Officers responded to incidents at two separate St Thomas schools this week involving students making threats The first incident was on Tuesday when officers were called to an unidentified high school after a student threatened a member of the administration Thomas police stated in a news release on Friday Officers went to the school and after an investigation were able to connect the student and their parents to mediate the situation Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience The other incident occurred on Wednesday at a St officers were dispatched to an unidentified elementary school after it was alleged a student left school property while making threats about having a weapon Officers “quickly” located the student and found no weapons adding officers “worked with the student and their parents providing support and connecting them with available resources.” Thomas police news release and no charges were indicated Thomas Police Service remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and school staff across our community,” police officials said The incidents this week are just two in the past several months at St Thomas police responded to two notable incidents: One incident involved three masked suspects sneaking into a high school and holding a student against their will while another involved a student bringing a BB gun to school and making threats eliciting a large-scale response from police An uptick in school-related incidents in St Roskamp believed the region’s school boards’ decision four years ago to suspend a program that places officers in schools was driving the increase Thomas police had responded to 839 calls to schools since 2021 noting one-fifth of the calls were for violent incidents transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account When software engineering and data science professor Dr was considering purchasing and rolling out an AI chatbot Intrigue became inspiration as Lai realized there would be no reason to purchase anything I knew we could build something ourselves,” Lai said Within a month, Lai developed the prototype for TommieBot the university’s new generative artificial intelligence chatbot the university is integrating the chatbot across its digital infrastructure leveraging the innovative tech to enhance the Tommie experience Prospective students can ask TommieBot about academic majors Current students and faculty can ask TommieBot questions about university policies and events Staff can ask TommieBot to troubleshoot technical issues and streamline daily tasks “TommieBot is the beginning of a new era of how Tommies interact with a computer,” said Jihun Moon who helped develop TommieBot as a graduate student and who now serves as the university’s AI Innovation Fellow “I can’t say exactly when or how it will happen for everyone but AI is changing our relationship with technology.” policy documents and knowledge bases to quickly give users accurate answers to a wide range of prompts Fueling that quick – and uniquely accurate – process is a strong dose of Tommie ingenuity Lai and Moon worked together to develop a completely new way of sifting through digital information Known as retrieval augmentation generation TommieBot’s RAG technique features a distinct combination of algorithms that have proven more accurate than other major chatbots on the market “AI innovation is happening at breakneck speeds including right here on campus,” said Jonathan Keiser associate vice president of academic technology and innovation at St “It’s a great testament to Professor Lai and Jihun that they were creating their own RAG technique long before it was even known as RAG across the field.” Scaling TommieBot from a prototype to a fully functional and accessible campuswide tool has come with its share of challenges the researchers have relied on the expertise of several university departments to ensure TommieBot is visually appealing accessible to all users and is capable of performing at scale The entire process has been a remarkable hands-on experience for the St improving AI literacy and inspiring new collaborations “When you force yourself to work on these difficult problems and that’s where you also encounter solutions,” Lai said The TommieBot team has worked with the School of Engineering Dougherty Family College and the Office of International Students & Scholars to debut the chatbot on their websites or infuse it into workflows “TommieBot has helped us become an artificial intelligence leader on the technical side of literacy and enablement but also the nontechnical side as we offer possibilities to overcome barriers across campus,” Keiser said TommieBot will be integrated with the university’s ClassNavigator tool to help students plan their semesters more efficiently to recommend classes that meet degree requirements and fit within their schedule implemented by Innovation and Technology Services (ITS) which allows users to ask questions in natural language about tech issues Championing these new tools and serving as the central hub for AI-related activities at St. Thomas, is the new Institute for AI for the Common Good The institute oversees in-house research and development and identifies new opportunities for collaboration “TommieBot represents the kind of innovation that aligns perfectly with our mission at St executive vice president and provost for St we’re not only embracing emerging technology – we’re shaping it in a way that serves our values TommieBot’s in-house development has already saved the university thousands of dollars with those savings to compound in years to come leaders believe the chatbot’s real value lies in its ability to build awareness and strengthen robust AI literacy across campus but we’ve also used TommieBot to encourage the entire St Thomas organization to lean into this space,” Keiser said You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Elgin—St. Thomas—London South 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 179 of 180 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 179 of 180 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election Lawton has 32,293 of 64,319 votes (50.21%) is in second place with 27,680 votes (43.04%) and Paul Pighin Vecchio was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 Thomas—London South used to be named Elgin—Middlesex—London The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 26,476 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account LondonNewsFirst-time MP Andrew Lawton wins seat in Elgin-St. Thomas-London SouthBy Brent LalePublished: April 29, 2025 at 12:40PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. St. Thomas police have charged a third man in the death of a woman whose home was set on fire before she was shot last summer. Victoria Dill, 40, died in hospital after she was found with a gunshot wound near her burning Hiawatha Street home on July 3. Investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set and ruled the death a homicide. On Wednesday, police descended on a home in the city’s south end, where officers used a “distraction device” to arrest a man, police said. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Jason Daniel, 50, is charged with manslaughter and arson with disregard for human life. Daniel, who appeared in court Thursday and was held in custody, is the third person charged in Dill’s death, one of just two homicides in St. Thomas in the past nine years. Nathan Deleemans, 30, of St. Thomas was arrested on July 30 and charged with second-degree murder, arson with disregard for life and failing to comply with a release order. One day later, Keegan Harvey, 21, of St. Thomas, was arrested in London. Investigators had obtained an arrest warrant for him three weeks earlier on charges of arson with disregard for life and failing to comply with a release order. Deleemans returns to court Friday, while Harvey will be back in court Tuesday. Dill lived in a multi-unit building at 20 Hiawatha St., where neighbours recounted hearing a single gunshot around 12:30 a.m. on July 3 and later seeing a woman lying on the ground in a nearby parking lot. EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected and updated from its original publication. WindsorNews‘Smelling that odour’: Residents oppose site of future Sewage Treatment Plant in St. Thomas, Ont. By Brent LalePublished: April 20, 2025 at 2:16PM EDT Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account THOMAS – Controversial Conservative candidate Andrew Lawton was elected MP Monday night in a redrawn London-area party stronghold but Lawton never lost his lead over his three opponents in Elgin-St Thomas-London South – a riding slightly recast and renamed from the former Elgin-Middlesex-London – including Liberal rival David Goodwin applause erupted among about 75 people gathered at an election party at the Columbus Club in St Thomas amid news the riding had been called for Lawton Cheers erupted again about five minutes later when Lawton arrived with his wife Lawton greeted supporters before making his way to the front of the room “This is the honour of a lifetime to be able to serve our riding to serve our community and to serve our country in the next parliament.” Lawton lamented the evening as “bittersweet,” noting the projected Conservative second-place finish nationwide Postmedia’s decision desk projected Mark Carney’s Liberals would form the next government lauding New Democrat Paul Pighin for his advocacy of marginalized communities People’s Party candidate Stephen Campbell for having the “courage to put his name on a ballot” and Liberal Goodwin for stressing the importance of “local and community representation in politics.” fascinating real estate market is brought into focus and into context with this newsletter you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Homes in London will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. the only candidate with a real shot to beat Lawton acknowledging it was a difficult riding for a Liberal to win and am grateful to our volunteers and supporters,” Goodwin said by email Lawton continues a legacy of Conservative representation in the area Elgin-Middlesex-London was held by Joe Preston from 2004; Karen Vecchio succeeded Preston in 2015 and retired after a decade in politics “I will fight for this country and you will always have an advocate for freedom as long as I am your member of Parliament,” Lawton told supporters Monday night It comes seven years after an unsuccessful 2018 for Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives in London West bwilliams@postmedia.com The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada Thomas is distancing itself from a former executive after a photo of him making an obscene gesture outside a Liberal rally in Brantford went viral on social media was photographed as he held up both middle fingers in front of his smiling face The photo was taken while hundreds of Liberal supporters attending a rally for Liberal Leader Mark Carney at the Sassy Britches Brewing Co The photo was posted on X and has since become an internet meme with some users saying the “Brantford Boomer” reflects the party’s perceived indifference to younger Canadians facing high housing costs Internet sleuths found the man in the photo was Janes a retiree and former partner at Railway City Brewing Co and served on the boards of the Elgin County Railroad Museum and the CASO Station Following hundreds of comments on the brewery’s social media page chief executive Dave Clarke said in a statement posted Tuesday on Facebook that Janes has not been associated with the company since 2022 and that his “personal actions and opinions are his alone and are not representative of the views or values of our team.” A post on the brewery’s Facebook page saying Janes was a partner is “what started (the comments),” Clarke said. “Folks were assuming that Matt Janes was still running Railway City, and they were targeting the brewery as a result of that,” Clarke told The Free Press on Tuesday. “So I just wanted to let them know that the business was under new ownership and that we’re not a politically affiliated business. We’re in the business of selling beer, having good times and being a member of the community, and that’s it.” In a statement to The Free Press on Tuesday, Janes said he was standing in line for the Brantford rally, attended by more than 1,000 people, with other Liberal supporters when they were met with a “vulgar F*** Carney crowd” who were “harassing and shouting obscenities” in their faces, including calling them “pedophiles” and using megaphones for about an hour. “It was a stressful situation. Many of them with cameras, waiting for that moment when someone would respond. I regret reacting to it because they got what they wanted, which is something to use against David Goodwin’s campaign and the Carney campaign,” Janes said in an e-mail. Laura Blondeau, a spokesperson for Goodwin’s campaign, said Janes is a campaign volunteer who has been delivering pamphlets. The Liberal party has not cut ties with him, Blondeau said. “They (Conservatives) are flooding social media with pictures of Janes, is what they’re doing. But that kind of gesture is not a reflection of the tone of our campaign. We’re running a positive campaign with a very specific message.“ Thomas-London South | CBC.ca LoadedAndrew Lawton wins Elgin-St 7 days agoDuration 0:36Andrew Lawton wins Elgin-St. Thomas-London South7 days agoNewsDuration 0:36Andrew Lawton, the newly elected MP for Elgin-St. Thomas-London South, was welcomed by volunteers and supporters in St. Thomas on Monday night. B.C. moves to speed up energy projects amid growing demand and environmental concerns42 minutes agoVideo2:02 Advocates, families call for coroner's inquest into deaths of Indigenous women, girl43 minutes agoVideo2:44 Duty free shops fear Trump’s trade war will force them out of businessThe National |1 hour agoTrending NowVideo2:17 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem LondonNewsSt. Thomas teen charged with trespassing following social media ‘door knock’ trendBy Bailey ShakyaverOpens in new windowPublished: April 27, 2025 at 8:22AM EDT LondonNewsElection results for London ridingsBy CTVNewsLondon.ca StaffUpdated: April 29 ADVERTISEMENT When it comes to reducing homelessness and poverty Thomas doesn’t allow perfect to become the enemy of good “You just have to start,” said Brian Elliot You just have to decide you’re going to do it and start with one partnership and build off of that The city knows social issues are a wicked problem inter-related causes and contributing factors that make finding solutions difficult But the city is making progress on housing people-first approach can be a model for other cities “We’re a city that’s bucking the trends and continuing to prove that there are ways to address homelessness,” Elliot said “Shelters aren’t the answer to homelessness – we’re the necessary system to move people through homelessness into housing.” Enhancing public safety and community well being – including resources to deal with mental health basic needs and food security – is the top priority in city council’s 2024-27 strategic plan The city and surrounding area is primed for a population explosion with the arrival of auto giant Volkswagen’s $7-billion electric vehicle battery plant under construction now and expected to open in 2027 and all the spin-off work that will create Thomas’ population is projected to reach 81,000 by 2051 What the city doesn’t want is for social issues and inequity to grow alongside that population boom it wants to grow in a way that doesn’t leave people behind Thomas that has successfully balanced growth with community well-being a city where prosperity is shared and where everyone has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive,” said Natasha Newby Thomas has a strong sense of community pride with people who genuinely care about their neighbors.” Thomas is not grappling with the most highly visible form of homelessness – encampments The city has also eradicated homelessness among military veterans connected two people to housing in the last week which began as a seasonal outpost in a church basement in 2010 and opened a permanent location on Princess Avenue in 2022 provides more than just a bed and a pillow It serves three meals a day and has a busy schedule of support services for clients from an addiction medicine doctor on Wednesdays to Ontario Works officials on Thursdays and city hall social housing staff every Tuesday Thomas are taking a highly personal approach to ending homelessness that identifies the needs and challenges of individual and works to address them It’s an intensive process that is leading to long-term “There are so many things that bring people to homelessness – whether they can’t afford a place Everyone that comes through our door has a different story,” Elliot said “We’re working on helping individuals overcome the root cause of what got them into homelessness so when they get housed they stay housed.” There aren’t turf wars or egos between social service agencies that can stymie progress Partnership permeates through the city’s whole homeless response – from the mayor’s office More affordable housing would help to supercharge St as would increased benefits under the province’s Ontario Works and disability programs Homelessness is only one social issue that St Thomas Elgin Food Bank has seen demand nearly triple since the pandemic as inflation drove grocery prices out of reach for many manager of administration and public relations “We never thought we’d see the numbers as high as this own their home – they may only come once or twice a year Thomas is also filled with people who look out for one another People and community organizations continue to step up to meet the needs “We have such a generous and thoughtful community that stands behind us,” she said adding she’s grateful the food bank isn’t at risk of closing as some are in other communities “We’re pretty lucky we’re here and able to still run our food bank People can come and pick up a hamper every 21 days.” Thomas Community Foundation funds projects involving mental health Its goal is to build significant endowment funds so community organizations can meet evolving needs and future challenges head-on one of the biggest challenges is making sure no one is left behind,” Newby said Thomas becomes a model of how a growing city can remain inclusive jbieman@postmedia.com Game Recap: Softball | 5/3/2025 12:32:00 PM There are currently no upcoming/recent events Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thomas elementary school is being converted into 78 supportive housing units Thomas and Indwell – a charity based in Hamilton that creates supportive housing – will transform the former Balaclava Street public school into a housing development that will provide support to residents to maintain their health “This redevelopment is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to address the housing challenges in our community,” St Thomas Mayor Joe Preston said in a city news release Indwell will convert the former school into 36 units and 42 units will be housed in a new addition to the building “The need for supportive housing has never been more urgent and this partnership with Indwell is an essential part of the solution,” Preston said The city says the redevelopment of the former school is part of its strategy to address homelessness ensuring “all residents have access to resources needed for stability and well-being.” The school redevelopment marks the third supportive housing collaboration between Indwell and St The other two are the Station in the city’s east and Railway City Lofts on Talbot Street Thomas is really a leader in Canada on the elimination of homelessness and this project is just one piece in a comprehensive plan to overcome homelessness,” Neven said in a phone interview The Balaclava Street school is an adaptive reuse project in which Indwell repurposes unoccupied spaces to create housing Of the more than 30 supportive housing projects created by Indwell more than half have been adaptive reuse projects including locations in London and Woodstock The practice preserve buildings and ensures spaces aren’t left empty Adaptive reuse “is something that we love and believe in because it brings new life to heritage buildings “(It) also ensures that those buildings have a purpose going forward.” construction is complete about 18 to 24 months after permits are secured He predicts the project will be complete in 2027 or 2028 The partnership is the latest initiative from St Thomas to address the need for more housing in the city will house 66 residents and include supportive services Project Tiny Home already has broken ground and is expected to be complete by 2026 Game Recap: Softball | 5/2/2025 4:51:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here LondonNews‘Just like a great big storm coming!’ St. Thomas warehouse blaze deemed suspiciousBy Sean IrvineUpdated: April 15, 2025 at 6:40PM EDT LondonNewsSt. Thomas fire battles inferno at abandoned warehouseBy Bailey ShakyaverOpens in new window and Brent LaleUpdated: April 14, 2025 at 6:18PM EDT Thomas University celebrated the outstanding achievements of its student athletes in 2024-2025 at the annual Athletics Banquet and supporters together to recognize the excellence and dedication of the Tommies athletic programs.  "I just want to reiterate on behalf of the Athletics and Recreation department and St Thomas our pride in all of your exceptional accomplishments this season and our gratitude to you all for your hard work Director of Athletics and Recreation."We are a small but mighty team here at St Thomas and greatly appreciate the support." Athlete of the Year for Women's Program: Kathleen Boyle (Women's Volleyball) Kathleen was a standout offensive threat this season ranking among the league's top players in several categories Her versatility and leadership were instrumental in her team's notable victories Athlete of the Year for Men's Program: Chidubem Nkoloagu (Men's Soccer) Chidubem consistently demonstrated excellence throughout his athletic career at STU His contributions across all areas of the game and his ability to perform under pressure have been vital to his team's success Chi helped his team win the ACAA championship and had a great performance at Nationals.  LeRoy Washburn Community Service Award: Women's Basketball this team has made a concerted effort to be increasingly active in the campus and Fredericton communities Given the length of the season and the high demands on the athletes it has been wonderful to watch this group's intentionality and desire to get involved and give back through events and initiatives like Welcome Week Move-in Day Basketball Clinics at Chief Harold Sappier Memorial Elementary School and more John Frederick Walls Award: Raph Fiset (Men's Volleyball) Raph has been instrumental in his team’s success while maintaining the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship community involvement and academic commitment make him a well-rounded student-athlete Thomas with pride and is respected by his teammates and peers for his work ethic and leadership Cathy Wadden Commitment Award: Ekaterina Pelowich (Women's Hockey) Ekaterina had another standout season for the green and gold landing herself at the top of the standings while also balancing a rigorous course load a feat accomplished by only a few Tommies in STU history For a full list of team awards, click here. LondonNewsArson charges laid in St. Thomas warehouse fireBy Fiona RobertsonPublished: April 17, 2025 at 5:02PM EDT Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page A spell that lights it up like a flashlight Thomas high school is the only one in Ontario and among just three in Canada to be part of the Canadian high school premiere of the high-profile stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child “Absolutely everything about this entire show is different than any form of high school production that has even been brought out,” said St Joseph’s secondary school English and drama teacher Rob Bannerman The high school was able to acquire the rights to the play through a lottery system Based on the wildly popular series of Harry Potter books by J.K the play takes place 20 years after the original novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows “It follows Albus Severus Potter as he starts his journey at Hogwarts and meets the son of Draco Malfoy,” Pritchard said “The story follows the two boys as they work to change the past involving Cedric Diggory as they discover who the cursed child is.” Work on the project started last May and auditions began in January adding there were more than 50 students who auditioned and there’s a cast of 40 plus the stage crew Rehearsals started in February and took place after school four to five days a week with a separate tech team for the play’s many special effects Bannerman called the project “a new and exciting experience” and a high-profile challenge how do you do a production inside a high school not having any resources or examples to go off of?” Special effects include wands that light up and a staircase ballet scene where the staircase is “constantly moving and changing,” Bannerman said “The real challenging one is to have a wand that will shoot fire in a safe and controlled matter,” he said “It’s how to make something that most people would think of as impossible Grade 12 student Owen Doherty is part of the play’s tech crew and is “excited for both myself and the school to be taking on this new challenge.” He added: “The (special effects) and music capture the essence of the wizarding world so that the audience and actors can be truly immersed in a different world on the stage.” Grade 10 student Avery McLaughlin called playing Albus Potter “Between the stellar cast and crew and the phenomenal set and special effects this is going to be a show to remember,” he said Grade 11 student Jadyn Browne is thrilled to be stage manager “It’s such an honour to bring this beloved magical world to life on stage,” she said hrivers@postmedia.com Charles Reid, professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, recently talked to PBS News about the history and intricacies of the conclave that selects a new pope The world won’t know the next bishop of Rome Peter the Apostle and leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics until he appears before a throng of supporters in St powerful members of the Catholic Church from around the world will take part in a process that is part spiritual and part pragmatic Researchers have examined a mummy from a small Austrian village and found a mix of unusual materials has been used to preserve the body the mummy’s torso showed little signs of decay It is the first report on this embalming method Further sophisticated examination also allowed the team to identify the mummy as a local parish vicar who lived in the region around 300 years ago many cultures around the world embalmed their dead but not all of them are studied equally well In a first report of a previously undocumented embalming method an international team of researchers has analyzed a mummy from a small Austrian village Detailed analyses provided insights into little-known mummification techniques and allowed them to identify the body “The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar who died in 1746,” said Dr Andreas Nerlich a pathologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and first author of the Frontiers in Medicine article “Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying.” whereas lower extremities and head showed considerable post-mortem decay External appearance of the mummy from the ventral (A) and dorsal side (B) showing a completely intact body wall the researchers found a variety of foreign material packed in the abdominal and pelvic cavity the team identified wood chips from fir and spruce All these materials were easily available at that time and in that region Analysis of the packing material obtained during the partial autopsy of the abdomen revelaed A: Typical wood chip C: Small fragment of a simple fabric made of hemp or flax Image: Andreas NerlichThe researchers believe it is this mixture of materials that kept the mummy in such good condition and dry fabric absorbed much of the fluid inside the abdominal cavity,” said Nerlich a toxicological analysis showed traces of zinc chloride This way of embalming is different to better-known methods where the body is opened to prepare it the embalming materials were inserted via the rectum “This type of preservation may have been much more widespread but unrecognized in cases where ongoing postmortal decay processes may have damaged the body wall so that the manipulations would not have been realized as they were,” Nerlich pointed out the researchers also found a small glass sphere with holes on both ends – perhaps an application to fabric of monastic origin it might have been lost during the preparation of the body Left: Removal of parts of the foreign material from the dorsal abdominal wall revealed a mixture of fragmented white fabric and plant material along with some brownish amorphous tissue residues Right: The round foreign sphere detected in the left pelvis had a small hole with a raised lip Credit: Andreas NerlichTracing a life The mummy was long rumored to belong to von Sidler only the current investigation that provided certainty as to its identity “The identification of the mummy comes from our interdisciplinary analysis and the stable isotope pattern,” Nerlich said Download and read original article These analyses showed that the mummy died most likely aged between 35 and 45 years old and most probably between 1734 and 1780 they suggested Sidler ate a high-quality diet based on central European grains likely due to the War of Austrian Succession The lack of major sign of stress on the skeleton fits the life of a priest without hard physical activity There also was evidence of a long-term smoking habit and lung tuberculosis towards the end of his life “We have some written evidence that cadavers were ‘prepared’ for transport or elongated laying-out of the dead – although no report provides any precise description,” Nerlich concluded the vicar was planned for transportation to his home abbey which might have failed for unknown reasons.” A 35-year-old St. Thomas man is facing arson charges after a fire at a home north of the city’s core, police say. Police were called to a home at 54 St. Catharine St. in St. Thomas on March 1 for reports of a fire. St. Thomas firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and help the home’s occupants escape safely, police said. Police began investigating the fire as an arson and sought the public’s help identify the suspect. On March 3, St. Thomas police released an image from surveillance footage showing a man with a hood pulled over his head riding a bicycle. Police announced Saturday that they had identified the suspect through “witness interviews, video canvasses and traditional police investigative techniques”. Investigators laid charges of arson endangering life and issued a warrant for the arrest of a 35-year-old St. Thomas resident. Officers spotted the suspect in St. Thomas’ downtown on Saturday and arrested him, police said in a news release. The man was taken to police headquarters, interviewed and released on conditions with a future court date, police said. Oxford OPP are appealing to the public for assistance identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash northeast of Woodstock that left a cyclist with serious injuries. Police and paramedics were called to a fail-to-remain collision on Blandford Street in Innerkip at about 11 p.m. Thursday. A vehicle struck a cyclist and fled the scene before officers arrived, Oxford OPP said. Pieces of a tinted bug deflector from a vehicle were found at the scene, police said. Investigators are asking the public for information about the suspect vehicle, which has front end damage and a broken bug deflector. The cyclist suffered serious life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital, police said. Anyone with dashcam or surveillance footage from near the crash site between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Thursday is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. New national data places the University of St Thomas top in Minnesota when it comes to representing the communities it serves and setting up its graduates for higher-paying careers St. Thomas – the state’s largest private university – was designated an “Opportunity College and University” in the newly redesigned Carnegie Classifications of the nation’s higher education institutions Institutions included in this designation (under the “Student Access and Earnings” classification) meet thresholds for providing students access to higher education while simultaneously preparing them for economic success these institutions must achieve certain scores to show their student population reflects the demographic makeup of their service areas and that their alumni earn 50% more than comparison groups eight years after enrollment Thomas alums earn the highest eight-year median annual income than alumni of any of the other 31 Minnesota universities and colleges on the list specifically looks at the number of Pell Grant recipients and underrepresented student groups when determining whether an institution’s student population reflects the communities they serve Thomas programs like the Schulze Innovation Scholarships also serve as national models for affordability and inclusive student support Thomas will utilize a historic gift to award 250 scholarships based on need to undergraduate students across any major Thomas to provide nearly $220 million in direct aid support to students who may not otherwise be able to afford a college education The Carnegie Classification system has long been regarded as the gold standard for analyzing the U.S The Student Access and Earnings Classification category is one of two new 2025 Carnegie Classifications published by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with the other being the Institutional Classification which replaces the traditional “Basic Classification.” By including new outcome-based metrics such as access and earnings the updated classifications signal a growing national interest in tracking how colleges contribute to economic and social mobility The 2025 updates were developed in collaboration with economists and thousands of institutional stakeholders over a three-year period The classifications include interactive data visualizations that allow users to compare institutions by mission and student outcomes the recognition affirms the university’s strategic priorities and mission to advance the common good by preparing students not only to succeed professionally but also to lead lives of meaning and impact LondonNewsFire at St. Thomas century homeBy Sean IrvinePublished: March 28, 2025 at 12:19PM EDT Thomas like others to know about their city It doesn’t forget what it is or where it came from ambitious doers and true believers — people who see opportunity in places others don’t going back to the dawn of the railroad era and a core driver of the region’s automotive manufacturing belt Thomas is working not only to reel in big employers – which it did with auto giant Volkswagen’s $7-billion electric vehicle battery plant now under construction  – but also to “grow smart,” Preston said “We can all point to examples of cities that didn’t plan their growth That means taking a broader view of economic development It’s not just about attracting business to St but ensuring it’s a community worth living in – with events small businesses and amenities for its people Thomas is not just seen as an industrial place but somewhere people want to live and thrive,” said Dyke our primary goal was to attract new industrial investment But today we’ve morphed into a more community development focus We can’t attract industry if we don’t have a community companies want to move to.”  Thomas is committed to maintaining its distinct identity one that’s not eclipsed by nearby London or other similar-sized Southwestern Ontario cities such as Woodstock We exist well with those around us,” Preston said adding the city is always watching — but never completely copying — the strategies of other mid-sized cities in the region we’ll take a tablespoon of this and put it together in a recipe that works for a community of our size.”  Thomas flourished for decades amid the rail boom in the late 1800s but had to grapple with the decline of the industry starting in the 1960s VW’s giant new plant being built in the city will be Canada’s largest factory in size Thomas dealt with the ugly fallout of the 2008 financial crisis a global economic downturn that closed several manufacturers and cost the city more than 5,000 industrial jobs The economic shock rattled throughout the region Thomas has been able to rebound as quickly as it has every time that something negative has happened,” Dyke said but a lot of it is the mentality of the people here “We may be better defined by how we came out of those crises than the fact that we had them,” added Preston A group of community advocates worked for years to take the long-decommissioned Michigan Central Rail bridge which towers over the western edge of the city and turn it into Canada’s first elevated park The community rallied to remake the Canada Southern Railway Station into a sought-after downtown landmark and event space Its sprawling former psychiatric hospital has been used as filming location for Hollywood productions The city will also soon be a key player in the electric-vehicle supply chain with the new VW battery plant expected to open in 2027 and employ 3,000 people and create thousands more spin-off jobs The factory’s looming arrival forced the city to re-evaluate its population growth projections Thomas is now expected to grow to about 80,000 people by 2051 Though it’s proud of its accomplishments and eager to make more progress It’s not immune from the homelessness and addiction crisis ravaging communities nationwide Thomas police and the Canadian Mental Health Association to address it It’s no stranger to poverty and lack of affordable and attainable housing options The city feels the impact of Ontario’s family doctor shortage and needs provincial action on childcare spaces “We’re going to be facing these big-picture challenges a little more than others just because we’re going to grow pretty quickly,” he said “If we’re already having a challenge with things like family doctors and childcare Local civic leaders know progress doesn’t happen by accident City council and city hall administrators don’t put up needless roadblocks to big ideas adding that efficiency is one reason why St Thomas is an attractive place to set up shop “We tend to share brains almost,” Preston said of his council colleagues “We tend to get along and very quickly do great big things sums up the city’s mindset in two words — Brighter Future The plan lays out city hall’s mission to deliver high-quality public services protect the environment and cultivate a safe accessible and inclusive city for everyone “Our council is focused on our strategic plan moving forward That guides us on where we are supposed to be going,” Preston said said there’s another challenge the city faces but it’s a good problem to have is sharing that with other people who don’t know — making sure that people who are looking for a place to live know that St The bankruptcy of a Volkswagen partner in electric vehicle battery production will not threaten the automaker’s St demonstrate increasing volatility in the EV sector during this high-tariff automotive environment and the $7-billion PowerCo EV battery plant in Southwestern Ontario may face future delays filed for bankruptcy in Sweden recently and Volkswagen is its largest shareholder with a 21 per cent stake in the company after a more than $700 million investment It is not yet known how the bankruptcy will affect Northvolt’s North American operations including a planned EV battery plant in Quebec But the bankruptcy illustrates how quickly the sector can change and the current automotive tariff threat by the U.S federal government against Canada has worsened instability auto industry analyst and chief executive with AutoForecast Solutions in Pennsylvania “I don’t think this will put a screeching halt to the (PowerCo) investment but there may be a delay or a scaling back Thomas plant is expected to employ about 3,000 and supply batteries for VW vehicles being made in South Carolina and Tennessee when it begins production in 2027 Tariffs have been threatened on vehicles and parts exported into the U.S starting April  2 with Canada pledging counter tariffs Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum are already in place and government incentives on purchases have been repealed in Canada with the U.S federal government also saying it will drop the $7,500 it gives to new buyers is the largest market for their product.,” McCade said a consumer adoption rate issue and mandates dialled back in the U.S they may kick the can down the road,” he said of PowerCo PowerCo Friday dismissed questions of changing market conditions delaying EV battery production saying it remains on schedule for a 2027 opening in St Thomas and the investment is a long-term strategy long-term investment with strong fundamentals and we are confident in its potential to drive economic growth and create skilled jobs in Canada We are focused on delivering a project with the right engineering and supply chain partners and remain on track for initial production in 2027,” PowerCo said in an email message The company has begun work on a rail line into the plant and an electricity substation at the St international business professor at the Ivey business school at Western University agreed the Northvolt filing will have little effect locally but said it raises “important questions” about the EV industry “I strongly believe that uncertainty lingers,” he said remains the erratic and unpredictable (U.S While these pressures won’t yet force a full cancellation of the project coupled with geopolitical and economic headwinds suggests that Volkswagen may have to adjust its overall battery strategy and its timeline in Canada competition because of its supply of chemicals and minerals from northern Ontario critical to EV battery manufacturing ample supply of power for the energy-hungry operation and federal and provincial incentives that matched what was offered by the U.S. But the tariff threat poses a risk to automotive investment in Canada as evidenced by Stellantis pausing a multibillion-dollar EV investment in its Brampton plant Recently former Innovation minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the Liberal government would fight to ensure companies honour the investment commitment they have made to Canada according to recent reports from Bloomberg sales of all-electric passenger vehicles and plug-in hybrids increased by 24 per cent in 2024 That’s down from a 33 per cent increase a year earlier and a more than doubling of sales in 2021 ndebono@postmedia.com February marks Black History Month, and the STU Black Students' Association and STU African and Caribbean Student Club, in collaboration with Cultural Diversity Coordinator Saa Andrew Gbongbor, will be hosting events aimed at promoting awareness and education. The theme for the Month is "Black to our Roots." Join us to kick off Black History Month with speeches and greetings from the BSA, the African and Caribbean Student Club, and the Cultural Diversity Coordinator’s office. The opening ceremony will give you a glimpse of the activities that will be taking place throughout the month. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Join us for a movie night in the Dawn Russell Student Lounge featuring “The Hate U Give,” a film highlighting black culture and celebrating black hairstyles. Feel free to wear your favourite durag or bonnet. Be a part of a vibrant evening of culture, food, dance, and celebration as we bring the traditions and colours of an African wedding to life. Join us for an engaging Black History Month panel discussion featuring Black professionals, students, and alumni as they share their experiences and insights on critical topics such as equity, representation, and career journeys. This event offers a unique opportunity to hear inspiring stories, foster meaningful dialogue, and reflect on the importance of diversity and inclusion in education and beyond. This event is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members. Participate in a hair care workshop, where you will learn about the history of Black hair, discover essential tips and tricks, and get hands-on experience styling natural hair and maintaining natural coils and curls. Support Black entrepreneurs by exploring a showcase of Black-owned businesses offering a range of products and services. Dress like a Black Aunty or Uncle Social Night Come along for a night of fun! Dress in your best “Black aunty or uncle” attire and enjoy an evening of music, socialization, and fun. Join us for a high-energy dance workshop led by STU alum Scholastic Soares. Embrace Black culture through movement, music, and rhythm. Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Virtual Keynote Address Join us for a virtual keynote address by the Honorable Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, a renowned advocate for social justice and human rights. This event provides an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and celebrate the contributions of Black communities in Canada. Everyone is welcome! This event is brought to you by the STU BSA, African and Caribbean Student Club, STU student services, STU School of Social Work, and the Atlantic Human Rights Centre. Come and celebrate the close of Black History Month with a showcase of Black culinary traditions and visual arts. Enjoy delicious dishes from local vendors and explore an art exhibit highlighting the creativity and talent within the Black community. 51 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, NB Canada, E3B 5G3 But building in parts of the Railway City isn’t as easy as getting shovels in the ground “Urban infill is an attractive option for developers and builders and for the city Who doesn’t want to use the land that’s already there within the city limits?” said Angela DeVries Thomas and Elgin Home Builders’ Association “But there are roadblocks with brownfields.” Owing to its rich industrial and rail past Thomas is home to several brownfield properties former industrial sites that may have contaminated or polluted soil a holdover from an era when environmental rules weren’t always top-of-mind for industry Brownfields can be a high-stakes gamble for developers vice-president of sales and marketing at Hayhoe Homes “You don’t know what you’re getting into,” Looby said “When there’s land that’s not brownfield available everybody wants to develop that land first.” Some brownfields have extensive contamination that must be fixed before any redevelopment can happen This can add years of environmental assessments brownfield rehabilitation is more manageable and straightforward This uncertainty makes these sites difficult to develop and budget for “If the end goal is attainably priced housing it’s a huge unknown what that land rehabilitation cost is going to be,” he said “If it balloons into millions of dollars above what was budgeted that puts a project out of an attainable price range.” Thomas already has had success unlocking the potential of its brownfield lands Developers have reimagined brownfield land at the Former Timken roller bearings plant at the corner of Talbot Street and First Street following an extensive cleanup and remediation the site is now home to a large retail district and will soon be the site of a 14-storey residential tower Another project to build 40 tiny homes at 21 Kains St. is underway in a partnership between Doug Tarry Homes and YWCA St will house 66 residents from diverse backgrounds young adults and persons with disabilities Doug Tarry Homes president Doug Tarry said Wednesday Doug Tarry Homes just last year bought three hectares of brownfield from the Elgin County Railway Museum for $2.4 million “We’re honoured to be taking a role in that There are more layers of complexity because of the brownfield contamination,” Tarry said “We consider it an opportunity to revitalize the heart of downtown.” such as the towers being built on the former Alma College property will become even more important as developers use up available land around its edges It means brownfield development and redevelopment of older buildings will have to be a part of this inward growth The arrival of the Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant – a $7 -billion facility that will employ 3,000 workers with thousands of additional spin-off jobs – forced St Thomas to re-evaluate its population growth projections The city of approximately 48,000 now is expected to increase to about 80,000 people by 2051 adding the city is coming off a record year on the housing file in 2024 “We need smart growth that’s designed around creating great communities,” Tarry said housing types to make sure people have places they can afford in a community they love to live in We need a variety of housing at a variety of price points.” Repurposing brownfield land will have to be a part of the equation as St Better supports for municipalities from other levels of government could help turn vacant brownfields into usable land “There needs to be better signalling from the province about what to do with municipalities that have this burden left over from decades ago,” he said this hands-on experience allowed students to take part in the construction of a future home for a local family They also were able to learn about housing justice in action Students jumped into every stage of the build from putting up siding to raising wall frames Many had never set foot on a construction site before but under the guidance of Habitat site leaders they quickly found themselves immersed in a powerful day of teamwork “The Habitat for Humanity build was an educational and empowering experience,” said Laura Murr ’25 “It was energizing to hear about the sustainable features being built into the homes the mortgage programs designed to make home ownership more accessible and the housing justice advocacy that Habitat for Humanity does it was a reminder of the collaboration and consistency needed to make change and build a more sustainable and just future.” students learned how Habitat’s financial model ensures that families pay no more than 30% of their household income toward housing costs aligning with the National Housing Act of 1937’s definition of affordability This approach allows families to invest in their futures without being burdened by an unaffordable mortgage “Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was such an eye-opening experience,” said Nicole Ngeno ’27 a biology major with a sustainability minor in the College of Arts and Sciences “The amount of time and effort put into building these homes shows the dedication of the volunteers and organization Habitat covers the remaining cost through donors and other means It’s so important that these families can invest in their futures without the burden of a mortgage they can’t afford.” Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has constructed more than 1,250 homes in the metro area and is on track to build over 60 homes this year Thomas’ Shelter Crew program gives students consistent opportunities to be part of that impact volunteers can tackle the issue of housing insecurity get involved in various home-building projects across the Twin Cities metro and volunteer at one of their ReStore locations To get involved with Shelter Crew or upcoming builds, students can contact sheltercrew@stthomas.edu or visit the Center for the Common Good website. Although not open to residents until August Highlands Tower – a 14-storey highrise on Talbot Street – has already amassed an interest list exceeding 1,000 people for its 162 rental units Highlands Tower will start seeking tenants in mid-April for the building Another tower may be built on the property eventually noted the uniqueness of the building to St Thomas and its proximity to businesses and services “People can walk from anything to a doctor And the current climate of uncertainty caused by U.S President Donald Trump’s targeting of Canada with tariffs appears to be having little effect on prospective tenants “Tariffs and the economy haven’t affected (interest in Highlands Tower) “so far,” he said Although interest in the apartment building has remained unaffected by the uncertainty surrounding U.S Already home to Magna auto parts manufacturers Presstran and Formet Thomas is the site of VW’s massive $7-billion electric vehicle battery plant which is expected to employ 3,000 when it opens in 2027 The plant is a major factor influencing the city’s population and housing forecasts One projection expects the city’s population It’s estimated 15,300 new homes will be needed said he felt tariffs weren’t yet a threat to housing starts but interest rates could tamp down construction “I think the biggest slowdown that has occurred is the interest rates,” Taylor said And hopefully they continue on a downward trend that’s the biggest indicator of driving our market.” Southwestern Ontario’s economy relies heavy on exports to the U.S more than 700 businesses exported about $7.8 billion worth of goods to the U.S. mostly in automotive and manufacturing but also in food and agriculture 21 days agoDuration 0:14Fire breaks out at factory warehouse in St. Thomas21 days agoNewsDuration 0:14St. Thomas firefighters battled a blaze at a factory warehouse between Inkerman Street and Woodworth Avenue in St. Thomas on Monday afternoon. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. THOMAS – A raging fire in a vacant factory sent thick black plumes of smoke into the air and drew onlookers from across the city on Monday We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe fire at the former Weatherhead Co Thomas firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze police spokesperson Samantha Wakefield said but I don’t have the information confirming that,” Wakefield said PLEASE AVOID THE AREA of Woodworth Avenue at Edward Street and Woodworth Avenue at Redan Street. Roads in the area are closed due to an active fire. Please stay safe and out of the area. pic.twitter.com/Jpk8U44IGJ St. Thomas police closed roads in the area of Woodworth Avenue, Edward Street and Redan Street to vehicles and pedestrians at about 4:35 p.m. About an hour later the no-go zone was expanded to an entire block in the north end neighbourhood that is a mix of homes, warehouses and stores. “There were safety concerns,” Wakefield said. “That is why we’ve asked traffic and pedestrians to stay out of the area, because it is unsafe.” No information about the cause of the fire or whether anyone was inside the building when it started was available. Residents on Edward Street, in the direction the black smoke was blowing, were advised to leave and close their doors and windows. Mike Bolton, who lives on Lock Avenue several blocks north of the fire, said he was getting debris from the blaze in his backyard. “It (the fire) just kept getting bigger and bigger,” said Ian Latford, who lives close to St. Joseph’s secondary school, five kilometres south of the scene. “We saw a big black cloud and just drove over.” Crews were expected to remain on the scene for “several hours, and likely through the night,” Wakefield said. If you ask Steve Peters what the future of St but also in the sky and along Elgin County’s vast Lake Erie shoreline Thomas history buff – a former city mayor and MPP and now a city councillor – has no crystal ball to divine his city’s future but says he knows big and bold thinking will be part of it Thomas has always been forced to evolve and reinvent itself,” said Peters speaking for himself and not for city council who knows his city’s history like few others Its rough-and-tumble history has taught residents to be open-minded Its past has bred in its leaders a willingness to be nimble an ability to roll with the punches and expertise in dealing with the unexpected Peters says he knows his hometown will rise to whatever challenge it faces and come out better than before “That different thinking has always been a good thing about St “We’re at a crossroads again after this historical roller coaster we’ve ridden in this area We have a new opportunity in front of us with EV batteries and whatever spin-offs will come from that.” Peters says he sees opportunity in the agri-food sector from food processing to greenhouse innovation the very first thing people did when they settled in the region There are also opportunities to add value to the crops grown in the St by processing food for store shelves nationwide and beyond home to a large cluster of food processors in one of the nation’s richest farm belts trade war triggered by President Donald Trump he sees untapped potential to open a channel of commerce across Lake Erie Peters sees a possibility that smaller boats – not the big lake freighters – could move people and goods across the 134 km of Lake Erie separating nearby Port Stanley and Cleveland the growing city could leverage the potential of its municipal airport at a time when cargo and package delivery is booming and London’s airport is only getting busier Nearby Southwold Township’s massive Amazon distribution facility is right on the doorstep of St Can our airport become some sort of a distribution hub He notes VW’s colossal new factory under construction is bringing with it new investment in roads and highway connections that could make St Thomas more attractive for shipping and receiving The city should grow and develop in a way that complements its neighbours Southwold and Elgin County officials deserve a seat at the table and avoiding duplication and wasted effort will help every Elgin County community thrive is becoming a diverse place where newcomers can build lives and businesses It’s a place that took an old railway station and turned it into a landmark event space and office building It transformed a giant old railway bridge that once served the Michigan Central Railway into Canada’s first elevated park It’s taking an old schoolhouse and converting it into affordable housing City hall and developers are working to unlock the potential of St The city is also charting a path forward on housing and homelessness that doesn’t leave people behind “What everyone needs to do is really imagine as big and as bold as they can about what St Thomas could or should be,” said Paul Jenkins it’s part of Canada’s 11th-largest metro area by population It’s also strategically located in the densely populated Great Lakes economic region of the continent Thomas of the future won’t be blind to those assets More investment in critical infrastructure by government will prime St resourceful and ready to seize opportunities that come their way it might not always be in the larger city’s shadow it’s not inconceivable that the centre of southwestern Ontario has moved a little bit further south from London into St