London, Ontario

London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor with a population of 352,395, and a metropolitan area population of 457,720 in the 2006 Canadian census. The metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city was named after London, England. London is the seat of Middlesex County, at the forks of the non-navigable Thames River, approximately halfway between Toronto, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The City of London is a separated municipality, politically separate from Middlesex County, though it remains the official county seat.

London was first permanently settled by Europeans between 1801 and 1804 by Peter Hagerman[ and became a village in 1826. Since then, London has grown into the largest Southwestern Ontario municipality, annexing many of the smaller communities that surrounded it. The city has developed a strong focus towards education, health care, tourism, and manufacturing.

London is home to Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario, which contributes to the city's reputation for research and cultural activity. The city hosts a number of musical and artistic exhibits. London's festivals contribute to its tourism industry, but its economic activity is centred on military vehicle production, medical research, insurance, and information technology. London's university and hospitals are among its top ten employers. London lies at the junction of Highway 401 and 402, connecting it to Toronto, Detroit, and Sarnia, but lacks an inte

History

Founding

John Graves Simcoe

Prior to European contact in the 18th century, the present site of London was occupied by several Neutral and Odawa/Ojibwa villages. One Anishinaabe community site was described as located near the forks of Askunessippi (Anishinaabe language: Eshkani-ziibi, "Antler River"; now called the Thames River) in circa 1690 and was referred to as Pahkatequayang[ ("Baketigweyaang":"At the River Fork" (lit: at where the by-stream is)). Archaeological investigations in the region indicate that aboriginal people have resided in the area for at least the past 10,000 years.

The current location of London was selected as the site of the future capital of Upper Canada in 1793 by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe. Simcoe intended to name the settlement Georgina, in honour of King George III, and renamed the river. However, the choice of a capital site in the midst of extensive hardwood forests was rejected by Guy Carleton (Governor Dorchester). In 1814, there was a skirmish during the War of 1812 in what is now southwest London at Reservoir Hill, formerly Hungerford Hill.

The village of London, named after the British capital of London, was not founded until 1826, and not as the capital Simcoe envisioned. Rather, it was an administrative seat for the area west of the actual capital, York (now Toronto). Locally, it was part of the Talbot Settlement, named for Colonel Thomas Talbot, the chief coloniser of the area, who oversaw the land surveying and built the first government buildings for the administration of the Western Ontario peninsular region. Together with the rest of Southwestern Ontario, the village benefited from Talbot's provisions, not only for building and maintaining roads, but also for assignment of access priorities to main routes to productive land. At the time, Crown and clergy reserves were receiving preference in the rest of Ontario.

In 1832, the new settlement suffered an outbreak of cholera. London proved a centre of strong Tory support during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, notwithstanding a brief rebellion led by Dr. Charles Duncombe. Consequently, the British government located its Ontario peninsular garrison there in 1838, increasing its population with soldiers and their dependents, and the business support populations they required. London was incorporated as a town in 1840.

On April 13, 1845, fire destroyed much of London, which was at the time largely constructed of wooden buildings. One of the first casualties was the town's only fire engine. On January 1, 1855, London was incorporated as a "city" (10,000 or more residents). London was a "city within a forest" and as such earned the nickname "The Forest City."

In the 1860s, a sulphur spring was discovered at the forks of the Thames River while industrialists were drilling for oil. The springs became a popular destination for wealthy Ontarians, until the turn of the 20th century when a textile factory was built at the site, replacing the spa.

Development

Blackfriars Bridge

Sir John Carling, Tory MP for London, gave three events to explain the development of London in a 1901 speech. They were: the location of the court and administration in London in 1826; the arrival of the military garrison in 1838; and the arrival of the railway in 1853.

In 1875, London's first iron bridge, the Blackfriars Street Bridge, was constructed. It replaced a succession of flood-failed wooden structures that had provided the city's only northern road crossing of the river. A rare example of a bowstring truss bridge, the Blackfriars remains open to vehicular traffic. The Blackfriars, amidst the river-distance between the Carling Brewery and the historic Tecumseh Park (including a major mill), linked London with its western suburb of Petersville, named for Squire Peters of Grosvenor Lodge. That community joined with the southern subdivision of Kensington in 1874, formally incorporating as the municipality of Petersville. Although it changed its name in 1880 to the more inclusive "London West", it remained a separate municipality until ratepayers voted for amalgamation with London in 1897, largely due to repeated flooding. The most serious flood was that of July 1883, which resulted in serious loss of life and property devaluation. This area retains much original and attractively maintained 19th-century tradespeople's and workers' housing, including Georgian cottages as well as larger houses, and a distinct sense of place.

St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London

London's eastern suburb, London East, was (and remains) an industrial centre, which also incorporated in 1874. Attaining the status of town in 1881, it continued as a separate municipality until concerns over expensive waterworks and other fiscal problems led to amalgamation in 1885. The southern suburb of London, including Wortley Village, was collectively known as "London South". Never incorporated, the South was annexed to the city in 1890, although Wortley Village still retains a distinct sense of place. By contrast, the settlement at Broughdale on the city's north end had a clear identity, adjoined the university, and was not annexed until 1961.

On May 24, 1881, the ferry SS Victoria capsized in the Thames River, drowning approximately 200 passengers, the worst disaster in London's history. Two years later, on July 12, 1883, the first of the two most devastating floods in London's history killed 17 people. The second major flood, on April 26, 1937, destroyed more than a thousand houses and caused over $50 million dollars in damages, particularly in West London. After repeated floods the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority in 1953 opened Fanshawe Dam on the North Thames to control the downstream rivers. Financing for this project came from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Other natural disasters include a 1984 tornado that led to damage on several streets in the White Oaks area of South London.

London's role as a military centre continued into the 20th century during the two World Wars, serving as the administrative centre for the Western Ontario district. In the 1950s, two reserve battalions amalgamated and became London and Oxford Rifles (3rd Battalion), The Royal Canadian Regiment. This unit continues to serve today as 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The Regimental Headquarters of The Royal Canadian Regiment remains in London at Wolseley Barracks on Oxford Street.

Annexation to present

London annexed many of the surrounding communities in 1961, including Byron and Masonville, adding 60,000 people and more than doubling its area. After this amalgamation, suburban growth accelerated as London grew outward in all directions, creating expansive new subdivisions such as Westmount, Oakridge, Whitehills, Pond Mills, White Oaks and Stoneybrook.

In 1992, London annexed nearly the entire Township of Westminster, a large, primarily rural municipality directly south of the city, including the police village of Lambeth. With this massive annexation, London almost doubled in area again, adding several thousand more residents. London now stretches south to the boundary with Elgin County.

The 1993 annexation made London one of the largest urban municipalities in Ontario. Intense commercial and residential development is presently occurring in the southwest and northwest areas of the city. Opponents of this development cite urban sprawl, destruction of rare Carolinian zone forest and farm lands, replacement of distinctive regions by generic malls, and standard transportation and pollution concerns as major issues facing London. The City of London is currently the eleventh-largest urban area in Canada, tenth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada, and the sixth-largest city in Ontario.

Geography

The Thames River in Springbank Park.

The area was formed during the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age, which produced areas of marshland, notably the Sifton Bog (which is actually a fen), as well as some of the most agriculturally productive areas of farmland in Ontario. The eastern half of the city is generally flat, except for around the five neighbouring ponds in the south, and the west and north are characterized by gently rolling hills.

The Thames River dominates London's geography. The North and South branches of the Thames River meet at the centre of the city, a location known as "The Forks" or "The Fork of the Thames." The North Thames runs through the man-made Fanshawe Lake, located in northeast London. Fanshawe Lake was created by Fanshawe Dam, constructed to protect the downriver areas from the catastrophic flooding which affected the city in 1883 and 1937.

Climate

London has a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfb), though due to its windward location relative to Lake Huron it is virtually on the Dfa-Dfb (hot summer) boundary. Because of its location in the continent and its proximity to the Great Lakes, London experiences large seasonal contrast. The summers are usually warm to hot and humid (although slightly cooler than Toronto or Windsor due to its elevation), with a July average of 20.5 °C (68.9 °F), and highs may rise above 30 °C (86 °F) on an average 8 days per annum. The city is affected by thunderstorms more than any other major city in Canada , due to the convergence of breezes originating from Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Spring and autumn in between are not long, and winters are cold but witness frequent thaws. Annual precipitation averages nearly 990 millimetres (39.0 in). For its southerly location within Canada, its snowfall totals are heavy, averaging slightly over 200 centimetres (79 in) per year. The majority of it comes from lake effect snow originating from Lake Huron, some 60 kilometres (37 mi) to the northwest, which occurs when strong, cold winds blow from that direction.

Climate data for London

Parks

Thames rivers confluence ("Forks"), Spring 2008, Ivey Park, looking north: Dundas Street (and Queens Avenue) bridges over N. Thames, lights of Labatt Park, Harris Park right

London has a number of parks. Victoria Park in downtown London is a major centre of community events, attracting an estimated 1 million visitors per year. Other major parks include Harris Park, Gibbons Park, Fanshawe Conservation Area, Springbank Park, and Westminster Ponds. The city also maintains a number of gardens and conservatories.

Demographics

According to the 2006 census, the city proper of London had a population of 352,395 people, 48.2% male and 51.8% female. Children under five accounted for approximately 5.2% of the resident population of London. 13.7% of the resident population in London were of retirement age (65 and over), which is also the percentage for Canada as a whole. The average age is 38.2 years of age, compared to 39.5 years of age for all of Canada.

Between 2001 and 2006, the population of metropolitan London grew by 4.7%, compared with an increase of 6.6% for Ontario as a whole. Population density of London averaged 837.9 people per square kilometre, compared with an average of 13.4 for Ontario altogether.

According to the 2001 census, the majority of Londoners profess a Christian faith, which accounts for 74.1% (Protestant 40.7%, Roman Catholic: 29.1%, other Christian: 4.3%). Other religions include Islam: 3.4%, Buddhism: 0.7%, Judaism: 0.5% and Hinduism: 0.4%, with 20.1% of the population reporting no religious affiliation.There are also centres for the International Gnostic Movement, Theosophy and Eckankar devotees, as well as a centre for Unitarians. There is also an active Bahá'í community in London.

According to the 2006 census, 84.8% of the population of London are White, 2.2% are Latin American, 2.2% are Arab, 2.2% are Black, 1.8% are Chinese, 1.8% are South Asian, 1.4% are Aboriginal, 1.1% are Southeast Asian, 0.6% are West Asian, and 1.9% are other ethnicities.

Economy

One London Place is the tallest building in the city.

London's economy is dominated by medical research, locomotive production, insurance, and information technology. The London Life insurance company was founded there, and Electro-Motive Diesels, Inc. (formerly General Motors' Electro-Motive Division) now builds most of its locomotives in London. General Dynamics Land Systems also builds armoured personnel carriers in the city. London is a source of life sciences and biotechnology-related research; much of this is spurred by the University of Western Ontario. The university adds about C$1.5 billion to the London economy annually. The headquarters of the Canadian division of 3M are located in London, and both the Labatt and Carling breweries were founded there. A $223 million expansion project began in 1984, making Kellogg's Canada's 106,000 m2 (1,140,000 sq ft) London plant one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in the Kellogg Company. A portion of the city's population work in factories outside of the city limits, including Ford and the General Motors automotive plant CAMI, and a Toyota plant in Woodstock. In 1999 the Western Fair Association introduced slot machines. Currently, 750 slot machines operate at the fair grounds year-round. McCormick Canada, formerly Club House Foods, was founded in 1883 and currently employs more than 500 Londoners.

London's downtown mall, Galleria, named Citi Plaza in 2009, has suffered since the 2000 collapse of Eaton's and the loss of its Hudson's Bay Company store. The large space left empty by the departure of the Bay has since been filled by London's central library. Other sections of Galleria/Citi Plaza have also lost businesses, which have been replaced by campuses for London's major post-secondary education schools, Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario.

A new $11-million cargo terminal was announced to be built at the London International Airport. Two interchanges will also be upgraded to Parclo A4 configuration.

Prior to its dissolution, regional airline Air Ontario was headquartered in London.

Culture

Patrons queue at the 2006 Rib-Fest in Victoria Park.

The city is home to many festivals, including the London International Children's Festival, the Home County Folk Festival, the London Fringe Theatre Festival, the Expressions in Chalk Street Painting Festival, Rock the Park, Bluesfest London, Western Fair, the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) and the Taste of London festival. The London Rib-Fest, where barbecue ribs are cooked and served, is the second largest barbecue rib festival in North America. Pride London Festival is one of the biggest Pride festivals in Ontario. Sunfest, a World music festival, is the second biggest in Canada, after Caribana in Toronto.

Musically, London is home to Orchestra London, the London Youth Symphony, noise music pioneers the Nihilist Spasm Band, and the Amabile Choirs of London, Canada. There are several museums in London, including Museum London, which is located at the Forks of the Thames. Museum London exhibits art by a wide variety of local, regional and national artists. London is also home to the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, owned by the University of Western Ontario (UWO). Its main feature is Canada's only on-going excavation and partial reconstruction of a prehistoric village of the Neutral Nation (Lawson Site). Other museums include the London Regional Children’s Museum, the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum, and the Secrets of Radar Museum. The Guy Lombardo museum closed to the public in 2007 but its collection remains in London.

London is also home to the McIntosh Gallery, an art gallery on the UWO campus, and the Grand Theatre, which is a professional theatre. The Open House Arts Collective is involved in promoting cultural activities in London. The London Public Library also hosts art exhibitions and author readings. The Writers Resource Center is the home of the Canadian Poetry Association London Chapter. The Forest City Gallery is one of Canada's first artist run centres.

Eldon House is the former residence of the prominent Harris Family and oldest surviving such building in London. The entire property was donated to the city of London in 1959 and is now a heritage site. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate The Eldon House's role in Ontario's heritage. The Banting House National Historic Site of Canada is the house where Sir Frederick Banting thought of the idea that led to the discovery of insulin. Banting lived and practiced in London for ten months, from July 1920 to May 1921. London is also the site of the Flame of Hope, which is intended to burn until a cure for diabetes is discovered.

Sports

London Majors, Spring 2008

London is currently the home of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, who play at the John Labatt Centre (JLC). The JLC was the host arena of the 2005 Memorial Cup. The Knights were both 2004-2005 OHL and Memorial Cup Champions. During the summer months, the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League play at Labatt Park. London City of the Canadian Soccer League, the second tier of professional Canadian Association Football, is the highest level of soccer in London. The club was founded in 1973; it is the oldest active professional soccer franchise in North America. The squad plays at Cove Road Stadium at the German Canadian Club. This growth trend has led to discussions on more soccer fields and a larger indoor soccer complex within the city. Other sports teams include the London Silver Dolphins Swim Team, the Forest City Volleyball Club, the London St. George's Rugby Club, the London Aquatics Club, the London Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, London City Soccer Club and Forest City London.

Football teams include the London Silverbacks (North American Football League), the London Beefeaters (Ontario Football Conference),Forest City Thunderbirds (Ontario Football Conference) and London Falcons (Ontario Varsity Football League).

There are also a number of former sports teams that have now either moved or folded. London's four former baseball teams are the London Monarchs (Canadian Baseball League), the London Werewolves (Frontier League), the London Tecumsehs (International Association) and the London Tigers (AA Eastern League). Other former sports teams include the London Lasers (Canadian Soccer League) and the London Nationals (Western Ontario Hockey League).

The University of Western Ontario teams play under the name Mustangs. The university's football team plays at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Western's Rowing Team rows out of one of two National Training Centres at Fanshawe Lake. Fanshawe College teams play under the name Falcons. In November 2008, the Women's Cross Country team won Gold at the 2008 CCAA National Cross Championships.

The Western Fair Raceway, a half-mile (802 m) harness racing track and simulcast centre, operates year-round.[The grounds include a coin slot casino, a former IMAX theatre, and Sports and Agri-complex. Labatt Memorial Park is the world's oldest continuously used baseball grounds (established as Tecuseh Park in 1877; it was renamed in 1937); the claim is disputed by Clinton, Massachusetts, because the London field has been flooded and rebuilt twice (1883 and 1937), including a reorientation of the bases (after the 1883 flood), and there is doubt Tecumseh Field was in continuous use after the 1883 flood. The Forest City Velodrome, located at the former London Ice House, is the only indoor cycling track in Ontario and the third to be built in North America, opened in 2005.

(source:wikipedia)