The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a province-wide symposium in St. Thomas, Ontario, on June 16, 2026, to share local strategies for addressing homelessness and addiction. The event, titled Social Issues are Business Issues: Connection is the Opposite of Addiction, will take place at the historic CASO Station and aims to provide business leaders and community stakeholders with a blueprint for action.
St. Thomas has become a notable example for other municipalities by reducing homelessness by 30 per cent through a coordinated approach. This strategy includes supportive housing projects by Indwell, The INN emergency shelter, and Project Tiny Hope. The event will feature a walking tour of these sites, including the upcoming Balaclava Crossing. This project, which repurposes a former heritage school, will provide 78 supportive housing units with the help of $29.9 million in government funding. Mayor Joe Preston has set a goal of zero homelessness, and currently, the city has successfully housed approximately one-third of its identified homeless population.
The symposium will feature Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, journalist Adam Zivo, and representatives from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Pete Bombaci, founder and CEO of GenWell, will serve as the master of ceremonies, highlighting the importance of human connection in overcoming social challenges. These discussions come as municipalities across Ontario continue to manage rising costs and housing instability, with data indicating that local governments currently cover 65 per cent of housing costs.
Registration for the day is open to the public. In-person attendance is $50 plus tax, which includes breakfast and lunch, while online participation is available at no cost.
