Steve Peters Departs City Council, Leaving a Lasting Impact on St. Thomas
The City of St. Thomas extends its heartfelt gratitude to Councillor
Steve Peters, who is stepping down from City Council after decades of
remarkable and dedicated service to the community.
Born and raised in St. Thomas, Peters has spent much of his life contributing to the growth, preservation, and vitality of the city he proudly calls home. Educated at Arthur Voaden Secondary School and the University of Western Ontario, where he earned a degree in history, Peters’ lifelong passion for local heritage and architectural conservation has helped shape how St. Thomas honours its past while building a brighter future.
Peters was first elected as an Alderman in 1988, serving for three years. In 1991, he made history when he was elected Mayor of St. Thomas, becoming the youngest mayor in Canada at the time. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1997, leading the City through a period of steady growth and renewed community pride.
In 1999, Peters transitioned to provincial politics when he was elected Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Elgin–Middlesex–London. During his tenure, he served as Minister of Agriculture and Food, Minister of Labour, and later as Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 2007 to 2011.
Following his provincial service, Peters continued to champion Ontario’s agricultural sector as Executive Director of Food and Beverage Ontario and, more recently, as Chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Board.
Returning to municipal politics in 2018, Peters once again earned the trust of St. Thomas residents, receiving the highest number of votes for a councillor. He was re-elected in 2022 and has since served on several key committees and boards, including the Board of Management for the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System and St. Thomas Area Secondary Water Supply System, the Community and Aquatic Centre Technical Committee, and most notably, the Municipal Heritage Committee.
“Steve Peters has been a colleague for more than 25 years, but more importantly, a friend,” said Mayor Joe Preston. “We have shared countless ideas, exchanged opinions, and worked side by side to strengthen our city - and that friendship will continue. His dedication to our history, our heritage, and our people has left a permanent mark on St. Thomas, and I am grateful to have had the privilege of working alongside him for so long.”
As Peters steps back from his official role, the City of St. Thomas thanks him for his years of dedication and wishes him continued success in his future pursuits. His legacy of public service will continue to inspire future generations of community leaders.
At its next meeting, City Council will formally declare the seat vacant and decide how to fill it - either through a by-election or by appointing a replacement to serve the remainder of the term. Details about the process and timelines will be shared with the public at the next meeting of Council.
View the media release.