Tag Archives: City of London

Capping the Forest City Until October 2014 Makes No Sense

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By Jay Menard

Sometimes a tree branch starts growing in a direction that you don’t want. There are a number of ways to control this growth, ranging from pruning to capping, but in the end all you’re doing is preventing the tree’s natural growth.

It makes sense if the tree is infringing on your home or at risk of causing damage, but to cap a tree simply because you don’t like the way it looks — or, worse, the colour of its foliage — is ludicrous.

Yet that’s exactly what some are suggesting we should do in London, Ontario. Essentially, there are those who are content to cap the Forest City’s growth until Oct. 27, 2014. Continue reading →

My Apology to the City of London — It’s Time to Grow Up

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By Jay Menard

Name-calling, questioning people’s intellectual capabilities, mocking, snide supercilious comments, mean-spirited personal attacks? It’s somewhat sad that the very behaviour that we discourage amongst our children has become the culture of choice for on-line discourse in London, ON.

I learned very early on that you don’t have to like someone and you don’t have to agree with them. But you have to be respectful of everyone and their perspective. And, most importantly, you have to value their efforts and ideas.

Sadly, it’s a lesson lost on many of those who purport to work for a better London, Ontario. Continue reading →

Canada’s London Has an Inferiority Complex

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By Jason Menard

The eyes of the world will be on London in just a few short weeks — and it appears that our civic inferiority complex will be on full display.

Highlighted by a laser light show; edged with spray-painted trees, and bankrolled to the tune of $100,000, we’re going to take the opportunity to share with the figure-skating world that we are London — just not that one.

Sorry. Continue reading →

My Promise to the City of London

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By Jay Menard

I’ve lived in London more than I haven’t. This, I feel, is a good thing. Obviously, having lived here for over half my life, I’ve seen a lot and have experienced the best and worst this city has to offer. And having lived elsewhere (Montreal) for almost half my life, I’ve had the advantage of stepping out of this bubble and seeing things from a new perspective.

I moved to this city in my youth and spend my teen years here. I left this city in my early 20s, like many others my age, leaving behind a London that we felt offered nothing to people of my age. I returned a few years later, older, hopefully wiser, and more appreciative of what the Forest City had to offer. Continue reading →

Hey London, This Bud’s for You

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By Jason Menard

What’s in a name? When it comes to fans and their sports arenas, quite a bit. But unless fans are willing to dig a little deeper into their own pockets, perhaps they should take solace that the marquee outside has little impact on the product inside.

And that’s something that the citizens of London, Ontario need to keep in mind, with our curious case of preferring one brand over another. Continue reading →

London Takes a New Name and Reveals its Red-Headed, Hoops-Playing Stepchild

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By Jason Menard

For a city that’s trying to brand itself as the City of Champions, showing clear favoritism and treating an actual champion as the ugly red-headed stepchild is hardly winning behaviour.

The City of London recently decided to try branding itself as the City of Champions to coincide with an expected Memorial Cup victory. It sounds nice to say, but if you listen closely you’ll hear an echo as the name is totally hollow. Continue reading →

Everyman Mayor Must Apologize for ‘Stupid’ Comment

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By Jason Menard

Maybe it was an off-hand comment. Maybe his intent differed from his execution. But whatever the motivation, a Mayor publicly disrespecting his or her constituents crosses the line – and every “average” Londoner deserves an apology from mayor Joe Fontana.

The alleged transgression came late on Monday night (Mar. 26) during a marathon council meeting. In discussing a measure that would potentially leave council open to a citizen-led Ontario Municipal Board challenge on the grounds of insufficient public notice.

Fontana’s alleged statement? “… the average person can’t understand what we’re talking about.” Continue reading →