Culture, Community, and Concerts: The Power of Placemaking
Downtown ReimaginedCulture, Community, and Concerts: The Power of PlacemakingA Summer Series from the London Chamber of Commerce When you think about what makes a city feel alive, culture is often at the heart of it. Whether it’s live music echoing through the streets, a theatre performance that makes you think, or a bustling festival that brings neighbours together—these moments of shared experience shape our connection to place. Events like Sunfest—one of the largest free world music festivals in
Parliament Returns
Parliament Returns: A First Look at the 45th Parliament of CanadaJune 2025 | London Chamber of Commerce After nearly a year of prorogation, the 45th Parliament of Canada under a newly elected government convened on May 26 and is set to rise for the summer before the end of June. In that short window, we’ve seen major speeches, high-stakes votes, and the tabling of five new pieces of legislation by the new government. At the London Chamber of Commerce, we are a nonpartisan organization. We applaud the
The London Chamber of Commerce supports the introduction of Bill C-5: An Act to Enact the Free Trade
The London Chamber of Commerce supports the introduction of Bill C-5: An Act to Enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act. This legislation signals a long-overdue step toward unlocking economic potential across the country. Businesses have been ready for years — what we’ve needed is a coordinated framework to move major projects forward with confidence. We commend the federal government for recognizing the urgency of the moment. For too long, internal trade
Downtown Dollars and Sense – Why Business Needs to Be Part of the Plan
Downtown Dollars and Sense – Why Business Needs to Be Part of the PlanA summer series from the London Chamber of Commerce You step out of your downtown office, looking for a quick bite or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Maybe it’s a panini from a deli on Richmond, a wrap from the market, or a fresh espresso from a cozy new café on Dundas. As you wait, you run into a colleague you haven’t seen in a while. You talk shop, make a connection, and maybe even spark an idea that helps you reach new markets, better
Two Historic Goodwills Celebrate Unification
Stronger Together: Two Historic Goodwills Celebrate UnificationLONDON & HAMILTON, ON – Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes (OGL) and Goodwill Amity of the Hamilton/Halton region are celebrating their official unification as one Goodwill on June 1, 2025. These historic organizations have separately achieved profound community impact by changing lives through the power of work. For more than 75 years, Goodwill Industries OGL has served Ontario creating work opportunities and building community for
Downtown Reimagined: Help Shape the Heart of London
Downtown Reimagined: Help Shape the Heart of LondonA summer series from the London Chamber of Commerce Let’s be honest—every city has a heart, and ours? It beats in the core. Whether you’re downtown for a board meeting, a beer on the patio, a Knights game, or a festival that shuts down Dundas Place, Downtown London is where business, culture, and community come together. But like any heart, it needs care, attention, and a long-term vision. That’s where the City of London’s Downtown Plan comes in. And
Removing Interprovincial Trade Barriers More Important Than Ever
Removing Interprovincial Trade Barriers More Important Than Ever As a potential trade war unfolds between Canada and the United States and with a federal election looming in the near future, Canada must turn its attention inwards and focus on strengthening internal trade between provinces. This sentiment has been increasingly popular in the recent months, garnering support from all 4 major political parties in Ontario and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Statistics
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business The London Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see the City of London approved by the Ontario Government for a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. This significant development is a vital step toward addressing the pressing needs of individuals in our community struggling with mental health and addiction—challenges that also have a direct impact on the local business environment. The
2024 Business Cares Food Drive Results
Read the media release
Support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s Motion on Employee Ownership Strategy
The London Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to express our strong support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s motion to implement an Ontario Employee Ownership Strategy. Read the letter
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has published a letter to the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, in support of the High-Frequency Rail project in Ontario. The project, as currently planned, will offer over 1000km of brand-new rail infrastructure along the Toronto-Quebec corridor allowing faster and more frequent rail service. By moving passenger services to dedicated tracks, the new trains will no
2024 Membership Survey Report
2024 Membership Survey Report The London Chamber of Commerce has recently completed our 2024 Membership Survey. The responses will be used to plan for the coming year, fine-tune events, and craft new policies and advocacy positions. We would like to thank everyone who participated for their valuable input. Read the report
London Bicycle Café Launches ''Bikes For Business'' Pilot Program
London, ON – October 1, 2024– As announced at the 41st London Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards, where London Bicycle Café was named Small Business of the Year, the Café is excited to officially launch its Bikes For Business Pilot Program. This initiative is funded through the 2024 Desjardins GoodSpark Grant in collaboration with community partner Green Economy London, and has the support of Northern Commerce, a leader in digital solutions. The Bikes For Business Program will empower
2024 Business Achievement Award Recipients
The 2024 Business Achievement Awards, held on September 25 and proudly hosted by the London Chamber of Commerce with principal sponsor TD, honoured the exceptional accomplishments of businesses throughout the region. Congratulations to all the award recipients for their remarkable contributions and ongoing excellence! Please join us in celebrating the recipients:Agribusiness Award: Proof Line FarmEnvironmental Leadership Award: General Motors of Canada Company - CAMI Assembly PlantExcellence in People
Q3 2024 Report on Business Conditions
Q3 2024 Report on Business ConditionsWritten by Andrew Groves The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has published their Survey on Business Conditions Report for the third quarter of 2024. This report details the results of a survey that collected data on how businesses across Canada feel about their performance and their outlook for the future. This is an important tool in judging the general perceptions of the Canadian economy and business landscape at the individual level. While
2024/25 Board of Directors
2024/25 Board of Directors Announcement The London Chamber extends a warm welcome to our newly elected Board Members, approved at the Annual General Meeting on September 19, 2024. Our Governance and Nominations Committee issued a Call for Expressions of Interest to the membership seeking interest in serving on the Board or any one of the Chamber’s five committees. This is only the second year we have used this particular process. We were overwhelmed by an incredible response from individuals
.png){kind=logo}
London International Airport recognized with the 2024 Corporate Icon Award for Outstanding Community
London International Airport recognized with the 2024 Corporate Icon Award for Outstanding Community Contribution London, ON, September 4, 2024 — The London Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce London International Airport as the recipient of the 2024 Corporate Icon Award. This prestigious award recognizes the airport's exceptional dedication to enhancing the community’s image, driving economic growth, and making significant contributions over the years. The Corporate Icon Award,
Member Survey
We value your input - share your thoughts with us! We invite you to take a few minutes to participate in the London Chamber of Commerce member survey. This is your chance to share your insights and help us shape our support, programming, events, and advocacy efforts. We're dedicated to ensuring our initiatives align with your needs and contribute to your business success. As a token of our appreciation, the first 50 members in good standing who complete the survey will receive a $10 Starbucks gift
Past President Jim Etherington
The London Chamber of Commerce is deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Etherington, who served as President of our Board of Directors from 1991 to 1992. Jim was also honored with a Chair's Award in 1987-88 for his outstanding volunteer work with the Chamber.Reflecting on Jim's legacy, former London Chamber of Commerce CEO Gerry McCartney shared, "Jim Etherington was the consummate communicator. As anyone who has held the post of Board Chair of the Chamber knows, you have to be great at communications. And
Membership Fee Adjustment
Membership Fee Adjustment We’re delighted to have you as part of the London Chamber of Commerce! Your membership means a lot to us, and we’re committed to providing you with exceptional benefits and value. Starting September 1, 2024, our membership fees will increase by 5%. This adjustment, driven by inflationary costs, is necessary to enhance our current offerings and continue advocating for your interests both locally and nationally. For example, here’s what the change will look like for A
London City Council Advances Health and Homelessness Initiatives with New Supportive Housing and Enc
London City Council Advances Health and Homelessness Initiatives with New Supportive Housing and Encampment Response Plans The London Chamber of Commerce is encouraged by the significant process of London City Council in addressing health and homelessness through its Whole of Community System Response. Two major milestones have been reached: the endorsement of the Community Encampment Response Plan and the approval of the next steps for a new highly supportive housing project. The Community Encampment
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has released their report on the state of generative AI in Canada and how it will affect the future of our business landscape. Generative AI is any AI system that can create images, data or text using prompts provided by the user. The current use case for these systems is to fill in some of the productivity and labour gaps that remain in the business environment. This technology represents new opportunities for
Chamber Q1 and Q2 Advocacy Review
Q1 and Q2 Advocacy Review January The London Chamber of Commerce ran our 2024 Advocacy Survey in order to better understand what our members' needs are and how we can address them. We collected recommendations for all levels of government and used the results to better formulate our advocacy strategy for the coming year. The Business Confidence Survey report was released for the fourth quarter of 2023 which took a look at businesses economic outlook and how the labour market was
First Employ Project Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate distribution Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 Nokee Kwe, the London Chamber of Commerce (LCC), and Libro Credit Union are pioneering the new First Employ Project. It aims to enhance inclusive economic growth by leveraging the Indigenous workforce’s strengths. The project, established in response to local businesses’ struggles recruiting and retaining Indigenous talent, aims to improve hiring norms and create culturally sensitive work environments. By way of a survey,
