Welcome to London Ontario Online News, everyone, and your compact weekly guide to what’s happening in our local area. This is your ROUNDUP, where we seek to keep you well-informed, in the interests of us all. And this is The Loon, your locally-owned, independent media start-up, where we promote storytelling that makes a difference to our community and share this skimmable guide to it all.
We’re exulting in our time in London, Ontario, a city we share, sometimes noisily and always in a newsworthy way. We had an election this week and that’s filled London’s news hole like a faceful of candy. It wasn’t very nutritious and we’re not sure if every bite was part of the candy or the wrapper or what, but we’re still chewing it over and everything seems OK for now. chomp
So it’s Halloween and you feel like dancin’, and you feel like shinin’, and you feel like letting loose. Wait, no, that’s a Dead Kennedys song and I would never suggest your role is planned for you and there’s nothing you can do1. Certainly not – this is where we share the useful information and combat misinformation and disinformation so we can all make better decisions.
Great song, though.
Soundtrack of the week
We do need some Halloween music, right? We need to shake off the election and have a little fun. Let’s hold the evil spirits at bay!
Mwa haaa haaaaa!
Hey, want a glance at the best local Halloween houses? Jessica Singer of CBC London has made this great video report here.
Now let’s go!
Election 2026
The bloody election is bloody over, and it was less bloody than it looked. I shared my take on it here the other day and of course the reporting keeps coming. I’ll round up a little bit more, if you can handle it.
Want a fresh summary? Try these Rogers tv video reports on the mayoral race and the ward races.
Digging a bit deeper, Jack Moulton at the Free Press has a good Q&A with the re-elected Mayor Josh Morgan here.
That’s worth reading to the end. Asked if he has anything to add, Morgan points out that his re-election is a rare phenomenon, with chains of office changing hands all over Ontario before the snow flies. And he’s right. He deserves his moment of celebration before people like me start muttering about making good and all that.
And here’s a little more commentary about the result, if you feel like it.
The LFP talked to three chief executive officers: Jared Zaifman of the London Home Builders’ Association, Scott Collyer of the London Development Institute, and Kapil Lakhotia, heading up the London Economic Development Corporation. The story is here.
Meanwhile, CBC London is talking turnout, which was up, but not by much. (From about 25% to about 31%.) Here’s their report.
OK, really enough for now. Other issues matter.
Steam heating and public money
In City business, which is continuing despite all the election shenanigans, let’s note that five downtown municipal buildings have switched off Enwave’s steam system ahead of the Oct. 31 shutdown of its medium-pressure line.
The city says the work was completed as expected at Museum London, Central Library, City Hall, Centennial Hall and RBC Place, after council approved $17.8 million from reserves to install boilers. Enwave had warned that parts of the aging system were becoming unreliable and could pose future safety concerns.
Dynamite Daryl Newcombe with the story there.
Geeksplosion occurs downtown
The news can get a bit dry, can’t it? Let’s take a break with some good news, and a quick look at a geeky London business that’s doubling its space.
As covered here by Andrew Lupton at CBC London, Mana Lounge owner Jeff Evans is expanding his Dundas Street gaming store, buying the vacant building next door to add room for about 100 players, a cafe, a performance stage and pinball machines. The expansion will bring the combined space to just under 4,500 square feet, with a tentative opening planned for late November. Evans says he sees long-term potential in downtown London despite its challenges, with new residential buildings bringing more people looking for things to do and places to meet.
Isn’t that exciting? I love the Mana Lounge as a House of Geekery, though I’m totally foxed by the whole thing and much better with comic books.
(If you’re interested, you might check out this recent interview I did with Dan Abnett, writer of 73 novels including most of the Warhammer 40,000 Horus Heresy series. That chat is really about 2000 AD, the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, and that’s my jam, praise be to Tharg, for he is mighty.)
And back to work.
By the issues...
Construction and getting around
The Bradley Avenue extension between White Oak Road and Wharncliffe Road is expected to open the week of Nov. 9, providing a new route through London’s south end. The $21-million project is expected to carry 25,000 vehicles a day, easing pressure on parallel roads and reducing cut-through traffic in the Copperfield subdivision. Some neighbours remain concerned about speeding and safety. Final work, including resurfacing, is planned for spring.
Here’s CTV on it: LINK
Education
Two stories in this space today. (I also want to take a closer look at the trustee races soon.)
Locally, there is dismay among trustees about the role of student trustee being eliminated. A report from the LFP’s Heather Rivers Davey is here.
And trustee will be sworn in after all. There was doubt about this, but the relevant minister wants the successful candidates to be subject to a code of conduct, so ceremonies will go ahead. Here’s a CBC story.
Healthcare
London researchers are combining artificial intelligence, health data and frontline experience to help identify health risks earlier among people experiencing homelessness. The study, led by LHSC Research Institute and ICES Western, will examine anonymous data from more than 35,000 Ontarians with a history of homelessness, with the long-term goal of helping doctors and shelter workers provide more proactive care. It will also explore gaps in the data, which capture only those who have interacted with the health-care system.
Here’s the story from Reta Ismail at CTV London.
From The Loon
This week I want to make sure to highlight Cedric’s piece, which has street-level insights that I think are unique in local storytelling. This week he shared the messages in local graffiti and I thought it was very thought-provoking indeed.
And don’t miss the Forest City Arts and Culture Roundup from Diana every week. This week she talked movies, theatre and Halloween.
Enough
There’s new content here every day, and we’ve been riding a wave lately. As I shared on Wednesday, I’m feeling the need to take a pause and think, which is often a good idea after an intense time. Thanks to the folks kindly sending me feedback by various means, and please keep that coming.
Hey, look out for the return of the United Way Ultimate Burger Battle. What’s that? It’s a way to help a good cause while also eating fabulous burgers. Find out more here.
and… RIP Sir Patrick Stewart
I can’t write anything today without due recognition of the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, everybody’s space dad. There’s a lot of sadness around the geek community this week, with Star Trek’s Walter Koenig also joining the In Memoriam list. Both great losses and impactful on many people. (Last month, I shared a heartwarming Koenig clip in this post, to celebrate his 90th birthday.)
I think about Patrick Stewart quite a lot, and always when I reach a line I’m considering crossing, in real life or figuratively. That’s the impact of popular culture on our values: I ask myself, where’s the line? Is it HEAH?
What a guy.
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning.
- Mike
The Loon (London Ontario Online News) lineup
Local independent journalism bringing you new content every day.
Find our editorial standards and policies here.
Meet the Londoners who team up to send you a new feature every weekday:
Monday - Buckle Up - podcast with Matt Brown
SPONSORED BY HAMILTON ROAD BIATuesday - City Tours with Cedric Richards
SPONSORED BY LONDON BICYCLE CAFÉWednesday - City Hall Notes by Mike Donachie
SPONSORED BY SPERO LAWThursday - the Forest City Arts and Culture Roundup by Diana Tamblyn
SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN LONDONFriday - Reflections with Steve Cordes
SPONSORED BY OLD EAST VILLAGE BIA
Also on Fridays: the local news ROUNDUP.
Every other Saturday: The Matt Brown Podcast. It’s the show about all things local, and maybe some other stuff too. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE.
If you want to hear it, here it is.