The City of St. Thomas has been awarded a $45,000 provincial grant to improve its ability to respond to local emergencies and natural disasters. The funding was provided through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant program, an initiative supported by the Ontario government to strengthen local safety measures.
To finalize the grant, the St. Thomas City Council held a special meeting on March 30, 2026, to review and endorse the funding before the provincial submission deadline on March 31. This grant is part of a larger $5 million investment from the province aimed at supporting 115 municipalities and organizations across Ontario during the 2025-2026 period.
The city plans to use the funds to acquire new emergency equipment, including a drone, two-way radios, and a satellite phone. The grant will also cover costs for emergency management training and the creation of public preparedness information for residents. The St. Thomas Fire Department will be responsible for maintaining and operating this new equipment.
St. Thomas, located in Elgin County, has a history of managing weather-related hazards, including past flood events that have required oversight from the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority. This latest funding builds on a broader provincial commitment of $110 million over three years, which has invested $15 million into local emergency readiness since 2023.
