This year marks London's 200th birthday. Here's how it's being celebrated
CBC
It’s been 200 years since London, Ont., was first legally founded as a small village at the Forks of the Thames River, and according to city hall and a number of local historians, heritage advocates and organizations, it’s an anniversary that’s well worth celebrating in a big way.
London’s bicentennial is set to be marked by an entire year of celebration, from events such as tours, markets and educational experiences, to opportunities for people to immerse themselves in local history on a self-directed basis.
“It truly is our 200th anniversary. We’ve had the date when [the site for London was chosen], we have the date when London was incorporated as a city, but [1826] is really when London started,” said Robin Armistead, London’s manager of cultural services.
Although London’s exact 200th birthdate falls on Jan. 30, when London officially became a legal entity and the new administrative and legal centre of London district, there’s no reason not to celebrate early, she said.
In fact, last night’s New Year’s Eve event in Victoria Park counted as the official kickoff for the bicentennial festivities, Armistead said. The true first event of this special year is the annual Eldon House Levee, an opportunity for refreshments and a self-guided tour through the historic site.
But beyond that, there’s much more to come, from community-led initiatives such as the Heritage Fair on Feb. 21 and History Symposium at Museum London on Oct. 17 and 18, to city-led events such as sidewalk visuals planned for this spring that will mark the original 1826 town plot boundary.
“We're building on existing events that we're already doing throughout the year and adding a new spin on some of them,” Armistead said. “We also have a bicentennial brand that the city developed internally and we're sharing that brand with everybody [who is holding events].”
What that new spin might look like will vary. For example, the annual Blackfriars Bridge celebration, which happens on Labour Day, will run for two days, instead of the typical one day, Armistead said.
The bicentennial year is something city hall sees as an opportunity to lean into what makes London special, she added.
“For one, we are a UNESCO City of Music in London,” Armistead said.
“We’re also the Forest City, and have the honour of being the Forest Capital of Canada for 2026, so you’ll see some forest related events happening.”
London is a mid-sized city that is small enough for connections between various sectors and organizations to feel seamless and easy to bring together, Armistead said.
Among the most involved organizations is the London and Middlesex Historical Society (LMHS), which is celebrating a big milestone itself—125 years since it was founded in 1901.
“What could be greater than London? What could be greater than 200 years of our remarkable history?” said James Stewart Reaney, president of LMHS.
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