London, Ontario

London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. It is where the Thames River and North Thames River meet. It is about 200 kilometres from both Toronto and Detroit, and around 230 kilometres from Buffalo, New York.

The city was named after the famous English city in 1793 by John Graves Simcoe. The first European settlers arrived between 1801 and 1804. The village was founded in 1826 and became a city in 1855. Since then, London has grown into the largest city in southwestern Ontario.

Today, London is an important place for education and jobs. It is home to the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College, along with three big hospitals. The city has many festivals and attractions. Its main work comes from education, medical research, manufacturing, finance, and technology. London is a key spot where major highways meet, linking it to Toronto, Windsor, and Sarnia. It also has airports, train stations, and bus services.

History

A series of archaeological sites throughout southwestern Ontario, named for the Parkhill Complex excavated near Parkhill, show that Paleo-Indians lived in the area about 11,000 years ago. Before Europeans arrived, the London area was home to Attawandaron, Odawa, and Ojibwe villages. The Lawson Site in northwest London is an excavation of an old Neutral Iroquoian village that once had about 2,000 people. These groups left after conflicts with the Iroquois around 1654 during the Beaver Wars.

The current site of London was chosen in 1793 by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe to be the future capital of Upper Canada. It became an important administrative center for the area west of York (now Toronto). In 1814, the Battle of Longwoods happened nearby during the War of 1812.

London grew over time. It became a town in 1840 and a city in 1855 when its population reached 10,000. Fires and floods caused damage in the late 1800s, but the city kept growing. New bridges, railways, and industries helped London develop. By the early 1900s, London had many factories, schools, and important buildings.

In 1961, London expanded by joining many nearby areas, which more than doubled its size. Since then, the city has grown with new neighborhoods and developments. Today, London is one of the largest cities in Ontario.

John Carling, a member of Parliament for London, spoke about three key events that helped the city grow in 1901: the court and administration being located there in 1826, the arrival of soldiers in 1838, and the railway coming to London in 1853.

In 1846, London had about 3,500 people. There were brick buildings like a jail, a courthouse, and large barracks. The city had a fire company, a theatre, a big Gothic church, nine other churches, and two market buildings. The buildings destroyed in the 1845 fire were mostly rebuilt by 1846. People traveled by road using stagecoaches that ran every day. A weekly newspaper was published, and the post office received mail daily. Two villages named Petersville and Kensington were where downtown London is now. Petersville was founded by Samuel Peters in 1853. Kensington started around 1878. These villages joined together on March 4, 1881, to form London West.

On January 1, 1855, London became a city with more than 10,000 people. In the 1860s, a sulphur spring was found at the forks of the Thames River while people were looking for oil. The springs were popular for wealthy visitors until a textile factory was built there.

Records from 1869 show London had about 18,000 people. There were three newspapers, churches of all major groups, and offices for major banks. Industries included tanneries, oil refineries, foundries, four flour mills, the Labatt Brewing Company, and the Carling brewery, along with other companies like EMCO Wheaton. Both the Great Western and Grand Trunk railways had stops in London. Several insurance companies also had offices there.

The Crystal Palace Barracks, a special octagonal brick building with eight doors and forty-eight windows, was built in 1861. It was used for events like the Provincial Agricultural Fair of Canada West that year. It was visited by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; Governor-General John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar; and Prime Minister John A. Macdonald.

Before the Royal Military College of Canada was founded in 1876, there were ideas for military colleges in Canada. From 1865, British soldiers gave three-month military courses to adult men at the School of Military Instruction in London. This school, started in 1865, helped militia officers and candidates learn military duties, drills, and leadership. The school was closed after Canada became its own country in 1867.

In 1875, London's first iron bridge, the Blackfriars Street Bridge, was built. It replaced old wooden bridges that often failed during floods. This bridge, which still exists, was closed to cars for a time because of problems but reopened to traffic on December 1, 2018. The Blackfriars Bridge connected London with Petersville, named after Squire Peters of Grosvenor Lodge. That area joined with Kensington in 1874 and became London West in 1880. It stayed separate until 1897 when it joined London after many floods. This part of London still has many old homes from the 1800s.

London's eastern area, London East, has always been an industrial center. It began in 1854 as Lilley's Corners by Charles Lilley. Oil was found in the Petrolia area, and Lilley's Corners was chosen for refining because it was close to the railroad. Companies like the Ontario Car Works, the Great Western Gasworks, and the London Street Railroad were based there. In 1872, Lilley's Corners became a village. It joined London in 1885. London South, including Wortley Village, was never officially a separate town but was added to London in 1890. Broughdale, on the north end, was named after Reverend Charles C. Brough and joined London in 1961 after the university was built there.

Ivor F. Goodson and Ian R. Dowbiggin studied the debates about vocational education in London from 1900 to 1930. The London Technical and Commercial High School faced opposition from the city's leaders who thought it took money away from the main high school, London Collegiate Institute.

The Banting House, a National Historic Site of Canada, is where Frederick Banting had the ideas that led to the discovery of insulin. He lived and worked in London for ten months from July 1920 to May 1921. London is also home to the Flame of Hope, which will stay lit until a cure for diabetes is found.

London kept its role as a military center into the 1900s during both World Wars, managing the Western Ontario area. In 1905, the London Armoury was built and housed the First Hussars until 1975. A new hotel (Delta London Armouries, 1988) was built on the site, keeping parts of the old building. In the 1950s, two reserve battalions joined to become London and Oxford Rifles (3rd Battalion), The Royal Canadian Regiment. This group is still active today as 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The Regimental Headquarters of The Royal Canadian Regiment is in London at Wolseley Barracks on Oxford Street. The barracks are also home to the First Hussars militia regiment.

London annexed many nearby areas in 1961, including Byron and Masonville, adding 60,000 people and more than doubling its size. After this, London grew quickly with new neighborhoods like Westmount, Oakridge, Whitehills, Pond Mills, White Oaks, and Stoneybrook.

On January 1, 1993, London joined almost all of the Westminster township, a large rural area south of the city, including the police village of Lambeth. With this addition, London almost doubled in size again and added many more people. Today, London reaches south to the border with Elgin County, north and east to Fanshawe Lake, north and west to the township of Middlesex Centre (with Arva to the north and Komoka to the west), and east to Nilestown and Dorchester.

The 1993 annexation made London one of Ontario's largest cities. Now, there is lots of new building in the southwest and northwest parts of the city. Some people worry about too much building, losing green spaces and farms, and traffic and pollution problems. The City of London is now the eleventh-largest urban area in Canada, eleventh-largest census metropolitan area in Canada, and the sixth-largest city in Ontario.

Two major floods happened in London. The first was on July 12, 1883, and killed 17 people. The second was on April 26, 1937, which destroyed over a thousand homes and caused more than $50 million in damage, mainly in West London.

After many floods, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority built Fanshawe Dam on the North Thames River in 1953 to help control the rivers. Money for this came from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Other natural disasters include a 1984 tornado that damaged streets in the White Oaks area of South London.

On December 11, 2020, a building under construction near Wonderland Road in southwest London fell down, killing two people and hurting at least four others. In January 2024, the companies from Oxford County that built it were fined $400,000 because they did not give proper instructions about measuring concrete correctly.

Geography

The area around London, Ontario was shaped long ago when glaciers moved away. This created marshlands, like the Sifton Bog, and some of the best farmland in Ontario.

The city is centered around the Thames River, where its North and South branches meet at a place called "The Forks". The North Thames flows through Fanshawe Lake, which was made by a dam to prevent flooding.

London has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The city's weather changes a lot through the year, with the nearby Great Lakes influencing the climate. Summer temperatures can get quite warm, and winters often bring plenty of snow. Some of this snow comes from winds over Lake Huron. The city has many parks, such as Victoria Park, where lots of community events happen. Other parks include Harris Park, Gibbons Park, and Fanshawe Conservation Area.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, London had 422,324 people living in 174,657 homes. This was a 10% increase from the 383,822 people who lived there in 2016. London covers 420.5 square kilometres, and in 2021, the number of people living there was 1,004.3 per square kilometre.

The area around London, called the census metropolitan area, had 543,551 people living in 222,239 homes in 2021. This was also a 10% increase from 2016. The area around London is 2,661.48 square kilometres, and in 2021, the number of people living there was 204.2 per square kilometre.

Ethnicity

The most common ethnic backgrounds in London, based on the 2021 census, include English (21.9%), Scottish (17.4%), Irish (16.8%), Canadian (12.1%), and German (9.3%). Other groups include French (6.6%), Dutch (5.0%), Italian (4.5%), and British Isles (4.3%). Indigenous people made up 2.6% of the population, mostly First Nations (1.9%). Other groups include European (68.7%), South Asian (6.5%), Arab (5.3%), Black (4.2%), Latin American (3.0%), Chinese (2.9%), Southeast Asian (1.4%), Filipino (1.4%), West Asian (1.3%), and Korean (1.0%).

Language

In 2021, most people in London, about 71.1%, spoke English as their first language. Other languages spoken included Arabic (3.7%), Spanish (2.7%), Mandarin (1.6%), Portuguese (1.3%), and French (1.1%). Almost all people, 98%, could speak English, and 7.2% could speak French.

Religion

In 2021, about half of the people in London, 48.8%, said they were Christian. The largest group among Christians were Catholics (21.5%), followed by United Church (4.7%) and Anglican (4.4%). Over a third, 37.2%, said they did not follow any religion. Other religions included Muslim (8.4%), Hindu (2.1%), Sikh (1.0%), Buddhist (0.9%), and Jewish (0.5%).

Economy

See also: Category:Companies based in London, Ontario

London has a strong economy in areas like medical research, financial services, manufacturing, and information technology.

Medicine

Much of the work in life sciences and biotechnology happens at the University of Western Ontario, especially at the Robarts Research Institute. Big companies such as Alimentiv and the London Health Sciences Centre, the city's largest employer, are also here.

Technology

After economic difficulties in 2009, London became a technology center, especially in the Digital Creative sector. By 2016, over 300 technology companies were in London. Many of these companies moved into old factories and turned them into modern offices. London is home to companies like StarTech.com, Diply, and video game makers such as Digital Extremes and Big Blue Bubble. There are also companies like Voices.com that help voice actors find work.

Petroleum

One of Canada's big oil companies, Imperial Oil, started in London in 1880 but moved its offices to Petrolia in 1883. Another company, Supertest Petroleum, began in London in 1925 before being bought by BP Canada in 1971.

Finance

London has a history of financial companies. The Libro Financial Group started in 1951 and is now one of Ontario's largest credit unions. VersaBank is also based in London. In the late 1800s, London became a center for trust and loan companies. London Life, founded in 1874, was a famous company. It was later bought by the Power Corporation of Canada and merged into Canada Life in 2020.

Brewing

Two big Canadian breweries started in London. The Carling Brewery was founded by Thomas Carling in 1840, and the Labatt Brewing Company was started by John Kinder Labatt in 1847.

Industrials

The Canadian office of 3M is in London. Many people from London work at factories just outside the city, like the General Motors plant CAMI and a Toyota plant in Woodstock. London's main shopping area, Wellington Square, opened in 1960. The candy company O-Pee-Chee also started in London in 1911.

London has many big Real Estate Development companies that work across Southwestern Ontario. In 2009, a new cargo terminal was announced for the London International Airport.

Culture

See also: Media in London, Ontario

Film production

In 2021, London started a group called FilmLondon to bring more movies and TV shows to the area. Some well-known shows and films made here include The Amazing Race Canada 8 and The Changeling. Famous actors such as Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, and Victor Garber were born in London.

Festivals

London has many fun events, such as SunFest, the London Fringe Theatre Festival, the Forest City Film Festival, and the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA). There is also the Home County Folk Festival, Rock the Park, Western Fair, and Pride London. The Rib Fest in London is one of the biggest barbecue festivals in North America. SunFest is a big world music celebration and one of the top summer events in North America.

Music

London has a rich history with music. Famous musicians from London include Big-Band leader Guy Lombardo, jazz musician Rob McConnell, and country singer Tommy Hunter. The city has also been home to many other musicians and bands, such as heavy metal group Kittie and hip-hop artist Shad Kabango.

American country star Johnny Cash once proposed to his wife June Carter Cash during a concert in London. The city also has a long-standing symphony orchestra, Orchestra London, and many other music groups. In 2021, London was named Canada’s first City of Music by UNESCO.

Art

London has many art galleries and museums. Museum London is the city's main art gallery. There is also the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, which shows what life was like for ancient people in the area. The London Regional Children's Museum offers fun, hands-on learning for kids.

The city also has many smaller galleries and art spaces. Every June, London holds an event called Nuit Blanche to celebrate art.

Theatre

London has several theatres, including the Grand Theatre, which offers professional shows and gives high school students a chance to work with experienced directors and actors. The Palace Theatre is another popular spot for live performances.

Literature

London is an important place for books, especially stories set in southern Ontario. Famous writers such as James Reaney and Emma Donoghue live or have lived in London. The city also hosts WordFest, an annual event celebrating books and writing.

Livability

London is a comfortable place to live. Though house prices have gone up, the city still costs less to live in than nearby places like Toronto. London has many parks, walking paths, and places to shop and get health care. It also has important schools, such as the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. The city’s big park, Springbank Park, has lots of trails and a popular area called Storybook Gardens for families.

Sports

London has many sports teams. The London Knights play hockey in the Ontario Hockey League at the Canada Life Place. They have won several big championships. In the summer, you can watch the London Majors play baseball at Labatt Park. FC London is the city's top soccer team and plays at the German Canadian Club of London Field. There are also teams for swimming, volleyball, cricket, rugby, gymnastics, and rowing.

The London Lightning is London's basketball team, also based at Canada Life Place. They have won many championships too. London has hosted big events like the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1974 Macdonald Brier. The University of Western Ontario's teams are called the Mustangs, and Fanshawe College's teams are the Falcons.

Current franchises

Government and law

See also: London City Council and List of mayors of London, Ontario

London's municipal government has fourteen councillors, one for each of London's fourteen wards, plus a mayor. Josh Morgan became mayor after the 2022 municipal election. Before 2010, London had a Board of Control with four controllers and the mayor, all elected by the whole city.

London separated from Middlesex County in 1855, except for the Middlesex County Courthouse, which is run by the province.

In May 2017, London became the first city in Canada to use a ranked choice ballot for elections starting in 2018.

In 2001, London created one of North America's first accessibility rules, including Universal Design. Over 50 cities in Canada and the United States have since adopted similar rules.

City councillors

In addition to Mayor Josh Morgan, the following councillors were elected in the 2022 municipal election for the 2022–2026 term:

Provincial ridings

London includes four areas for provincial voting. In the provincial government, London is represented by New Democrats and Progressive Conservative.

Federal ridings

The London area includes five areas for federal voting. In the federal government, London is represented by Conservatives and Liberals.

Law enforcement and crime

Law enforcement

Main article: London Police Service

The London Police Service (LPS) is led by Chief of Police Thai Truong.

Crime

Main article: Organized crime in London, Ontario

The city has seen several well-known events over the years.

Civic initiatives

The City of London has projects to bring new energy to the East London Business District. These include creating special building rules and programs to restore building fronts.

London has many old buildings showing different architectural styles.

People in London care about the city's trees and have protested when trees are removed. The City Council and tourism groups have started projects to plant new trees.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many office spaces in London's downtown were empty. To help solve the housing shortage, the city council started a program to change offices into homes.

Transportation

See also: List of roads in London, Ontario

Road transportation

London is where Highway 401 meets, linking the city to Toronto and Windsor. Highway 402 goes to Sarnia. Highway 403 branches off from Highway 401 near Woodstock and leads to Brantford, Hamilton, and the Niagara Peninsula. Smaller two-lane roads also connect London to places in Western Ontario, like Goderich, Port Stanley, and Owen Sound. Part of Highbury Avenue has special rules and higher speed limits to link London’s east end to Highway 401.

Wellington Road is the busiest road in London. London does not have any freeways running straight through the city. Instead, the Veterans Memorial Parkway serves the east end. Some people think not having a freeway might slow down growth, while others worry it could harm the environment. Improvements have been made to the Parkway, and there are plans to make it better.

Public transit

Main articles: Streetcars in London, Ontario and Rapid Transit (London, Ontario)

In the past, London had many streetcar routes. Today, public transit is managed by the London Transit Commission, which runs 44 bus routes. The commission is working on a five-year plan to improve service. London is building a bus rapid transit network, with the first part starting in spring 2021 and continuing until 2030. This project received C$170 million from the Ontario government in January 2018.

Cycling network

London has 330 kilometres of paths for cyclists, with 91 kilometres added since 2005. In June 2016, the city added special bike parking spots and repair stations. In September 2016, the city approved a plan to add more cycling paths over the next 15 years.

Intercity transport

London is along major railway lines between Toronto and Chicago, and between Toronto and Detroit. Via Rail offers passenger service through London station, connecting to the United States. In October 2021, GO Transit started a two-year trial of commuter rail service between London and Toronto, which ended in October 2023.

London is also a popular spot for bus travelers. Although Greyhound Canada no longer operates, other companies like Megabus and FlixBus now serve the area.

London International Airport (YXU) is one of Canada’s busiest airports. It offers flights to many places, including Toronto, Orlando, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Cancún, Vancouver, and more.

Plans

There are plans to add more cycling paths where roads are being widened. There might also be an expressway or freeway built along the eastern and western ends of the city, connecting different highways. The city is also looking at ways to improve the Veterans Memorial Parkway, so it could become a freeway for most of its length.

Education

See also: List of schools in London, Ontario

London has public elementary and secondary schools run by four school boards. These include the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board. There are also two French-language school boards.

London is home to two places for students after high school: the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.

Fanshawe College has many students and offers courses for adults.

The Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology helps students learn about audio recording.

Westervelt College is a private school that offers programs to help students start careers.