Try delicious foods from around the world this February. The community is invited to take part in “Global Flavours”, a joint initiative with the local tourism boards and the St. Thomas-Elgin Immigration Partnership. Visit participating cultural and/or immigrant-owned restaurants and check in using an app or a paper “passport”. If you visit at least two restaurants (or the same one twice), you’ll be eligible for the prize draw. When you can enjoy great food, support local restaurants, and win prizes, it's a win-win-win!

Global Flavours is celebrating its 5th year. It began as an initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic, when restaurants were hit particularly hard by the pandemic restrictions. February is a notably slow month for restaurants as it is, and with Covid-19, many were struggling even more. Simultaneously, we were seeing an increase in diversity in our region and wanted to celebrate the richness and vibrancy that a diversity of people (and foods) brings to our area. Thus, Global Flavours was born.

Hi, Caleb here! You may see me on Saturdays at Railway City Tourism, or at special events. I've seen a few Arts Crawls come and go, and every year look forward to seeing what the artists are up to. This year, I wanted to recommend my top three picks. All art is subjective and definitely a matter of personal taste and preference. I hope you like my selections! Let us know your top 3 artists in the comments if you like.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a performer. It was the most instinctual part of my childhood. At the age of 10, I was practicing my Oscar speech in my basement. Yet it was not until my first year of theatre school did I realize that my true passion was beyond performing — it was creating. A wise professor once told me, “anyone can be an actor, but can you be a creator?” From my time in theatre school, it became apparent that what truly inspires me is storytelling. As an artist, I believe it’s my obligation to bring light to stories that need to be told.

The Face It! Performance Art Installation began as just an idea to collaborate with Laura Woermke and tell the story of her work. This February I contacted Laura to ask if there was any way we could collaborate and bring something brand new to St. Thomas. As the idea grew into something much more, I began to reflect when I was a teenager in this city and the resentment I felt towards St. Thomas. As a young artist, I felt like there were no opportunities for me here. So that’s why I decided that my fellow company members for Face It would be young students from the area. I wanted to give an opportunity to adolescents to share their story and to claim their own sense of artistry in this community. As well as teaching them, you can get paid for your art, that shouldn’t be far fetched idea. Sometimes in a smaller community, we forget the concept that this is a profession and as an artist, we have the right to be paid for our work. I hope that my students leave this project feeling like creators and capable to do pursue their own art career.
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​As an observer and one of the volunteers of this event I am amazed to watch how it all comes together.

On Saturday July 8th 2017 on a picture perfect night, St Thomas found it's main street jammed with an estimated 1200 special interest vehicles.

On the newly refurbished front steps of St Thomas city hall an incredible live band could be found belting out songs from the 50's and 60's from speakers mounted on Moonlight Painters genie boom high above the street. The band, DJ tunes and announcements are orchestrated by the one and only conductor Ken Chaplin.

A few blocks west of city hall you can find the ragtime piano tunes of Dave Hoy bringing the streets alive. Behind Dave you found the St Thomas Art Gallery with kids activities , a balloon magician along with a face painter for the kids also.

Two blocks to the east of city hall at the L&PS replica Railway station St Thomas tourism office one could ride the train for a half hour ride. There were six trains that went out with approx 150 people per trip. While waiting for the train ride one could listen to the buskers at the station or browse through car art and/or info displays.

​When this event was started, there was only one requirement that had to continue from year to year. That everything was FREE. You could bring your family for a full night of entertainment and leave your wallet or purse at home. This is only possible due to the efforts of the St Thomas Downtown Development Board and the many businesses that jumped in to cover costs.

This year there was a special tribute for a fellow gearhead that is no longer with us. At approximately 7 o'clock we found many cars from the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racing Association and the East London Timing Association along with John Chandlers incredible AA Fuel dragster fire up for a "Cackle of Respect".

That is when it makes you stop and reflect.

Are these shows about the cars or the people behind the cars and the people in the crowds?

We all know that these machines are expensive to operate, some more than others, however all those involved never blinked an eye when it came time to fire up for a fellow car enthusiast.

When it came time to park all these cars up stepped the St Thomas Optimist Club, but with this number of cars many other friends and car owners were called upon to assist as they have in the past. I know at times when they see me coming it is a "Here he comes again". But because of the character of the volunteers they do it again and again for only the smiles it puts on others faces.

Even with all the volunteers we found that an extra pair of hands or feet would suddenly be required, a request to the closest person, be it another friend or complete stranger I was never ignored or turned down.

​That is why I question if an event like this should be called a car show or maybe a show of people and their cars. Here in St Thomas we have a promotional logo" #stthomasproud", I wonder if we need to revise it to #stthomas"people"proud.