A Municipality that is Beautiful and Growing

A Thriving Community in Southwestern Ontario

Middlesex County is gaining a reputation as an ideal place to live, work, and invest, and Thames Centre is a shining example of that. With its vibrant mix of urban and rural lifestyles, friendly residents, and high quality of life, this municipality is taking a strategic approach to growth, welcoming development opportunities that complement its charming small-town Ontario vibe.

As a neighbor to the larger city of London, the municipality also benefits from proximity to major transportation routes, making it an even more appealing choice for families and businesses.

Economic Development, Low Taxes, and Business Growth

With a prime location, and a progressive approach, Thames Centre offers an ideal environment for business growth. “We have four interchanges along Canada’s busiest highway, and we directly neighbour the London International Airport. We have industrial lands, both near the airport as well as along Highway 401, and Council is working towards creating additional capacity for job creation there,” Barrick relays. He notes that the municipality has over 1,000 acres of industrial land available for development and is working to attract new industries.

“We are around the City of London and its industrial areas, and we’re working in partnership with London Economic Development to generate interest and awareness about the opportunities that exist,” he continues. With the recent addition of the Volkswagen battery plant in the nearby city of St. Thomas, the municipality is also anticipating interest from supporting industries.

Recent successes include the establishment of Ideal Logistics, a pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution facility, and the expansion of ADS Piping, an international company. Pink Precast, manufacturers of prefabricated stairs, is another accomplished Thames Centre company, with a North American presence. “We recently struck an Economic Development Advisory Committee within the municipality to engage with the current business owners, and also to try and see how much we can expand on our economic development base,” conveys Mayor McMillan. “The tax burden is on residential properties right now, and it would be nice to expand that, so that some of that burden comes off.”

Notably, Thames Centre has the lowest property taxes in the region, a draw for residents and businesses. Additionally, the newly established Economic Development Advisory Committee has recommended a Community Improvement Plan featuring eight financial incentive programs, including a tax increment grant.

A “Support Local” initiative has also been introduced to support the smaller enterprises who play a part in the welcoming charm of the community. The mayor elaborates, “It is tied in with small business week, where councillors, the CAO, and our communications director all get out there and kind of shake hands with our business owners. We keep in touch, see how they’re feeling about their business in Thames Centre, and how, in certain cases, the municipality can better support them. That’s been a very successful part of our business outreach.”

Smaller businesses are spread across the villages of Thorndale with its defined main street area, and Dorchester, which has a more dispersed commercial area. “We don’t have a dedicated Main Street in the village of Dorchester,” she acknowledges. “There are businesses located on both sides of the river, which encompass retail locations, banks, services, and a lumber yard. On the south side of the road, we have two grocery stores, Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, and a variety of other businesses.”

Infrastructure for the Future

Thames Centre is investing in infrastructure to ensure the municipality can continue to offer a high quality of life for existing and future residents. Ongoing collaboration with the province and Middlesex County has led to upgrades like the rebuilt Highway 401 overpass at Dorchester Road, as well as planned bridge repairs in Thorndale.

“We’re two-tier here. We work with the county on building out local roads, sidewalks, water, wastewater infrastructure, and sanitary systems, as well as drainage. So that’s where the focus of this council has been when it’s determining its funding allocations,” says Barrick.

Broadband is another key objective, and in partnership with the province, Thames Centre will see expanded access for all areas of the community. “That’s great from a connectivity perspective. Every street, every rural road, gravel road in the municipality, will have access to fiber,” he maintains.

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 single-family homes and condominiums, the Rosewood development in Thorndale led by Sifton Developments, and a planned 50-acre residential and commercial expansion south of Dorchester.

Although development is welcomed, the municipality remains committed to responsible and well-planned growth. “Council has been quite clear on maintaining our rural flavour and small town feel in the context of development pressures, especially with the pressures that come with being a neighbour to a large city,” expands Barrick. “They are weighing development applications very carefully to make sure it’s a fit with the existing community, while making sure that those proper infrastructure investments are made as well.”

Looking Ahead

As Thames Centre embraces a future that prioritizes growth while safeguarding its rural identity, Barrick says his focus remains on the strategic plan and following what has been laid out. “Internally we’re aligned, certainly Council and staff, on a one team approach that has been working quite well. We’ve been able to deliver messages effectively, and this has resulted in significant grant funding from the province and other areas to help alleviate tax pressures and continue to deliver on strategic priorities and capital projects,” he outlines.

Mayor McMillan adds “We are in the final two years of our mandate, and so we’re pressing on with some of the things that we would like to try and accomplish before the end of our term. I’m very satisfied with the progress that has been going on so far. We’ve made some significant changes, both administratively and how we work as a council, and we are really working hard towards our goals.”

Through continued investment in infrastructure, economic development, and community engagement, Thames Centre is securing a high quality of life for its residents while remaining competitive in attracting new businesses and investment opportunities. With low taxes and ample land near active transportation routes, Thames Centre is holding strong as a destination of choice in Southwestern Ontario.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Thames Centre, ON
What: A large rural municipality with a population of 15,000
Where: Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
Website: www.thamescentre.on.ca