Getting straight to the point: there is an EXTREME COLD WARNING and the warming centre at Boyle is OPEN TONIGHT. There is no confusion this time. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Confirmation of the warning from Environment Canada can be found here and, choosing a slightly-dramatic illustrative news link, here’s CTV saying it could feel -38. This one’s clear: huddle up and cuddle up, and stay safe.
From my phone today:
And on with the show:
Rounding up the week’s notable events
Here are recent tidbits, grouped by issue where it makes sense. That’s the idea behind the roundup - aggregating everybody’s local reporting and adding context. The pithy nonsense is just a bonus! Off we go.
Homelessness, obviously
It’s been another long year this week, and Monday seems such a long time ago, but here’s my post of all the goings-on at the crucial meeting that day. (Direct link to meeting agenda.)
Since then, hirsute he-man Craig Needles has talked to Councillor Susan Stevenson about relevant issues on his podcast. Also worth looking at this report from CTV’s Daryl Newcombe, which highlights the bureaucracy in local government and how it can affect the people of London.
tl;dr - clearer criteria for opening warming centres, and overall more support for the homeless, with much more discussion to come.
Meanwhile, down at the cheese factory
The London Free Press had an update from the ‘emergency’ homeless shelter being created on Cheese Factory Road. It involves barbed wire.
State of the City
My other big reason to go outside into the AIR MADE OF PAIN this week was Mayor Josh Morgan’s State of the City Address, and you can find my piece and lots of resources here; let’s also link to Jack’s reax piece, and CBC Isha’s comments from some councillors, which are good context. And, as promised, here’s what Daryl filed that day.
(And I heard that RBC Place’s parking was the usual nightmare - sorry if you were caught in that as I took the covered walkway and cut through the hotel and TD towers to my car. Walk two blocks to resist that car culture.)
Planning Issues
Tuesday saw a Planning and Environment Committee meeting (direct link to agenda) at City Hall, but after five hours at Fortress Dufferin on Monday I let the paid reporters handle it. Here’s what popped up:
A new cemetery proposal, so some opportunities for puns about death. Love it.
Something about developer grants from the CBC. (This was a stretch. I mean, fair enough, but I’d like to hear how a candidate such as Councillor Elizabeth Peloza, quoted here, might parse this one on doorsteps. It’s a bit Inside Baseball.)
Let me know if you picked up much of interest and would like some digging. I listened to the meeting on the livestream and just developed harder opinions about NIMBYs and infill housing.
The lightning round
Catching my eye this week:
I won’t usually flag crime stories, and my LLB (Hons) from one of Scotland’s four ancient universities tells me to make no comment on this one, other than “wow”. It’s the arrests, charges and chemicals in a house near Western University.
Councillor Peter Cuddy got some press for constituency work - broken elevators on Kipps Lane. Mmmm fish and chips… It’s Friday.
And all headline writers love a story with a scatalogical bent, so there’s fun to be had in this one about cancer research from Western: no s***, Sherlock! (I’m OK with swearing but concerned about firewalls until I know this melon-farming platform better.)
TheatreInLondon.ca reviewed Primary Trust, which is on at the Grand Theatre until February 7.
AD CONTENT ALERT: Go and see Closer, at the Palace Theatre, opening February 5. My amazing partner is the producer! Here’s a bit of CBC Radio from this very morning, talking about this somewhat adult play and how to handle “intimate” scenes on stage.
EDITED FOR THIS LATE ADDITION:
Talented Todd Devlin heads up Gameday London, which offers local independent sports journalism. You should totes read their thing about (checks notes) Local Sports Team. I am not a sports guy but this matters, right? It’s all part of our vibrant local community, economy, city and so on. Support independent local journalism!
And coming up - pipeline problem, free bus pilot
There are full agendas up for these City Hall committees:
Strategic Priorities and Policy
This one’s already seen some reporting - Councillor Shawn Lewis is talking to media about a pilot program to give students free bus travel. LFP and CTV.
And there will likely be some discussion of the mayor’s home ownership incentive, as announced at the State of the City.
Infrastructure and Corporate Services
Here, Councillor Corinne Rahman talked with CTV about a potential $7 million cost to taxpayers related to a pipeline near Sunningdale Road.
See? So much is happening and we should be paying attention. Let’s interact and share and follow and support everybody who shines a light on local issues - and look out for me on Matt Brown’s podcast and TV show soon.
Happy Friday, Roundup Readers!
- Mike
On a very sad note, I’ll raise a toast this weekend to Derek Ruttan, London Free Press snapper and guid lad. Much love to all who knew him.
Nice! Well done - thank you!