Welcome back to another edition of The Creative Hub of Elgin County.
Each week this newsletter does one thing really well:
it helps people find what’s happening locally, and it helps local creators, businesses, and events get in front of more people.
The more we share what’s going on in Elgin County, the more we strengthen the kind of community we all want to live in — one that supports local, fills rooms, and celebrates the people building something here.
If you’ve got an event coming up, a new project, or a small business you want more people to discover, send it in anytime.
And if you know someone who loves supporting local — forward this to them and help us grow the hub.
Let’s jump into what’s happening this week.
Event Roundup for this week
Stained Glass Class at Turtle Glass Studio 💛
Ever wanted to try stained glass? Now’s your chance!
Join Turtle Glass Studio for a hands-on stained glass class where you’ll experience the full process of creating a piece of art — all in about 2 hours.
What you’ll make
You’ll create your own stained glass heart (choose any colour(s) you want).
No experience needed — beginners welcome!
Class Dates
Saturday, Jan. 17
Saturday, Jan. 24
Class Times
10:00 AM
1:00 PM
Details
Max 4 people per class (small groups = lots of personal instruction!)
$35 per person (payable at time of booking)
Location
Turtle Glass Studio
13 Carrie Cres, St. Thomas
To book your spot
Email: [email protected]
✨ Spaces are limited — if this has been on your “I want to try that” list, this is the perfect chance to make something beautiful and take home your own stained glass keepsake.
Community Event Spotlight: The Pitch 2026 (St. Thomas)
If you love supporting local business (or you’re thinking of launching something yourself), this is a great one to have on your radar.
The Pitch 2026 is happening Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at St. Anne’s Centre in St. Thomas — an event where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and compete for funding and support to help bring those ideas to life. Hosted by Elgin Community Futures Development Corporation, it’s always a fun night with a ton of positive local energy.
If you’re building something, go watch — and if you’re already a business owner, it’s a great place to network and meet new people in the community.
✅ Book / tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-pitch-2026-tickets-1977293551239?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_eid=da769b836b&mc_cid=6c32da5092
🛠️ Local Business Spotlight: Rock It Contracting (St. Thomas + Area)
Looking to upgrade your home this year? Rock It Contracting helps homeowners transform outdated, awkward spaces into something more functional and enjoyable — whether that’s finishing a basement, updating a kitchen or bathroom, or even building an addition to make room for a growing family.
They offer a wide range of interior and exterior renovations, including:
Basement finishing, kitchens, bathrooms, additions
Drywall, flooring, trim/doors, painting
Decks, fences, pergolas, sheds, stonework, and more
✅ Licensed & insured
✅ Fair pricing + quality materials
✅ Strong attention to finishing details
Serving St. Thomas, London, and surrounding areas
Free, no-obligation estimates available
Contact Rock It Contracting:
📞 Call/Text: (226) 224-2115
📧 [email protected]
🌐 rockitcontracting.framer.website
🇨🇦 The CANADA List (Buy Canadian made easier)
If you’ve been trying to #BuyCanadian lately, you’ve probably noticed how tricky it can be.
Some products look Canadian… but aren’t.
Some labels are vague.
And some brands slap a maple leaf on packaging just to feel local.
I just subscribed to The CANADA List and it’s honestly a really cool tool — it tracks 6,000+ products (everything from groceries to cars to furniture) and gives each one a “CANADA Score” based on:
who owns it
who makes it
where materials are sourced
how many Canadian jobs it supports
If you want to support Canadian businesses and keep more dollars here at home, this is a great resource to bookmark.
Search it here: TheCanadaList.ca
(And if you notice a Canadian product/store missing from the list, you can submit it to help grow the database too!)
