the needs of people in St. Thomas. You cannot focus on other things in life when you do not have a place to sleep and feel safe. Working with Indwell and the purchase of Balaclava Street School is a priority of this Council.” In addition to supporting Knights of Columbus, STEGH fundraisers, the Optimist Club, United Way and more, Gary locally offers his coaching to minor sports and Special Olympics. Moreover, Gary spent a delightful 44 years on the Sports Spectacular Committee. “I have always been active in the community as a volunteer. This has been another way of giving back to St. Thomas, presenting my vision of what this City can be.” “My next area of focus is on our senior citizens,” Gary continues. “We’ve seen the demographic in Ontario changing quickly. The pop- ulation of over 80 is growing at four times the rate of the rest of the population, meaning that the resources must increase. Care- givers are providing hours of support, which can lead to burnout. Respite is valuable – not only for
This is a photograph of the original 1978 Sports Spectacular Committee on which Gary Clarke has volunteered for 45 years, raising awareness and funds toward Community Living Elgin and Special Olympics. the person being cared for, but their loved ones. As a City, we start to examine the process and plan for what we are calling a ‘Campus of Care’: a one-stop shopping hub with Valleyview’s long-term beds and retirement housing; assisted living for those in need of support; day programming expansion; and perhaps a thermal pool for physio. This is where I want to put my efforts over the next couple of years. Our seniors are the ones that paid taxes and lent their support to better St. Thomas. Now, we support them in their growing needs.” As Gary concludes, “Throughout my career, I have really aimed to respect the local taxpayer. This has been front and centre for me each time we’ve done a budget.” To those with inquiries, the City Councillor extends his phone number: 519-633-7195.
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Hometown St. Thomas • October 2025 • Page 9
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