Sheridan Homestay

Living in London

London is located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada and is a middle-sized city with a population of more than 350,000 people. It is located approximately halfway between Toronto, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, and is close to the United States border.

London has one of Canada's busiest passenger rail stations and an international airport with daily flights to several Canadian and U.S. destinations.

There are several schools in London that offer ESL classes, including Fanshawe College, the University of Western Ontario and CultureWorks as well as the London Language Institute, BEC Canada, and other private ESL schools.

The city features fine dining, an art gallery, a children's museum, Storybook Gardens, live theatre, a convention centre, several cultural associations, and a new sports/entertainment complex.

Historic sites, theatres, provincial parks and some of the best freshwater beaches in the world on Lake Erie and Lake Huron are a short drive from London. On summer evenings theatre is popular, including the famous Stratford Festival and Port Stanley Summer Theatre.

In Victoria Park in downtown London there are many free festivals and activities throughout the summer, including SunFest, a world music festival.

London History

London was permanently settled by Europeans between 1801 and 1804, and became a village in 1826. Since then, London has grown into the largest Southwestern Ontario municipality and the city has developed a strong focus towards education, health care, tourism, and manufacturing.

The city is known for its first class medical facilities including three teaching hospitals and two of Canada's largest medical research facilities. Every year, thousands of students come to London to attend the University of Western Ontario, Fanshawe College, and private language schools.

London is located on the Thames River. The River was originally named Askunessippi (the antlered river) by the Odawa and Ojibwa native Indians, who have lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. The Thames was the location of an important battle of the War of 1812. The Battle of the Thames was fought here on October 5, 1813, between American General William Henry Harrison and British General Henry Proctor, along with Proctor's ally Chief Tecumseh. This famous Native Indian leader was killed in the battle, and many schools and other public buildings are named after him in Canada.

Colonel Thomas Talbot, is considered to be the City of London’s founder, and is an ancestor of your homestay host, Daniel. Colonel Talbot selected the present site of the Old Court House as the location for the government buildings.

Colonel Thomas Talbot in 1840. Daniel in 1987. Almost identical! (^_~)

By 1840 London was large enough to become an incorporated town. In 1848 London had a population of 4,584.

As the era of the railway lines came Canada, London was in an excellent position to ensure that the railway network of Western Ontario radiated from the city. The Great Western Railway line (now the Canadian National) was built through the middle of town, and London entered into its liveliest period of expansion.

The decade of the 1870's brought new institutions. Huron College was established in 1863 and the University of Western Ontario followed in 1878. From this prosperous period, until the end of the century, London grew in size. In 1914, London had a population of around 55,000 people.

Since 1945, London has grown rapidly. Major changes in London's appearance have occurred. In the old city core, many of the landmarks of the past have gone, to be replaced by modern buildings, but the city still has many quiet streets, green parks, and historic areas.