London
Carl Ozyer
| London | | |||
Carl Ozyer | |||||
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London is a modern city located 200 Km southwest of Toronto and about 200 Km northeast of Detroit Michigan. London was founded by John Graves Simcoe a former Governor for the British. Situated at the forks of the Thames River, the site was chosen for it's locality to the river for transportation as well as a source of fresh water for it's inhabitants. London enjoys it's river still, even though much of the local landscape has changed. The city boasts a rich economic life due to the many investors that find it's mid-way proximity to major markets in both Canada and the U.S. Large corporations such as G.M. Diesel have manufacturing facilities here. Trains and armored personnel carriers are manufactured in London. G.M. Diesel, London recently signed a contract to supply 1,000 heavy locomotives to a U.S. railway. The Russians recently had the worlds largest locomotive manufactured here. When the locomotive was finished it was flown out on a huge Russion cargo plane specially configured with rail tracks. It was one big aircraft. G.M. also manufactures military vehicles such as Armored Personnel carriers such as those used on Peace Keeping missions. Diamond aircraft located at London International Airport is a relatively new manufacturer of light aircraft for private and commercial use. The Katana model is manufactured here. 3M Canada has it's head office located here, you know who they are. They're the guy's that make "Scotch Tape" and "Post It's" Labatts Brewery is located here. It's the oldest brewery in North America. I'm sure you know some of they're favorite products such as "Labatts Blue Pilsner" "Labatts 50" and so on. The John Labatt estate still stands on the outskirts of town. The University of Western Ontario is located here, with its 26,000 students. This long established University has produced some of the finest people in the world. London can claim fame to where the discovery of insulin was made. Dr. Charles Banting and Dr. Frederick Best along with Dr. James Bertram Collip helped to save many human lives through their research leading to a treatment for diabetes. Kellogg's Canada has it's only plant for making cereal located right here in London. We have no shortage of cereal here ! London Life one of Canada's largest life insurance companies has had it's home office here since it's conception many years ago. There are no shortages of parks in London. It has to preserve it's name, "The Forest City". Wally World Waterpark , located in the southwest section of the city is a great place to take the kids. It has two huge waterslides and two large spiral slides. The huge tall ones are definately for the brave ! For the kiddies who want to train for the big ones when they get older, there are smaller versions. There is also a wave pool, a lazy river where you grab a tube and just flow around the course. As part of the same complex is a go cart track and a batting cage. Recently a driving range was added. Only a few miles south of London in a hamlet called Talbotville is Ford Canada's St. Thomas assembly plant where some of the high end luxury vehicles such as the Crown Victoria is manufactured. All in all London has a lot going for it, a 20 minute ride south will take you to the beautiful beaches of Port Stanley on the northern shore of Lake Erie. A 30 minute ride to the northwest will take to to the lovely beaches of Grand Bend, Port Franks and Ipperwash located on beautiful Lake Huron. Imagine that, we can get to two of the great lakes within 30 minutes. A one hour drive west of London will take you to Sarnia, Ontario, a city with a huge petrochemical refining industry located on the St. Clair River. A short drive across the Bluewater Bridge will take you high above the river with it's many sea going freighters passing underneath the bridge. Once across the bridge your in Port Huron Michigan, U.S.A. | The date is and the time is | |||
