In the Media

Today, Mayor Josh Morgan was joined by Councillor Peter Cuddy (Ward 3), Mark Santandrea, Executive Superintendent of Education for the London District Catholic School Board, and Kelly Ziegner, Chief Operating Officer of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, to celebrate the official opening of a new child care centre at John Paul II Catholic Secondary School.

The new centre, located at 1300 Oxford Street East, opened in January 2026 and provides 47 licensed spaces for toddlers and preschoolers, helping respond to the growing demand for child care in the community.

YMCA Child Care Centre is located within a dedicated area of John Paul II Catholic Secondary School, and features play-based learning environments designed to support strong connections between children and educators, along with dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage active, inclusive learning.

The project was made possible through a partnership between the City of London and the London District Catholic School Board. The City contributed $440,000 through Municipal Child Care Expansion funding, while the school board worked with YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to build the child care centre within the school. Locating child care in a high school creates unique opportunities for learning and collaboration between students and young children.

As the Service System Manager under the Child Care and Early Years Act, the City of London is responsible for planning, funding, and supporting licensed child care and early years services that promote positive outcomes for children and families.

The new spaces also support the goals of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, which aims to improve affordability and expand access to licensed child care for families. Fee subsidy is also available through the City’s Child Care and Early Years division to help eligible families with the cost of care. These programs are supported with funding from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada.

“In order to build a thriving and inclusive city, we need to ensure families have the supports they need to succeed. Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care is one of the most important investments we can make in London’s future," said Mayor Josh Morgan. “This new centre is a great example of what we can achieve through strong community partnerships, and I’m grateful to all involved for helping to create opportunities that will benefit children and Londoners for years to come.”

“We are pleased to partner with the City of London and the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to celebrate the opening of a new licensed childcare program at John Paul II Catholic Secondary School. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to supporting families and strengthening our community," said Vince Romeo, Director of Education, London District Catholic School Board. “Through thoughtful planning and continued collaboration with our community partners, we are creating welcoming and safe spaces, where students and families can feel supported and thrive.”

“YMCA, child care is where belonging begins — where children are seen, celebrated, supported, and encouraged to learn through play every day," said Andrew Lockie, CEO, YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. “We’re proud to partner with the City of London and the London District Catholic School Board to open John Paul II YMCA Child Care and add 47 new licensed spaces for toddlers and preschoolers. This centre will help more families access high-quality, inclusive care close to home, so parents can work and children can thrive.”

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is a non-profit, community-based organization with more than 170 years of experience in delivering inclusive programs and services for children and families. The YMCA has operated day care nurseries in southwestern Ontario since the early 1900s and began offering licensed child care programs in the late 1960s.

With the addition of John Paul II YMCA Child Care, London’s licensed child care system now grows to 218 licensed child care locations, providing 17,821 child care spaces for children up to 12 years of age across London and Middlesex.

London Clean & Green begins

Today, City of London staff joined London Clean & Green partners and volunteers to kick off the annual London Clean & Green campaign.

The annual campaign encourages community clean-ups across the city during its 12 Days of Cleaning, 20-Minute Makeover, and Community Clean-up events.

“For years, London Clean & Green has showcased the immense pride and care that Londoners feel for their neighbourhoods and our collective dedication to building a better, healthier city,” says Mayor Josh Morgan.

“Every action taken, big or small, is a step toward a cleaner London. I encourage everyone to take a moment over the next 12 days to get involved. Together, we can make an incredible difference for our communities.”

Residents can map and share their clean-up locations online to coordinate efforts, invite others, and avoid overlap. Residents can also request garbage bags, disposable gloves, and sharps containers through the request form online while supplies last.

“We always look forward to working with our London Clean & Green partners to encourage and support community-led clean-ups throughout the city,” says Shawna Chambers, Director of Climate Change, Environment and Waste Management, City of London. “We are reminded each year of how much we can accomplish as a community. We are excited to see how much we can clean together this year, particularly after
seeing the extra litter that the snowmelt revealed this year!”

Above: Photo of Graham Henderson (CEO of London Chamber of Commerce), Bev Kobe (President and CEO of Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes), Shawna Chambers (Director of Climate Change, Environment and Waste Management, City of London), Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, Councillor Anna Hopkins, Councillor Skylar Franke, Charlie Smith (Owner of Toboggan), and Councillor Corrine Rahman.

12 Days of Cleaning

From April 7 to April 18, residents are invited to take part in the 12 Days of Cleaning. Whether you’re decluttering your home, clearing out the garage, or tackling spring cleaning, remember to prevent litter, sort it right, and dispose of unwanted items responsibly.

Information about the City’s EnviroDepots is available online.

Residents can also learn more about what goes where in London’s waste program by using the Recycle Coach app.

20-minute London Makeover

On Friday, April 17, local businesses, institutions, and schools are encouraged to spend 20 minutes cleaning up outside their workplace. You’ll be amazed at what a difference 20 minutes can make!

Community Clean-up

On Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., London Clean & Green will conclude with the Community-wide Clean-up! Several community-led clean-ups are planned throughout the city, and you are encouraged to join (or organize!) one.

Participating in London Clean & Green is one of many ways residents can support the City’s environmental initiatives and take action on climate change.

The 2026 Renew London program, the City’s yearly plan to fix and improve roads, bridges, and transit, is delivering major upgrades throughout the community. This level of work reflects what’s needed to keep pace with a growing city, and we’re planning and delivering these projects in a way that keeps London moving.

This year, the program includes approximately $285 million in new projects, along with another $100 million in ongoing work from last year. This level of investment reflects what it takes to keep up with a growing city and ensure streets and infrastructure can support more people, homes, and businesses in the years ahead.

Londoners will notice construction across major roads and intersections, as well as bridges, sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit routes. While the work is extensive, projects are carefully coordinated to keep key routes open and reduce disruption wherever possible.

At the same time, these investments are focused on improving how people move around the city. Roads will be safer, aging infrastructure will be upgraded, and new sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit improvements will create more reliable options for everyone, whether they are driving, walking, biking, or taking transit.

With more people comes greater demand on roads, transit, and other infrastructure. The Renew London program is building ahead, ensuring the city can support growth while keeping people moving safely today and into the future.

“London has experienced some of the fastest population growth in the country over recent years, so the scale of infrastructure investment we are undertaking is essential to meet our current and future needs,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “With these funds we are building a smarter city that works for all residents by connecting neighbourhoods, supporting businesses, and keeping London moving safely.”

2026 Highlights

You will see a mix of work across the city. Some projects are major road upgrades on key routes, designed to
reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and support growth. Others focus on essential maintenance, such as
fixing old roads, repairing bridges, and renewing water, storm, and sewer systems.

This work represents:

• more than 100 lane kilometres of road (about 250 laps around a running track)
• 20 intersections will be upgraded
• more than 30 kilometres of new or replaced water, storm, and sanitary infrastructure (roughly the length of
  3,000 school buses lined up)

“The sheer scale of work this year reflects the city’s commitment to strengthening critical corridors, upgrading key intersections, and expanding capacity across London. Each project is carefully planned to ensure that as the city grows, the infrastructure is ready to support residents, businesses, and daily travel for years to come.” says Jennie Dann, Director of Construction and Infrastructure Services.

Construction in 2026 also includes continued work on the south and east Rapid Transit corridors, representing the final phases of London’s first approved routes. These projects will improve transit reliability, upgrade underground pipes and infrastructure, and help more people move efficiently through the city.

The year will also see more Infrastructure Renewal Projects (IRPs), where multiple improvements such as road, sewer, watermain and utility work are completed at the same time in neighbourhoods.

This coordinated approach fixes everything at once meaning fewer disruptions over time. Underground work, including sewer and water upgrades, remains just as important, even if it’s not always obvious to the public, as much of this critical work takes place below the surface.

2026 Top ten projects

Each year, the City highlights ten major construction projects that offer the largest benefits, impacts and scope of work. The 2026 Top Ten Projects include:

• Highbury Avenue South Road Rehabilitation - Improves travel between London and Highway 401, supporting regional economic growth.
• Phillip Aziz Avenue and Western Road Improvements - Makes the area near Western University safer and easier to travel for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• The Queen’s Bridge Rehabilitation - Rebuilds the bridge deck and key structures, adds a multi-use path for walking and cycling, upgrades pedestrian crossings, and strengthens shoreline protection.
• Sunningdale Road West Improvements - Expands the road, improves safety, and supports future development in northwest London.
• Kilally Infrastructure Project - Updates the road and surrounding corridor to support growth and make active transportation safer and easier.
• Bradley Avenue Extension - Completes an important road connection to improve mobility and support city growth.
• Wellington Gateway Phase 2 - Final stages of the south Rapid Transit corridor, including road, transit, and underground infrastructure upgrades.
• East London Link Phase 3: Highbury Bridge - Replaces aging bridge structures, improves regional connections, and supports transit infrastructure.
• East London Link Phase 4: Oxford Street East - Continues construction along the corridor with upgrades to the roadway, active transportation options, and transit facilities.
• East London Link Phase 5: Dundas Street - Completes the East London Link corridor, allowing full Rapid Transit operations and supporting development in surrounding areas.

Advancing rapid transit

Rapid Transit remains a major part of London’s construction program, with significant progress already completed and the project now entering its final phases. As work continues on the Wellington Gateway and East London Link, the focus is shifting toward completing the remaining sections and preparing for the visible transformation above ground.

On Wellington Road, from Wilkins Street to Exeter Road, crews are finishing transit stations, traffic signals, multi-use paths, landscaping, paving, and painting red bus lanes. Phase 2, between Watson Street and Wilkins Street, will take the next two years to rebuild and widen the road, adding dedicated centre-running lanes for rapid transit buses.

On the East London Link, most construction on Dundas Street, between Egerton Street and McCormick Boulevard, was completed in 2025. Crews will return in spring and summer 2026 for final paving and red bus lane painting. Work on Highbury Bridge will continue into 2026, and Phase 5 will begin in spring on Dundas Street. This next stage connects McCormick Boulevard through to Highbury Avenue, completing the corridor.

Rapid transit buses and schedules are not yet running and won’t be until construction of the Wellington Gateway and East London Link is complete. In the meantime, London T ransit’s current buses will continue to use the dedicated bus lanes and transit shelters on their routes (like on King Street downtown).

The new rapid transit system is being built to give Londoners faster, more reliable, and more convenient travel across the city. T o make this possible, major changes are needed. Roads are being widened and dedicated bus lanes are being added so buses can move efficiently without getting stuck in regular traffic, and traffic can avoid being disrupted by busses. These improvements will help people get to work, school, and appointments more efficiently while supporting the city’s long-term growth and reducing congestion.

How to stay informed

Construction season ramps up this spring, which means road closures, lane reductions, and traffic congestion are coming soon.

While construction is necessary, the City is focused on minimizing impacts through careful planning, detours, and clear communication. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time during peak periods.

To stay informed, Londoners can:

Follow projects that affect you on the City’s Get Involved website. By clicking the “Follow” button at the top of a project’s webpage, email updates will be sent directly to your inbox. Each construction project page also includes a contact form, allowing residents to connect directly with the project team for any questions or concerns.

Subscribe for email updates about the Rapid Transit projects East London Link and Wellington Gateway.

Follow the City on social media, like Instagram, and Facebook. All major road closures are posted in advance so you can plan your route.

Use the Renew London map. It’s an interactive tool showing ongoing and planned construction, including road closures and lane restrictions. You can search by street name or date to see what work is happening and when.

The City will continue using a coordinated communications approach, including project updates, signage, social media, and direct outreach, to keep residents and businesses informed throughout the construction season.

Business, community and sector leaders from across the London region met today for a closed-door roundtable convened by Mayor Josh Morgan and the City of London to help position the region ahead of the forthcoming renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

The session provided an opportunity for participants to exchange insights on shifting global trade dynamics, with a focus on the emerging pressures on local industries and steps needed to ensure London’s workforce and businesses remain competitive in a rapidly changing international environment. Attendees emphasized shared goals around protecting jobs, supporting workers and strengthening the region’s overall economic resilience.

“As we approach the CUSMA renegotiation, it’s essential that London and Southwestern Ontario speak with a strong and united voice,” said Mayor Morgan. “Today’s discussion brought forward the expertise and regional perspective we need to protect local jobs, support workers, and position our businesses to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy. By working together, we can ensure our region is ready not only to respond to these shifts, but to take full advantage of the opportunities they create.”

The session also featured a keynote address from David Paterson, Ontario’s Representative in Washington, DC, who offered an overview of emerging U.S. trade priorities and the potential implications for Canada as CUSMA negotiations approach. His insights helped frame the discussion, highlighting both the risks and opportunities for Southwestern Ontario in a shifting continental landscape.

“As the Ontario Representative in Washington I really appreciate the regular discussion and engagement we have with our mayors, chambers, unions and businesses,” said Paterson. “Trade starts at the local level and that’s also where trade disruptions are felt most - on both sides of the border. Sessions like today help us do our job here in Washington.”

A moderated discussion followed, led by Romel Mostafa, Director of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy & Management, and featuring insights from:

• Pete Oveson, President of Trojan Technologies
• Salim Chahbar, President of Trudell Healthcare Solutions
• Ethan Hickey, Executive Director of the Forest City Film Festival

“In today’s uncertain trade environment, effective policy starts with listening,” said Mostafa. “Hearing directly from businesses and communities about rising costs, delayed investments, and supply-chain disruptions is essential to shaping sound policy. This gathering, convened by the London Economic Response Team, aimed to do exactly that—elevating local perspectives to inform public decision-making.”

“Reliable water infrastructure depends on predictable trade relationships. CUSMA enables Trojan Technologies to confidently make investments on both sides of the US-Canadian border that create synergistic value for our customers,” said Oveson. “Well-designed trade agreements, like CUSMA, support our organization’s mission to continuously advance water treatment, ensuring everyone has access to clean water, globally.”

Panelists spoke to London’s distinct advantages, including its position within key transportation corridors, access to vital resources, strength in advanced manufacturing and medical sciences, the growth of the agri-food sector and the region’s post-secondary expertise. The conversation underscored how these assets can be mobilized to advance regional priorities during a pivotal moment in North American trade.

Background

Today’s gathering brought together regional partners to:

• Reflect on how global political and economic shifts are being felt locally.
• Share perspectives from across industry, labour and community sectors.
• Identify common ground as Canada approaches CUSMA renegotiation.
• Explore avenues to safeguard local employment and sustain long-term prosperity.
  

The City of London today celebrated London’s designation as the 2026 Forest Capital of Canada, awarded by the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC). The celebration included the unveiling of the commemorative Forest Capital of Canada plaque at London City Hall.

London was selected for this national designation in recognition of its leadership in urban forest management, environmental stewardship, and its long-standing identity as “The Forest City.” The designation honours London’s deep connection to forested landscapes and its commitment to protecting and enhancing the urban forest for future generations.

“London’s urban forest is a defining part of our city and a source of pride for our residents,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “Being named the Forest Capital of Canada is an honour, one that reflects how we live up to our nickname and reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of our community, City staff, and the many partners who help care for and grow our urban forest. As we celebrate London’s bicentennial, this recognition feels especially meaningful by highlighting the deep roots of our past (pun intended) and our commitment to a greener, healthier future.”

Throughout its 2026 term, the City will deliver a variety of events, educational opportunities, and community programs designed to celebrate the Forest City and strengthen London’s natural heritage. These initiatives will engage residents, partners, and organizations in learning about, appreciating, and contributing to the health of London’s urban forest.

“London has always had a close connection to its trees. This recognition as a Forest Capital of Canada is a celebration of the people who care for them every day, including our staff, volunteers and residents”, says Kelly Scherr, Deputy City Manager, Environment and Infrastructure. “Through actions big and small, from planting new trees and caring for mature ones, to maintaining parks and trails and responding to storms and pests, these collective efforts help our urban forest thrive. Together, we are growing a greener, healthier city for generations to come.”

London’s tree canopy currently covers approximately 27 per cent of the area within the Urban Growth Boundary. With a long-term goal of reaching 34 per cent by 2065, the City continues to prioritize the growth and protection of green spaces for the benefit of future generations.

As part of Forest Capital of Canada celebrations this year, the City will be hosting a range of events including tree giveaways and “treevening” events, with activities planned to engage the community and highlight the city’s commitment to its urban forest. Details about upcoming events and programs can be found at: london.ca/forestcapital.

The City of London is inviting local not-for-profit organizations to apply for Capital grants through the 2026 City of London Community Grants Program. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 12 p.m.

This grant is designed for local not-for-profit organizations to expand their programs and services through capital renovations or land and facility purchases, directly benefiting Londoners by enhancing access to vital resources and opportunities. By supporting the growth of these initiatives, we can foster stronger communities, improve quality of life, and create lasting positive impact throughout the city.

This year, $250,000 is available for Capital projects only. A $50,000 cap will be placed on all grants allocated to ensure broad impact.

About Capital grants

Capital grants are provided for projects that involve construction or the purchase of physical assets, including but not limited to, land, building and associated renovation costs that support increasing program/service space.

All grant applications are assessed based on their alignment with the City of London’s Strategic Plan, a demonstrated need for the project in the community, the cost and effectiveness of the project and the project’s contribution to the quality of life in the community.

“These grants are essential for local not-for-profit organizations to enhance existing facilities and services, allowing them to continue making a meaningful difference across our city,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “London is home to innovators dedicated to strengthening our city and elevating the well-being of residents, and we remain committed to backing initiatives that create a stronger London and broaden access to opportunities for everyone.”

Information sessions

To learn more about the 2026 City of London Community Grants Program, attend one of the virtual information sessions being held on Tuesday, February 17, from 5 – 7 p.m. or Tuesday, February 24, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

No registration is required, simply go to london.ca/CommunityGrants shortly before the webinar begins and click the link to join.

For those unable to attend, a pre-recorded informational video will also be available on the site.

Individual application 30-minute consultation meetings

Applicants can book a 30-minute time slot with City staff to discuss their applications, receive recommendations, and get support.

All sessions will be held in-person at Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre (656 Elizabeth St.). The following dates and times are available for booking:

• Thursday, February 26, from 3:30 – 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 3, from 3:30 – 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 10, from 3:30 – 7 p.m.

For more information about the City of London Community Grants Program, including details about the application process and previous projects supported, visit the City of London Community Grants Program webpage.