A partnership between the city of St. Thomas and Indwell is transforming the former Balaclava Street elementary school.

A former St. Thomas elementary school is being converted into 78 supportive housing units.

A partnership between the city of St. Thomas and Indwell – a charity based in Hamilton that creates supportive housing – will transform the former Balaclava Street public school into a housing development that will provide support to residents to maintain their health, housing and independence.
“This redevelopment is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to address the housing challenges in our community,” St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston said in a city news release.

Indwell will convert the former school into 36 units, and 42 units will be housed in a new addition to the building.

“The need for supportive housing has never been more urgent, and this partnership with Indwell is an essential part of the solution,” Preston said.

The city says the redevelopment of the former school is part of its strategy to address homelessness, ensuring “all residents have access to resources needed for stability and well-being.”

The school redevelopment marks the third supportive housing collaboration between Indwell and St. Thomas, said Jeff Neven, Indwell’s chief executive. The other two are the Station in the city’s east and Railway City Lofts on Talbot Street.

“St. Thomas is really a leader in Canada on the elimination of homelessness, and this project is just one piece in a comprehensive plan to overcome homelessness,” Neven said in a phone interview.
The Balaclava Street school is an adaptive reuse project, in which Indwell repurposes unoccupied spaces to create housing, he said.

Of the more than 30 supportive housing projects created by Indwell, more than half have been adaptive reuse projects, Neven said, including locations in London and Woodstock.

The practice preserve buildings and ensures spaces aren’t left empty, he said.

Adaptive reuse “is something that we love and believe in, because it brings new life to heritage buildings, that preserves their history,” Neven said. “(It) also ensures that those buildings have a purpose going forward.”

Indwell is working with St. Thomas to acquire the building permits. Typically, construction is complete about 18 to 24 months after permits are secured, Neven said. He predicts the project will be complete in 2027 or 2028.

The partnership is the latest initiative from St. Thomas to address the need for more housing in the city.

Project Tiny Hope, an affordable housing project on Kain Street, is a collaboration between YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, Doug Tarry Homes and Sanctuary Homes. The community of 40 tiny homes, a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, will house 66 residents and include supportive services. Project Tiny Home already has broken ground and is expected to be complete by 2026.

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New data from the St. Thomas Police Service shows a marked drop in police calls in the city’s downtown core, pointing to the success of collaborative efforts between housing providers, support services, and police.

Between 2020 and 2024, overall calls for service in the downtown declined by 14%, with some of the most frequent complaint types dropping even more dramatically. Reports of “unwanted persons” decreased by 44% since their 2021 peak, while drug-related calls have fallen 67% since 2020.

“This data shows what’s possible when housing, support services, and the police service work together,” said Chief Marc Roskamp. “The investments made by the City and our partners are reducing pressures on frontline policing while improving outcomes for vulnerable residents and improving community safety and wellness for all.”
Key contributors to the decline, according to police, include the opening of Indwell’s Railway City Lofts in 2021 and The Station in 2023—together providing 61 units of supportive housing—as well as the launch of the Community Response Unit (CRU) in 2022. The CRU connects marginalized individuals with health and housing services while helping divert them from the criminal justice system.

The data also reveals a measurable impact on prolific offenders: individuals housed in Indwell properties were involved in 30% fewer police calls annually compared to those without stable housing.

Police say they remain committed to working with community partners to continue improving public safety while ensuring support for St. Thomas’s most vulnerable residents.

Written by: K. Freeman

By 94.1 myFM News staff

St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada – The City of St. Thomas proudly congratulates Councillor Earl Taylor on officially taking his Declaration of Office and Oath of Allegiance, a significant milestone that reaffirms his dedication to public service and the residents of St. Thomas.

With this commitment, Councillor Taylor pledges to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and governance, ensuring the community’s voices are heard and represented. His leadership will play a vital role in building a brighter future for St. Thomas, strengthening the city and shaping its path forward.

“I am pleased to officially welcome Councillor Taylor to the greatest council, where collaboration and dedication drive progress for St. Thomas,” said Mayor Joe Preston. “I look forward to working together to serve our community and continue moving our city forward.”

The City of St. Thomas welcomes Councillor Taylor to his new role and looks forward to his contributions in the years ahead.

Happy Easter! It’s time to have some fun in Downtown St Thomas.

10am – 5pm

Print or pickup your SHOP HOP PASSPORT and head Downtown on Saturday April 19th to visit our participating unique shops and restaurants from 10am – 5pm. Collect as many stamps as you can for your chance to win 1 of 3 $100 Downtown Dollar prizes. Use these Downtown Dollars anytime over the next year, to shop at any participating Downtown St Thomas business.

When you’ve finished shopping, insert your contact information and leave your Passport at the last place you’ve visited – we’ll pick it up and get you entered into the draw.

11am – 1pm

Now it’s Easter Bunny Time! As an extra treat, the Easter Bunny can be found hopping around Downtown St Thomas from 11am – 1pm handing out candy treats. Wave, honk or stop and get your photo taken with the Easter Bunny too.

Visit www.downtownstthomas.ca/shop-hop for full details

Be in the know with “The Downtown VIBE”!

News and stories about Downtown St. Thomas Ontario Canada businesses, organizations, people, historical and cultural features. The collective energy that gives Downtown St. Thomas its VIBE!

Click to view past VIBE Issues

Guess who’s spending serious money on travel these days? Baby boomers. According to Canadian Tourism Research Institute (CTRI), the baby-boom generation is poised to become the main travel market in the next decade, by spending roughly $35 billion annually. Where are these explorers headed? Expedia.ca asked 1,000 real Canadians the top destinations they’d recommend. After filtering by the baby boomer age group, we found a few patterns. These seasoned explorers want coastal views, good wine, and a dash of nostalgia. Without further ado, here are the top senior travel destinations in Canada as chosen by baby boomers.

Click to view the full article.

Picture this: art, craft beer, and international cuisine.  We bet you’re not thinking about St. Thomas, Ontario, but you should be. 

Love Where You Shop – in Historic Downtown St Thomas. It is home to 2.3 kilometers of beautifully painted murals, lush parkettes, gorgeous historic Victorian buildings, and over 200 unique shops and services. St. Thomas is known as the “Railway Capital” of Canada.

The downtown core also hosts a variety of great events  including the Nostalgia Car Show, the Annual Light Up Talbot / Tree Lighting Celebration and the Santa Claus Parade. There is so much for you to see and do in downtown St. Thomas! 

Visit Expedia.ca for the full story