The City of St. Thomas, not unlike other municipalities in the province, is experiencing a period of significant growth. This growth is evident in the development of new residential areas, the development of commercial properties and the heightened interest in the development of industrial lands.

At this juncture in time the City wants to ensure that it is positioned to meet its demand for residential lands for twenty years and beyond. In parallel and much related processes, the City needs to examine its fire service and in particular the location of its existing fire stations to ensure that they are positioned to be in the most effective locations to respond to emergencies while at the same time ensuring that the department is operating as cost effectively  as possible. Additionally, with a growing community, the City wishes to embark upon the development of a new Park and Recreation Master Plan which will aim to position the assets and programs of the Parks and Recreation Department to serve the community into the future.