London Free Press

Ex-principals join top ranks amid Thames Valley school board upheaval

5 min read

Three former principals are joining the top ranks of the troubled Thames Valley District school board after two senior officials took leaves of absence and another exited following a travel scandal that sparked a provincial audit. The three-day August retreat by 18 senior staff members of the cash-strapped school board, Ontario’s fourth-biggest, included first-class train […]

London Free Press

Amid turmoil, London Health Sciences Centre launches outside review of governance

6 min read

London Health Sciences Centre has launched a third-party review of its operations and governance and won’t move on appointing a new president or board until the months-long probe is complete.   David Musyj, the provincially appointed supervisor of LHSC, would not commit to a specific timeline on selecting a new chief executive or board of […]

London Free Press

Keep cannabis edibles away from trick-or-treaters: Public health nurse

2 min read

As Halloween approaches, local public-health officials have issued an unusual warning about keeping cannabis-laced candies hidden from children. Southwestern Public Health – the health unit serving Oxford and Elgin counties – on Tuesday warned citizens to keep edible cannabis products, especially ones packaged or shaped akin to Halloween treats, “out of reach of children.” “Edible […]

London Free Press

Executives resign as London Health Sciences Centre shakeup continues

6 min read

London Health Sciences Centre is losing two key members of its leadership team, including the head of Children’s Hospital, the latest change in the top ranks of the hospital put under provincial supervision just weeks ago.  Nash Syed, the vice-president of Children’s Hospital and women’s services at LHSC, has tendered his resignation effective Jan. 3, […]

London Free Press Unemployment

London jobless rate improves slightly with small job gains after months of losses

2 min read

London’s unemployment rate went down in September by the slightest of margins thanks to modest job gains that helped break a three-month streak of losses. The London area, which also takes in Strathroy, St. Thomas and portions of Elgin and Middlesex counties, added 700 new jobs last month, Statistics Canada reported Friday. That helped bring […]

London Free Press

School board trustees tee off anew on $38K retreat: ‘How could this happen?’

6 min read

Thames Valley District school board trustees reacted publicly for the first time on Tuesday night to details of a Toronto retreat by administrators that cost taxpayers more than $38,000 while the organization battles a $7.6-million deficit. The details were officially presented to trustees at a committee meeting following a request from trustee Lori-Ann Pizzolato that […]

London Free Press Population Southwestern Ontario

Across Southwestern Ontario, smaller communities creak under rapid growth

6 min read

The province estimates Southwestern Ontario’s population will jump more than 40 per cent to 2.6 million people by 2051. London and Middlesex County are expected to lead the way, growing by 56.7 per cent to about 880,000 people over the next 25 years, with nearby Oxford County close behind at 51.9 per cent. But rapid […]