Tag: Brescia

Labour Day Update

Municipal Election News

We have cancelled the All Candidates meeting which had been planned for September 26th at Brescia. There are a number of other all candidates meetings scheduled. The Free Press web site has the candidates’ replies to their questionnaire on their web site.

We still intend on sending three questions to the candidates and we will post the answers to the community web site.

All Candidates Meetings

The City updates this list of all candidates meetings from time to time as new meetings are added. See http://www.london.ca/city-hall/elections/voter-info/Pages/All-Candidates-Meetings.aspx

Meetings for candidates for WARD 6 (our ward)

When: Wed Oct 10
Where: Eagle Heights Public School (on Oxford Street at Cherryhill)
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will take place from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. followed by a “meet & greet” until 8:30 p.m.

Meetings for candidates for MAYOR

All Mayoral Candidates Meeting sponsored by the Rotary Club of London-Hyde Park
When: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: West Haven Golf & Country Club, 7038 Egremont Drive, London, ON N6H 5L2
To ensure there is sufficient seating and refreshments, please preregister on line at hydeparkrotary.org

All Candidates Meeting – Ward 7 & Mayoral Candidates Hosted by the Hyde Park Business Association & Sponsored by The Four Seasons Restaurant
When: Thursday, October 4th, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: The Four Seasons Restaurant, 455 Fanshawe Park Rd W, London, ON N6H 5L3
The Hyde Park BIA invites Ward 7 residents as well as residents from across the city to join them for a chance to get to know your candidates in a relaxed and licensed atmosphere. Questions can be submitted in advance to info@hydeparkbusiness.com, and there will be the opportunity to ask your questions directly to candidates during the meeting. Refreshments will be available for purchase during the event.

Ranked Ballot

Election Day is October 22 and the City is using a ranked ballot for the city (but not school board) election. For more information see http://www.london.ca/city-hall/elections/ranked-choice-voting/Pages/default.aspx

Brescia Construction Update

Brescia will open a new state-of-the-art Academic Pavilion in Fall 2019 that will house new food labs, sensory and research laboratories, multi-tiered classrooms, an active learning classroom, an expansive student lounge and a community gathering space.

Over the course of the next year, we will receive updates from Brescia. Brescia has re-located its accessible parking spaces to the upper parking lot, just outside of the Mother St. James Building.

To learn more about the project and to view images of what the Academic Pavilion will look like upon completion, visit http://brescia.uwo.ca/about/academic-pavilion/

Brescia and BRT Updates

BRT Update from Councillor Squire

Given the announcement yesterday and the media attention I want to bring you up to date on the BRT process:

1. The City staff will be having their last Public Information Sessions on the BRT before it comes to council for final approval. Attached is the information on the date and location and an overview of what will be discussed.

2. The provincial government through the Minister of Transportation yesterday announced that it will fund the BRT plan to the extent of up to 170 million dollars. The city itself has committed 130 million which means the project needs approximately 200 million from the Federal government to be completely funded. The provincial government made it clear that it is funding this plan only.

3. The plan will be coming to council for final approval in April. Please keep in mind that the initial vote on the business plan was 14-2. I have no reason to believe that vote will change.

4. The chances of this council putting this matter to a referendum in the election is I believe almost zero. I have heard this suggestion being made so I wanted to comment on it.

5. I will be having a public meeting prior to the final council decision so I can hear from constituents.

These are I believe the important points to make. If you have any questions please let me know.

Phil Squire
City Councillor, Ward 6

Brescia News

Brescia will be demolishing the building behind its library and removing the portable and replacing it with a new building of similar height and footprint. Here is a message from the Principal and Brescia’s media release. Brescia will keep the community updated.

In 2019, as we celebrate our centennial year, we will also set a course for the next 100 years with the opening of a new state-of-the art academic pavilion.
This modern, light-filled building will not only allow us to respond to the strong demand for the Brescia experience, but will also support our world-class academic programs, current and future growth aspirations and bold leadership for decades to come.

I invite you to learn more about this announcement in the press release below and I look forward to keeping you up to date on this exciting milestone in Brescia’s story.

Sincerely,
Dr. Susan Mumm, DPhil

Brescia University College is investing in future women leaders through the construction of a new $ 14 million state-of-the-art academic pavilion. The 30,000 square foot, light-filled building captures the best in educational design. The pavilion will include three state-of-the-art food and nutritional science laboratories, sensory and research laboratories, two multi-tiered classrooms, informal study spaces and an active learning classroom designed for dynamic group work to support Brescia’s current and future growth aspirations.

Designed by the internationally recognized architectural firm HDR, the pavilion is anticipated to open in Fall 2019, which coincides with the 100th anniversary celebration of the University’s founding in 1919.

For more information on Brescia’s academic pavilion, including renderings and live updates, visit: brescia.uwo.ca/academic-pavilion

Additional facts, photos and updates can also be found by following @BresciaUC and #BresciaBuilds2019 on Twitter. Additional information will continue to be updated throughout the course of the project. Questions may be directed to brescia.communications@uwo.ca

Be Aware and Be Careful

An open garage was vandalized on Bloomfield Drive recently. It is hard to believe but there are people who wander the neighbourhood looking for “soft” targets. Please do not hesitate to report suspicious activities to the police.

November News

Road work

Work on Sarnia and on Wonderland is wrapping up according to the City by next week. Work on Western/Wharncliffe is starting up. A contractor will be working on Wharncliffe Rd N. at the tracks (North of Oxford St.) closing one lane on and off flagging tomorrow Weds, Nov 16th for the day with work being done for London Hydro. The contractor will also be restricting the lanes to one lane in each direction starting next week.

Works ($6 M worth) are planned for 2018 for Sarnia and Western. What form this will take has yet to be determined. There will be a public meeting in the area in early 2017 where the city will reveal its preferred option for the intersection.
Continue reading “November News” →

August newsletter

University Matters
The new student residence (Ontario Hall) on Sarnia Road is open. Some questions and concerns have been raised about lighting and jaywalking already. Please report any difficulties to the following:

  • Traffic flows/design: City Transportation Planning, Maged Elmadhoon, M.Eng., P.Eng., Manager, Transportation Planning, City of London, 519-661-2500 x 4934, melmadho@london.ca or Mark Ridley, Senior Technologist, x 4736, mridley@london.ca
  • Street lighting: Shane Maguire, Division Manager of Roadway Lighting & Traffic Control, 519-661-2500 x 8488, SMaguire@london.ca (Shane advises that there are no plans to upgrade the lighting on Sarnia Road at this time but he’ll keep it in mind for future work.) For calls about street light or traffic light outages, call 519 661-2641
  • Jaywalking/speeding: London Police Services, 519-661-5670
  • Jaywalking: Glenn Matthews, Housing Mediation Officer, Western University, glenn@housing.uwo.ca or 519-661-3787. Glenn is also the contact if you are having trouble with tenants who are renting a house in your area.

Brescia’s new residence and dining facility has its opening ceremony during the morning of September 6th. Brescia reminds everyone in the neighbourhood that its new Dining Pavilion is being designed with a view to inviting the community in, and to providing spaces to gather and connect, whether that be over a coffee or lunch.

Rental Housing
If you do see any new “for rent” signs spring up, please let Sandy Levin know and he can send the information along to the city to determine if the rental property has been licensed.

Sherwood Forest School Site
The school board will declare the site surplus on September 10th. It will then be made available to public bodies listed in Regulation 444/98. Each body will have 90 days to submit an offer. If no offers are received, the school board is free to sell it to anyone.

The following passed 10-4 at City Council this week. Opposed were Councillors Polhill, Swan, Armstrong, and Henderson. Councillor M. Brown had a conflict of interest because he works for the School Board and will not be voting on this matter.

Recommendation: That the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to review and report back to the Corporate Services Cte on Sept 24, 2013, on the following matters related to the surplus school property known as Sherwood Forest Public School
a) the potential acquisition of the subject property, on the basis that:
i) there is a municipal need for community green space for the adjacent neighbourhood; and
ii) the City of London’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Strengthening Neighbourhoods identifies a need for amenities in the neighbourhood; and
b) the potential severance and disposition of any portion of the subject property that might be declared surplus to the City of London’s needs and disposed of in accordance with the City of London’s Sale and Other Disposition of Land Policy, should Council decide to proceed with the acquisition of the subject property.

In short, the city will not be buying the site and then reselling it for a community use, but Council has asked for more information on severing the site and possibly retaining some park space. No dollar amount has been determined, nor is there money in the city budget for 2014 for this at this point. Councillor Branscombe shared with us that they did have some discussions with school board staff and it appears that the school board disposal process (after the public bodies have passed on the site) is a guide and not a mandated process by the Province. How the school board will proceed with interested parties will be up to the Trustees.

Traffic on Lawson Road
A speed and volume study was completed in June and here are the results:

  • Eastbound- 800 vehicles per day, average speed 45 km/hr., 85th percentile 54 km/hr.
  • Westbound- 700 vehicles per day, average speed 38 km/hr., 85th percentile 57 km/hr.

These results indicate Lawson is functioning as a normal secondary collector. Under the new policy this street would not qualify for traffic calming; front line mitigating measures would be used to address neighbourhood traffic concerns. The methods would include tools such as driver feedback boards (PEEP installed on street earlier this year), targeted police enforcement (specific neighbours who drive fast through the area), sign installation and pavement marking modifications.

School Trustee Appointment
Thames Valley District School Board trustees will be accepting applications to fill the trustee vacancy on the Board following the recent election of Trustee Peggy Sattler as MPP for London West. Ms. Sattler was one of two trustees who represented our area of the city. Applicants will be asked to complete an application form accompanied by a resume and proof of qualification. Interested candidates may obtain an application on the Board’s website at http://www.tvdsb.on.ca or in hard copy at the Thames Valley District School Board offices, 1250 Dundas Street.

Applications will be accepted by the Chairperson of the Board as indicated on the application up until 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. Following an interview process, a recommendation for appointment will be taken to the Board for approval. The successful applicant will complete the Boards’ current four-year term that expires on November 30, 2014. For More Information:
Joyce Bennett, Chair Thames Valley District School Board 1250 Dundas Street E. London N6A 5L1 519-452-2000 ext. 20219 j.bennett@tvdsb.on.ca

Councillor Compensation Survey
A Citizen Task Force is working on a recommendation to city council on the compensation for the Mayor and Council members beginning with the Council elected in the fall of next year. The Task Force has developed a survey that will shortly appear on the city’s web site (London.ca). You are encouraged to complete the survey. Hard copies will also be available at library branches.

From Neighbourhood Watch
Several phone calls have been reported where a recorded female voice says:

“Thanks for being a loyal Shoppers Drug Mart customer. You have won a free vacation from Shoppers Drug Mart. All you have to do is press number 1 on your phone to arrange to get it.”

Shoppers Drug Mart informed Police that they have received a number of complaints about these calls.
IMPORTANT:

  • Shoppers Drug Mart DOES NOT have a free vacation contest going on and this is indeed a scam.
  • If you do press 1 then you will be asked for your credit card information.
  • If you receive a call like this, Police suggest that you call Shoppers customer service to let them know, as it may assist them in an investigation.

TD Waterhouse Stadium Events
-Mon Sep 2 – Mustang Football vs Carleton 7pm
-Sat Sep 14 – Mustang Football vs Ottawa 1pm
-Sun Sep 15 – Beefeater Football 1pm
-Mon Sep 16 – United Way Football (1 game @ 9:30am)
-Tues Sep 17 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Wed Sep 18 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Fri Sep 20 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Tues Sep 24 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Wed Sep 25 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Thur Sep 26 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Sat Sep 28 – Homecoming Football vs Queens 1pm
-Sat Sept 28 – Beefeater Football 8pm
– Sat Oct 19 – Mustang Football vs York 1pm
– Sat Oct 26, Nov 2, & 9 – Mustang Football Playoffs – tba 1pm
– Sat Nov 16 – Thames Valley High School Football 10am-10pm