The second round of public engagement for plans to build over 3,500 homes for about 9,000 people on the former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital lands concluded on March 2 as Central Elgin council issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking private sector development partners. CE council is now expected to approve the hospital lands official…
A claim that surfaced online at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 1, about students supposedly planning to shoot up East Elgin Secondary School the next day was investigated by Aylmer Police and found to be nothing but a fake. Still, the usually crowded parking on streets around the school was much lighter through Monday,…
Aylmer Express owner John Hueston and his partner Ray Stanton, owner of London Publishing Corp. have purchased The Eganville Leader from Gerald Tracey, its owner/publisher. Mr. Hueston said The Leader is one of the best and most successful newspapers in the country. From a population of about 1,500, they sell 5,000 newspapers a week. Mr.…
Guests and members at the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lunch With The Mayors bid a fond – albeit premature – farewell to Mayor Joe Preston, Wednesday, Feb. 11. at the Memorial Centre in St. Thomas. After eight years on the job, Mayor Preston announced Feb. 10 that he will not run for office in the October 2026 municipal election. About 220 Chamber of Commerce guests expressed their gratitude for Mayor…
Post Stanley Terminal Rail (PSTR) has confirmed that its temporary suspension of all operations is due to the discovery of “serious erosion” under the south abutment of the historic railway bridge across Kettle Creek in Port Stanley. A preliminary estimate of the cost to repair the damaged bridge is $500,000, PSTR President Dan Vernackt said…
Abe Knelsen of St. Thomas and sons Lucas, 10, and Sam, 12, recently took advantage of frigid temperatures to build a creatively colourful igloo in their front yard. Abe, a realtor, said he and his wife Elissa have lived in their home for 13 years, with both sons growing up there. “I don’t think you…
Following a plea from a resident Thursday, Feb. 5, Bayham councillors went against staff advice and approved backyard chickens in the municipality. Kristen Young spoke during the two-minute open forum at the start of the meeting before Bylaw Enforcement Officer Mark Russell presented his report recommending not proceeding with backyard chickens. She suggested a time-limited…
Frigid winter weather conditions in St. Thomas have put local support services to the test. The homeless and transient populations are seeking shelter at warming stations at the Joe Thornton Community Centre, 75 Caso Crossing, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as 24/7 emergency shelter at The Inn St Thomas-Elgin, 10 Princess Avenue. Both…
After consulting with St. Thomas Sally, the mural groundhog, Mayor Joe Preston announced Monday, Feb. 2, that there would be six more weeks of winter. The third annual Groundhog Day ceremony attracted a dozen spectators for the 7:30 a.m. prognostication. It was held at Westlake Evan Park beside the St. Thomas Library. (AE/contributed by Brian Wilsdon)
A demolition crew made quick work of tearing down a historic house at 50 Centre St. in Aylmer on Monday, Jan. 26. A more modern house north of it was also demolished. The property belongs to Cherry Street, which plans to relace the home with nonprofit housing. Some neighbours objected to the demolition, citing the…
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack on Thursday, January 22, announced huge investments in funding, over $61-million across Elgin County, for municipal water and sewage improvement projects. Aylmer will receive $7.2-million toward installation of headworks and a “fixed bed biological media system” for the town sewage lagoon in Malahide. And Malahide, which administers the Port Burwell Secondary…
Six people, including three pedestrians, were injured after a serious collision on Imperial Road in the Township of Malahide. Elgin Ontario Provincial Police Const. Jeff Beaumaster reported that on Thursday, January 22, at 1:18 a.m., OPP officers, along with Malahide Fire and Elgin paramedics, responded to a three-vehicle collision involving a minivan and two sedans…