London Skyline. Photo by Ron Royal (subscriber to The Loon)

November 2, 2026

Good morning, London. I’m Matt Brown and this is Buckle Up.

This is your weekly update about all things London, brought to you by London Ontario Online News. That’s The Loon for short

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Special guest co-host, Ward 11 Councillor Skylar Franke, is joining us today fresh off a successful campaign for re-election.

We’re going to take one last look back at the 2026 municipal election and we’ll discuss what we can expect in the term ahead, too.

Skylar is here with us now. So let’s go.

On this episode, Skylar and I discuss:

Election results - close calls, big wins and a surprise
What Skylar heard while knocking on doors
What it takes to beat an incumbent
The sophistication of Susan Stevenson’s campaign & Josh Morgan’s campaign 2.0
What happens next?

Sponsor Highlight: Hamilton Road BIA

Thanks, as always, to our show sponsor, Hamilton Road BIA. Through advocacy, investment, beautification and promotion, the BIA works to strengthen the Hamilton Road community while celebrating the rich history and diversity that make the area unique.

Buckle Up is Sponsored by Hamilton Road BIA
www.hamroad.com

Supporting independent local journalism in our community

Construction:

Monday, Nov. 2 at 8:00 PM: Kensington Avenue Reconstruction scheduled completion | Kensington Ave. (Wharncliffe Rd. N to Wilson Ave.) | Final asphalt replacement and sidewalk work wrapping up to restore full traffic access.
Friday, Nov. 6 at 3:00 PM: Ontario Street Reconstruction scheduled completion: Ontario St. (Central Ave. to Dufferin Ave.) | Water main, sewer, sidewalk, and asphalt upgrades reaching completion following local traffic restrictions.
Through to Nov. 27: 2026 Local Road Reconstruction Program | Atkinson Blvd. (Falcon St. to Whitehall Dr.) & Whitehall Dr. (Atkinson Blvd. to Merlin Cres.) | Road closed to through traffic for watermain replacement, sidewalk installation, and new asphalt.

What’s happening in London this week:

Festivals, Theatre & Community

Tuesday, Nov. 3 through Saturday, Nov. 7: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors | Grand Theatre
Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Wednesday, Nov. 11: Beasts of Burden | AlvegoRoot Theatre | Manor Hall
Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Saturday, Nov. 7: Sorry! Comedy Festival (Matteo Lane, Steph Tolev, Chris Fleming & More) | Centennial Hall
Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 8: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical | Palace Theatre Arts Commons
Thursday, Nov. 5: Mrs. Doubtfire: The New Musical Comedy | Canada Life Place
Sunday, Nov. 8 (7:00 PM): 100 Years From Now: An Original Musical of the Great War | The Aeolian Hall (795 Dundas St.)

Music & Concerts

Tuesday, Nov. 3 (7:30 PM): Roch Voisine: The Lightfoot Sessions | The Aeolian Hall
Wednesday, Nov. 4 (6:30 PM): KPop Dreamworld: The Ultimate Tribute Experience | Centennial Hall
Thursday, Nov. 5 (8:00 PM): The East Pointers: Schoonertown Tour (with Emilea May) | Rum Runners at London Music Hall Music Complex

On the weekend:

Friday, Nov. 6: London’s 3rd Annual Concert for the Kids (7:00 PM) | London Music Hall
Dead Days & Resistor (8:00 PM) | Rum Runners
Saturday, Nov. 7 (10:00 PM): System Saturdays: Open Decks | Rum Runners at London Music Hall Music Complex

Movies & Cinema

Hyland Cinema
- All Week (Nov. 2 to Nov. 8): Independent & International Feature Screenings
- Wednesday, Nov. 4: Everyone’s a Kid: Muppet Treasure Island
- Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:30 PM): Performance of the Year (Special Screening)

Sports

Friday, Nov. 6 (7:00 PM): London Knights vs. Saginaw Spirit | Canada Life Place (99 Dundas St.)
Saturday, Nov. 7: OUA Football Semifinals over at Western
Sunday, Nov. 8 (2:05 PM): London Knights at Sarnia Sting | (Away Game)

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 BIA
Tuesday - City Tours with Cedric Richards
SPONSORED BY LONDON BICYCLE CAFÉ
Wednesday - City Hall Notes by Mike Donachie
SPONSORED BY SPERO LAW
Thursday - the Forest City Arts and Culture Roundup by Diana Tamblyn
SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN LONDON
Friday - 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’ve been following what we’ve been up to here at The Loon you’ll know that we are bringing together London voices to deliver fresh content each weekday. Through podcasts, articles, video features, and in-depth analysis, we cover the civic decisions, local issues, arts and culture, and community stories that matter most.

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Councillor Skylar Franke joins Buckle Up …