2017 Perspective London

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London | 2 0 1 7

Huron’s New Vision:

Leadership with Heart

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London has affordable housing and plenty of jobs

London’s Technology Sector – Making huge economic impacts

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A message from the mayor

W

Mayor Matt Brown

elcome to London. Welcome to the city that is on the leading edge of innovation.

Welcome to the city that is building a stronger economy for a brighter future.

Welcome to the city that is rolling out the red carpet for world class events, showcasing our own talent and talent from around the world. We are a city of hard workers, brimming with the opportunities that make businesses successful.

London is the home of Western University and Fanshawe College, two leading post-secondary institutions that continue to produce graduates who are ready to excel in a variety of occupations.

With close to 1,000 job openings, our digital creative sector is growing and thriving. More than 9,000 employees

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Publisher, CEO Steve Montague Vice-PresidenT Ed Martin

now work in this competitive industry, more than three per cent of our total labour force. This sector has been built on innovative ideas, leading to success stories like Arcane, EK3, Digital Extremes, Voices.com and so many others.

We are also focused on making London a national centre of excellence for medical innovation and commercialization. London’s life sciences sector continues to be a pillar of our economy, employing more than 24,000 people in the private sector, at hospitals and in research facilities, focusing on better treatments that can be used throughout the world.

In our downtown, we have taken a significant step towards turning one of our busiest streets, Dundas Street, into a flex street. This will allow shops and restaurants to spill out onto the

Marketing Coordinator Sabrina Woods Account Executive Graeme Molloy

curb-less, car-less, bus-free street. The potential for businesses is enormous, with crowds of people flocking to our core for lunch and dinner, strolling past our unique storefronts and gathering for outdoor street festivals.

We’ve proven that we are a city of entertainment. After successfully hosting the 2016 Canadian Country Music Association Awards, we are ready for more. Airshow London, the largest airshow of its kind in Canada, attracted more than 20,000 pilots and aviation enthusiasts and it will return this year.

It’s events like these that bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to our doorstep.

This is what we are proud of. This is what makes us unique. This is London.

Sincerely, Mayor Matt Brown

PerspectiveTM London was produced indepen­dently of the City of London. Contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Perspective Marketing Inc. The publisher is not liable for any views expressed in the articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the City of London.

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Matthews Hall – A Proud and Significant Part of London’s Heritage

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atthews Hall was founded in 1918 by Kate Sotham Matthews in a room at St. Paul’s Cathedral as a private school in the Anglican tradition for “young ladies and gentlemen”. Miss Matthews was born in England in 1878, and immigrated to British Columbia in 1895. In 1912, she moved to London, where St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral became the focal point of her personal and public life. Upon her arrival in London, Miss Matthews was encouraged to open a school for children, which she did in the waning days of the First World War. In the beginning, Miss Matthews had only intended for the school to be a kindergarten; however, as a result of her philosophy of education, personal example and special gift with children, the school flourished and grew to include eight primary grades. Soon Kate Matthews’ school had outgrown its space at St. Paul’s Cathedral and in 1930 began a series of moves relocating to a site on Dundas Street and then the corner of Richmond and Sydenham Streets where it remained until Miss Matthews’ retirement in 1950.

On June 8, 1949 a resolution was passed to form a corporation to acquire the interests and assets of Miss Matthews’ School and to reorganize and govern Kate Matthews’ school. By 1950, Miss Matthews’ School was incorporated as an independent nondenominational school and moved to the Dr. J. Thornley Bowman homestead at 562 Waterloo Street.

By all accounts, the school’s founder, Kate Matthews, was much admired for her work in her parish church of St. Paul’s Cathedral, along with her active support of the Guiding movement. She was also so esteemed by her fellow Londoners that the University of Western Ontario

recognized her remarkable achievements and commitment to the education of children with an honorary Doctorate of Letters in 1950.

Kate Matthews died in 1955 after an impressive life of service to her church, school, community and country.

On June 1, 1977, the school’s name was legally changed from Miss Matthews’ School to Matthews Hall, in an effort to emphasize the coeducational nature of the school. Matthews Hall was re-located to the former Katharine Harley School at 1370 Oxford Street West, the site they occupy today.

In 2008-2009, they undertook a capital campaign to renovate the library and construct a Great Hall with gymnasium, performance stage, art gallery and school store, all of which have enriched the learning experience for generations of students and teachers.

Today, Matthews Hall continues to develop in fidelity to its heritage and independence under the leadership of current Head of School, Ric Anderson and are an accredited member of CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools) and the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario (CIS Ontario).

While the school has changed locations a few times, respect for its proud roots and Kate Matthews’ original ideals have remained intact since 1918. As a testament to the founder and the community, students and staff gather each year for

Closing Exercises at their original location and first home – St. Paul’s Cathedral.

To this day the school adheres and upholds the values inherited from Miss Matthews so many years ago which guides their decision-making.

You are invited to the Matthews Hall Kindergarten Open House Saturday April 1st – 9am – 12pm

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Huron Students are Uniquely Prepared for Social Leadership Huron’s new vision: Nawaz Sani leads with heart

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big vision means going against the grain. Huron University College has chosen to remain small and exceptional in our focus on undergraduate education, challenging students to be leaders with heart. For 3rd year Management and Organizational Studies student Nawaz Sani, leadership with heart is not just a motto, it’s the foundation of his own holistic student experience.

Originally from Pakistan, Nawaz moved to London at 14 and attended Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School.

After hearing about Huron from his guidance counsellor, Nawaz decided to attend March Break Open House.

“Everyone was so helpful and nice.

After just one day here, people knew my name. I was already part of the community.”

Nawaz’s own experience with community speaks to Huron’s broader vision. One hundred days after beginning his term as Principal, Dr. Barry Craig charted an exciting new course for future growth that will distinguish Huron from other Canadian universities, highlighting corporate social responsibility, service to the community, and social justice.Yet, it also highlights a fundamental element of the Huron advantage. For more than 150 years, Huron has prepared leaders for every aspect of civil society. But more than

that, this strategically small university prepares leaders with heart.

“At Huron, we support one another.

Never has it been more important and necessary to focus on recruiting, attracting, and retaining a diverse community of students, ones who are both academically inclined and community minded,” Dr. Craig says.

“Challenging students to be leaders with heart means ensuring that students from all backgrounds are supported throughout their time at Huron and their individual gifts developed.”

Thanks to an entrance bursary and opportunities to work on-campus, Nawaz’s desire to be a Huron student became a reality. Once here, he became involved in the campus community through Volunteer Ya!, a club unique to Huron which volunteers in the London community. From serving community meals and spending time with seniors, to working with Operation Christmas Child, students lend a hand.

Alongside unique extracurriculars are unique academics that pair an ethical business core with liberal arts. This past autumn, Nawaz and other students took part in one of Huron’s Communitybased Learning courses that saw groups of students take on the role of external consultants. The students, working in small groups of 3 or 4, provided “reallife,” pro-bono consulting services for a local business or organization. The consulting projects required that students provide their client organizations with the most beneficial analyses and recommendations to address specifically defined business challenges.

“It was such an amazing opportunity,” Nawaz says. “There was a bit of everything: research, problem-solving, real-life job experience, and working in a group over the course of a project.”

He adds, “Sitting at the back of a big class isn’t always that fun. Here it’s easy to participate. Professors are really encouraging and want to hear from you.”

Founded in 1863, Huron University College, an affiliate of Western University in London is a close-knit and diverse community of accomplished scholars, researchers and students.

Building on these hands-on experiences, Nawaz is developing plans to start his own business that combines job creation for people facing barriers to employment with manufacturing.

With Huron’s vast network of alumni who have found success in entrepreneurship, students can access this group for mentorship and advice.

It’s this combination of start-up meets ethical core that is helping to further solidify Huron’s growing reputation as a strategically small university that has served as a business incubator.

For Nawaz, Leadership with Heart means perspective. “For me, being a leader with heart means thinking about more than just me; it’s about going beyond my own well-being.

It’s thinking about others and the community we’re all part of. This sort of leadership means making the world a better place, even in a small way. Lots of places say this, but being at Huron means you live it.”

Originally from Pakistan, Nawaz Sani moved to London at 14. He heard about Huron from a guidance counsellor and decided to attend the March Break Open House, which convinced him to attend Huron University College.

“I love the community at Huron.

People really see you here.You have conversations. It’s inclusive; you’re not anonymous.You contribute.”

huronuc.ca

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L360 ARCHITECTURE Develops Client’s Ideas Into Creative, Accurate Solutions

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ngenuity is the driving force behind the success of L360 ARCHITECTURE. Since 2001, Founder Paul F. Loreto’s, OOA (Ontario Association of Architects) RAIC (Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) expertise mirrors the development of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in North America, including being co-founder and inaugural Chair of the Canada BIM Council, Canada’s original selfregulating BIM authority. His early participation as a Consultant with Revit Technologies in the development of BIM has resulted in L360’s unique implementation of BIM into L360 projects. As BIM’s champion for years, Loreto is elevating his focus to make changes to the industry’s process of project development. These changes come in the form of the L360 ARCHITECTURE Process (L360AP) a unique integrated project delivery process focused on instilling the 3C’s of Architecture: Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination.

“Our greatest value, when not the lead architect, is to assist a strong design firm into translating their design into an unparalleled level of construction documentation leveraging our L360AP,” says Loreto. “This software has been used as a front end design technology, but our process focuses on the entire project and results in tearing down the individual silos existing between architects and engineers and providing an environment similar to when we were back in the childhood sandbox where our love for what we do began, while at the same time playing nicely with each other.”

The L360 ARCHITECTURE PROCESS (L360 AP), leverages digital modeling from project initiation through to construction end and creates a highly interactive project environment for the Project Team, while proactively flushing out problems that traditionally results in additional costs when left unaddressed until the construction phase. The L360AP results in a modernized style of document drawings leveraging the model, which is viewable at all times

during the Construction Phase, for sake of clarity. The L360AP promotes communication, collaboration and coordination throughout the project and places a focus on the 3C’s of Architecture. It is this focus that provides profound results of cost control, clarity and team accountability on L360 projects.

“Our focus is to first build the project virtually, months before actual construction starts, to proactively flush out and resolve potentially costly issues before placing our documents in the hands of the constructor,” says Loreto.

“We’ve implemented digital modeling into our process as the modernized redevelopment of the traditional 2D construction document set. The L360 AP has proven to instil strict cost controls and reduces change orders such that the Client finds themselves being able to use their contingency fund on desired extras rather than having to lose it to pay for the mistakes of others.

L360 ARCHITECTURE’s impact is seldom seen in public as their

work is often lost in their supportive role as BIM Consultants to major North American firms; be it large architectural design firms or national construction firms. One major project, the Woodstock General Hospital, is one example regionally where L360 ARCHITECTURE’s expertise was utilized by construction giant Ellis Don, to achieve a successful construction result.

Today, L360 ARCHITECTURE, through Loreto’s leadership is “not trying to be like everyone else. Our history and expertise has L360 focusing on changing the process in which Architecture is being carried out in today’s industry; one successful project at a time.”

To learn more about L360 ARCHITECTURE’s L360 AP and how it can reduce cost, increase your return on investment, and return control of your project budget back in your hands, call to speak to an L360 ARCHITECTURE professional at 519.473.6641 today.

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London’s Economy Built on Diversity, Stability Key sectors of healthcare, education, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, finance and technology leading growth in the southwestern Ontario city

By Meredith MacLeod

T

he city built around insurance and banking is far from a singlesector town anymore.

“London has a stable economy built on diverse economic clusters,” said Kapil Lakhotia, president and CEO, London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). “We continue to see rapid growth in digital creative, life sciences and food and beverage processing.”

Overall, London’s economic structure earns 0.93 on a diversity scale of 1.00, according to the Conference Board of Canada. To compare, KitchenerWaterloo-Cambridge scores 0.87, Windsor 0.79, Kingston 0.86 and St. Catharines 0.89.

Added to that, London’s GDP growth was among the strongest in the province over the past three years.

London’s agri-food hub is led by Cargill, Summit Foods, Labatt and Dr. Oetker, thanks to affordable commercial land, combined with ready access to water and agricultural products and strong highway corridors to major markets.

Manufacturing has rebounded from the deep hit of the recession, thanks in

large part to the automotive industry, with Formet Industries and General Dynamics Land Systems Canada leading the way. That has boosted transportation and warehousing and construction is also strongly recovering. The city hit a record for building permits in 2016, driven primarily by the residential and institutional sectors, including large projects at Western University and Fanshawe College.

London also has a thriving digital media sector, a massive medical and research field and a growing range of technology startups. “All of that is fuelling a boom of repurposing buildings in the city’s downtown,” says Jim Smith, president of the London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR).

“The market has been pretty robust the past few years,” said Peter Whatmore, CBRE’s executive managing director for southwestern Ontario. The retail and industrial sectors have been particularly solid and the city has an “incredible stable of employers like the university and hospitals and the spinoffs of both.”

Commercial realtor Rick Gleed says London offers a huge opportunity to add value to vacant or underused properties. He’s working on doing that with a large but underperforming plaza at Wellington and Southdale that will be torn down and rebuilt. He also points to former bars on Ridout Street being converted into residences for young mothers and office space for a non-profit.

London’s life sciences sector is a shining jewel and a cornerstone of the city’s economy.With a rich history of achievements and medical firsts, the sector employs more than 21,000 in private sector industry, hospitals and research facilities including more than 2,000 researchers.

“It’s an opportune time to invest in London, in a value-added city. There are lots of opportunities here for people who are creative and innovative,” he said.

“We have all the commodities of an amazing, dynamic city but we have to make use of it all.”

That means figuring out London’s value proposition – what it offers that no other municipality can match – in order to drive long-term growth.

London has plenty going for it, along with a council that is welcoming to investors, says Smith at LSTAR. Land prices are low compared to the GTA, Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, the city credits back development charges, and the 401 and 402 corridors are free of congestion, he says.

“London is a wonderful, stable community with so much to offer investors willing to look its way.”

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Canada’s Destination for Conferences and Large Meetings When the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness presented its 4th national conference at the London Convention Centre last November, it attracted more than 900 attendees – up from the 600 who came to the previous year’s event in Montreal.

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hose numbers come as no surprise to Lynne Gale, director of conventions for Tourism London. “When national and provincial associations make the decision to hold their conventions in London, their attendance is usually larger than

anticipated, and often record-breaking,” she says.

London may be a mid-sized city, says Gale, but it has the ability to host conferences and large meetings in a big way.

The city offers 3,500 modern hotel rooms including all the major national chains, unique boutique hotels, and on-campus accommodation at Western University, Brescia University College, and Fanshawe College.

It is conveniently located at the convergence of highways 401, 402 and 403, and boasts a modern international airport served by Air Canada and West Jet. “With non-stop flights from major points across Canada, including ten a day from Toronto, it really is easy to get to London from almost anywhere,” Gale says.

And London offers a variety of world-class facilities suitable for meetings of any size.

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Perspective Situated in the heart of downtown, the London Convention Centre (LCC) features more than 70,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space.

In 2015, the centre launched a $5 million capital improvement project.

Completed this August, the revitalized LCC now boasts more modern, flexible, and fully-accessible meeting spaces. With a 33,000-square foot ballroom, up to 14 breakout rooms, and a sun filled, spacious foyer that can host breakout sessions by day and an elegant cocktail reception by night, the LCC can comfortably accommodate up to 2000 people.

London’s largest full-service hotel is located just across the street.

DoubleTree by Hilton is connected to the LCC by a covered walkway.

Recently renovated from top to bottom, it features 323 guest rooms, as well as a Prime Minister’s Suite, an Executive Suite, and three private-access floors.

With more than 15 meeting rooms, including a 12,300 square-foot ballroom, DoubleTree can host anything from a five-person boardroom meeting to an event for 600, says Sam Davis, director

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CONFERENCES MEETINGS TRADE-SHOWS Look at London

of business development, DoubleTree by Hilton London.

The hotel’s central location means visitors can walk to everything downtown London has to offer, including night life, sporting events, and a large selection of restaurants. “We are only two blocks from the Via Rail and Greyhound Bus stations, and it’s a tenminute drive to Hwy 401,” notes Davis.

With dedicated meeting planners and an attentive catering team, conference organizers can relax and focus on the business at hand, he adds. “We offer a very low-key, personalized service.”

Those looking for a unique alternative to traditional meeting facilities may find Brescia University College to be the perfect fit.

Situated on 48 acres overlooking the Western University campus, Brescia combines a retreat-like setting with state-of-the-art meeting facilities, says Brescia College conference services manager, Max Voykin.

“When it comes to conference venues, I like to think of us as London’s hidden gem,” he says. “We are close

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to everything the city has to offer, but surrounded by open green spaces and lush forest.”

Canada’s only women’s university, Brescia University College was founded in 1919 and its majestic Ursuline Hall remains a local landmark. But most meetings and conferences take place in the award-winning Mercato, located inside Clare Hall, which was built in 2013.

The edgy new meeting space can host up to 400 people and is available for use from May through the end of August.

“We are able to offer private, queenbed accommodation on site, which sets us apart from most other academic institutions,” says Voykin.

Brescia is also known for its exceptional catering services. All meals are freshly prepared using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients by a team of Red Seal Chefs led by internationallytrained executive chef, Tim D’Souza.

“His creative capacity allows us to offer a wide variety of culinary options,” Voykin notes. “Pairing your meeting with comfortable accommodation and wonderful food makes for a great event.”

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· Brescia University College – London’s hidden gem for conferences and events · 300+ queen bed accommodations 1285 Western Road, London, Ontario www.brescia.uwo.ca/conference Phone: 519-858-5150 Email: brescia.conferences@uwo.ca

· B rescia’s “Mercato,” a modern 400-person conference space · World-class food services and catering

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London’s Technology Sector – Making Huge Economic Impacts

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rganic’ and ‘technology’ are words you rarely hear used together, but when charting the ascent of London’s tech sector, the two go hand in hand. While household names like 3M, London Life and Labatt’s are some of the most recognized contributors to the local economy, homegrown tech-based success stories are leading the next wave of growth.

“London’s tech sector has become one of the leading economic drivers in this city, and the overwhelming majority of that success has come organically, through local entrepreneurs starting businesses here,” says Marilyn Sinclair, President & CEO of TechAlliance, the Regional Innovation Centre for London. “As we move further into the information economy, we expect to see the launch of hundreds of new startups and thousands of new jobs created in London.”

Digital Extremes have been making videogames for nearly 25 years, weathering many industry changes. “To be successful in this industry still boils down to making great games,” says Mike Schmalz, President. The company moved to London in the late 1990s growing from about 20 staff to more than 270 today. “In the past 15 years, London’s tech industry has seen explosive growth.

Digital Extremes has been happy to be a part of that growth,” says Schmalz. “I believe London is now viewed as a game development hub in Canada. We have London game companies founded by ex-Digital Extremes employees that are starting to make their presence known in the industry.”

“Voices.com is often referred to as an overnight success story, but the reality is that we’ve been growing slowly and surely for the past decade,” says David Ciccarelli, CEO and Co-Founder of Voices.com, the global marketplace for voice-over talent. “We built our business plan around being mobile and expanding globally, and experienced immense growth in both those areas. What started out as a husband and wife working out of an apartment,

and then out of an accelerator space with the support and guidance of TechAlliance became a local company competing on a global scale. Today, we have almost 100 employees, over 400,000 registered users, and have done business in more than 139 countries.”

For decades, Trudell Medical International has developed and manufactured medical devices in London. “Our best-in-class respiratory management products have been sold in over 110 countries, their efficacy being validated in numerous peer-reviewed publications,” says Dr. Jason Suggett, Group Director, Science and Technology.

“We are proud of our association with the thriving scientific community of London and have collaborated with both Western University and Robarts in recent clinical studies. Having ready access to patients, clinicians and academia, in addition to numerous technology companies, makes London an ideal location to be based.”

ZTR Control Systems, a global leader in locomotive automation and remote equipment monitoring, continues to see significant year over year growth. The ZTR workforce has grown by over 20% in new employee hires over the past twelve months, and has nearly doubled in team size over the past four years. “As a global leader in our markets, we are optimistic about our future in London.

We appreciate motivated organizations like TechAlliance who are champions for companies like ZTR, and that help make London a destination for innovators and disruptors,” says ZTR Vice President and General Manager, Industrial IoT, Michael Tidy.

Above:VOICES.The voiceover company founded by David Ciccarelli and Stephanie Ciccarelli create professional voiceovers from audiobooks to video games.They also connect businesses with professional voice talent.

Visit voices.com to learn more about VOICES.

“The focus on organic growth in our sector is positively affecting the attraction and retention of great talent for London,” says Sinclair. “With a supportive entrepreneurial culture, a wide range of career opportunities, the quality of life, and the lower cost of living, the future of our technology sector looks very bright.”

Above: A statue inside the Digital Extremes office in London represents characters from their global hit Warframe which was launched three years ago and has become Digital Extremes’ most successful game.The game centres on a tribe of martial arts warriors known as Tenno who fight galactic battles in biomechanical suits called Warframes.

TechAlliance supports ideas both big and small. With the right guidance and expertise, ideas grow into budding businesses, where the best talent comes to work

Are you an entrepreneur?

We’re ready for you. www.techalliance.ca

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Exceptional People. Enduring Brands. Extraordinary Service.

This is Masco Canada.

With more than 100 years of experience in the Canadian marketplace, Masco Canada proudly represents some of North America’s most recognized plumbing brands, including Delta®, BrassCraft®, Peerless™, Hansgrohe® and Master Plumber®. Masco Canada is the Canadian plumbing division of Masco Corporation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of brand-name products for the home improvement and new home construction markets.

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asco Canada has a longtime commitment to the Southwestern Ontario’s business community with a rich history of multiple facilities in the area. With the purchase and transformation of the former Sterling truck manufacturing facility in 2010, Masco Canada has been able to build a one-of-a-kind facility in the region from which to develop, assemble, test, market, sell and distribute thousands of plumbing products.

The new Masco Canada location provided the platform to amalgamate the former Delta Faucet Canada of London, Master Plumber of Brantford and BrassCraft Canada of St. Thomas into one centralized facility. With this bold move, the company was welcomed to the community with open arms. While the consolidation provided Masco Canada an opportunity to rejuvenate and enhance its operations, it also provided a platform

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to unite employees under a common leadership and culture.

At the core of Masco Canada are its exceptional people, enduring brands and extraordinary service. With a long and successful history in Canada, Masco Canada has an unsurpassed understanding of Canadian customers, consumers and influencers within the plumbing and new construction industry, which adds significant value to its business partners.

The company’s ongoing commitment to excellence is led by a set of core values where team collaboration drives its collective passion to win. For Masco Canada, winning is all about providing the best customer experience possible in all of its business dealings.

Common values flow through a workforce of over 450 employees, where learning and sharing best practices is a daily occurrence. The teams at Masco Canada are highly committed to seek the

best in themselves. This is evident in all aspects of Masco Canada’s business; from its commitment to quality products, to a focus on superb customer service.

When Masco Canada’s President Ken Roberts, a resident of London Ontario, was asked what the future holds for Masco Canada, he said it is a bright one. Through a heightened sense of teamwork and a strong dedication to quality, operational excellence and customer experience, Roberts believes that more success will build on Masco Canada’s current success.

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Community-based Learning brings King’s Students to London City Hall

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emale students in the Social Justice and Peace Studies program at King’s University College, London are learning first-hand what it’s like to be a female politician. The Municipal Government Mentorship Program pairs students with London City Councillors and municipal leaders with an aim to increase the participation of women in elected office. The program, which is also an academic credit, allows the students “to feel confident and build relationships that encourage more women to enter politics,” says Dr. Allyson Larkin, professor in Social Justice and Peace Studies at King’s. Dr. Larkin helped develop the program two years ago which provides King’s students with skills in media relations, committee work, community events and city council procedures.

“The program has given me an incredible insight into the lives of women in the municipal political system, and more of an understanding of what work is yet to be done to increase the representation of women,” says Kayley MacGregor. Her classmate, Emaan Ali, agrees adding “the King’s Municipal Government mentorship was an opportunity for me to gain relevant political experience

and build relationships within the London community. While it was a valuable learning experience on a personal level, it also set precedence for other young women to engage in the political realm.”

City Councillors say they are learning too and are inspired by the young mentees from King’s. “It is great to work with the students, and see them learn and grow through the process.

We enjoy getting to know each other, and learning how much we have in common. Additionally, one of my mentees, Natalie Garrison, helped to advance the application of the Gender Lens as outlined in council’s strategic plan which was a huge accomplishment in our time together,” says Virginia Ridley, Councillor for Ward10.

Mentees are able to adjust their school timetables to fit in City Council meetings and other important learning opportunities. The goal of the program is parity of gender in politics and, to that end, the number of student participants in the mentorship has been expanded and the length of the program has been extended to a full academic year.

For Kelly Cipriani, the City Hall Mentorship Program at King’s has provided her with the confidence to

push ahead with a potential career in elected office.

“By being involved with this program, attending Council and committee meetings and seeing the process of decision-making, it has given me the needed push to apply for the London North Centre Youth Council to which I was appointed to last October. The program gave me the confidence to get more involved in my community as I have been partaking in various community events and meeting great professionals. I couldn’t be more thankful for this program for the connections

I’ve made and for the great mentor I have. I will continue to be involved in my community and pursue my passion for a career in politics. My mentor, Kate Graham, Director of Community and Economic Innovation at City Hall, has helped me in many ways to get involved and to be confident about my abilities and what I can provide to London, Ontario,” she says.

To learn more about communitybased learning at King’s University College visit http:// www.kings.uwo.ca/academics/ social-justice-and-peace-studies/

Open House Friday, March 10th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 11th, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

• • •

Tours & info sessions with faculty & students!

Earn a Western Degree.

A world-class liberal arts education in a community setting where you are a name, not a number.

Get connected. Make a difference.

266 Epworth Ave. London, ON 1-800-265-4406 • kings.uwo.ca

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A Smaller Place to Thrive in the World London has plenty of jobs and great quality of life

By Meredith MacLeod

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eil Poutney and his wife searched for a house in Toronto for two years, constantly widening the hunt for an affordable home with good schools for their future family.

“Then we decided if we were going to be commuting that long, why work in Toronto? Then we opened our eyes about leaving.”

When they decided to move to London, it took them just two weeks to find the perfect house, on a half acre near a great school.

“The couple is among an influx of young professionals, families and empty nesters heading to London for its job opportunities, quality of life and affordability”, says Kapil Lakhotia, president and CEO of London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).

According to salaryexpert.com, the cost of living in London is 25.4 per cent lower than Toronto and 11 per cent lower than Hamilton.

“If it is affordability, charm and security of a mid-sized community combined with the business and career opportunities of a big city that you’re looking for, London is the perfect choice,” said Lakhotia.

Poutney agrees.

“We were blown away with London and I came in expecting not to be,” said Poutney, 34, who cold-called strangers in the city who helped him find a job as a sales manager for human resources company HRdownloads.

“You have options when you’re here.

London wouldn’t have appealed to 20-year-old me but it sure does now. For me, it’s a really good-sized city. It has all the amenities but there is green space

everywhere and I have a 20-minute commute with a stop for a coffee.”

It’s also got plenty of available jobs.

Employment growth hit an 11year high of 3.5 per cent in 2015 and continues to be strong. Job board Eluta has more than 1,500 postings for London. The technology sector alone added 2,000 jobs in the last two years, according to the LEDC and more than 50 companies have openings in 250 job titles posted to londontechjobs.ca.

The city has also become a food processing hub, has a strong advanced manufacturing sector and is home to the headquarters of London Life, TD, 3M and Labatt.

London’s educational institutions, extensive green space, and increasingly vibrant downtown means happier employees and lower turnover, says the LEDC.

Animator and director Kris Pearn grew up in London but his work took him to Los Angeles, England and Vancouver. Home always called. So Pearn pitched to come to London to direct a film he had written. He moved back in 2013, buying a farm with his wife and two teenagers in Wallacetown.

B.C.-based Bron Studios officially opened its Richmond Street location in October 2016. Pearn serves as director of animation.

London is close enough to Toronto and Detroit to travel for business and to attract talent from the GTA, said Pearn. It also offers workers and their families a great life.

“London has a big part to play as a smaller place where you can thrive in the world.”

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Western Continuing Studies Assessing Organizational Needs and Expanding Business Horizons

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s a diversified high-tech engineering firm, ZTR Control Systems needs to attract and retain the brightest and the best. A collaboration with Western University Continuing Studies is helping the London, Ontario and Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company do just that.

The company worked with the team at Western Continuing Studies to develop a customized Professional Certificate in Leadership program for current and future employees.

“Western offers a collaborative learning environment that encourages thought provoking discussions and learning experiences,” says Tracey Paddison, human resources manager, ZTR Control Systems. “Courses are facilitated by industry leaders and subject matter experts. After completing

even one course, our leaders are able to immediately implement key takeaways for progressive change.”

“The leadership program is a way to support personal growth and professional training, and to keep employees engaged, productive, and happy,” says Alison Adair, communications manager with Western Continuing Studies.

It’s also part of a growing trend to offer opportunities for lifelong learning in the workplace.

“Companies like ZTR understand the value in investing in their employees,” she notes.

With more than 50 years of experience providing training to businesses and organizations, Western Continuing Studies is well-positioned to deliver customized learning

Innovative and flexible learning experiences for your organization WCS.UWO.CA

programs that meet each organization’s unique educational needs.

“We begin with a needs assessment,” explains Christine Wilton, program manager, professional, corporate and personal development at Western Continuing Studies. “We try to understand the organization’s challenges, the culture, and what they is provided in terms of training and development in the past.”

Popular areas of learning include Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Management, Project Management, and Communications.

The best part? Employees register online through Western’s co-branded corporate portal and don’t need to spend years in the classroom to achieve tangible results.

Corporate professional development courses can be delivered online, at Western, or in the workplace, and can be structured as half-day sessions, one or two-day workshops, or as a 12-week program.

“People are often surprised at how flexible we can be,” Wilton says. “But with our large pool of instructors – both internally and through Western University as a whole – we can meet almost any request for training.”

The ability to deliver practical skills in an accessible learning environment has always been an important part of Western Continuing Studies.

In addition to corporate learning, the department has a long history of offering a host of post-diploma programs and professional certificates in areas such as Management, Health Sciences, Communications and Technology, as well as numerous personal enrichment courses in Languages, Humanities, Art Appreciation and Creative Writing.

The department also oversees Canada’s oldest French Immersion Program.

Celebrating its 85th anniversary this summer, the Trois-Pistoles French Immersion School in Trois-Pistoles provides a unique opportunity for individuals to improve their language skills while experiencing the culture and natural beauty of Quebec.

The wide range of learning opportunities on offer is one reason why more than 2,000 unique adult learners enroll at Western Continuing Studies each year, says Adair. Some come to keep current in their existing field, while others want to learn new skills in anticipation of a career change.

With its centrally-located downtown campus, and with many courses offered in the evening, over lunch, or online, Western Continuing Studies makes it easy for people to expand their horizons while still holding down a full-time job.

“The world of work is changing so rapidly,” Wilton notes. “Whether you are an individual or an organization, lifelong learning is now essential for success.”

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Crafting a Local Success Story London’s microbrewery helping to satisfy the taste for craft beer around the province, and at home

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orked River Brewing Company opened its doors in 2013, and in the nearly four years since they have put London on the craft beer map, winning a number of national and international awards with their highquality, unique, and sought-after brews.

Says co-owner David Reed, “Bringing locally-made craft beer to London has been enormously satisfying but, more than that, we’ve been astounded by the enthusiasm people have shown towards Ontario craft beer.” Such fast-paced growth brings its own challenges but, with them, also opportunities.

Each year, Forked River Brewing has required expansion to meet the demand for its many offerings, most recently opening up a tap room and expanded

retail store at its location at 45 Pacific Court, in the Argyle area of London.

Customers can now stop by the brewery for sample flights or even full pours of their favourites from the ever-changing lineup of products. In fact, it’s not uncommon to enter and find a group enjoying a board or card game along with their brews. They host a number of events in their rustic space, working with other local businesses to offer beer pairings with cheese, chocolates, or even cured meats, in addition to running brewing-related educational programs.

One can find bottles of their two flagship products, Capital Blonde Ale and Riptide Rye Pale Ale, distributed around the province in LCBO and grocery stores, and at local Beer Store outlets. The LCBO also carries such popular seasonal releases as Mojo, a rhubarb wheat ale, as well as Full City Coffee Porter, Red Coat, and Weendigo, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.

And while you can find their beers on tap at select locations from Windsor to Ottawa, the full breadth of their releases is available only at the brewery. Cofounder Andrew Peters is especially proud of their barrel-aged beer lineup.

“We’ve been honoured with gold, silver, and bronze medals for our barrel-aged and sour beers.” Visitors to their facility can find upwards of 80 barrels at any given time: red and white wine from VQA wineries, as well as bourbon barrels imported directly from Kentucky.

“They’re unique and special offerings, some taking up to 18 months of ageing before they’re carefully blended and

packaged”, he explains. With that kind of patience and care, it’s not hard to see the passion that the Forked River team has for great beer.

For information about Forked River Brewing Company products visit: www. forkedriverbrewing.com, check them out on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, or stop by the brewery at 45 Pacific Court, London, ON.

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London’s Office Market Offers Room to Grow At just over 20 per cent, downtown London has one of the highest office vacancy rates in the country. But that number tells only part of the story. While empty space remains a challenge, it also represents an opportunity for startups and blue-chip companies alike to find affordable office space with room to grow.

“Downtown London offers everything from hot desks and co-working spaces to floor plates of up to an acre,” says Downtown London general manager, Janette MacDonald.

More than 20 per cent of London’s workforce still works downtown, she says, and the city’s booming digital sector is expected to make that number grow.

The most recent Downtown London Market Assessment found that the number of digital creative employees in London has doubled over the past ten years, fueled in part by graduates from Fanshawe College and Western University and numerous downtown incubators.

“The tech sector loves downtown,” says MacDonald. “These companies are attracted to the walkability of the core.

They want to be close to our great restaurants, shopping and entertainment.”

With the City of London’s commitment to transforming its main street, Dundas Street, into a flexible street called Dundas Place, downtown London will continue to be the first choice for office users wanting to be in the heart of the action, MacDonald says.

“The next five to ten years are going to be transformational. Dundas Place will be a unique and exciting destination.”

Paul Dugsin of Magnus Associates is looking forward to being part of the change.

Dugsin and his business partner David Brebner purchased the former Loews Theatre and Century Theatre buildings at 192 and 194 Dundas Street in 2010. It took five years of renovations to transform the heritage properties into a mixed retail-office complex that now houses eight executive offices on its second floor.

Available for rent on a monthly basis, the building has provided temporary office space to everyone from web developers and film producers to psychologists, Dugsin says.

The ground floor of the former Century Theatre – with its vaulted ceilings, mirrored walls, and chandeliers – will be available for rent as one of the most unique office spaces in London. The design process is well underway, Dugsin says, and interested parties should step forward.

“We see this space as a place where people can build their own business by having access to very modern and professional space in the heart of downtown,” says Dugsin.

Citi Plaza is another downtown landmark that has forged a new identity.

Opened as an urban mega-mall in 1989, it is now a bustling mixed-use facility.

Recent additions to the office component include The City of London, video game development giant Digital Extremes, Intact Insurance, and

PricewaterhouseCoopers. “We are 83 per cent leased at this point,” says Charlie Gobert, a sales representative for Avison Young.

The former mall offers a blank canvas where companies can design and build a modern, fun office space that appeals to a younger workforce, Gobert says.

With spaces ranging from 2,500 square feet to 45,000 square feet, Gobert says Citi Plaza provides amenities that may not be found in a more traditional office building.

“We have wide hallways and a food court, a gym and movie theatre, as well as the infrastructure and backup systems that allow users to keep running without any interruptions to their business.”

Summit Properties has been leasing office space in London for the past 50 years and still believes in the value of hands-on customer service.

“We are owner occupied,” says Keith McAlister, leasing manager at Summit Properties. “We don’t have to wait to make a decision. If a tenant has an issue, we can deal with it right away.”

R

FO SE A LE

Dream Anything!

Your new office at Summit will have magnificent river valley views, and be nestled amid the arts, entertainment and best food offerings in London In the core financial district your A class office space is serviced by on site owner operated instant responders to your day to day and long term needs.

ocated in the heart of downtown London, this desirable business location will impress colleagues and clients with its fully furnished and outfitted offices, offering all the business features you require to let you focus on your business.

The Century Building offers a comprehensive range of services and features to faciliate your business operations including: Multiple boardrooms Wireless and wired internet

You can afford our abundant supply of covered secure parking attached to your leading edge office environment.

We aim to please and strive for excellence.

Kitchen facilities

The Century Building has eight offices ranging in size from 110 to 140 square feet. Every office features abundant natural light through their 6’ x 6’ windows.

24 hours access

Parking, restaurants, Service Canada, the London Courthouse, City Hall, and many other amenities are only steps away.

Mail collection/forwarding

Photocopier (Xerox WorkCentre 7775)

Ask anything...

Professional receptionist Office cleaning

THE CENTURY BUILDING For more information contact: inquiries@192dundas.ca or visit

www.192dundas.ca

192 Dundas Street, 2nd Floor, London, Ontario N6A 1G7

1-855-624-6872

keith@summitproperties.ca

Perspective Today, the company owns around 750,000 square feet of core and suburban Class A office inventory, including downtown’s Talbot Centre – three glass office towers joined by a shopping mall concourse and underground parking.

The traditional office complex remains a popular choice for many of London’s blue-chip companies, including numerous banks and financial service providers, insurance companies, and law firms. “We are 85 per cent leased, with some spectacular full-floor opportunities,” McAlister says.

Companies enjoy the best of all worlds in downtown London, comments McAlister. The city offers a large selection of office inventory with average gross rents that are $39 psft less than core Toronto for comparable space, easy access to VIA Rail and an international airport, and an enviable quality of life.

“I live in the suburbs and work in the heart of downtown,” he says. “In the summer, I bicycle to work in 20 minutes along the river path. When I drive, it takes five minutes longer.”

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Downtown Office Success

OFFICE / RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE | LONDON, ON 355 WELLINGTON STREET

FOR LEASE • Office / Retail • Various sized units available

920 COMMISSIONERS ROAD E

FOR LEASE • Office / Retail • Up to 4,330 sf available

1299 OXFORD STREET E

FOR LEASE • Office / Retail • Up to 30,000 sf available

Partnership. Performance.

Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (Southwestern Ontario), Brokerage 355 Wellington Street, Suite 245, London, ON N6A 3N7 231 Shearson Crescent, Suite 210, Cambridge, ON N1T 1J5 T 226.366.9090 F 866.541.9755 avisonyoung.com

Contact us

T 226.366.9090

avisonyoung.com

The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable and is believed to be true; it has not been verified and as such, cannot be warranted nor form any part of any future contract. ©2017 Avison Young (Canada) Inc. All rights reserved.

387-401 WELLINGTON ROAD S

FOR LEASE • Office • Up to 7,578 sf

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Is Online Learning Right for You?

welcome to the district

C

lassrooms used to be defined by four walls and a blackboard.

Nowadays, virtual classrooms are increasingly the norm. But just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should. Is online learning right for you?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? FLEXIBILITY

Online programs are flexible and can usually be taken on a full-time or parttime basis. It’s a great option for working professionals looking to transition into a new career, people with family demands or those who simply want the flexibility to learn at their own pace.

CAREER-FOCUSED

Full Calendar online at westernfairdistrict.com Music | Dining | Gaming | Shopping | Sports

WesternFairDistrict @WesternFair

KNOW YOUR LEARNING PLATFORM AND SUPPORTS

Understanding the online learning platform can make or break your learning experience. At Fanshawe, we use Brightspace, by Desire2Learn, an industry-leader in online learning platforms. It’s important to familiarize yourself with how the course is organized, as well as how the various learning tools function, such as quizzes, assignment submissions, discussion forums, virtual collaborating and testing.

As always, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need assistance!

BE MOTIVATED AND GET ORGANIZED

Certificate, diploma and graduate certificate programs are offered online and, in many cases, the courses lead to professional designations that can help you achieve your career goals.

Online learning requires a lot of selfdiscipline. Whether you’re taking a single course or multiple, it’s important to stay organized. Plan out your course activities on a calendar, schedule times to work on each course and log in frequently.

FACULTY EXPERTS

GET INVOLVED

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

DID YOU KNOW?

Learning from faculty with extensive industry experience enriches the online learning experience. It’s just as important for faculty to have specific training or experience in online teaching because they are critical in helping the online learner be successful.

You can assess your readiness with Smarter Measure, an indicator of whether or not the online learning environment is right for you. Request your free login at fanshawec.ca/online.

Online programs are where introverts and extroverts can collaborate with confidence. Get to know your classmates and professors by participating in discussions and asking questions. The more you participate, the more enriching the learning experience will be.

Fanshawe has 20+ online diploma and graduate certificate programs and 600+ online courses.

Challenging our students to be leaders with .

The Huron vision is to unite liberal arts with leadership, centred around an ethical core, and dedicated to both academic excellence and accessibility.

We want to challenge our students to be leaders with heart.

Dr. Barry Craig Principal, Huron University College

huronuc.ca

starts here.

David Patchell-Evans (BA’77, LLD’12) discovered the healing power of exercise while recovering from a debilitating motorcycle accident when he was a student. A global advocate for fitness, notable author, generous philanthropist and founder of GoodLife Fitness, he motivates millions of people to lead active and healthy lives. And his lifelong commitment to fitness started at Western.

Help develop the next generation of extraordinary leaders. extraordinary.westernu.ca

Photo: Beth Hayhurst

Extraordinary determination