On January 13, 2026, the St. Thomas Police Service played a charity hockey game against local students in St. Thomas, Ontario, to help families in need. The exhibition match took place at the Joe Thornton Community Centre and featured players from Central Elgin Collegiate Institute, Parkside Collegiate Institute, and St. Joseph’s Catholic High School.
Admission to the game was collected in the form of non-perishable food donations for the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank. This event comes at a critical time as the food bank, also known as The Caring Cupboard, has seen a 50 per cent increase in people seeking help over the last year.
Organizers designed the event to bring the community together and give students a chance to interact with police officers in a fun setting. Chief of Police Marc Roskamp noted that these types of events help residents see the people behind the uniforms while supporting a good cause.
The food bank relies entirely on local support to keep its shelves stocked for residents in Elgin County. Manager Karen McDade said the organization depends on these types of donations from local groups because they do not receive regular government funding.
