 Every year, millions of Canadians engage in thousands of free activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and municipalities in communities across Canada. From Nunavut to New Brunswick, and from British Columbia to Baffin Island – and all points in between – we share all the inspiration, artistry, creativity and expression that reflects the mosaic of Canadian culture. Culture Days celebrations return this year from Friday, September 28th to Sunday, September 30th, and there are tons of free, participatory arts activities happening in St. Thomas for you to participate in! Check out our condensed guide below to help you find the best activities (or for more events that may be added after this post!) for you this 2018 Culture Days weekend, or click here to find the detailed Culture Days St. Thomas info.  Romantic Designs Art Studio
Limitless Tattoo
Laing Studios
Little Red Mitten
St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre
 Southwold Township Library - Shedden
St. Thomas Public Library - St. Thomas
St. Thomas Horton Farmers’ Market - St. Thomas
The Village Collective - Sparta
Boat Launch - Port Stanley
Port Stanley Library - Port Stanley
Steam Centre with St. Thomas Elgin Local Immigration Parthership - St. Thomas
Contact: Petrusia Hontar | phontar.stelip@gmail.com | 519-631-9800 x 241 Joe Thornton Community Centre - St. Thomas
Talbot Teen Centre - St. Thomas
Elgin County Heritage Centre - St. Thomas
Elgin County Administration Building - St. Thomas
Portside Gallery - Port Stanley
Belmont Library - Belmont
Springfield Library - Springfield
Aylmer Library - Aylmer
Family Central Restaurant - Aylmer
Christ Anglican Church - Port Stanley
Glover Park - Port Stanley
Streamliners Espresso Bar - St. Thomas
Hiram Smith House - Sparta
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 To many, Talbot St. has long been the heart of St. Thomas. The landscape may change over time, but the mission of the Downtown remains the same; To cultivate a community of all downtown property and business owners and residents, while advocating, beautifying and actively promoting our businesses and authentic heritage in Downtown St Thomas. This street has been host to many businesses and residences throughout its long history. Over time, the economic demands have changed and therefore, so have the businesses located on Talbot Street but our Historic Downtown holds some great stories from the past and is busy forging ahead with new experiences to be had! Below is a look at a few different buildings on Talbot Street and their entrepreneurial histories.  291-295 Talbot Street Dr. E.W. Gustin built this Victorian home in 1870, and it was later converted to his medical office in 1890. The house was constructed by J.M Green and the building underwent a number of expansions and renovations throughout the years, reflecting the evolution of the building from a residence to a combination of home and surgery. Today the building belongs to the family-owned restaurant Lotus Thai.  440-442 Talbot Street This address officially opened on March 12, 1912, as The Canadian Bank Of Commerce. In 1961 the Canadian Bank of Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Commerce to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce meaning this spot has had the same tenant for over 100 years.  519 Talbot Street Getta's Restaurant was located at 519 Talbot Street from 1935-1962 but was badly damaged by a fire on February 4, 1962. Shortly after, Yurek's Pharmacy was established in the location in 1963. Today, Yurek’s Pharmacy is still operated from 519 Talbot Street.  546 Talbot Street Homer's Lunch Counter and Dining Room was located right across from City Hall at 546 Talbot Street in 1925. Today, Tim Horton's carries on the lunch counter tradition serving up coffee and sandwiches to the downtown core.  614 Talbot Street Hal Kemp Motor Sales was located at 614 Talbot Street in 1950 while today St.Thomas Transit Terminal Services owns and operates out of the same location.  779 Talbot Street B.A Sumner’s Confections was located at 779 Talbot Street in 1930 and the store was known for its large collection of antiques and curios, displayed in the store. Today, the Dutch Bakery and The Fritter Shop are here with their large collection of delicious treats!  825 Talbot Street
In 1933 The International Hotel was located at 825 Talbot Street but today the building is host to Asuka Japanese Cuisine. The St. Thomas Municipal Heritage Committee has some fantastic walking tour guides available including one of Talbot Street. If you found this post interesting - stop in to the Railway City Tourism Office to pick up a walking tour and set out to discover the history on Talbot St.  September arrives in just a few days and it's difficult to comprehend how quickly the last few months have flown by. The kids might be going back to school but there is still plenty of warm weather days left to enjoy!
ARTS & CULTURE Sept 1 | St. Thomas Fire Muster | Pinafore Park Sept 1 | Ghost in the Machine - Francis Caprani Exhibition | St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre Sept 1 | #ARTCENTRESELFIE Exhibition | St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre Until Sept 8 | Sunshine Express| Port Stanley Festival Theatre Sept 6 | Art Class - In Love with Abstract | Romantic Designs September 8 - Oct 20 | In View of the Artist | St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre Sept 8 | Art Class - Lazy Day Fishing | Romantic Designs Sept 9 | Grand Opening Party | The Atrium Sept 12 | Art Class - The Panda Bear | Romantic Designs Sept 13 | Art Class - Hawaii Vacation | Romantic Designs Sept 15 | Yuk Yuk's Comedy Night in the Shop | Elgin County Railway Museum Sept 15 | Art Class - Days of Autumn | Romantic Designs Sept 19 | Art Class - Palette Knife | Romantic Designs Sept 20 - 30 | The Cemetery Club | Princess Ave. Playhouse Sept 22 | Conductor's Choice Culinary Tour | St. Thomas Sept 22 | Art Class - Dragon on Canvas | Romantic Designs Sept 28-30 | Culture Days | St. Thomas LIFESTYLE Sept 4 | Euchre Club | St. John's Anglican Sept 7 | Golf Classic Invitational | Iron Creek Golf & Country Club Sept 11 | Euchre Club | St. John's Anglican Sept 15 | Fall Harvest Dinner | Wildflowers Farm Sept 18 | Euchre Club | St. John's Anglican Sept 25 | Euchre Club | St. John's Anglican Sept 26 |Meet the Makers | Elgin Mall MUSIC Sept 12 | Taize Service | St. John's Anglican Church Sept 22 | Jumbo Phest | Back Alley Sept 26 | Gordie Mackeeman and his Rhythm Boys | CASO Station FAMILY Saturdays & Sundays | PSTR Train Rides | Port Stanley Sept 7 | Movie in the Park - ET |Pinafore Park Sept 8 | Junior Jumbo Mud Challenge| Faith Church SHOPPING Saturdays | Horton Farmers' Market | Horton Farmers' Market Sept 6 | Night Market | CASO Station  The St. Thomas food scene is definitely on the rise and people are starting to take notice! If you are looking to visit the area or are looking to discover a new place to try check out these posts by some recent visitors!
Ontario Travel - 5 Spots to Treat your Taste buds in Railway City Travelling Foodie - 9 Stops to get a Taste of St. Thomas We also have a day long culinary adventure upcoming to tantalize your taste buds with some local food highlights. Seats on the train are limited so book in early by contacting Railway City Tourism.  One benefit for Canadians during the summer season is the ability to view and enjoy a beautiful summer’s sunset. St. Thomas is lucky to have a variety of destinations nearby where one may view a sunset from the best perspective. Below is a list of the many different sites with the best potential to view a St.Thomas sunset. Let us know your favourite spot if it isn't on the list! We are always discovering new locations too!  Winter Sunset at the Elevated Park by @viewsfromthe519 on Instagram The Elevated Park is an excellent destination for sunset views. The high vantage point of the park provides a view like none other and it offers all with the opportunity to experience a sunset from above the town of St.Thomas. Be sure to visit the Elevated Park for all your viewing need. Access to the park is off of Centre St. one street back from the Jumbo monument.  Sunset Captured by @spitzkymedia on Instagram Hawks Cliff gives its visitors the opportunity to view Lake Erie from the top of an eroded cliff and it is also a viable destination to view a sunset. The expanse of this view creates an impressive glimpse. Hawks Cliff is located on Lake Erie, near Port Stanley. The Thames Talbot Land Trust is working to preserve the area for generations of birds and people to enjoy - If you visit be aware of the habitat and consider donating to the preservation effort  Sunset Captured by Laing Studios For some, sunsets are best enjoyed on a beach! A sunset seen from Main Beach in Port Stanley will have you speechless as the sandy landscape and beautiful waterfront scenery conflicting with a summer’s sunset will be like nothing seen before. Furthermore, the Pier which is located on the beach provides another perspective to enjoy!  Jumbo Sunset captured by @lolopenny on Instagram The Jumbo Monument is located at 65 Talbot Street which is on top of Talbot Hill. Viewing a sunset at the Jumbo site will be a real treat now that Jumbo has some added colour to create an intriguing contrast to the sky and he always appreciates visitors!  Sunset captured by Laing Studios In town sometimes it can be difficult to get that big open view that one associates with a typical "sunset photo", but the sky over the Elgin County Railway Museum often provides a beautiful show and shouldn't be missed!
It's the time of year when we take advantage of longer days and it's nice to slow down at the end of the day and follow the light to end the day with a beautiful local sunset. Where are your favourite local sunset spots?  On September 22, 2018 board the train for a culinary adventure exploring local flavours and experience the #tasteofstthomas and celebrate our agriculturally rich surroundings! This limited seating full day culinary adventure originates at Las Chicas del Cafe where you will discover the nuances of coffee in the roastery while learning about direct trade coffee in the historic CASO Station. From there guests will board the train to experience a savoury pairing experience with Salt & Pepper Meals and Railway City Brewing on the journey to Wildflowers Farm. While at Wildflowers passengers will learn about tea and honey on a rotational tour incorporating the sweet side with Helm Baked and the savoury with The Windjammer Inn to compliment the nuances of the teas. All aboard for the final leg on the train with a pairing from Seed Confections and Railway City Brewing as the train winds through the lush landscape of Elgin County. Once in Port Stanley passengers will disembark the train and journey by bus to Quai du Vin to enjoy a tour of the winery and pairings with Orchard Hill Farm. The day comes to a close at the Elgin County Railway Museum for a dining experience unlike anything you’ve seen before. Surrounded with the historic rail assets and immersed in a performance by Zero Gravity Circus, dinner guests will have opportunity to enjoy a taste of Elgin Harvest as well as dishes prepared by the culinary programs at Fanshawe College featuring local produce and ingredients from the farmlands and food creatives of St. Thomas and Elgin County. Enjoy the full day from coffee and brunch to dinner or choose only the day trip or dinner portion - either way guests will experience the #tasteofstthomas and discover some of the emerging local farms and businesses working to provide our community and its visitors the very best in local flavour. Conductor’s Choice melds the exciting new direction of St. Thomas’ culinary landscape with its rich railway history - from CASO to ECRM and all stops in between, this is a one of a kind opportunity to celebrate what makes us #stthomasproud. This event is presented by Railway City Tourism in partnership with Savour Elgin. Event Details: Conductor’s Choice - A Culinary Experience on Rails Saturday September 22, 2018 | 10am Parking at 225 Wellington St. St. Thomas Experience begins at 105 - 750 Talbot St. Tour Only - $85 | Dinner Only - $75 | Full Experience - $140 | all prices inclusive of HST To reserve your seats visit Railway City Tourism at 650 Talbot St. or contact 519-631-1680 x4132 | tourism@stthomas.ca *The train is not accessible and due to the nature of the tour dietary substitutions can not be accommodated*  Do you have a favourite summer event in St. Thomas you’d like to share? 2018 has been a busy summer for St. Thomas and it isn't over yet! Get out there and enjoy it and take your camera along! We know you have one on that cell phone in your pocket! How can I win?
Email photo to tourism@stthomas.ca Please note: You can vote as many times as you’d like, but please submit one photo per contest. What can I win? Our August prize package includes:
 August arrives tomorrow and with it a quiet start to a busy month. Get your beach time in this long weekend because the rest of the month is going to keep you busy in town! The Iron Horse Festival is back in Downtown St. Thomas August 16 - 19 with I MOTHER EARTH headlining the Friday night music lineup. Also making a stop in town is the RAM Rodeo Tour August 25 -26. Keep up to date by following us on our social media accounts as new events are always popping up!
ARTS & CULTURE Until Aug 18 | Book Club | Port Stanley Festival Theatre Until Sept 1 | Ghost in the Machine - Francis Caprani Exhibition | St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre Until Sept 1 | #ARTCENTRESELFIE Exhibition | St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre Aug 1 | Cardboard Cafe at the Rec | Rail City Recreation Aug 4 | Art Class - The Tiger | Romantic Designs Aug 8 | Cardboard Cafe at the Rec | Rail City Recreation Aug 10 - 12 | Elgin Historical Show | Dan Patterson Conservation Area Aug 15 | Cardboard Cafe at the Rec | Rail City Recreation Aug 16 | Art Class - Vancouver Island | Romantic Designs Aug 16 | FreshFest | CASO Station Aug 16-19 | Iron Horse Festival | Downtown St. Thomas Aug 18 | Art Class - Port Stanley Lighthouse | Romantic Designs Aug 22 - Sept 8 | Sunshine Express| Port Stanley Festival Theatre Aug 22 | Art Class - Palette Knife | Romantic Designs Aug 25 | Improv Night | Rail City Bistro Aug 25 | Art Class - The Faerie | Romantic Designs Aug 26 | Elevated Picnic | St. Thomas Elevated Park Aug 26 | Paradise Falls Paint Night | Rail City Bistro LIFESTYLE Aug 1 | Intro to Essential Oils | Streamliners Aug 4 | Camper Carnival | Lake Whittaker Aug 5 | Camper Carnival | Dalewood Aug 15 | Elgin Beef Farmers BBQ | Pinafore Park Aug 29 | Beer Yoga | Railway City Brewing MUSIC Aug 1 | Summer Concert Series | Old St. Thomas Church Aug 4 | Downtown Tracks | Railway City Tourism Aug 5 | Music in the Park - Chris Casserly & The Keepsakes | Pinafore Park Aug 8 | Summer Concert Series | Old St. Thomas Church Aug 12 | Music in the Park | Pinafore Park Aug 12 | Jukebox Memories | Quai du Vin Aug 15 | Summer Concert Series | Old St. Thomas Church Aug 16 | Deni Gauthier and the Horrible Mischief | Iron Horse Festival Aug 16 | From Waves to Shore | Iron Horse Festival Aug 16 | Jesse Stewart | Iron Horse Festival Aug 17 | I MOTHER EARTH | Iron Horse Festival Aug 18 | Michael Trudgen | Iron Horse Festival Aug 19 | Music in the Park - Sweet Adelines | Pinafore Park Aug 19 | Music in the Park - Dennis Wiley | Pinafore Park Aug 22 | Summer Concert Series | Old St. Thomas Church Aug 26 | Vintage Rock Tributes | Quai du Vin Aug 29 | Summer Concert Series | Old St. Thomas Church FAMILY Saturdays & Sundays | PSTR Train Rides | Port Stanley Aug 4 | Honey Harvest| Clovermead Aug 11 | Movie in the Park - Shrek | Pinafore Park Aug 11 | Lavender Fairy Festival | Steed & Co. Aug 16-19 | Iron Horse Festival | Downtown St. Thomas Aug 25-26 | St. Thomas RAM Rodeo | Keller's Dam Place SHOPPING Saturdays | Horton Farmers' Market | Horton Farmers' Market Aug 1 | Myrtle & Vesta Celebrate Shawn's 40th | Myrtle & Vesta Shop Aug 11 | Dark Matter Toys Second Anniversary | Dark Matter Toys & Collectibles  The community of artists in St. Thomas is passionate about their art and diverse with their talents. Every February we celebrate our local art scene with the Railway City Arts Crawl but these local creators are dreaming up and bringing art to life all year round. We recently caught up with Grayden Laing of Laing Studios to learn a bit more about his art and where to find it! What’s your background in art? How did you get started? I think my fascination with art is rooted in my frustration with art and the fact that I’m too stubborn to let things that I find challenging beat me... It all started when my great grandmother began teaching me how to paint using watercolours. She started doing this while she was taking care of me after I got home from JK, because my parents we usually working until dinner time. That means I was four or five at the time. Anyway, she would set me up to paint something and I would see what I wanted to paint, but when I went to paint it I would be thwarted by either the way my brain was interpreting the images or my lack of control and understating of the medium. So, while I knew what I wanted to get… the results wouldn’t end up looking like what I was referencing. This is all mostly because the left side of the brain tries to turn everything into symbols for ease of processing - for example, using “smily” faces to represent heads or stick people to represent bodies. We need to tap the right side of the brain to access spatial relationships before we can actually draw or paint something accurately. The battle between the left and the right brain trying to take control is what frustrated me because I kept thinking “if I can see it, and I know how I want it to look, what is preventing me from getting the result I want?!”, at that point my stubbornness would kick in and I would keep at it until I got the result I wanted. Everything clicked into place a couple years later when my mother introduced me to the book “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards, which explains what’s going on very clearly. Anyway, that frustration and stubborn attitude is what started me on this career path and then what I learned about art as I continued to study it is what made me fall in love with it. This also taught me a major life lesson, which is that the main obstacle between success and failure is dedication to learning and the stubbornness/hard work needed to follow through on projects to take them to completion.  What inspires you? Who are your biggest inspirations? I’m inspired by creative political and societal commentary as well as by artists who carve out a niche for themselves with a unique visual style. I also think art has the power to shift societal views in an affluent society more than anything else. Because of that, I’m inspired by artists who use their craft to do that. Whether it’s a photograph, a film, or a painting – if it changes the world for the better, that’s inspirational to me. Inspirational Artists/Animators/Cinematographers… I have so many, but here’s a short list in no particular order: Edgar Degas, Claude Monte, Auguste Rodin, Banksy, Eva and Franco Mattes (Nike Platz), Kat Medlyn, Laura Woermke, Robin Grindley, Roger Deakins, Michel Gondry, Loren Bouchard, Patrick Boivin, Adam Reed, Jeremy Mann, Robert Valley, Casey Baugh, Sam Chou, Baran Mong, and Geordie Millar. What is your creative process like? I usually ruminate on a painting or video for weeks; thinking, researching and experimenting. Then I’ll go into a creative frenzy and finish off whatever it is in a couple hours or days. That sometimes leads people into thinking that I can just whip things off in no time, but I can’t have one without the other. The longer I ruminate - the faster I can create. It should also be mentioned that during that rumination process my entire studio fills with clutter and I end up working in a creative chaos that would be an anathema to most people. Do you ever experience creative blocks? How to you move past them? All the time and my mantra for those times is “one foot in front of the other”. So, if it’s a painting, that means working on it for at least an hour a day and the same goes for a video project. Anytime I don’t follow that process on a video project or a painting the timeline to completion can stretch from weeks to months to years. Once I move off a creative path it sometimes takes a lot of mental energy to get back on it – so I also have to be careful to stay focused on the path I’m on until I make it to the end. Where can people find more of your work? A direct way to find out what I’m up to is to follow Laing Studios on Facebook and on Instagram. People can also find my work all over the internet. I create animations, paintings, photographs, and videos and one of my hobbies is SEO so if you search my name you’ll come up with thousands of posts that contain my artwork. I also founded the Canadian Animation Blog, which I run to help promote animation artists – so when you search for me a lot of those posts will pop up. Here’s an abridged list of places to find my work: Websites: laingstudios.com, graydenlaing.com, canadiananimationblog.com Facebook: Laing Studios, Firebox Sessions, Art of Grayden Alexander Laing, Yoga Face Selfie, Canadian Animation Blog, Farm Fit, Eggs Gone Wild Instagram: Laing Studios (Business Profile), Intrepid_Illustrations (Artwork Profile), Yoga Face Seflie (Satirical Profile) How would you describe your art? That’s a hard thing to do. I’ve always refused to choose a single niche and stick to it. I know, intellectually, that that’s the way to have your style reach the most people and have them flock to you and buy the most work. However, every time I consider doing that, I think about how much I would miss the breadth of the mediums and styles I work in now. I enjoy creating work that sparks a dialogue, but what I’ve found over the years is that my more commercially successful works are ones that use my painting or filming techniques to showcase the beauty of my subjects. That means I have learned to have a foot in both art worlds; the commercial art world and the fine art world. Choosing to do that has given me and the artwork I produce more perspective than I would have if I just stuck to one type of art. Producing artwork commercially, in the realm of film and television has meant people have paid me to fly around the world to film for television series and commercials as a director of photography. I’ve also sold and been paid by DHX Media to develop an animation series, Beer Goggles, that I created with a friend of mine from Lynhurst, Shawn McKay (who has since moved to B.C.). The pilot episode was created and filmed in Shawn’s mothers basement in Lynhurst - at the time it was the only place we had enough space to create the characters and sets. I’m just waiting for the show to take off and for an extra sign to be added at the entrance to Lynhurst that says “Home of Joe Thornton and The Birth Place of Beer Goggles.” What I learned during all of that was how to efficiently produce video content, which allowed me to move back home (Elgin County/St. Thomas) to continue to produce artwork and videos in the community that I love. A video series I’m working on right now with Railway City Tourism is #TASTEOFSTTHOMAS, which is all about beautifully showcasing the unique people creating great food right here in St. Thomas. Taking on the commercial gigs means I haven’t become bitter about the fact that my more political pieces haven’t sold as well as I expect they will when they hit the critical mass awareness point and people realize what I’ve been doing all these years. I’d explain exactly what I’m doing, but then I’d ruin that gratifying ‘Aha’ moment when you figure it out for yourself. So how would I describe my artwork? All encompassing and all consuming - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  If you could grab a drink with any artist in any medium living or dead, who would it be and why? Edgar Degas, hands down, the guy was always experimenting and pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable in society and art. You can see the struggle and thought behind every stroke in his pastels and paintings. He was constantly thinking and evolving and doing what inspired him as opposed to what was considered beautiful or appropriate for the time. For me, that passion and drive is inspirational. As an artist that isn’t independently wealthy, I have to balance the commercial side of what I do with the artistic passion for what I love and sometimes that means compromise by putting the passion projects on hold so I can complete a project to get a pay cheque and pay my bills. As a result, I admire the other artists who have done the same or are doing the same – and I’d honestly be happy to grab a drink with any artist that is doing that. What do you want people to experience through your work? There are two things. On one hand I want them to spend enough time with my body of work to notice the subtle messages I’ve hidden in my paintings and on the other I want people to appreciate the craft and care I put into my artwork - which is represented by the thousands of hours I have dedicated to developing both my oil painting technique and my pen and ink technique. I suppose that means what I really want people to experience through my artwork is a dialogue about the subject matter of the work and an appreciation of the craft required to execute it. I think that also speaks to the ego of myself as an artist because even though I know the amount of time people have to spend on dialogue and artwork is finite – I believe that what I’m talking about and doing is worth their time.  Do you take artwork commissions? Teach classes? I pretty much do it all! I love working on commissions for people and I love sharing what I know through classes. I teach one-on-one classes in animation, film, photography, painting, and sculpture. I also teach group classes and have open classes that people can drop-in on like the drop-in photography classes I’m teaching at my studio (456 Talbot St. – Back Entrance) on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00pm. I’ve also just set myself up to teach paint nights with large groups. So that’s kind of exciting! If you want to schedule a paint night where you learn some fundamental art techniques - let me know! The best way to find out about what I’m offering is to give me a call (647.269.4415) or send me an email at grayden@laingstudios.com.   St. Thomas pride is everywhere. You can feel it at community events, see it on display as you drive through the city, and even explore its presence on social media! In fact, Instagram is currently home to over 24,000 posts marked with the #stthomasproud hashtag, and another 1,900 posts with the #explorerailwaycity hashtag. These searchable (and also follow-able!) hashtags help represent the beautiful city we get to call home. Next time you decide to show your St. Thomas pride on social media, add one of these hashtags to your photos so other people get to see just how great St. Thomas is! We are excited to introduce you to a few locals with a flair for capturing their St. Thomas pride through photography and truly embody what it means be #stthomasproud. @lauraknottphotography What’s your favourite place to photograph in St. Thomas and why? I don’t really have a favourite place to photograph. I tend to look for the beauty in each place I go, something that speaks to me. I like to have a connection to the photos I take, whether it is a landscape, an object, a person, an animal or otherwise. What makes you St. Thomas proud? I was born and raised in St. Thomas. Living in this town has made me appreciate small town living. No matter where I go, or what road I take, St. Thomas will always be home. If you had to describe St. Thomas/ the community here in three words, which would you use? Friendly, Historic, Charming What local businesses do you love and why? I really love the Horton's Farmer's Market. I like that it brings several local businesses together all in one place. You are always greeted by friendly people who just want to say hello and give you a friendly smile. I also have to say the same thing about Vesta Shop. I always thought it was just a store for expectant mothers, but when you walk in the doors you are quickly surprised that it is so much more! Do you have any summer plans in St. Thomas? I don’t have any big summer plans at the moment, but I actually prefer fall in St. Thomas anyway. There are so many trails to walk and explore in the lovely cool weather. I also really love the fall colours and this town really comes alive with all its beauty. Do you have a hometown hero? Who is it and why? Rachel McAdams. She is proof that just because you are from a small town, doesn't mean you can't have big dreams and make them come true. She is a true role model and I look up to her a lot. @livelife_adventure What’s your favourite place to photograph in St. Thomas and why? We love exploring along the different trails in and around St Thomas such as the cycling trails and Elgin Hiking trail. The views are stunning, so many beautiful wildflowers and makes for a really fun backdrop for our family to explore and make memories. What makes you St. Thomas proud? We have lived here for 3 years now and we are so proud of our city and the immense growth that we’re seeing. We love attending as many community events as possible. There is always a wonderful community atmosphere. It’s an exciting time for the city. If you had to describe St. Thomas/ the community here in three words, which would you use? Welcoming, generous, and fun-loving. Is there anything you love doing in St. Thomas that you can’t do anywhere else? We love the unique parks and trails about St. Thomas. What local businesses do you love and why? Where do we start? We love shopping local and supporting local businesses. In the summer we love supporting the local farms and have thoroughly enjoyed having a farm share from Orchard Hill Farm. We love visiting Horton Farmers’ Market and Ohtera to support local businesses and artists. We have enjoyed many fabulous meals from Salt and Pepper Meals. Vesta and Myrtle are wonderful stores and we love the personable service and products they stock. Shout out to our friends at Tapa Creative and the exciting ‘Atrium’ collaborative work space. We love Streamliners, Bella Jacks, Spicer’s, Briwood......ok, now we're hungry! What’s your favourite memory in St. Thomas? As internationals we have friends and family visiting from all over the world. We love to show them around town and give them the opportunity of exploring St Thomas, eating great food, meeting wonderful people and hearing stories from this incredible part of Canada. Do you have any summer plans in St. Thomas? We are visiting our family in Ireland for the first part of the summer but we are so excited to get back to St Thomas for the remainder of the summer! We purchased an app that marks out all the hiking trails in the proximity and so we plan to explore the many hiking trails in and around our city. We also love to meet other families in the different parks in the city for a picnic every Sunday. Do you have a favourite annual event? Why is it your favorite We loved the Arts Crawl! It was a fantastic opportunity to explore the whole of downtown. We had only planned to call in at two stops- we had to keep going though! So much variety of talented artists and a wonderful community atmosphere. Have you heard of anything new and exciting coming to St. Thomas that you’re looking forward to? We are very excited for the Outdoor Rec Complex currently being constructed. What a wonderful addition to the city! Do you have a hometown hero? Who is it and why? City Manager Wendell Graves is our hometown hero. We love his vision for development, strategic growth and community. He has managed the St Thomas Executive Team with creative and dynamic leadership and helped move our great city into even greater things. As St Thomas Police Chaplain I should also mention the incredible women and men who serve in our police force. We are so fortunate to have such a great team serving St Thomas with passion and integrity. @lesligriesbach What’s your favourite place to photograph in St. Thomas and why? My favorite spots to photograph would be the various trails/parks. There is something magical and peaceful in being in the woods and wondering a trail, they are pretty easy to navigate and walk and there is always so much wildlife and flora to see. I also see some of the most amazing sunset colors on Lake Margaret! Like WOW! What makes you St. Thomas proud? I love that we are a small town but not so small that there is nothing here. This town is bursting with so many events and activities...I love it! If you had to describe St. Thomas/ the community here in three words, which would you use? Beautiful, charming, home What local businesses do you love and why? I am in love with Briwood and Canadale...to find great things that are local is huge for me and the selection at both those places are awesome! Huge fan of The Bistro too!!! great food and staff What’s your favourite memory in St. Thomas? Discovering Pinafore Park and Lake Margaret.. it is like having my own summer oasis in my backyard! Who needs a vacation when I have that! Do you have any summer plans in St. Thomas? I plan to hike more of the trails and conversation areas and explore the shops downtown. I signed up for a watercolor class at Laing Studios! Excited for that! Do you have a favourite annual event? Why is it your favourite? I love when Thomas the Train comes..it's great seeing the little kids so excited for something! |
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