St. Thomas is inviting residents to help shape the city’s growth for the next 25 years at a public workshop on June 23, 2026, at Memorial Arena from 4 to 6 PM. The session is part of a year-long review of the city’s outdated Official Plan, last updated in 1980, and will focus on housing affordability, residential growth, and what makes a good neighbourhood.
The city’s Official Plan has been in place for over 45 years. Now, a population surge driven by the new Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant—which is expected to open in 2027 and create 3,000 jobs—has pushed planners to rethink how St. Thomas will house its future residents. Initial forecasts projected 65,100 people by 2051, but that number has since been revised to 79,500.
To keep up, the city will need to build 15,300 new homes between 2021 and 2051, a sharp increase from the earlier estimate of 9,400. The crunch is already being felt: a household income of roughly $70,000 is now needed to afford average market rent in St. Thomas. The city has taken steps to address this, including approving new subdivisions and securing over $23 million in federal funding to turn a former school into 78 supportive homes on Balaclava Street.
Mayor Joe Preston said the city must “grow smart” while balancing jobs, housing, and quality of life. The June 23 session is the second public workshop in the St. Thomas 2051 planning process, following a relaunch event on May 28 that drew over 30 participants. This time, the conversation will dive deeper into how the city should handle residential development and affordability.
The workshop is open to all residents, landowners, and business owners. It will be held at Memorial Arena, 80 Wilson Avenue. Anyone with questions can contact the city’s planning department at 519-631-1680 extension 4164 or [email protected].
