrium, Elle enjoys local favourites like Plaza Sushi, Caps Off, and the Clay Oven. “But I’m a regular customer of Urban Jars,” she laughs. “Healthy lunches made easy -- it’s been a game-changer.” For Elle, St. Thomas has become more than just a place to live. “It’s easy to have a big impact here,” she declares. “I walk everywhere -- everyone knows me, or at least knows my dog, Stevie. It feels like home.”
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Hometown St. Thomas • November 2025 • Page 7
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