TOURISM AND LIFESTYLE INITIATIVES Thames Centre is a hotspot for sports tourism, and its top-tier facilities draw significant economic benefits to the community. “Slo-Pitch City brings in a tremendous volume of individuals for slo-pitch softball, and our arenas for hockey tournaments,” expands CAO David Barrick. “Royal Field, which is an artificial turf, draws in folks from all over Ontario, Quebec and neighboring states.” In collaboration with Great Lake Canadians, an organization dedicated to baseball development, Royal Field’s artificial turf is a prime choice for various events, including player tryouts and training sessions. “It’s used by outside groups, but it is also used by the municipality as well,” adds Mayor Sharron McMillan. “Adjoining that are several soccer fields, because that’s growing exponentially out here.” Along with these, the recently expanded Dorchester arena, known as the FlightExec Centre, has hosted major events such as the Ontario Tankard, Southern Ontario’s curling championships, in 2015 and 2024. Beyond sports, Thames Centre is known for its vibrant festivals, including fall fairs, which attract visitors from near and far. The community is also proud to work with regional partners to bring unique events such as a Renaissance Festival, a Pet Expo, and others. “We get most of our support from Middlesex County Economic Development, who also helps to invest in tourism,” highlights Barrick. “There’s a large population base in London to draw visitors from. Geographically, with larger urban centers like the GTHA (Greater Toronto Hamilton Area), and Detroit, Niagara and Buffalo, the area is well positioned to receive quite a lot of visitors and through traffic along the 401.” Recreation options are plentiful in Thames Centre, and the municipality has a plan to further enhance these offerings. With abundant trails and conservation areas, the focus is on connectivity and better utilization of these assets. Barrick details,“The Community Services Master Plan was quite clear that the municipality of Thames Center punches well above its weight on recreational facilities and amenities already, so there’s not really much more work to do in investing in recreational facilities. However, what was clear is the need to pay more attention to those open spaces, parks, and trails, which we’re now doing.” ADDRESSING HOUSING DEMAND To meet the needs of anticipated population growth, Thames Centre is expanding its residential options. Developments currently in progress include a major housing project in Dorchester featuring 105 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 THAMES CENTRE, ON
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