There’s never a shortage of events happening in London’s arts and culture scene, and this week is no exception. We’ve got Dear Lara, a powerful documentary with a London connection screening at two regional film festivals, a delicious promotion to support our local United Way, and some concerning news about the future of one of the city’s longest-running arts institutions.
Let’s start with that last one, because it’s a story that deserves our attention. This past Tuesday, some troubling news emerged from London’s arts community. The Forest City Gallery, one of Canada’s oldest artist-run centres, is facing a financial crisis that could force it to close by the end of 2027. Founded in 1973, the gallery has been an important part of London’s cultural landscape for more than 50 years, supporting emerging artists and championing contemporary art.
In a public notice, the FCG’s board points to stagnant arts funding and rising operating costs as the primary causes of its financial difficulties. Programming cuts are already planned, and the organization is launching fundraising efforts and seeking community support to secure its future.
I’ll be taking a closer look at this story in next week’s column, but for now, it’s a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable our arts institutions have become.
Now would be a great time to take out a membership (I just renewed mine), or make a donation to this important jewel of our community.
The Loon Recommends for Nov 5 - Nov 12, 2026
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at the Grand Theatre
(Click to read this previous spotlight pick. Show runs until November 7)Beasts of Burden by AlvegoRoot Theatre at Manor Hall
(Click to read this previous spotlight pick. Show runs until November 11)Catch Dear Lara at WIFF and the Stratford Film Festival
The United Way’s Ultimate Burger Battle is Back!
Catch Dear Lara at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) and the Stratford Film Festival
I recently wrote a two-part feature on London-born, internationally renowned violinist Lara St. John and her documentary Dear Lara:
Dear Lara: The Girl With the Violin (Part One)
Dear Lara: Choosing What Comes Next (Part Two)
Behind Lara’s remarkable career was a painful secret. At just 13, while studying at Philadelphia’s prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, she says she was sexually abused by her violin teacher. When Lara finally spoke publicly about her experience decades later, hundreds of others in the classical music world came forward with their own stories.
Those revelations inspired the film Dear Lara, a powerful documentary that took seven years to make and that Lara financed herself, even selling her New York apartment to help fund it.
The film exposes sexual abuse and abuses of power within classical music, while giving survivors a voice and challenging institutions to do better.
I’ve seen Dear Lara, and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a remarkable achievement and an important film that deserves to be seen.
Dear Lara has been winning awards throughout Europe and the United States and is finally making its way to Southwestern Ontario with a couple of dates this very weekend.
Lara lives in New York City now with her husband, but she will be attending both screenings in person!
Friday, November 6th, 6:30 PM, Dear Lara plays at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF)
Saturday, November 7th, 4:00 PM, Dear Lara plays at the Stratford Film Festival
Lara will also be on a FREE panel at the Stratford Film Festival from 3:00 - 4:00, right before the screening of her film.
TRUTH BE TOLD: The Art & Business Of Documentary is a FREE panel taking place this Saturday, November 7th at 3:00 PM at the Stratford Film Festival.
Three highly accomplished Canadian filmmakers – Moze Mossanen (Fallen Star: The Shooting of Ukrainian Airlines PS752), Barry Avrich and Mark Selby (both worked on Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been) who also have films at the festival will join Lara for a wide-ranging conversation about the creative choices, ethical questions and practical realities behind documentary filmmaking.
This is a terrific opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes view on what it takes to produce a documentary film from some of Canada’s top filmmakers. I’ve got my tickets!
Note that though this is a free event, reservations are required. Click on the link above to register.
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Supporting independent local journalism in our community
The United Way’s Ultimate Burger Battle is Back!
November 1-30 | Various restaurants in London and area
Eat local, support a good cause and help crown London’s ultimate burger.
United Way Elgin Middlesex’s Ultimate Burger Battle is back for its second year. Throughout November, restaurants across London and the surrounding region are competing for burger bragging rights, all while raising money for the United Way.
The concept of the campaign is simple. Each participating restaurant creates its own Ultimate Burger, with $2 from every burger sold going to United Way Elgin Middlesex. As customers, we get to sample some creative burgers, support local restaurants and contribute to a good cause all at the same time.
The Importance of the United Way to our Community
I don’t hear the United Way talked about as much as it used to be or should be. As the region’s largest non-government funder of social services, United Way supports local programs that help people facing poverty and social exclusion. But its work goes beyond funding.
The organization brings together community partners, advocates for change and tackles the root causes of poverty to help build a stronger, more inclusive community. Best of all, 100% of donations stay local, helping people right here in Elgin and Middlesex counties.
You can also vote for your favourite burger online in the People’s Choice competition (scroll to the bottom of the page). By voting online, you could win one of two $250 Burger Dinners! The more you vote, the more chances you get to win. One vote every 24 hours is permitted. First prize draw: November 16 at 10:00 AM. Final prize draw: December 1st 10:00 AM.
A panel of volunteer Burger Ambassadors also have the enviable job of tasting and judging the entries to crown the Ultimate Burger of the Year.
The event also provides a good excuse to get together with friends to go out and enjoy some burgers. I did that myself last year and am planning on doing the same thing this year. Two burgers that I’ll be looking to try are:
The Church Key Burger at The Church Key Bistro-Pub, 476 Richmond Street
Their Ultimate burger is an in-house ground beef burger with caramelized onions, stilton cheese, arugula and tomato jam (patty contains bacon).The Smash Burger 101 at The Chef’s Table, 130 Dundas Street (near the old Kingsmills building)
Their Ultimate burger features a student-butchered ground beef patty, with Falcon awesome sauce, lettuce, and pickles on a house-made milk bun.
I really like supporting this restaurant. It’s run by Fanshawe’s School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Culinary Arts. This means the people in the kitchen and in front of house are mostly students gaining valuable experience, while being mentored by professionals. The food is really good as well!
Fun Facts about London’s Burger Battle
The idea for a Burger Battle event originated with United Way Thunder Bay nearly a decade ago and has since spread to other communities.
London launched its Burger Battle last year, and what a debut it was! Eighteen restaurants sold an impressive 5,159 burgers, and raised $57,284 for local programs.
Los Olivos took home the Ultimate Burger of the Year award with its Loosey Juicy Lucy, while House Craft Burgers won the People’s Choice Award for its Fake Shemp burger.
This year’s competition is already a bigger initiative, with more restaurants joining the lineup. And here’s something for longtime Londoners: Winks Eatery has received permission from the former owners of Prince Albert’s diner to recreate their legendary Wally Burger! This is a double smash burger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and peanut butter.
The Ultimate Burger Battle runs November 1–30, so you’ve got the whole month to work your way through the contenders. And really, how often do you get to support a good cause simply by going out for a burger?
Check out the participating restaurants, explore their creations and cast your vote at United Way’s Ultimate Burger Battle website.
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