St. Thomas is a city in
southernSouthern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
(southwestern)Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
,
OntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
,
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is the seat for
Elgin CountyElgin County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas.It consists of:*Town of Aylmer*Municipality of Bayham*Municipality of Central Elgin...
and gained its city
charterA charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
on March 4, 1881.
History
The city, located at the intersection of two historical roads, was first settled in 1810. It was named the seat of the new
Elgin CountyElgin County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas.It consists of:*Town of Aylmer*Municipality of Bayham*Municipality of Central Elgin...
in 1844 and was incorporated as a
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 1852, as a
townA town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in 1861. In 1871, St. Thomas and the nearby village of Millersburg (a village east of the town) amalgamated. In 1881 St. Thomas finally grew to become a
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
.
Ten years after the incorporation as a town, the developing village of Millersburg, which included these lands east of the London and Port Stanley Railway, amalgamated with St. Thomas.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century several railways were constructed through the city, and St. Thomas became an important railway junction. A total of 26 railways have passed through the city since the first railway was completed in 1856. In the 1950s and 1960s, with the decline of the railway as a mode of transportation, other industry began to locate in the city, principally primary and secondary automotive manufacturing.
JumboJumbo was a large African Bush Elephant, born 1861 in the French Sudan – present-day Mali – imported to a Paris zoo, transferred to the London Zoo in 1865, and sold in 1882 to P. T...
(the elephant) died here on September 15, 1885, when a locomotive crashed into him. There is a life-sized commemorative statue that was erected in 1985, on the centennial of Jumbo's demise.
The city was named after
Thomas TalbotColonel Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide Castle in Ireland near Dublin He was the fourth son of Richard Talbot and his wife Margaret Talbot, 1st Baroness Talbot of Malahide...
who helped promote the development of this region during the early 19th century . The founder of the settlement that became St. Thomas was Capt. Daniel Rapelje, descendant of a
WalloonWalloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
familySarah Rapelje, or Rapelie or Rapalje or Rapalye was the first white female of European parentage born in New Netherland, according to the New Netherland Project, a private effort to document New York's early Dutch history. Rapelje was first married to Norwegian emigrant Hans Hansen Bergen, who...
settled in
New AmsterdamNew Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
, now
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at its inception in the seventeenth century. In 1820, Rapelje, the town's first settler, divided his land into town lots suitable for a village. Owner of the New England Mill, Rapelje subsequently donated two acres of land for the building of
Old St. Thomas ChurchBuilt between 1822 and 1824, the St. Thomas Anglican Church, today called the Old St. Thomas Church, is one of the oldest structures in St. Thomas, Ontario The Church was continuously used between its founding and 1877. The church was made a designated heritage property in 1982.- History :The...
.
In 1824, Charles Duncombe and John Rolph established the first medical school in Upper Canada, in St. Thomas, under the patronage of Colonel Thomas Talbot. Duncombe's house now forms part of The
Elgin Military MuseumThe Elgin Military Museum is located in St. Thomas, Ontario. Its mandate is to preserve the local historical record of military service from the War of 1812 to present day peace keeping missions of the Canadian Forces.-History:...
complex located just steps from the Jumbo monument. Between 1881 and 1988 the city had a private woman's school operating called
Alma College (St. Thomas)Alma College was a girls private school in St. Thomas, Ontario in Canada. Built in 1878, the school was in operation between 1881 and 1988. The college closed in 1988 in part due to a teacher's strike. Primary school and music classes were still taught on campus until 1994...
which was destroyed by fire in 2008.
St. Thomas has a rich history of late 19th- early 20th century architecture. Notably these include the Elgin County Court House, Wellington Street public school, and its city hall, all designated heritage properties and all designed by former resident
Neil R. DarrachNeil R. Darrach was a noted Canadian architect from St. Thomas, Ontario. He was architect for over five designated heritage properties in St. Thomas, Ontario and Regina, Saskatchewan. He was primarily active in the later 19th century.-Early life:...
.
Government
Heather Jackson-Chapman is the current mayor of St. Thomas. The
City CouncilThe St. Thomas City Council was elected in the municipal elections of 2006. It served the city from December 1, 2006 – November 30, 2010.- Aldermen :* Bill Aarts* Gord Campbell* Heather Jackson-Chapman* Tom Johnston* Terry Shackelton...
consists of the mayor and seven Aldermen, all elected at large, meaning that there are no wards and councillors are elected on a citywide basis.
Military
31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) was created in 1997 when the former Elgin Regiment (RCAC) was re-roled from an armour tasking. The regiment had been associated with St. Thomas since its creation; St. Thomas is currently home to one of its two component field squadrons. St. Thomas Armoury is a recognized Federal Heritage building 1992 on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.
Demographics
According to the 2006 census, St. Thomas had a population of 36,110 people in 2006, which was an increase of 8.4% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for St. Thomas was $54,876, which is below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.
95.5% of the population is
CaucasianThe term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, 1.2%
AboriginalAboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
, and 3.3%
Visible minoritiesA visible minority is a person who is visibly not one of the majority race in a given population.The term is used as a demographic category by Statistics Canada in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" is important in the Canadian context where...
.
Religious affiliation is 52.1%
ProtestantProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, 21%
CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, 22.1% No affiliation, and 4.8% Other.
Population trend:
- Population in 2006: 36,110
- Population in 2001: 33,236 (or 33,303 when adjusted to 2006 boundaries)
- Population in 1996: 32,275 (or 31,407 when adjusted to 2001 boundaries)
- Population in 1991: 30,332
Education
Fanshawe CollegeFanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
has a campus in St. Thomas.
CatholicCatholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
schools are controlled by the
London District Catholic School BoardThe London District Catholic School Board is a separate school board in south-western Ontario, Canada. It serves students from Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties, and also those from the cities of London, St. Thomas and Woodstock....
and
publicState schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
schools are controlled by the
Thames Valley District School BoardThe Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
. There are two independent Christian elementary schools,
St. Thomas Community Christian School and Faith Christian Academy.
Economy
The local economy has been dominated by automotive manufacturing, with two plants operated by
Magna InternationalMagna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, the
FordFord Motor Company of Canada, Limited was founded in 1904 for the purpose of manufacturing and selling Ford automobiles in Canada and the British Empire. The Ford Motor Company in Detroit transferred the patent and selling rights to the Walkerville Wagon Company, in order to avoid the tariff rates...
St. Thomas AssemblySt. Thomas Assembly is an automobile plant in Talbotville, Ontario, Canada. The factory is located near St. Thomas. The facility, encompassing opened in 1967 building the Ford Falcon.The plant closed September 15, 2011...
in nearby Talbotville, and the
Sterling TrucksSterling Trucks, a manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, was a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, based in Portland, Oregon, United States, a member of the Daimler AG Truck Group. It was originally the heavy truck division of Ford Motor Company, but was purchased and rebranded in 1997....
plant. However, the recent global recession that impacted the auto sector ultimately trickled down to the city; the Sterling plant closed in March 2009, and the Ford plant is set to close in 2011. This had a domino effect on the other part manufacturers in town, such as Lear Seating. One automotive materials supplier, A. Schulman, had previously closed its local manufacturing plant in 2008, one of the first actions of a new CEO installed in January.
Several bright notes for the City in 2010 included
Masco Canada's-Plumbing products:-Decorative architectural products:North America* Behr Process Corporation* Franklin Brass Mfg. Corp. * Ginger* Liberty Hardware* Masterchem Industries LLC* Melard Manufacturing Corp....
consolidation of their Canadian operations into the former Sterling Truck assembly plant and
Takumi Stamping Canada's (a supplier to Toyota) large addition. These two investments will represent over 500 new jobs for the local economy.
Transportation
St. Thomas is accessible via
Highway 3King's Highway 3, commonly referred to as Highway 3 and historically as the Talbot Trail, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which travels parallel to the shore of Lake Erie. It has three segments, the first of which runs from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor...
and Highway 4, which provides access to
LondonLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Highway 401 and Highway 402.
St. Thomas TransitSt. Thomas Transit Services include both conventional city transit buses and paratransit vehicles owned by the City of St. Thomas, Ontario and staffed and operated by Aboutown Transportation....
, which includes both conventional bus service and paratransit, is owned by the city and staffed and operated by Aboutown Transportation.
The city is served by the St. Thomas Municipal Airport (YQS), just east in
Central Elgin TownshipCentral Elgin is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada in Elgin County on Lake Erie. It was formed in 1998 through the amalgamation of the Township of Yarmouth with the Villages of Belmont and Port Stanley.-Communities:...
. There are no scheduled flights but it is for general aviation only.
Media
St. Thomas has several media outlets based in the city. The
St. Thomas Times-JournalThe St. Thomas Times-Journal is the city newspaper of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, owned by Subsidiary of Sun Media Corporation - A Quebecor Media Company. Quebecor Media is in turn a Subsidiary of Quebecor Inc....
is the city's newspaper, owned by Bowes Publishers.
Rogers CableRogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
operates a local community channel consisting mostly of local and dedicated volunteers.
A low-power FM radio station —
VF8016VF8016 is a low-power FM radio station, that broadcasts religious activities at 90.1 FM from Faith Baptist Church of St. Thomas. This station is located in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.The station was given approval by the CRTC on November 18, 1997....
, 90.1 MHz — broadcasts religious activities from Faith Baptist Church of St. Thomas. St. Thomas's only local commercial radio station, CKZM-FM 94.1 FM was launched on May 20, 2011.
CFHK-FMCFHK-FM, or 1031 Fresh FM, is a radio station owned by Corus Entertainment and transmitting from St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada that transmits at 16.7 kW on a -high transmitter at 103.1 MHz on the FM dial. The station plays a rhythmic-leaning adult top 40 format. Although licensed to St...
, branded as
103.1 Fresh FM, is also licensed to St. Thomas, although its programming largely targets the larger
LondonLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
market.
See also: Media in London, Ontario-Television:London pioneered in the establishment of cable television in Canada, being either the first or second city in Canada with cable service, when Ed Jarmain and others wired the first 15 homes, and had to purchase TV sets for 14 of them. London's first cable system, established in 1952,...
Sports
There is a dragway called St. Thomas Raceway Park. The dragway is located a reasonable distance away from the town and minutes east of the historical community of Sparta.
Climate
Parks
There are two major parks in the city:
Pinafore Park in the south, beside Pinafore Pond; and
Waterworks Park in the north, which is straddled by
Kettle CreekKettle Creek is a creek in Elgin County in southwestern Ontario, Canada that empties into Lake Erie at Port Stanley. It drains an area of 520 km²....
and the Waterworks Reservoir nearby.
The
Trans Canada TrailThe Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
goes through St. Thomas, with a
pavilionIn architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
located in
Jonas Street Park.
The
Lions Club Dog Park is located at the far west end of main street, at 25 Talbot Road. The park is managed by the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association in partnership with the City of St. Thomas. The park is open from dawn to dusk, daily.
Cultural activities
The
Elgin Military MuseumThe Elgin Military Museum is located in St. Thomas, Ontario. Its mandate is to preserve the local historical record of military service from the War of 1812 to present day peace keeping missions of the Canadian Forces.-History:...
is located in the west end of St. Thomas. While the museum recounts the stories of Elgin County residents from the War of 1812 to Afghanistan, it also includes two M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers and a collection of some 600 UN and NATO badges described by one appraiser as "the best collection I have seen outside of the UN in New York". In late 2009, The Elgin Military Museum began the process to acquire the Cold War Oberon Class Submarine HMCS Ojibwa, The submarine is planned to be stationed outside of St. Thomas in
Port BurwellPort Burwell is a community on the north shore of Lake Erie, in the municipality of Bayham in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.It is situated at the mouth of Big Otter Creek.-History:...
.
The
Elgin County Railway MuseumThe Elgin County Railway Museum is a rail transport museum in St. Thomas, Ontario. It is housed in the former Michigan Central Railroad locomotive shops that were part of more extensive servicing facilities on the Canada Southern Railway....
is located in central St. Thomas.
St. Thomas is also home to the North America Railway Hall of Fame, which is located in the CASO train station. The station was built in the 1870s and was a centre of travel between New York City and Chicago. It is located on Talbot Street downtown.
The Elgin Theatre Guild is located at 40 Princess Avenue, and is home to a thriving community theatre, as well as hosting small musical groups. The building is a former church, built in 1907 by architect Neil Darrach. In 2001, St. Thomas City Council designated 40 Princess Avenue as a building of historic and architectural value in the City of St. Thomas.
St. Thomas is home to the Railway City Brewing Company, one of 29 members of the Ontario Craft Brewers.
Notable residents
- Jack Graney
John Gladstone Graney was a Canadian left fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians . He was born in St. Thomas, Ontario.100px|thumb|left|...
, professional baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and broadcaster, namesake of the Jack Graney AwardThe Jack Graney Award is an award presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to a member of the Canadian media for their contributions to the game of baseball in Canada...
- Paul Hackman
Paul Wayne Hackman was a Canadian guitarist who performed with the rock band Helix from 1976 until his death in a road accident...
(1953–1992), guitarist and songwriter from the rock bandRock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
HelixHelix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
- Dell Henderson
George Delbert Henderson was a Canadian actor, director and writer in films from the early silent days.-Biography:Henderson was a frequent associate of film pioneer D.W. Griffith and, on a less prolific basis, Mack Sennett...
, Hollywood actor of 304 films, director of 208 films and writer of 35.
- Dave Hudson
David Richard "Huddy" Hudson is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 409 games in the National Hockey League in the 1970s. In his career he scored 59 goals 124 assists and 183 points. He played for the New York Islanders, Kansas City Scouts, and Colorado Rockies.- External links :...
, former professional ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Kansas City ScoutsThe Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
, Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
)
- DJ Kennington, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver
- Rachel McAdams
Rachel Anne McAdams is a Canadian actress. After graduating from a theatre program at York University, Toronto in 2001, she worked steadily as an actress until finding fame in 2004 with starring roles in teen comedy Mean Girls and romantic drama The Notebook...
, actress (The Hot ChickThe Hot Chick is a 2002 American comedy film about a teenage girl whose body is magically swapped with that of a 30-year-old criminal. It was directed by Tom Brady and produced by Guy Riedel for Happy Madison and Touchstone Pictures, from a screenplay by Tom Brady and Rob Schneider...
, Mean GirlsMean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy-drama film directed by Mark Waters. The screenplay was written by Tina Fey and is based in part on the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, which describes how female high school social cliques operate and the effect they can have...
, The NotebookThe Notebook is a 1996 romantic novel by American novelist Nicholas Sparks, based on a true story. The novel was later adapted into a popular romance film by the same name in 2004.-Background:...
, Wedding CrashersWedding Crashers is a 2005 American comedy film directed by David Dobkin. It stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, with Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper, Diora Baird, Jane Seymour, and an uncredited Will Ferrell....
, Red EyeRed Eye is a 2005 thriller film directed by Wes Craven and starring Rachel McAdams as a hotel manager ensnared in an assassination plot by a terrorist while aboard a red-eye flight to Miami. The film score was composed and conducted by Marco Beltrami.-Plot:Lisa Reisert fears flying...
, The Family StoneThe Family Stone is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Thomas Bezucha. Produced by Michael London and distributed by 20th Century Fox, it stars an ensemble cast, including Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Rachel...
, Married Life, Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
)
- Robert J. McNea, clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
, Entertainer widely known as "Bozo the Clown" (1959 to 1968) and "OOpsy the Clown" on WWJ-TV, Detroit (1968 to 1978) and CKCO-TV, Kitchener/Waterloo (1976 to 1995). Deceased November 2005. Interred in Elmdale Memorial Park (south of St. Thomas toward Port Stanley).
- Stephen Ouimette
Stephen Ouimette is a Canadian actor and director, born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, and a graduate of the University of Windsor...
, actorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, directorA theatre director or stage director is a practitioner in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production...
widely known for his work at the Stratford Festival of Canada
- Stephen J. Peters, politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, MPP for Elgin—Middlesex—LondonElgin—Middlesex—London is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons.It was created in 1996 from Elgin—Norfolk, Lambton—Middlesex, and London—Middlesex ridings.-Members of Parliament:...
, former Minister of Labour (Ontario) and Minister of Agriculture and Food (Ontario), Speaker of the Ontario Legislature 2007-2011.
- Philip Francis Pocock
Philip Francis Pocock, , was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto from 1971 to 1978.-Early years:Born St. Thomas, Ontario and studied at St. Peter's Seminary, London, Ontario. In 1933 he left his parish to studied canon law in Rome . He became an ordained Priest in 1930 and became a professor...
, former Catholic archbishop of Toronto
- Janet and Greta Podleski, bestselling cookbook authors (Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates, Eat, Shrink & Be Merry!), Food Network hosts and Reader's Digest columnists
- Capt. Daniel Rapelje
Built between 1822 and 1824, the St. Thomas Anglican Church, today called the Old St. Thomas Church, is one of the oldest structures in St. Thomas, Ontario The Church was continuously used between its founding and 1877. The church was made a designated heritage property in 1982.- History :The...
, (1774–1828), born in New York State, founder of St. Thomas, Ontario
- Helen Shaver
Helen Shaver is a Canadian actress and film and television director.-Early life:Shaver was born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, a small city located near London, Ontario, with five sisters...
, actress, directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producerA film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
(The Amityville HorrorThe Amityville Horror is a 1979 American horror film based on the bestselling 1977 novel of the same name by Jay Anson. It is the first movie in the Amityville Horror franchise....
, The Color of MoneyThe Color of Money is a 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price, based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis....
, Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
)
- David Shaw, former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (Stratford CullitonsThe Stratford Cullitons are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
, Kitchener RangersThe Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers. The Rangers hosted...
, Québec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Minnesota North StarsThe Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, Chicago WolvesThe Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
, and Las Vegas ThunderThe Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
))
- Joe Thornton
Joseph Eric Thornton is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, five as its Captain. During the...
, professional ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsThe Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
, St. Thomas StarsThe St. Thomas Stars are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
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- Aaron Walpole
Aaron Walpole was the third-place finisher in the third season of Canadian Idol. Born in London, Ontario on March 7, 1979, Walpole currently resides in St. Thomas, Ontario...
, the third-place finisher in the third season of Canadian Idol
- Kari-Lynn Winters
Kari Winters, née Moore is a Canadian children's author and literacy researcher. She taught children's literature and drama at the University of British Columbia from 2004-2009. In January 2010 Winters assumed the post of Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Brock University .-...
, children's book author, dramatist, literacy educator
- Marline Yan
Marline Yan is a Cambodian-Canadian actress and singer who may be best known as her role in How To Be Indie.Marline Yan was born on the January 9, 1993 in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada...
(1993-), actress and singer
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