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Interesting Facts
- London is located in Ontario, Canada, west of Toronto, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie at the fork of the Thames River. The metropolitan area has a population of more than 450,000 people, making it a mid-size Canadian city.
- A major manufacturing centre for southwestern Ontario, London was tapped early in its history as a potential site for the capital city of Canada, but that title eventually went to Ottawa. Today, the city is a vital center of commerce and culture for Ontario.
- Many cities and geographic regions in this area derive their names from England, and London is the perfect example of this custom. While the city has some similarly named locales with the English capital, such as Piccadilly Street, Covent Garden Market and the Thames River, there is little else the two cities have in common.
- Prior to 17th-century European colonization, London was originally home to a wealth of Native Indian Algonquin and Iroquois villages. While much of the history and culture of the native peoples was lost due to massive colonization efforts in the 17th and 18th centuries, Londoners have preserved a semblance of their early history in local museums and preservation areas.
- As London developed into the mid-19th century, the discovery of nearby hot springs led to the city's becoming a tourist resort area popular with wealthy Canadians looking for healthy and relaxing diversions. At the beginning of the 20th century, the springs were converted to textile facilities.
- London has been nicknamed "The Forest City," from its early years as a city located off the beaten path that was accessible only through the surrounding forests. Today, the city is well-known throughout Canada for its protection of its natural resources. Travelers to London will find a wealth of natural areas to explore.
- Because of its proximity to the Great Lakes, London experiences very distinct seasons with hot and humid summers and icy winters. Fascinatingly, it is noted that for better or worse, London has the most thunder and lightning storms of any region in the country.
- London has a long-held reputation as a center for the performing arts and entertainment. In the 1920s, London-born Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians hit the US music scene with their Big Band sounds. Lombardo became one of the most well-known entertainers of his era around the world and remains one of the city's most famous citizens.
- In addition to Guy Lombardo, famous Londoners include actors Hume Cronyn and Lolita Davidovich, and Warner Bros. Studios Co-Founder Jack Warner. Also, talk show host Jenny Jones, hockey great Eric Lindros, and Wilfred and Elsie Jury, noted archaeologists and historians.
- Beer lovers take note: both the Labatt and Carling family breweries were founded in London. Labatt's remains one of the country's most popular beers and many local landmarks bear the family name. Visitors can still visit the site of the first brewery for a tour and can see the oldest baseball park in the country, build by the Labatt family. The Labatt corporate office was moved to Toronto in the early 1990s, but the company's legacy remains as a vital part of London.
