From There to Here: Fletcher Lockwood and Vanessa Buckland In June of 2021, when Fletcher Lockwood and Vanessa Buckland first opened Lockwood Books, they hadn’t yet made St. Thomas their permanent home. At the time, they were commuting from London, Ontario, but it didn’t take long for the city and its people to win them over. “We officially moved to St. Thomas in the summer of 2022,” Fletcher says. “We opened Lockwood Books a year prior and immediately fell in love with the community. It was a very easy decision to stop commuting and make the move here.” Vanessa grew up in Cambridge, Ontario, while Fletcher is originally from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. He eventually settled in Cambridge as well, before the two spent a short time in London. Though they appreciated what London offered, big city living wasn’t for them, and neither imagined running a bookstore there. When they first started looking at locations, they explored places like Stratford, Fergus, Elora, and St. Mary’s. But when they came across St. Thomas, the decision was obvious. “The cozy, small-town feel and beautiful heritage buildings downtown were exactly what we were looking for,” Vanessa explains. “Plus, every quaint little city needs its own bookstore. We were filling a need the moment we opened our doors.” Now, two years after settling in, the family is certain they made the right choice. “We love that St. Thomas has everything we need without losing that fantastic small-town feeling,” Fletcher says. “It’s a slower pace here and we enjoy it so much. The incredible sense of community makes it special -- it’s nice to run into friends at the grocery store or the coffee shop and take the time to catch up.” That sense of community is strongest for them in the downtown core, where they spend much of their time. They’re proud to be part of a neighbourhood filled with favourite businesses and friends, from Revival Studio and Angry Bear to Reed’s Records and the Pawn Shop. Events like the Nostalgia Nights Car Show
and Oktoberfest add to the lively atmosphere, while family outings to Pinafore Park or Port Stanley make for perfect days off. When asked about a go-to spot for a meal, the answer comes quickly: “Herm’s (Snack Wacky) is an absolute favourite for our family!” For Fletcher and Vanessa, the real joy of St. Thomas is watching their son, Oren, grow up here. “It’s safe, it’s quiet, and there are lots of kids his age in the neighbourhood,” Vanessa says. “Watching him play with friends, knowing these friendships and memories will stay with him forever, is such a great feeling.” Looking back, they say their expectations of the move were high, but the reality has been even better. “When we first opened Lockwood Books, we knew that the city checked all the boxes for our business,” Fletcher reflects. “But it’s the people, with their love, support, and sense of community, that really makes St. Thomas home.”
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Hometown St. Thomas • October 2025 • Page 7
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