London and UNESCO’s “Global Symphony”: What it means to be a City of Culture
London’s music community has hit a high note on the world stage. In late 2021, London (Ontario) earned the prestigious designation of UNESCO City of Music, becoming the first Canadian city to receive that. This title isn’t just a fancy label, it’s a recognition of London’s rich musical heritage and a ticket to a global network of creative cities. “This designation reaffirms that London is an international hub for music and culture. We are home to incredibly talented artists, songwriters, producers, sound
Why Provincial Investment in London’s North Rapid Transit Corridor Matters to Business
Why Provincial Investment in London’s North Rapid Transit Corridor Matters to Business - Kristen Duever - Cities that remain competitive in today’s economy are those that invest strategically in mobility. For London, strengthening transit connections between where people live, work, and study is essential to sustaining growth and attracting investment. Recognizing this, the London Chamber of Commerce has expressed its support for the City of London’s request for provincial funding for the North
Southwestern Ontario Can't Afford to Wait an Longer for Passenger Rail
Southwestern Ontario Can’t Afford to Wait Any Longer for Passenger Rail - Kristen Duever - Southwestern Ontario is growing — quickly. Our population is expanding, our labour market is evolving, and our economy is increasingly interconnected across cities and regions. Yet one critical piece of infrastructure has failed to keep pace with this growth: reliable, frequent passenger rail service. That’s why the London Chamber of Commerce recently wrote to MPP Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to the
London Chamber of Commerce Submission: Expectations for London’s Economic Development Strategy
The London Chamber of Commerce speaks as the collective voice of London’s business community. As the City prepares its new Economic Development Strategy, the Chamber expects this plan to move beyond broad aspiration and deliver a concrete, measurable roadmap for prosperity. The London Chamber of Commerce submits this document as the final statement in the City of London’s consultation process for the new Economic Development Strategy. It represents the collective voice of London’s business community and
Healing through Creativity: Community Responses to Homelessness.
Many people who experience more chronic forms of severe housing live with complex health and social needs that demand holistic responses. While advocacy and evidence have long centered on clinical treatment, housing, and social services, there is growing recognition of the role that arts-based and culture-led interventions can play in promoting well-being and a sense of togetherness for people experiencing housing loss. Crucially, studies have shown that creative expression and cultural practices do not
Buy Canadian: Keeping Jobs, Innovation, and Prosperity at Home
Buy Canadian: Keeping Jobs, Innovation, and Prosperity at Home By the London Chamber of Commerce Canada stands at a crossroads in its approach to national infrastructure investment. As VIA Rail prepares to award a $3-billion contract for new train cars—one of the largest transportation procurements in recent years—our country has an opportunity to demonstrate what Buy Canadian truly means. This contract is about far more than trains. It’s about whether Canadian tax dollars will continue to fuel economic
London Chamber Joins National Call for Labour Stability at Canada’s West Coast Ports
London Chamber Joins National Call for Labour Stability at Canada’s West Coast Ports The London Chamber of Commerce has joined chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and business associations from across Canada in signing a joint letter urging the federal government to take swift action to ensure long-term labour stability at Canada’s West Coast ports. The letter, addressed to Hon. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, and Hon. John Zerucelli, Secretary of State for Labour, calls for the
OLG is Celebrating 50 Years
OLG is commemorating 50 years of giving back, and it’s all about celebrating the players and communities who have helped make it all possible. To say thank you, OLG has been rolling out a series of 50th-themed games and contests and bringing wins to community events across Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has delivered more than $59 billion in lottery prizes alone and, with the help of our players, contributed approximately $62 billion back to Ontario to support priorities like health care, amateur sport,
London and District Business Hall of Fames Announces 2025 Inductees
London and District Business Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees Jo-Ann Fisher and Dale and Mark Hunter to Join Prestigious Gallery of LaureatesLondon, ON – June 10, 2025 – The London and District Business Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2025 inductees who will be honoured at this year's signature gala event on October 23rd at RBC Place London. Jo-Ann Fisher of Hangar9 and Dale and Mark Hunter of the London Knights and have been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame based on their
Downtown Reimagined Series
We’re proud to launch Downtown Reimagined - a summer article series that explores the City of London's Downtown Master Plan through a business lens. Help shape the future of downtown. Share your ideas on the Get Involved London website. 1 - Help Shape the Heart of London Let’s be honest—every city has a heart, and ours? It beats in the core. Whether you’re downtown for a board meeting, a beer on the patio, a Knights game, or a festival that shuts down Dundas Place, Downtown London is where business,
Take5 Digital launches Little Big Brother
A Cinematic Rebellion Begins in Southwestern Ontario: Meet Little Big Brother London, ON – Thursday, June 26, 2025 – A bold new production house is making its debut: Little Big Brother, a rebellious studio built to punch above its weight, and lean into its London roots while creating content that can stand on the national stage. From the team behind Take5 Digital and Gotham Studios, Little Big Brother enters the scene with a mission: to challenge brands to think outside of the box; to push the boundaries,
From Office Space to Living Space: How the City is Transforming the Core Through Grants
From Office Space to Living Space: How the City is Transforming the Core Through Grants The City of London is currently in their Public Engagement phase of the Downtown Plan and there is an opportunity for Londoners to get involved and help shape the core of their city. As this plan is created, the City relies on Londoners and London businesses to provide input into what changes and improvements need to be made in order to enhance the downtown’s economic capacity and residential appeal. This plan
2025 Q2 Business Conditions Report
2025 Q2 Business Conditions Report The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has released their 2025 Q2 Business Conditions Report detailing business sentiment and economic data over the last quarter. Unfortunately, this report marks the fourth straight quarter that overall business sentiment has dropped. This trend continues mostly in trade-exposed industries due to the ongoing trade war. While the leaders gathered at the G7 meeting, any proposed resolution to the dispute
The Role of Culture in London’s Downtown Evolution
London, Ontario, stands at a pivotal moment in its development. As the city shapes its future, culture emerges as an essential component of this process. A vibrant cultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth, tourism, community engagement, and overall urban vitality. This significance is especially timely as London formulates its Economic Development Strategy and Downtown Master Plan. Both initiatives will substantially influence the city's trajectory, positioning culture as a crucial
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business The London Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see the City of London approved by the Ontario Government for a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. This significant development is a vital step toward addressing the pressing needs of individuals in our community struggling with mental health and addiction—challenges that also have a direct impact on the local business environment. The
Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Trade Partnership: Why Tariffs Are a Lose-Lose Proposition
Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Trade Partnership: Why Tariffs Are a Lose-Lose Propositionby Kristen Duever Tariffs are the most urgent threat facing Canadian and American businesses today, putting at risk the economic prosperity and interconnectedness that has defined our nations' trade relationship. Every day, $3.6 billion in goods crosses the Canada-U.S. border, fueling a $1.3 trillion annual trade relationship that sustains 2.3 million Canadian jobs tied to U.S. exports and 1.4 million American jobs tied
Support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s Motion on Employee Ownership Strategy
The London Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to express our strong support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s motion to implement an Ontario Employee Ownership Strategy. Read the letter
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has published a letter to the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, in support of the High-Frequency Rail project in Ontario. The project, as currently planned, will offer over 1000km of brand-new rail infrastructure along the Toronto-Quebec corridor allowing faster and more frequent rail service. By moving passenger services to dedicated tracks, the new trains will no
2024 Membership Survey Report
2024 Membership Survey Report The London Chamber of Commerce has recently completed our 2024 Membership Survey. The responses will be used to plan for the coming year, fine-tune events, and craft new policies and advocacy positions. We would like to thank everyone who participated for their valuable input. Read the report
2024 Business Achievement Award Recipients
The 2024 Business Achievement Awards, held on September 25 and proudly hosted by the London Chamber of Commerce with principal sponsor TD, honoured the exceptional accomplishments of businesses throughout the region. Congratulations to all the award recipients for their remarkable contributions and ongoing excellence! Please join us in celebrating the recipients:Agribusiness Award: Proof Line FarmEnvironmental Leadership Award: General Motors of Canada Company - CAMI Assembly PlantExcellence in People
2024/25 Board of Directors
2024/25 Board of Directors Announcement The London Chamber extends a warm welcome to our newly elected Board Members, approved at the Annual General Meeting on September 19, 2024. Our Governance and Nominations Committee issued a Call for Expressions of Interest to the membership seeking interest in serving on the Board or any one of the Chamber’s five committees. This is only the second year we have used this particular process. We were overwhelmed by an incredible response from individuals
Review of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act
Review of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act The London Chamber of Commerce has officially submitted a policy paper to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in regards to the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act that is included in Bill C-27. This paper points out some flaws with the current draft of the act and some possible solutions that will help make the act more effective and ensure that Canada’s tech sector can remain competitive. While the act does include a large investment into AI, the
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has released their report on the state of generative AI in Canada and how it will affect the future of our business landscape. Generative AI is any AI system that can create images, data or text using prompts provided by the user. The current use case for these systems is to fill in some of the productivity and labour gaps that remain in the business environment. This technology represents new opportunities for
