Wortley Villager
JULY-AUGUST 2025 Issue 91
andrew lewis 2025
Message from the Mayor by Mayor Josh Morgan mayor@london.ca 519-661-4920
– Our historic investment into policing, with a focus on modernization of technology and approach is already delivering positive results. Response times are trending down, service complaints are down, and London’s crime severity index is down 14 percent — more than any other Canadian city. As part of our comprehensive, evidence- based approach to drug prevention, accessible safe sites and care, Middlesex-London Health Unit announced that opioid deaths are down 40% in the past year. While the work is far from finished, London is leading the way in Ontario and becoming a model for other communities to address these concerns. – Our response to London’s housing crisis continues to build momentum. In June we’ve already announced diverse new downtown developments ranging from office-to-residential conversions at market rate to the preservation of century-old heritage sites, converted into affordable and wrap-around supportive housing. – Our London Knights are Memorial Cup champions! Con- gratulations to the team, the staff, and the fans. The best part? Seeing Londoners united and celebrating together at Dundas Place. What a perfect way to kick off a summer of events. Contact me at: mayor@london.ca with your comments or questions, or follow along on your favourite social media platform. We’ll see you out there, London!
As we head into another beautiful London summer, I hope all of you enjoy the bright mornings, warm evenings, and the incredible events and festivals happening everywhere you look in our city. The fields are full, trails are open, and neighbourhood gardens are bustling with activity. The same goes for Council Chambers, where we’re continuing to make strides for Londoners: – After months of engagement and negotiations with our partners at the provincial level, we received a letter from the Ontario Government confirming that London is not responsible for backfilling development charge exemptions—exemptions mandated by the province— freeing up millions in city budget savings. What does this mean for you? Property taxes will be lowered, with our target of bringing any increase under 5% well in sight. We won’t stop there. I have asked city staff, agencies, boards and commissions to continue examining where we can bring further savings while maintaining the programs and amazing progress we are making in all sectors.
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Ward 11 Update from City Hall by Skylar Franke, Ward 11 London City Council 519-661-2489, extension 4011 • sfranke@london.ca Summer Updates I hope you’re as excited for the summer as I am. I love to check out the music festivals, visit local beaches, watch the London Majors and enjoy our local patios. I wanted to share some summer activities I enjoy with my family. I hope you enjoy your summer! Spray Pads
Play Your Way Fund The City’s Play Your Way Fund offers financial support to low-income Londoners and families who want to access recreation programs and activities offered by the City. Once approved, funding can be accessed for the next 12 months, up to a maximum of $300 per person. For eligibility criteria and application details, please visit london.ca/PlayYourWay. Summer Movies Wortley is lucky to be the home of the Hyland Cinema, that has an amazing lineup of summer films to enjoy! Check out hylandcinema.com/coming-soon. The City also organizes a series of Outdoor Movie Nights with local community groups. TD Summer Reading Club 2025 Calling all explorers: buckle up for a trip around the world! Register for the TD Summer Reading Club at your neighbourhood branch library starting June 21 and continuing until August 23. Tell us what you’re reading for a chance to win weekly prizes. Open to kids of all ages and abilities. Available at all Library locations for free! See more library summer activities at lpl.ca/whats/summer-2025 Car Free Day – Monday, September 22, 2024 Mark your calendars! There will be many fun activities for Car Free Day on Sept 22. Stay tuned for more details, but please mark the date in your calendars! Take care, Skylar
The City’s spray pads opened in June and operate daily from 9 am to 9 pm. Spray pads are water play areas activated with push-button features. For more information, inclu- ding locations and activation features, visit the City’s pools and spray pads webpage at london.ca/pools. The Ivey Park spray pad will be closed this summer due to construction.
Wading Pools Wading pools opened late June. These amenities are free for use and always have an aquatic attendant on site for safety. For a full list of locations, please visit london.ca/pools.
Wortley Walk to Defeat Duchenne On May 31, the 1st Annual Wortley Walk to Defeat Duchenne was held. “Our social, creative, resilient son Spencer is six years old and was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in April 2024,” explained mom Anna. “To say this was the most shocking, devastating news of our lives is an understatement. DMD is a rare, genetic, life-shortening condition characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, and deteriorating function of vital organs.” ‘Spencer’s Village’ (the team’s name), raised just over $3600 for Defeat Duchenne Canada (originally named Jesse’s Journey). “One of the main reasons we chose to complete our walk in the Village is to raise awareness in our local community,” Anna continued. Post-walk refreshments were served, donated by Tremblett’s Independent Grocer. To learn more and to help Defeat Duchenne, visit defeatduchenne.akaraisin.com Photos courtesy of Vanessa – Just Between Us Photography.
Spencer (red shirt), family, friends and supporters on the Wortley Walk to Defeat Duchenne.
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Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 3
The Village Vibe
Wortley PS Muskoka Chair Project A group of students from Wortley Public School recently delivered Muskoka chairs, each person- alized with local company logos and a positive message to engage the community and promote positive mental health. The project provided entre- preneurial experience to students, who designed, built and then sold their product. “Proceeds go to youth and mental health initiatives,” explained teacher Josh Jones. “We thank TD Bank, Mylie Group, Side Track Cafe, Grooves, McManon Mortgages, Old South Village Pub, The Beach Hangar and TVDSB for their support by ordering chairs.”
Old South Community Organization (OSCO) recognized for 50 years of service Skylar Franke (right) presented Margaret Hopkins and Nicole Phillips of OSCO with an award of recognition in thanks of 50 years of the organizatinon’s service. Signed posters and archival prints can be purchased from the website of Andrew Lewis at andrewlewisdesign.com The new 2025 Old South poster design (at left) by Andrew Lewis depicts the Elwood Lawn Bowling Club. Established in 1911, it’s become the image of sum- mer in Old South London.
Wortley Villager Issue #91 July-August 2025 Your local community connector The 100% locally owned and produced Wortley Villager is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Managing Editor: Cathy Wood Cathy@villagerpublications.com All articles by Cathy Wood unless noted otherwise. Advertising : Tami Martin Tami@villagerpublications.com 519-851-0961 Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood Old South Delivery Ambassador: Nippy Watson Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Do you have an Old South Neighbour of Note? Do you do cultural cooking? Cover photo and article suggestions welcome! Contact Cathy at Cathy@villagerpublications.com
Roper Romp! Dressed up as Helen Roper, the sitcom character from the 1970s show Three’s Company , participants in the inaugural Wortley Village Roper Romp romped through the village, June 2. Organizers Sookie Mei, David McCord and Kim Shuit thank the Wortley Roadhouse, Old South Village Pub and the Regal Beagle for hosting the fun-filled afternoon. Photo courtesy Scott Pinkerton.
Wortley Pride and the Odesa Company (www.odesa.company), a local theatre company, hosted a Trivia Night at Goodwill Industries on Horton Street in late May to benefit Shakespeare’s Oz , to be performed at the Grand Theatre, July 24 to 27.
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DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PARTNER
SEASON SPONSOR
GRAND THEATRE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT PRODUCTION OF
SEPT 17 27 to On the Spriet Stage
Pictured: Keirah Buckley, Trent Robichaud, Paxton Nair. Costume Design by Lisa Wright. Photography by Mai Tilson.
519.672.8800 471 richmond st london, on grandtheatre.com
title sponsor
youth program sponsors
In This House by Louise Daw Tucked into the heart of our cherished heritage district, 188 Duchess Avenue stands as more than just a beautiful Craftsman-style home — it’s a vibrant reflection of a young couple who now call it home. Lia Karidas and George Skagos moved into their home in October 2024, but their connection to the neighbourhood runs far deeper than a simple address change. They live literally just steps from Lia’s grandparents and within a five-minute radius of her extended family. “It feels like a homecoming,” Lia says, and for good reason. She grew up in this very village, walking the halls of Mountsfield and South, and is currently the Director of Marketing & Digital Strategy at the Grand Theatre—a fitting role for someone so embedded in the creative fabric of our city. LIa met George while living in Montreal, and they always had plans to move to London. George is an interior designer whose work includes projects with Casey’s Creative Kitchens and with a background in design from Vanier and Dawson College in Montreal, he brings an expert’s eye to their three-bedroom, two-bathroom home. They have already been whittling away at redoing their first floor while maintaining a lot of the original cabinetry in their kitchen and layout of the home. And while their design aesthetic is dramatic—deep greens, soft pinks, rich textures—it is grounded by history. Solid spruce doors, original to the early 1910s structure, remain intact. A few pieces of furniture from the previous owner, who lived in the home from the 1970s, have also found their place in the new décor. “There’s something comforting about honouring what came before,” George notes. This house has lived many lives – at one point a triplex – and now flourishes under the care of two people who deeply value both family and the past. The outside of the home dons the name ‘Rose Haven’ at the entryway – a discovery by the former homeowner while strip- ping the exterior. That gentle “rose” legacy lives on in subtle details throughout the home and in the front garden. Their style is bold and eclectic, with expressive colours and textures that give the home a soulful energy. “It feels like a dream,” says Lia. And yet, their delight is grounded in the everyday joys of community life.“We appreciate the seasons here—not just the ones on the calendar, but the rhythms of the neighbourhood itself,” stated Lia. Halloween in the Village,
Christmas in the Village, Gathering on the Green and other village events with all the ease of walkable shops, amenities, restaurants and cafes. As for future plans? The couple is turning their eye towards working on the exterior, where English Ivy has literally taken root in their backyard – a large project to tackle. There’s only one thing missing, they joke: “We were kind of hoping for a friendly ghost or two... but no luck yet.” In a place so full of memory and charm, it’s clear that Lia and George aren’t just preserving history—they’re actively adding to it. And don’t be surprised if this home one day will be featured in Home and Garden , and who knows, there is still time for a ghost to appear.
Page 6 Wortley Villager • July-August 2025
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PortStanley FestivalTheatre 2025 SUMMER SEASON
Experience the Best of Summer Entertainment!
LIARS AT A FUNERAL By Sophia Fabiilli
One family. One funeral. And way too many secrets! July 16 to August 2
THE KITCHEN WITCHES
By Caroline Smith
Two saucy chefs. One kitchen. Arch enemies. It’s spicy! August 6 to August 23
goldfish By Steve Ross
Unlikely friends... with unforgettable conversation. August 27 to September 13
Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 7 519-782-4353 www.psft.ca RESERVE YOUR SEATS “The Kitchen Witches” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Louise Daw is a local REMAX Sales Representative and SRES® (Senior Real Estate Specialist) www.louisedaw.com • Instagram: louisetherealtor Twitter: louiseadaw Facebook: facebook.com/louisedawrealtor
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Gathering on the Green by J. Bruce Parker
With the unusually cold and wet preceding month tucked safely behind us, the harbinger of summer in Wortley Village, the 43rd annual ‘Gathering on the Green’, was held June 7th with sunny skies, great fun and great community vibes. Encircling the ‘green’, local lawns offered art, crafts, and garage ‘saleables’. It was truly a community celebration! The event, run by volunteers and supported by the Old South Community Organization (OSCO) and local businesses, has raised more than $300,000 to benefit projects and organizations in Old South London.
Page 8 Wortley Villager • July-August 2025
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Wortley Pride 2025 by J. Bruce Parker It was sunshine and sunny vibes as fabulousness flourished on the green for the 4th edition of the Wortley Pride Festival.
Indigenous Solidarity Day Attendees enjoyed a sunrise ceremony, indigenous dancing, drum- ming, food, vendors, crafts and music on the ‘Green’, June 20.
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Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 9
May 19, 1981 to July 29, 2025 From 49 Carfrae Crescent to 109 Wortley Road Thank you and Au Revoir! My greatest reward and privilege has been to look after the oral health needs of families, one generation after the other. The ‘typical’ dental family in my practice is three or four generations long! We have one family where five generations are or have been patients. There is no greater compliment than having someone ask if you will look after their family member. I have had a front-row seat to the highs and lows of many people’s lives, and it has been an honour. In my second year, I met Dr. Bob Biesenthal who was teaching part-time at the dental school. In fourth year, I moved to Old South and realized that I lived a block away from his office at 49 Carfrae Crescent. Discussions ensued, and in May of 1981, I joined his practice as an associate and just never left! After five years of great mentorship from Bob and his wife Doris, my husband John Jevnikar and I purchased the practice and the property. There we ran the most wonderful dental ‘shop’ for 36 years. In September of 2017, Dr. Sunil Persaud arrived as my associate and, after five years, purchased the practice, renamed it Village Green Family Dental, and moved it to its current location at 190 Wortley Road. Meet Your Old South Neighbour – Dr. Pennie Thornton After forty-four years of providing oral healthcare to thousands of wonderful people, it is time for me to hang up the drill. I applied to dental school on a whim! I wanted to work with the public but had no interest in Medicine, and my initial thought of pursuing Law had lost its appeal (pun intended). The program at what was then the Faculty of Dentistry at UWO was ranked number one in Canada and so, when accepted there, I packed up and moved from Montréal to London.
Living and working in Old South has been wonderful. I love chatting with people as I work in my garden or wander through Wortley Village. We really do live in a precious part of the city where greeting new faces is the norm, not the exception. Keeping busy post-retirement will not be difficult. I shall remain involved with The Wright Clinic (wrightclinic.ca), a non-profit dental clinic on Adelaide Street South as well as continuing to serve on a committee of the London & District Dental Society. My other sources of enjoyment, such as my garden and cake decorating, shall continue, and I fully intend to make the quilt that I promised daughter #1 decades ago! Thank you to this community for being such a great place to live and work. Keep brushing and flossing, and I look forward to seeing your smiles around the neighbourhood! Dr. Sunil’s first day at 49 Carfrae Crescent, September 14, 2017. Left to right: Mariana, Dr. Pennie, Dr. Sunil, Kathy, MaryEllyn. Wharncliffe Pharmacy and Walk-in Clinic Transfer your Prescription Today to a Friendly, Neighbourhood Pharmacy offering: Free Delivery • Open 7 days a week No Appointments Needed for Flu and Covid Shots Walk-in Minor Ailment • Blister Packaging ODSP Supply Walk-In Clinic: Mon to Thurs 9-3 • Fri 9-1 Pharmacy: Mon to Fri 8:30-6 • Sat 9-1 • Sun 10-1
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Georgia Kortas, lawyer at Thomson Mahoney Delorey LLP welcomes your inquires for legal services in estate planning, estate administration, real estate (residential / commercial) and business law. Georgia can be reached at: Thomson Mahoney Delorey LLP 145 Wharncliffe Road South, London, Ontario N6J 2K4 T: 519-673-1151 ext 251 E: gkortas@londonlawyers.com
It has been my honour and pleasure to have provided oral health care to so many fabulous people over the past 44 years. I thank you and wish you all good fortune in the years to come. The kind folks at Village Green Family Dental shall continue to look after your oral healthcare needs. With sincere best wishes, Dr. Pennie Thornton
Page 10 Wortley Villager • July-August 2025
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Grand Wood Park Outdoor Night Market
Neighbour of Note: Eve Cohen
Eve Cohen has only lived in Canada for five years but has already made her mark. A Wortley-based actress, she just returned from the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival 2025 after winning the Best Supporting Actor trophy for her work in Theatre Woodstock’s My Old Lady . Although Eve has performed in Woodstock, Ingersoll, and Toronto, she prefers to stick
Enjoy spacious lawns, BBQ and local vendors at Grand Wood Park’s Night Market Tuesdays, 3 pm to 7 pm, July 8, 22, August 5 and 19! (Photos courtesy Grand Wood Park)
close to home and support London’s local, growing theatre com- panies. She has performed several times with AlvegoRoot Theatre (alvegoroottheatre.com) and recently made her debut with Theatre Aezir (theatreaezir.com), another London-based treasure, in their London Drafts series, a trio of staged readings, appearing as Louise in Geez Louise by Shelley Lapkowski. “Although we are so lucky to have The Grand Theatre here in London for large productions and big-budget shows, I believe in the importance of seeing and supporting smaller theatres that focus on new playwrights, local stories, and, of course, London-based actors,” says Eve. When she’s not performing, Eve loves to garden and take long walks around the neighbourhood with her Cocker Spaniel, Mickey. She’s Chair of the Board of the London Food Co-op (londonfood. coop), London’s member-owned, co-operative, organic grocery store, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. She’s also active in the Jewish community and is a founding member of Or Shalom’s Green Shalom group, which tries to raise awareness of and take tangible steps to combat climate change. Her favourite thing about Wortley Village is the walkability. “I can get everything I need, from groceries to hardware to visiting my dentist, all without getting in a car,” she says. When you see her out and about in the neighbourhood, make sure to issue a rousing, ‘Good morrow!’
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Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 11
Irene Dewdney by J. Bruce Parker In 1987, upon graduating from nursing school in Stratford, I moved back to London, settling into apartment #4 at 49 Ridout Street – the Lonsdale – with my girlfriend Jinny, now my wife. I recall the realtor from the company who owned the building reassuring us that the tenant below was a ‘deaf old lady’ and would not be bothersome. As it turned out, the ‘deaf old lady’ was Irene Dewdney, who was neither. Over the six years that my wife and I lived at the Lonsdale, an impressive 1880s structure with a stained glass conservatory, the life of Irene Dewdney, art therapist and political activist, would unfold and become an enduring influence in my life. Irene Donner was born in Kitchener in 1915 and eventually became Mrs. Selwyn Dewdney. Selwyn, born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, would become a teacher, artist, illustrator, author, and pioneer in both pictography cataloguing and art therapy. As a teacher, he was employed at Sir Adam Beck Secondary School. In his book Daylight in the Swamp, chronicling the diaries of his father, the late A.K Dewdney quotes his father upon meeting his mother in Port Hope. “It was there that I met the woman I would share my life with, but during the next four years, we saw each other only on weekends. I had to complete my studies at the Ontario College of Art, then at the Ontario College of Education, as well as a stint of high school teaching in Owen Sound.” In 1936, the two were married in a ceremony presided over by Selwyn’s father who was the bishop of Keewatin. With Selwyn’s dedication to Ontario’s north, their honeymoon became a 500-mile canoe trip from Kenora to Red Lake. Kee Dewdney recalls his father’s words, “So ended our honeymoon and Irene’s canoe apprenticeship. It was a far cry from those tentative forays in the lagoon of Victoria Park in Kitchener when she panicked at gliding under an overhanging tree. Now she was a canoe partner who could be counted on to face any partner, on whose paddle stoke perfectly complemented mine. But there was more to it. Ever after, Irene would dream that someday we would find a place of our own in this incredible land, an island remote from roads. We would bring our children and they would bring their children. All could find what she had found.” They did find and eventually purchase an island in Ontario’s north which became a summer retreat for the family. When the Dewdneys settled into a home in Old South, London Free Press columnist James Reaney stated, “that during the 1950s and 1960s, the Dewdney’s home on Erie Street was a gathering point for almost anyone who wanted to talk arts, politics, or ideas of London.” Irene was the grand facilitator of all this. The Erie Street house also became for some time, the home of Canadian artist Norval Morrisseau. She fostered friendships with former London mayor Jane Bigelow, poet Colleen Thibaudeau, artists Greg Curnoe and Jack Chambers. Her hand was firmly on the cultural pulse of London. It was Irene who informed me of Curnoe’s sudden, tragic death in 1993. It was Irene who was one of three women who were at the bedside of Jack Chambers when he died in 1978. Sometime after 1947, when Selwyn was commissioned to illustrate a book on psychiatry, he became interested in the
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@villagerpublications.com In 1990, when NDP candidate Bob Rae won the provincial election for Premier, Irene was elated and revealed to me her dedication to the political party, going back to the 1940s when the NDP was known as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). I recall celebrating Rae’s victory with Irene, a bottle of red wine, and high hopes for our newly elected provincial government. Though early to retire at night, Irene was always available to join us for an occasional drink, or a few moments for a communal barbeque in the yard at Lonsdale during the summer evenings. fledgling science of art therapy as a treatment for mental illness. He soon acquired the title as “Psychiatric Art Therapist” and with Irene, advanced this form of therapy. Irene became an art therapy consultant for the Western Ontario Therapeutic Community Hostel in London; her area of expertise being group- centered, with its focus on geriatric patients and adolescents with drug addictions. In 1979, she founded the Ontario Art Therapy Association and was awarded an Honourable Membership for life. Selwyn Dewdney died in 1979, but Irene continued the practice in her apartment at the corner of Ridout and Craig streets. She would, on occasion share client issues with me, always protecting their identity, but always presenting a sense of compassion, concern and dedication to her profession. There were a few times that I saw her in the early morning, pacing outside the vast yard in a regal purple dressing gown, myself wondering if she was wrestling with a client’s issue. It was her commitment to art therapy which established the art therapy program at the University of Western Ontario.
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Cultural Cooking Tandoori, Eh!
She would often hear my footsteps coming down the stairs from our apartment, meeting me at the bottom to reveal or share with me some issue which she felt was important. So much of Irene Dewdney’s life has been overshadowed by the broad stroke of the work of her husband Selwyn. Sadly, there is little about Irene’s life online but a mention of her in regard to “London’s Renaissance family”. In his column in the London Free Press, author Herman Goodden stated on the event of her death: “Irene not only supported Selwyn’s reckless plunge into the occupational abyss at a time when they had three toddlers underfoot, she passed on the same artistic creed to all of their children. The distinguishing Dewdney characteristics that all the boys developed in their characters and careers, are a wicked sense of humour, a heightened social conscience, a love of the outdoors, an uncanny ability for letting science and art nourish and inform one another, and a marked facility with word – both poetic and persuasive.” We moved out of 49 Ridout St in 1993 but I kept in touch with Irene. Irene Dewdney went to spirit on March 8, 1999. I was invited by daughter-in-law, Pat Dewdney, to come to her apartment the night before her passing, at a time when her death was im- minent. My heart was full, my eyes wet with tears as I arrived on a rainy night. Irene was in bed, turned away from us, hopefully at peace in her last moments. Nothing much could be said, but being present was so important for me. On her passing, the London Free Press defined her as a “strong-willed advocate for arts, education, social services and other fields”. It was ironic that Irene Dewdney never lived into the 21st century, as she was so very far ahead of her time in the quality of her beliefs, values and virtues. It was also fitting that she passed on National Women’s Day, as she embodied the best and vibrant qualities of all women.
About two years ago, the family-owned Tandoori Eh restaurant opened at 405 Wharncliffe Road South (just south of Emery) to serve flavourful, authentic Pakistani / North Indian dishes. “Our most popular dishes are the BBQ Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Karahis and Biryanis, various Curry dishes and Masala,” says co-owner Huma. All freshly made, options of vegetables, rice, fries, salad or freshly clay oven-baked Naan bread are on the menu – available for sit-in (lots of free parking), take-out or delivery. Visit tandoorieh.ca to learn more.
Blanket Statement
Old South crafter Gloria Smith offers hand-tied quilt flannel blankets, that are super-soft and available in a variety of colourful patterns and sizes. Order information may be found at blanketstatement. ca, and if you’re interested in making your own tied-quilt blanket – a great personal gift idea – Gloria also offers workshops. “If you can TIE your shoes, you can TIE a quilt,” says Gloria.
London Animal Care Centre 121 Pine Valley Blvd. www.accpets.ca • (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack 756 Windermere Rd. • (519) 432-4572 Dreaming of a Forever Home Adopt Today!
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@villagerpublications.com Photo: Irene at 49 Ridout Street South. Sketches: Left by Selwyn Dewdney, and right, by Paul James.
Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 13
Need a bicycle repair or routine maintenance? Velofix comes to you! Tom Panabaker was looking for a change of career. “I was too young to retire. I had the skills required and thought that the Velofix franchise would be a good opportunity to make the enjoyment I have from working and riding bicycles into a career.” He had been riding bicycles for many years and “took it to another level when I lived in North Vancouver – mountain biking first and then I got into triathlons and Ironman training and races,” he recalls. Tom enjoys being able to solve problems for his clients. Whether you need a simple repair, a comprehensive tune-up, or to get a new bike assembled the right way, Tom brings his bicycle workshop on wheels to you. “I like when I can leave people with a bike that is riding better than when I arrived on site. Basic Silver Level tune-ups seem to be the most booked service, but with London roads, flat repairs are frequent.” Tom grew up in Old South. “I went to Mountsfield Public School and South Collegiate, and after living in British Columbia for
thirteen years, returned to buy a home three blocks from my childhood home. It is hard to recreate the community that we are so fortunate to have in the village. People who live here know that even with small closets and leaking base- ments there is no place like living in Old South.”
Learn more at www.velofix.com/locations/london and by fol- lowing Velofix London on Facebook. Happy riding! Super Senior Day
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Page 14 Wortley Villager • July-August 2025
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@villagerpublications.com
Wortley Jazz and Bluesfest • August 18 London Irish Canadian Club: 1 Cove Road Pub Nights (September 20 and October 18), Irish Folk Club Céilí (November 15) and an Irish Christmas Party (December 20). All are welcome. londonirish.ca Yoga in the Park 2025 with Dan Woodward Mondays 6:15 pm, all summer long – weather permitting. Wortley Village Green Blythe Festival presents Old South Londoner Emma Donoghue’s new musical in the world premiere of The Wind Coming Over the Sea June 26 – August 12 blythfestival.com/the-wind-coming-over-the-sea Kung Fu & Tai Chi School EXPERIENCE MARTIAL ARTS AND WELLNESS BOOK A TRIAL CLASS AT https://kungfu-taichi.ca Dedicated classes for children • Day Camps Classes for teens, adults and seniors. Elmwood Lawn Bowling Club Free Community Bowling/Social July 10th 4:30 – 6 pm Free bowling, music, food truck Follow the Storm Stayed Brewery Company for updates on their plans for an Old South Beer! It may be launched at this event. Wortley Village Electric Vehicle Show Saturday July 26, 12 – 4 pm Wortley Village Green (Wortley and Elmwood) (226) 998-8703 Enhance Physical Health, Confidence and Self Esteem with Sifu Carlos Ferraz 190 Wortley Rd. Martial Arts and Wellness Programs in the Heart of Wortley Village 1st Hussars Museum The museum and gift shop, located near the fork of the Thames at 1 Dundas Street, will be open 10 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday to Saturday all summer until August 30. Free admission. Learn more at 1sthussars.ca 2025/26 SEASON
What’s Happening at Landon Library Submitted by Ashleigh Hickey Chess for Kids (Ages 6+) Every Wednesday 3:30 – 5:00 pm. Come play and learn chess from experienced chess players. All levels of chess experience are welcome! Toddler Art (Ages 2+) Saturday, July 12th & Saturday, August 9th, 10:00 – 11:00 am. Drop in for some crafting fun – made just for toddlers! Be ready to get messy! Make and Play All Around the World (Family) Saturday August 2nd, 2:00 – 3:30 pm. Make, play and create using a variety of activities. Discover wonders from all around the world! Mending Club , July 19th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Ever wanted to sew your own clothes or learn how to mend or alter existing clothes? Looking to connect with others over a shared love of sewing? Drop-in for a monthly sewing group where we’ll have lots of sewing resources available including sewing machines, a serger, and hand tools.
July 26, 2025 r k , L o
Admission by Donation
@homecountyfest
Homecounty.ca
Sept 25 — Oct 5, 2025
Oct 23 — Nov 2, 2025
Nov 27 — Dec 7, 2025
Make your weekend great! Farmers, Artisans and You.
Feb 19 — Mar 1, 2026
May 28 — June 7, 2026
Three Tall Women - Oct 16-26, 2025 Closer - Feb 5-15, 2026 Harris Cashes Out - Mar 5-15, 2026 The Family Creetin - Apr 16-26, 2026
STARK & CO. Painting and Trim Specializing in residential interior and exterior painting and the removal and replacement of baseboard trim.
Workers with Pride!
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@villagerpublications.com Kaedon J. Stark (519) 872-0347 StarkPaintingAndTrim@Gmail.com CALL, TEXT OR EMAIL FOR A FREE QUOTE & CONSULTATION Stark.PaintingTrim StarkPaintingTrim
themarketwfd.com
@themarketwfd
900 King Street, London
Saturday 8:00 — 3:00 PM Sunday 10:00 — 2:00 PM
Wortley Villager July-August 2025 • Page 15
Service is my priority. Community is my passion. AMANDA AUSTIN Marketing Your Property to Get it SOLD! “Amanda provided us with
a great experience as first time home buyers. We are so glad we met her and reached out to have her as our agent. She is very knowledgeable and her guidance helped us get the perfect home. Amanda made home searching fun even in this busy and
Wednesday BBQ Nights Are Back London’s finest BBQ returns with London’s finest musicians! Enjoy this summer’s lineup including Denise Pelley, Scott Bollert, Nicole Tan, Rachelle Courtney, Rick Kish, Don Campbell and more. Call us to book your reservation.
competitive market.” Samantha O, buyer
Amanda (Patrick) Austin Sales Representative
I ndependently Owned and Operated
36 Grand Avenue, London, Ontario N6C 1K8 519.432.5554 IDLEWYLDINN.COM
amanda@amandaaustin.ca Direct: 519-871-9807 • Office: 519-471-9200
WORTLEY JAZZ AND BLUESFEST – AUGUST 18
It looks like the warmer weather is finally here (let’s hope to stay). Before you take any road trips, it is a good idea to check over the cooling and air conditioning systems in your vehicle. What happens if you hop into your trusty vehicle and push the Air Conditioning button and all you get is hot air? Have no fear, we can fix that! At Wortley Auto Service, we have state of the art equipment, and trained technicians to fix air conditioning systems on whatever vehicle you drive, new or old, foreign or domestic. Sometimes, a very minor coolant leak can become a major problem when you are sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. If you are at all concerned about the health of your cooling system, make an appointment with us for an inspection. And if you haven’t had an oil change in a while, now is a good time to have that done as well, along with our comprehensive vehicle inspection that checks the rest of your fluids, filters, lights, and overall health of the vehicle. Not to mention, if your car has not been driven much during the winter, or has been sitting for long periods of time, it would be a good idea to have everything looked at. We are here to help you. Call us today!
“Matt and his team are friendly, professional, efficient and honest. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my vehicles.” DM “Friendly and communicative staff, fair pricing and close to home. It’s nice when the local team is as exceptional as this one. Thank you! Kate.”
shop@wortleyautoservice.com • www.wortleyautoservice.com
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