What To Know This Thanksgiving Weekend…

October 7, 2023 4:09 am Published by

Thanksgiving weekend, unemployment, food prices, homeless hubs, lots to unpack this weekend. Here’s what you should know;

 

  • What’s happening this Thanksgiving weekend: Londoner’s will be celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend and the city is offering a number of free events for the whole family to enjoy. From ice skating, open gym, arts and crafts, even boxing bootcamp, City optimist centers and pools will be open with plenty to offer. Click here for a full list of activities.

A number of services will be closed Monday:

  • Westmount, White Oaks Mall and Masonville mall will be closed
  • All Rexall’s except 1551 Dundas St E with reduced hours
  • All Shoppers except 1225 Wonderland Rd N, 1224 Commissioners Rd W, and 510 Hamilton Rd 10 am to 6 pm
  • All LCBO locations
  • All Beer Store locations
  • All grocery stores
  • Winerack will be open
  • Most restaurants will open
  • All government buildings
  • All banks
  • Canada Post
  • London Public Library
  • No garbage collection
  • London Transit operates on a holiday schedule
  • Movie theaters will be open
  • Golf courses open
  • East Park, The Factory, The Children’s Museum and Boler Mountain will be open

OPP officers would also like to remind people to drive safely this weekend as they will be focusing on dangerous behavior. They will be running Operation IMPACT over the long weekend.

 

  • Top grocers promise stabilized prices: With thanksgiving this weekend, and the skyrocketing prices of food lately, the Canadian government is working with top grocery store chains to help ease the burden on Canadians. Loblaws, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco have committed to freezing the price of groceries in the next coming days. The government said if action is not taken, a Grocery Task Force is planned to be created to monitor prices on a monthly basis. While keeping an eye on prices, this team will also be monitoring shrinkflation and dequaliflation. The government will also create a Grocery Code of Conduct to promote fairness and transparency. Canadians can expect huge discounts on food soon.

 

  • All homeless hubs approved: After heated debates, city council has voted in approval of all proposed homeless hub locations. Before coming before the public, councilors had a meeting behind closed doors before hearing debates and voting. After voting separately on each location, all were approved, including the 705 Fanshawe Park Rd location which received a lot of pushback. Ward 4 Councillor Susan Stevenson pushed for a referral to allow for another month of discussion, but was later overruled 10-4. Preliminary votes took place on September 25, and final votes were taken on Thursday with 9-5 in approval.

 

  • Successful food drive at the food bank: Thanksgiving is a time for appreciating what you have, and also giving. This year, the London Food Bank had another successful year with its 34th annual food drive. Approximately 62,000 lbs of food was donated this year so far. This is on pace with last year’s numbers. This time of the year is when the food bank sees high demand for services. This year the bank saw a 43 per cent increase in usership for the over 5,200 families who use them on a monthly basis. There were 4510 families who used the food bank for the first time thie year. Over 113,135 lbs of food was collected in last year’s drive, and those numbers could easily be reached this year. You can donate goods to London Fire Stations, most grocery stores, and the food bank itself. Or if you would like to donate money, visit londonfoodbank.ca

 

  • London jobless rate at all time high: The London area’s unemployment rate has risen to the highest it’s been recorded this year. In a report Stats Canada said the jobless rate jumped to 6 percent from August’s 5.6 per cent. Since a record low rate of 4.4 per cent in April, the numbers have slowly been rising. Last time London reached a 6 per cent rate was October 2022. Even though the rate has been rising, Stats Canada reported over 3,000 new jobs have been added in London since last month. The national rate stayed the same at 5.5 per cent while the Ontario jobless rate also rose to 6 per cent.

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This post was written by gring