ESA permits are not optional
In Ontario, most electrical work beyond a like-for-like fixture swap requires a notification to the Electrical Safety Authority. Your contractor should pull the permit and give you the ESA certificate of inspection at the end. Keep it — insurers and buyers ask for it.
Panels, knob-and-tube and insurance
Plenty of century homes in St. Thomas still have 60- or 100-amp service, and some have remnants of knob-and-tube wiring. Insurers increasingly decline or surcharge those homes, so a panel upgrade is often as much an insurance decision as an electrical one.
If you are adding a heat pump, hot tub or EV charger, ask for a load calculation before committing. It is cheaper to discover you need a service upgrade at the quote stage.
Comparing quotes fairly
Electrical quotes vary mostly in scope, not rate: drywall repair, permit fees and fixture supply are the usual differences. Ask each contractor to list those separately.
Most St. Thomas homeowners get the best results by shortlisting two or three local businesses, comparing written quotes, and confirming licensing and insurance before any work starts.