Event Highlights for the city of London 1990 - 2000

1990

• The title of "Alderman" was changed to "Councillor" on April 1, 1990.
• The City sold $16,000,000 of debentures (9 year term average rate of interest at 12.05%).
• Deputy City Engineer A. Joynson retired in August, 1990.
• The Bandshell in Victoria Park was re-constructed and re-opened in December, 1990.
• The Station Park development on the former CPR lands between Richmond Street and Waterloo Street opened with one of the first major occupants being the London Chamber of Commerce.

1991

• The City sold $18,500,000.00 of debentures (9 year term, average rate of interest at 9.26%).
• Police Chief L. Shipley, Fire Chief R. Barr, LTC General Manager G. K. Arblaster and Western Fair General Manager E. McGugan all retired during 1991.
• The Minister of Municipal Affairs approved the City's New Official Plan on April 2, 1991 (subject to referrals and deferrals).
• The Council passed a new comprehensive Zoning By-law (BL. No. Z.-1) on May 21, 1991.
• The London Aquatic Centre on Wonderland Road North opened on August 9, 1991.
• The "People and the City" sculpture was installed at the corner of Queens Avenue and Wellington Street.
• Long-time members of City Council Controllers O. Zamprogna and J. McEwen retired and did not seek re-election.

1992

• The City sold $37,000,000.00 of debentures (9 year term, average rate of interest at 7.88%).
• During 1992 the RCMP's entire "O" Division headquartered in Toronto relocated to new offices in the Talbot Centre at the corner of Talbot and Carling Streets
• City Administrator Maurice C. Engels, City Treasurer Stanley F. Readings and City Engineer D'Arcy. B. Dutton all retired during 1992.
• John E. Fleming was appointed City Administrator effective August 24, 1992.
• John W. Jardine was appointed City Engineer effective October 5, 1992.
• The London-Middlesex Act, 1992 (Bill 75) was passed by the Legislative Assembly on December 10, 1992 to take effect on January 1, 1993. This legislation provided for the annexation to London of the entire Town of Westminster and of small portions of the Townships of Delaware, London, North Dorchester and West Nissouri. The Act also abolished the Public Utilities Commission of the City of London and replaced it with The Hydro-Electric Commission for the City of London. The Parks and Recreation functions of the former PUC became a Department of the City of London.
• Bill 75 provided for the Mayor of the former Town of Westminster, Ben Veel, to be appointed to London City Council for the term ending November 30, 1994, thus increasing the size of the Council to 20 for that period. The size of the Council reverted to 19 for the next term for which the seven existing wards were reconfigured.

1993

• The City sold $42,728,000.00 of debentures (9 year term, average rate of interest at 6.47%).
• Linda H. Kearney (later Reed) was appointed City Treasurer effective February 22, 1993.
• On April 12, 1993 His Royal Highness, The Prince Edward visited the City on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of London. His Royal Highness was the guest of honour at a Civic Luncheon hosted by His Worship Mayor Tom Gosnell at the Sheraton Armouries Hotel. His Royal Highness was accompanied to the City by His Honour Henry N. R. Jackman, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
• On June 24, 1993 a major new office tower, One London Place, opened at the southwest corner of Queens Avenue and Wellington Street (site of the former YM-YWCA).
• Councillor Patrick W. O'Brien resigned his seat as a Ward 3 Councillor on September 13, 1993 and was subsequently elected to the Parliament of Canada as the Member for London-Middlesex.
• On October 12, 1993 Elizabeth Howard was appointed to the office of Councillor for Ward 3 for the term ending November 30, 1994 to replace former Councillor O'Brien.
• The new London Convention Centre (LCC) on the north side of York Street between Wellington Street and Waterloo Street built at a cost of $40,000,000 opened on October 14, 1993. The LCC contains 6,224 square metres (67,000 square feet) of leasable space.
• Victor A. Cote was appointed Director of Planning and Development effective November 1, 1993.
• Gary W. Weese was appointed Fire Chief effective November 15, 1993.

1994

• The City sold $14,540,000.00 of debentures (9 year term, average rate of interest at 8.22%).
• Long-time Councillor and three term Mayor Tom Gosnell did not seek re-election in the November Municipal Elections.
• Deputy Mayor Jack Burghardt and first term Controller Dianne Haskett ran for the office of Mayor, with Ms. Haskett being the successful candidate.

1995

• There was no debenture sale in 1995.
• In June 1995 the Council approved a major re-organization of Civic Departments which saw the abolition of the Parks and Recreation Department and of the City Clerk's Department as separate entities. Five new operating Departments emerged: the Finance and Administration Department led by Linda Reed as Commissioner of Finance and Administration and City Treasurer, the Legal Services Department led by Robert Blackwell as Commissioner of Legal Services and City Solicitor, the Environmental Services Department led by John Jardine as Commissioner of Environmental Services and City Engineer, the Community Services Department led by Glenn Howlett as Commissioner of Community Services and the Planning and Development Department led by Victor Cote as Commissioner of Planning and Development.
• The functions of the former Parks and Recreation Department were dispersed amongst the Environmental Services Department, the Community Services Department and the Planning and Development Department.
• The City Clerk's Department was to become a Division of the Legal Services Department effective January 1, 1997.

1996

• The City sold $15,000,000.00 of debentures (9 year term, average rate of interest at 4.75%).
• The newly constructed Central Fire Hall at the north west corner of Horton Street and Colborne Street opened in April, 1996.
• City Clerk Ken Sadler retired on December 20, 1996, and Jeff Malpass was appointed Acting City Clerk with his appointment as City Clerk to take effect on April 1, 1997.

1997

• Hydro Commissioners Deputy Mayor Grant Hopcroft and Daniel Young resigned their offices in May, 1997.
• On June 23, 1997 the Council revoked the appointments of the three remaining Hydro Commissioners, Controller D. L. Erskine, Councillor E. L. Wernham and Dr. David Drinkwalter and appointed City Administrator John Fleming, City Solicitor Robert Blackwell, City Treasurer Linda Reed, City Engineer John Jardine and Commissioner of Community Services Glenn Howlett as interim Commissioners to serve until they were replaced or until the term of office ended on November 30, 1997.
• In June, 1997 the City was awarded the bid to host the 2001 Canada Summer Games.
• On June 26, 1997 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited the City and were accompanied in a walk-about through Victoria Park by Her Honour Hilary Weston, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and His Honour Galen Weston, the Honourable Herb Grey, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and the Honourable Michael Harris, the Premier of Ontario and Mrs. Harris. A tree was planted in Victoria Park by Her Majesty and Jesse and John Davidson to commemorate the Royal visit.
• On July 22, 1997 Mr. Justice Desotti of the Ontario Court (General Division) quashed the by-laws passed on June 23, 1997 revoking the appointments of Controller Erskine and Councillor Wernham on the Hydro Commission and also the by-law appointing the City Administrator and four of the City Commissioners as interim Hydro Commissioners.
• The London Life Insurance Company - founded in the city in 1874 - was purchased by The Great West Life Assurance Company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1998

• The City sold $18,000,000.00 of debentures for certain general works (9 year term, average rate of interest at 5.4%)
• The City sold debentures in the amount of $72,014,000.00 for the payment to the Ontario Clean Water Agency of all capital amounts owing in respect of the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System, the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System and the Elgin/Middlesex Secondary Water Supply System (20 year term, average interest at 5.66%)
• On February 16, 1998 Linda H. Reed was appointed as City Administrator and Robert B. Blackwell was appointed Deputy City Administrator.
• On May 19, 1998 Nigel Bellchamber was appointed City Treasurer.

1999

• The City sold debentures in the amount of $18,375,000.00 (9 year term, average rate of interest at 6.2%)
• On October 18, 1999 Jeff A. Malpass was appointed Deputy City Manager
• In October Covent Garden Market re-opened in its new building
• Adelaide Street North and Adelaide Street South were widened to four lanes

2000

• The City sold debentures in the amount of $33,000,000.00 (9 year term, average rate of interest at 6.1%)
• On June 19, 2000 a by-law was enacted to authorize the transfer of the employees, assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the Hydro-Electric Commission of the City of London to successor corporations in accordance with the Electricity Act, 1998
• In September Robert J. Tolmie, Deputy City Clerk retired and Cathie L. Best was appointed Deputy City Clerk
• The Wellington Street Gateway Project was completed
• In December the Skating Rink at Covent Garden Market was opened
• On December 4, 2000 Anne Marie DeCicco was sworn in as Mayor for the City of London and W. Russell Monteith was sworn in as Deputy Mayor.