In this Issue:

Community Well-Being Survey
Dear Members,

This is a friendly reminder that Downtown London’s Community Well-Being Survey is now open! We encourage all members to take a couple minutes to share their experiences and help us better understand the current operating environment for businesses in London’s downtown.

This survey asks about the day-to-day impacts of safety, security, cleanliness, social issues, and overall public realm conditions on your business. Your feedback will help us identify key trends, better understand member concerns, and strengthen our advocacy with the City of London, London Police Service, community partners, and other decision-makers.

The survey is anonymous and should take approximately 2-3 minutes to complete. The information collected will help guide our priorities, advocacy efforts, and future discussions around community well-being in the downtown.

We strongly encourage all members to participate so the results accurately reflect the realities businesses are experiencing across the district.
Complete the survey here
If you have any questions about the survey or would like to share additional context about specific issues affecting your business, please contact us at Info@DowntownLondon.ca.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and contribute to this important work.

2026 Talent Opportunities Program
Is your organization hiring a post-secondary student on a work-integrated learning program this summer?

In partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, businesses can get access to wage subsidies of up to $5,000 for hiring a post-secondary student on paid work-integrated learning (WIL) placements (e.g. co-ops, internships) through the Talent Opportunities Program (TOP).

Employers who hire students on WIL placements report benefits such as:

  • Support for short-term workflow pressures
  • Access to the latest learnings
  • Improved productivity and service delivery
  • Early access to talent pipelines

📌 The OCC is now accepting wage subsidy applications for the Summer 2026 Term (May 1 to August 31)

Funding for this program is limited and spots fill up quickly, so the London Chamber of Commerce encourages you to apply soon. Please note: after applying through the button below, kindly send an email to Kristen@londonchamber.com.
More info and apply here
⭐️ Shop Downtown London 2 Win is now in its second week and runs until June 14.

The first week of entries was incredible, with three times more entries than in 2024!

If you would like printed materials, please let us know at Info@DowntownLondon.ca and we can arrange delivery.
Check out more details and FAQ here

Statutory Holidays in Ontario Updates
On March 16, 2026, the Ontario government announced proposed changes to the Retail Business Holidays Act that would allow retail businesses to open on Family Day and Victoria Day. The Ontario government is aiming to have these changes take effect in time for Victoria Day 2026.

Please note that retail businesses can decide whether to open or remain closed for these two holidays.

Read more about this update here from CIBC and here from the Ontario Government.

Good News