Southwestern Public Health

Southwestern Public Health Proudly serving St. Thomas, Elgin County, and Oxford County with public health programs, services, and resources to support healthy, vibrant communities. c.

Commenting Guidelines

• Stay on topic. We encourage focused, thoughtful comments and discussion which respond or relate to a topic, new initiative or upcoming event. Comments which are not related to our content or attempt to derail the conversation may be removed.

• Avoid posting personal or confidential information. Our social media accounts are publicly accessible and posts are visible to the

public. Therefore, please don’t post any personal information about you or anyone else!

• Be respectful. If you choose to post content, please keep in mind that you must not:

1. Mislead us or anyone else as to your identity or the origin of the posted content, or falsely claim to represent a person, organization or entity

2. Post or transmit any message, content or link to content that:

a. is abusive, hateful, homophobic, discriminatory, malicious, aggressive, threatening, violent, sexist, harassing, inflammatory, indecent, tortious, defamatory, knowingly false, misleading, deceptive, vulgar, obscene, offensive, scandalous, sexually explicit, profane;

b. incites hatred, racism, bigotry, discrimination or physical harm of any kind against any individual or class of individuals based on a protected ground in the Ontario Human Rights Code, including: ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) or sexual orientation. is unsolicited or unauthorized, such as unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional material, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letter," "pyramid scheme," or any other form of solicitation (commercial or otherwise);

d. is in breach of any confidence;

e. includes personal data or information about others; or

f. can result in us being liable to anyone else under any intellectual property rights law. We may not respond to posts that violate any of these rules and we may notify the social media service provider of your violation. While we may moderate posts, we are not required to, nor should you expect that we will, take action in response to any content posted on our page or feed. The views expressed by others represent their own views and are not endorsed or approved by us, nor do we endorse or approve any events or other activities posted by a user. Southwestern Public Health supports an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and respectful work environment, free of discrimination and harassment. Our social media channels are an extension of our workplace. SWPH employees moderate our social media sites and their contents. Any conduct that is discriminatory or harassing will be removed and the user may be banned from future use of our channels. We reserve the right not to keep any content that you post on our page or feed, and to remove, edit or move, at any time, any content posted which does not comply with our Commenting Guidelines.

09/03/2026

🤒 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸.

You can be bitten by a tick and not even know it. Symptoms of tick-borne diseases don’t always show up right away—they can take 3 to 30 days to appear.

Illnesses like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus can develop days or even weeks after a bite from an infected tick.

⚠️ 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀: fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea or a rash.

If you’re feeling unwell and have spent time in places where ticks live—like wooded or grassy areas—don’t ignore it. Contact your local public health unit or speak to your health care provider.

✅ 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸? 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: ontario.ca/ticks

09/03/2026

Students - Back-to-school stress is real, and we want you to know you’re not alone in feeling it. Focus on small steps: Set tiny goals. Build up your routine. Pack what helps you. You’ve got this! 🫶
Learn more about mental health: www.swpublichealth.ca/mental-health

Low-cost rabies vaccination clinics are coming up on September 26!Keep your dogs and cats protected with a low-cost rabi...
09/02/2026

Low-cost rabies vaccination clinics are coming up on September 26!
Keep your dogs and cats protected with a low-cost rabies vaccination for just $30 per animal. Cash only.
Where:
-Tillsonburg: Edwards Veterinary Service , 9am-11am
Address: 527 Broadway St, Tillsonburg, ON, N4G 3S8
-Woodstock/Tavistock: Hickson Veterinary Services , 8am-11am
Address: 596236 Oxford 59, Woodstock, ON, N4S 7W1
-Norwich: Norwich Veterinary Services , 9am-12pm
Address: 51 Stover St S, Norwich, ON, N0J 1P0

Dogs and cats are welcome. Drop-in only. No appointment required.

Rabies prevention is an important part of keeping our communities and our furry friends safe. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26!

Learn more about rabies:

What to do if you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, including how to report a possible rabies exposure to Southwestern Public Health.

🚨Environment Canada is forecasting a heat event starting this afternoon and continuing into September 2nd. Daytime highs...
09/01/2026

🚨Environment Canada is forecasting a heat event starting this afternoon and continuing into September 2nd. Daytime highs will be as high as 32 degrees Celsius, with humidex values near 40. Overnight low temperatures are expected to be near 23 degrees Celsius.

During a heat warning, residents should take precautions to protect themselves and the most vulnerable from heat related illness. Those most vulnerable to the effects of the heat include older adults, infants and young children, outdoor workers, and homeless persons who do not have shelter, proper clothing or food.

✅Anyone who experiences physical distress because of extreme temperatures should seek medical attention immediately, either by calling 911 or by going to the nearest emergency department.

✅Residents in Elgin County, Oxford County, and the City of St. Thomas are recommended to monitor the weather forecast to evaluate the risk of exposure to heat as conditions could change.

✅Visit Environment Canada's website for the most up-to-date information.

? 👉Southwestern Public Health issues heat warnings when Environment Canada forecasts temperatures that are expected to be at least 31°C and overnight temperatures are at or above 20°C for two days or the Humidex is forecasted to be at least 40°C for two days.

A strong start begins with support.If you’re 24 or younger and pregnant with your first baby, you may be eligible for fr...
09/01/2026

A strong start begins with support.

If you’re 24 or younger and pregnant with your first baby, you may be eligible for free, ongoing visits from a public health nurse.

Find out more: www.swpublichealth.ca/nfp

Southwestern Public Health is seeking help to identify a dog involved in a scratch incident in Tavistock.The incident oc...
08/31/2026

Southwestern Public Health is seeking help to identify a dog involved in a scratch incident in Tavistock.

The incident occurred on August 29, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Tavistock Optimist Park, near the gazebo area.

The dog was described as a German Shepherd type breed and dark in colour. The animal's owner was described as a young female with dark hair, standing approximately 5 foot 5 inches in height and wearing blue capri pants.

Public Health wants to confirm the vaccination status of the dog to allow the victim and their health care provider to determine next steps related to rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

If you are the owner of the dog or have information about the incident, please contact Southwestern Public Health at 1-800-922-0096 and ask to speak with a Public Health Inspector.

Overdose affects individuals, families, and communities. On International Overdose Awareness Day, we recognize the impor...
08/31/2026

Overdose affects individuals, families, and communities. On International Overdose Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of prevention, harm reduction, and connecting people to the care and support they need. 💜

Over the past several weeks, we've had the privilege of introducing you to The People of SWPH- the dedicated teams and i...
08/27/2026

Over the past several weeks, we've had the privilege of introducing you to The People of SWPH- the dedicated teams and individuals who help protect, promote, and support the health of our communities every day.

From providing direct client care and supporting families to analyzing data, preparing for emergencies, preventing illness, and responding to emerging public health needs, each team plays an important role in the work of Southwestern Public Health.

While the services we provide may look different from team to team, what connects them all is a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this campaign. Together, you are the people behind public health 💙

Proud to collaborate with our community partners, offering workshops and social gatherings for seniors. See you there 💙
08/26/2026

Proud to collaborate with our community partners, offering workshops and social gatherings for seniors. See you there 💙

Did you know that social connection is an important part of healthy aging? Join us, in collaboration with Southwestern Public Health, Oxford County Library, Woodstock Public Library for Pull Up a Chair: Building Connection Close to Home, three identical workshops followed by a social gathering two weeks later. Come as you are. No Pressure. Just connecting, conversation, and community at your own pace.
Details👇
No registration required.
Workshops:
September 10, 3:00 pm at Tillsonburg Branch - OCL
September 11, 10:30 am at Ingersoll Branch - OCL
September 11, 2:30 pm at Woodstock Public Library
Social Gathering (food provided):
September 22, 11:45 am - 1:15 pm at South Gate Centre
September 23, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Tillsonburg Seniors Centre
September 23, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm at the Ingersoll Seniors Centre

Our team had a wonderful time connecting with young children and families at the West Lorne Children’s Festival in Mille...
08/26/2026

Our team had a wonderful time connecting with young children and families at the West Lorne Children’s Festival in Miller Park!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped make the event such a great morning for families in West Elgin! EarlyON St. Thomas - Elgin West Elgin Community Health Centre

Looking for oral health programs and services for eligible children under 18 or seniors 65 and older? Visit our website or call us at 1-800-922-0096.

Address

1230 Talbot Street
Saint Thomas, ON
N5P1G9

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18009220096

Alerts

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