The City of St. Thomas is inviting residents and visitors to take part in a unique, community-powered project that captures the beauty and change of our natural spaces over time.
Chronolog installations are now live at Turtle Pond in Lake Margaret and the Lily Ponds at Waterworks Park. These simple but innovative stations allow trail users to contribute to an ongoing visual record of each location — helping document seasonal changes, wildlife activity, and the evolving landscape throughout the year.
Each Chronolog consists of a mounted post designed to hold a smartphone in the exact same position every time a photo is taken. Visitors are encouraged to place their phone on the mount, take a photo, and send it to the email address listed on the sign. Once submitted, images are uploaded to an online platform where they are compiled into a public timelapse.
Over time, these contributions create a powerful visual story — showcasing everything from spring blooms and fall colours to migratory birds, weather events, and daily changes in light and scenery.
This initiative is part of a broader citizen science effort, where community members play an active role in collecting and sharing environmental data. By participating, residents help build a lasting record of St. Thomas’ natural spaces while deepening their own connection to the environment.
The City encourages everyone visiting these areas to take part and help grow the project with each visit.
View the live timelapses online:
Turtle Pond (Lake Margaret)
Lily Ponds (Waterworks Park)
For more information about Chronolog, visit www.chronolog.io