As we step into a brand-new year, I want to say thank you for being here.
What started as a simple idea, a place to share local events, cheer on small businesses, and highlight the people making Elgin County special has grown into a real community because of you.
Every read, every shared event, every recommendation helps keep this little hub thriving.
Elgin County is full of incredible people doing incredible things, and The Creative Hub exists to make sure those stories don’t get missed.
As we head into 2026, here’s how we keep the momentum going:
Have an event coming up this year? Send it in I’ll help you fill the room.
Know someone who loves local? Invite them to subscribe and join the community.
Running a business or community project? Reach out because I’d love to highlight what you’re building.
Here’s to a year of connection, creativity, and community and to everything we’ll discover together in 2026.
Event Roundup for this week
Do You Play Bridge or Want to Learn?
Join members of the St. Thomas Duplicate Bridge Club for Duplicate Bridge lessons in a welcoming, relaxed setting.
🗓 Monday evenings
⏰ 7:00 pm
📍 Central United Church
💲 $5 per session
Whether you’re brushing up on your skills or learning from scratch, everyone is welcome.
📞 For more information:
Anne Lounsbury — 519-631-7185
Start the New Year with a Creative Day Out
Looking for something fun and creative to kick off January? M&M’s Studio is hosting a hands-on Creative Workshop that’s perfect for anyone who wants to make something beautiful, no experience required.
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, join M&M’s Studio at the Union Sports Club in Union for a relaxed, guided workshop where you’ll design and create your own Rustic Hanging Heart Sign. It’s a great way to unwind, get creative, and head home with a finished piece you’ll be proud to display.
What’s Included:
Step-by-step instruction led by M&M’s Studio
All materials provided
Choose your own paint colours, accessories, and finishing touches
Complimentary snacks and refreshments
A welcoming, social atmosphere
🕙 Two time slots available: 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Union Sports Club, 6068 Bell Street, Union
💲 Cost: $60 per person
🎟️ Payment in full required to reserve your spot
Whether you’re coming solo, with friends, or looking for a creative afternoon out, this workshop is a fun and easy way to try something new and connect with your local creative community.
👉 Spots are limited. Sign up soon!
📞 519-495-8335
📲 Instagram: @mandm_studio2015
Artist Spotlight
The Creative Hub is thrilled to feature “Max Woods”
There’s something grounding about work that starts in nature and stays true to it all the way through.
Max Woods creates one-of-a-kind pieces using 100% hand-foraged driftwood, thoughtfully hand-carved and paired with natural florals. Every piece is shaped by what the land (and shoreline) offers no two works are ever the same.
The result is art that feels calm, organic, and deeply connected to place. These are pieces that don’t just decorate a space — they tell a story of patience, craftsmanship, and respect for the natural world.
If you’re drawn to natural textures, earthy tones, and work that feels both wild and intentional, this is a creator worth following.
🌿 Driftwood & Florals
🪵 Hand-Foraged • Hand-Carved
🌱 100% Natural Creations
👉 Follow and explore his work here:
facebook.com/max.woods.378537
🔔 Reminder: New Here? Start Here Expo — March 26, 2026
Starting fresh in Elgin County or need to update your local go-to resources?
The New Here? Start Here Expo is a community-built evening created to help people feel settled, supported, and connected as they begin their next chapter here.
Whether you’re brand new to the area or starting to find your new go-to people, this event brings together trusted local services all in one place making it easier to know who to call and where to turn as you build your life in Elgin County.
📍 Event details
🗓 March 26, 2026
🕠 5:30 – 8:30 PM
📍 CASO Station, St. Thomas
🎟 Free to attend (registration required)
👉 Save your spot here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/new-here-start-here-expo-tickets-1978179451992?aff=oddtdtcreator
Whether you’re moving here, planning ahead, or simply getting connected locally, we’d love to see you there.
🧩 Local Service Providers — Limited Spots Available
If you’re a local service provider who helps people get settled and feel at home in Elgin County, there are still a few service categories available for the New Here? Start Here Expo.
This event is all about connecting people who are new (or newly restarting) with trusted, professionals they can rely on.
🔹 Categories we’re still looking to fill:
🏠 Home services – painters, cleaners, handypersons, ongoing maintenance
🔨 Trades – fencing, decks, roofing
💆 Wellness & personal care
⚖️ Legal & professional services
💼 Insurance & financial services
🧰 Everyday local services people rely on when starting fresh
✅ Categories already confirmed include:
Renovations • Pet care • Travel agent • Mortgage agent • Bookkeeper • HVAC • Tutor
(One provider per category — first come, first served)
📌 Participation details:
• $25 per service category
• One provider per category
• Community-focused, relationship-based event (not a trade show)
👉 To take part, email:
Brad Lister – Mortgage with Brad
📩 [email protected]
Spots are limited and categories will fill quickly.
If you’re the kind of business people recommend to their friends, this is for you.
Helping Everyone Home
Hi, I’m Brad Lister, a local mortgage agent here in St. Thomas, and the person behind Mortgage with Brad. Our community is growing quickly, new families, new businesses, and a ton of momentum — and my work is focused on one thing: helping everyone home.
Whether you’re buying, renewing, refinancing, or navigating the mortgage world as a self-employed borrower, I bring clear guidance and creative solutions that fit real life in a fast-growing city.
If you’re starting to plan your next move or want to understand what’s possible, take a look at my website:
👉 MortgageWithBrad.ca
You’ll find tools, resources, and simple planning guides to help you chart your path home. And if you ever want to talk through your options, I’m right here — a neighbour who’s committed to helping our community move forward, one home at a time.
