In looking back at the past year, St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston lists housing as the top story in 2022. Preston tells myFM growth in the city is not going to stop.
Preston adds, the work undertaken in the past four years paves the way for what needs to be accomplished on the housing front by this council in this term.
In reflecting on other accomplishments of city council in the past year, Preston turns to the acquisition of 800 acres of farmland east of Highbury Avenue.
An undertaking he calls “good future thinking.”
Preston adds the land acquisition “is going to turn into a huge benefit” for the city.
With the opening of the Amazon facility in Southwold and the Maple Leaf Foods processing plant in south London, Preston advises the need for regional transit will have to be addressed in 2023.
Not to be overlooked, reminds Preston, is the importance of having an airport serve the city and surrounding region.
While the focus in 2022 for city council was housing and jobs, Preston is quick to add there was a fun element as well.
A component of life in St. Thomas that had been severely impacted by the pandemic.
Looking ahead to the new year, Preston tells myFM it is his hope the city can enjoy the addition of another major festival in Pinafore Park and “perhaps a very improved Canada Day celebration.”
In his closing comments, Preston says there is light at the end of the tunnel when addressing homelessness in St. Thomas.
Written by Ian McCallum
