Welcome back to another edition of The Creative Hub of Elgin County.

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This newsletter exists for one reason: to keep Elgin County connected.

Each week, it highlights what’s happening locally from events and small businesses to creative projects and big ideas and helps them find the people who’ll appreciate them most. Because when we support what’s happening around us, momentum builds fast.

Have an event coming up? Launching something new? Running a local business or passion project you want more eyes on? My inbox is always open.

And if you know someone who loves discovering what’s happening locally, pass this along. The more people involved, the stronger the ripple effect.

Here’s what’s on tap for this week 👇

The Kettle Creek Swans are hosting an exciting evening of bidding and shopping at the Port Stanley Arena to support local community initiatives.

What is Quartermania? It is a fast-paced auction-style event where you use quarters to bid on items from various vendors.

When: Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. for early browsing.

Where: Port Stanley Arena on Carlow Road.

Cost: $5 admission (includes your first bidding paddle). Extra paddles are available for $2 each.

Vendor Lineup

Browse and bid on products from popular brands and local favorites, including:

Mary Kay, Colour Street, and Scentsy.

Tupperware, Epicure, and Norwex.

Tammy's Jewellery and more.

Bring Your Quarters: Attendees are encouraged to bring 2–3 rolls of quarters to participate in the bidding.

Age Limit: This is an 18+ event.

Refreshments: Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Contact: For more information, call or text Sherry at 519-476-4551

The Port Stanley community is coming together for a festive morning to celebrate the holiday. Here is the breakdown of the upcoming event:

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026

Start Time: 10:00 a.m.

Kickoff Location: Meet at the Library

The Main Event: A festive march from the Library to the Legion to begin the Easter Egg Hunt

Food Drive: Please bring canned goods to support the Port Stanley Food Bank.

Sponsors: This event is proudly sponsored by the Kettle Creek Swans and the Port Stanley Optimists.

Special Guest: The Easter Bunny will be on-site to meet with children at the Library before leading the "hop" over to the Legion.

Don’t miss your chance to save—early bird pricing for the Railway City Road Races ends April 5th! Now in its 12th annual year, this community-loved event continues to bring runners together in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs. Register today to lock in the lowest rate of the year and be part of a race that makes a real difference this September!

St. Thomas Chefs Collaborate to Represent Elgin County in Provincial Cannabis Culinary Competition

St. Thomas, ON — Two chefs from Elgin County are stepping onto a provincial stage, bringing distinct culinary backgrounds and a shared commitment to excellence to So You Think You Can Cook With Cannabis – Ontario Edition.

Chef Adam Vandermey, a professional chef with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Your Canna Chef, and Chef Terrance Tew, a seasoned culinary professional with over 18 years of experience, a past appearance on Chopped Canada, and the pitmaster behind The Tipsy Pig BBQ, have both been selected as two of only six competitors from across Ontario.

While the chefs will compete individually, they have chosen to collaborate in their preparation, working together with local partners and sponsors to refine their approaches ahead of the live event.

The collaboration reflects both the strength and diversity of culinary talent coming out of St. Thomas and Elgin County.

Tew has built his reputation around a deep respect for ingredients, drawing from farm-to-table principles, Southern BBQ traditions, and a connection to hunting, fishing, and foraging. His cooking is grounded, intentional, and rooted in place.

Vandermey brings a specialized focus on cannabis cuisine, with an emphasis on precision infusion, balanced dosing, and elevated private dining experiences. Through Your Canna Chef, he has developed a reputation for integrating cannabis into food with professionalism, consistency, and control.

“This is an opportunity to represent where we come from,” said Vandermey. “There’s a lot of talent in this region, and it’s exciting to bring that to a broader stage.”

The competition will take place live in Whitby, Ontario, where chefs will be judged on taste, presentation, infusion, and overall concept across multiple categories.

In the lead-up to the event, Vandermey and Tew will continue their collaborative preparation, highlighting the value of shared knowledge and community within the culinary industry.

As Your Canna Chef continues to expand its offerings across Ontario, Vandermey sees the competition as part of a broader evolution for both his business and the region’s growing culinary identity.

For both chefs, the focus is clear: represent their craft, represent their community, and showcase the level of talent coming out of Elgin County.

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