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

More mortgage options. Less stress. Proud to support our local community while helping first-time buyers, self-employed Canadians, growing families, and homeowners take control of their finances — one mortgage plan at a time.

Helping everyone home,

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 👇

Event Roundup for this week

Creative Workshop at M&M’s Studio 🎨

Looking for a fun, low-pressure creative day out? M&M’s Studio is hosting a relaxed, hands-on Creative Workshop where you’ll design and build your own reversible gnome — no experience needed.

This guided workshop includes all materials, the freedom to choose your own colours and finishing touches, plus complimentary snacks and refreshments. It’s all about getting creative, unwinding, and heading home with a finished seasonal piece you’ll love.

🗓 Sunday, February 22, 2026
10:00 AM or 2:00 PM time slots
📍 Union Sports Club, 6068 Bell Street, Union
💲 $60 per person (payment required to secure your spot)

📞 Contact: 519-495-8335

Coffee & Craft Night at The Craft Hive ☕🧵

Hi friends!

Who wants to get together for coffee and crafting?

We’re hosting a relaxed, creative hangout at The Craft Hive — and you’re invited.

Free snacks
Coffee & tea provided (or bring your favourite mug!)
Bring your own craft — or just come hang out

No pressure. No experience needed. Just a cozy space to connect and create.

📍 The Craft Hive
120 Wellington Street
🗓 Tuesday, February 17
6:00 PM

And mark your calendars for the next one:
🗓 Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 PM

Come as you are. See you there!

🎨 March Break Fun at Turtle Glass Studio 🎨

Looking for something creative (and actually memorable) for the kids this March Break?

Turtle Glass Studio is hosting a super fun DIY decorating class where kids (ages 6+) get to create their very own stained glass hearts 💖

Each child can decorate their heart with:
Sparkly glass chips
🐚 Seashells
🌈 Colourful, creative add-ons

💲 Just $10 per heart — make one or make a few!

Classes are small and cozy (only 4–6 kids), so everyone gets lots of help, attention, and creative time.

And the fun doesn’t stop there…

After class, kids can:
🐟 Check out the KOI pond
🐢 Visit the turtles
🦜 Spot the birds around the studio

It’s creative, hands-on, and a really sweet way to spend part of March Break.

📩 Interested? email [email protected]

Local Businesses Spotlight

The Tipsy Cart is a mobile bartending service based in St. Thomas, serving celebrations across the surrounding area. Perfect for weddings, showers, birthdays, corporate events, and backyard parties.

They provide a fully equipped bar cart (with a bar trailer currently in the works), professional bartenders, a custom drink menu, and all non-alcoholic mixers and supplies. Clients simply provide the alcohol — The Tipsy Cart handles everything else, from setup to service to cleanup, so hosts can actually enjoy their event.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Text: 226-973-9353
📸 Instagram: @thetipsycartbar

🏡 New Here? Start Here Expo

Whether you’re brand new to St. Thomas & Elgin County
or you’ve lived here your whole life…

This event is for you.

Yes, it’s designed to help newcomers connect with trusted local service providers.

But it’s also for the person who’s been here 20 years and suddenly needs:
• A new plumber
• A real estate lawyer
• A financial planner
• A contractor
• A pet care provider
• Or just a better connection than Google

You might be surprised who you meet.

🗓 Thursday, March 26, 2026

📍 CASO Station, St. Thomas
5:30pm – 8:30pm EDT
🎟 Free to attend

You’ll find a curated group of local professionals across:

• Mortgage & Financing
• Real Estate & Real Estate Law
• Wills & Estates
• Financial Planning & Insurance
• Bookkeeping & Staffing
• Travel Services
• Education & Tutoring
• French Language Community Services
• Wellness & Personal Services
• Interior Design & Renovations
• Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
• Foundations & Waterproofing
• Garage Doors, Decks & Custom Cabinetry
• Pressure Washing & Junk Removal
• Pet Care
• Florist & Photography

One vendor per category. Intentionally curated. Community-focused.

This isn’t a sales expo.

It’s a connection expo.

If you’ve ever thought,
“I didn’t even know that business existed here…”

That’s exactly why we’re doing this.

Helping everyone feel at home — even if you’ve been here forever.

Tired of news that feels like noise?

Every day, 4.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news fix. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture — all in a brief 5-minute email. No spin. No slant. Just clarity.

Keep Reading