1Mar23 St Thomas Economic Development

9 Rotarians and one guest attended.  Barbara called the meeting to order with the gong.  We sang O Canada, toasted King and Country and Rotary International and recited the 4-way Test, lead by Cindy.

 

Mark introduced our speaker, Sean Dyke, the CEO of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation. See Picture:

Sean gives credit to “an extraordinary team that is focused on improving quality of life in St. Thomas by helping companies succeed and grow, with a focus on Industry, Tourism and Entrepreneurship.”   Sean holds a Business Degree from the University of Toronto.  He has held many positions including current President of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario, Past Chair of the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, Past President of St. Thomas Youth Employment and Counseling Centre and a Member of the Board of both the Southwestern Ontario Marketing Alliance and the Japan Society in Toronto. 

 

Sean likes to be involved in the community and currently is part of Sports Spectacular, raising money for Special Olympics.  Sean was introduced to Rotary Youth Exchange when he and his wife lived in Japan and knew a RYE student from Mexico.

 

The St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation (EDC) operates out of 4 locations - at City Hall, at the old TD building on Talbot St, a Horton Farmer’s Market and the Tourism office.   There are 57 EDC across Ontario and this one is functioning extremely well. Staff are designated to work with different aspects of EDC. For example, 3 people are working to help start-up businesses. There are those who focus on Tourism Elgin and the Horton Farmer’s Market. There is one initiative in which youth returning to school can start a summer business with funding support.  Some of these businesses have remained viable to this day.      

 

Job creation and training are always a part of EDC’s planning activities. Events include information sharing and awareness raising. This month, 24 different businesses owned by women will be highlighted. 

 

Right now, EDC is hoping to develop a commercial kitchen. The winter indoor market is open this year.  It is the 10-year anniversary of running Tourism Elgin which is instrumental for highlighting culinary tourism and outdoor arts such as sculptures or murals.

 

There is a current focus on the “Pizza Trail” with shirts stating “arguably most per capita pizza businesses in the world”.

Creation of Tourism – Elevated Park has been a draw and Jumbo too.  EDC has been doing a scavenger hunt called “Goose Chase” which has attracted 50-70-year-old age group.

 

Successes: Mural Festival won the Provincial EDC award and has won the Governor-Generals award twice – this is highly unusual. The first award was for the #STTHOMASPROUD campaign.

Awarded the top development award internationally during Covid.

 

Housing builds and apartment buildings have increased and with those, increase in population.  There has been some great commercial growth – re-development of Elgin Mall, with hotels as well.  That will keep sports teams in St. Thomas to spend their money here when they visit for games and tournaments.  Talbot and First Ave development with commercial space and two new high rise apartments to be built.  During Talbot St. infrastructure reconstruction this summer, EDC has planned art to be displayed at the back door of businesses to promote patrons using the back doors to access the business.

 

Sean focuses on the industrial side which has a cycle of attracting industrial businesses, creating jobs and attracting workers, who need housing and those people who need to shop in St. Thomas.  All bigger industries are growing as well. Why are medium-sized companies building here? Costs are reasonable, worker pool in St. Thomas and London, has lower cost of living than larger cities.

 

Legislature had 3^rd reading to allow St. Thomas to expand to include 1500 acres to northeast. “Brown Field” areas are former industrial sites which are no longer used or maintained and which may contain industrial contamination. In response to a question, Sean states that there are very few brown field spaces in St. Thomas

 

Adriana won 50/50. Trudy will pass along Adriana’s winnings to her

 

Happy Finns - $5 to RI in honour of something good in our lives.  Initiated by Darwin Lowe.

Trish – Sean’s presentation

Barbara- became a grandmom to daughter’s second dog, Julian got new apartment, her daughter is on vacation and Barbara still working

Cindy  - for Sean, Cindy also lives in hope that things will improve this week

Malcolm – Grandaughter’s birthday

Mark – Sean’s presentation, get together for all family for grandaughter’s birthday

Trudy – Sean’s talk, Interact 28 bears (from our Club) + 15 Interact bears to Women’s shelter this week, Won curling game last night, participated in London’s Coldest Night of Year $410  raised, Trudy appreciated support of Rotarians

Maggie – going back to see son for family reunion

Ron – grandson’s birthday, great to be working on live Music Festival again