🌳 News Schools, Line Dancing, Lobster

Hello London!  

As the snow melts away, London is warming up with exciting events like the London Seafood Festival 🦞 

Meanwhile, strategy enthusiasts can gear up for the Settlers of Catan Tournament. This family-friendly event is open to all ages. Enjoy a day of light-hearted strategy, or go hardcore and 'trade' friendships for victory as you dominate! 🥇

London is awesome, let’s go explore.

— Enrique Banuelos

NEWS

LDCSB Embarks on Major School Expansion 🏫 (Info)
The London District Catholic School Board is planning its largest school construction project ever, driven by rapid growth. This month, they will submit business cases to the Ministry of Education for six new schools:

• North London Secondary School (1,999 students)

• 2 new elementary schools in South London (655 students each)

• St. Thomas Elementary and Secondary Schools (424 and 826 students)

• Replacement for St. Patrick Elementary in Lucan (424 students)

These projects follow the opening of St. Gabriel Elementary in early 2025 and ongoing construction of Regina Mundi College. The LDCSB has grown by 1,500 students this year, reaching a total of 27,500. This expansion aims to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community.

London Chamber of Commerce Awards Finalists 💹 (Info)
The London Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for its 42nd Annual Business Achievement Awards. Businesses will be recognized at the awards gala on May 13, 2025, at RBC Place London. Notable finalists include:

• Front Line Medical Technologies, Sidetrack Café, DC Buck Engineering, Info-Tech Research Group, Ukrainian Pierogies Inc., AutoVerify, TagsforHope Inc., Wonder Kitchen & Bath

THINGS TO DO

GENERAL EVENTS 🏛

Intro to Voice Overs 🔈️ Explore the world of voice acting in this live web class. Gain a realistic and thorough introduction to today's voice over industry. Online on Monday & Thursday nights. (Info)

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival 🎥 
Experience thrilling adventure films from the renowned Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Wolfe Performance Hall, Tuesday to Thursday @ 7PM. (Info)

Polaris Pitch Competition 🏆️ 
Watch eight tech-business finalists compete for prizes. Featuring a business showcase, keynote by Janet Bannister, and networking opportunities. London Music Hall, Wednesday @ 3PM. (Info)

London Singles Line Dancing & Mixer (Ages 28-48) 🤠 Meet new people while learning Urban Cowboy Line Dancing. A fun-filled evening perfect for singles looking to mingle. The Beer Kitchen, Thursday @ 7PM. (Info)

The Great Canadian Bash 🤣 Witness an exhilarating improv battle as two teams compete with quick wit and bold choices. Prepare for unpredictable hilarity! The Spare Room, Friday @ 7:30PM. (Info)

Settlers of Catan Tournament 🎲 Participate in a free, sponsored Catan tournament with giveaways, snacks, drinks, and prizes. JJ Music Sales & Repairs, Friday @ 6PM. (Info) 

London Seafood Festival 🦞 Indulge in a seafood extravaganza featuring 20+ food vendors. Savor global flavors while enjoying live music, cocktails, and beer. RBC Place, Saturday @ 12PM (Info)

"That Canadian Guy" Glen Foster 🤣 Enjoy clever comedy with a dark twist from stand-up veteran Glen Foster, a fixture in Canadian comedy for over four decades. The Rec Room Masonville on Saturday @ 8PM. (Info)

Cut Flower Gardens 🌷Discover the joy of growing your own cut flower garden with Melissa Tipson-Mohr! Learn the essentials of starting a flourishing cut flower garden, from seed starting and plant selection to soil health and pest control. At Heeman’s on Saturday @ 3:30PM. (Info)

Free Cooking Classes 🍔 Join Chef Jaime Pena for a free cooking demonstration featuring Cheese, Beef, & Mushroom Burgers. Pre-registration required. Covent Market, Saturday @ 11AM. (Info)

Mom Market 🎨 Shop from up to 20 local businesses, including crafters, bakeries, and service providers. Find unique items and support local. Covent Market, Saturday @ 2PM. (Info) 

Smash Pickleball Tournament 🎾 Compete or spectate in this inclusive pickleball tournament welcoming players of all skill levels. Smash Pickleball, Saturday @ 9AM (Info)

The Coffee Club : House Brew ☕️ Unite with fellow coffee enthusiasts and house music lovers for a vibrant afternoon of good vibes and great beats. Toboggan Brewing, Sunday @ 12PM. (Info)

The Fundamentals of Hairstyling 💇‍♀️ Master the art of creating perfect bouncy blowouts and effortless waves in this hands-on hairstyling class. 22632 Komoka Rd, Sunday @ 10AM. (Info)

London Franchise Show 🏪 Explore full and part-time business ownership options all under one roof. Compare various franchise opportunities. RBC Place, Saturday & Sunday. (Info)

LIVE MUSIC 🎵 

Pop Rockets 🎸 Infectious beats, dazzling melodies, and captivating energy. Iconic hits from artists like Fleetwood Mac, Chappell Roan, Journey, Taylor Swift, Weezer, and more. Catch them live at Winks on Monday @ 7PM. (Info)

The Red Clay Strays 🎤 Get ready for an electrifying blend of Southern rock, country, and blues with high-energy performances and heartfelt ballads. London Music Hall, Monday @ 7PM. (Info)

AYSANABEE 🎤 Experience Aysanabee's hypnotic blend of indie, soul, and electronic soundscapes, complemented by emotive storytelling. London Music Hall, Thursday @ 7PM. (Info)

Charles Wesley Godwin 🎸 Enjoy country music from Charles Wesley Godwin, featuring hits from his latest EP "Lonely Mountain Town." London Music Hall, Friday @ 7PM. (Info)

Jelly Roll: Beautiful Broken Tour 🎵 Experience Jelly Roll's chart-topping hits and new music, with support from Josh Ross, Savannah Dexter, and Brabo Gator. Canada Life Place, Sunday @ 7PM. (Info)

SPORTS 🏅 

London Knights 🏒 (Info)
FRI London Knights vs. Windsor Spitfires

London Lightning 🏀 (Info)
WED London Lightning vs. Kokomo Bobkats

LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Kelly McNeil, an international Wildlife Artist, has been painting in oil and discovering the natural world for the past 25 years. She received her Diploma in Communication and Design / Editorial Illustration in 1983 from OCA and her Bachelor of Design / Illustration in 2012 FROM OCAD University in Toronto, Canada.

McNeil has sold and shown her work internationally from, Canada to the USA, Tasmania, Russia and Turkey. She has shown her work in Wildlife Sows such as The Waterfowl Festival, Easton ML, The South Eastern Wildlife Exhibition, Charleston, SC, AND The Buckhorn Fine Art Festival, Buckhorn, ON.

Her Galleries are in Niagara Falls, Orangeville, and Ottawa, ON, and Jackson Hole, WY, USA.

Looking for more art by Kelly?
 🌍️ Website

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

We love seeing your photos of London! Below are some of the amazing photos shared by Londoners like you. Tag @forestcitydigest in your photo to share!

FACTS & LAUGHS

DAD JOKE

My wife called to tell me she saw a fox on the way to work 🦊 
I asked her how she know it was on its way to work. She hung up on me.

WORD ORIGINS

Disaster 🌪️ 

The word "disaster" originates from Italian disastro, combining dis- (bad) and astro (star), meaning "ill-starred." This reflects ancient beliefs that calamities were caused by unfavorable celestial alignments. Today, it describes any sudden or great misfortune, losing its astrological roots.¹

TRIVA

Question: What was the ancient Indian game Chaturanga, the predecessor of chess, designed to represent?²

😺 Ancient Egyptian rituals for pharaohs.
🐘 Indian military, with pieces representing infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots.
🏹 Chinese battle formations used by generals.
💭 Greek philosophical debates played out on a board.

⬇️ Scroll for the answer ⬇️
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Answer ⬇️ 

B) 🐘 Indian military, with pieces representing infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots.

🌡️ LONDON WEATHER FORECAST

MON ⛅️ 5 / -2
TUES ⛅️13 / -1
WED 🌦️ 16 / 7
THUR 🌦️6 / -3
FRI ⛅️3 / -3
SAT ⛅️7 / 1
SUN ⛅️9 / 2

Weather Network 7 Day Forecast  

Have an event, story, or photo to share? Hit reply and tell us about it! We love hearing from you.

1  https://thehistoricallinguistchannel.com/fun-etymology-tuesday-disaster/

2  https://www.chess.com/terms/chaturanga-game