Event Highlights for the City of London 1980 - 1989

1980

• 1980 was the 125th Anniversary of incorporation of the City of London, which occasion was marked by the First Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment exercising its Freedom of the City in a parade; Labour Day weekend was celebrated with a parade and arts and crafts displays in Victoria Park; Lord Mayor of London, England made an official visit to the City; and the City Hall held an open house to display historical documents, etc. with the employees dressed in period costumes.
• City Clerk W. S. Ross appointed Commissioner of Administrative Services on March 11.
• Chief Administrative Officer M. E. MacLean resigned March 17.
• S. F. Readings appointed City Treasurer on March 17.
• May 3 marked the official opening of the London Regional Art Gallery at the forks of the Thames River.
• May 31, Prince Philip, the Colonel in Chief of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, visited the City and his Regiment.
• Oxford Street Bridge over the Thames River reconstructed and named the Norman A. Bradford Bridge.
• The Honourable Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, took part in the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Dearness Home on June 15.
• City Engineer A. K. Rowntree retired July 3.
• D. B. G. Dutton appointed City Engineer on July 28.
• Commissioner of Administrative Services and City Clerk, W. S. Ross, died November 29.
• Commissioner of Community Services M. C. Engels appointed City Administrator effective November 30.
• His Excellency Governor General Edward Schreyer and Mrs. Schreyer opened the 1981 World Junior Figure Skating Competition being held at the Thompson Arena in December.

1981

• P.C. McNorgan appointed City Clerk on February 2.
• London hosted the "Silver Broom" Canadian Curling Championships in the Thompson Arena in March.
• K. L. Perry appointed Director of Planning and Development on October 13 to head new Planning and Development Department.
• D. R. Sexsmith appointed the City's first Internal Auditor on November 30.

1982

• London's Karen Baldwin (Miss Canada '82) crowned Miss Universe in Lima, Peru in July.

1983

• R.A. Barr appointed Fire Chief on February 1.
• N. L. Shipley appointed Police Chief on May 31.
• The Royal Canadian Regiment celebrated its Centennial Year which was highlighted by the visit of its Colonel-in-Chief, H.R.H. The Prince Philip, who attended a Trooping of the Colour ceremony on July 1 at J. W. Little Stadium which involved all 5 battalions of the Regiment from across Canada.
• Contract awarded for construction of Phase I of the Horton St. Extension, the construction of bridges over the Thames River at the west end of Horton St.

1984

• Ontario celebrated its Bi-centennial all year. Special Bi-centennial events were held in London.
• The Council approved a two-phase refurbishing program for Centennial Hall involving an addition to the north side and refurbishing of the interior of the main auditorium.
• Construction started on the Masonville Place Mall at the corner of Richmond Street North and Fanshawe Road, a major new retail centre.
• A tornado struck South London on September 2 causing property damage, but no deaths or severe injuries.
• The new Parkwood Hospital for geriatric and veterans' care opened on December 5.
• Phase I of the redevelopment of Victoria Hospital at its Westminster Campus neared completion.
• Plans for the John P. Robarts Heart and Brain Research Institute at U.W.O. neared completion. Council approved a capital grant of $400,000.00 to the facility
• St. Joseph's Hospital announced plans for a 70 million dollar renovation and expansion program.
• The City sold $11,300,000.00 of debentures (10 year term; average rate of interest at 12.49%).
• The Board of Education for the City of London moved its administrative offices from the old Normal School on Elmwood Avenue to a new Education Centre in the former Sir Adam Beck Secondary School on Dundas Street East.
• The London & Middlesex County Roman Catholic Separate School Board purchased the old Normal School for its new administrative headquarters.

1985

• Dr. D. A. Hutchison retired on June 30 after 25 years of service as Medical Officer of Health. He was replaced by Dr. J. D. Pudden.
• Completion of the extension of Horton Street, accomplished by the construction of a bridge linking Horton Street and Beaconsfield Avenue.
• Alderman J. F. Fontana appointed Controller on April 15 to complete the balance of the term of Controller E. J. Smith who resigned to run in the Provincial election.
• B. R. MacDonald appointed Alderman April 29 to complete balance of Alderman Fontana's term.
• E. L. Wernham appointed Alderman April 29 to complete balance of term of Alderman G. E. Avola who resigned to run in the Provincial election.
• Masonville Place Official Opening in August.
• The City sold $12,500,000.00 of debentures (10 year term; average rate of interest at 10.10%)
• Phase I of Victoria Hospital's new Westminster Campus officially opened on September 5, 1985.

1986

• Former Mayor J. F. Gosnell died on February 28, 1986.
• City Clerk P. C. McNorgan retired effective April 30, 1986.
• K. W. Sadler was appointed City Clerk effective May 19, 1986.
• The City sold $9,400,000.00 of debentures (9 year term; average rate of interest at 9.25%)
• Construction of the "Wharton Hotel London" commenced at the former Armouries located at the south-west corner of Dundas and Waterloo Streets.

1987

• The City of London completed two debenture sales in 1987, one of $2,850,000 (15 year terms; average rate of interest at 9.54%) for the financing of an addition to the parking garage at St. Joseph's Hospital; and the other of $13,500,000 (9 year term; average rate of interest at 9.70%).
• Campeau Corporation started construction of a major downtown retail/commercial redevelopment in the block bounded by King, Wellington, Dundas and Clarence Streets.
• The Public Utilities Commission moved from City Hall to its new administrative building at 111 Horton Street during August; its new headquarters was officially opened on September 11, 1987.
• The new overpass on Wonderland Road North crossing the CPR main line was officially opened on November 10, 1987.
• London's Melinda Gillies was crowned "Miss Canada '88" in Toronto in November.

1988

• Controller J. F. Fontana resigned from the office of Controller on October 3, 1988 to run in the Federal election, an election which he subsequently won.
• The City sold $15,000,000 of debentures (9 year term; average rate of interest at 10.44%). An additional $2,000,000 was sold by the City on behalf of the London and Middlesex County Roman Catholic Separate School Board.
• The 1988 Municipal Election resulted in the largest number of candidates (22) for the 4 P.U.C. positions. French language trustees to the school boards were elected for the first time.
• A major addition to White Oaks Mall was opened.
• The position of Assistant City Administrator was established, to which Mr. B. R. Puhach was appointed.
• An "Old Boys Reunion" dubbed "Reunion London 1988" was celebrated from July 1-5, 1988 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of London's last old boys reunion. This event was overseen by a Reunion Committee under the honourary Chairmanship of Colonel Tom Lawson, C.M. Controller Art Cartier acted as Co-ordinator for these festivities.

1989

• An annexation of 1,150 acres of land from the Township of London became effective on April 1, 1989.
• The reconstructed Westmount Mall opened on April 5, 1989
• Her Excellency the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauve;, Governor General of Canada, visited London on May 29, 1989.
• The City's Tourist Information Centre on Wellington Road opened on June 2, 1989.
• Alderman F. H. Flitton died in office on June 9, 1989 while attending the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Vancouver.
• M. L. Metras was appointed by Council on June 26, 1989 as a Ward Two Alderman to replace the late Alderman Flitton.
• Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, visited London on July 7, 1989 and officially opened the Western Counties Wing Veterans' Hospital and Banting Square.
• The new Galleria London shopping complex in downtown opened on August 16, 1989.
• The Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor of London, England, Sir Christopher Collett and Lady Anne Collett visited the City from September 7-9, 1989.
• The refurbished Middlesex County Gaol was officially opened on November 25, 1989.
• The City sold $16,000,000 of debentures (8 year term; average rate of interest at 10.48%)