From There to Here: Mansi and Dhawal by Peri Hayes Born in Indore, India, Mansi and Dhawal Joshi joyfully reflect on their two-kilometre love story. Mansi and Dhawal lived and later studied down the road from each other before ultimately meeting in their adulthood. Mansi’s studies in journalism and film entailed living in India, Australia, Canada and Sri Lanka. Dhawal’s work in IT at Canadian Life Insurance led him to London, Ontario, where he had been saving to buy a house since 2019: “I was waiting for the right time, and then I met Mansi!” Mansi and Dhawal married in 2023, and thereafter fell in love with the local community. The wedded pair have been living in St. Thomas since 2024. Dhawal shares that he and Mansi are not big city dwellers: “With work and school, we both moved around to large cities. We appreciate a community where everyone knows everyone.” To this, Mansi adds, “We both love the countryside, greenery and nature. We also value building lifelong relations, and these strong community connections mean so much to me.” Mansi is a settlement worker at the YWCA of St. Thomas- Elgin, about which she praises, “I love my work at the YWCA, helping people become more comfortable here.” Meanwhile, on Sundays, Mansi works at The Perk in Elgin Centre, where Dhawal enjoys working on his computer. The precious pair share a drink, conversing with regulars and connecting with new visitors. Mansi’s employer has been incredibly supportive as she prepares to embark on her next adventure: “He wants me to follow my dreams!” With aspirations of becoming a professor, Mansi will begin her PhD in Media Studies this September. She has been conducting research on how displaced communities are represented in media, and is the deserving recipient of a scholarship. One day at The Perk, a woman from Germany revealed that she was in town for two weeks more and was terribly homesick. Mansi and Dhawal gifted this stranger a tour of St. Thomas, even accompanying her to Windsor and Niagara. Mansi voices, “We got that kindness and warm embrace from people in St. Thomas, and we want to give that back.” They have remained in touch, and are travelling to her hometown in Germany this
very month. Additionally, Mansi and Dhawal are looking forward to exploring Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands and Slovakia – a novel experience, together. Highlighting their favourite local gems, Mansi reminisces on visits to the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, while Dhawal grows excited for warmer weather to return to the Port Stanley beaches. Mansi enthuses, “Every season, there is something to look forward to in the community. Something is always
breathing in and breathing out. St. Thomas has something that holds us here. We love the diversity and the inclusivity – this is home.” Dhawal passionately concludes “We strongly care about be- coming one with the commun- ity. We are proud of Canadian hockey, and this magazine gives that community feeling that you don’t get in a big city. This is special.”
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Page 6 Hometown St. Thomas • April 2026
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