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OCTOBER 2022 EDITION | ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO
became unsafe. Naturally, the first step was to work with the owner to rectify the situation. But, after numerous requests were ignored, the safety of residents came into question. A temporary shelter was set up to handle all the basic needs we take for granted: lodging, clothing, food, healthcare. They say it takes a village to raise a child; but it takes an entire team of dedicated members to handle a crisis.
There are many different groups and agencies in our community that take care of important areas such as health, housing, poverty, security and infrastructure. Individually, these groups are committed and caring and serve their clients so well. Collectively, it is astonishing what our local groups and agencies can accomplish.
by Earl TaylorChair, DevelopmentDowntownBoard
Just Christmasbeforelast year, the addresswasresponseemergencygroupneededtoarising spread of Covid-19 affecting homeless individuals. When someone is positive for Covid, one of the recommendations is to self-isolate; but how do you do this when you have no roof over your head? Once again, a shelter was set
And don’t forget to bring your Downtown Dollars with you because they’re redeemable at most stores! Our hanging flower baskets have been removed for the season but our sidewalk planters are in full bloom, thanks to St. Thomas Parks. Keep your cameras handy because they will be updated shortly to a colourful display of fall TrickMums!orTreat
Yurek Pharmacy 519 Talbot Street
- after a long 2 year hiatus, we are once again planning our Downtown Pumpkin Prowl for Friday October 28.
I grew up in St. Thomas. Our city isn’t always perfect, but we have so many dedicated people from all different services ready to respond when the need arises. Ready to take care of others. Makes me proud to call St. Thomas my home. Take care of yourselves and each other.
to 8 p.m., prowl our Downtown merchants for lots of ghoulish treats.
I must admit that we just experienced an amazing summer this year. Yes, it was a little too warm and muggy for some like me, but hey, we are good Canadians and we can handle it. But, I’m definitely looking forward to the coming cooler fall weather.
by Steve Bond BScPhm, RPh, CDE, FASCP
Have you been Downtown lately? Wow, it’s a bustling place with our local shops open and eager to welcome you. Take advantage of our two hours of free parking and visit one of our patios before mid October when we put the furniture away for another year.
Locally, we have an Emergency Response group which is called into action when a crisis arises. Lead by members of the City of St. Thomas and Southwest Public Health, this group includes all aspects of response. Members include representatives from Public Health, the City, the Hospital, Central Community Health Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, Home & Community Care Support, St. John’s Ambulance, SOLGEN, Police Services, and the Fire Department. There are also primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and Sopharmacists.whatkind
of events would call this group to action? As many people will likely remember, there was an incident last year at a local group home where living conditions
up to address the issue and of course many people volunteered their time and expertise to care for those in need.
The wings themselves are full and juicy - with a pound landing in at ten wings. Despite the approach to 40 I am still a fan of kids menu favourite, chicken tenders and the crunch I experienced with Wing Boyz combined with truly the holy grail of why chicken tenders are called tenders - we were not left hungry.
@SBECinnovationCentre
Prior to 1964, chicken wings were considered scraps leftover and often discarded. But Teressa determination not to waste the meat and her son and his friends enjoyment of the dish landed the new invention on the menu at the Anchor Bar.
fact, chicken wings are about as divisive as pizza in the styles and varieties people gravitate to - dry-dusted, super saucy, medium, mild, hot, all-flats, extra crunchy, boneless.
The truth however, is that deep-fried chicken wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce wasn’t born until 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. Co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked wings that were sent to her in error (she was disappointed it wasn’t the chicken necks she ordered) in hot sauce as a latenight snack for her son and his friends.
theMaintainingVibe Helping You Feel Better™ *See store for details. †Also available online. *30% off Lift Chairs †Bios PressureBloodMonitoring†All BathroomSafetyProducts 59th Anniversary Sale † ProductsSelect Mon. Sept. 26–Sun. Oct.1yurekhomehealth.ca519 Talbot Street St. Thomas 519-631-3330 Join us for a BBQ Celebration! Tuesday, September 27, 2022 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm across the street from 519 Talbot Street
All proceeds will be donated to CentreCommunityCentralHealth(CCHC).
A TASTE OF DOWNTOWN St. Thomas
In the decades to follow, wings as we now know them have become a staple at most bars, pizza nights and superbowl parties - in
by Sarah Noble from the Elgin/ St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise
Food quality is never a compromise at Wing Boyz from the foundation of flavour with their chicken. They only use chickens raised without antibiotics and fed an all vegetable-
Wing Boyz flew onto the scene in Downtown St. Thomas earlier this year after seeing the expansion of local food culture over the last few years. St. Thomas didn’t disappoint and welcomed The [Wing] Boyz with open arms and hungry stomachs. “We remember those times when folks supported us in the early days of the business opening. We were not fully meeting expectations with long waits for orders. We were overwhelmed. We hadn’t anticipated the initial demand. With the all of your support we made it work.”
grain diet with no animal by-products. With 26 sauce varieties they have something to suit just about any tastebud. The Garlic Parmesan is the overwhelming crowd favourite. The crowned flavour forerunners at our house were the Fire & Ice and Pineapple Curry- granted, the garlic parmesan fries are a saucy treat I couldn’t pass on.
The Wing Boyz team recommends the Chef Special sauce for something unique and the Honey Garlic for someone with a mild palette. And after sampling all 26 sauces, I have to agree.
Buffalo wings. In a moment of truth and vulnerability - despite knowing that Buffalo wings originated in Buffalo, New York, my brain sometimes unwittingly envisions giant buffalo with tiny, delicious wings trying to fly - it almost always makes me giggle.
Goodbye summer and hello September! As we enjoy the final stretch of warm weather, I encourage you to get out with your friends and family and take advantage of your favourite Downtown patios and shops. While you visit over the coming weeks, stop and admire the fall flower planters that will soon be in full bloom, thanks to our St. Thomas Parks team. With crisp fall weather in the air, we look forward to the DDB “Downtown Pumpkin Prowl” event in October. Not yet thinking about the holiday season? You will as we enter the month of November when we start to see Downtown decked out in its normal holiday spirit
As St. Thomas continues to grow, Faris says she feels lucky to be a part of the Downtown — rich in heritage.
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston
When the pandemic hit, many people found themselves stuck at home. Whether you still work from home or not, you may feel the urge to change up the scenery of your lodgings or treat yourself to a new purse.
Faris began her journey in 2015 by sewing pillows and purses, but she has expanded into home décor and small furniture. While she gets her inspirations from materials, Faris is also deeply moved when travelling to new places and experiencing new cultures, especially in Europe. She is always working on something new, and seeingmecustomers;“Icomecraft“TheandwheelThefreshdesignscreatingconstantlynewbasedoninspirations.resultisaFarisoftalent,elegancevalue!bestthingaboutmyisseeingasketchtolife”,saysFaris.alsolovehelpingnothinggetsmoreexcitedthansomeone’sjoyin
Many of her customers find Suzanne Faris at shows, markets, or through social media. But you can visit the fabulous designer yourself at 576 Talbot Street. You can also find her carefully curated products through her online store and have your purchases delivered, even outside of the province. Visit the site at suzannefaris.com.
A friendly reminder that if you are experiencing issues relating to City services, please reach out to our Corporate Customer Service Department by email at customerservice@stthomas. ca, by phone at 519.631.1680 ext. 0 or online at customer_service.www.stthomas.ca/living_here/
Be sure to join us for all these events and more this season across our great City!
A Faris Wheel of Talent, Elegance and Value
as we mark the return of the annual Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday November 18. Community activities continue all weekend when Santa and friends float down Talbot Street for the Optimist Santa Clause Parade - “A Caribbean Beach Party Christmas” on November 19!
finding a new thing. Best dose of happiness ever.”
Suzanne Faris is a one-of-a-kind brand that offers modern, minimalistic, and natural creations in home décor and fashion. “I’m a small batch designer, so everything I make is original and often only available for a short period of time.” In fact, she sources materials like cotton, linen, leather, wood, and stone from local as much as possible.
theWhoThoseCreateVibe
Brian Pugh has been in the supermarket industry for 40 years. He started as a clerk collecting buggies and bagging customers purchases while continuing his education. He then progressed through various roles in the business, up to Store FoodManager.Basics sources its goods both locally and
Born and raised in St. Thomas, Shawn DeVree proudly owns two Downtown businesses: Given Shop, the go-to store for eco-living, unique gifts for anyone and lifestyle products, Myrtle, a clothing store dedicated to encouraging women to love their bodies and look fabulous.
Food Basics mentors, supports, and celebrates its personnel as they grow and develop. “The best part of my job is the daily challenge of keeping the store running smoothly for customers. Being able to navigate any unforeseen circumstance is also rewarding.”
“Theavailable.alwaysDowntown has a strong nucleus of businesses
our customers online and let the chips fall where they may.” Shopping in store still has its perks though, like exceptional customer service, a loyalty points program and complimentary gift
and we care about each customer that walks through the door, on an individual level,” Shawn boasts. “At Myrtle, you can be yourself and we truly believe and want you also to believe that all bodies are good bodies,” Shawn says, “We carry items for every budget, and we want you to find products tailored to you.”
Voaden Secondary School who buy snacks and drinks during their school breaks… to seniors,” says Assistant Store Manager, Brian Pugh. “Many of our customers are also young families looking to stretch their shopping dollars as far as they can.”
business owners, “Every so often, our group meets up and shares what’s working, what isn’t, and we bring it back to our stores in St.
Food Basics is a fresh, clean and friendly grocery store at 780 Talbot Street. Customers come in from all over St. Thomas and surrounding area for fresh produce at a lower cost. “We have everyone from students who attend Arthur
Shawn’s passion to make customers feel like they’re part of a ‘core friendship’, especially when it comes to women shopping for clothing at Myrtle, is felt by her devoted community. While the last few years have been challenging, it’s the loyal customers and supporters that make our community
If you are looking to manage the grocery part of your hard-earned money, visit the friendly team at Food Basics in Downtown St. Thomas.
There’s no denying that food prices have increased. However, one of the Downtown grocery stores offers competitive pricing that could help you manage the cost.She has been a small-townbig-citytoalsoAmerica.intradeshowsattendingtrendsworldwideup2010ownerbusinesssinceandstaystodateonbyNorthShebelongsagroupofand
worldwide. Brian Pugh and his team stay up to date on local and global current events as they can influence the availability and delivery of goods. “We also keep up with seasonal, current trends, and other factors that contribute to customer satisfaction.”
MerchantsLong-time
Is a commonly heard phrase from kids of all ages that come into Given. Whether they are searching for the perfect gift for themselves or someone else, it’s a ‘given’ you’re going to have a great time there. To make it even easier to get a gift they’re sure to love, Given has a programRegistryBirthdayand gift certificates are
Makeresilient.sure to check out Given Shop at 730 Talbot Street and Myrtle at 689 Talbot Street!
Friendship at the Core of Downtown Businesses
“Thiswrapping!ismyfavourite store!”
WhileThomas.”thepandemic caused many places to close their doors and change the way they interact with their customers, Given and Myrtle pivoted to showing up online, utilizing social media platforms to connect to their community. “You can’t control something like a pandemic so we kind of continued as normal and interacted with
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G Your Grocery Budget
On this visit, however, it was Burger Night. I happened to have been drooling for a messy, juicy burger - it seemed like a sign. I was not disappointed. We started with the Avo Mini Bombs. Truthfully I would have been happy to eat the whole tray myself. I also enjoyed a truffle-scented upgrade on my fries and a Bailey’s Strawberry Daquiri for a creamy cool treat during one of the hottest weeks of the year.
MaintainingtheVibe
A TASTE OF DOWNTOWN St. Thomas
One way to fully experience the restaurant is to try the grilled and iron skillet seared Lamb Chop dinner served with veggies, basmati rice and a korma sauce. A dish inspired by Akki’s Mother, who instilled in him his passion for food and taught him to “talk less-listen more and let your skills speak on your behalf.”.
by Sarah Noble from the Elgin/ St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise@SBECinnovationCentre
The Bistro has been a much loved local destination back to its days as the Beanery. While there has been growth and change over the decades, one thing has stayed the same - the sunflower bread!
to The Bistro, try some old favourites like the Cheddar and Ale soup with a slice of sunflower bread alongside the additions. And say hi and welcome to Akki and Mayuri. The pair is currently enjoying the experience of beginning in a new community and sharing celebrations with the people here. They look forward to continuing to develop the boutique restaurant experience for St. Thomas and visitors to our City.
Roy, now enjoying retirement, has been very kind and helpful throughout the transition and shared some words that hit home for Akki. He said, “It’s your food that you should take care of ‘cause it is not just about a business or money. It is your reputation and your personality you are building in this place.”
Formercustomers.owner
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. If you have been a long-time guest, there are still some familiar faces, along with the new ones of Akshay and Mayuri, ready to welcome you back. If you are also new
Akshay, or Akki, has nearly a decade of experience in food services across different services and cuisine styles. He was inspired as he learned to create a versatile and diverse menu. Mayuri has experience running her family’s Resort in India. Combining their experiences into building their restaurant seemed a natural progression. Mayuri manages all the paperwork, books, and staff, while Akki manages the kitchen unless he is out to meet and chat with the
As new owners, Akshay and Mayuri Patil are excited about introducing their take on international fusion cuisine while continuing to offer crowd favourites. They’ve already made a few additions like their Avo Mini Bombs. An incredibly delicious version of street food from India, consisting of crispy wontons.
A high percentage of the work that we now do is social related and not criminal in nature. As a result, we need to find alternative service delivery options to better support people facing social vulnerabilities. The Mobile Outreach and Support Team (MOST) is an example of a tiered teamworkSTPSpartnership,policingwhereandCMHAtogethertosocialworkers
We look forward to working with you! 519.631.3862 | ReithAndAssociates.com
• Discouraging antisocial behavior by being a visible, uniformed presence and engaging with citizens.
• Participating in community events.
with police officers. The CRO Team has a combination of social services and lived SolicitorMinistryappointedareSpecialbackgrounds.experienceConstablescivilianemployeesbytheoftheGeneraland
the Police Services Board. All special constables in the CRO Unit swear an oath-of-office and undertake police/peace officer duties granting them authority for the following legislation:
• Conducting proactive patrols in highneed areas.
• Highway Traffic Act,
Amanda Ross (B-L), Charlotte Rollins (B-R), Racine Harlos (F-L) and Ashley Da Parteira (F-R) to our community.
@Downtown VibeDowntown Vibe
It is time to enhance the Service’s efficiencies and effectiveness, especially when interacting with citizens impacted by mental health, substance use disorder, homelessness and poverty. Our overall goal is to create efficiencies, free up resources for sworn members to focus on the core functions of policing and broaden our service delivery capabilities.
by Chris Herridge, Police Chief
downtownstthomas.caArtand
• Provincial Offences Act, and
• Safe Streets Act.
Dan Reith Darren Reith
Follow Us and Keep Up With The
Produced by St. Thomas Downtown Development Board —
• Helping persons facing vulnerabilities navigate social support systems.
Soul
• Interacting with merchants to assist with addressing their concerns.
Special Constables
• Conducting joint patrols with sworn Pleasemembers.welcome
Commencing this month, four Community Resource Officers will be dedicated to promoting safety and security primarily in the downtown core, between 8am and 11pm Monday to Friday and will focus on:
Discover the Reith Advantage™: advice your way. That is why 97% of our clients renew their policies every year.
• Responding to calls for service and investigating incidents.
• Liquor Licence Act,
Community Resource Officer Unit (CRO) – Special Constables
• Trespass to Property Act,
